BE STILL!
He says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
- Psalm 46:10
I guess the Christmas season already is trying to stress me out. Or I am already letting it. So much to do. So many things to take care of. Sometimes my mind gets completely befuddled during times like this. I get so caught up in my " to do" list that I have little room left in my mind for anything else. This blog may reflect that " muddled" thinking, but I hope not.
I recently read a column by someone I am not really very fond of. I always read it, though, just to see what he has to say.....to see if I can find something else to disagree with him on I guess. This time, however, he was spot on in my mind. He spoke of stress and how it is effecting us in life changing ways. How our plates are so full because we keep adding to them without taking anything off. How days pass before we know it, and nothing seems to be finished anymore. The old 'hamster in the wheel' situation where we are running and running without getting anywhere. As part of this column, he asked us to do a short exercise. Place both hands out in front of you, close your fists, and squeeze as hard as you can. Continue squeezing until you can't do it any longer. When you stop, slowly release the fists and concentrate on how your hands feel. The writer likened this activity to what happens to your body with constant stress over time. May be an answer to why so many of us have aches, pains, and illnesses which are sometimes unexplainable .
The columnist gave us an option to help with some of that stress. He borrowed Nancy Reagan's slogan for drug use many years ago....."Just say NO!" Say no to requests that steal time from your family. Say no so you DO have time to go to that child's ball game ......to open your Bible....to have a meaningful conversation with your spouse....to connect with friends....to read a good book.
In our spiritual lives, it takes time and effort to maintain our relationship with Christ. Like any
relationship, we must devote ourselves to spending time in the Word, having a meaningful prayer life, showing Christ's love to others, and just thinking deeply about our lives and how we reflect Christ to those around us. Sometimes when we are busy and stressed the only events that register with us are the big ones. By that I mean the big news stories everyone is talking about. The tragedies, weather events, crime stories, headlines on the 6 o'clock news. We can miss the subtle workings of God. In just the past few days and weeks, as I take the TIME TO reflect, I can see these works and blessings of our God:
- the miraculous recovery of a one year old child who was operated on for a tumor in the middle of his brain......something only God can do
- the blessing of family and friends together for a holiday dinner with very little drama
- the little things done for me by my spouse that I would not have noticed had I been busier
- playing Rummikub with my 90 year old mother
--the joy of watching grandchildren play ball
- overnights, movies, and crab legs with the two oldest grandchildren, who are not yet " too cool" to spend time with us "old people"
The list could go on and on. The point is, unless we take the time to reflect and participate, we not only miss the opportunity to experience some things, we also miss the opportunity to praise our God for the everyday and miraculous things He allows in our lives.
I have to be honest here. Sometimes it's really easy for me to find time to watch my favorite tv show. Not so easy to really spend time reflecting and praising God for all He has done in my life and the lives of others. Easy to buy presents, write Christmas letters, and decorate the house for the holidays. Not so easy to participate in charity events or making Christmas special for those who are in need of help this season.
What if a tradition was sacrificed to go work in a soup kitchen? What if I didn't get a couple of projects done because I was spending more time on relationships and showing love and caring to others? What if I spent time throughout the day thanking Him as I do dishes, praising Him while I bake, listening to a teaching while I wrap presents.
BE STILL! Look for our Savior during this season. Watch for all the signs that He is alive and well. Release some of the stressors and grasp the miracles. After all, who is this season about anyway?
- Psalm 46:10
I guess the Christmas season already is trying to stress me out. Or I am already letting it. So much to do. So many things to take care of. Sometimes my mind gets completely befuddled during times like this. I get so caught up in my " to do" list that I have little room left in my mind for anything else. This blog may reflect that " muddled" thinking, but I hope not.
I recently read a column by someone I am not really very fond of. I always read it, though, just to see what he has to say.....to see if I can find something else to disagree with him on I guess. This time, however, he was spot on in my mind. He spoke of stress and how it is effecting us in life changing ways. How our plates are so full because we keep adding to them without taking anything off. How days pass before we know it, and nothing seems to be finished anymore. The old 'hamster in the wheel' situation where we are running and running without getting anywhere. As part of this column, he asked us to do a short exercise. Place both hands out in front of you, close your fists, and squeeze as hard as you can. Continue squeezing until you can't do it any longer. When you stop, slowly release the fists and concentrate on how your hands feel. The writer likened this activity to what happens to your body with constant stress over time. May be an answer to why so many of us have aches, pains, and illnesses which are sometimes unexplainable .
The columnist gave us an option to help with some of that stress. He borrowed Nancy Reagan's slogan for drug use many years ago....."Just say NO!" Say no to requests that steal time from your family. Say no so you DO have time to go to that child's ball game ......to open your Bible....to have a meaningful conversation with your spouse....to connect with friends....to read a good book.
In our spiritual lives, it takes time and effort to maintain our relationship with Christ. Like any
relationship, we must devote ourselves to spending time in the Word, having a meaningful prayer life, showing Christ's love to others, and just thinking deeply about our lives and how we reflect Christ to those around us. Sometimes when we are busy and stressed the only events that register with us are the big ones. By that I mean the big news stories everyone is talking about. The tragedies, weather events, crime stories, headlines on the 6 o'clock news. We can miss the subtle workings of God. In just the past few days and weeks, as I take the TIME TO reflect, I can see these works and blessings of our God:
- the miraculous recovery of a one year old child who was operated on for a tumor in the middle of his brain......something only God can do
- the blessing of family and friends together for a holiday dinner with very little drama
- the little things done for me by my spouse that I would not have noticed had I been busier
- playing Rummikub with my 90 year old mother
--the joy of watching grandchildren play ball
- overnights, movies, and crab legs with the two oldest grandchildren, who are not yet " too cool" to spend time with us "old people"
The list could go on and on. The point is, unless we take the time to reflect and participate, we not only miss the opportunity to experience some things, we also miss the opportunity to praise our God for the everyday and miraculous things He allows in our lives.
I have to be honest here. Sometimes it's really easy for me to find time to watch my favorite tv show. Not so easy to really spend time reflecting and praising God for all He has done in my life and the lives of others. Easy to buy presents, write Christmas letters, and decorate the house for the holidays. Not so easy to participate in charity events or making Christmas special for those who are in need of help this season.
What if a tradition was sacrificed to go work in a soup kitchen? What if I didn't get a couple of projects done because I was spending more time on relationships and showing love and caring to others? What if I spent time throughout the day thanking Him as I do dishes, praising Him while I bake, listening to a teaching while I wrap presents.
BE STILL! Look for our Savior during this season. Watch for all the signs that He is alive and well. Release some of the stressors and grasp the miracles. After all, who is this season about anyway?
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