Ever get cold?

[Jeramie]

Its all me right now, I know it is. God never changes but the past month, roughly Im just on autopilot. My wife is the same way. We typically are in a great mood, can easily praise the Lord, and look forward to going to our Church.

Right now we are both wore out from work, the baby, stress, etc. Church isn't really a hassle but sometimes it would feel much better to just spend an morning/ evening on the couch. We contemplated going to the Zoo this past Sunday morning and just trying to spend the day together. I play the guitar in the Choir and we are (and have been) very dedicated Christians so we were there as usual. Typically we go to Church and face each day ready to go but lately we're just drained.

Ive had my days like this before but this has been a long stint. I know others go through this but Im kind of getting sick of it. I haven't even been reading my Bible like I should. By the time I get home, eat, and sit down for 5-minutes to play with my (peanut) baby, its time for bed, back up at roughly 3:30-4:30 and out the door again...

Anyway, its kind of disheartening. There is so much I need to do for the Lord. Ive been writing my whole life and a few years back I was convicted to try Gospel music. I wrote several songs and they just stay filed away in Word. We (my wife and I) are also painting a huge Noah's Ark mural on one of the church walls but haven't even started! Its just seems like I cant kick it out of park.

I know my Pastor is worried about us because Im like the walking dead right now..... Im not use to this in any form or fashion. Im kind of at a loss other than just sitting back, floating along, and see where this takes me.

[coles]

keep your chin up and your eyes on God. just talk to him during the day while you are at work and ask him to help you get back on track.

[christsavedme]

Jeramie.....wow...how close this one hit to home. I know exactly what you mean! Sounds like my wife and I down to the T! For the last month or so we have just been so drained from everything going on that it feels like we have almost cut God out. I know that isn't the case, but it feels like it at times. The whole auto pilot thing sounds just like where I am!

I know that over the last couple of days God has really been speaking to me! Leading me to remember that no matter what.....He still loves me. He will always be here for me. Man with that kind of love before me I find myself asking.....how can I stray for even a day, but it is so easy!

So easy to just get caught up in the daily rip raft and STUFF! I know that we both can get through this and we will be better in the end.....stronger if you will!

Just know that I am praying for you bud. God bless! Be strong my brother!

In His Grip,
Josh

[Jeramie]

Im sure everyone goes through this but its disheartening when it happens to you...
Church was good last night and that helped loads. I appreciate the prayers, they always work!

This morning I prayed on the way to work, which helped. I tried to let go of some stuff in my head and focus. Im really going to dig in this week. I know God will respond. Ill keep you updated as I go.

[buckee]

Oh yeah, I feel your pain. I'm going through a real tussle right now myself. Just too many things going wrong right now in my life, and I find myself in LaLa land most of the time. I seem to be praying a lot outloud in my truck lately, trying to make some sense of it all.

[Mathews XT Man]

Jeramie, Pray first thing in the morning with your wife before you even get up. Put on the armor of God to start the day, and dont put off reading your Bible, or going to church. Rememeber, it's not what you get out of worship, it's what you bring to the Lord on sunday..and thats praise.

[Bachflock]

I realize you posted this originally 3 weeks ago, Jeramie, but I had to say I know exactly what you mean. Its an easy thing to let life "get in the way." Between work, having a young family, and trying to find some "you" time it can really wear you out. It will often start cutting into a guys spiritual life before we even realize it. Hang in there and do what you can to make time to draw closer to Him. He promises if we show we want to get to know Him better, He won't hold himself from us.

[TreeWalker]

Jeramie, I'm not going to say these next things to rattle your cage or affend you in anyway.......it's just to give you something to think about, because I went through the same thing also. I worked rotating shifts...12 hours a day with 2 hours of driving left me with enough time to eat a meal, some very short family time and then it was off to hit the rack.....my off days were consumed by projects that got put off while I was working.....it was a great paying job, with fantastic benifits......but....

1. Seek first God and his kingdon, and all things will be given unto you
2. If you have a gift blessed upon you by God and you squander it, he will take it from you give it to some one else
3. You can not serve both God and Money

We found ourselves quite happy making and spending the kind of money that the Job I had for 7 years offered......but in turn it offered me little to no time for reading the Bible let alone building a relationship with Jesus.....I didn't realize it but I had become a servent to money and it had become my prison.....I often had wanted to walk away, but the habit of spending the money we were used to ahving, found us in a place financially where I couldn't step away......

I'm not telling you to quit your job, but to think abvout what you are really concentrating on here....what are your real priorities....is what you are doing now glorifying God and his Kingdom, or is it strictly existing in his presence. I used to think it was my family as the large paychecks rolled in.....but really it wasn't. My priority had not been my families welfare, like I had thought...rather it had become being able to lavish them with material things....

To make a long story short, I used to maybe read the Bibles for 10-20 hours and pray maybe 40-50 total hours....IN A YEAR......and I wonder why I wasn't growing spiritually ?!?! Oh sure, I was teaching Sunday School and attended weekly services, and would raise my hands in worship, but was wondering why I often didn't feel anything or had grown cold ?!?!

It finally donned on me where my priorities had become skewed....moeny and the "need" of it had clouded my judgement.........We were blessed with the opportunity to get out from under that shadow of debt and spending.....I left my shift work job and have focused my life on the Lord for now......we make a quarter of what we did before, yet we still are doing great, and I have time with my family, and WAY moe time to dedicate towards much needed studying of the Bible and often 2-3 hours a day in prayer.......

I'm more relaxed and calm than I have been in years......I've slept better than I can ever remember, and health wise, I've dropped 30 pounds....30 pounds...in the last month, and my blood pressure, etc...is all back to normal......

Now this is not saying, that your circumstance is the same, as most often aren't......but I just wanted to testify to you a bit, that God rewards our obedience and knows our heart better than we do.

God Bless you Jeramie and I will pray that you find what you are looking for.....Clay

[Bachflock]

Well stated, Clay, well stated.