Drip time

Months ago, I ditched "drip time" because it seemed counter productive. I could use that time to take a quick shower and then grab coffee in one hand and Bible in the other. But it's been reinstated.
In church yesterday, we were challenged with the question, "Are you filled with the Holy Spirit and directed by Him?" In order to be directed by the Holy Spirit, we need to take time to stop, be quiet and listen. For some busyness is an idol. For me, productivity is an idol. I tore it down.
And after the beans are ground, the pot turned on, and the coffee aroma begins to fill the air as hot water drips through the filter, I snuggle in. I stare at God's gorgeous creation. Watch a sunrise (or the twinkling stars). Listen. And that's when I realized, "drip time" is back.
Are you in step with what the Holy Spirit is doing? Do you need to begin your own "drip time?" Make time listening for God part of your daily routine. Ical it in today!

Who needs fifteen?

Countless times recited to the golden heads, is Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day by Judy Viorst. It recounts the awful day of a grade school boy. At school, we complains of his teacher, "At singing time, she said I sang too loud. At counting time, she said I left out sixteen. Who needs sixteen?" Our days at preschool have also been a chuckle as the boisterous one has developed a habit of leaving out fifteen. "Thirteen, fourteen, sixteen..." Who needs fifteen? 
Bad habits are both difficult to break and easy to revert. The best thing to do is run away from circumstance that which tempts us. Like the fudge sauce staring me in the face last night; I should have run away! I know that I can claim the power available to me. How do I know this?

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 2 Peter 1:3-4 

The greek word for power is where we get the english word for dynamite. This dynamite power of Christ's is mine for the claiming when I know Him. And how do I know Him? Relationship. Investing time developing real relationship with Him. As we develop a deeper relationship with God, we attain all we need for life and godliness. And along the way, we discover His great and precious promises. According to one person's count, there are 3573 promises in the Bible. Applying and living by the promises He gives us, we become more like Him. 
Understand that this relationship with Him isn't a microwave relationship. It's a crockpot. It takes time. One promise is that He gives us new life (2 Corinthians 5:17.) This is how I know that I can change my old habits. And how I know that when I go on auto-pilot and revert to old habits (yelling at the goldenheads, judging the engineer, eating fudge sauce by the spoonful), I know that the crockpot came unplugged.
I don't want to spend my life wallowing in a jar of fudge sauce. I want to become more like Christ. I need to stay plugged in, developing relationship over time. I need to simmer the crockpot. I may not really need fifteen, but I do need to be more like Christ.
What are you doing today to develop your relationship with Christ? Second Peter encourages us in verse 5 to start with faith, then add virtue, then knowledge, then self-control, then endurance, then godliness, then affection and finally love. If this is a progression in our relationship with Christ, where are you and what can you do to simmer the crockpot?

Made: By God...Like "us"...To run to

Bible lying flat-open, perched over with preschooler, learning from Adam and Eve. "What do you learn about Adam?" He is made by God, and yet God made Adam in "our" (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) image. "So are you made by God and like God. You look like God." The preschooler's mind quickly moves onto science and recess, yet my mind stays hovering over the fact that I'm made in the image of the Trinity. God is not alone. Jesus: not alone. Holy Spirit: not alone. Neither am I meant to be alone. The Trinity is in perfect fellowship or relationship. Because I am made in the image of God, I am made for community and relationship.
And it comes again, darash: inquiring of Christ, running to Him, seeking Him. Seeking Him makes me to commune with Him. Is the path of my relationship with God wore down like the "Beaten Path" through the Beartooth Mountain Range or is it an overgrown, easy to miss path like many Minnesota State Forest trails? These pictures flood my mind as I run to Him. Even now, not feeling well, needing strength to make it through school picture morning with emotional golden heads and then pinching my finger besides. Run to Jesus! And His indescribable peace washes over me as the pain subsides.
I am made like God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I am not God. I need relationship with my Maker, so I will run to Him. Run to Him when the day is beautiful and the birds sing. Run to Him when goldenheads are rude and crabby. Run to Him when I enjoy a refreshing day at the lake. Run to Him when anxiety fills my soul.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will expeience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippains 4:6-7

You were not meant to go through you life alone. God, your Heavenly Father created you for relationship with Him, with Christ and the Holy Spirit. When moments of your day get "heated," run to your Maker and experience peace.