Reflection

Last Wednesday, during the Bible study at church, we continued the discussion on How to Spend Time with God.  I know, there are some of you that are rolling your eyes and getting ready to click away from reading this and for that all I can say is, "do as you wish."  There are a few points that really stuck out to me as I went back over the outline tonight; they are:
  1. God wants to spend time with us.
  2. You cannot be a healthy Christian without it.
  3. The purpose of a daily quiet time is to express your love to God and to receive guidance from Him.
  4. Set a time and place and stick to it.
  5. There are going to be distractions; be prepared.
  6. It takes 3 weeks for you to become familiar with something new and an additional 3 weeks for it to become part of your lifestyle.
You may be wondering, that is if you are still with me at this point, why on earth is she bringing this up now.  Well, last week really convicted me.  I mean, the Lord gives me 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week, 8736 hours in a year and all he asks for is 365 hours, or 4.2%, of that time.  As I sat there thinking about that, I started to rationalize away my time and why I couldn't spare even an hour of it for quiet time.  My rationalization went a little something like this:
  • Work = 50 hrs/wk
  • School (class time and homework/studying) = 12 hrs/wk
  • Driving (to and from work & school) = 11 hrs/wk
  • Kids/housework/family = 30 hrs/wk
  • Sleep = 42 hrs/wk
That all comes to 145 hours a week and then there is church, family functions, time spent with friends, non-household chores, etc...and I'm supposed to squeeze in another hour each day...SERIOUSLY!

I got to pondering my rationalization and that is when this past week things really started to come into focus.  You know, I oftentimes believe focus comes not from inner thinking but from upper thinking.  So what is it that came into focus?  Well, why my life is the way that it is right now.  Why it feels like I'm nothing more than a hamster in a wheel.  I'm simply going through the motions.  I don't have that time with the one person that knows me better than I do, helping me to prioritize, to keep focus, to keep organized, and to lean on Him.  Nope, I'm a lone ranger out there going at it like I have the biggest six shooter there is.  Yet, it's high noon and I'm standing in the town square facing myself.

I'm sure you've heard the saying that goes a little something like 'a person is their own worst enemy'?  In my humble opinion, that is more true that the law of gravity.  It is easy to fall into the pit of despair, the cycle of stinkin' thinkin' when you are susceptible to what ever negativity is in your head.  Of course, there are a lot of reasons negative things get stuck in your head, but I'm not going to get into theology at this time.  Sometimes, it takes making that first step, one you may have taken a time or two, and giving God that hour.  Honestly, an hour was too much for me the first day, but I gave Him 10 minutes, then a little more and a little more.  Now, I haven't given it to Him at the same time or even every day, but this week has been a really, really good week; perhaps He was blessing the time I did give to Him.

On that note, I'm going to leave you with a song that has spoke to my heart a lot lately, and I think I know why God has used it.  Please click on the title and REALLY listen to the lyrics!

Someone Worth Dying For

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Kitchen Curtains

Image
Have you ever set out to redecorate a room in your home?  I find this one of the most infuriating things to do as a homeowner.  I swear I have used every color of paint known to man on these walls and still struggle to find that one color that just makes me swoon every time I enter the room. Because of this my walls are a lovely, albeit safe, shade of off white; though I am sure it has some fabulous name like - Barely There, Crushed Seashell, or Not Quite White.  But it comes across as truly B-O-R-I-N-G !  I mean, I have an intense personality and I am NOT afraid of color...heaven's you should see what I wear.  So, how do I take that and transform a room, and not spend a week's or a month's salary doing it?  Here's the dilemma.  I don't know what I like!  I know, right?!  How on Earth do I start when I don't know where to start?  Ok, perhaps I do.  I like red.  I like contemporary/modern, bit not overly geometric.  I like floral, but not itty-bitty prints.
Read more

But Would You Still Say Yes?

I've had a busy day.  Run the Littles here and there, flat tire, work from home, spend time with friends, run the Littles here and there again, fix dinner, answer emails - busy.  While waiting for my oldest Little's choir performance to begin I goofed around on my phone, but even that couldn't give my wandering mind rest.  So I silenced my phone and placed it in my purse and pulled out my Bible.  Yes, I carry it everywhere with me.  Yes, I have a phone app, but there is just something altogether more special about turning the pages, feeling the leather binding, holding God's truths in hand.  And I read.  Right where I left off.  Sometimes I think God knows where we are and not just in life, but in all things.  2 Peter 1:5-9: "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to
Read more

One Car, Two Car - Red Car, Blue Car

Image
"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere." - Dr. Seuss One car two car red car blue car. Black car  blue car old car new car.   Barry Weise - Storage Wars Mizpah Shriners This one has a little star. This one is a little car. Say! what a lot of cars there are.                                       Yes.  Some are red. And some are blue. Some are old, And some are new.   Some are steamy. And some are gleamy. And some are very, very dreamy. Why are they steamy and gleamy and dreamy? I don't know. Go ask your Aunt Mimi. Some are thin. And some are fat. This one has an orange hat. From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere. Here are some that like to run They run for fun in the hot, hot sun. Oh me! Oh my! Oh me! Oh my! What a lot of funny things go by. Some have two seats and some have four. Some have six seats and some have more.
Read more