Well I don't know exactly how to describe it, except to say that something is different. Is it the change of season, the days getting shorter, Christmas lights in the windows? No, I don't believe it is...its more of a feeling of having turned a corner. Something has shifted in me, I'm not sure what, but something...I was talking to someone today and was explaining that all of a sudden, even things that are familiar, like walking the kids to school, feel different. Like I've shed a skin, or like I've just burst out of a cocoon. Maybe its having a sense of purpose, knowing that right now I'm doing exactly what I was created to do, or at least moving in that direction with more clarity than ever before in my life. That must be it. At any rate, I all of a sudden feel like a grown up, and it's okay. I'm also realizing that the thing that's making it okay is the feeling of God's presence surrounding me. Maybe that's it, when we rest in God, everything is just different, because it's his work, not ours. He carries us up on eagles's wings and we are able to walk trusting completely in Him...
Oh Lord, please keep me resting and trusting in you. May your kingdom come, and your will be done, in my life, as it is in heaven!
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
The struggle to be still
I was reminded of a picture last night, it sort of expanded this morning as I was getting up, so I thought that I'd share it...
A few weeks ago we were at Dan's brother's house for Canadian thanksgiving, it was evening and we were watching Bryce, their 16 month old toddler struggle to stay awake. You know the picture, a little guy doing everything he can to stay up so that he doesn't miss a beat of what's going on, yet he's so tired he'll hurt himself if he doesn't sleep soon. Well, eventually Nanny Larose stepped in, picked him up and put his head on her shoulder. The usual reaction to that was of course, to pick his head up off of her shoulder and struggle to get out of her arms...that's what he did if anyone tried to put him to sleep...but when he looked and realized who had him, he didn't bother struggling, he just put his head down on her shoulder and let her take him to bed without a fight. He knew that with her, there was no use trying to fight it, he would have to rest anyways, so may as well just be still.
I'm realizing that this is sort of what we've been living with God. There is so much to learn, so much to do, explore and discover in this adventure we've been on that when it's time to rest, we fight it. We struggle with rest, we don't really know how to turn the whole thing off and be still. Yet when we realize who it is that is holding us, it is with a peaceful, secure resignation that we put our head down on the Father's shoulder and allow ourselves to be carried to that place of quiet rest in Him. It would be better if we would rest as soon as God told us to, that way we would avoid the bumps and bruises that come with stumbling about...we're learning that. But the great thing is to realize that He is the one carrying us through this whole journey we're on, so we can trust Him to show us how to be still.
So please continue to pray for us as we toddle about; learning more and more not to struggle, but to be still and know that He is God.
Blessings,
SC
A few weeks ago we were at Dan's brother's house for Canadian thanksgiving, it was evening and we were watching Bryce, their 16 month old toddler struggle to stay awake. You know the picture, a little guy doing everything he can to stay up so that he doesn't miss a beat of what's going on, yet he's so tired he'll hurt himself if he doesn't sleep soon. Well, eventually Nanny Larose stepped in, picked him up and put his head on her shoulder. The usual reaction to that was of course, to pick his head up off of her shoulder and struggle to get out of her arms...that's what he did if anyone tried to put him to sleep...but when he looked and realized who had him, he didn't bother struggling, he just put his head down on her shoulder and let her take him to bed without a fight. He knew that with her, there was no use trying to fight it, he would have to rest anyways, so may as well just be still.
I'm realizing that this is sort of what we've been living with God. There is so much to learn, so much to do, explore and discover in this adventure we've been on that when it's time to rest, we fight it. We struggle with rest, we don't really know how to turn the whole thing off and be still. Yet when we realize who it is that is holding us, it is with a peaceful, secure resignation that we put our head down on the Father's shoulder and allow ourselves to be carried to that place of quiet rest in Him. It would be better if we would rest as soon as God told us to, that way we would avoid the bumps and bruises that come with stumbling about...we're learning that. But the great thing is to realize that He is the one carrying us through this whole journey we're on, so we can trust Him to show us how to be still.
So please continue to pray for us as we toddle about; learning more and more not to struggle, but to be still and know that He is God.
Blessings,
SC
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