Chaos




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" August 19, 2003 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart" You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to subscribe@write2theheart.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ Do you feel that life is chaotic? Lyn suggests that maybe it is because God is doing a little spring cleaning in our lives. ------------------------------------------------------------ CHAOS! By Lyn Chaffart ------------------------------------------------------------ Nearly tripping over two weeks' worth of dirty laundry strewn all over the entryway, I paused just long enough to call out, "I'll be up to put the water in your fish tank as soon as I get the door!" Then, anxious to relieve the impatient caller of her "need" to ring the doorbell a third time, I threw the door open. "May -- I help you?" I stumbled, still trying to catch my breath. A pretty young lady stood just outside. She was dressed in a navy blue tailored suit, and she carried a leather attaché case in one hand and a clipboard in another. But as I watched, her pasty smile changed to a look of sheer horror. Shocked, I turned, following her gaze, and what I saw nearly took my breath away. As if for the first time, I saw the piles of dirty laundry, the overturned laundry baskets, the contents of the coat closet strewn out over the deacon's bench, and the pile of worn-out winter boots lying atop the out-grown snowsuits. Through the doorway into the kitchen, my largest pot was bubbling over the stove. A week's worth of house trash was piled up on the kitchen floor. The sink was overflowing with plastic containers that might have once contained leftovers, but now would have been better suited for my son's science experiments. Noises now began to register in my mind. The washer, knocking in a desperate attempt to balance its load. The bell signaling that the bread machine had completed its cycle. And of course, my son, still calling from upstairs for me to put water into his fish tank. Just for that briefest of moments, I am sure God gave me the ability to see my home as that total stranger did: In a state of total and complete CHAOS! "Sorry for the mess . . ." I started to say. But my attempt at an explanation was interrupted, "Uh -- maybe this isn't the best time!" stammered the lady, who couldn't contain her dismay and frustration. "I -- I'll call again when you aren't right in the middle of doing -- uh -- well -- EVERYTHING!" Then she turned and hurried down the steps, nearly tripping over my front flowerbed in her rush to get off my property. Bewildered, I turned back to my mess. Yes, it did look chaotic. But was it, really? Up until that moment, I hadn't even thought of it as disorder. It was simply the product of a very organized morning of routine cleaning! Everything was progressing according to plan, including the little 8 year old voice that continued to persist that I should come and put water in his fish tank! A half-smile donned my lips as I started up the stairs. Chaos? I should say not! The mess was but a vital part of the cleaning process! I had everything perfectly under control, and everything was progressing just according to my plan! In these uncertain times, when the world seems to be falling apart at the seams, how many times have you heard said, or even said yourself, "This world is going CRAZY!" You see nothing but reports of war on TV. You live in fear that your area will be the next targeted. Disease and famine are rampaging. Where terrorists are not bringing about their threats of death, natural calamities are doing a pretty fair job on their own! Chaos? It certainly looks that way! But are we not doing exactly what the lady on my doorstep did? Simply looking at the mess, without giving thought that perhaps there just might be a master plan behind it all? Imagine yourself, just for a moment, standing beside old Noah on the ark. Floodwaters are spouting out of the torn up earth, death abounds, and everything that once seemed familiar is now breaking up -- fast! Chaos? That's what most would call it! Yet the cleansing process that accompanied the flood were all part of God's well-laid plans for a better planet Earth! What would have appeared to be chaotic to you or I was but the middle of a well- made plan of the Master! Yes, just like I was in total control of my cleaning, in spite of what onlookers might have said. As we sit now in the middle of such chaotic times, I praise God that He has everything in His control! I don't need to worry. All I need to do is submit to Him, ever believing in faith that: "He has made everything beautiful in its time" (Eccl 3:11)! Lord, I want to thank you that You are on top of everything! Thank you for the promise that all this "chaos" is but the middle of your "spring cleaning," and that you have everything perfectly organized! Lord I submit my life to you anew today, in praise, adoration, and thanksgiving, for YOU are in CONTROL! Lyn Chaffart Lyn @ Answers2Prayer.org You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story, just remember to remove the space before and after the @ symbol. The space is placed in the address to protect our writers from viruses and email harvesting programs. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Lyn Chaffart is the director of Mini-Sermons and Answers2Prayer Ministries. You can visit her site at www.Answers2Prayer.org -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters From Our Readers -------------------------------------------------------------- What memories the story brought back to me of the same evenings playing the same games. A time much simpler and kind. Thanks Mark Crider Mary-Ellen sure knows how to remind you of childhood loves. You can't read one of her stories without remembering the things you did and how you felt as a kid. Patsy --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Prayer Reminder --------------------------------------------------------------- As you read over this list of names, please take that moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Thaddeaus Howard Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ken Prieur Ryan Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. --------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner David's home! He had such a wonderful time. I had told him to be sure and take lots of pictures. He dutifully snapped pictures. lots of pictures! Over 2000! He has put them on his computer and now runs them as a screensaver. Every time you pause in front of his computer you see something new. Mount Rushmore, Devil's Tower, Crazy Horse Monument, buffalo, our friends Bill and Mary, and so many different scenic wonders. I had a surprise waiting for him when he got back. A small rat terrier puppy. You should see him lying on the kitchen floor playing with this small puppy. I don't know who enjoys it more, him or the dog. God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- © 2003 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.