Getting Un-Stuck (part 1): Develop a Hopeful Attitude

          I remember when the girls were in elementary school—somewhere around 1^st grade up through the indomitable  junior high years.  One day, I just couldn’t handle it anymore.  I felt like I was going crazy.  I distinctly remember feeling like I was stuck on a merry-go-round—and it wasn’t fun.  It felt like I was going ‘round and ‘round, faster and faster, and I couldn’t get off...no matter how hard I tried.  That merry-go-round had piles of “things to do” on it with tentacles that bound me.  I felt stuck...that nothing could change.  It affected everything.  There were no answers.  No one understood.  And I couldn’t do anything about it. 

            The truth was...there were answers.  Being stuck is not really affecting e-v-e-r-y-thing, just specific things.  And even if no person understood me, God did.  And He had answers.  Hope.  Change was possible.  I could do something about it.

            When I stopped to think about the factors that made up this merry-go-round ride, I listed them out, one by one, naming them.  Then I took each culprit, one at a time, and dissected why I was “stuck” at each point.  Focusing on one thing at a time made me feel like I could tackle it—without being overwhelmed.  It also made me notice that not EVERYTHING is on this merry-go-round.

            Then I realized that these factors are not permanent.  Some may be here for a day or so, some for a week or a month, and some maybe for a year or more.  But they won’t be around forever!

            And, change IS possible.  Pray about it.  Ask God how you can change your situation. Even if you can’t change the actual circumstances, you can change your attitude toward them.  Put on a different perspective that says, “I won’t be in this forever, it’s just for now.  I can make the best of it by looking for the good and being grateful for what I can.”  And ask God what you can learn from it.

            My merry-go-round eventually slowed down, and I was able to re-focus and re-energize.  I no longer felt “stuck” in a dizzying cycle of spinning around and around.  Thankfully, life usually comes to us in seasons, just like the weather.  So if you’re feeling stuck right now, just wait and pretty soon you’ll get un-stuck.  Then enjoy it while it lasts!

Learning--an act of worship

Have you ever thought of education as an act of worship?  God cares what we learn and put into our minds.  He definitely cares what we teach our children, and what we allow to enter their minds.  There’s a children’s song that goes, “Oh be careful little eyes what you see, Oh be careful little eyes what you see, For the Father up above is looking down in love, Oh be careful little eyes what you see.”  Verse 2 says, “Oh be careful little ears what you hear...” and so on.  The thoughts we dwell on affect our mind, which affect our emotions, which affect our actions.  Learning, or education, is more than facts.  It gives us a perspective on life, even from a very young age.

What would you say is the most important thing for your child to learn?  I would answer that with “learning about God”.  How easy it is to teach our children about God—through His very own creation.   When we look at ourselves as being made in God’s image, we learn about Him, ourselves, and humanity. 

Creation brings awe, wonder and worship.  The universe invites us to know God.  The more we know about creation, the more we learn about Him.  When we meet Him, our core is changed and we see life differently because He is Life.

Early scientists sought God through creation.  The foundations of science are in creation.  How can we teach our children about God through creation?

1)  Look at creation (universe, earth’s water, land, animals, plants...).  Observe it.

2)  Understand and appreciate the intricacies, patterns, etc.

3)  Look for how creation explains God

4)  Look for things in creation that are in the Bible

5)  Pursue knowledge of God through creation in every day life

There’s a lot of information in this day and age.  It can be overwhelming to figure out what school to put your child in, or what to teach them.  Start...and continue...with how creation describes God.  It will be a daily reminder for you as well!

(bold verses are from me)

Psalm 111

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
² Great are the works of the Lord;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
³Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
⁴ He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and compassionate.
⁵ He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.
⁶ He has made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.

⁷ The works of His hands are truth and justice;
All His precepts are sure.
⁸ They are upheld forever and ever;
They are performed in truth and uprightness.
⁹ He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and awesome is His name.
¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.

Proverbs 25:2

...the glory of kings is to search out a matter.