Reminder!

It's been hard lately to be in the stillness, so I have opted to not seek the stillness.

This is always a bad idea. It's very idea comes straight from the the gates of hell. But we go there, I go there, and let me tell you I can justify being there too. 

Then something happens and it slaps you back into the real deal of obedience, of the age old question: Even if you never hear from Him again, will you still seek Him? My Spiritual Director put it like this: How would I respond if I never had another gift of consolation? 

You know, when Jesus left the Disciples, they went back to what they were doing before they met him. John 21 tells the story, and tucked in there is fishing. Peter says, I'm going fishing! He knew how to fish. He had been making a living fishing for his whole life before Jesus came along! So when you don't know how to go forward, you sometimes end up doing what you know how to do.

Jesus came to them again. To remind them they needed to feed His sheep!

So my Spiritual Director has me going back over the Principles and Foundation from Saint Ignatius. Today's reading was the last part, you know, the part that always get's ya'! 

I want and I choose what better leads to God's deepening life in me. 

I haven't posted, because I haven't had the words. It's been a quiet time, a lonely time. Sometimes just knowing that your not loosing your mind, that people have gone through "this" before and come out the other side better, is enough to hold on to.

We can not ignore the call.  

Random

So, did I tell you it's started?

Yes, we've been invaded by giant jars of pickles! Ok, not really, but the cuke's are starting to come on. Last week we had surprisingly cool weather for July. I think one morning it was 58 degrees, which, by the way, doesn't happen in July in Arkansas! Or at least it didn't use to happen. Just when the plants were kicking into high gear, it get's cold and slows everything down except the mosquitoes. I hope that everything recovers and we start kicking it again real soon.

I got a job,did I tell you? I'm a cashier at a convenient store. I have to admit this is the first job of it's kind for me and I'm excited to add it to the other 986 thousand things I've done to earn money in my life time. Yes, I'm over qualified for this but, what's a girl to do? I'd like to give a shout out to April and Anne..."You taught me everything I know about up selling!"

I ordered a new pair of running shoes on line yesterday. I know right! What am I thinking ordering running shoes on line? Well, it's like this, I can't find anyone to take my feet and go try some on! I was wondering why my feet were hurting me after I ran and then I looked at the bottom of the shoes... They are fixing to turn into work shoes.

Things have truly been calm around here lately! I think it's because my 20 hour a week job is working me close to 38 hours every week and all I can do is fall into bed at night and sleep. Through it all, this is still how I look at most things!

Longings

Longing... this is what I found = strong, persistent desire or craving, especially for something unattainable or distant. Having or characterized by persistent or earnest desire. Do you have longings?

One of my longings is to show people how easy it is to be Christ to each other. To be an example, to be living proof that caring for someone that's different won't hurt you. It might make you a little uncomfortable, but growth and change are uncomfortable.

I don't know where longings come from. Have I wondered? Yes. If I had to guess, I'm putting my money on God. I believe God gives us the longing, and then gives us what we are longing for.

Another longing I have is to be used by God. That's it. Short and simple. Years ago, when I started praying to be used by God, I didn't have a specific job in mind that I would be doing for God but I was sure with my personality, education and work ethic, the job would be the most awesomest! Have you found that God has a sense of humor?


The foundational instinct is that we are here essentially to risk ourselves in the world; that we are a form of invitation to others and to otherness, that we are meant to hazard ourselves for the right thing, for the right woman or the right man, for a son or a daughter, for the right work or for a gift given against all the odds. In longing we move and are moving from a known but abstracted elsewhere, to a beautiful, about to be reached, someone, something or somewhere we want to call our own. ~ David Whyte

To risk ourselves, to be the invitation to others. 

Where I am right now is lonely. If I really think about it, where I've been for years has been lonely. But I'm not alone. I have my longing, which keeps me stepping out there. It causes me to risk myself for the other. 

Wanna join me?

Had to Happen!

This time of year is always a challenge for the miser in me! We have had the A/C off for a while now, mainly cuz $400 electric bills are out of our price range. Also because there is something almost magical about the smell of the air this time of year. When I was growing up in the delta of Mississippi county, this time of year had the faint smell of cotton defoliant to it along with the fresh smell of dirt. I love the way dirt smells!

This time that comes before the first freeze, before you close all the windows and crank on the heat, this is a special time of cooking things on the stove so you can have a blast of heat. It's about moving to the front porch to sit because the sun has moved to that side of the house and the wind is blocked a little more than it is out back.

It's about taking really hot showers, with the heater light on and the vent off, so the warmth will get out into the house. 

I have been closing the windows, slowly, one by one as the temperature drops a little more every evening. It hit me last night, that I had better bring in the house plants if I wanted to keep them. This always includes Preacher man, that's because with my green thumb, we have two plants that are bigger than me!

So, the windows are now all closed.

It is 40 degrees this morning and while that is still too warm for a frost, I had to turn the heat on to chase the chill out of here. Don't judge me! 

I'm feeling a little defeated because of this lack of toughness in me.

It's here. There is no way to stop it from happening so don't even try. With the World series right around the corner, fall is in the air!  

Strong and Courageous!

Be strong and courageous! That's what God told Joshua after Moses died. He didn't just tell him once either, it was three times! Kinda like when Momma use to say; 

Don't forget to look both ways. 

Please don't forget to look both ways. 

LOOK BOTH WAYS!!!! 

After that third time, you can bet you pretty well had it! That's how I picture it with God and Joshua.

Preacher man talked about how God is calling us to this way of being even today. It doesn't just happen with people that God calls into full time ministry, it  happening with all believers, sometimes we're just too busy to hear it.

I have found as I make time to be with God, my ear's somehow become tuned into what is being said in the silence. The words I read in the Bible are aimed right at me and my life! 

How does He do that? That's what people are talking about when they say The Bible is The Living Word of God. Or, Jesus, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! 

Joshua 1:9 says; I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

The third time we are commanded to look both ways. We are also commanded to be strong and courageous, however, God goes a step further and says don't be scared, and don't be throw off balance, for I am with you!

That just fires me up! Preacher man did a mighty fine job bringing this message. Click Here and check him out!

I challenge you to first off make time in your day to hear from God. If you are already doing that, then I challenge you to stop reading so much of what other's write and see what God has written for you. Then, just sit with it. See what comes up. I'd love to hear about it!  

Awareness

I'm finding it hard to get this started for some reason. It's not that I have a lack of things to write about it, it's just figuring out what I want to open up to. 

At times, our life moves at worp speed. I mean so much is going on that if you aren't in contact with us daily, you are behind. We walk around singing Deep and Wide and we add in Fast! 

Then there are the times when life is like a slow float down the river. Moving at a speed that allows us to take in the sights and sounds. The trick for me is to bring the speed down so I can really see what's happening in the deep and wide.

I found these five questions from Mary Oliver help me to be aware of God in my life.

1. What do I notice?
2. What do I hear?
3. What is most wonderful?
4. What is most tender?
5. What astonishes me?

For me, anytime is a good time to ask these questions. I have found that doing them once a day, say at the end of the day before bed time, isn't the best time, as much as it is the default time. You know, Oh I forgot to be intentional about my questions at some point today, so I'll be aware of them now. My issue with this is; we focus on one thing as wonderful when there could have been 16. Tenderness could have surrounded us in so many different ways but we just didn't notice.

So here's my suggestion or maybe I should say confession: At the top of each hour, answer the 5 questions. If you do this for a while, you'll start doing it without even really having to think about it. The next thing you know, BAM! you'll be giving glory to God, cuz you're noticing God in your life.

Give it a try, what do you have to loose? Give me a holler if you want to talk about it.  
    

Clean Heart

This is one of the scriptures that is speaking to me this morning. I'm a underlinen, highlightering, jot it downer! My Bibles (yes, as a Preacher wife, I have more than one Bible) are underlined and some have dates and situations written beside them. This is a record of my life. 

I use to think that I had a spiritual life and a regular life. I kept them pretty much separated. Somewhere along the line, they started going together and meshing. Only God can do those things! 

Here's an example: To speak the words of Psalm 51, at first, it's a very noble thing to say. Why, yes Lord, give me a clean heart, a do over kinda heart. So, it get's underlined. Then, sometime later, the words something thats not right in our hearts get's written above it.

The words of the this Psalm, start changing in our minds. If, you say these words, out loud, is this not a request of God? 

For me, I come to these points in my life where God and I take off the gloves and we get real with each other. Truth be known, I'm the one getting real, cuz God always is! I have this conversation with myself about really wanting a clean heart? Wouldn't it be better if you just changed all them Lord and straighten them out?! 

So here I am...hanging out with The Word, and God shows up and I start to see my need for God to make a clean heart in me... This is something that ONLY God can do! Our part in it all? Be open and available, pay attention, be aware, and finally... let God have His way.  

Present to the Presence

I talk a lot about living in the present. I got to thinking the other day, well, if your not living in the present, where are you living? My thinking on this, is either in the past or the future. One of which is gone and you can't do anything about it, and the other might never get here. It's living in grief and regret or the land of 'what if.'

Dr. Fred say's it this way: From the vantage point of Christian spiritual practice, being present is about being present in the moment to the presence of the triune God. In that way, and in that way alone, is the meaning of any moment made clear to us.

It's not just about paying attention to what's going on around you. It's not just about living in this moment, as opposed to any other moment. It's about THE presence of the triune God. Paying attention to what God is saying through the things that surround you. Living in this moment so you can see and hear what God has for you right now, cuz that's all you've really got anyway. No promises of tomorrow.

To me, it's about making time, not finding time, to spend in THE presence of God. Starting my day with Him, always re-calabrates me. In this way, any moment is made clear. 

Habit

Why is it that we fall out of habit's that are good for us faster and farther than habit's that are bad? Is it something just made into us? Do we yearn to be disobedient? Is it the rebel wanting to yell in us all?

Billy Idol, Rebel Yell!

I have a list as long as my arm to be done! Some of those things have to happen, some are need, and then there is the MY list that mostly are wants. In all honesty, I'm pretty tired of lists and letting them rule my life. I also know what happens without them, nothing!

We all go through times when we are more on the ball than others, and sadly we waste time beating ourselves up about it when we could just get back into the swing of things. 

I think, this is something I need to talk to my spiritual director about, that will help me get back on tract! However, with me and my director, I already know what he's going to say. Get back at it, now. 

So I listened to what he would say, if I were to ask, and this is what I got this morning:

The world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, 

no matter how long,

but only by a spiritual journey,

a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling

and JOYFUL, by which we arrive at the ground

at out own feet and learn

to be at home. 

~ Wendell Berry

So today, I encourage you to get back at your spiritual journey. To do your inch today and let God take care of the miles!

Yard of Life

As I sit on the back porch, I see it as a snap-shot into life. There is hard work just down the stairs, into the garden, or there is rest if I stay put. When we take the chance to walk out into the garden, we find weeds, roots that don’t belong, big and small rocks, and soil that is holding it all, good and bad. 

Our life's are like that, they have things in them that take effort to remove. The rocks and weeds don’t have to be taken out mind you. They can stay right where they are and if we’re lucky, people will think the weeds are grass if we don’t let them get too close. In fact, it might be easier to just stay on the porch and watch from a distance.


God calls us, He woo’s us, to come down into the garden of our life and to get messy with Him. There is no doubt about it, life, church, relationships...they are all messy, but God will go with us and help us to sort out the weeds and rocks from the soil and worms. 

God will never take us anywhere we don’t want to go. If we want to stay on the porch and have people look at our gardens from a distance, that’s just were we’re at, and God will let us stay there. If we really want to see what’s going on in our garden, if we want to try to grow some plants that will give fruit, then we’re going to have to go down those stairs, into the yard and get messy. Intimacy begins here, in the place where we just come and we “be” with God in our messiness.

I invite you to walk out into your yard of life, and to start out by just looking. Come down off the porch and just walk around with God. He has things to show you if your ready to see them.  

Walk like a Penguin!

The last word you heard from me, I had worked out with Jillian. I would like to report that I am able to move more like a person today instead of a penguin. Yes, that's right, I have been so beyond sore since Monday that I really thought about using the wheel chair from the church to get around in. The problem being it won't fit in the Mini and we live in a tri-level house! 

I went out and got a massage yesterday and that helped so much that I soaked in a hot tub of Epson Salt when I got home. Low and behold, I am moving much better. I'm not kidding, I was walking like a penguin. Dang Jillian! I might try it again tomorrow!

I'm thinking about changing my web site up. I'm not getting any comments and Preacher man says it's cuz it's hard to do on this site. Is that true? I know one or two are reading this thing and surely I'm saying something that you can comment on! You know, if you find this commenting thing to be true, would you drop me an email and let me know? kimer.workman@gmail.com is my address.
Also I'm thinking about changing the title, take a look and let me know the one or two you like the best?! Here's the list:

• Little Wheels
• Preacher's Wife
• Pickles & Sauce
• Kimba's Calling
• The Call
• Healing Heart
• PW Wisdom (Preacher's Wife)
• Broken
• Oasis Mystic (Oasis is the name of our non-profit)
• Woman at the Water Pump
• Not Prefect
• Enough

Do you have an idea? Let me know your thoughts!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Peace Out!

Working out & Letting go!

Once upon a time, a longer time ago than I really thought, I was in shape! I remember going to the Deep In at seminary, the sun hadn't even thought about getting up, and working out for at least an hour. Today, after about a 30 minute walk with Preacher man and Gracie, I got the "30 Day Shred" out of the box, popped it in the machine and within 20 minutes flat was, so close to death that I thought I was going to have to lay on the floor all day! Dang Jullian Michaels! 

Have you ever thought about how tired we get just from carrying our stuff around? I got to thinking about it this morning before I had my near death experience. I'm pretty amazed that we have downed sized and gotten to the point where we carry more than ever before. 

When I was growing up we had tapes, aka, cassette tapes. We had these huge boxes that we kept them in and the boxes took up at least one persons seat in the car. Our music was and is important to us, hence we carry it with us. Now, it all fits in a smart phone, which also fits in the back pocket of a pair of jeans!

I ran across this story and want to share it with you:
  
Two traveling monks reached a river where they met an attractive young woman waiting to cross. Wary of the current, she asked if they would be willing to carry her. One of the monks hesitated, but the other promptly picked her up into his arms, transported her across the river, and put her down, safely on the other bank. She thanked him and went on her way.

As the monks walked toward the monastery, one brooded, stewing in the toxic elixir of self-righteousness and envy. After an hour, unable to hold his silence, he spoke. "Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women, but you picked her up in your arms, held her very close and carried her!"

"Brother," the second monk replied, "That is all true. But on the other side of the river I set her down. It sounds to me as if you are still carrying her."

Here's my question: Are you being owned or possessed by the things you carry? Or are you able to lay them down and walk away? Do others help you remember that you need to pick things up that you have laid down? 

In a way, it's like carrying all those tapes around when we have a smart phone that holds more than the box ever could! When we lay things down, we are freed up to grab a hold of a new freedom. So I guess the question is, do you want to carry your burden or grab for freedom?

A prayer for you is that you determine in your heart and mind to go into 2013 free and determined to take steps towards walking in the footsteps that only you were designed to walk in.
Free up your hands so that you may waive them in victory over something that has been binding you up in the past.
Free up your heart so that you may love and receive love the way you desire.
Free up your mind so that you are clear about the direction your life is taking.
Free up your time so that when opportunity comes, you are ready to walk in it.
Free up the limitations you have imposed on yourself and walk boldly towards your heart's desires. ~ Terry Hershey

Conclusions!

Got out of the house last night for a little date night action for the first time since before Christmas, it felt strange! Not strange to be out on a date with Preacher man, but strange that I hadn't really been out of the house since it snowed, 12 inches... and we don't have the 4x4 unstoppable Ford Truck anymore! I'm not complaining mind you, I just miss it sometimes! We washed and vacuumed LilWhls the day before Christmas, and she is still sitting in the garage. All I got to say is come spring, the rubber will be hitting the road!!

I have come to some conclusions in the last few days and I'm going to admit some of them to you right now. 

Conclusion #1: God is all about restoration! He wants to restore us to Him and He wants us to be restored to each other. I looked it up and here's what I found: to bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish: to restore order. I also know that in order to be restored, sometimes it requires us to be vulnerable. My friend Leigh has helped me with this being vulnerable stuff. Can't say I'm a pro at it, but I'm getting it. I also looked that word up, and here's what I found: capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt. Anyone want to sign up for any of that? Well, I did today! I became vulnerable in order to be restored, and you know what? I cried a little and my voice got a little shaky, but I didn't die!! God Rocks!

Conclusion #2: While in seminary, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with this soon to be Preacher's wife. She has had a bazllion knee surgeries, 2 kids, been on Weight Watchers as many times as me and is an awesome writer of blogs. She has started back up with her race training, WW and blogging, which has set a fire under me. So today, Becca, I got Jullian's 30 Day Shred and I'm really wanting to get back out on the road, even if it's walking! So thank you for your inspiration! 

Sometimes, all it takes is to hear about someone else being human to make us want to be more human ourselves! 

Are you being inspired to be more human? To be more of what God is calling you to be? 

Showing Up!

Sometimes it really can be about showing up! The fancy word for showing up is faithfulness. As a layperson, I feel I have a few things to say about showing up, and as a pastor's wife, I know how much it means to have people who are faithful to their church! Another word that can be used in here is dependable. I remember as the director of a NonProfit, I counted my few dependable, faithful, volunteers as my bread and butter. In fact, there wasn't much I could do without them, and I told them this, often!!

In the church, it's the same way. God is looking for faithfulness in His people. Think about it, it's one of the few things we can give back to God. We can have all the stunning gifts, wonderful talents, and amazing personalities, but if we aren't showing up, being faithful and dependable, what they heck are we doing?

What am I talking about when I say faithful and dependable? Well, it would be attending services and functions whenever possible, even when you'd rather be at a Hog game, or the deer woods are calling your name. Not simply because you may get something out of it, but because your presence says something about what you value. 

Let me ask you 2 questions. Did you go to church on Sunday and Monday last week? Did you see people that were there then but didn't show back up yesterday? Then you, my friend, are faithful and someone I consider a church hero.

See, sometimes it is about showing up. We may not think anyone notices, or that none really care, but let me tell you how wrong that thinking is. God notices and so does your Pastor. Keep showing up you faithful few, God has great things for you!

New Self?

So, is time getting away from you too, or is it just me? That's what I thought! My time away from home this past weekend, sent me into a tail spin yesterday with making list's, going to store's, the post office, starting the cooking craziness and being overall flat out stressed. Then, when I took a minute after I received a call from my Daddy, I started putting things into order in my heart. This meant pulling out a prayer that just might end up being my mantra for awhile! I'm a gona' share it with you right now!

Searching for Our Self

Good Shepherd, who finds the lost one,

the "me" I have known has disappeared.

Will I ever recover the person I have been?

Will I find who I am, and who I am becoming?

Protect me in this great vulnerability.

Assure me that I will come home to myself

even thought my "self" may be different. 

Silence my impatience. Calm my worry.

Restore my joy. Dispel my negativity.

Help me to befriend my new self with hope.

Isn't that cool? It's not a bad thing to become someone new, however, it can be scary. The more I change, the more I look back and say things like, Wait! I didn't like that about me anyway! This new joy is so much bigger than the old joy! We need to change and grow, we need to become uncomfortable with where and who we are. We need to take a deep breath, invite the Holy Spirit to come over us, and just be. I know it's hard, but if you will do it once, you will be able to do it again. The next thing you know, you are digging this new self you are becoming.

God takes us as we are, but He doesn't leave us that way. This is what is known as change! 

Ladders and Walls!

I spent the better part of three hours reconnecting with a friend yesterday and it opened my eyes to a ton of things I had either forgotten, or dismissed. One of which is how women need to remember how to be women.

It's really pretty funny, cuz I was a huge feminist growing up. Trying to prove all the time that I could do anything a guy could do! After I found out in climbing the ladder to success, my ladder was leaning up against the wrong wall, I fell rather fast to the ground and had to start rethinking my live and what I was really after. So many of us just stay on the ladder, even when we see that it's not working out the way we had dreamed. I'm thankful for my fall, now, not so much when it was happening.

I started to learn something about the way we women are made and don't think I've shared this before so here we go with a few things we know as women, but might have forgotten!

We were made as caregivers! It is something that comes as easy as breathing. Now, some of us are better at it than others and that's fine. We are social and want to connect everyone to everything and in the process we care about others. When I fell off my ladder and started getting real with myself and God, I found out I was pretty dang good at this caregiver stuff. I found this out very quickly after I started working at the soup kitchen. I got to looking and low and behold, 95% of my volunteers that came in and cooked and cared for the people, were women. The 5% that were men, were my board leaders, food pick up and maintenance.

Another case in point story. I was completely blown away one day when I had cleaned the parsonage, played in the yard, and had dinner ready for Preacher man when he got home. The look on his face when he walked through the house and smelled dinner, was worth an amount that I still can't put a price on! I had shown care for him by doing what was becoming my job. In all honestly, it has always been my job. I had balked against it for so many years, cuz I was a woman with more education than you could shake a stick at! Anyone could take care of a house, I wanted to climb that dang ladder that was leaning up against the wrong wall! 

This has been part of my wake up call from God. My job is to care for my husband, AKA Preacher man! Because I am saying ok to this God given design, He is blessing me with a ministry! I am freed up enough to be able to sit down with others and listen to where they are on their spiritual journey and walk beside them. Just in the past week, I have shared in tears of joy, calmness that has come straight from God, frustration that has been self made, and rekindled a relationship that I believe will turn into something so much bigger than either of us can get our heads around right now! All I really did was be available to listen, which is a God given gift (those of you who know me, have seem the change!). 

To think it all started when I fell off the ladder that was leaning up against the wrong wall and I allowed God to reshape me into the woman he had planned all along! 

Different Place!

I'm in a really different place than I've ever been in before and I can tell I'll be here until I learn the lesson. What's the lesson you may ask, well if I knew, I'd be moving on now wouldn't I? 

Haven't you ever been someplace like this before? Where you know your way around, yet nothing is happening like it use to? You look in the mirror and know that person, but the things that are going on inside your head are a little on the right side of center. Then again, it wouldn't surprise me if I really was out here on the edge, alone!

I found myself sitting in a room with some people who are trying to learn more about the Bible, or at least 3 of us are. Some words were spoken that really have given me cause to think long and hard about what I stand for, or won't stand for. 

I will not stand with the world on it's views! I am called to be in the world not of the world! I want to be different than the world. When you look at me and line me up with the world, I want to stick out like a sore thumb! While I am human that doesn't give me the excuse to be like everybody else! 

I get that you don't want to judge! I have a news flash for you though...every time you get into your car, you judge. Or maybe you don't and that's why you don't have a car! 

I have written about the whole God is love, Jesus loves you thing before but I feel compelled to say once again... This is a great place to start, but they are so much more than just love! You can't just stop there and hope we will all love each other and get along. I mean, how's that working for you? Jesus didn't come so we would all get along, in fact, he said he came to cause a ruckus, paraphrasing by me!

Here's the deal, for me and maybe you. If you can't stand up for Jesus now, do you think when it's get's bad and we're persecuted, it's going to be easier? If you don't take the opportunity to study and grow deeper and wider now, do you think when stuff starts hitting the fan, your going to have lots of time to do that?

We need to love each other and call each other into account for our actions. We need to stand up for Jesus, spend time with Jesus and walk in the shadow of His cross. It's not the easy way of going about doing things but for me, it's the only way!   

Wake Up

Do you ever get tired of wake up calls? Not the ones in the morning that get you out of bed, but the ones that smack you up side the head and bring you into the here and now! I've had a weekend of wake up calls and I'm thinking, thats just what the doctor ordered.

I fell way behind on my reading and was somewhat floored when I went to Fort Smith to hang out with the sisters this past weekend! So I'm hitting the books hard and it's only Monday, but I figure the way my luck is going, I'll be behind before too long.

I called last week and got a dentist appointment for tomorrow afternoon. Can I tell you how much I hate finding new doctors and such. On Friday, I received my reminder about the yearly Mammo I need to get done this month. I saw the piece of paper Anne had written this doctors name on, she had gotten the name from her daughter and it just stared at me. In fact, it's been staring at me since Anne was here last, when ever that was. So I got on Google and found a phone number and low and behold, the doctor is no longer with them. I thought maybe this was my break. Not there?, must be a sign from God, I don't need to go to the doctor. Ha! Candy, who answered the phone, was not going to let me off the hook! Needless to say, I will be seeing my new doctor on Thursday morning, who will be able to refer me to Mammo, colon, thyroid and with my luck, heart. We'll see.

Do you realize that Turkey day is in 10 days! Good grief! Now that's a wake up call!!

Ripped

Boy, am I glad I announced I was going to be posting more! I don't know what I was thinking, oh wait, I'm sure I wasn't thinking and I wanted to share that with you!

I went to Fort Smith on Friday in order to be at the monastery bright and early for class on Saturday morning. Had to drive through a horrific storm in order to get there and came to the conclusion that I prefer driving 80 in hard rain in a truck! The Mini did just fine, I on the other hand, was offered a scotch upon arrival.

While I was gone, Preacher man had a visit from a man that we have been waiting on all summer long, the tree take-her down dude! Both of the very old, planted too close to the house, pine trees, are now down. They are down all over the back yard and the dogs have no idea where to go potty, but they are down. 

I have been buzzed by Humming birds that don't know where to land in order to wait for other Hummers to buzz! Every black flying bug that lived in the trees are swarming and in a really bad mood. It smells like Christmas in the back yard and now we have to start cleaning up and there are not enough hours in the day!

Do you find that your day is too short too? That all you do is run from one thing to the next? Without taking time to slow down and just breathe? Do you find that every time you do sit down to breathe, you get buzzed? I am with you, but the really cool part is, God is with you too. 

I found yesterday, I just had to do some physical work in the yard. I now have close to 200 iris' ready to be replanted somewhere. The cool part is they aren't under my Crape's anymore! However, every muscle in my body is now buzzing me! 

There is just something that calms down in me when I pull things out of the ground. That ripping sound of roots being pulled from the earth, the smell of the damp dirt... it puts me smack dab in a Holy place. So yesterday, I got to play with God in the dirt and he showed me how even the worms are something he's proud of. When the day was done and I was cleaning up, I looked over what I had done. It didn't seem like a huge amount had been changed. Then I noticed, something in me had shifted. I was calmer and stiller than I had been in a long time. I don't know how long this shift will last, but when I start to get crazy again, I will go see about pulling something else out of the ground and allow myself to re-center on what really is important.

We need to remember that the evil one is out there ready to steal our joy, every day. When we don't take time or crave out time, to just sit and be with the Holy One, well, we end up being the ones being ripped from our ground! So take 20 minutes today to sit somewhere that you enjoy, and ask God to speak to you, then watch and listen. When you make time for Him, he shows up! 

  

Place!

I'm finding that I'm being pulled to move my place of solitude. That sounds kinda funny doesn't it. I really miss my big over stuffed chair that we had to sell before we moved to Sherwood. I could get all comfy in that big ole' chair and just spend my time with God. 

I found that last year, I was needing more of a structured place where I could place a candle, have some cards/icons around me. So I set up an alter on a tea table, got a great old rocker to sit in and gathered my things I would need to be with God for an hour. This has worked just fine for over a year, but the other day, after Preacher man had gone to work and the neighborhood had calmed down, I took my things and went to the back porch and me and the birds spent some awesome time with God!

I know as the weather changes from summer into fall, I am lovin' hanging outside, but that will change on day's like today that are hovering around 48 degrees. The point I'm trying to make is find you a place, set apart, where you can be alone with God. It will look different for every person, but it should be a place where you can just be with God for around an hour. Now don't freak out about the time, you have to start somewhere, but you also have to shoot for something. Start with 15 minutes. You will find as you grow in your comfort with God, you will want to spend more time in His presence. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said Spend one hour a day in adoration of your Lord and never do anything you know is wrong, and you will be all right. 

Solitude is where the changes happen in us. It's the place where Christ remodels us in his image and frees us from our false self. If you are in ministry, and we are all in ministry whether we know it or not, you need to have this time of solitude. I see it almost like plugging my phone up at night. If I don't plug it up, the next day it's running slow and shutting down. If I don't take time to plug into God, to spend time alone with him, well... you can tell!

Compassion is the fruit of solitude. We may just have to look at that next.