4th QUARTER 2019

This past quarter was marked by increasing activity. For some of us, that meant hunting, football, enjoying fall weather and cooler temperatures for outdoor activities with family and friends It meant an increase in social activities also, rising to a crescendo between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Such a frenetic pace can be very enjoyable but leaves very little time for rest and reflection. Sure, those of us who take note of the Advent Season are called to reflect on the coming celebration of the birth of Christ, but other than that, how much do we stop and take stock of our lives?

In this first quarter of the year, nature seems to sleep when much is dormant. It is a time of turning inward for restoration. Trees withdraw their sap to nourish the trunk.  Some animals will go into hibernation. There is a general slowing down of things in nature. This might be a time that we, too, can take the opportunity to be quiet and still.  May I make a biblical analogy of the vine and the branches reference in John 15.  We “branches” draw our strength from the vine Jesus. We must withdraw and turn inward to the vine to restore our strength.

Hear what Scripture says in Isaiah 30:15 (RSV) “For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." Also, Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” 

One of my very most favorite things in this life is to walk in the snow at night when all you hear is the gentle sounds of snow falling, the crunch of snow underfoot and the wind blowing in the tops of pine trees. This is a time when I feel most quiet, still and peaceful. How do I replicate this feeling when life crashes in on me? The answer: Addition and subtraction! First, a word about subtraction.

Peggy has been reading about “purging”. Not the physical type of purging associated with the body but purging yourself of possessions. When sorting through things, she asks, “Does this item bring me joy?” I was talking with a friend about getting rid of clothing. We had to laugh at ourselves when the subject of purging came up in relation to our clothing. We could look at a shirt,  a pair of pants or shoes and note that we had not worn them for at least a year and still rationalize that we might wear it again soon. I finally got up the courage to attack my clothes closet. It was amazing how much space I gained in my closet by purging myself of all those clothes. Also, there was a small amount of freedom I felt .

 Are there things in my life that I could purge that would afford me the opportunity more time to “Be Still and Know That He is God? How about purging time from social media?  How about saying “no” to some good things. Ask someone who knows you well to help you to say no. Go over your schedule with them.  

Have them ask the question, “Is this the best use of your time?”  Is it an energy drain or an energy enhancer?  Pray for wisdom for when to say no.  God gives us 24 hours in a day. We sleep for maybe 8 of those. How we use the remaining 16 for the Lord is most important. Yes, we do have to work (unless you have retired) but we should ask ourselves who gets our best? What can we eliminate? Who

 is our priority?

A word on addition: Begin by choosing a setting that facilitates quiet. Take a walk, find a quiet place in the house away from distractions, Set aside small increments of stillness and silence at first. It takes a while for the noise in your head to die down. Allow this to happen naturally. Invite God’s presence into your silence and stillness. Listen expectantly in the silence for His small still voice.  Rest in the warmth of His love for you. Feel the layers of worry and exhaustion fall away like leaves from a tree that is withdrawing its sap to the trunk.

 When I was coaching at Marietta High, at the start of summer practice,

Dexter Wood, our head coach would ask these questions to the team, “Who are we? Where are we going? How are we going to get there?” As we enter this first quarter of the year, we can ask ourselves the same questions for reflection to take stock of our lives. Ask them in terms of the next year and also for the rest of our lives.

MINISTRY NEWS

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