Author Archive
The Fight for Quiet, pt. 3
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I closed my eyes (yet just so you know, often they are open). I sought to take every thought captive. I resisted every wandering thought that popped into my mind. I focused all my energy on being quiet.
Thoughts of what needed to be bought at the grocery flooded in. Guilty feelings tugged at me as I looked at wilting plants I had neglected in the hot, humid days of Alabama summer.
Ah, the typical beginning of my quiet time.
Renegade thoughts insisting on my attendance. Emotional impulses dancing around my head. The battle to “be” with God.
I push on. My mind quietens. My emotions calm. I open my heart to the presence of God.
Pulling the breakers on all input but God’s requires my diligence.
And then…
I am aware of my sin. Thoughts. Deeds. Words. The enemy is quite crafty in his ability to tempt us and then condemn us for taking his bait. I quickly put it all under the blood of Christ for although nothing can sever my relationship with God, sin does hinder my fellowship with Him.
Getting to “quiet”, I open my senses, my spirit, my heart, my emotions, my mind, to what He will say, where He will lead.
This is the place where I seek to be completely “me” before God. No pretenses. No disguises. No excuses. No shame. At rest with myself and with my God.
I pray for a hurting friend.
The Fight for Quiet, pt. 2
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Relationships require work. Maintainance. Attention.
I have a relationship with God. He is always my father whether or not I spend time with Him. Yet He issues a beautiful invitation to me- and to you- to come to Him.
Having a time each day when I acknowledge my relationship with God by spending time communicating with Him is what many call “quiet time”. Perhaps the reason we call it quiet time is because it is a time of “quieting” our busy minds so that we can be more aware of God in us.
This time is never to feel like a chore. It is, however, a discipline. I’ve learned throughout the years that I need this time with God for many reasons so I am aware that this time should be a part of my daily life.
I don’t want to give you a set of rules about how to have a quiet time. A quiet time can be as varied as the shades of colors in a rainbow. The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing. Finding ways to have an interchange with the living God.
If we look at the scripture for our guidance, we do find that Jesus drew aside from the crowds. We find him in a garden. We find him in the wilderness. There are many reasons why we should seek to spend time alone with God our Father.
The Fight for Quiet
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I slipped out of the house and sat in the rocking chair on my front porch. It was 5:15 a.m. Darkness surrounded me. The silence was both inviting and discomforting.
I felt the delight of the moment. Just me, God, and the world of nature. And I entered the war zone. The fight for quiet.
I closed my eyes for a moment. I consciously tried to quiet all the thoughts that so quickly swarmed my brain. I “centered” or rather, I attempted to.
I could hear at least 4 different species of birds singing “Good Morning” to the world. Crickets chirped. In the distance, I heard a frog croaking. A dog barked somewhere nearby. Cars on a nearby highway occassionally made their way on their journey.
Much more noisy was my world within.
For most of the last thirty years, I have practiced a daily “quiet time”. I’ve taught others about it. I’ve written about it. I studied about it, yet I still have to fight through layers of stuff to access the “quiet place”.
Humorously, sometimes I find the best way to make my daily “to do” list is to enter my quiet time because everything that I even might need to do will jump into my mind!
I find that there are two primary “fights” that I must deal with in order to find the place of quiet. The fight within and the fight without.
Audrey Sarah Lawrence
Posted by: | CommentsAudrey Sarah Lawrence arrived on August 27 at 8:01 p.m. She weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. and is 21 inches long. Proud parents are Andrew and Anna Laura Lawrence.
Check out her head full of brown hair!
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Tomorrow is the Big Day
Posted by: | CommentsWell, it looks like I will become a grandmother tomorrow. Audrey Sarah is due to arrive sometime tomorrow. I’m sure she will be the most beautiful wonderful little baby girl to grace the planet since my own little girl arrived 24 years ago.
Grandparents everywhere are sparing no lengths to tell me that there is nothing like the experience.
I am armed with camera and video cam to record the momentous event and will share pictures with you as soon as possible.
I did get several suggestions on young sounding grandmother names. Thanks for the feedback. I am leaning towards Nana but I’m gonna wait to see what Audrey thinks tomorrow:)
More later.
