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Wanted: A sense of peace and quiet!
It's already July 15, 2008..............where has the summer gone? Three weeks of summer school, 5 days of vacation bible school, 10 days of vacation with my family, 5 days of church camp...upcoming: 5+ days of performing arts camp at our church and finally...another vacation with my family for a full 7 days............much needed!
I feel extremely drained, physically, emotionally and for some reason spiritually. Our Senior Pastor of Christ Church of the Valley, Michael Foutz, preached on "religion" and the perils of churches focusing too much on being religious rather than having the personal relationship with God. That has been heavy on my heart for many months!
I want so badly to live my life according to how God wants me to live and I feel like I have been busy with the "stuff" that is interfering with me finding a sincere inner peace. I pray earnestly that God will show me what He wants me/our family to do, rather than what our needs are.
I will be still and wait for His calling and until then, I am going to slow down and listen....something that we believers tend to have a hard time doing. Being busy doesn't get us closer to heaven, our hearts are what God wants, not a busy day planner.
Comments
I admire your consistent pursuit of serenity — mostly because it's something I chase after myself and you have the guts to talk about it. Often I am too easily absorbed into the various dramas or "emergencies" in my life, but getting older has helped a lot. These days I measure success by how my relationship with my son is going. His happiness proves an excellent litmus test for my own sanity. He's had a pretty good summer so far, so I don't feel quite so bad about the pile of books I have yet to read :)
Awww... this was a good blog. The very fact that you are aware of what you are doing is the first step in slowing down. Take a moment to appreciate something everyday. I had a writing professor once who MADE us say out loud at least one thing we noticed that day. We walk through life focusing on temporary stuff instead of pausing to reflect on a sunrise or a blooming tree or the sound of a child's laugh. When I need to slow down or pray, I get up extra early and sit outside. See if that works for you, too (coffee makes the experience truly divine!).