The simple things are most precious

I know that this little bird has no representation in the above scripture but  God's word does tell us that we should not worry over what we should eat or drink because, if He supplies the needs of the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, and they do not worry over  their provision, then why should I. 
The angel did not give Elijah a vision, or explain the Scriptures to him, or do anything remarkable; he told Elijah to do the most ordinary thing, viz, to get up and eat.  If we were never depressed we should not be alive; it is the nature of a crystal never to be depressed.  A human being is capable of depression, otherwise there would be no capacity for exaltation.  There are things that are calculated to depress, things that are of the nature of death; and in taking an estimate of yourself, always take into account the capacity for depression.
When the Spirit of God comes He does not give us visions, He tells us to do the most ordinary things conceivable.  Depression is apt to turn us away from the ordinary commonplace things of God's creation, but whenever God comes, the inspiration is to do the most natural simple things--the things we would never have imagined God was in, and as we do them we find He is there.  The inspiration which comes to us in this way is an initiative against depression; we have to do the next thing and do it in the inspiration of God.  If we do a thing in order to overcome depression, we deepen the depression; but if the Spirit of God makes us feel intuitively that we must do the thing, and we do it, the depression is gone.  Immediately we arise and obey, we enter on a higher plane of life.
I've been in a funk lately.  Don't know if it's just general depression or if it's an infection/illness that won't go away.  My EBV titers may be high in which case the mono would explain the extreme tiredness and need to sleep enormous hours.  It is not very often that I find a book, written on a christian theme, especially a devotional, that addresses depression in black and white.  For some reason, we think that if we are saved that we should not have depression or that it is something we have the control to NOT give in to.  Some think it sin.  Others think that we can just think past it, push past it and it will go away, as if it was not there.  I know better.  It's a battle I have fought for over 20 years.  At least 20 + years that I've known what it was.  As a teenager I'm sure I fought it, know I fought it, but chose to self-medicate.  I did not know the Lord back then, and no one around who would have understood so as to get me the help I needed.
When I read todays devotion and it spoke of the Spirit of God coming and telling us to do the most ordinary things conceivable I found relief.  For that is all I have been able to do for the last 2 weeks.  It's been really bad this week.  And I've been beating myself up over it something terrible.  The depression has turned me away from the ordinary commonplace things of God's creation.  A creation that always brings me such wonder and joy when I can get out to enjoy it, feel it, smell it.  The statement that whenever God comes, He inspires us to do the most natural simple things, things that we'd never imagine Him in, as we do them there He is.
It's the simple, natural, commonplace, ordinary everyday things of life, that when He inspires  us, is the initiative to chase away depression.  And it's so true, that whenever I purposely initiate an action to chase away the depression, the depression just deepens.
So another confirmation of living the simple life, finding the beauty in the commonplace things, arising and eating, doing wash, vacuuming, dusting, washing dishes, cooking, baking, all of the things that are my regular chores of the day, these are where He is, what He is in, and those that rid the depression from my mind and heart.  Doing them, the work of my hands, prevents me from isolating.  I feel alive, that life will go on, that I will feel better, that this too shall pass.
Can you relate?  Do you feel alone or depressed tonight?  Arise and eat.  Do the commonplace, simple things of life and find joy in them for He is there.
living simply and for Him,
~~Sherri
   

 

God never speaks to us in startling ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand and we say, "I wonder if that is God's voice?"  Isaiah said that the Lord spake to him "with a strong hand," that is, by the pressure of circumstances.  Nothing touches our lives but it is God Himself speaking.  Do we discern His hand or only mere occurrence?
Get into the habit of saying, "Speak, Lord," and life will become a romance.  Every time circumstances press, say, "Speak, Lord"; make time to listen.  Chastening is more than a means of discipline, it is meant to get me to the place of saying, "Speak, Lord."  Recall the time when God did speak to you.  Have you forgotten what He said?  Was it Luke 11:13 or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23?  As we listen, our ear gets acute, and, like Jesus, we shall hear God all the time.
Shall I tell my "Eli" what God has shown to me?  That is where the dilemma of obedience comes in.  We disobey God by becoming amateur providences--I must shield "Eli," the best people we know.  God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli; he had to decide that for himself.  God's call to you may hurt your "Eli"; but if you try to prevent the suffering in another life, it will prove an obstruction between your soul and God.  It is at your own peril that you prevent the cutting off of the right hand or the plucking out of the eye.
Never ask the advice of another about anything God makes you decide before Him.  If you ask advice, you will nearly always side with Satan.  "Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood."
So what is God saying to me thru this message?  The obvious is that God speaks to me, that I don't always listen, that I don't always devulge what He does tell me to another, if He has told me something specific for the other, my "Eli" if you will.   But the deeper  message to me required digging into scripture, reading more than just the small line of scripture given as reference, and praying, saying "Speak, Lord," and then listening. 
The reference is 1 Samuel 3:15 but, for me to really understand I went back to Chapter 1 and read from there.  I won't go into it so that you can read it for yourself, and you can have the honor of saying "Speak, Lord" and then the privelege of listening.  What I will say is that this message, among many of late, just confirms the what and why of the pressure of circumstances that settled upon our lives most recently.  And the chastening we have gone thru, most especially speaking for myself and not my spouse, has been so much more than just discipline.  It's been the carving away of the clay, by the potters hand, to perfect the piece before Him.  Refining the features, sharpening some, smoothing others, cutting away and discarding of others, all the while speaking in ways that I could easily understand.  And all for the betterment of not just I but of those I love so dearly.
Life is becoming a romance.  For the first time since I became a Christian, since I set my foot upon the path, have I felt that romance between my soul and God.  And those are a very many years.  Some 27 to be exact.  So if you are a "seasoned" Christian, one who has lost there way, or one that has found their way back, the romance is for you.  If you are a new babe in the Lord, or a mature and wise man or woman of God, the romance is for you.  Do you hear the wooing of the Bridegroom, calling unto His bride? Come close.  Quiet thyself, be still, and know that HE....IS....GOD.   Shhhhh....He is whispering in the circumstances surrounding you, just waiting for you to say, "Speak, Lord, speak.  Your servant is listening."  Make time to listen.