Is It All About the Pancakes and Dinosaurs?

Some mornings bring with it the very essence of chaos: the children have awakened before me and decided to redecorate and reorganize the kitchen and living area, the phone has rung 4 times and everyone on the other end of the line demands my immediate attention. The kids put too much tissue in and the toilet overflows. I am out of toothpaste, all the boys want something different to eat for breakfast, I have to get dressed, and I need to start the kids lessons by at least 9:30 and it is already 9:25. All of this and I haven’t even finished my coffee!

Now, I finally get everyone fed, pancakes all around. I take care of myself and I begin the lessons on dinosaurs. They begin to complain and I become fussy and irritated as well. While they are doing independent projects I try to begin tidying up. All of a sudden they forget how to do a notebook page! What is going on today? Stress doesn’t begin to describe the way I am feeling. I continue with lessons only to stop ¾ short and call it a day. I have so much to do and things just aren’t going well. I begin to work on ministry things and all of a sudden I hit a brick wall and can’t go any farther. “Why is this happening God? What is the problem here?” I ask as I am putting up dishes from the dishwasher. “I am doing all of this because I know that it is what you want me to do. Where are you? I could use some help!” Then, just as I turn around, I see it. It is my partially sipped cup of coffee that is now cold. It is right next to my unopened bible on the kitchen table.

I froze.

My heart sank.

I glanced over at the chair and in my spirit I saw Him sitting at my table. He looked me in the eye and then I heard Him say, “I’ve been right here all morning. I’ve been waiting for you.” Oh my! As life as I know it happened today I forgot to sit down and spend some time with Jesus. My heart broke as I comprehended that I had been too busy to even realize that I had indeed forgotten Him. I never did sit down to read and pray. I had kept Him waiting.

Luke 10:38- 39
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me." But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it-and I won't take it away from her."

All morning I had been doing things I deemed Godly and in the name of Jesus: training my children, preparing food for my family, taking care of my home, doing ministry things, and making last minute wedding decisions. Yet, I forgot one thing… the most important thing. I forgot to spend time with Him. Jesus knows He is always welcome in my home and so do my friends for that matter. However, I would never just open the door for my friends, not say a word to them, and then just disappear. I wouldn’t go off to clean up or prepare a feast without first spending time with them. I would at least thank them for coming, give some hugs, sit down and chat and laugh a bit, then go prepare some food or beverages and return for a full visit when I was done. So then, how in the world could I not give more to my Lord?

We must sit at His feet in order to be raised up by Him. We must be taught by Him if we are going to teach our children. We can’t be worried about eating food and cleaning our home until we receive our daily bread from His word and receive cleansing from repentance through prayer. We can’t blame God for the multitude of work and then ask for help when we have yet to submit ourselves to Him for that day. God loves us. He is concerned over the details and will help us with them. He knows what we need but how can we expect to receive it from Him if we never spend time with Him? I stopped picking up dishes, I turned off the phone, I sent the boys outside to play and I began to read and pray.

“God forgive me for not spending time with You this morning. I want to be in your presence all day. I pray that I never again forget to invite you into my day again. I need You to guide me. I know how much simpler and greater my days are when You are a part of them. I love you Lord. Please help me to never forget again.”

Then I stumbled across this scripture: John 8:12 (emphasis mine)

Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

I had been stumbling through darkness all morning. I realized this after I read that scripture. My day began to replay in my mind just like a movie. I heard the alarm go off, the phone ringing, I saw the mess I needed to clean, I felt the aggravation of the overflowing commode and the absence of toothpaste. I sensed the urgency of getting something to eat for the kids and getting their daily lessons started. I heard the clanking of the plates right before I turned around and saw Him. This time He smiled at me. Suddenly I heard Him say something to my spirit that I will never forget. “Amy, as long as you follow me, it is impossible that I did not walk before you and prepare the way.”

Wow! How profound is that? I began to absorb this into my spirit and my intellect. It was so true. It would be impossible! If I am following Him then He has to be in front of me, my eyes must be on Him. If He is walking before me then He has to be preparing the way! He is lighting the path for me! He is showing me how to avoid the obstacles. He is guiding me through the day! How do I follow Him? I keep Him as my number one priority in everything. I go to Him every day before I do anything else. I must always be aware of His presence. I acknowledge Him everywhere I go and in everything that I do.

Tomorrow morning when I wake up I will spend time with Him... before the pancakes and dinosaurs!

How has your day been going? Is He still waiting for You?

I'd love for you to visit me at my personal blog: In Pursuit of Proverbs 31