Be Still

Fresh snow has fallen on the ground, steam puffs out of the pipes on the roof tops, the sun is slowly rising, and my coffee is brewing.  I love quiet mornings, people are sleeping, the world around me is peaceful. Few things are better than this.

Everything in this world moves so fast, it's easy to get swept up in the tide of business.  I have to be purposeful to find still moments. Taking a cue from my Savior, I often rise early in the morning before my family to spend some time in peaceful solitude, alone with my God.

Mark 1:35 and rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (ESV)

I have found that if I don't take this time to stop and be still (aka if I choose sleep instead)...I'm often not a fun person to be around, I'm grouchy, I'm quick to snap...I'm not my usual joyful self.  Taking this time helps me face hard times with a little more grace and be fully present for the joyful times.  I crave for, I long for, I need time to be still.

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

I stumbled upon this poem and it made me giggle thinking about my early morning rising...it's not always easy:

A Morning Poem

I woke early one morning,

The earth lay cool and still,

When suddenly a tiny bird,

Perched on my window sill,

He sang a song so lovely,

So carefree and so gay,

That slowly all my troubles,

Began to slip away,

He sang of far of places,

Of laughter and of fun.

I stirred beneath the covers,

Crept slowly out of bed,

Then gently shut the window,

And crushed his little head,

I'm not a morning person.

-Author Unknown

OK, I have to admit my first response was to roar with laughter instead of feeling sad for the little bird...I mean we've all been there, right?  Sleep is SO important to our bodies, it's natural to want to sleep a little later.  We were created to sleep for a reason; however, time for me to be still is often important...plus it gives me a good excuse for a nap later on. haha

I hope you can find some time in your day (maybe it's not early mornings for you) to stop and be still.

Blessings!

My One Word - Thanksgiving

Ending 2010 I wrote a post about how I'm not going into 2011 with New Years Resolutions, but instead was going to pick one word to define this year. I thought in mid-January I had picked my word.  I thought I had picked the word "Present".  I felt like I needed to focus on being present in each moment, with each person I was spending time with...instead of distracted over last night's conversation, or what someone else who is sending me on a text message...I felt I needed to focus on being fully in the moment with the person I'm with.  This isn't a new goal for me, it is one I've written about and struggled with for years.  I didn't post about picking this word though, because I hadn't settled with it, I wasn't comfortable with it.  I guess I knew that it wasn't "the word."

Today I bought Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts and while reading it my word chose me, my word smacked me in the face. Thanksgiving. I'm not living in the present moment, because I'm not thankful for the present moment.  I'm not content with what I have been given, I'm not choosing joy. This has to change, for I have been given so much.  I have been blessed with amazing family and friends, there is much to be thankful for, and this is where my focus needs to return.  So, Thanksgiving is my word for 2011.  Have you picked your word yet?

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (1 Thes 5:18, NLT)

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 5:20, NLT)

Blessings!!