22. July 2010 by Starr.

I’m sure you’ve heard the term, “high maintenance.” Perhaps, you’ve even used it. This term is sometimes used when one is considering purchasing a home or a commercial building. This term is also used concerning people. I can recall a phone call that I had with a friend and this friend said to me, “I can’t date him. He’s just too high maintenance.”

In relationships and marriages, the Bible clearly states that we can’t be unequally yoked. This “high maintenance” topic can creep into marriages, also. For example, the wife may want to purchase an old historic Victorian Queene Anne style home that she can take on as a project with her husband in the marriage to restore and rebuild to it’s original beauty. The husband, however, may see that as “high maintenance” and require a new contemporary brick home that requires little, if any restoration beyond the normal maintaining requirements that come with a home.

Lets think about people. When you consider dating someone, do you look for people who are healthy and fit that can climb mountains and run marathons or lift weights? Do you require a person to be able to receive a preferred rating on their life insurance? This type of person is not going to be high maintenance, for now. Everything has it’s season.

Perhaps you are someone who feels that this type of thing doesn’t matter, however, and you are just looking for a good heart in someone and feel that someone that is that into their physical features is just not for you. Maybe you feel that someone who is a bit overweight and a little more “high maintenance” with some health issues is just fine, as long as they love you, and are of the same religious beliefs, and have the other qualities that you seek in a person.

Sometimes, I feel that we are too quick to state, “Oh…that’s too high maintenance,” or “She’s, too high maintenance,” about people and places,” and can sometimes miss a blessing and lesson from God.

 Last week I posted Isaiah 58. I’d like to show you some specific lines from that chapter, beginning in verse 10.

  “ If you take away the yoke from your midst,
      The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
       ¹⁰ If you extend your soul to the hungry
      And satisfy the afflicted soul,
      Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
      And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
       ¹¹ The LORD will guide you continually,
      And satisfy your soul in drought,
      And strengthen your bones;
      You shall be like a watered garden,
      And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
       ¹² Those from among you
      Shall build the old waste places;
      You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
      And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
      The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

We can learn from these verses, that if we if we extend our souls to those who may be high maintenance in body and soul…who are hungry and afflicted, then He will guide us continually. He will strengthen us. Then We shall build foundations of many generations, and through that, (by whatever means that means in  your life…I know this means a thousand different things to many different people…this means something specifically personal to me)…we can restore those high maintenance houses and streets to dwell in. Another meaning is….high maintenance marriages can be restored…homes can be restored…literally old houses can be restored.

Pray for God to guide you continually. Meditate on Isaiah 58.  We can’t be high maintenance when we are a child of the King. We are exactly how Christ means for us to be. Wherever Christ places us, and whatever task He sets before us, He will guide us continually and will give us the strength to accomplish it.

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15. July 2010 by Starr.

Today’s blog is from Isaiah 58:

  ⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
      And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
      When you see the naked, that you cover him,
      And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
       ⁸ Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
      Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
      And your righteousness shall go before you;
      The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
       ⁹ Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
      You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

      “ If you take away the yoke from your midst,
      The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
       ¹⁰ If you extend your soul to the hungry
      And satisfy the afflicted soul,
      Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
      And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
       ¹¹ The LORD will guide you continually,
      And satisfy your soul in drought,
      And strengthen your bones;
      You shall be like a watered garden,
      And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
       ¹² Those from among you
      Shall build the old waste places;
      You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
      And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
      The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
       ¹³ “ If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
      From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
      And call the Sabbath a delight,
      The holy day of the LORD honorable,
      And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
      Nor finding your own pleasure,
      Nor speaking your own words,
       ¹⁴ Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD;
      And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
      And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
      The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

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7. July 2010 by Starr.

Many readers who follow many of my published articles which depict some of my life experiences with my mother, know that my relationship with her isn’t completely rosey. In fact, my relationship with her has been difficult and a very burden-filled situation for me in my life over the years growing up, and it still is, today. In fact, it is hard for me to even write about it. I think sometimes she makes it her weekly task to be negative towards me or to spout negative remarks. She hasn’t been one of my encouragers in my life, at all, and as a matter of fact, basically has no clue as to most of what goes on in my life, yet she chooses to make spiteful comments about choices that she thinks I have made. Sound familiar?

I have had many experiences with women, teenage girls and young girls, who have faced the same or similar difficulties with their mothers. I have grieved with them over their broken hearts, and have been able to honestly say to them, “Oh, honey, I know how you feel.” Sometimes it does take empathy to better be able to know how to pray for someone in specific painful situations.

However, before I go any further, let me ask you something. When you read the first paragraph, did you feel like raising your hand and yelling, “That’s me! I have the same relationship with a parent, also.” If so, then I have some news for you.

Yes, it is good to go to others for prayer support and for encouragement and help in bearing one anothers burdens. But, never forget that, just as Aletha Hinthorn said, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever so He weeps with us just as He wept with Mary and Martha. He shares instantly every burden we bear. He invites us to cast all our anxiety on him because he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7).

Let me simply remind you of this scripture in Romans:

“The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me” (Romans 15:3).

We don’t have to bear our own burdens. We can give them over to God. The best part is that He actually invites us to. He hears everything that happens to us. He cares about every tear. He wants to take the burden upon Himself. Set yourself free from feeling the burdens and that pain yourself, if you are facing any turmoil  from emotional or verbal pain from a parent. Just give it over and let it go to God.

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