Running On Empty

Running On Empty

Having been filled with the fruit of righteousness

which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:11  

The morning began like most mornings, wake up at 5:30,  feet running.  I have a very long list of things I like to accomplish in the wee hours of the morning (a few I would still like to add), but time always seems to be an issue. After waking at 5:30, I spend about 15 minutes getting my husband ready for his day.  You know, the normal things, prepare his breakfast and lunch,  his coffee, then see him off. Once he's off to work,  I spend some much needed time in the Word and in prayer.  Please understand, I am human,  which means the time I devote to the Lord sometimes totally depends on how tired I am.  My quiet time can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 hour. I much prefer 1 complete hour, but unfortunately sometimes I succumb to the temptation of sleep.  

Anyway, I continue to check things off my mental check list as time ticks away. Once my time with the Lord is complete it's time to wake the boys, get myself ready, grab our things for the day and out the door we go with minutes to spare. Thankfully, we live very close to their school, the drive itself is probably less than two minutes. Unfortunately, again, I am only human and punctuality is not a strong suit of mine.  So, I rush to drop the boys off before the bell rings at 7:50, then I'm off to work.

Now the real obstacle begins, I commence to cramming a 19 minute drive into 10 minutes. Of course I always obey the law and never exceed the speed limit.  This morning was no different,  and surprisingly enough I seemed to be running on time! But, as my short commute of 19 minutes began, the realization of an empty tank overwhelmed me.  In the rush and chaos of the morning I failed to realize that my car needed fuel. Usually this isn't a huge deal, however this particular morning I had already passed all the local gas stations. I was already on my way to work, committed to the 11 mile drive regardless of my fuel situation.  I knew deep down that I had enough fuel to get me to the next station,  however anxiety seemed to consume me this particular day.  

 

Now I faced two obstacles, I had to find the nearest gas station, and I was late!  While dealing with my racing heart, cold sweat, and panic, I turned everything (inside my car) off (because that prolongs the fuel lol).  I coasted down every hill and prayed. I mean I PRAAAYED...  A LOT! And That's when it happened.. in my fit of shear panic, the most profound thing happened. Psalm 50:15

God spoke to me,  as I searched to find the nearest gas station, I was reminded of Psalm 107:9, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good.  Immediately, I rejoyced in the essence of the moment.  Going from panic stricken - to confident assurance as the Truth echoed in my mind.  God is my fueling station! When anxiety overwhelms me, when I feel empty inside. When feel like I can't or don't want to face another day. When the chaos of my life brings me down, or when I feel like I'm not good enough.. He fills me!

  

In my sin, He fills me!  

In my worry, He fills me! 

In my doubt, He fills me! 

In the chaos of my life, He fills me! 

In my failure, He fills me! 

He never moves, leaves or forsakes me.

Question is, how do I keep my spiritual tank full? Ephesians 3:19 says, And to know the love of Christ which surpasses all understanding, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

 

Knowing God's love is one thing, but lets be honest, we'll never understand it completely.  I just can't seem to wrap my mind around it.  It's absurd to me that the Creator of the universe would want someone like me.  That the Alpha the Omega, the Beginning and the End has my name written on the palm of His mighty hand.   Someone who has a sinful past, present, and future. Someone who can't seem to get things right, despite the best efforts.  But you see, that's part of the beauty in His love, He loves me right here and now,  right where I am.  He doesn't expect or want me to change before filling me, He just wants to fill me with His goodness.  

 

Some seem to believe, once we accept, believe and commit our lives to Jesus there is nothing left to do. On the contrary, I disagree, the real battle and work begins there.  Yes, the Spirit lives inside us, but if the Spirit isn't filled,  your tank will be empty before you know it.   We are powerless against the enemy and his attacks with an empty tank.  

 

In my opinion, it is an absolute daily necessity to spend time in the Word, in Prayer, and in Worship to keep our tanks full!  The enemy wants to get you off track. He will use any means necessary to distract you, He wants  you to believe that the high receive from drugs, alcohol, sex, relationships, money, etc..  will fill you. Truth is.. they are only temporary.

 

God is the only one who can truly satisfy! He is the only one who can quench our thirst,

HE IS OUR FUELING STATION!    

 

If your tank is running on E, Open the Word and allow the Lord to fill you with his goodness.

 

References for Romans 12:1

• Cross References
• Footnotes

• 1 12:1 - Eph 4:1 ; 1Pe 2:11
• 2 12:1 - Ro 6:13,16,19 ; 1Co 6:20 ; 1Pe 2:5

• a 12:1 - Or "reasonable"                                                                                                                                                            

Romans 12 1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

 

 

 





"My Pretty Stuff"

    
     Many of you may know this about me, but for those of you who don't, I am 37 years old who has never flown in an air plane. Yes, you read correctly, I've never even stepped foot in a air port. So, unfortunately or fortunately, I've experienced at least a few road trips in my life.

     As a youngster I remember many weekend trips to Jackson Co. to visit the greatest people in the world. As I've gotten older there have been a few long (12-14 hour) trips to the beach with my family, and many in between. Tons of memories (some good, some bad) flood my mind when I reminisce about each trip.  Some things about each trip are forever etched in my memory, but one thing stands out above everything else. There is one similarity about each trip. One thing that stayed the same through my childhood and now on through my children's childhood, the abundance of "my pretty stuff". 

     As a child, I remember enjoying the scenery during our weekend trips to Jackson Co. Maybe I noticed the scenery because I didn't have my nose stuck in a phone or game system. Whatever the reason, I have always enjoyed nature and everything in it. To me each season has it's very own breathtaking beauty, and I always took time to notice.  During the summer road trips I always seemed to notice this beautiful vine that seemed to grow on everything.  It seemed to grow freely on the mountain sides of eastern KY. Once I noticed this beautiful vine it was forever deemed "my pretty stuff".  Every trip from that point on, even now, I have always admired "my pretty stuff".

                           As I'm sure you're wondering, "my pretty stuff" is pictured below.

  

It's better know as, Kudzu (/ˈkʊdzuː also called Japanese arrowroot) is a group of plants in the genus Pueraria, in the pea family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. They are climbing, coiling, and trailing perennial vines. The name comes from the Japanese name for the plants, kuzu, which was written "kudzu" in historical romanizations. Where these plants are naturalized, they can be invasive and are considered noxious weeds. The plant climbs over trees or shrubs and grows so rapidly that it kills them by heavy shading.


     I'm still not 100% sure why I find this vine so intriguing, I guess, to me it presents with such a natural beauty.  It seems to grow so freely, and so beautifully while carpeting everything in it's path.

 

     During my most recent road trip to Mexico Beach, FL, of course I noticed "my pretty stuff" carpeting the roadsides along the way.  However this time was different, I noticed "my pretty stuff" but this time with an overwhelmed heart.  At an early age I developed a love for this vine which continued until this trip. Our journey began the first official weekend of fall, and for many places the effects of fall had already began. In many places "my pretty stuff" had died off to reveal the devastation below.

 

 

     The definition of Kudzu uses the words invasive, noxious, grows so rapidly it kills them.  As I noticed the devastation caused by the vine a few verses came to mind, John 10:10, the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy and 2 Corinthians 11:14, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  

     Wow!  I spent the remainder of our drive overwhelmed but my realization that "my pretty stuff" ,a seemly harmless vine, consumes anything and everything in it's path, much like the enemy.

     Through my journey with Christ and maturity in faith I have learned many things. Far too many things to discuss, but a few I'd like to highlight.  I have learned that I will never understand everything in the Bible, no matter how many times I read it (I'm not suppose to). I will mess up time and time again (hence my need for Jesus),  and the enemy will disguise himself as ANYTHING necessary to draw me away from Jesus. He has spent millions of years studying the human race and he knows our weaknesses!  He, like the Kudzu vine will disguise himself as something intriguingly beautiful and harmless.... until it's beauty fades and the devastation below is revealed.

 

     Listen, the enemy wants to ravage your life. He's schemes are noxious and invasive, he wants to dull your light until it finally burns out. Recognize the enemy and his tricks. 1 Peter 5:8 says, Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Don't allow the enemy to devastate your life like the Kudzu vine. Be on alert, always looking for and recognizing his tricks.

 

Ephesians 6:11-14, Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.