Your Big-Picture Direction

Have you ever questioned what your life purpose is? What is it that God put you here for and what does He want to accomplish through you? Or are you simply meandering through your life with little or no vision? As Christians we are told in God’s Word that He has a plan and purpose for each one of His children, yet have you taken the time to discover what that plan and purpose could be?

We also know that God has gifted us each individually and uniquely with specific talents and abilities to use for His kingdom purposes. Have you discovered what they are? Now please don’t say that you don’t have any gifts, talents, or abilities. By stating something as insidious as this you are claiming that God made you inadequate and deficient, and we know that this is NOT true. You may just need to do some soul searching to reflect on your life and the type of person God created you to be. And then pray and diligently seek God’s direction for your life. Something I did that was very helpful to me was I developed a life mission statement. This enabled me to discern what God wanted to accomplish through me in my lifetime. Furthermore, it helped me realize that God did not waste a tear, an experience, or a valuable lesson. He used all of these life experiences, both joyful and sorrowful, to mold me into the person I am today. He has equipped me to reach out to others in a way that brings Him glory. Some questions you can ask yourself in helping you to determine what your life mission may be are:

1. If you were to die tomorrow, what do you want people to remember?
2. What do you feel passionately about? What do you never grow tired of talking about?
3. When you go to a bookstore/library what section do you drift toward?
4. What do people compliment you about? What activities do you excel in?
5. If you could do only one activity all day long for the rest of your life what would it be?
6. Has God laid a special burden or concern for a group or ministry on your heart?

Summarize these thoughts into a few sentences and you are on your way to defining your life mission. Seek God’s guidance and direction in fine tuning it. Then write it down somewhere where you can review it often. When you are more in tune with who you are and how God has gifted you, you will become more aware of opportunities that surround you to join Him in accomplishing your life mission.

Zig Ziglar, a renowned motivational speaker and Christian once asked a poignant question, “Are you a wandering generality or a meaningful specific?” A wandering generality is a person who lacks direction. Often this person is a very busy person indeed. She is the soccer mom, her children’s chauffeur, and she is on several committees. She is running here and there, trying not only to take care of her family, but busy trying to please her friends, her church family, and various other organizations that she is involved in. While these are all wonderful things in and of themselves, they are not wonderful if she is leaving God out of the “big picture” only to win the approval of everyone else. In no time at all she will find herself stressed out and ineffective. Unfortunately by saying “Yes” to everything and everyone else, she often says “No” to God. This woman will never make a lasting mark on her world until she discovers God’s mission for her.

The meaningful specific, on the other hand, is a woman who doesn’t seek to do for God, but who is available to Him so that He can do His work through her. This woman takes the time necessary to develop an intimate relationship with her Maker. She knows Him and seeks after Him with all of her heart. Although she too may be busy, she is not aimlessly living her life. She has a passion, a purpose, a mission. And God is at the center of it. She realizes that God loves her and has equipped her for great things. But she is also willing to surrender her dreams knowing that God’s plan for her life is her ultimate goal. She trusts that God will reveal and equip her to accomplish His kingdom purposes. Her primary joy in life is developing her relationship with Him, fully confident that He will speak and guide her in her day to day life. Therefore, she doesn’t fret or strive. She simply abides.

Sounds so simple, doesn’t it? I truly believe that the greatest pleasure we can give the Lord is our full and undivided love and affection. We are a people who always believe we must be doing something for Him. Why is it so hard for us to just sit quietly at the feet of our Lord and wait for Him? When we step into His plan, we will not grow weary or tired. He will miraculously provide us with the energy and the means to fulfill His purpose.

As we take the time to develop and strengthen our walk with Christ, God will give us the big picture direction for our lives. He doesn’t desire to keep secrets from us, but He does insist on our participation. He won’t do it all for us. Before long He will whisper to the deep places in our souls what we were uniquely created to do. He will lay on our hearts specific burdens for a group of people, a country, or a ministry. We simply cannot bypass the relationship. It takes lots of reflection, prayer, and even feedback from others. Ask God outright for the “big-picture” direction for your future, and ask Him to guide you daily in your choices. Refuse to say “yes” to others’ demands until you have spent time listening to God. He knows you better than you know yourself and if you delight in Him, He will surely give you the desires of your heart. And you will find your Big-Picture direction!

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:3-7

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

A Letter from Heaven

In this fast-paced society in which we now live, most communications that come our way are in the form of e-mails, text messages, and junk mail. How often do you get a letter from a friend or a loved one? It is a rare but joyous occasion when I go to the mailbox and find a letter amongst the many daily pieces of junk mail. I usually tear open the envelope because I can’t wait to read what personal message is inside just for me. I think most people enjoy receiving personal letters or note cards. They have a way of making us feel “special”, because someone took the time to sit down and handwrite a message to us. Maybe they just miss us, or are thanking us for a kind gesture, or encouraging us through difficult times. Whatever the reason, I’m sure you would agree that a personal handwritten note can truly set one’s heart soaring!

So, I have a simple question for you. If God was the one who sent you a letter, would you read it? Would His letter bring you the same enthusiasm and excitement as a letter from a friend? His letter would be full of encouragement and He would spur you on to be your very best. He would profess his absolute love and devotion to you and even let you know of things to come. This letter would be packed with insight and even give you tips on how to deal with unruly children or a difficult neighbor. Best of all, this letter would be written specifically with You in mind. I’d like to think that everyone would shout “Absolutely” and be very interested in hearing what God had to say.

Now I have another question for you. When was the last time you opened your Bible and spent time reading and meditating on it? Hopefully, you can say with confidence, “Yes, today, in fact!” Can I propose to you that the Bible IS God’s letter to you? It is His love letter directed personally to you; it is His words of affirmation and encouragement concerning you; it is His plans for your prosperous and successful future; and it is even His revelation about what is to come. Now who wouldn’t want to read a letter like that?

Although I’m quite sure many might possibly want to read it, I also believe that many will not take the time to do so. Other things will get in the way. Kids, work, and a busy schedule are sure to be the most common excuses. Now I’m not trying to put you on a “guilt trip”. Believe me, I’ve been there myself. Unfortunately for me, I waited until catastrophe struck my home and then I was desperate to hear from God. Had I taken the time to get to know my Maker sooner, I would have known exactly where to go in my letter for the forgiveness, consolation, healing, and peace I so craved. So, please don’t follow in my footsteps and wait for trials to come before you pursue a relationship with God. Get to know Him now. In His letter, He tells you all about Himself and what He is like. Once you know Him, you can’t help but Love Him. Obeying Him will become easier and His commands will no longer seem burdensome.

So next time you look at that dusty bookshelf with a myriad of choices, remember God’s letter nestled in between all those other books. He is waiting for you to open it and attentively read it. It surpasses any book of romance, mystery, intrigue, or suspense. In addition, it will supply just what you need for today. Whether that comes in the form of encouragement, or the resolution to a problem you’ve been facing, or to a feeling of love and acceptance filtering deep down into your soul, His letter has the power to transform your very life. How do I know this? I know because it has changed mine. I’m living proof. His letter is never boring, and the more I read it, the more addicted I become to it. Even though I may read the same chapter today that I read last year, it will speak to me in a fresh way concerning my situation today. It is replete with love, wisdom, guidance, and encouragement. More than anything, God’s letter to me has given me Hope. Hope for a brighter today and Hope for an eternity in heaven with Jesus. I know it will do the same for you.

So what are you waiting for? It’s your love letter from God and He is waiting for you to read it. The wisdom He imparts to you through His written Word will bless you in unimaginable ways. Go ahead, open it. You won’t regret it. I promise.

For the word of God is active and living, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates to dividing the soul and the spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Heb 4:12

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

A Heart of Love

The cold, snowy days have finally ushered in the month of February. The highlight of this chilly winter month is probably Valentine’s Day, symbolizing a day of love. Nothing warms the heart like red roses and chocolate hearts freely given to our loved ones as tokens of our love and appreciation. Being the chocolate lover that I am, it would be quite natural for my favorite gift to be some form of chocolate. But not just any kind—I prefer the dark, bittersweet variety over the creamy, milky kind. Could it be that I am justifying my habitual cravings by insisting that the darker variety has more cocoa, and is therefore much healthier?

Just as my favorite chocolate is bittersweet, February has always represented a “bittersweet” month for me. Several birthdays are celebrated this month including my husband’s, my sister’s, as well as my own birthday. Yet, nestled in all these “happy birthdays” are some very sad days too as they represent the anniversary dates of loved ones who have passed away. Most significantly for me, my very own son.

Though it has been many years, 19 to be exact, since I last saw his beautiful face, sometimes it feels like just yesterday. Other times, it seems like it has been an eternity. How does one make it through such sorrow you might ask? Being the seasoned mourner that I am, I can honestly tell you that contrary to popular belief, “time is not what heals the wounds.” JESUS is. I can ditto the emotions of a Christian song’s lyrics, “Heal the wound, but leave the scar. A reminder of how merciful you are.” For Jesus was merciful to me. He forgave me my sins and wooed me to Himself for He was fully aware of how much help I needed. He alone understood the internal anguish I was in and He knew that He alone could satisfy the deepest longings in my heart.

Jesus unequivocally and solitarily is the One who gave me a reason to live again, this time with Him in the center of my life. He is the One who filled my broken heart with joy, and gave me beauty for ashes. Before you think I was a super Christian who had it all together, I must inform you that I was not! I was as carnal a Christian as they come. Hedonistic you might even add. Worldy pleasures, selfishness…you get the picture? Has my grieving been easy? Absolutely not. Have I cried out in pain? Have I questioned why? Have I begged Him for help? Most definitely, yes.

In the deepest, darkest pit, Jesus heard my faint voice. He reached down to lift me out of the mire, out of the pit of destruction. For He had plans for my life. Plans I knew nothing about at the time. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11.

All that my mind could conceive was how to make it through yet one more day. There was no foresight or thought for my future. However, Jesus sees it all—the beginning and the end. He would not waste a single tear. And He won’t waste yours either. Can I encourage you to turn to the One who understands every little pain, every sorrow, every hurt? No only does he care about the most minuscule concern you may have, He can also handle the biggest obstacle you have ever faced. He wants to journey with you through it all.

So this Valentine’s Day as I reflect on my loved ones, my thoughts wander to my first-born, the son of my youth, my little angel in heaven. I thank God for his life, as brief as it was. For through his death, Jesus taught me about life and love. I’ve learned that Love is the most wonderful gift we can give one another. So, let’s not wait for Valentine’s Day. Let us love one another passionately everyday. Not just the people closest to us, but also the ones we find hard to get along with. And let us not forget about the stranger. He may need a friendly smile to warm his weary or broken heart. And Jesus may just want to extend His love to him through You!

Happy Valentine’s Day Derrick. Happy Valentine’s Day Jesus.

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, save me!” Psalm 116:3-4

A new command I give you: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

God's Favorite Fruit

Anyone who knows me well knows just how much I love to EAT! In fact, I

love to eat all kinds of foods from all five food groups. I truly savor all sorts of foods with varying textures, smells, and tastes. But I do believe that some of my absolute favorite foods are fruits ripened and in season. Take a big, juicy strawberry, for instance. Or how how about fresh blackberries, peaches, nectarines, and exotic fruits such as kiwi and mangos? My mouth waters just thinking about how delicious they taste. How about you? What type of fruit do you savor and long for?

My mind turns to yet another type of fruit—heavenly fruit. It is the fruit that gets God’s full and undivided attention. It is not edible, of course. Yet it is a fruit that God honors and unequivocally savors. It is called the “fruit of the Spirit” and its effects last much longer than the edible kind.

As Christians growing in the Lord, God calls us to possess these qualities in increasing measure. Now, I have to be brutally honest. How is it possible to always be lovable, joyful, peaceful, patient, and kind? How can I always have goodness, gentleness, and faithfulness in my heart? Let us not forget self-control, which I believe is one of the most difficult character traits to possess.

Early in my walk with Christ I remember asking God specifically for these fruits of the Spirit. “Please Lord, give me love, give me joy, give my peace, give me patience, give me, give me, give me.” Now, please don’t misunderstand me. My heart was in the right place, but I was somewhat misinformed. I soon found out that there is no way my human sinful nature could display all of these wonderful virtues in my life day in and day out. I would try to be loving, patient, and kind and some days I did pretty well. Then the next day would roll around and for some reason I lacked patience and self-control. Of course, I’d blame it on hormonal imbalance or my kids. I quickly began a self-defeating, downward spiral believing that I would never be able to possess all of these wonderful character traits. Frustratingly, I concluded that I just didn’t have what it takes.

Fortunately, God loves me enough to clarify His Word to me. My eyes were opened and I found new hope as I began to understand that I would never be able to master the fruits of the Spirit in my own strength. I learned that the Holy Spirit is working spontaneously in me to produce these character traits and only as I fill myself with Him will I ever be able to exhibit these stellar qualities. Simply put, they are by-products of living under His control. God lovingly taught me that the more I submitted to His control, the easier it would be for me to be loving, joyful, or patient. I realized that the Holy Spirit is the one who possesses all of these qualities and I can’t obtain them in my own strength or get them without his help. In short, I can not bypass a relationship with Him. These qualities are the very nature of Jesus Christ and as I join my life with His and make my relationship with Him a priority, He will begin to produce these traits in me in increasing measure.

Will I still mess up and lack self-control or patience at times? I know I will. But through God’s forgiveness and grace He will enable me to begin again. Thank goodness, He doesn’t give up on me as easily as I do myself! Together, we’ll tackle these virtues that need to be perfected. I know he’ll lovingly teach and guide me because He’s invested a lot in me. And he thinks I’m worth it!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal 5:22.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lam 3:23

Waiting on God

My pastor is currently doing a series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount wherein Jesus gave the Beatitudes. Jesus taught the multitudes about what really mattered – heartfelt obedience, not legalistic observance of the law. The third beatitude talks about the meek. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” Matthew 5:5. I’ve always wondered what it means to be meek. Although the dictionary defines it as being patient, humble and submissive, the worldly definition seems to invoke a state of “weakness” and “timidity.” Is that what meekness really is? No. On the contrary, biblical meekness is strength under control. It involves quietly submitting to God and in one’s patience keeping possession of his own soul, even when he cannot possess or change anything else. In other words, he recognizes that “self” can’t do anything. Basically it means that self-help can’t help. It is a recognition and desire to hand over the controls of your life to God. Biblical meekness is about releasing your life and decisions to God. You recognize that you are insufficient to handle life on your own. Then, you do the hardest part of all—be still and wait on God, especially through the difficult situations. God is certainly not slumbering while you are waiting for His answer. He has a magnificent way of working on his children during the “waiting” period, and often the process of waiting for a message from God can be just as important as the message itself. So be on the lookout for God’s answers. Don’t give in to worry which will do nothing but promote anxiety and distrust.

What makes waiting so difficult? It is interesting to note that we are willing to wait on things that are important to us. For example, we wait in line at a grocery store so we can buy groceries; we wait by the phone for an important phone call regarding a doctor’s prognosis; we wait for months for the arrival of a healthy baby; and we even plan and wait for next summer’s vacation. In short, the value we place on a person or object dictates the amount of time we are willing to wait on them. Don’t we value hearing from God? Why is it we always feel we have to run ahead of Him and take matters into our own hands? It is inevitable—He will speak and He will act, yet in His timing. The question remains, “Are you willing to wait?”

If you are willing to wait on God why not take a moment to consider meekness. Jesus taught that the meek are blessed and will inherit the earth. Remember though that being blessed means much more than a state of happiness. Things in this life do not always promote happiness. Can you be happy when you watch your savings account plummet to an all time low? Can you be happy when your employer terminates your position due to downsizing and hard economic times? Can you be happy when your child makes unwise decisions that reap severe consequences? No, of course not. Being blessed in God’s kingdom means experiencing a hope and joy despite any difficult circumstances you may be going through. This hope and joy goes much deeper. It means not fretting over unrighteousness, but leaving that in the hands of mighty God. It involves releasing your fears and the things you have tried to control over to Him. It means following Jesus and trusting Him to keep His Word. Above all it means continually focusing on Him, not your outward circumstances. This is not to say that it will be easy—it will take diligent effort on your part. Fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word and let it sink in deep. Surround yourself with Christian brothers and sisters who can pray for you in your weakness. Pray and fast while you wait for your answer.

When Jesus says the meek will inherit the earth I believe He is saying that this meek state of heart will promote comfort and security, and that you truly will be able to find solace and peace even in the midst of difficulty. Continue to be patient, doing the work God has given you to do, and allow Him to choose the best time to change your circumstances. He promises that if you submit to His timing, He will honor you.

“Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. Psalm 37:34

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:5

Are you listening?

How many times have you prayed to God for an answer or for specific direction; yet shortly thereafter frustratingly concluded that you need to take matters into your own hands? Even though you know that the God in heaven hears your prayers, how on earth is He supposed to answer them? Or does He even answer them? Maybe He just wants us to figure things out for ourselves. After all, that is why He gave us a mind, right?

Over the years I’ve certainly questioned how and if God answers our prayers and I now know with full conviction that YES, God does speak to his children. I have also come to realize that He had been trying to speak to me for a long time through many different avenues and the problem was not Him, but me. The reason I could not hear God’s voice is because I wasn’t listening. Usually my prayer time would consist of a long laundry list of personal requests. I would pour out my heart to God and then walk away without waiting and watching for His answer. The next day I’d come to Him with the same old list, and maybe a few more requests. Over many years, I learned that prayer was much more than just pleading to God on my behalf as well as others’ behalf. Yes, I should make my supplication known to God, yet I failed to do the most important thing of all—expectantly anticipate His answer. I have also learned that things don’t change when I talk to God; things change when God talks to me!

So how does God talk to us? I believe God can and does talk to us in many different ways. He talks directly to our hearts through the Holy Spirit in our prayer time, through circumstances, in worship, through other Christians, and most importantly through His Word. How God chooses to speak to me may be different than how God chooses to speak to you. Who are we to put God “in a box”? He can manifest Himself to us in any way that He so desires—in a vision or a dream, through the innocent voice of a child, or maybe even through a Christian song played on the radio at just the right time. The question is not Can God Speak to Us but Are You Willing to Listen to Him?

You might be wondering how you can hear that which is not audible, or see that which is not visible, or even sense that which is not tangible? First, we must recognize that we will not be able to clearly hear God’s beautiful voice in the busyness, noisiness, and frenzied activities of our day. We must set aside some time to be alone with Him, to sit at His feet and bask in His presence. God longs to speak to His children, but He will not compete for our time. Secondly, we must come to Him with a clean heart. Don’t expect to hear from God if you are harboring bitterness and unforgiveness in your heart. You must confess and turn away from your sins. Remember, you are entering hallowed ground. God is a holy God and our sinfulness grieves the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. Create in me a pure heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

Next, anticipate hearing God’s voice. After times of prayer, worship, and the reading/studying of God’s Word, sit quietly, expectantly waiting for God to speak to your heart. Don’t just say your Amen’s, close your Bible, and run off to the next task on your To Do List. Linger a little while longer and sit quietly with your eyes closed and ask God to speak to you. “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Most importantly, be purposeful in your listening. Practice active listening, not passive listening. Really open your ears and allow His words to digest the truth in your heart. I’ve heard it said that maybe God gave us two ears and one mouth because He wants us to spend twice as much time listening. Just remember that this type of listening requires participation from you. You must engage all of yourself—your mind, your body, and your actions. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you and fully concentrate on Him. What is He saying to you? Is there an example for you to follow? A sin to turn away from?

Above all, when God does speak, be obedient. Remember that Christianity is proactive, not passive. If we seek to draw closer to God, to learn, grow and mature in our faith, we must be "doers" of the Word. Luke 8:18 says to “Be sure to pay attention to what you hear. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.”

Remember, there is no magic formula for hearing God’s voice. Come to Him with a clean heart, anticipate hearing from Him, and allow yourself time to attentively listen for His soft, still voice. If you are one of his sheep, you will hear Him. Watch your relationship with Him flourish as you no longer will be the one doing all the talking. You’ll learn to decipher His voice from your own and you’ll sense His leading and direction. Above all, God promises you will be blessed in all you do.

The one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, he shall be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man. Matthew 7:24

My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. John 10:27

Silence is Golden

It’s the New Year and I have a question for you. Have you taken the time to sit quietly by yourself to reflect on the upcoming year and possibly set some new goals? Or maybe just to reflect on some things you’d like to change about yourself, some places you’d like to visit? Now, I’m not talking about making New Year’s Resolutions. You know, the high goals and aspirations that only set you up for failure. I’m talking about just sitting quietly by yourself and God to think about the new year that has just been ushered in.

There is something to be said about just being silent. No noise. Period. No TV, no radio, no other voices. Silence helps us to reconnect with God and ourselves in a way that nothing else can. Yet often we tend to avoid silence in our lives. I, too, am guilty of turning on the radio, even Christian radio, to fill the quiet moments in my day.

Silence is golden because it is in the quiet moments when we can really listen to our hearts. We can hear our deepest desires and longings. We can hear the Holy Spirit speak to our conscience about different matters that concern us. And yes, we can hear our heart’s true condition—even if it is not as pure and lovely as we thought. Often silence reveals sin in our lives that needs to be confessed. Yes, God speaks to us in the silent places, not in the clamor of noisiness. I believe that is why he says in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” Could it be that we are avoiding silence because we are afraid of what He may reveal to us? Or could it be that we feel lazy if we are not always “doing” something? Or maybe we are trying to fill a void and using noise to cover it up.

Each one of us needs to take time to recharge our batteries. We can do this by simply finding a place where we can retreat and be still. It is our own “secret garden,” our place of quiet and solace. Our personal little retreat. We need to frequent this place of solitude often. This is where we can commune with God and allow Him to purge the unnecessary weight and burdens we often carry around. This is where He convicts us, fills us with hope, and gives us His power to start anew. This is the place where He helps us put things into proper perspective and teaches us to focus on matters that have eternal significance. Sometimes, we may be still and find ourselves not thinking of anything at all, and that may be just what we need. To stare idly out a window to watch the squirrels and birds and just savor the beauty of nature all around us that often goes unnoticed.

This year why not give yourself a special gift? A gift of quiet time all to yourself. I know it will satisfy much longer and better than any reality TV shows, shopping sprees, or idle phone conversations. You owe this to yourself and your God who continually beckons you to come away with Him to a quiet place of rest. Make some room in your life for silence and really listen to your heart. You may just be amazed at what you hear!

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Isaiah 30:15