I love the blossoming ability of a child who is learning to read. They begin to uncover a whole other world, find characters they fall in love with and understand, explore places maybe they'll never travel too, and build sweet companionship with that mysterious haven our souls drift to when we unlock reading.
Julia has recently discovered Amelia Bedelia. Yesterday, she could hardly get her back pack off before she was reading me excerpts from the book. We were both laughing so hard at all the silly 'mistakes' Amelia was making. If you have never read these FANTASTIC stories by Peggy Parish, get up now, go to the local library and get you some. I don't care if you are eight or eighty eight. Amelia Bedelia makes everything better.
Amelia Bedelia is a house maid for the Rogers, a wealthy couple with lots of instructions. In last night's story, Amelia was instructed to "dust the furniture". What did Amelia Bedelia do? Well, of course, she grabbed some baby powder and 'dusted' every piece of furniture by spreading powder all over. She was also told to "change the towels". So Amelia grabbed some scissors and changed the towels until they were unrecognizable. Then Amelia was asked to draw the drapes. So out comes an easel and a picture of the drapes is drawn. Our favorite part that had Julia rolling on the floor, was when Amelia was told to "dress the chicken". Amelia found a fantastic pair of overalls and dressed that chicken to the nines. :)
I could feel it in Julia's tone, she was connecting with the character of Amelia Bedelia. It was cathartic for her to laugh at all the misinterpretations of the given instructions.
Hmmmm... misinterpretations of given instructions. How much of our journey with the Lord Jesus is a misinterpretation of given instructions? How often are we making this pilgrimage far more difficult than necessary? Why do we increase the load of our own brokenness, and other's brokenness, by interjecting a laundry list of man made rules to follow? How many pages after Revelation 22:21, have we added to the pure, undefiled, gospel of Jesus Christ?
John 15, has been marinating in my heart this week. In addition to redeemed, I could totally see myself getting a tattoo that said abide. Not only am I crazy about the letters used in this word, the way the curves and lines speak to my eyes, but I love, ADORE, cannot get enough of, what this word means! Hear this, let this sink deep down into the performance based lies that dwell in your 'be good, do good' heart file folders.
Abide; remain, accept, bear patiently, stick to, stand by.
So now, John 15:4, "Abide in me!" I love this invitation. I get chills at this flirtatious request to just come and be in the presence of the Almighty God of the Universe. The King of Kings, is whispering sweet nothings to our screwed up hearts. He is tirelessly running after us in order for us to gain from simply remaining, unequivocally accepting who He says He is, sticking with Him, standing in close quarters with a fearless warrior who pursues His people and fights their battles!!
We are not called to spin our wheels, run a muck by unsuccessfully pruning our outsides to be appealing; while we die on the inside because we've detached ourselves from the source of life. Pruning is HIS work in our lives, as we remain in close relationship with Him. Oh, and we aren't called to prune each other with hurtful sheers, God forbid we get out of the way and let God do His work in His people. He is the master pruner. His touch is neither too hard or too soft. He sees what needs to be trimmed by the perfectly, gracious, and just eyes He looks through. His sight far surpasses my broken vision of myself and others.
How much baby powder and strife have you dumped unnecessarily in the living room of your life? How many shredded towels and relationships lay at your feet because you wanted change? How many easels and plans have collapsed in your life because you want to be in charge of the drawing? And how many pairs of overalls and self help techniques have you wasted on dressing up the chickens in your life?
Do you hear it in His tone? Close your eyes and let it penetrate the raw edges of your day, "ABIDE IN ME!" That's it. Everything else is stripped away and we are found right where we should be; stuck like glue to Jesus.
To all the Amelia Bedelias out there ~ God speed. :)
~Sara
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