faith unfaded

I have a children’s book called The Day Cody Got Nine Time-Outs. It’s loosely based on a true story. 😜

I’ve been holding out for a bigger publisher because I love the message. After eight time outs for the various misbehaviors of spunky seven year old, Cody’s mother is surprised that he still kneels by his bed at the end of the day until he tells her that he always takes time out for God.

I had my own time outs today, a few leisurely ones I put myself in and one admonishing one the Lord put me in.

If you saw yesterday’s blog post you’ll know that I’ve been struggling with a few relationships in my life. Tired of not-so-innocent people playing victim when it takes every ounce of willpower in me not to blast their bad behavior sometimes, I had a camel’s back-breaking straw incident earlier where I didn’t hold back on one of those people.

I proceeded to listen to Taylor Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do on repeat at least a dozen times. Each time she sang “I got a list of names, and yours is in red underlined” I thought about the people who are on my list.

They are spread throughout my testimony but the naked eye would never know. I go to great lengths to protect people and cause no harm.

But I’ve been praying about this a lot lately because I feel like a teapot who’s about to start whistling, especially those who ignore me or unfairly make me a villain. I’m standing in the light and I’m getting tired of those in the darkness acting like I’m the one who’s wrong.

One thing about a prophetic calling? It comes with boldness. I’m not afraid to call it ALL out.

I am afraid of stepping out of God’s will though. My unction with the Holy Spirit grows stronger as my faith matures.

Today, however, I was a toddler testing my limits. After the 12th play about tilted stages and karma and revenge, I had to listen to Forgiveness by Matthew West.

Great song but I hate it when God makes me listen to it. It is my spiritual time-out and it comes with conviction and admonishment.

“Even when the jury and the judge
Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying ‘Set It Free’…forgiveness”

I pushed it out of my mind before it took up residence in my heart. These are ongoing situations so they won’t disappear by the end of a 3-minute song but I can keep that door from opening to wickedness.

My next three time-outs were joyful ones. I swam at Belle’s for a little while this afternoon then met my dad for a foot massage at 99 Massage. I’d left my license and debit card at Belle’s so I went back after the foot massage and we sat on rockers on her back porch and visited.

We should all make time for friends and self-care!

I went to the gym after then came home and fixed a healthy meal. I’m not a place where my body craves good nutrition yet but it will. I am determined.

I took some time out for praise and worship after dinner- it’s important to ENTER His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Psalm 100:4

Don’t just start every prayer with Help me…and I need… Proclaim His goodness!

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8