Warning: Transparency up Ahead

Hello Reader-Friends!

It has been brought to my attention, I believe by the Spirit of God, that I am becoming more and more closed within myself. On one hand, I think it's good to keep parts of oneself "sacred" and reserved for yourself and God only. On the other hand, you can keep too much of yourself FOR yourself and this leads to sadness and sometimes even depression. I have been down that road....It's a bumpy one that I would prefer to avoid it.

I think I have just been so busy going and doing, and really without a lot of communication with anyone. It's summertime and I'm away from my close group of believer-friends.

I have a question to throw out there, in a very vulnerable attitude:
Does anyone else get a little spiritually burned out after doing "spiritual work" such as missions trips, VBS, camps, Bible studies, community projects, so on and so on?
I have had a really hard time getting back in the swing of things since I got back from all my traveling. My desire to read Scripture and pray needs some kindling. And it seems so much easier to "mess up" without those activities thriving in my life.

Sometimes we feel silly asking God for "signs" or concrete instructions on what to do to solve problems but sometimes it's not that silly.
I was driving down my road the other morning, feeling crumby and I passed a church sign that said:

Do your best

and

Read God's Word daily

Somehow, I so quickly forget that God doesn't expect perfection from me. Somehow, I so readily forget the reason for what God did for me was because I couldn't and can't do it for myself. All he expects from me is my best. If I get knocked off my spiritual high horse, my best is to get back on, not sit on my bottom in pity. I can even ask for his help back on. Another thing that God has pointed out to me is that I can't just stop talking to him just because I don't feel like I'm pleasing to him. You know how it is. Like in grade school if you got a bad grade or had a letter from the teacher for your parents the tendency is to avoid your mom and dad.

My good friend, J-Dubb got me a great birthday present that I'm using this morning and that God is using too.

Pray without ceasing. 

That's pretty much to the point.

Reader-Friends, thanks for letting me do a little confessing. For all of you Delta State ladies and gentlemen reading this, I miss you tremendously. J-Dubb, the birthday present is even better than expected! Thank-you!

Blogging my Battles and Blessings,

Amber Marie