Sunday, September 20, 2015

Such A Drain!



Last week was my week,

I allowed little things.

To pile on.

Draining me of energy.

I know we all have those kind of weeks.

Things don't go as planned.

Or don't go the way we want them to go.

And instead of letting them roll off our back.

We take them on.

I often.....take them on.

And wear them.

And before I know it.

I've been drained.

Of something really precious.

My.

Energy.




I was reminded this morning.



"when little things don't go as you had hoped,

look at Me lightheartedly and say.

Oh well.

This simple discipline 

can protect you from being burdened

with an accumulation of petty cares and frustrations.

...if you shrug them off immediately

and return your focus to Me,

you will walk through your days 

with lighter steps

and a joyful heart.

When serious problems come your way,

you will have more reserves 

for dealing with them.

You will not have squandered your energy

on petty problems....."
                                          September 20th -  Sarah Young, "Jesus Calling"


As usual.

He gave me something I needed.

Shrug it off.

Say,  "oh well"

And return my focus to Him.

I've never been good.....at shrugging things off.

"Oh well?"

Not something you'll hear me say very often.

But, I'll give it a try.

This.

 week.


2 Corinthians 4: 17-18
"for our present troubles are small and won't last very long......
so we don't look at the troubles we see now;
rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.
For the things we see now will soon be gone,
but the things we cannot see will last forever..."



Sunday, September 6, 2015

Being Quiet




When I started paying attention.

To all the times.

I allow myself.

To be in a quiet place.

No background noise.

No TV.

No music or radio turned on.

No distraction.

It was no surprise.

There were very few.

Quiet places.........that is.

In my day.



Many times.

I reach for noise.

The quiet can be uneasy.

Even awkward.

Until.

I read this.


"....quiet is the classroom where you learn to hear my voice..."  *



Clearly.

If that's true.

I haven't been the best student.

But.

I'm being more intentional.

Making more opportunities for quiet.

To listen for Him.




And.........I've already found.

He honors my listening.

He sometimes drops thoughts into mine.

Into my quiet.

When I give Him room and space.

There's times, in fact.

When I have to grab a pen and paper.

Before the thoughts.

Or ideas.

Or promptings

Are lost.

To my recall.

And poor recollect.

I write them down.

And hopefully.

I act on them.



It might be the name of a friend that needs some encouragement.

Or a better way to handle a problem at work.

It might be an apology I need to make.

Or a step I need to take.



This is my challenge.

Making time.

In my car.

In my house.

On my walk.

To listen.

And.

Be quiet.

So I can hear Him.





* Sarah Young, "Jesus Calling."