No Separation Anxiety

Are there days when you feel as if your head is spinning with all the distractions calling for your attention?  Wait don't answer that....I already know your answer.  

Yes, I have those times. It's the consequences of living in the midst of all this web-driven commotion.  There's an art to being still before God, to quiet myself enough to enjoy the presence of God. I want to talk with Him and hear what He wants to tell me.  

I am so desperate to hear from God in many areas. 

One challenge for me is the "multiple hats" syndrome. I'm a mom, a mentor, wife, missionary, writer, employee, volunteer, confidant and friend.  So many things to do . . . and so little time to do it all.  As one whose work requires many hours each day at a computer and on the Internet, I find myself in the midst of this neurological challenge. Yet, the desire of my heart is to be so attuned with my Father that I hear Him when He wants to teach me,  reveal to me, comfort me or guide me.  

I don't believe the answers are easy.  

If I don't attend to the desire in my heart to spend time with God . . . God will get squeezed out and my life will remain wanting. He'll be there waiting . . . but I won't be there with Him to receive.

More than ever before - in the random noise of this time - daily quiet time with God is essential for my life of faith; a time when we can step out of "the world" and into the peace of God. Paul writes describes himself as a "bondservant" of Jesus Christ, called to the devotion that He wrote about.  Separated from the world around him, devoted to Christ.  Separated to the gospel, separated for the gospel of God.

Paul devoted his life to solitude with Christ.  Romans 1:1

Clearly, we need to be separated from the world in some ways, so we can live the life He wants for us and so He can show Himself to us and through us. So as we find our way on the super-highway of technology, little changes and little steps can make a big difference. Not watching so much television, setting up a daily time in the Word and for prayer, simplifying our lives and just not doing "so much." 

Solitude....Separates.

We can carve out that sacred separated time and meet with the One who loves, cares, creates, and (get this mind-blowing fact).... craves our time with Him.

It's worth the risk of separation from this world to invite Him into mine.

Music Monday [Light of the World]

Kari Jobe's style of worship has brought a new light and perspective to me. I have a new appreciation for her music ever since I saw her at Winter Jam.

 Matthew 5:14 says "You are the light of the world.  

A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  

It sounds like she is singing this verse straight from the book of Matthew, which is a direct quote from Jesus.  Whenever I see Jesus words in red in my Bible, I take those as my words to live by.  Those "red-lettered" threads (words) are truth that I want to weave into my wayward heart.  And I like it when God's words are put to song.

The most impacting part of the song is the chorus below.  We are to be like Christ.  Those words were not just recorded centuries ago for a group of disciples or written for someone else of the Bible times.  God's words were written for me.  


We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, 
we gotta let the light shine
Let the light shine, 
let the light shine

We are called to the spread the news
Tell the world the simple truth
Jesus came to save, there's freedom in His Name
So let it all break through

We are history makers.  We are His-story makers.  How will people know of God's greatness if we don't share His story in our lives?  We gotta let the light  shine so that others will know the simple truth of Jesus, that there's freedom in His name, that Jesus saves, so that God's glory shines through.  We must share so that name of Jesus will be lifted high.  Being the light of the world is my spiritual act of worship.  


Be the light, shine bright!

Five Minute Friday - Hurticle

Hurticle!

Hurdle + obsticle = Hurticle.  It's such a great word.  But wait....that's not a real word is it?  No....sometimes I get mixed up and tongue tied.  I said it out loud the other day.  Brent and I discussed the value of adding it as a time-saver word and that hurticle might need to be adopted into the English dictionary.     

Listen here to how our conversation went from silly to serious.  Jenny said she heard "hurt-obstacle" and it was just the right words at the right time.  It was what God wanted her to hear.  I love it when God uses silliness to help someone.  

It just goes to show you that God can use you to reach anyone, even when you have clumsy and silly words.  I am neither an expert nor a professional in talking.  I am just His daughter willing to be a little silly sometimes to be used for His glory.  

Thanks for reading and listening!