June 26, 2015

Sometimes I sit and think . . .


When I was little one of my cousins had a poster of a gorilla on her wall.  It had a top caption that read “Sometime I sit and think…” another below that read, “sometimes I just sit”.

I enjoy sitting out on the balcony of my apartment in the morning, in my devotions and reading and journaling sometime the morning is gone in a flash.  Of late it seems to just be whizzing by me and it astonished me that I don’t really know what time the sun rises.  I’m out there, it’s coming up, but I’m so engrossed in what I’m doing its dark one second and then it’s time to head off to work…when did the sun rise? 

We’re told when we’re young, “once you’re out of school the times goes so fast”.  They were right, how did I get to 51 so quickly when getting to 21 took so long?  Entrenched in the day to day of life, it seems at time that I miss the days.  The schedules get packed full thinking we’ll experience more and in the process we miss more.  It’s an imbalance of quantity over quality. 

One morning this week I woke very much awake and focused, into reading and journaling, a quick walk to refill the coffee cup and continue yet my eye caught a sparkle. The sun was just beginning to peak through the leaves of the trees.  I didn’t think to look at the clock but I did think this is something to see.

Books, journals, lists aside, coffee cup cradled in my hands, I stopped and watched the sun rise.  It was so peaceful, beautiful and relaxing I did it again the next two mornings and hope to do it again this weekend. 

Most mornings I sit and think and I do love it!  

But sometimes, I just need to sit.

Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.



June 12, 2015

The beauty of the still moment with Him, by Him.

Struggling with fatigue of late, this morning I was wonderfully surprised to wake on time, before the sun, and sit out on the balcony with all my regular quiet time things ~ the Large Print Bible, the daily devotion, journal, coffee, and Jackson.  And I dig into the Word, praising Him for waking me on time and that I actually feel awake, it felt so very good.

I prayed and read and wrote when something (I truly don’t remember what) happened and my gaze left the pages and went to the sky and there it was - a cloud.
Something about it grabbed my attention, first the color and the light caught my eye, it had those bright white and pale pinks mixed together in a bit of a swirl…it reminded me of a dolphin rolling in the ocean, smooth skin and rounded…as I looked there was even a touch of blue-grey in its hues.  It made me stop.

Bible, devotion and journal aside, Jackson in the opposite chair, coffee mug now resting in my hands, poised to take a sip, I breathe deeply.  I sigh and think of God…how amazing He is and how amazing that everything single molecule of that moment, of every moment, is resting in His hands. 
Psalm 57: 9-10

I’m thanking you, God, out loud in the streets,
    singing your praises in town and country.
The deeper your love, the higher it goes;
    every cloud is a flag to your faithfulness.

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June 9, 2015

WAIT!

There are times in life when waiting is just not what we want to do – something somewhere inside us wants to move, make a change, or a decision yet we don’t know where to move, what to change or which decision is best, so we wait and it can be most frustrating.  Or we move too soon and that can be devastating.

As we enter into a relationship with and come to know Jesus better, as we read and study the Word of God the more we discern rightly when these things are of Him and His will or just the ramblings of a perhaps discontent mind.  

The apostle Paul tells that he had to learn to be content, (Phil. 4:11), and that he learned the secret of contentment, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13). Even wait.  When these ramblings come barreling in it is best to lay them at the Lord’s feet prayerfully and yes, wait.  Waiting for that yes, no, not now or whatever the truth may be, yet better wait than rush.

In my life I’ve taken steps too soon and gotten ahead of my Guide and gotten lost, off track and most likely even missed some easier steps.  So now, when the ramblings are rolling, I am still and listen … and hear:

We’ll Advance In Time

Isaiah 40:28-31 ~ NET

Do you know know?  
Have you not heard?  
The LORD is an eternal God, the creator of the whole earth.  
He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom.  
He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy.  
Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble.   

But those who wait for the LORD's help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles' wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.  

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