The Cocklebur Cowboys

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

I realize my posts were getting a bit too long. I am endeavoring to shorten them. Thanks for skimming on the long days and sticking with me as a grow as a writer. ~ Margot

Psalm 40:2

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; 

he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

  Here's the link to the Cinnamon Bear episode that goes with today's post.  http://www.radiolovers.com/shows/C/CinnamonBear/CINNBEAR371216e1832-22-mono12m17sCockleburCowboys.mp3

Our heros are stuck in the mud and feeling pretty hopeless. "I'm afraid its all over" "I'm going, going gone" says  Crazy Quilt the Dragon. About that time the Cocklebur cowboys show up to save the day with their lassos. Oh, but Crazy Quilt and Cinnamon Bear are ruined - there seems to be no way to remove the mud that has soaked into their fabric.  Then something happens as they take a few steps away from the mud banks and suddenly their mud vanishes. Then to their astonishment they see the most beautiful purple plains. All the time they were in the mud the purple planes were there - only they could not see them. The Mudders keep the beautiful Purple plains hidden from those on the muddy side of things.

Often the answers and solutions we need can't be seen because we are drowning in the mud of our sin or our circumstance. We need Jesus or one of his people to come along with the lasso of grace to pull us from the mud into His glorious kingdom. Even so, some of us don't step beyond the mud banks and spend our time feeling guilty or so filled with shame and are trying to clean ourselves up before we can take a step of faith to move on.  If we would just take a few more steps away from the mud we would experience something quite similar to the vanishing mud in our story. Jesus has paid the price for all our sins. He is the spotless sacrifice paid on our behalf. We just need to move beyond our guilt and shame trusting that He is enough to take care of all the mud that has saturated us and left us feeling valueless.

Colossians 1:12-14 (NIV1984)

¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

All too often we are blinded by our sin, or the seeming hopelessness of our predicament. In that state we are not able to see.

Matthew 13:10-11

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁰ The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

¹¹ He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

While one may not be able to see all the truths of Jesus or comprehend heaven it does say in Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

In our story today, Jimmy, Judy, Cinnamon Bear and Crazy Quilt all acknowledged they needed help.
They then stepped away from the mud banks and found them selves on the purple plains.


How about you, are you stuck in the mud?

Can you accept that Jesus is enough to pull you to freedom?

Can you then take a few steps away from the mud, even in your muddy condition so that you can see the beautiful plans and purposes that Jesus has for you in His kingdom?


Prayer
Lord help us to acknowledge our muddy state and our desperate need of your help. Come with your lasso of grace and pull us from the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. Set our feet on the solid rock of life in you and help us realize that all other ground is sinking sand. Help us to step away from the mud banks and to follow you into the purple plains of your kingdom purposes.