PARDON MY INTRUSION

God has faithfully placed me in various circles of Godly friends all of my adult life.  The past few years those circles have been Sisters in Christ.  These friends have challenged me, encouraged me, supported me, and caused me to S T O P and think about the deep things of God.  It has been an unspeakable joy to be blessed with these friendships over the years.

Recently one of the often repeated conversations in the circle is our responsibility to one another.  My inner "Middle Child" ALWAYS wants to fix things for you when you present me with a problem.  It seems to be a simple formula in my head-

YOU PRESENT THE PROBLEM

I GIVE YOU THE SOLUTION

YOU FOLLOW MY ADVICE

PROBLEM SOLVED

IF IT ONLY WERE SO SIMPLE!!  To begin with we are all extremely complex human beings, and to think we can solve problems sometimes generational problems with a quick fix is borderline delusional.  It is NOT that simple!  AND--the real problem is ME!  I AM TRYING TO FIX IT---ALL ALONE--

                                                                         ME

                                                                          MYSELF

                                                                          AND I

OH GREAT---I have been challenged once again about placing myself on that throne and leaving God out of the equation.  THAT NEVER WORKS!

I am forgetting the truth of the matter---under my own power---I am powerless.  NO ONE has died and made me Queen---as much as I would L O V E

to be the Queen--I am NOT.  The fact of the matter is I am much closer to peasant than queen.  

I am at slow learner when it comes to solving the problems of others.  I forget the proper sequence of helping --I leave out the most important step--

GIVE IT TO GOD FIRST

My task of solving the problem foreshadows contacting the source of all wisdom.  ONLY God can solve the problem---He already has a course of action--a plan.  What I need to remember is to consult HIM first and ask---"What would you have me do or say?"  He must be sitting on His Heavenly Throne in amazed wonder at my audacity of taking on what HE already has a solution for.  My bumbling and stumbling only gets in the way of His perfect plan. 

What a comfort to know---I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SAVING THE WORLD!  He has ALREADY done that!  My responsibility is sharing the truth, when nudged by the Holy Spirit.  P E R I O D!!!  ONLY God can quicken the truth.  I give the message---HE does the convincing.  W H A T  A  R E L I E F!  Thank God for His infinite grace and forgiveness as I continue to insert my nose in His business.  I am praying He zips my lips ---except when the message is clearly from Him and remind me---HE'S GOT THIS!

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48:17