In a recent sermon, by David Herndon at the Chapel, David talked about getting back to the basics…being still, waiting, listening, receiving. Sounds good…but have you tried that lately? I’ve had a fabulous summer, lots of time to relax. But, this week was my first time all alone. My daughter has been in tennis camp during the day, and I have had several hours a day, completely alone (we have four teen-age boys staying with us this week, plus our own two children…so when the house is empty it feels really empty!) So, what have I done with my time…cleaned the house, cleaned stuff out, exercised, facebooked, budgeting, had a pool party (which got rained on), cleaned up from the party…basically lots of cleaning, and web surfing. Being still, praying, waiting, receiving… I’m finding this difficult. Hard to turn off the electronics, tune out the world and just be still. It almost makes me nervous to be alone with everything turned off…why? I think it’s because I’ve been pushing so hard for so long…college, work, family, that to just have stillness is a shock (should be easy for a former yoga instructor…maybe I need to spend some time on the mat).  Today, when everyone leaves…I’m unplugging some things, maybe I’ll just start with 30 minutes: no texting, no facebook, no internet, no phone calls, no cleaning…just me and God time.  It’s a date, the invitation has been there all along…I’ve R.S.V.P.’d, he’s waiting, all I have to do is show up.  How about you?  Have you responded to the invitation…he’s made all the preparations, go ahead, give it a try.  You’ll be glad you did!As for me…I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Wow, it’s been a long time since I blogged! Maybe it’s because I’ve actually been sleeping all night.  Maybe it’s because I was working on finishing my degree.  Praise the Lord…I have completed my Ed.S!!!!  I wrote an entry once about waking up in the night hearing God entitled,”Doesn’t God know I need sleep?”  Well, I felt that way when I woke up at 1:30 a.m this morning.  It’s 3:40 now, I have to get up at 5:30 (at the latest) and here I am AWAKE.  I think there is a difference between just plain insominia, and when God wants to spend time with you. Insominia for me is when I can’t sleep because I am too worried about all I have to do…but when God calls it’s different.  For me, it’s like I just know that I am supposed to get up and spend time in God’s word, and in prayer, and when I do I am sooo blessed with the message I receive.  Although I know God is wonderful, all powerful, loving and miraculous…I am still always amazed that he provides the perfect scriptures at the perfect time.  The first one I read this morning (if you can call this morning) was  Luke 6:12:  Jesus went up a hill to pray and spent the whole night there praying to God.  The whole devotional reading was about “Hanging out with God”  Last night, in a membership class at church we listed three things we loved to do:  I listed time with family, friends and going to beach/pool.  God is certainly family/friend…but honestly he was not what I thought of….however, that should have been first on my list, spending time with God IS the most exciting, most important, most inspiring, most worthy part of every day!

The second reading was from Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do.”   We serve an awesome God.  He has provided us with so many joyful opportunites. He delights in our joy! We are commisioned to serve him with a joyful heart. So many people trudge through life, complaining, dreading, moaning and groaning about work, chores, etc. I’ve been there before. I complained about my job, counted the days down til vacation (sometimes I still do    But, What a difference it makes when we treat all that we’ve been given as a GIFT from God.  What difference would it make in your job today, if you got up this morning and sincerely said, “God, thank you for giving me this job, I am so excited to go to work today.”  And then, lived it out. We miss out on so much joy with negative attitudes. Whatever you dread today, whatever you must do, try it out with a joyful, giving heart…enjoying the gifts that we’ve been given.  (For me, I’ll probably enjoy the coffee too, for that gift will help me get through the day on just a few hours sleep.  Did they have coffee back in Jesus’ time?)

Ive spent many quiet times praying about and studying about hearing God. So, about a month ago, I heard God telling me to do something. I was sure about it. It was almost an audible voice. It woke me up night after night. It echoed in scripture. It echoed in my daily devotionals. He was not asking for something I could not do. But, he was asking for something I didn’t particularly want to give up. Something very materialistic. It was to give something specific that we owned to the church auction. I pleaded with God, I tried to bargain with God….I’ll do this instead…. No, I kept hearing the same message from God. The hardest thing about this was that God was asking for something that I felt my husband wouldn’t understand. I finally got the nerve to bring it up to my husband, who said, “I’m sure God has bigger things to worry about…that is your own voice you hear.” (just what I was afraid of that my husband would think I was crazy) I must say though that my husband told me to do whatever I needed to do. So then, I prayed and prayed that God would lay it on my husband’s heart …that he would clearly hear the same thing. But, the church auction came and went…and nothing happened. I didn’t act. My husband didn’t seem to hear from God. What happened was that I had seemingly distanced myself from God. I quit getting up at 4:30 every morning to spend time with God. Maybe I was trying to hide from God. I was disappointed in myself..still am for not doing what I was sure he was asking. I tried to tell God how to do something rather than obeying what he asked of me. Instead of experiencing the joy of obeying God, I experienced turmoil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NaSROohLzs

Okay I know that God is omniscient and I appreciate that. I just sometimes wonder why God chooses to wake me up from a nice comfy sleep to talk to me. I mean tonight I went to bed early, I wasn’t lying around worrying about anything, didn’t bring a bag of work home to do, just sleeping. When BAM! I’m awake…not just awake but I feel God saying GET UP. I try to ignore, i toss and turn, I even say “Can’t this wait until morning?” Finally, I grudgingly get up. Am I proud that I answered God Grudingly? No, but it’s true. I wanted to sleep . God, What do you want??? I’m up now you have my attention.
OOOH…Now, I know why he chose to wake me up, because I have not been paying attention to him. Sure, I’ve been praying, following a morning devotional…routinely…half listening.

Ok, You have my attention. I’m up, I’m here, I’m all yours.

God must feel like I do sometimes when I’m teaching. I’m standing in front of all those little bodies, but are they listening? do I have their attention? Sometimes, I could stand on my head, dressed like a clown and I still don’t think they would notice. Has God been turning cartwheels trying to get my attention lately? Has Satan been competing for that attention?

Same story…different day? Yes, but the important thing is to WAKE UP! and then listen and act. So, after time with God…reading, praying, writing, listening, hearing.  My attitude has changed….thank you God, thank you for waking me up to just be with you. Thank you for wanting to be with me, I treasure time in your presence. I have the courage to respond to what I hear you saying. Thanks for taking me out of my comfortable bed (seriously….too comfortable has become too complacent) so that I could be present with you this (early) morning. (Thank goodness my God has a sense of humor!)

I think we need to feel some uneasiness and discomfort sometimes…but, it’s wonderful how when that causes us to listen, hear, and act, that joy abounds. (and so now I’ll joyfully return to my comfy bed

Looking back over my blog for the past year, I see that I have come a long way in my walk with God.  It’s not been a straight path…so many detours along the way, some were helpful, others just caused me to be  lost for a little while (for those of you that know me, getting lost happens everytime I take a trip…but that’s part of the adventure).

My listening skills have improved, most days I’m open and listening to God.

Most days, he gets my best and first time of the day.

For me the biggest revalation in reading back over my previous blogs, was how burdened and overwhelmed I was feeling almost a year ago.  I was in a poor me, I have so much to do frame of mind.

My schedule is just as crazy today, maybe more so, but the difference is the joy I feel.  Most days, i feel joy, happiness, in my work, my family, and in all that I do.  BECAUSE, of gratitude to God in every situation I face.

I still feel that I’m maybe not hearing what God has planned for me in some areas, I often feel guilty that I”m not serving where I need to be, doing all that I can to help others… but I do know my life is full, and that family needs to be my first area of service, and I believe he has a bigger plan for my service to him, when the time is right.  I also see now that service doesn’t necessarily have to be a new responsibility, but I can serve him in every thing I do and help others right where I am, until I hear from God that it’s time to take action in a new direction.

So, I’m off to enjoy this glorious day he has provided.  I hope you find joy in your day.

The Secret Part II

A couple of days ago, I began writing about the secret. I had actually thrown the book away, because God told me to. Did I mention that it came back? (yes, my husband actually took it out of the trash can, He asked why would I throw a book away, when I usually sell my books on half.com? It was a perfectly new book. And, the same day I threw it away, another was shipped to me. No I didn’t order it. Coincindence? Who knows. )

I think I needed to hear the message that was in “The Secret” but, I for myself needed to experience it in the context of Scripture. I recently began a devotional series by Joel Osteen, Daily Reading from your Best Life Now. He knows “The Secret.” I think I have always known it, but I haven’t always had the strength and conviction to live it.

Why live a life of complaining, and misery? Why not enjoy life from wherever you are? We each have power. The power to make this very day great, and that greatness spreads to those around us.

We had a motivational speaker come talk to teachers in our county at the beginning of the school year……..ever since, the teachers on my team…greet each other most every morning, by yelling down the hall “IT”s Going to be a GREAT DAY! Sometimes we don’t quite mean it when we say it, but the mood changes, we laugh, and yes we come to believe it. What a better outlook than starting each day with talking about how bad we feel, or how much there is to do. One person making this comment can change the day for 4 other teachers, 90 students.  Power. Faith. Strength. Try it.

Have a GREAT DAY!

    I was home sick a couple of weeks ago, and I like millions of others I watched Oprah, and became intrigued by a book and video called “The Secret.”  I ordered the book, received it on a Friday.  I was so excited about the book Friday night I couldn’t put it down, I read small parts of it through out the week-end.  There is so much great advice in it, qualities and ways of thinking that I see in those who I admire, in those who are succssful…in all areas of their lives.  But, there was part of the book that I was struggling with….a sense of one’s thoughts being more powerful than ANYTHING.  and even though what I’d heard on OPrah that it goes right along with Christianity, that Service to others is a major part of the secret, I hadn’t gotten that from the book yet.  Some of it seemed almost selfish.  When I looked it up on the internet and came across blogs where people said they felt so free of the guilt they felt “when they were a Christian…”  I felt concerned that people may be choosing this “secret” over Christian beliefs.  During my devotional and meditation time that Monday morning, I asked God for guidance….I heard, “Throw the book away”  now I still loved the book, and fearing that it was my own inner voice telling me, I asked “WHAT?”   After all, I had been soooo excited about it.  I heard it again, “Throw it away.”  So, I did.  Right in the office trash can.  As soon as it hit the bottom of the empty trash can, I heard, NO…not that one.  The kitchen trash can….so reluctantly I did….knowing I probably wouldn’t get it back out of that trash can, with bananna peels, and other foods dumped on it.

So I went about my business, writing down and planning to follow the qualities of the book I had read so far….positive thinking, gratitude, mediating on good, pushing out negative thoughts, writing down and believing I could attain my goals:  financially, personally, professionally.  I do believe in this part of the book.  The danger I fear is when people begin to think that THEY are God.  In the upper room today, the bible verse is:

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:9

I do want to see the video, and think the book is worth reading….as long as it’s kept in perspective.  The world would be a better place if we were all so positive!

There is more to my story, but I’m off to work this morning…..my christian friends and family…check out The Secret and let me hear your thoughts and reflections.

I live in an area that just doesn’t get great cell service. So, I recently changed to a new provider..this one works great. But, there is still this one spot where the calls always get dropped. I forget about this often, and will inevitably make a call just before I get to this spot. And Boom the call the is lost.

Even worse, my husband bought me “the chocolate”. He thought I would be so excited about this phone (I had asked for just a plain simple phone, after my last phone the “sidekick” was difficult for me to operate I just don’t have time to figure out all the features on this phone. It has a touch screen……..and all the time when I’m talking, and have the phone up to my face, somehow I touch the mute button, so I can still here the other person talking but they can’t hear me! I’ll frantically try to find the button again, but after “Hello, Hello, Are you still there?” They hang up before I can unmute the phone.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 38-39

This was the reading in today’s Upper Room devotional guide….what a great reading to reflect on. I’ve recommitted to spending time with God first thing each morning. I started over with this, because I had felt disconnected from God in my busyness. But, it wasn’t a true disconnection…the call had not been dropped. The static was on my end, I couldn’t hear what was being said, but he was still on the line. Or maybe the call has been muted….he’s still talking, but I can’t hear him.

I don’t have to take the time to find the number again, to wait for him to be home or for the line not to be busy, as soon as my line was clear, or the phone was unmuted there he was waiting patiently. What an Awesome God.

We may feel separated from God, but his love is always there. Don’t drop the call.

In changing the look of my blog today, I went back and re-read the “10 day challenge” page which was an excerpt from our church e-newsletter (and sermon). I had posted this excerpt on this blog back in July (over 5 months ago). During that 5 months, I had come to a place of having a “tight” relationship with God. I was meeting with God early every morning…and I do mean meeting, I was not doing all the talking, I could hear his voice clearly. I moved out of a place in my life where I felt overwhelmed by busyness to as Pastor Jay says “an attitude of gratitude” I looked forward to meeting with God daily…not just looked forward but needed it as we need air or food. I was excited about that special time each day. My time with God was intentional, meaningful, necessary.

But something changed. I got sucked into the whirlwind of busyness once more, my time with God decreased from daily to maybe once a week…sure I did the bedtime prayers, meal prayers (yes “did” them…just recited prayers). I didn’t wake up hearing him call me, I didn’t have that desire to push myself to find time for him alone, I did not have time for God.

It’s hard to admit that…to actually put in words. I found myself thinking he wasn’t calling me right now….he knows how busy I am, he knows I need more sleep, more time to get things done. As Christmas approached my time for him became less and less………how could it be that at this time of year, I have the least time for him of all.

So here I am again…trying to quiet the noise of the world, trying to hear his whisper, asking “God forgive me for neglecting our relationship” and I know he’s there, I long for that connection again, I can’t do what he asks of me without that connection, without intentionally nurturing the relationship. So, I’ll recommit my life to God once again, I’ll start by making that 10 Day commitment once more.

How about you? How do you keep God first in your life?

Okay, i don’t normally get advice about how to live more fully as a Christian from movies…but last week it was click, this week it’s Bruce Almighty.  Watched parts of this on TV last night…….In this movie, God says to Bruce…

“You want to see a miracle, Be the Miracle.”

Think about what a powerful statement that is!