I want to be with You

I have so many favorite parts of my day. 

Even on Monday.  I have always thought it would be better to have Monday only once a month instead of every week.  But I suppose Tuesdays wouldn't be as sweet without them.

 

I love cooking meals for my family. I love baking breads or cookies with my girls.

I LOVE teaching!  All ages!  All subjects! 

I love playing piano, singing, trying to play guitar with the boys or violin.

I love cleaning.  I love Pine-sol.

I love doing laundry.  I do not love ironing.

I love organizing.  I love reading.  I love reading to the children.

I love playing.  I love talking.  I love writing.

I love serving.  I love preparing for my Ladies' class.  I love preparing for a children's class. 

I love sharing Christ with others.  I love visiting another.I love helping someone.

 I love being with my husband.  I love being with my family.  I love being with our church here.

But most of all, I love being with Jesus!

 

The backbone of every other part of my day is the time I spend with the Lord.

It is my very favorite time of all.

 

Sometimes I don't take that time. 

And then all those favorite parts of my day aren't as good anymore.

Sometimes I don't notice it at first.

I'm so busy.  My heart is set on my work rather than on the One who gives me all things.

When schedules get off, there are days of travel, bedtimes are all over the place, sickness comes,

and all the "distractions" this life offers quietly, subtly turning our focus away from where it should...

it isn't that I need Him more during those times.

I ALWAYS need Him.  Every hour of every day! 

I need to be with Jesus more than I need anything else.

 

Sometimes I feel ashamed.  I leave my Best Friend for something else.  I neglect Him.

Or I hurry through my time with Him with my mind and heart not set completely on Him.

And when I come realize that the day or days have gone past without being with Him,

I almost feel ashamed to go back.

 

The word "devil" means accuser.  He stands there ready to show me how I have failed.  How I don't deserve mercy or grace or help from my Lord when I have put Him by the side.

Sometimes I feel I might need to "make it up" somehow.  Maybe if I read more or pray more.

 

No, that isn't at all what my Lord says.  He says, "Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest."

He says, "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you."

He is quick to forgive.  FULL of mercy and grace!  His mercies are new EVERY morning. No matter how I have failed.

He is love.

He doesn't need me.  He existed fine before He ever created me.

But He wants me.  He loves me.  He desires to have sweet fellowship with me.  He wants to clean me, fill me, and carry my every burden.

All he wants is a humble, willing, trusting heart.

He is so faithful and so good!!

 

I'm reading in the book of Mark right now.  The other day I read chapter 5.

Jesus crosses the sea and comes upon a man full of unclean spirits.  A lunatic.  Mad.

Living among the dead in the cemetery.  Unable to be helped by any man.  Unable to be tamed.

Unclothed.  Ashamed.  Cutting himself.  Crying.

No man could bind him, no not even with chains.

Yet he was bound within needing desperately to be free.

No man could help him.  Did any man even care?

 

Then came Jesus.

Jesus cared.

He ran to Him and He set him FREE.

 

Sending those demons into a herd of pigs which under their control, perished.

 

The news spread.  The people of the town came.

Their pigs were gone.

And that man who lived among the dead

sat clothed, in his right mind...Free.

 

The story was told them.  How Jesus did what no other man could for this man.

How their swine were gone, but their fellow man was saved.

But their swine were gone.   What they probably valued most.

 

And the town begged Jesus to leave.  To depart out of their coasts.

 

Jesus didn't stay. He is always longing for and seeking the lost.  But He doesn't go where He is not wanted.
  I'm sure His heart aches each and every time He is rejected.

Aches because of how much He loves us. 

 

And as He entered back into a ship, that man who had been possessed with those devils wanted only one thing.

He wanted to be with Jesus. 

He wanted to go with him.

He didn't want to live apart from the One who saved him.

 

But Jesus had a job for this man to do.

It is the same job He has for each and every one of us to do.

He told him, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee"

 

He told him to go and tell others what the Lord had done for him.

Look at where I was and where I am today!
It is because of Jesus!

And He wants to do that for you.

 

Bound by sin.  Living among the dead.  Dead in trespasses and sins.

Needing exactly what that tomb dwelling man needed.

Needing to be freed.  Needing to know the One that can and wants to free them.

 

The Lord has done wonderful things in my life.  I want to be with Jesus.

And someday I will.

But for now, He tells me to go and tell others what He has done for me.

 

Has Jesus freed you?  Has He done a great work in your life?
Do you long to be with him?

When he takes something you value away, do you ask Him to leave you alone or do you run to Him?

Are you telling others what the Lord has done for you?

He wants to use you to bring another to Him.