One day, a women shared with me all the reasons why she just couldn't find time to open her Bible and be in the Word...to which I responded..."That's because it's not important to you." Not sure if that's the response she she was looking for, but that's what came out.
Now I admit, I am not always the most tactful person and my filtering skills are at a minimum, but sometimes the truth hurts and sometimes we are caught off guard because we are not expecting people to actually be truthful with us. As rough as my words may have seemed at the time, I do not regret them. You see, because of the ministry and music I do, I tend to enter people's lives for a moment and then fly out (literally) just as quick as I came in. I don't have time to sugar coat my responses. Because I am an outsider in the women's lives that I enter, women tend to feel safe in sharing things that may be more difficult if they had to face me the next day or the next week in church. It's a huge responsibility that I don't take lightly, and therfore, I want to make sure that the words I share and the time I give matters, even if it stings. Now, back to the original statement..."Because it's not important to you." I believe that we will make time in our day to do things that are important to us....for me, it's hiking and getting to the gym. For others it may be making dinner (for others... I don't find joy in cooking), reading that chapter in their new favorite book, shopping for a new outfit, scrolling though Facebook, writing a blog, posting a cute selfie...you get it, right? We make time for things that matter to us. We get up early or we stay up late to make it happen, but when it comes to opening the Bible, suddenly our muscles atrophy, we can't move, we can't find our bible, the phone rings, our spiritual muscles get cramped and before we know it, night has come and we think it's to late and hope that tomorrow will be different. Yes, days happen, but when the struggle is never faced head on and confronted, we may have to face the fact that maybe, it's just not that important. With that realization our prayers can turn to the Lord to say. "God I have failed and I need you to put the desire in my heart and elevate your Word as a priority in my life." But, we can't do that until we are honest and simply admit it, repent and lean on a God whose mercies are new every morning. Whatever it is in your life....time in the Word, eating healthy, fellowship with believers, serving others...whatever it is, as a friend once told me "Mia, your excuses are like elbows, everyones got two of them!" Yes, it stung, but it was true......present it before the Lord and ask him to help you to keep what is important eternally, important daily. And now as evening rolls in as I write this blog, I am off to open my Bible! I love you in the Lord, Mia
6 Comments
There are a few rules of etiquette that I have learned for hiking. For instance, hikers going uphill have the right of way, if you hear someone on your tail, step to the side and let them by, keep your music confined to your headphones and it's always a good thing to acknowledge those you pass. Not everyone follows these unwritten rules, but when they do, it makes for a great experience. I was making my way up the Piestewa Peak Summit trail in Phoenix yesterday morning. For those of you that are not familiar with this area, it is a nice 1.2 mile, 1,200 ft climb to the top. As I hiked, I was reminded that not everyone is aware of hiker etiquette, as evidenced by the fact that I found myself giving the right away to hikers that had already made the climb and were on there way down with no intention of stopping for those of us making our way up, panting and dripping with sweat. Others, though, kindly stepped to the side as I made great strides and stretches over the uphill rocks. For that, I was grateful and squeezed out a smile in the midst of my exhaustion. There were moments when I thought, "I have gone far enough, I should just turn back now" but, the fighter in me doesn't like to quit until I make it to the top (which last week almost got me into some trouble). After making the 1,200 ft ascent, I was able to rest and take in the view. There is that exhilarating feeling when you make it to the top, when you reach your goal and have survived to conquer your mountain. For me, I think about the fact that 1.5 years ago, I could barely make it to the top and if I did, it took me twice as long with many stops along the way. This day, though, being in better shape and living a healthier lifestyle, I pushed through without stopping. I made it and I made it well. After a nice break on top of the summit, I made my way, with the grace of gravity pulling me back down to where I started. I smiled at those making there way up and I stepped to the side to give them the right away as they struggled upward. I allowed those who were descending faster than me the opportunity to go on by and at times I was afforded the same courtesy, as those who were going a bit slower than me, let me pass.
And then it got me thinking (as hiking always does) about the difficulties in life that we have, the mountains that we climb and the "etiquette of struggling" that we so easily forget. There are times when I, one who has been through the fire, see others going through the same battles I once went through and wonder why they are not conquering it as quickly as I did. There are times when I know people are struggling and I fail to give them the "right of way" in their pain and I expect them to move out of my way and "get over it" so that I can continue living my life. There are times when people are making uphill strides in their situations and I forget to acknowledge them. There are times when I, because I already made it to the top of a certain mountain, forget what the struggle was like to get to a place where you have a birds eye view and greater perspective. There are so many times that I am simply the worst hiker in the world. It is good to be reminded that we all hike (through life) at different paces, we all have mountains to climb and battles to win. When I am more conscious of those around me, it makes this hike of life a little more doable, a little less difficult and a lot more encouraging for everyone. I can't climb someone else's mountain for them, but I can step out of the way and not be a stumbling block in their journey. I can reach out a hand and give encouragement. I can allow them to feel their pain so they can move to a position where they can see the view of the joy to come. I pray that we all will be a bit of the grace that gravity brings in someone else's life as they are struggling uphill. Let's go hiking! I love you in the Lord! Mia There are times when I look back to the places where I clearly see the victory that God has done in my life and then there are the times when I get stuck looking back to places where I have been weak. Times that I have talked harshly to the people I love, times when I have totally messed up worship leading, times when I play all the wrong notes while playing in the band are the moments where I do not see the victory, only the failure. Today, this verse is a blatant reminder for me to forget those past mistakes and trust in the grace and forgiveness of a God who loves so deeply that he sent His only son to be the remedy for my sin, a God who can take my blunders and mask them by the power of the Holy Spirit and use them for His glory. Today, I am reminded to forget what is behind and move forward to what lies ahead. And what lies ahead is good in Jesus Christ. "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14 Today, won't you stand with me as we press on toward the goal, the wonderful prize that God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus? Whatever tempts you to peak backwards, lay it down at the foot of the cross…daily. I pray that whatever it may be, that it would be would lighter each day until you are able to forget it with ease. Blessings, brothers and sisters! I love you in the Lord, Mia This article originally appeared on (deliberateowmen.org) Deliberate Women July 3, 2015, written by, Mia Koehne “Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it!” Have you ever heard that or some variation of this sentiment before, or better yet has anyone ever said that to you? I don't really have a problem with "taking it", but please don’t fact check this with my husband. In my defense, I only use the pouty lip as a tool of self expression and creativity, not weakness. I’ve learned over the years though life experiences (and the music industry) to grow a pretty thick skin and not take critique and opinions too personally. As a friend once said to me “let it roll, like water off the back of a duck.” So when things come at me, I repeat the words “water off the back of a duck, water off the back of the duck” and then I tend to waddle on. What I do have a more difficult time with is this “You can take it, but you can’t dish it out!” This reversal of the old saying in my life is referring to GRACE. Today is one of those days where I just want to throw in the towel and just cry. Spending the last few days on Customer Service lines, then running into the physical store, just to run back home to get back on the phone so that I can run back to the store to straighten out a bill. A bill which customer service and the store can't even seem to agree on.....You know those days... All I know is I am being way over charged. Yet, in all of it, all I can seem to do is take a deep breath, ask God to allow me to be patient, courteous, wise, gentle of heart and loving. Breath in His grace and then breath out His grace moment after moment when inside, all I really want to do is scream. When my husband called a little bit ago to ask me how my day was going and I began to vent, I suddenly stopped and thought, it's no big deal. It was at that moment when perspective hit me. In the big picture this is such a minor thing. Really, if this is this biggest trouble of my day....not so bad, huh? But in all things, God gives me an opportunity to show grace, patience and kindness even when things have me on my last nerve. Maybe today is a big deal......a big deal when I have an opportunity to show love to others even when I don't get my own way (says the youngest of seven kids.) #Grace |
The BlogA collection of writings from a life based on the truth that about midnight anything can happen. AuthorAs an imperfect servant of the Lord, I often feel I am fumbling my way through life, looking upward for guidance and outward to love. So, I write about it, to break up the noise in my head. Categories
All
Archives
May 2024
|