Tuesday evening, after a full day at work, I had a dinnertime board meeting, and as I was leaving the restaurant, two good friends came in. I sat and talked with them through their entire meal, and left with so much more energy than I had had when I arrived. Although we are always in touch (e-mails, quick hellos, etc.), it had been several months since we had made that kind of quality time for each other. Always so much work to get done. Always so busy. I didn't realize how much I was missing my time with them and how much it would invigorate me to forget my work for a couple of hours and enjoy their presence.
My niece and nephew. I see them at his ballgames. I speak to them briefly on the phone or send them an e-mail occasionally. I interact with them in small ways when my sister and I are spending time together. But it has been too long since Charlie and I have had a day all to ourselves, or since Sarah and I have shared a long game of Monopoly. I miss them. I miss the intimacy that only one-on-one quality time can bring. So much to do today. But tomorrow we'll make time, we say . . .
This afternoon my mom and I talked on the phone for about an hour. I don't know how long it had been since we talked that long just one-on-one. It energized my spirit, and I didn't care that I had tests to grade and work to do.
You know, my relationship with God is just like that. We never lose contact, He and I. Even in my busiest times, I send up a few "fast food" prayers every day, thanking Him or asking Him for something, or sharing my concerns, and I read the Word regularly . . . Often I don't even recognize that I am missing true intimacy.But life gets heavy. Work gets stressful. Small things start to appear larger and larger.And I realize: I miss Him. I miss our quality time. I miss sitting down with Him without any time schedule or agenda and just enjoying His presence.
When I make quality time for Him, I find that I spend little of it talking. It's all about His presence. It energizes me. It renews my soul. It invigorates my entire being. And the most amazing part of the relationship is the listening. He has been hearing my concerns all along, but I haven't been still enough to hear His guidance. When we are together I can hear Him clearly. He has work for me to do. Nothing pleases me more than to be able to serve Him. My busy schedule doesn't seem nearly as stressful, and nothing seems more pressing than my obedience and service to Him. I am so blessed and so loved, and my one desire is to please Him. All else in my life fades.
And oh, the joy of obedience! The delight of seeing His smile. The blessing of seeing what God-sized results He can bring from such simple obedience. There is no greater blessing and no greater peace. I will spend quality time with Him everyday from now on . . .
or at least until I get too busy again, and too stressed, and forget what it is I am missing.
42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God.
This is beautiful,and true! Often our lives get SO filled & rushed,being here or there on time,traffic.laundry,grocery store,I figured out,like you said: I have so more peace with I make Him first,even before my day begins,before my feet hit the floor,I go to The Door. Our time here is so fleeting...we must manage and prioritze our time & what we do with it. Thanks for sharing~ Noelle
We get so wrapped up in our little worlds and yes, we pray, read our bibles but never really sit and get quiet so our Father can comfort, appease our fears by his presence. I know exactly what you are saying and I cherish those precious moments alone with him. I really have to get in the habit of letting those petty things go by the wayside and spend more time with him.
Great message. As I was reading your blog, a quote came to mind. It was by Augustine who said, "Our hearts are restless until we find our hope in thee." I have found this to be true in my life. I go about my day, busy, stressed, until finally I get home and am able to relax and sit before the Lord in His presence. The result, as you said in your blog, is a renewing of the soul. Thanks for the reminder!
Each morning I am re-energized, then it seems most days by the time I go to bed I am exhausted again. Lack of sleep will do that to you.Tough season of life right now.
Carol, I think it is probably mine too! One of those songs that has ministered to me in special situations for many years.
Cheryl, I so appreciate your kindness! This blog perhaps explains why I've blogged less lately. First,I have really been busy with work. And second, having allowed that to keep me from real intimate time with God, I have not given Him much chance to inspire me! (I try to never write for the sake of posting something, but only when I sense He has given me something to say!) Your encouragement is a blessing to me!
Mike, I can relate. A prayer for you this morning, for rest and peace.
David, it has been said that we are not made to live on the mountaintop, but as you say, those are precious moments that sustain us as we live in the valley. Great to hear from you!
Well put. I think that is a cycle we all walk through in our lives. Longing for Him, being revived in Him, walking with Him, focusing on the direction, getting ahead of Him, shouting back to Him, wondering where He went, longing for Him...
But I have never heard it written so accurately. And you say well that it is also reflected in our personal relationships.
Kathy, There is no time better when I walk into the church alone and it is quiet and the lights are out. We have a large stained glass window that faces the east and each morning God's glory just radiates through it. Those are the moments I long for; the moments alone with him.
This is so true...I am guilty of being too busy for quality time with friends and family...but I do try to maintain my quality time with God. That is the most important relationship to keep on track, but I need to slow down and put some of my other relationships back on track too. Thanks for the reminder!
I'm with you, Deb. the older I get, the more I believe that life is about relationships. Not work, not money or possessions, not doctrines or denominations, but relationships.
Thanks, Gary, and welcome to MyChurch! I love this song too!
Amen, Gene, but I realize more and more how important it is to make that time!
Kathy, what a beautiful reflection of the ones you love and the One that loves you. To long in your heart to be intimate, to know more, to laugh, to just be with each other...such is a true joy in life. When I first started reading an old Harry Chapin song came to mind about never having time for others...can't quite remember all the words...but your wrap-up at the end is so much better than Harry Chapin. Thanks Kathy for reminding us about something that is ever so important in this life we walk.
Thanks so much, I had not heard as the deer for such a long time, I had not been back to church for about 11 years, when the Lord had called me out, was doing home church and bible studies, would visit others occasionally, but am now going steadily to a church the Lord led me to with a heart attack, but anyways, now i can listen to the song any time, i put it on our church site and on my profile site.... woooopie
I agree too, one of my favorites. What a blessing this was to me. I love the 'fast-food' prayers~we call them popcorn prayers!! {something always about food! haha} Love you Kathy~
Thanks, Voice. I don't recall the Chapin song, although I probably would if I heard it. As I was writing, Cat Stevens' The Cat's in the Cradle came to mind though. Thanks for your encouragement!
Gary, I visited your site and listened to your version of the song. Another good recording, done by Salvador, is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpaurbHiiS8 It is truly a great song!
lol Cheryl. Food is the great analogy. Something we can all relate to!
Kathy you nailed here, "Often I don’t even recognize that I am missing true intimacy.But life gets heavy. Work gets stressful. Small things start to appear larger and larger.And I realize: I miss Him. I miss our quality time. I miss sitting down with Him without any time schedule or agenda and just enjoying His presence."
Life comes at us fast, and I know I find myself sliding along without that intimacy, and things seem almost imposible until I get back on my knees and meet him all alone again. Thanks for the reminder. peace
Thanks kathy for sharing,that is another of my favotite songs,sometimes we just listen to the music and not the words but i always get lost in this song and reflect. awesome blog. God bless
I happen to be blessed with a great view out my home office window. We live right next to a large wooded area and get several kinds of animals. The point that I want to make is that every time I look out my window, every time, I see the great love God has for us. Why did He make the earth so beautiful if not for His children. Sometime I just sit and look and wonder...
Kathy, that is a great word picture of our relationship with Jesus. My oldest has been off to college this year and when she or I are too busy to communicate for a period, it is so sweet to text with her or talk to her. One time I picked her up when we were going to a funeral in MN, so I drove 3hrs to pick her up and then she and I had 3 hours to ourselves on the way back. We didn't talk the whold time, we didn't need to, but just to be with each other was a sweet pleasure. She is a gift from the Lord.
How much more must our Lord desire our fellowship. I don't mean He needs it, but how sweet it is like you mentioned above, when we do take the time to reconnect or take the time.
I have a good friend at church who always says, that you can't take anything with you to Heaven exept relationships. Although there is teaching about how much of that is true, to be discussed in another blog some other time, it is sure true that relationships are so much more important to me on this earth than other things. Do I always admit this? Probably not, but when I sit back and think, it doesn't matter what I have done in church or business organisations if my relationships (family and friends) are forgotten.
Thanks for a wonderful blog. Your brother in Christ, Brent.
I know this might go back a bit but I want you to know that in my eyes I believe you have your feet on soled ground and that ground is Jesus. always remember where your strength comes from.I guess I can not tell you that this Jesus is the best friend in the world as you already know this. Oh, by the way welcome to my friends list.
I was reminded of this yesterday as I spent some time in the woods with God. It is so hard to get ourselves free from distractions. I always think...once I get through this thing or once I am finished with this commitment...but something else always comes up. It really boils down to a matter of priority...where do relationships fall in our priorities - relationship with God, with others, etc?
Kathy, why do you do this to me...you always post topics that won't let me go...
Voice, that's one of your many great assets: You are a thinker! IMO, thinking is highly underrated! :) (I just finished reading Romans this morning, and it left me with much to think about too - great stuff!)
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