5/25/15

A Deep Deep Breath as I Walk in the Door


Today was Memorial Day and I did not have to work! Before Monday started, that was my favorite thing looking forward to today. I think that was just because I had no idea what was in store. Even as I sit here writing my reflection for today and I am just kind of in awe at all that the day gave to me!

My average work day starts at 5 or 5:30am as I get up and begin getting ready for work. While I have an hour commute to reflect, listen to the Word and Praise & Worship music, and get energized for my day, it doesn't ever leave me a lot of time to just be present with actual Word of God the way I have learned to. BOY do I miss it!!!! Today, I slept in until 8am, got up and actually had a breakfast for both my Spirit and my body.
It was wonderful to get up and just sit with all my notebooks, my Bible, and the Study Guide for Wednesday at Sandhills Worship Center spread out before me! Sitting there reading
the Word of God, I read about life, faith, and those who lived lives that showed me what it looks like. WOW! Sometimes I am amazed at how far away from being a person of faith I really act like sometimes. Abraham moved and never once looked back at what was behind, intent only on living in a foreign land that God told him was promised! This is the text that spoke to me:

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they see a homeland. And truly if they called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:13-16 NKJV

My heart was touched as I read this passage. I thought of all that I have desired in my life and not gotten and the accompanying bitterness and rebellion that resulted of not getting my way. Then I thought of all the occasions I have been invited back to my past both in thought and behavior opportunities. I considered what this means to me in light of these Scriptures and realized how much I am still "of the world" not just in it. I prayed and asked God's forgiveness, inviting the Holy Spirit to work and my daughter and grandson came to spend the day.

The blessings just kept getting better and better as I worked in the backyard and played with the grand-babies while watching Mikkel sketch and Kris work on the deck. Beginning today at my kitchen table, I felt as if the Word of God was breathing life into me and it was as if I was taking a deep deep breath as I walked through the door once again. I can't help but understand my husband, my family, our home, and all the goodness of the day as the promised land to which I am invited to live if I will just set aside all my agenda, concerns, and plans to be present with the tender mercies I have been given. Reading the Word I felt myself breath again.