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God and i were talking this morning and it basically went like this:
ME:
i feel like crap.
i want to sleep for days.
why do i have to be awake?
why do i have to work?
why do i have clean up?
i don’t want to.
why do i have to exercise?
it’s cold. ugh it’s raining! on halloween!
oh this is the worst.
i want to eat cookies. it is so unfair that i can’t eat cookies all day long.
GOD:
how about you work on your bible study lesson. you seem like you are grumpy.
ME:
well of course i am grumpy!
everyone is so lame and hurts my feelings and makes me mad.
and i am tired.
and hormonal.
and there is so much to do because life is full AND it’s halloween!!!!
we never carved the pumpkins that i bought. what a waste of money!
how will i possibly not eat all that candy tonight!???
and i didn’t buy the boots that annie wanted for her costume.
and i have to miss scott’s football game.
and talby needs her headband made.
GOD:
start your lesson.
ME:
i am cold.
i need another cup of coffee.
and a blanket.
and my sweater and slippers.
15 minutes later….
GOD:
why don’t you start on that lesson now?
ME:
oh alright!!!!
and of course it was awesome and perfect and a great attitude adjustor.
then as i finished the questions the light changes in the room & the cloudy gross weather is suddenly BRIGHT!
it got SO shiny and bright where i was sitting and i immediately felt the need to capture it.
that feeling i try not to ignore.
the push to create something… or appreciate something in front of me.
and so often now just try to get a quick capture on my phone camera.
that is lazy! it is easy and helpful but also lazy.
but my phone was on 7% battery this morning (oops i forgot to plug it in last night)
so i got out the big mama camera, threw on talby’s shoes by the door & went out to catch the light.
AMAZING!
i felt great… there is something so rad that happens when i use that creativity inside me!
when i plug into that part of me.
the crappy stuff just falls away.
the feelings, the tiredness, the self pity, the schedule, the stress…
for a few moments it is not there.
and then if it does come back around… it’s more bearable after spending some time creating.
spending time focusing on Jesus helps me to SEE what matters around me.
i came back in the house, 10 minutes and 200 pictures later and sat down in the same spot.
within a minute the clouds came back in and that sun was gone.
dark and cloudy again outside.
what a gift that 10 minutes was to my heart today.
my cloudy gray heart was FULL of that shiny light i had just soaked in.
my problems aren’t fixed but i don’t have to be heavy about it.
i have Jesus.
it’s all good… everything is in His control.
nothing on my complaint list was a surprise to Him.
(even though i really have nothing to complain about… nor should i be complaining in the first place)
He knows all of it.
i just need to put it all before Him and leave it there.
i am confident that He will change my heart. heal my wounds. lift my spirit. guide my thoughts.
“And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.”
1 John 5:14-15
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what are you hearing today?
do you do that with God too… argue and complain to him?
i hope i am not the only one.
and now… time to exercise and make a headband!
Mindy - Beautiful pictures and beautiful post. Our “theme” at our church this past year has been “What 15 minutes can do” – just like your post, giving God just 15 minutes and our whole world can change. Think of what could happen if we (me…) gave Him more?
ira lee - thank you for sharing!!!!! why are we so stubborn? i don’t want to put any energy into having a positive attitde, i want everything to go right and me not have to work on it! lol but once a day or attitude turns around, it is so much better, right?
tracy fisher - oh boy… are we ever alike! i just had that same conversation with God. happy monday. -tracy
Jaime - AAAAmen.
Liz Hurst - Meg,
Somehow I stumbled onto your blog a few months ago and I love reading it. You are so inspiring and this post is so right on!
Thank you for knowing what I needed to hear today – God is so good!
Liz
Jenny B. - Absolutely love it!! What Bible study are you doing? I need a new one.
kensie - How great is our God
Flower Patch Farmgirl - YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!
I’m so glad I read this tonight.
I’m so happy you grabbed those 10 minutes.
I’m so glad I’ve got you!
tara - that whole conversation seems eerily familiar to me. 🙂
grateful for your 10 minutes and 200 pictures.
God is so kind to us…over and over and over.
thanks for keeping it real, Meg.
Lori - I love this! 🙂
Thanks for always honestly sharing with us.
God blessed me with a great night’s sleep last night so that
pile of dishes and laundry this morning feels so much more do-able
today.
Karen Gerstenberger - Thank you, Meg.
Kristin S - Every day and He’s beyond patient with me.
Meredith - Beautiful & Touching. Praise God that we can give it all to him! Love the 10 minutes you got, just for you!
Tiffany - Beautiful words and pictures! Hugs to you!
Tiffany Gardner - This made me cry. I needed this post. Thanks for sharing your heart and touching mine. Jesus does rock!
Kerry - Ahhhhhh yes. Just yes : )
Lisa - All those colors you captured remind me of our God’s creativity. What a beautiful time of year. And yes I totally grumble to God at times. Sometimes I think He must get sick of me. 😉 I have tried to get better at being quiet and trying to just listen to Him. Thanks for sharing this today!
Heather - Which Bible study are you using???
Christy - How did you do that? How did you crawl into my head and hear my conversation with God? I made a conscious decision not too long ago to choose joy. I’m constantly reminding myself of that choice…joy when my hormonal sixth grade daughter bites off the head of whomever is in her path, joy when there is WAY too much on my plate and I don’t know what to do with it all, joy when my car breaks down and I have to wait in the dark for two hours for the wrecker because my husband is out of town (thank goodness for my mama who got the kids and took them to a nearby neighborhood to trick or treat while I waited.)
Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
jen - Needed this today. Thanks for sharing it/you with us.
Kit - Oh Megan! This is a real encouragement!! Thanks for being so real and for letting us in on God’s beauty. I argue and complain all the time. So glad He met you…He is so gracious with His grumpy children, isn’t He?!?
Cassandra - Oh this warmed my heart! Thanks for sharing everything the pictures (gorgeous!), the talk w/ God & the verse. I’ve been in a similar place mentally & emotionally this week so thank you for reminding me where I need to be – in his Word!
Diane - This post was just what I needed today! I often feel this way…until I am reminded of all the GOOD in my life and my grumpiness is gone. I am also doing BSF & sometimes am stressed about getting “homework” done…how selfish of me to think of it as a chore, when I am blessed each and every time I spend time in His word!! Thank you for sharing – I LOVE your photo’s and honesty!!
Linda - Beautiful post and a beautiful, much needed message. Thank you again for inspiring me.
Jen - I love everything about this post. I appreciate your openness and willingness to share. I too have been having pity parties lately and have been feeling left out. Life really is wonderful and I don’t know where my self doubt has come from all of a sudden. Let go. Let God.
Terrie G - WoW! Like…you could be me or I could be You!
I can’t tell you how down I’ve been lately…and mad, frustrated and hurt…
soooo hurt.
I went to the local nature center and shot some fall colors…
best photo therapy!!
I felt so much better having a little God time in nature doing what I love!
Kathy - WOW! This is so right where I’m at lately … and life has been so busy that I’ve put off my quiet time ALL too often lately. Thank you for such a wonderful encouragement today!
jaxcheryl - Would you consider making the 5th one from the bottom – the gorgeous red leaves (swoon) a screen saver or a poster to purchase from your shop? I live in FL, grew up in Michigan, and miss the beautiful fall colors so much!
Kristen - Meg- I just love your heart. Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to share your heart, what God’s putting on it, and those amazing pictures. I usually love fall so much…but lately it’s felt more like “pre-Christmas”, full of deadlines and costumes and gifts to make and tooooo many things to put on the calendar. Too many folks to try and make happy. My creative energy often gets used up with ‘making things for stuff’ that feels like a chore, and not an outlet or gift. But, as it often is, PERSPECTIVE and SCRIPTURE and AWESOME SISTERS IN CHRIST are the balm that soothes my whiny soul – and you are the perfect messenger! Thank you for the reminder that God gives us this creative drive, and that we can praise him with our creations. I think I’ll do a little crafting-for-my-soul today…right after I do my devotions! 🙂
CathyC - Yes! I do that too! So glad it worked out perfectly in the end 🙂 Today I am hearing I do need to go to weight class, but afterwards I can sit and read on my comfy couch with my awesome granny square blanket I thrifted. That’s why He let me have those.
Bethany - What a comfort that we can come as we are-whining, complaining, having a pity party-and he’s always ready to listen. And if we’re willing, he’ll change it all up. Not necessarily by changing our circumstances or fixing everything, but by changing our perspective. Thanks for sharing this. It’s a good reminder about the benefits of spending time in God’s word.
Jennifer - I just love this post – in and of itself its creative!!!
You’re fall photos are amazing. Is there any chance that you’d sell the full-sized jpgs files? I live in Perth, Western Australia (I’m American, though) and we see about 1 red leaf a year, we don’t have fall the way I did growing up in WI. The thought of using your amazing photos to make canvases to hang in my home pretty much makes my soul fill with joy. Seriously, name a price!
Sadie - Where can I get these study lessons? Are they online? I’d love to try!
JulianneB - Oh, Meg thanks so much for sharing…so where I have been lately…a raging case of pinkeye, sore throat, sick daughter, sick son, hubs busy taking care of us and ministry…and no we haven’t painted our pumpkins either…and yet I know God is good and He loves me big. He can bear it all and my burdens aren’t really that overwhelming in the big picture.
kate@stillroomtogrow - wow Meg, awesome post. love your honesty and your heart. thanks for making me feel like I am not the only one who wakes up with these feelings too. thanks for sharing and what beautiful pictures.
Heather S. - It never fails. When I fight Him I always discover He is full of abundant love and blessings, just waiting to pour them out to me when I am obedient. Your sunshine moment was a hug from your Daddy, your Abba Father reminding you just how very much you are loved….
Tiffany - Hi Meg. LOVED your post today. What bible study are you working on, I think I need some of that! 🙂 Thanks for inspiring me on a daily basis with 3 teens at home – one of which graduated last year.
Tiffany
HappyGirl - Galatians 2:20-21
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness[a] were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
This is my verse of conviction this week. If Christ gave all for me. I shall give all for Christ.
Kerrin - Amen Sister! Thank you for the reminder of the power or our great God. Especially when we are fighting it. Thank you for the reminder of the power of slowing down and touching base with God. And as for those un-carved pumpkins….screw it……they are beautiful the way they are. And besides, there are countless blog followers that are copying your lovely pumpkins from Halloweens past..oh yeah I’m talking about the year you all painted a bunch of them. They were RAD and totally inspired me. So you may not have done anything with the pumpkins you have but you sure had a hand in decorating and carving pumpkins throughout blog land!
Marcia - I am so glad that I took 5 minutes to read your post today so that I can focus on all the good in front of me, too.
Thank you for the reminder: God is with us every moment of every day – sunny or cloudy.
Carol Myers - Thank you, Meg, for allowing God to use you to encourage my heart today, AND for making me smile. Your transparency is an encouragement and speaks volumes.
Mari - Your blog is always so uplifting. Thanks for sharing this post. After reading it, I reminded myself “it’s all good… everything is in His control” and instantly my day just got brighter.
Gina - I love this Meg!! You had me at, “i want to eat cookies. it is so unfair that i can’t eat cookies all day long.” 😉 And, YES, I dialog with God like this sometimes too. 🙁
Tanya - It’s 100% chance of rain during the trick-treating hours tonight here, and we can’t hit up the church Glow party instead because my little guy developed pink eye over night 🙁
Lots of ammo for silly complaining here today too…but I’m learning right along with you Meg, that God is a hearing and loving Father who doesn’t grow weary of our human trials but as we talk to Him He also continues to challenge us to see things through the eyes of Heaven. xo
Sarah M - How good is God that he has given you the perfect words this morning. I needed to read this and dwell on that verse from I John. Our life is a mess with a lawsuit and a business on hold but none of it is a surprise to Jesus. Thank for the bright light.
Lora - I love your conversation with God. It kinda sounds like the ones I have. I feel a little far from Himlately. Well, maybe not far, just that I’m not doing anything to Glorify Him. I don’t know WHAT to do to Glorify Him. I thank Him for the good things in my life and ask for His help with the bad things in my life, but I feel like I need to DO something. I guess I’ll just ask Him what I should do and he’ll show me 🙂 … thanks for the post today. I needed it. Have a great rest of the day and Happy Halloween!
Gabby - What a great post! Especially your conversation with God. 🙂
Dena - What a great post! I needed that reminder, thank you. PS. My pumpkins didn’t get carved either…….and I have to learn to be ok with that.