Sunday, Sunday

I went to church with a friend this week.  Now, just because I went to another church, don't jump to any conclusions.  I am not really looking for another church to join.  I just promised her that I would go.  She has recently joined this church and is all excited about her new church family and wanted to share.  That's all.  I will admit that I felt very comfortable and many people told me how glad they were to see me there.  I very much enjoyed the worship and the Sunday School lesson.

When I walked in they gave me a bulletin and I noticed that the sermon was going to be over Ephesians 5:22 - 33.  If you don't know what those verses are, you better check them out, but they are the "rules" for wives and husbands!  I was really thinking, how can I leave here before church, cause I just don't want to hear this.  I had just made the decision the night before to quit internet "dating" as such and be happy without a husband.  It is just too crazy!!  I look at some marriages and they are wonderful and I think I want that.  Then I look at others and feel so sorry for them and think, I just don't want to live that way.  I know what it is like to be in a bad relationship and I know what it is like to not be in a relationship.  I don't know what it is like to be in a good relationship.  I figured two out of three ain't bad (like the song) and I would just stop there. 

So.... I get to church with my friend....   I decided to have an open mind ( which was really hard since I had such a headache).  The pastor did a fantastic job of relating those verses to husbands and wives and individuals and the church.  He gave a very graphic description of the "wedding" and exactly what I must look like as the "bride of Christ".  His words were exactly what God wanted me to hear.  I definitely need to submit to Christ and become the bride he gave his life for.

At some point in the sermon I came to another realization.  I don't know if it was something the preacher said, or just me thinking about things.  All my life I felt that I needed to change certain bad behaviors I have.  You know those things that you hate about yourself.  I just can't seem to change them.  I want to be sweet and nice all the time, but then this ugly monster (sometimes called psycho mom)  comes out.  I felt like something was wrong because I couldn't change this behavior.  Well, I finally realized that I, yes I, don't change the behavior.  God does.  He changes me.  I need to just get close to Him and let him mold me into what He wants me to be, not the way I want it.  Wow, what a relief!  I don't have to do a thing.  I don't have to read a billion self help books.  I don't have to do internet searches for niceness.  I don't have to fake it and I don't have to go to counseling and give the thing a label!  I just have to submit to Christ and let Him....let Him....let Him....

Then I began to think that idea might carry over into other areas of my life besides just my personality. Hmmmm... could I let Him take over my finances and supply my needs and bless me with my wants....could I let Him discipline my child and work in her life.....could I let Him love her as much as I do..... could I let Him provide shelter..... could I let Him give us our daily bread....could I let Him find me a body to worship with where I could sing again from my heart..... could I let Him decide if I should be married or single.... could I let Him fill the void when I feel so lonely....could I let Him..., could I let Him......

You fill in your own blank and decide today to let Him...... whatever is stressing or worrying you in your life.  LET HIM TAKE CONTROL