That Simple "One Thing"

This week is turning into one of the longest week of my life - and it isn't over yet! I am narrowly adjusting to this new college load, all while fighting to keep a little time set aside for the things that matter to me. It has definitely been challenging to my normal daily schedule. I noticed instantly within the first few days that skipping my quiet time would appear a "convenience" in order to get to the more "important" duties of the day. But despite a heavy load of studying Bible content, it still doesn't satisfy my soul's need for personal, intimate time with Jesus and His Word. This is my reason for I titling this post like I did. Jesus' simple requirement of wholehearted devotion is battling for life in my mornings lately. Focusing on the "one thing" He spoke of to Martha's busy soul, echoes in my ears today. I want to be faithful.

Have you ever had those seasons in which one verse keeps popping up in conversations, homework, blog entries, and elsewhere? This has been happening with me lately. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matt. 6:33) I often cruise right over this verse due to familiarity, but God has been hammering this into my heart this year. Above all else - seek His kingdom, seek His righteousness, seek Him. Then, according to this verse, all the rest will be added. When Jesus is in focus, the world and my desires are where they should be, in the background.

Just thought I would share that thought with you all today. I know my blogging was a bit sparce this week, but hang in there with me! It may sound weird, but one of the blessings in my day is reading your comments and beautiful insights on life and the Word. Thank you!

This weekend, (starting today) I am traveling to yet another conference through Monday, so blogging will again have to subside for this weekend. I pray you all have a blessed day, and that God reveals more of Himself to you as you seek first the kingdom. Happy Saturday! :)

Starless Sky

I feel like I haven't stopped moving or thinking since 7am this morning, and I am just now finding a chair at 10pm to rest my overwrought feet. I don't think life is going to slow down much for me. On Monday I started the new adventure called Distance Education that will begin to rob most of my peaceful days and creative nights. I am working towards an AS in Bible which involves studying a lot of Bible (which is the fun part), English, Evangelism, and Math (ick!). But this journey should prove beneficial I think, since God has miraculously directed my path to weave down this course. Woman makes her plans, but God directs her steps. (my edition of Proverbs 16:9)

Tonight I exited my car weighed down with bags and books, racing to the indoors where warmth awaited. I happened to glance upward into the starless sky, thinking how appropriate seeing how I also didn't really have anything to write tonight. My blogging might slow down a bit through this busy learning season, but I hope to continue letting words and thoughts flow onto paper (or computer), and hopefully encouraging my readers in the process.

It should be a fun, interesting ride.

Deciding Between What We Know and What We Feel

This is such a great subject to send to the archives just yet. So I thought I would attempt to add a few more insights and verses today. This subject is close to my heart, but even closer to the reality of my daily personal struggles. And despite my biased assumption that I have mastered my emotional chaos, the facts tell a different story. How I respond, react, and plan mostly depends on what I am feeling at the time. I would like to grow more solid in my emotional life by resting and grounding myself in the truth - trusting what I know rather than what I feel.

I think this subject can get slightly confusing because emotions are so unexplainably varied. At times our emotions align with the truth, and other times they are opposite. It can get tricky. Thankfully, God's Word talks clearly on this subject by offering personal examples and solid principles. God wants us to know His heart on this.

Psalms 22 is a great illustration and provides tender help for this topic. In the following verses, David is struggling emotionally, but continues to keep a steady trust in God, letting his knowledge of God dictate his responses and commitment.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; they trusted, and You delivered them. To You they cried and were rescued; in You they trusted and were not put to shame." (Ps. 22:1-5)

David is trusting in Truth rather than his feelings. It evidently feels like God has abandoned him. He cries day and night and yet nothing is happening, God is not answering. But David doesn't let this mere emotional destitution to cause him to forsake or distrust God. David goes back to the truth: God has not forsaken him, just as God did not forsake the people before him who trusted in the Lord. David is sincerely honest about what he is feeling, and then there is the "yet". Let this be a sample for our prayers: "God, I feel destitute and forsaken. Yet I know You are near, You are here, and You will help. I believe that."

This is called aligning our emotions with the truth.

It gets even worse for David before this Psalm ends. The people around him start to mock David's faith in the Lord and God Himself. Now two sources are pointing out God's absence: David's emotions and the outside world. This is where it gets hard. This is where faithfulness above feelings comes into painful practice.

"But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let Him deliver him; let Him rescue him, for He delights in him!” Yet you are He who took me from the womb; You made me trust You at my mother's breasts." (Ps. 22:6-9)

It comes down to what we trust: feelings or the truth about Jesus. Life can seem to confirm God's absence, but that simply isn't true. God declares over and over again, "I am here. I am with you." (Josh. 1:9, Heb.13:5, Ps. 73:23) Our job is to trust that He is telling the truth, because... He is.  David closes with this:

"You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify Him, and stand in awe of Him, all you offspring of Israel! For He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and He has not hidden His face from him, but has heard, when he cried to Him." (Ps. 22:23-24)

A Song of Faithfulness

While writing the previous post about remaining faithful to God over our feelings, this song kept resurfacing in my mind. I have to share it with you all. Brooke Fraser is the one who wrote and sings this beautiful masterpiece of a song... I love her music and lyrical quality. I will post the lyrics below as well as a video containing the song so you can listen while you read. I have held this song closely through many nights of weeping after God's presence. I hope you enjoy it just as much.

Faithful

There's distance in the air and I cannot make it leave
I wave my arms round about me and blow with all my might
I cannot sense You close, though I know You're always here
But the comfort of You near is what I long for

[CHORUS]
When I can't feel You, I have learned to reach out just the same
When I can't hear You, I know You still hear every word I pray
And I want You more than I want to live another day
And as I wait for You maybe I'm made more faithful

All the folly of the past, though I know it is undone
I still feel the guilty one, still trying to make it right
So I whisper soft Your name, let it roll around my tongue,
knowing You're the only One who knows me
You know me

[CHORUS]

[BRIDGE]
Show me how I should live this
Show me where I should walk
I count this world as loss to me
You are all I want
You are all I want

The "Perfect" Quiet Time

A few days ago, Heather wrote to me asking an important and relevant question:

I was wondering if you have done a post in the past about how you do your quiet time?  I am a new Christian- just over a year since my spiritual birthday and I am at a loss for how to go about having a quiet time.  I get up early (before my little ones) and use this time to read my Bible and sometimes journal but I seem to have a hard time focussing.  Any tips?  I would love to see what a day in your quiet time looks like! Thanks so much!

Ah yes, the quiet time. Actually I have had a few people ask me if I had ever written a post on my "perfect" quiet time, and the honest fact is, I don't have a perfect quiet time. I find, personally, that remaining true to a strict, unbending schedule for devotions prevents - and at worst, snuffs - the true joy of seeking God. Every day for me is a little different. Sometimes I read the Bible first, other times I read a devotional to begin. I try to change it up for my own enjoyment and remain flexible to what I think my soul needs today.

Bible reading varies a lot with me. Like this morning, I was really grieving for some dear friends of mine, so I naturally turned to Psalms for comfort. (I find the Psalms to be most helpful when I am having complex feelings or emotional instability.) So that is all I read today; two verses in Psalms and then engaged in a lot of praying. But other days I will read through an entire book in the New Testament for deeper study. So you can see, I don't follow a rigorous quiet time formula.

I think many people are discouraged by their "roaming thoughts" while attempting to have their quiet time. I know this happens with me a lot as well. You sit down to pray and find yourself ten minutes later making a shopping list. Very discouraging! Most of the battle in having a quiet time is holding your thoughts in place. I have found a couple of helpful ideas for taming the mind's rabbit trails by either journalling my prayers or reading the Scriptures or devotional out loud. Or on occasion I will turn on some relaxing worshipful music and sing or pray with the music in the background. Prayer is a great weapon in this battle as well. Tell God what you're feeling - unfocused, sleepy, jittery - and ask for help. He is able and ready to help you stay focused on what matters. (Heb. 4:15-16)

The thing most people don't realize is that maintaining an effective quiet time takes consistent work. It doesn't just happen or come easy for the "elite Christians". Knowing God, just like knowing any other person, takes thought, effort and heart. But it is a campaign worth every minute you put into it. Paul describes knowing Jesus as a "surpassing value". I have found the same to be true. God offers the ultimate promise to us who diligently seek Christ - we shall find Him. (Matt. 7:7)

No matter how you go about seeking God - it doesn't matter the formula - the real treasure is seeking Christ. For every person it will look a little different, because Christ is intimate with uniquely created people.

I have written a post describing a few ideas on how to change up your devotions: Renovating Your Quiet Time and Bored With The Bible. You might find some of the ideas to be helpful in your lifelong journey of knowing Jesus.

Anyone else have some suggestions or insights into having productive quiet times?

Autumn Lane

This afternoon my sisters and I took a drive around our neighborhood for some autumn pictures. Since I am an acclaimed autumn lover, and finding many kindred spirits among you, I decided to post a couple photos of our venture. (thanks to Courtney and Carley) Isn't autumn simply lovely?!

Higher Ground

"From the ends of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for You have been my refuge and strong tower against the enemy." Psalms 61:2-3

With the news of yet another dear friend's pain and struggle, my heart felt the renewed despair that accompanies earnest sympathy. The words escaped my mouth as I tried to offer comfort for the people who face their darkest hour. The swelling waters of pain, reality, and heartache are trying their best to drown the life and happiness of those close to me, and I myself feel at times the force of grief. Hearts are fainting. Spirits are weary. Darkness seems to be settling in.

We need higher ground.

Since I was a little girl, the closing of Christ's sermon on the mount has created a solid illustration of faith as our foundation in my mind. (Matt. 7:24-27) You know how the story goes. Two people, two houses, two foundations. One built on the rock, and one built on the sand. When the storm came, the rain fell, and the winds blew and beat on the houses, only one was left standing: the house built on the rock. Storms in life reveal our foundation. If we are still standing when the storm passes, we know Who we are built on.

But sometimes, through the process of a crisis or heartbreak, we see that our foundation is not properly established. The wind and waves are tearing us apart, and we cry out for stability. It is then that we must find higher ground, the solid places, to plant our feet and find a faithful shelter. Jesus is calling us higher. He is the Rock that is higher than our problems, our failures, and our emotional stability. He is the refuge we seek.

"He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalms 62:2, 8