I drive this huge Suburban.  It's taupe, seats eight, it's got four-wheel drive...it's the kind of vehicle people move over for in wintery weather.  Powerful.  And yet, it won't start. It sits in my driveway unable to move.  Lifeless...able to do nothing.

The battery is fine.  There's energy in there to get going.  The connection between the battery and the alternator is the culprit.  Somewhere in that connection there is a piece that is loose.  I've been able to jiggle the wires between the two and get the truck started, but this morning, this freezing January morning, we are waiting for a flat-bed tow truck to pick up our "powerful" vehicle.

to the right of my adorable kids is the lifeless Suburban 

In life we know that Christ is our power...or battery.  But unlike a battery His power is constant and consistent. Reliable.  We believe in our heads that we are able to do all things with Him.  That He gives us hope, courage and joy.  And yet our hearts seem to miss that critical connection.  There's a loose cable.  We know  we are to rely on Him.  Our head knowledge and our heart knowledge don't match up.

Today the truck will undergo a diagnostic.  They'll look for a loose connection, test the power, and check it out.  In my life, in your life, it's critical to run a diagnostic on ourselves.  Are we plugged into the only true source of power and life?  Or are we trying to do it all ourselves.  Or, like the Suburban out front, are we half-way connected?  Where we just can't surrender everything to the Lord.  Where we know we are to get power and hope from Him, yet still grasp at our own sense of control.  Those are the moments where the head and heart connection needs to be tightened. Renewed.

Earlier this week I was in need of encouragement.  When I ran my "check" I realized I needed prayer along with the rallying.  I put out a request, and a dear friend sent me a letter, some tea, and a bookmark.  On the front was the poem "Footprints" and on the back several encouraging Scriptures.  Receiving that note helped me to tighten my cables.  I was reminded of the love of Christ, of the fellowship found in His body of believers, and the hope found in the promises of His Word.  Earlier I wrote about my form of decorating...you know...where I place Scriptures throughout my home.  These verses remind me to cling to our Lord.  In all times.

Hopefully, by this afternoon, we'll have the truck back.  And the battery will be reliable again.  The great thing about our connection to our Lord is that HE IS ALWAYS RELIABLE.  We don't ever have to worry about starting up when He's our lifeline.  Check your cables.  Are you plugged into the one who gives real life?  My encouargement for you today is to live connected to the true battery of life.

Blessings,

Rachel

"God is our refuge and strength,

an ever present help in trouble."

Psalm 46:1