Wednesday, July 28, 2010

My afternoon

I am worn out.

The to-do list is much longer than the 'done' list.
The Sermon ain't flowing like it does most weeks.
The phone and email haunt me as I try to contact people for various reasons.
There is work to be done at home.

I am worn out.

So what do I do? I do what I don't feel like doing. . . . I pray. I stop and pray. The words don't come easy at first (because my to-do list is interrupting) and my mind isn't focused totally on God (I'm still thinking about the second point in my sermon) and my heart isn't at peace (there are people to talk to and chores that are piling up), but I pray anyway. I begin to knock on the doors of heaven.

knock

I wonder if He'll hear me?

knock

Will He reject me?

knock

Maybe I'm wasting my time.

Have you been there? Have you knocked and knocked and felt like no one is at home? Me too. But I have found if I quit knocking and start talking, the doors open. Sure, they might be heavy and slow, but they open. So I keep talking.

"Lord there's so much to do..."
"It can wait"
"Yeah, but the sermon..."
"It can wait"
"But what about all the people I need to talk to..."
"They can wait"
"And the stuff at home..."
"It can wait too. I can't wait...
to talk with you.
to bless you.
to encourage you.
to hold you.
to inspire you.
I can't wait to be with you."

All of the sudden, I'm not so worn out.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Pause

Summer is upon us and quickly marching past. Already I have sent two kids to camp, been to two outdoor concerts, celebrated 4th of July with friends, and had VBS at church. As I look ahead I see a week of camp that I am working, some weekend trips to historical sites and who knows how many meals cooked on the grill. Before I know it summer will be gone, kids will be in school and leaves will be falling off their branches. Where does the time go?

It's at times like these that it's good to take a break and pause. Pause to see God in the beauty of His creation. Pause to discover God in the wealth of His written Word. Pause to listen to God in those times of solitude and prayer.

Pause.

It's hard to do isn't it? So many obligations. So many needs. So many people. And with each cry for attention the seconds tick off even faster.

Pause.

It's a discipline I am trying to master; the art of pausing. I am slowly discovering that the world won't fall apart when I turn my cell phone off. Disaster will not strike if I take a couple days off from email. People will not reject me if I say 'no' every now and then.

Pause.

When we get so busy that we neglect our relationship with God, we are too busy. That is one reason I don't blog as often. It's not that I have run out of ideas (I have bunches). It's not that I have lost interest. It's simply one of several things I have cut back on so I can...

...Pause.

So do as God prescribed through the pen of the psalmist, "Be still and know that I am God."