Silence and Stillness

Silence.  Stillness

When you think of those words, what do you feel?  Relief?  Tension?  Uneasy?  Peace?  Desire to have, or the need to run far from anything resembling them?

In our loud and busy world, silence and stillness are something we tend to forget about, and on a rare occasion when we do have a moment of complete silence, I have noticed it can make many people uneasy, they don't know how to just sit and be still in silence and enjoy the peace that surrounds them.  

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10  I would say that is a pretty strong statement.  If we are running around, filling our heads with continual media outlets, always connected to social media, gaming, noise, we can't be still.  According to this verse, stillness equals knowing God.  To me, that makes sense because if our minds are always busy, always connected, how can it be quiet and focused on anything.  Instead, it becomes numb because we put it on overload, we don't think, we don't read, we don't put down the phones, computers, tablets, or shut off the TV, to just be, to reconnect with ourselves, our loved ones, and God.  If we did disconnect for a day, we would realize how absolutely exhausted our minds truly are because they were not designed to have continual noise and input.  They were designed to rest.

"We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness.  God is the friend of silence.  See how nature--trees, flowers, grass--grows in silence; see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence.  We need silence to be able to touch souls."   ~Mother Teresa 

We all need to get some silence and stillness in our lives, to disconnect and reconnect with ourselves, and God.  The more we clutter our brains with social media, gaming, TV, noise, the less we know how to think logically because we are being influenced by all the voices going in our head on a continual basis.    The more we fill our heads with noise, the less we hear the beauty of creation-birds singing, children laughing, the wind howling, waves crashing into the shoreline.  The busier we are, the less we notice beauty..sunsets, flowers, eagles soaring, the beauty in a smile. When we quiet the noise and still the busyness, we can see and appreciate God's creation, we can think clearly, and we can connect with others and with God.

Take some time and put in your schedule time for YOU.  Time for you to disconnect.  Turn your phone off, or leave it somewhere away from where you are.  Leave all devices that connect you to noise behind.  Take time to just sit and be quiet.  Time to listen.  Time to observe beauty.  Time to connect with loved ones, and with God.  During this time, don't go over your to do lists, just sit and be still.  Look around and find the beauty that God has placed around you.  It's not easy at first, it can actually be uncomfortable, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes.  

We all need this in our lives.  I disconnected some last week, not completely, but took some aspects of social media away, and I must say I really enjoyed it.  I had more time, so much more time.  I read a book.  I thought.  I wrote. I was quiet.  I enjoyed the beauty of creation. I found some of the creative outlets that being over-connected shuts down in us.  I spent time with loved ones.  I chose to do it.  I chose to disconnect.  It is a choice.  It's worth it.   

Life Story

Tomorrow starts a new 365 day book for our life stories. What will your story be? Will you live a joy-filled life, filled with love for those around you, no matter what may be going on in our country, our world, and life in general? We choose the legacy we leave behind each day, so choose wisely and be the change you want to see in the world. One person can make a difference.  Will you offer hope, love, joy?  Will you care about those around you and not just focus on self, and the problems that face us each day?  Hope and love can change us, can change those around you.  Choosing joy, real deep down inside us joy, can get us through difficult times, and enhance good times.  What will you choose for 2013?  What legacy will you leave, not just in the year 2013, but each and every day?  Each day matters, each moment matters.  How will you choose to live the precious moments that God gives you?  Will you offer hope to a hurting world? Will you love?  Will you be a light shining out, offering hope?  Take time to write out a life story that others want to be a part of, and will be blessed to walk the journey beside you through this coming year.  Blessings for a new year. 

The Heart of Christmas

I wish the world and this nation would focus on remembering the heart of Christmas. There is so much unrest, so much division, so much hate, and so much anger. Take time to focus on the true heart of Christmas, and love those around you deeply. Keep the heart of Christmas going every day.

Please join me in praying for peace, and wisdom for our nation, our leaders, and our world.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  CELEBRATE JESUS AND HIS BIRTH!  



For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Hope

Hope.  Many people are looking for hope.  Many people are looking in the wrong places.  You cannot find hope from within yourSELF.  You cannot find hope in any type of substance, food, person, possession.  Hope, true hope, can only be found in one place, Jesus.  He came to this world to give us hope, hope for more than this life offers us on earth.  I don't know about you, but that alone gives me hope.  If this world was all there was, it would be a very bleak existence, which many live in because they don't turn their lives to Jesus and live a life centered in Him.  Yes, we still have to live here, and experience the darkness in this world, but Jesus came to give us light, to give us hope.  Hope for more than this life, life eternal, life that never ends, always in His presence.  He overcomes the darkness in this world, and the darkness will not overpower Him, ever.  

Do you need hope today?  Look to Jesus.  It's the reason He was born, it's the reason He died for us, to give us never-ending hope.








And his name will be the hope of all the world. Matthew 12:21 

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5

Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart.  Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times.  Share with God’s people who need help. Bring strangers in need into your homes. Romans 12:11-13

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:7


The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.  John 1:5

Is There Room?

Not only at Christmas, but every moment of every day, this is something we have to decide in our lives.............

Thankfulness, Fear, Worry, Trust

Today ends the official November days of thanks, but I hope each day to carry thankfulness in my heart.  It can be challenging, particularly if getting wrapped up in the wrong thoughts or if getting consumed with fears, worries, circumstances, but God always wants us to give thanks, despite and beyond our circumstances.  He gives us blessings everyday.  If we miss them, it's because we aren't paying attention to them, or to Him.  

I must admit, there have been a few challenging days for me lately with thoughts of things going on in our world, fiscal cliff free fall talk, and difficult things going on with those I know and care about, and I have found myself consumed with worry, fear, and stress on things I have absolutely no control over.  My husband confronted me last night about it, and asked why I was so worried.  I asked why he wasn't.  He told me he has had a few brief moments of worrying about it, but then he prayed and God has overwhelmed him with peace.  I almost got angry, wondering to myself why I wasn't overwhelmed with peace, because I have been praying about it a lot, and as I am wondering that, it was like God whispered to me, you aren't allowing me to overwhelm you with peace because you are consumed with worry and what if's.  I had a brief moment of ouch, that hurt, but went back to worrying, and it wasn't until tonight that it really hit me.  I have had a tendency to be a worrier since I was a little girl.  So, learning to let go and let God deal with those fears and worries can be a challenge to me.  I have realized tonight how much joy has been taken from me in the past couple days because of the what-if's I keep playing over and over in my head, the thoughts I have let the enemy fill, not my Creator.  Funny thing is, when others are having a difficult time, I always share this verse with them that has helped me through many situations.  Unfortunately, I have not focused on it enough lately.  

 I am in two private groups on Facebook for my life coaching, follow several of my instructors and mentors on Twitter, and on these worry-filled days, I have found many words of encouragement to keep going, focus on God, let worries and fears go because God is in control and is bigger than anything we will face in this life.  I find words that say if I worry, I don't trust God, I am trusting in me...ouch! I have opened up my Bible or get on YouVersion Bible on my iPhone, and God directs me to the same thoughts that many are posting...TRUST that God knows what HE is doing, He is in control, stop being scared, stop worrying, LIVE life, BE there for others, SERVE GOD, LOOK AND SEE the blessings.  Be thankful.  God is already in tomorrow, so don't worry about it, He has gone before me.  These messages have appeared over and over.  I get several verse of the day, devotions, quotes in my email.  They have all been on the same subject, as well.  Think God is trying to make a point to me?  I do.  Here are some quotes that came just tonight:

It's hard to be full of grace when you're full of fear.  ~Cornelius Plantinga, Jr 

Gratitude consists of being more aware of what you have, than what you don't.  What are you grateful for? 

"If we belong to Christ, satan has no right to exercise authority over us; but he hopes we are too ignorant regarding Scripture to know it."  ~Beth Moore

Hate is not the first enemy of Love.  Fear is.  It destroys your ability to trust.

We must look up in order to move forward...looking around will confuse, paralyze, distract, depress, limit or terrify you.  ~Christine Caine


There will be difficulties in life, it's guaranteed.  But, I have to choose to trust God in everything, not doubt or fear.  He has promised to help me, to be with me, to guide me if I let Him, to provide for our needs.  In the meantime, I have to live focused on His goodness, be thankful and grateful for the many wonderful blessings He has provided for me, and to let the JOY OF THE LORD be my STRENGTH.  

I do always try to find the blessings of each day, no matter what.  I needed a good refocus tonight as I got way off track sometime last night, and throughout today.  So today, I am thankful for the gift to start over, and over, and over again.  God gives me, us, re-do's all the time, it's called grace.  I have to ask for Him to forgive me of my fear and doubt, and to wash my thoughts with His thoughts, so I can focus on Him and His Word, because fear and worry is a sin on my part.  He wants my full, unwavering trust, sometimes much easier to write and say, than to actually do.  But, I am going to work on it, and since I have lived in this body for awhile now, I know I will have to keep working on it.  I am going to try hard to replace worry and fear with joy and thanksgiving, to focus on the truth found in God's word, and to keep my thoughts on what is pure and from God, with love and helping others at the core of my day.  

November Days of Thanks

Today, and every day, I am thankful and blessed to be a child of God.   Nothing is more important than this relationship in my life.  I sometimes need to be reminded of that, because I get consumed with worry, fear, busyness, but God always brings me back to rest in Him, to remind me I am His kid, and that He loves me.  He reminds me that Jesus died for me.  He reminds me that nothing in this world is more important than a relationship with Him.  

November Days of Thanks

There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.  ~2 Timothy 3:16-17


Yesterday I said I was thankful for books.  Today I am thankful for the most important book in my life, the Bible, the Word of God, the instruction book for how to live life.  

November Days of Thanks

Today I am thankful for books.  I love to read, and have loved books my entire life.  There is nothing  like opening up a real book, and diving into the pages, with the possibility of discovering new things on each page.  

November Days of Thanks

For Sunday and Monday, I am thankful for four wonderful days with my husband.  He has been out of town working on Sandy relief efforts for over three weeks.  We had a great weekend relaxing, drinking coffee, going for drives, watching movies, and catching up.  It was a great time of just enjoying life with the love of my life, and for that I am extremely grateful.  

November Days of Thanks

Today I am thankful for the incredible beauty and majesty of the bald eagle.  My hubby and I went for a drive today, and saw between 25-30 eagles.  

They were beautiful as they soared over the lake and the trees, and sat amongst the trees on the hillsides.