Trying to comprehend it all

It is surreal…unbelievable…bizarre…

One year ago, I was sorting, packing, cleaning, and fixing up our house for the soon to be new owners of our home of just over 10 years. At first the thought of moving again was exciting and romantic. So, in February 2013, I wrote “Just Two of Us”

"Consider How to Stimulate One Another"

“I will stand like a guard and watch.
    I will wait to see

what the Lord will say to me.
I will wait and learn

how He answers my questions.”

Habakkuk 2:1 erv

A writers’ group is about support and accountability. So today, Saturday, February 22, 2014, after our discussion the writers of our new Christian group in Billings, Montana, shared what we’ll commit to do between this meeting our next one. Things like “write” “finish” “complete” were among those commitments.

Illusions of Innovative ideas

 I begin each day with illusions of innovative ideas of being industries. My imagination runs wild as I imagine each room packed and ready for the movers. The energetic initiative to invent illusive plans soon fails when unexpected issues arise.

Interruptions like phone calls, emails; even needing to give my diabetic cat her insulin stops my incentive to complete the tasks.

Incidentals like sorting through my kids’ school papers, vacation pictures, random notes…make my mind drift of course.

Idleness like Facebook, television, playing solitaire on this laptop, breaks my steps toward reaching my goals.

Brain Fog

“…I called to the Lord. 

I cried out to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice;

my call for help reached his ears.”

Psalm 18:6 ncv

“There are times when we are firing on all cylinders, when we feel alert, focused and on the ball and inevitably these times see us being highly productive and creative and achieving a lot.

Surviving the A to Z Blogging Challenge

“…I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 nlt

 

“I think I’m going to sign up for this A-Z Blogging Challenge,” my friend Angela wrote in an email. 

She included the link, so I took a look. After some prayer. “I don’t have time and think I’ll pass.”

That was around mid-March. Then, a week later, something overtook my sanity and I signed up to accept the challenge. While in my “out of my mind” state, I decided to use Women of the Bible as my theme. It was a Holy Spirit decision because it was time for me to stretch my writing muscles.

Taking Breaks for True Rest – Matthew 11:28-29

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden…find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

Struggling this afternoon after a great start and morning with a wonderful time with the Lord, working out with my circuit training video, and posting a new devotional to the website. No time for a break, I must press on.

Sometimes, taking a break is necessary, but too often I attempt to press past the need thinking that pushing myself is better. However, while backpacking, I learned – the hard way – the difference between simply stopping and truly resting.

At first, when we would stop for a break, when my husband would insist that I take off my pack and lay it down, I resisted, insisting that it was too much work to take it off and then put it back on. Yet, he was the experienced backpacker!

We took fifteen minute breaks every couple of hours on the trail, especially following grueling climbs. So, I would lean against a large rock or balance on a log with my pack strapped to my back. When we resumed the hike, my feet felt like a ton of bricks. It seemed to me by removing my pack wasted time, but after several of his gentle insistences, I heeded his advice.

Wow! It made a huge difference. In just those few minutes of relief from the burden on my shoulders, a few handfuls of GORP, and a good amount of water, I was felt the spring in my step return.

Remembering this experience and what it taught me, will be of great value as well on this journey. I may need a break to rest and recover. Leaning to take breaks by laying down my burdens, refreshing my soul with true rest, will put a spring back in my step to press onward.

Tomorrow is another new day.