Confessions of a Pack Rat

by Susan Sampson

I had thought that I lived with a beautiful family of five,
Until I realized there was another living inside.
He’s here, he’s real, and he is rather large;
Taking up way too much space in my mind, my heart, and even my garage.
He was tricky, I have to say. I did not see him coming my way.
He masquerades as light and fun, but the reality is he steals my attention.

His name is Clutter. And he is not pretty.
I did not ask him to join our family.
When did he arrive? How did I let this happen?
Why did I not realize what was going on? How
could I have been so blind for so very long?

Well, it’s time for Clutter to leave.
It’s time to make room for Another.
Because He is the one who deserves my time, not Clutter.
How can I get rid of him? Do I ask him nicely?
“I never wanted you here, so now you’ve got to go,” I say politely.

Now I’ve tried to be nice, but it just isn’t working;
For this is a battle and I must do some fighting.
The good news is I am not alone;
My King is sitting on His throne.
And He is simply waiting for me;
To ask Him for His help to set me free.

Can I let go of Clutter? Do I want to be free?
How badly do I want to live my life abundantly?
Clutter has been with us for so very long;
But now it’s time my heart sang a brand new song.

I am ready; it is time. My King has waited so patiently.
He knows where I’ve been and exactly what I’ve done
And yet, He still loves me and forgives me. He is the One.
He is the light and He wants my all in all.

He wants my strength, my heart, my mind and my soul.
You see, He’s my creator and He made me with a goal.
To give Him all the glory and to tell others of His story.

Goodbye Clutter, you’ve had your run.
For now it’s time to usher in the One.
The one true God, who is full of light and life.
He wants my best, my all in all.
He wants my life, for that is His call.

And so, here we are, and I can finally say, Welcome
home Lord Jesus, please show me the way. Please
come and take your place as King of my heart
So that others may see your grace and receive a brand new start.

____________________

This poem appears in the Thistlebend Discipleship Study Falling in Love Again with Your Lord available here.

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Rooted in Love

by Angie Thomas

One thing that really stuck out to me reading through Ephesians 3 is how deeply Paul wanted the Ephesians to know God’s deep, extravagant love for them.  He prays in Ephesians 3:17 that they would be “rooted and ground in love.”  Is your mind continually rooted in the knowledge of God’s love for you or do you find yourself thinking God’s love is conditional on how well you are doing at getting it right?

I will confess it is a continual struggle for me.  Exhibit A.  Recently I got up at 5:45 to feed Ned and as I came back to bed I really wanted to spend time with the Lord, but I thought, “I will just sleep for another 30 minutes and then get up.”  I woke up almost 2 hours later and immediately felt the remorse and guilt sweep over me as I knew the sweet time I had wanted with the Lord was gone.  I confessed to the Lord my sorrow in missing that time with Him, but then had to fight those feelings of guilt with the truth that God still loves me deeply and that perhaps He would provide another time during the day to spend with Him.

I believe Paul knew personally the struggle to understand God’s love for us because he prayed in Ephesians 3:18-19 that they would have strength to comprehend the height, depth, breadth, and length of this love and he explained that it would surpass their knowledge and understanding.  This love is about way more than just how you “feel” in your relationship with God.  It something that you have to apprehend in your mind through faith and by God’s grace.

Will you walk this out with me today?  I am going to put this passage of Scripture on the Notes in my phone with a reminder to read it several times today and the days ahead, that God would begin to show and teach me how to be rooted and grounded in His love, in the midst of my sin and shortcomings.

May you be rooted and established in His love for you.  Jesus didn’t sacrifice His life and conquer sin and death for us so that we could walk around in guilt and shame.  Lord, help us begin to glimpse and grasp what it would mean to filled with all your fullness!  Amazing!

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Be Real

by Susan Sampson

What would they think if they could see? Why do I
care so much what they think of me? What is the
worst that could happen if they saw; When I am
open, vulnerable, and completely raw?

What is the worst; why do I fear?
Why do I put up these walls so no one can get near?
To keep myself from being rejected, I can hear my heart say.
But then I hear Jesus, and He whispers, “That is not the way.

I know how you feel; I endured the rejection.
It was for you, my love, that I walked the road of persecution.
So don’t be afraid, because I am right there.
I will never leave you; you are always in my care.”

There is One, He says, who truly knows your heart.
For He created your inmost being and knew your name back from the start.

My Lord and my God; He’s seen it all;
The dirt, the filth and every time I fall.
And yet He waits; not to condemn;
But to love me and forgive me and help me start again.

For it is in my weakness that God’s power can be seen.
It is in my weakness, that His glory is revealed.
So now He calls me to trust in Him and lay down all my pride.
To go ahead and let them see what’s really there inside.

I can hear Him whisper, “Follow Me and do not fear. Let
Me tear down those walls so My people can get near.”
Open your heart, be real and be true…
For only then will they see Jesus in you.

____________________

This poem appears in the Thistlebend Discipleship Study Falling in Love Again with Your Lord available here.

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