What I Love To Do that Feeds My Soul

~ QUIET ~

As the mother of a 3 1/2 year old energetic B-O-Y, my soul LOVES quiet, peaceful moments! God has me on an amazing (not-so-fun) journey of healing this year. As I have spent time in the Word, praying, processing, journaling, and reading about other peoples journey of healing - I have been reminded of a place God used to pour into my soul during one of the most painful times in my life:

Nestled in the mountains in Oregon, surrounded by nature, trees, wild blackberries, and green, lots of green, God led me BESIDE QUIET WATERS!  

I remember carrying a chair, my bible study, bible, and notebooks down to the creeks edge. It was so serene, so peaceful, so the opposite of the pain and confusion I was experiencing in my soul!  God met me there every time! I would READ the TRUTH of God's word! SING PRAISES out loud to Him! PRAY and CRY about all that troubled me!  And just be STILL and LISTEN to the beauty of all God created!  REST!  It was there that I found peace for my weary, hurting soul!  

Psalm 23:1-3a

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads be beside QUIET WATERS, He RESTORES my SOUL." 

The question I am asking myself now, is where can I find that kind of Soul Rest now? I no longer live in the serene hills of Oregon and there is no creek running through my front yard, my location has changed and so many of life circumstances are different now. 

I really have to search for Soul Rest...to carve out time for QUIET where God restores my soul.

This is what Soul Rest looks like for me now as a wife, mom, employee, sister, daughter, friend - and with all the demands on my time: I start my mornings (before the energetic child has woken up) with my Bible and a cup of coffee -  making time to sit, be still, and just BE with my Savior! Oh, how this time changes me. When I start the day off spending time with the Lover of my Soul, my Jesus, the whole day takes on a different tone; prayers for my husband are more focused and intentional, patience with my son is longer, awareness of turning my sons tantrums, fits, and wrong choices into teachable moments are more frequent, my to-do list actually gets accomplished (mostly), my perspective and thoughts about myself and life circumstances are brought under the authority of God's truth more often - Soul Rest!

Does spending time with Jesus first thing in the morning take away all of life's troubles and make my days rosy and full of sunsets?  NO!  Life is hard! Days are dreary and lonely sometimes! Fears creep in and steal my joy! But does the reminder of TRUTH, the transforming work of the Gospel, and the growing knowledge of the power and love of my great God change me and give Soul Rest?  YES! 

Thank you, Father, for your great love and grace that you continually pour out on your children - on ME! Help me to take time for Soul Rest regularly with you!  Help me to live in such a way that shows that I follow you as my Shepherd. That with you is contentment. That when I follow you, you lead me to true, soul restoring rest for my weary soul! 

My One Word for 2015

WHAT IS YOUR ONE WORD FOR 2015?

Well, as I began this year, I knew I was going to go back to my One Word for 2013:

EUCHARISTEO

Thanksgiving, Grace, Joy

There is so much wrapped up in that one word. So much to unpack and understand and learn. This word has stuck with me over the past two years and I knew I had not absorbed all that God had for me in 2013. You see, I struggle to "give thanks", to receive God's "grace" in all its various forms - including through the pain and struggle and dreams unfulfilled.  

January has not started the way I thought or the way I would have hoped, but I will take on the challenge of EUCHARISTEO and seek to GIVE THANKS, to receive and extend God's GRACE, and to CHOOSE JOY - even in the midst of the trials, the pain, the healing, and the fear of the unknown.  

I considered the word "CHANGE" for 2015, because this year will be filled with changes.  I know I will change this year as I pursue continued healing from difficult parts of my childhood. I know my husband will change as he pursues a new career with the California Highway Patrol.  I know my almost 4-year-old son will change - as that is a natural process for children: physically, emotionally, spiritual, intellectually, socially, etc. I know our circumstances will change over this year! I know, most likely, the place we call home will change as we move wherever CHP decides to place my husband.  

However, I have decided to continue with my word, "EUCHARISTEO", because I am seeking to receive all the changes that this year will bring with Thanksgiving, with Grace, and with Joy!  I know choosing Thanksgiving, choosing Grace, and choosing Joy is not going to be easy and the road will be long and hard at times - but with the strength, power, and love of our GREAT GOD, I can do anything He calls me to!