Tuesday, October 2, 2007

random stuff

Today has been one of those days where I have felt a little scatter brain. I've currently got a lot of projects going on at home and a lot of activities outside of the home. I'm trying to get everything done in the house because November and December will be absolutely insane with my Holiday Baking Business. I don't think it's hit me yet that this year I will have three kids while baking for two big Holidays. This year I have decided to continue providing for my customers in Fort Worth and the Mid Cities (the Metroplex area) because I know it's a sure thing and I have not had time to work on getting business here in Austin. I think I have it all figured out how I will get it done and what days I will drive to Fort Worth to deliver. There should only be TWO days. One the week of Thanksgiving and one the week of Christmas. I have a huge commitment in November that will make the whole week of baking interesting but I'm not going to get worked up yet. I told a friend of mine the other day that this is when I will disappear and be in my house for days without talking to anyone because I will be so busy. I'm praying now for an awesome season. This will be the third year for Sugar & Spice-Creative baking by Amanda and I am so excited! (I wish you were here Kelly Ann. You helped me sooooooo much!)

I'm not very good at getting things done in my house quickly. I lack the drive so much. There are clothes on the couch that have been there since Friday. Oh how I wish I had energy to clean and fold! But I do have energy to run so I am waiting for Jeremy to get home. I've got my running clothes on and we have a meeting for RC. So if he makes it here in time, I'm gonna run to my meeting! :) Then I won't feel so bad eating pizza tonight with everyone else.

One more thing. Today has been a day where I have spent a lot of time in deep thought and prayer about some things in my life. I found an awesome devotion from Oswald Chambers. It is one of the best ones I have ever read of his. Enjoy! I gotta go, Ezekiel is crying "Mama, mama, mama."

After every time of exaltation, we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they really are, where it is neither beautiful, poetic, nor thrilling. The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God— that is where our faithfulness is revealed. Most of us can do things if we are always at some heroic level of intensity, simply because of the natural selfishness of our own hearts. But God wants us to be at the drab everyday level, where we live in the valley according to our personal relationship with Him. Peter thought it would be a wonderful thing for them to remain on the mountain, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down from the mountain and into the valley, where the true meaning of the vision was explained (see Mark 9:5-6 , Mark 14-23 ).

"If you can do anything . . . ." It takes the valley of humiliation to remove the skepticism from us. Look back at your own experience and you will find that until you learned who Jesus really was, you were a skillful skeptic about His power. When you were on the mountaintop you could believe anything, but what about when you were faced with the facts of the valley? You may be able to give a testimony regarding your sanctification, but what about the thing that is a humiliation to you right now? The last time you were on the mountain with God, you saw that all the power in heaven and on earth belonged to Jesus— will you be skeptical now, simply because you are in the valley of humiliation?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

YOU ARE NOT SCATTER BRAINED. You are an over achiever and a perfectionist.... and your mind works too fast. You think of everything that has to be done as if you had to do it all in one day. Just take enough Manna for the day and you will have enough to take you through.......YOU ALWAYS DO. Relax-take a break.
Moses didn't decide to run across the red sea...he stepped back and took it all in then made the way for the people. Even God took 6 days to create everything when he could have done it all in 10 minutes.....on the seventh day He made me. Love you.

Amy... said...

Hmmm...now I'm confused. I'm pretty sure I commented on the last couple of posts but now I can't find where I did that. Maybe I imagined it...maybe I am crazy. Maybe I'm scatter brained:) We process things very similarly, Amanda! The whole three posts in one day thing is how my brain operates too! I love that Oswald Chambers entry. Sometimes I get scared in the valley, even though I know I shouldn't...and don't need to be.

Hopefully this makes up for my pseudo-commenting!! ~Amy

Olive said...

I too love My Utmost for His Highest. It always seems to hit me in the gut and be just the thing I need to hear (well, read). We serve an awesome God and I am humbled that I get to walk alongside Him. The valley can be a scary thing, but my deepest times of initacy with Him often come in the valley. And I certainly learn more in it!

Great post, Amanda!

Paula said...

You are an amzing person. And I have to say...you WILL get that cooking done with three kids. How?? I have no clue. I had trouble with one. You have great kids and you are a wonderful momma. So it will get done.

Great devotional.

Becca in Texas said...

I started reading that daily devotion after you linked it a while back. I emailed a friend Monday about the devotions this week every single day it has been just what I needed. I keep saying it to you over and over, but you are so in my brain. It really is encouraging to see you working through similar emotions in a different circumstance. I appreciate you Mandi