Some thoughts on being Busy & Resting.

This is a post a wrote over two years ago on my other blog, but I thought it was worth revisiting here since much of the same thoughts go along with the theme we are talking about here during this 31 days series. After reading it again I see how the Lord has been working on my heart these last couple years and really teaching me to rest in Him. It's a work in progress, and a journey I'm glad to be on. enjoy.

I feel like life comes at you sometimes in waves. There are times when it seems it just won't slow down, and there are other seasons when I think we wish that we could make time pass more quickly.

I think it's a natural human behavior to want to fill our schedules up, be around people, make sure we have something to do always. But, does that mean that's always healthy?

Everybody's always looking for and seeking balance in their lives. More time in their days to get stuff done and see more people.

I think sometimes we wear "busy-ness" as a badge of honor. Like somehow we're more important and our lives are more important the busier we are. Or the more meetings we have, the more lunch dates we schedule, the more important and full filling our lives make us.

Lately, I've been challenged to re-prioritize, slow down and make sure what I'm doing all fits into what's important.

What does it matter if you are busy with all sorts of things, but not making time for the most important things in life like family and friends? Sometimes I get so frustrated when people tell me; Oh I meant to call you but things just got so busy. Or, I meant to do that but life is just so busy.

Sure I understand when life happens. There's always room for grace. But our "busy-ness" shouldn't replace real friendships, it shouldn't replace family time, or date nights, or those small simple moments that make the most impact in your child's lives because we were to "busy" to stop and take a moment.

To have a real conversation.

To sit in silence with the Lord and let him speak to you.

To be still.

Lately I've been challenging myself to "unplug" the day when I get home and give more time to my family. To not feel so rushed through dinner time, bath time and all those small rituals that we do on a daily basis just so I can make sure the home is cleaned before I head to bed, or make sure I can have "my time" to before I turn in for the evening.

But challenging myself to take in those moments, allowing the schedule to bed time to fall to the way side so that quality time is given to those moments. Some of the practical ways I'm doing this are;

- shutting off my social media on my phone after 6 pm. only take calls that I know are important.

- scheduling more blog posts during nap times and bed times for the weeks ahead.

- making sure I'm not on my computer late at night unless my Husband is working on homework that way he can have my attention.

- taking a closer look at my appointments/commitments and re scheduling so as not compromising any quality time with family.

My challenge is for you too, what are some things you need to take another look at and ask yourself;

"Am I busy for a reason, or just because I feel I need to be? Are there things I need to re prioritize in my life so that the idea of being "busy" doesn't take over?"

This post is apart of a series #31daysofRestinginHim . Visit this link for more posts on this topic and follow along in this journey. Use the hashtag #31daysofRestinginHim on social media to follow along.

Resting on the Scriptures in Hebrews

Back in August I was reading through the book of Hebrews and doing some study there. As I have been reading through the Bible this past year God has been pointing out key scriptures to me that have been speaking to my heart. 

I wanted to share with you some of those scriptures that have been really speaking to me. 

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not. Heb. 11:1

God has planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Heb. 11:40

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. Heb. 12:2

When we keep Godly perspective in all things, in all areas, in all circumstances in good and bad. This changes everything. 

God has really been teaching me during this season of life where I've had a lot of emotional transition. Where I've had a lot of transition in friendships. Where I've been dealing with some emotional things from my children as their worlds change to keep his perspective in everything. 

What is God's perspective? 

Discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. Heb. 12:11

When we discipline ourselves in the Lord (reading our Bibles, prayer and worship) we give God a place to move in our lives and speak to us. Through these disciplines he gives us peace.

It's so true, as I've been reading through the Bible during this season of life God is just revealing himself so much to me through his word and that brings me so much peace and perspective. 

This post is apart of a series #31daysofRestinginHim . Visit this link for more posts on this topic and follow along in this journey. Use the hashtag #31daysofRestinginHim on social media to follow along.

How God Pursues Us.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 NIV

Through my walk with the Lord I've gone through seasons when I've been very intentional about my personal relationship with Him. Practical things like my quiet time, prayer and seeking His wisdom. 

There was a season of my life about five years ago where I battled depression soon after getting laid off from my job where my relationship with God wasn't my priority. It should have been, He should have been the person I was running directly to. Instead I felt lost, abandoned and I didn't have any joy. It took me a while to get out of that place. During that time God really taught me a lot about his redeeming grace and it came solely from a place of spending time with him. 

One day during a church service I made a choice to go to the altar and lay some things down to him. Things changed for me that day, and I've thankful that God pursues us even when we don't always pursue him. 

Some thoughts I've had about pursing God and spending time with His as it relates to resting in Him;

• God wants us to be spending time with him. He is jealous of our time and desires to be with us.
• We need to be in the practice of spending quiet, intentional time with Him. It's during these moments that God speaks to us and growth happens.
• We honor God by giving Him our time.

How have you been challenged lately in spending time with God?

This post is apart of a series #31daysofRestinginHim . Visit this link for more posts on this topic and follow along in this journey. Use the hashtag #31daysofRestinginHim on social media to follow along.

When You Only Get Two Things Done.

I had this plan for today, this plan that included waking up early and being super productive. I had this plan that I was going to get all these things done around my house before it was noon. 

Let me tell you what actually happened. 

My kids woke up at seven, we did the breakfast routine, got dressed and then headed outside to play and jump in the trampoline. I sat and drank my coffee while I watched my kiddos play and listened to a podcast.

I didn't do anything that was on "my list." My chores didn't get accomplished as I'd hoped. My kids started fighting at some point and we had to take some time for discipline.

My morning before noon didn't go as planned, but you know what?

It didn't matter. 

When I'm resting in the Lord it's ok if I only get two things done that day. When I'm resting in the Lord I find myself much more patient with my kids and spouse. 

I remind myself that resting in the Lord is as much about me literally digging into his word and gaining wisdom and about my overall attitude. 

When I'm resting in Him my attitude changes towards the things that don't go my way. 

You can't control outcomes only your response to things. 

I can't control that my kids fought this morning, but I could control my response to them. 

Instead I focused my time & energy on my kids this morning, playing with them and taking time to just sit and relax and be with them.

Which I think is so good. 

It's so good for me to learn to be in the moments that God wants me to be in, instead of letting my mind race with the other things I think I should be doing. 

This post is apart of a series #31daysofRestinginHim . Visit this link for more posts on this topic and follow along in this journey. Use the hashtag #31daysofRestinginHim on social media to follow along.

Regrets and Resting in Him.

My husband and I were having this deep conversation this past weekend about regrets and our faith as believers. My question was;

"As Christians what is our response to regret in our lives?"

Is it ok to have regrets? What does that mean for our lives? Just some questions that I've had and evaluated in my own life. In the last five years regret is something that I've really struggled with. I've had regrets from the way I've handled and responded to things in my past. It's something I pray about daily and seek God's wisdom on daily about how to deal with how I feel. 

I've been reading The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst. 

I read a few chapters the very next day after my Husband and I were talking about the subject of regret, it seriously was a God moment that the very next day God opened up wisdom to a new perspective on this subject.

In the book she says:

The only way to diminish our regrets is by making decision that lead to peace. And peace requires from us some sort of release. Release brings with it the gift of peace. The beautiful, bare winter branch can now receive its snow. When we release in peace, we signal we're now ready to receive. Receive what's next. Receive what's best. Receive what's meant for this season, right now.

Isn't that so good!? 

The simple act of releasing brings us peace. God can give us peace over time as we release our regret to him. This gave me such clarity as I move forward to daily seek his wisdom and peace. 

To know that as I do that each day he's pouring out his wisdom, grace and peace to me. 

I feel so encouraged to know that my Jesus cares about those things and he wants me to rest in Him with my regrets. 

What is something you've been struggling with lately? How can you release it to bring yourself peace that God can give you?

This post is apart of a series #31daysofRestinginHim . Visit this link for more posts on this topic and follow along in this journey. Use the hashtag #31daysofRestinginHim on social media to follow along.