Friends,
"Keep my steps steady according to your promise...."(Psalm 119)
"Be still and know that I am God...."
There's about 4500-ish verses in the Bible like these. You'd think they'd sink in more!
It's God's call to trust, be whole, know that God is there and move forward in that hope. It's a loud call...starting with Adam and Eve and lasting through us as disciples right here and now. And it's not a God that shows up empty handed! It's a God that keeps coming to turn us, remind us, forgive us and lead us. It's a God that shows up in the person of Jesus to jump into our story directly...like us...and yet not like us...because this Jesus actually took time to be still...to center everything around the Father...to live life in perspective...to be...to remain steady...even through death itself.
Do you take time to be still?
Do you allow yourself to be that kind of creature in creation?
Do you allow yourself to be...loved?
Do you allow more time to breathe...more time to be still...more time to heal before running forward...more time to feel and experience a living Lord that was once dead and knew your feelings...lived your life...your burdens.
It's not easy. It takes intentional movements. Jesus called his disciples to "Follow me" in part because action was needed. He didn't say "read about me" or "keep doing what you're doing the same exact way and expect different results, you dopes!" I think Jesus wanted to us to experience the peace of Christ by changing...our being.
I'm going to try this for awhile. Actually commit to trying it.
After this week, I'm going to leave ministry for a little while to go on this journey with God. I've got some plans. I'm pretty sure God has some plans for it. 6-ish weeks of "ministry detox" to see what it's like to be still and actually let God be God in life....again.
So a few things:
1. I won't be writing for awhile....I hope to begin again in November, but we'll see what God has in store. My writings during that time will be very inwardly and upwardly focused.
2. You might not see me on Facebook for awhile. Not sure how I'll handle that yet. Still working out that detail. I would appreciate no text messages for a few weeks if you would. When I get a message, it's really hard for me not to return it.
3. My search for peace comes after a LONG time of allowing stuff to build up and now overwhelm me. I hope I can inspire you today to allow that peace to begin for you now....don't wait...it doesn't help. Don't put those conversations off that you need to have. It doesn't help. Don't push back your grief any longer. It doesn't help. Don't neglect your own faith life. It doesn't help. Start slowly...but start now. There seems to be way too much in the Bible trying to explain to us that it's helpful to listen to Jesus...not ignore him.
4. I hope you'll fervently cheer for the Buffalo Bills with me! Especially tonight...because we're going to need it.
So may your day be filled with peace. Real peace. True peace. Not from getting a list of stuff done. Not from getting that promotion. Not from someone else's affirmation. Not from anything that you could possibly do. But peace that passes all understanding....that you...you...are loved by God...loved! Just because you and you!
Lord, help me be still. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
