Now .. Where Did I Put My Passion?

This summer, the enemy made a solid effort around here ... trying to steal from God's people.

Like a little girl fumbling around in the dark, trying to find her favorite Lovie, I fumbled in the dark many days. Running my hands across hardship and life stress. Patting along chaos and confusion. I knew it had to be there somewhere. My Passion. Where did I put that thing?

I was so discouraged. Even in some of the darkest seasons of my life, I have still, by God's grace, been able to maintain my Passion for Jesus. I am crazy about Him.

I mean, "let me do a cartwheel" crazy in love with Him!

But this summer, my passion went from a cartwheel to a somersault, into a fire drill (stop, drop and roll) and some days I lay flat on my back. Being the roll-ie verses the roller.

Life rolled right on top of me. And knocked my breath out.

So where did my passion go?

Do you ever feel this way?

I think of Paul. He never seemed to lose his passion. In prison - passion. Stoned by Jews from Antioch - passion. Debating with Jerusalem council - passion.

So here I am, the year is 2011, a stay-at-home mom of three in Knoxville, TN ... where the heck did my passion go? I'm not being stoned to death, persecuted or thrown in prison!

In his study, A Call to Die, David Nasser writes this, "I am always amazed that God is willing to use somebody like me. His faithfulness makes me love Him even more. The more we see his power at work in us and through us, the more we are loyal to him. Passion takes root in gratitude. Take time to think about what God has done for you. No, many things may not have gone the way you hoped. But even in those disappointments, God is still God."

Passion takes root in gratitude. Bingo.

With that statement, the light went off. "Becky, you've taken your eye off of the prize. Your goal is not comfort, your goal is Me. Look to all I HAVE done. And be thankful. It is in your gratitude that your passion will return."



So I pulled out my fancy notebook and pen (kidding about the fancy) and started a list. And there it was. With each strike of my pen, my head shaking in awe that the Lord would bless me with ANYTHING, my passion started to make its entrance back into the stubborn doors of my heart.

I keep an ongoing list. And I have been practicing the act of thankfulness unto my sweet Jesus. The giver of every single good gift. Those aren't just words. They are TRUE words. Look around us. We are SO blessed.

Beyond. Belief. Blessed.



Shame on me for overlooking. Forgive me Lord for my unthankfulness.

A lesson learned for me this summer. I hope it blesses you, too.

On that note:

Gratitude

Children
Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.

Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph. 5:20

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Col. 2:6, 7

Myself and others
Help ME and _____________ live lives that are always OVERFLOWING with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for EVERYTHING.