Simple Thoughts

Our small church is a trail angel for weary travelers on the Florida Trail. They can rest their weary bodies, recharge their batteries, fill up on provisions, pick up packages from the Post Office. A recent hiker needed medical attention for her foot and our pastor gladly took her to the ER for treatment. I spoke to her that evening as I took her a meal, asked her about her foot and did she think she would be okay to go back on the trail the next day or did she need another “zero” day at our church. She said she wasn’t sure, that her foot may need one more day of healing. We were happy to oblige. She then told me once she gets back on the trail, 100-150 miles/week needs to be her pace to be able to finish in Pensacola by March. That’s quite a pace for us leisure walkers who may do 2-3 miles on a hike and call it a day!

It is nice to slow down to enjoy a leisure pace. Taking a zero day. Going faster when we must, slowing down when we can, abiding with God at all times, no matter the pace.

Busy-ness. Weary-ness. Empty-ness. As a people, we are busy. Busy with life. Busy with commitments. Busy with worry. The “busy-ness” can lead to weary-ness. Here I go again, into this job. Here I go again into this same conversation. Here I go again with this same attitude. Here I go again… Do we start to feel empty? Are we just going through the motions?

When busy-ness leads to weary-ness, when weary-ness leads to empty-ness, STOP! Your body, your mind, your heart, your soul is speaking. LISTEN! We all need to take time to hit the pause button. It is okay to say no. No, I cannot add one more thing to my work plate. No, I cannot serve on one more committee. No, I cannot attend that event this time. When we say no, we are allowing ourselves time to heal, time to rest, time to be filled. When we do take this moment, this hour, this day, this week, our bodies recover. Our minds slow down. Our souls calmed.

So, sit on the porch and relax. Take that walk. Smell that flower. Breathe. Thank God for this time and be restored in body, mind and soul.

As I read this in my daily devotional study time this morning, this truth “God waits” illuminates in my mind. It is like a bright light is lit in my brain. God waits. He drew me to Him and patiently waited as I searched the scriptures, searched my heart and finally cried out to Him. God is patient with us, not wanting any to die without Him (2 Peter 3: 9, 15).

What if we meditate on this: God waits. If God is patient with me, and oh how patient He is with me, then He is patient with all of us. What has God laid on your heart that you are pushing away? What sins do we need to confess and clear out of our lives? If we want to actively search the scriptures, to know God more, we must put aside self to imitate Christ. God is waiting for us to give our lives completely to Him. Let us surrender today.

Finishing up a workout goal. Enjoying the last sip of my morning tea. Completing my devotional book that I have read and journaled about over this last year.

Now what? I have begun a new workout program. I will make tea again later today. I am now in search of a new daily devotional book, I think, or do I want to do a bible book study? I feel the latter is more my need right now. To dig deeper into God’s word. To study more, to meditate and be in prayer with God.

A new year is upon us. Are you looking forward to starting something new this year? Are you like me: saying good-bye is hard. Beginnings can be scary, anxious. Taking this new journey starts with step one, day one. Pray for guidance, direction. Listen. Believe. Trust. Go.

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

Is my devotional time a sense of duty, discipline or delight? Can I say yes to all three?

As a Christian, it is my duty to know my Savior more and more every day. To know His words, His truths. To follow Him means to trust Him, to be obedient to Him, to believe in Him. 1 Peter 2:17: “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

As a Christian, I want the daily discipline of sitting with my Savior. To learn at His feet. To memorize His words. To read His word to set my mind, my thoughts on Him before going out and facing the day, the world. Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

As a Christian, my delight is in Him. My joy is complete in Christ. Praising and worshipping my Savior delights my heart. No one or no thing delights me more than to praise God. Psalm 63:3-5: “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”

A.W. Tozer “We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit (and) when the Holy Spirit shows us God as He is we admire Him to the point of wonder and delight.”

Roosters crowing. Pigs oinking. Birds tweeting. Squirrels rustling in the branches. Good morning. Wake up. Time to eat. Search for food. The winds are blowing. Are they mindful of the weather? Always moving. Alert. What was that noise? Pause to listen. Survival depends on alertness.

Taking in the sounds of the morning. Enjoying the music of God’s creation.

The shepherds come to visit her baby. Angels are singing and praising God. Mary is quiet, thoughtful, reflective. Much has happened over the course of the last nine months. Now, He is here. The Promised One. The anticipated Messiah. Jesus, born in a humble manger on a quiet night. The shepherds are walking around Bethlehem, telling everyone they meet that Jesus is here. The Savior of the World.

Mary is taking all of this in. Perhaps the gravity of raising the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has finally hit her. She gets to raise her Savior, your Savior, my Savior. God’s Son, who came to save us all.

As quiet reflective Christmas Eve gatherings are taking place across this blessed land, let us be like Mary and ponder these things. Let us take in the gravity of the birth of Jesus. Let us be like the shepherds and tell all we meet of the birth of Jesus. Let us be like the angels and praise God for sending us His Son. On this most holy night, let us glorify and praise God for loving us so much He offered the world His Son, to save us from our sins, to be the Savior of the World.

Riding the Jimmy Fallon ride at Universal, it simulates driving through New York City and suddenly you have an aerial view of the city, then you are out in space, landing on the moon. As your view changes, your attitude also changes.

This busy Christmas season is upon us. Looking for that perfect gift, remember tis better to give than receive. Wanting the house, the meal, the people to be the best, remember God already gave us the perfect gift of all, His Son, Jesus.

I pray your view of this Christmas season is on God and His Son. Enjoy the merry-making. Enjoy the noise of the holidays. Keeping God in view.

Riding along highway 27, I pulled out my phone, started searching the web, then realized I am on an unfamiliar road. Put down the phone. Enjoy the sites. Converse with my husband.

In today’s “easy to reach technology” mindset, it is easy to lose focus. To drift away from conversations. Get engrossed with self and device.

God wants us to be present in worship, as well. Worship in the great outdoors as you take in His creation. Worship in the car, laying aside your worries. Worship and forget your troubles. Be intentional wherever you are as you worship God. Hear His words. Let them rest upon your heart.

The day after Thanksgiving. My heart is full. My house is full. My refrigerator is full. What will I eat today? Turkey- yes. But then there is corn, beans, squash, potatoes, stuffing and don’t get me started on all the leftover desserts.

Every day we have choices to make. Some are survival choices: eating. Others are hobby choices: reading. And others are activity choices: Black Friday Shopping.

When it comes to being a Christian, we also have choices. First and most, the decision to follow Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Then, choices to serve, to be kind, to love, to pray.

I’ve heard much about a little bit of Jesus plus good works plus good living is all I need to choose in this life and then I’m good with God and heaven will be my home. I’m not sure where this theology came from but if you are good enough now, then why did Jesus come to die in the first place? Nowhere in the Bible does it say have a little bit of faith and a little bit of good works. No, the shed blood of Jesus is all that will put us in a right relationship with God. Belief that I am a sinner, nothing righteous within me, surrender my life to Jesus and accept the free gift of salvation He offers to all mankind.

I made that choice over 30 years ago and I continue to pursue Jesus as my first love. My desire, my choice, is to know Him more and for my life to reflect Him.

Have you made that choice today?

Romans 4:4-5: “When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.  But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.”