Lesson #2

I think that many of the lessons that I learned in 2009 will be incorporated into my 2010 lessons. God has allowed me to learn lessons in 2009 and I feel that He is saying, "Ok, you learned the lessons; now let me see you put them into practice". Almost, like He is saying, "Don't forget what you have learned about Me." I don't like it, but I accept it.

Lesson #2: Don't leave a stick of butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. I really did learn this lesson today. Without thinking it through, I grabbed the stick of butter, wanted it be softened, and quickly put it in the microwave without watching it. I was distracted on the phone. I hear a beeping, open the microwave, and see liquid, melted butter everywhere! Man, I wasn't paying attention and thought I knew what I was doing.

I think that quite too often we take our eyes off God because we "think" we know what we are doing. We stop paying attention and feel like we know what we are doing. God, in a sense, is that beeping noise the microwave makes, saying ok "re-focus, take a look at the mess you made" or not necessarily the mess you made, but maybe the mess you are in. He, just like the beeping, gets your attention.

When I saw the mess in the microwave I thought I'd probably make a bigger mess cleaning it up and dreaded it. When I cleaned it up, I didn't spill a single drop of melted butter on the ground. And it wasn't that hard to clean up as I had thought.

Once we "re-focus" on God, even if it's just for a moment, stop and take in His peace and presence. If we can do this through the many moments in our day, it won't be "that" hard. It will still be hard, always will, but God can clean up the mess you are in...if even for a moment...if you let Him.