Have You Been Caught Sleeping When You Shouldn't Be?

Have you been caught sleeping when you shouldn't be?  I have.  Yesterday I took a much needed nap and when my husband woke me up I thought I had slept through the night!  The family had a great time laughing at me at my expense... but hey, in my defense, I am recovering from the flu and a fibromyalgia flare up so I am due a good nap every once in awhile.

But that's not the kind of sleeping I'm talking about.  I'm talking about the sleeping that one tends to do when they feel secure.  When they've been lulled to sleep by the monotony, or the busyness of the day - just sort of going through the motions you always go through.  The kind where the teenager falls asleep watching tv.    Or the lulling to sleep by a false sense of security brought about by a certain spin of reality.  The one where you tend to listen to the spin you want to hear, that itching ears kind.

Were you lulled to sleep by the apparent good economy of several years ago?  I was.  We had a president that I liked.  I trusted him.  Things were going well for us.  We were doing good - if I were truly honest, I'd say that I was doing just a little more than going through the motions, but going through the motions I went.  So I didn't pay as much attention to what was going on as I should have been.  The last four years, I've been watching like a hawk!  (Can anyone relate?!)

But, I was still slumbering.  I was concerned over the wrong things.  No, I'm not saying it's wrong to be concerned over the national debt, or the joblessness, or the amatuerishness of so many of our "leaders" in DC.  But, those things should not be my main focus.  

My main focus should be on what God is concerned with - and that is how many of his children are sleeping when they should be alert and watching for His return.  I'm not saying that I should keep count, but that I should be aware of whether or not I am asleep.   

How many people are out there hurting, and God is calling me to help them?  I should be watching to see where God is at work, and join Him in His work.  Because His work is the only work that truly matters.  If we are not storing up for ourselves treasures in Heaven by doing Kingdom work, then what are we doing here?  God should take us on home because we are of no use to Him here. 

God wants us to wake up and to stand guard.  Don't sleep when you shouldn't be.  Time is too short to catnap when you need to stand guard.

I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, and how I may reply when I am reproved.  ~ Habakkuk 2:1

Ask God to give you an eternal perspective to what is going on in the world.  Keep watch and ask Him to speak to you, telling you what it is that He wants you to do for Him today.

Slow Fade by Casting Crowns

Be careful little eyes what you see

It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings

Be careful little feet where you go

For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear

When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near

Be careful little lips what you say

For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands

Is shorter than you're thinking

Be careful if you think you stand

You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

Daddies never crumble in a day

Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Oh be careful little eyes what you see

For the Father up above is looking down in love

Oh be careful little eyes what you see