Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

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Hello, Goodbye, Hello

September 6, 2018 by Ellen 2 Comments

Ahhhh, retirement! I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. Of course, getting here, I had to work through some emotions. You know, that whole “saying goodbye” thing. I don’t like it, do you?

I have longed for retirement for a while now – the slower pace, managing my home, more time to do things I love. But after seventeen years of working in a family office, a close-knit, small group of people, I struggled to say goodbye. Or, more accurately, to let go.

In the back of my mind, I was thinking of ways I could come back to the office every now and then. Perhaps they would need help at the end of the year? For a fee, of course, because, you know, only one salary and all.

This reminded me of the wishy washy-ness of the Israelites, as they wandered in the wilderness. They complained and complained and complained. Goodness, they even wanted to go back to Egypt! 

           “In Egypt we used to eat all the fish we wanted, and it cost us nothing. Remember the cucumbers, the watermelons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic we had? But now our strength is gone. There is nothing at all to eat—nothing but this manna day after day!” Numbers 11:5-6 GNT

Yeah, they had food in Egypt, but it wasn’t exactly free. They were slaves that had to do hard labor for their provisions. They didn’t recognize the manna as provision from the Lord. It was the perfect food – it would satisfy their hunger, provide energy for the journey, and I imagine (though I can’t prove it Biblically) it was fat free! But noooooo, they wanted meat, just like they had in Egypt.

Why do we hang on to the past, when we know God is moving us to the land of milk and honey? The land of plenty, and abundance beyond what we can ask or imagine?

Because it’s what we know, the known versus the unknown. We know we’ll have provision. We forget that it is God who is leading us, and He is faithful to provide. We forget we were slaves, and now we are free (no, I wasn’t a slave in my job, but I was a slave to the 8 – 5 routine).

I love how the Lord took care of the complainers. He gave them exactly what they wanted: meat!

“God has heard your whining and he’s going to give you meat. You’re going to eat meat. And it’s not just for a day that you’ll eat meat, and not two days, or five or ten or twenty, but for a whole month. You’re going to eat meat until it’s coming out your nostrils. You’re going to be so sick of meat that you’ll throw up at the mere mention of it. And here’s why: Because you have rejected GOD who is right here among you, whining to his face, ‘Oh, why did we ever have to leave Egypt?’ ” Numbers 11:18b-20 MSG

Well, now. That about settles it, doesn’t it? God IS leading me to a new season. There WILL be bumps in the road, when I will look back and remember fondly where I have come from. But I will keep moving forward, into the land of milk and honey. And God WILL provide. 

How about you? Are you struggling to say goodbye or let go? Are you hanging on to what was? Is God nudging you to move forward, into a new season He has prepared just for you? 

Go ahead, take that next step of faith. Jehovah Jireh will provide for your every need.

Father, forgive us when we complain and don’t trust You! When we grumble, give us a gentle reminder of Your faithfulness in our lives. We love You, Lord God. In the mighty name of Jesus, and for His glory, Amen

Grace be with you,

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Being vs Doing by Romo the dog

June 28, 2018 by Ellen 8 Comments

I am a creature of habit. But with this new, upcoming retirement thing,  I’m going to experience change in my life that is oh so different than any I’ve ever experienced before. I need to know how to deal with this. I need to prepare my heart.

For instance, a couple of weeks ago, I had a preview of what my mornings would be like in retirement. I had the whole week off, with mornings free. I was having my normal time in God’s word and prayer. An odd thing happened as I neared the end of my 2nd cup of coffee. I noticed a little knot forming in the pit of my stomach. A small hard rock of anxiety.

What on earth? 

There was no reason for me to be anxious.  I wasn’t working. I had the whole week off! But my brain associated the end of my coffee, with time to Go! Time to get ready for work, hop in the car and Drive at supersonic speeds to beat the traffic and get to work on time! RUSH RUSH RUSH! I was anxious, because it was “time” and here I was lollygagging over God’s word (Oh! The joys of lollygagging over scripture!).

My poor brain will need to be re-trained!

[tweetthis]I’ll need to learn to stop doing all the time, and just be. What does that look like?[/tweetthis]

Our grand-dog came over later in the week for me to pup-sit. It was just me and Romo, sitting on the back porch. So, of course I asked him – don’t judge, if you had a grandpup as cute and smart as mine, you would talk to him, too.

“Romo, how does one just be, and not DO all the time?”

He glanced at me for a second or two, then went back to his important task of just being. I watched him. Romo didn’t feel the need to jump up just because he heard my voice. He knew I would nudge him if it was time to go in. He didn’t move when a bird flew past, or another dog barked in the neighborhood. He just sat, watched, and listened to the sights and sounds of this new world of his.

Imagine that. Being still and observing the world around me. Not worrying about being productive or doing more. Just sitting. Hanging out with my Master. 

Hmmmm. 

You know what? I’m pretty sure I can do that, with a little work.

I just have to let my brain know that it’s okay. No worries. Sit a spell. Relax. Lollygag over the Word. Not to mention that second cuppa. Move from the “doing” of a Martha, to the “being” of a Mary. Teaching my brain that it’s okay to sit quietly before God.

 

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. Psalm 62:5 (NLT)

 

How do you switch from doing to being? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear your ideas – no, I NEED your ideas!

Grace be with you,

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