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Monday, July 20, 2009

When the Wheels Fall Off

Everything was packed.

Everything was checked off the to-do list.

We even arrived at the airport with time to spare!

That's when it happened. The wheels fell off. The wheels of my suitcase just decided that they'd had enough and popped off just in time to reach "Delta Check In." The bag was barely under the 50 pound limit and it was heavy...too heavy to carry. There was nothing to do but send it off onto the conveyor belt, hoping that it would arrive at it's destination in tact.


On the other end, the fuchsia bag appeared on the conveyor belt and I was euphoric! Damage had been done, another wheel became a casualty and clothing was hanging out, but it had arrived. It became quickly evident that I was in need of a new bag, as soon as possible. We were able to find a store and we purchased another piece of luggage, and I began to transfer the contents of the broken bag into the new bag.


I stuffed.

I pushed.

I smashed.

The new bag just wouldn't hold all of it.


It all sounds so familiar. It sounds so familiar to my faith walk.

I come prepared. I show up early and in complete control only to find that the unexpected is certain to happen, the trials in life, and before I realize it, the wheels fall off. ("Consider it pure joy, when you face trials of many kinds. James 1:2) I'm left stranded with only one place to go.

I place it all on the conveyor belt. I send that broken baggage to Him, and I hope in the promises that it will arrive and be cared for, even when I can't see it. I see glimpses of Him, at the other end, where although damage has been done, it's not all lost. Trusting isn't easy, but sometimes it's all we've got left.

Then I am given a chance to have a "new piece of luggage." What do I do? I cling to all of the things that caused the wheels to fall off in the first place. I try and stuff it into the corners, hoping that no one will notice.

Only HE does.

He won't let me shut the new suitcase. I have to let go of some things, those things that put too much pressure on the wheels. The control, the pride, the unforgiving spirit. The new luggage simply won't hold it all. I have been given this gift of a "new suitcase," and if I don't want the wheels to fall off of this one, I've got to make some changes. I've got to lighten this load.

"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:30


It's not easy, but without letting go, I will not be going anywhere. I came across a translation in The Message that just spoke to my heart. It was just so God to place it in my life to confirm the lesson He was teaching me in my broken suitcase.

"Now I'm glad ~ not that you were upset, but that you were jarred into turning things around. You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from Him. The result was all gain, no loss."
2 Corinthians 7:9



Isn't that just like God? To bring about a life lesson in a broken suitcase.

A lesson that I needed... in a broken suitcase?

What's in your suitcase?

Mine needed a bit of re-packing...

Father God,

You have given me the gift of a new suitcase. It replaces the broken baggage of my life. Help me to surrender to YOU, what I need to pack into that bag of my life. Help me to unpack those things which keep me from you and from serving as your Son, Christ taught me to serve. Thank you Father for getting my attention in the daily details of my life. Help me always keep my eyes open to you. Thank you Father for traveling always with me.
In Jesus' name,
Amen






join Lori daily at her personal website,all you have to give, where she finds herself constantly packing and repacking, with a God who never tires of traveling with her.

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12 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

Awesome devotion sweet friend.

July 20, 2009 at 2:45 AM  
Anonymous Shannon said...

Wow! Loved this devotion! It is so true. We all to often try to pack to much inside and carry the burden ourselves. We need to unload and give it to Jesus! Ask for forgiveness if needed and proceed to live our life with joy!

July 20, 2009 at 8:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This was so very inspiring!!

July 20, 2009 at 9:54 AM  
Anonymous HisFireFly said...

Awesome illustration Lori! And I pray right along with you that God will continue to show us what we need to release and what He wants us to hold on to.

July 20, 2009 at 11:09 AM  
Blogger Renda said...

Thank you for being open to share what God has done in your life. This was so awesome and beautiful. I would love to share this. May the Lord Bless you Lori.

July 20, 2009 at 1:46 PM  
Blogger Susan said...

Hmmm, OK, I just left you a nice long response, and it's gone!

Great lesson Lori for ALL of us to learn from.

Trying to clean out my suitcase daily!

Love you♥

July 20, 2009 at 7:50 PM  
Anonymous Dawn Wilson said...

Perfect to read this just as I'm packing for a trip! And you really blessed a friend of mine today who desperately needed your words to face a tough, tough circumstance. God bless you as you continue to share your heart and God's truth! Dawn

July 20, 2009 at 8:10 PM  
Blogger ProjectHope7 said...

awesome devotional thank you... so timely!
cathy b

July 20, 2009 at 10:19 PM  
Anonymous Roanne said...

This is good! More often than not I hit "delete" when these come through-- "I just don't have time to read them" as my excuse-- yet today I have time, only because my body is weary and needs rest! I am constantly having to "repack" all the things in my life and examine which things must go. God doesn't let me go far for long, since I can never carry it all alone. I am in a transitional time right now-- my youngest of 5 kids is starting kindergarten this fall, and I am finding it difficult not to add a bunch of stuff to my plate in my eagerness to use my 3 hours per day with no kids in the most productive way possible. Thanks for the reminder that I need to leave room for Him no matter what!

July 21, 2009 at 10:51 AM  
Blogger Karen said...

I really needed to read this today...thank you for sharing from your heart!

July 21, 2009 at 4:08 PM  
Blogger Carmen said...

thanks for your generosity in sharing your life with us!

Shalom and Love!

July 21, 2009 at 8:33 PM  
Anonymous Kathie Fracaro said...

love this post! what a blessing!

July 22, 2009 at 3:36 PM  

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