2009 September | chatting at the sky

more on now

September 30, 2009

Sarah Young is a missionary who wrote a small daily devotional based on her own personal prayer journal. Basically, she spent a lot of time listening in prayer. Then, she wrote her thoughts down as if spoken to by Jesus Himself. The style may not be for everyone, but to me her words have a powerful impact.

time

Today’s reading is so incredibly relevant to yesterday’s thoughts, to the concept of unwrapping our days as well as to some of the comments you made that I simply had to include it. I hope you are able to receive these words with the same relief I did when I read them this morning.

I want you to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is to see, doing all there is to do. Don’t be distracted by future concerns. Leave them to Me! Each day of life is a glorious gift, but so few people know how to live within the confines of today. Much of their energy for abundant living spills over the time line into tomorrow’s worries or past regrets. Their remaining energy is sufficient only for limping through the day, not for living it to the full. I am training you to keep your focus on My Presence in the present. This is how to receive abundant Life, which flows freely from My throne of grace.

Sarah Young, Jesus Calling

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green tuesday

September 29, 2009

It is no secret to you who frequent this place how I value rest. Of heart, of soul, of spirit. It may come as a surprise to you how little I actually practice rest. That is one reason why I started Tuesdays Unwrapped. In an attempt to force a thankful attitude in the middle of life chaos, I hoped that rest would become more natural. And in many ways, it has. But I still get stuck in the avoidance of rest cycle. I busy my hands and eyes and mind with motion and activity just to be moving and active.

green tuesday

I read an article about the extreme conservationist guy who didn’t use toilet paper for a year. Not that I’m suggesting that. But one of his tips was to take a day and simply BE: Don’t buy anything, don’t turn anything on, don’t transport yourself anywhere. That last one especially hit me. I am constantly transporting myself. Sometimes physically. But many times, I’m traveling in my head to the future or the past. I’m thinking on what I should have done differently or better. I fill up my now by planning for later.

So here’s to a green Tuesday. Perhaps school and family and laundry prevents me from turning everything off and sitting in the dark. But nothing prevents me from choosing to be in this present moment, from conserving heart and soul energy. So I celebrate the now and have faith for the later. Join me?