Clean through the Word

I know that God loves me when He tenderly repeats what He is teaching me.  It takes me a while to get it sometimes.  But I'll notice that what I'm reading in the Bible is repeated from the pulpit and said again in a conversation or an article or song, and then I know, I hear God saying, "Kate, listen up. This is for you.  You NEED this."
Well, that's been happening.   Verses have recently jumped out about being clean.  I hate being dirty. Feeling uncomfortable in my own skin, itchy and bothered because I just need to get clean.  Maybe you're thinking, "What is wrong with this person? Just take a shower and be done with it."  I've found that with 3 littles to clean and dress and now a Grandmom to provide basic hygiene for that my own gets neglected. There have been days that lunch is approaching, and I haven't taken care of my own needs to clean up for the day.  Getting a shower energizes and refreshes me, makes me feel ready to face the filth that lies ahead.
How much more important is it to get and stay spiritually clean? And that's what God has been talking to me about lately. The first time was through a televised sermon on union in Christ and the importance of abiding in Him.  I've long thought of abiding in Christ as dwelling in Him and to do that through continuous and consistent prayer, Bible reading and meditation.  And though that is a good definition, the preacher brought forward John 15:3 which is tucked in the midst of the vine, branch and abiding verses. "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."
Then I had the epic Psalm 119 as part of my daily Bible reading assignment. Verse 9 says, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."  And today at a wedding the preacher used Ephesians 5:26 in his challenge to the new husband on how to be a good leader by loving his new wife as Christ loved and Christ loved by giving himself for the church, "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." 
An example was brought to mind of a grandpa who gave his grandson an old, dirty basket and said, "Go down to the river and bring me back some water."  The boy was obedient but found that the basket was insufficient to do the job.  The water would just run through the holes in the basket. The grandpa kept sending the boy back. "Go bring me back some water." The boy didn't see what was happening.  He only saw that he couldn't hold onto the water, but the grandpa's purpose was to get the basket clean and that's just what happened.
We may not be able to hold onto all of God's Word but when we run down and scoop it up it is doing something to us to clean us up and make us usable. So take some time every day to wash up in the Word. Sometimes there will only be time for a birdbath. But make sure to get in some long soaks.

Life's about Changing

"Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same, " it's a line from a Patty Loveless song. And though I like the song, I'm glad there is one Foundation that's sure and One who says, "I change not."  2015 had already brought lots of change to the Lytle home.  The great grands moved in with us, Grandmom on hospice a week ago now.  The two weeks prior to that were spent in frenzied preparation for their arrival.  I lost my voice 10 days ago and wonder when it'll come back.  I think it may have been the Almighty's way of keeping me from saying something I shouldn't.  As I'm typing, a sweet little baby boy is kicking my insides; and a baby always brings new things.  We see him again on ultrasound in a few days to monitor his kidneys.  So though I don't know what changes may be around the corner, I know the One who does not change. A better lyric than my opening is, "many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand, but I know Who holds tomorrow and I know Who holds my hand."