So many of our times together we spend time in prayer. During one of these times, I noticed how difficult it was for so many of us to focus. I could just sense the distractions in so many people. I noticed that the main problem with this prayer exercise was that I didn’t give us all a time to slow ourselves down and focus. I believe that if I had taken the time to allow us all to go off to our secret quiet place, it would have been so much easier to stay focused on praying for those we were praying for. We prayed for our boys and talked about interceding for others. I truly believe that even though we may not be completely on task, God is still hearing the prayers of us, his attention deficit children.
Do you have this problem on a daily basis? This problem where you can’t fully sit and be in God’s presence? Remember to just sit and be with God for a while, and allow his peace to come into your life. I want to leave you with the quote that I mentioned earlier in this spiritual journey.
A Prayer by Henri Nouwen
Why, O Lord, is it so hard for me to keep my heart directed toward you? Why do the many little things I want to do, and the many people I know, keep crowding into my mind, even during the hours I am totally free to be with you and you alone? Why does my mind wander off in so many directions, and why does my heart desire the things that lead me astray? Are you not enough for me? Do I keep doubting your love and care, your mercy and grace? Do I keep wondering, in the center of my being, whether you will give me all I need if I just keep my eyes on you?
Please accept my distractions, my fatigue, my irritation, and my faithless wanderings. You know me more deeply and fully than I know myself. You love me with a greater love than I can love myself. You even offer me more than I can desire. Look at me, see me in all my misery and inner confusion, and let me sense your presence in the midst of my turmoil. All I can do is show myself to you. Yet, I am afraid to do so. I am afraid that you will reject me. But I know--with the knowledge of faith--you desire to give me your love. The only thing you ask of me is not to hide from you, not to run away in despair, not to act as if you were a relentless despot.
Take my tired body, my confused mind, and my restless soul into your arms and give me rest, simple quiet rest. Do I ask too much too soon? I should not worry about that. You will let me know. Come, Lord Jesus, Come! Amen
Thanks!
Jason
Showing posts with label quiet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quiet. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Dwell in that holiness ...
When exhaustion sets in after a long day of work.
When you have had a friend hurt you.
When nothing seems to go right for you.
When you are so tired you don’t know how to think straight.
When you feel the weight of the world crashing in on you.
What do you pray?
What do you say when you have no words for what has happened to you today?
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:9-13
That is how I feel right now. I have that feeling like I have zero energy left to give anyone. Do you feel that way right now? Do you know what that feels like? I am sure you do. Each day is different. Some are harder than others. Life can very easily get out of control. We just spent close to 14 hours at a show barn. Calves were showing, pigs were showing, the boys were doing their best not to get too stressed out and frustrated. It was noisy, and at times it seemed like it would become so noisy that you couldn’t even hear yourself think. You would have to yell at times to make sure the other person could hear you. As I sat there waiting for the next boy to be called to go out and show, I felt this overwhelming need to be in silence and in a different environment for just a little while. I told the other houseparent that I was just going to step outside for a breath of fresh air, and as I slid open the barn door, there it was. God was saying slow down, calm down, breathe.
There before me was the most beautiful sunset. The clouds were just perfect across the horizon, the beams were going in just the right direction, the breeze was just perfect. I sat on the grassy hillside and just breathed. I couldn’t think of anything. I couldn’t think of what to say to my God. I couldn’t think of how to word my feelings. All I could get out was: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name!” I knew that my God, the holy one, the creator of the universe, the one who breathed life into myself, my loving and wonderful wife, my three beautiful children, and you who read this, was also right there with me and maybe he had planned this sunset just for me. Maybe he had brought it all to be just to help me feel at peace. I felt wholeheartedly that I could say, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
I knew at that moment that even if the world crashes in around me, my God is there and he is at work. He may be calming a storm on the other side of the world, healing someone in New York, listening to a prayer from a five year-old little boy, but he is also right there calming me and bringing peace to me. Our God is holy! He is mighty to save us all and he is right there where you are right now.
Dwell in that holiness.
Sit in that peace.
Walk in the knowledge of his love.
If you are having problems praying today, remember the prayer that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, taught us to pray!
Jason
When you have had a friend hurt you.
When nothing seems to go right for you.
When you are so tired you don’t know how to think straight.
When you feel the weight of the world crashing in on you.
What do you pray?
What do you say when you have no words for what has happened to you today?
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:9-13
That is how I feel right now. I have that feeling like I have zero energy left to give anyone. Do you feel that way right now? Do you know what that feels like? I am sure you do. Each day is different. Some are harder than others. Life can very easily get out of control. We just spent close to 14 hours at a show barn. Calves were showing, pigs were showing, the boys were doing their best not to get too stressed out and frustrated. It was noisy, and at times it seemed like it would become so noisy that you couldn’t even hear yourself think. You would have to yell at times to make sure the other person could hear you. As I sat there waiting for the next boy to be called to go out and show, I felt this overwhelming need to be in silence and in a different environment for just a little while. I told the other houseparent that I was just going to step outside for a breath of fresh air, and as I slid open the barn door, there it was. God was saying slow down, calm down, breathe.
There before me was the most beautiful sunset. The clouds were just perfect across the horizon, the beams were going in just the right direction, the breeze was just perfect. I sat on the grassy hillside and just breathed. I couldn’t think of anything. I couldn’t think of what to say to my God. I couldn’t think of how to word my feelings. All I could get out was: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name!” I knew that my God, the holy one, the creator of the universe, the one who breathed life into myself, my loving and wonderful wife, my three beautiful children, and you who read this, was also right there with me and maybe he had planned this sunset just for me. Maybe he had brought it all to be just to help me feel at peace. I felt wholeheartedly that I could say, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
I knew at that moment that even if the world crashes in around me, my God is there and he is at work. He may be calming a storm on the other side of the world, healing someone in New York, listening to a prayer from a five year-old little boy, but he is also right there calming me and bringing peace to me. Our God is holy! He is mighty to save us all and he is right there where you are right now.
Dwell in that holiness.
Sit in that peace.
Walk in the knowledge of his love.
If you are having problems praying today, remember the prayer that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, taught us to pray!
Jason
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Being and doing ...
Being and doing, being and doing. Even though I preach that lesson and long to be in the presence of my Father, I find myself doing more and more. Yesterday in the chaos of the day, and the busyness that we all do not want to have on Sunday, I found myself running around the house cleaning and moving furniture. I couldn’t stop. I was organizing our bedroom, I was folding laundry, I was getting more and more frustrated as the day wore on. This came right after preaching about being and doing. I wanted to sit down all day and just be in the presence of God, but that is so hard when you have this person asking for this, your daughter choosing to never fall asleep for her nap, someone always asking “what’s for snack?”
I know that many of you can feel my pain. I kept saying to myself, if I only have an organized space, I can sit and relax and be with God. I just can’t focus when things are not in order. Some of you may think I am insane, but that is how I get sometimes when I am tired and worn out from the wonderful life that we all live. I am reminded of someone else who had this same problem.
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
I know that our world doesn’t always slow down for us to sit and be in God’s presence, but that is when we need to make ourselves slow down. We may feel we need everything perfect in our universe, but that’s not going to happen. Spending time with God is important, so if you need your world ordered for that time, spend some time preparing.
Find yourself a quiet place in your house. Pick a corner of a room that no one seems to come in very often. Find yourself a comfy chair, speak with your spouse and those around you and let them know that there is a time that you will be taking as your quiet “Being” time with God. They should understand, they are hopefully seeking that same time themselves. When and if you create this place, spend some time in silence before you do anything. Let God’s peace come over you. Open your Bible and allow the words to open, break, and reshape your heart.
Silence and Solitude with the Father is slowly but surely becoming a reality for us. We are in this together on our journey, let’s keep each other in our prayers and help each other out to find that peaceful time with God. Happy Being!
Jason
I know that many of you can feel my pain. I kept saying to myself, if I only have an organized space, I can sit and relax and be with God. I just can’t focus when things are not in order. Some of you may think I am insane, but that is how I get sometimes when I am tired and worn out from the wonderful life that we all live. I am reminded of someone else who had this same problem.
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
I know that our world doesn’t always slow down for us to sit and be in God’s presence, but that is when we need to make ourselves slow down. We may feel we need everything perfect in our universe, but that’s not going to happen. Spending time with God is important, so if you need your world ordered for that time, spend some time preparing.
Find yourself a quiet place in your house. Pick a corner of a room that no one seems to come in very often. Find yourself a comfy chair, speak with your spouse and those around you and let them know that there is a time that you will be taking as your quiet “Being” time with God. They should understand, they are hopefully seeking that same time themselves. When and if you create this place, spend some time in silence before you do anything. Let God’s peace come over you. Open your Bible and allow the words to open, break, and reshape your heart.
Silence and Solitude with the Father is slowly but surely becoming a reality for us. We are in this together on our journey, let’s keep each other in our prayers and help each other out to find that peaceful time with God. Happy Being!
Jason
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