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| Chillin' in Norfolk |
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This week I'm in Norfolk, Virginia, several hours from home, on work-related travel. My wife and children are staying nearby with some dear friends. I miss them very much, and I missed the reunion with our friends. Our schedules will keep us apart until Thursday evening. In the meantime, I'm just chillin' here alone in my hotel downtown. Not sad though!
Tonight I passed on participating in the "Hydro Bowl" (an afterhours event) in order to share dinner with a friend I met on MyChurch. What is the Hydro Bowl? As the beer flows freely, bowlers compete in teams of 3-4 for the coveted trophy, which is topped by a large golden bowl. Oh, and afterwards, the winning team must fill the bowl with beer and immediately drink it, non-stop, passing it among the team members until it is empty. I found spending a quiet dinner with a Christian buddy more appealing.
Last night, alone in my room, I tried something I'd never done before. I searched for some Chris Tomlin songs on playlist.com, then found the lyrics on sing365.com, and engaged in some solitary worship. What an amazing time! Instead of lonely and depressed, feeling sorry for myself, I praised God and poured my heart out before him!
Tonight I plan to do more of the same, as well as spend time in prayer and in God's word. My devotional time with God this morning was blissful, and I regretted having to end it to go to my meeting!
At the moment, I'm just sittin' here blogging on MyChurch, writing it down so I'll remember how I spent this "alone" time the next time I travel. May I never be tempted to allow the weight of a temporary loneliness to draw me away from my Father, who never really left me in the first place!! |
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| To add a comment to "Chillin' in Norfolk" |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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Mike we miss you very much! Can't wait to see you on thursday!! Maybe we could hook up for dinner tomorrow? Love you!
Laura |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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Happy Tuesday Mike n Laura. Time Alone With God and Friends....PRICELESS
We are having sleet on top of the snow. real messy but I'm on the Inside looking Out. |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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| Ha Mike
let me be the first to comment here. I envy you. |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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| Hey
By the time I was chatting with you and Laura, I find Laura has posted her comment and also Terry!
I am beaten at my task! |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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| HAHAHA Rag!! |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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| Wait... that's the strangest lookin thing. My wife just posted a comment to me from my own profile. Hon, what R you doin?? |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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| Terry, looks like we came south just in time to miss the mess! |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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| I am dizzy...lol...love it, glad you are hanging in Norfolk. Jeremy on my friends list is from there by the way. Way cool brother. |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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Sounds like a sweet time with God, Mike! You can turn the loneliness into a blessing by writing down everything that you miss about Laura and the kids while you're apart, and/or everything that comes to mind that you just love about them, and then share it with them later. (I know that having that beautiful sparkle in Laura's eyes directed right at you, Mike, would be somewhere on the list!) |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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i hope to hear from ya thursday online ok |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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Mr. Mike...Be blessed on your trip to Norfolk...sounds like you know exactly what to do!! ;)
You ROCK!!! |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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Can't go wrong, when you spend time with God.
This isn' alone time, this is catch up time..
You are in my prayers..you and your family.
Traveling mercies are with you..!
I pray your meeting go well. |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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| passing on the hydro bowl....well you have found the secret place..Ps 91:1 he who dwells in the secret place abides under the shadow of the Almighty. It is a place of peace and serenity and you are overwhelemed by the love of God. |
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| January 27, 2009 |
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I think she is letting you know how much she loves you Mike, that is why she had posted that. =) I know that you may feel like your alone from them my dear friend, but you never really are for they are there with you in your heart and for as long as you hold onto that, there isn't anything else better in the world, am I correct? Bless you always. |
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| January 28, 2009 |
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| It's your time with the Lord. So glad you are enjoying it. God bless you. |
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| January 28, 2009 |
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Praise God for the time that He allows us to be in His presence... It is awesome and indescribable(sic) and can never, ever be replaced by anything else. That is truly when He lets us know that we are not alone....
Hurry home and be safe....
Laura gotcha, didn't she? |
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| January 28, 2009 |
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Mike,
Wow, lots of comments so far! Let me say once again THANK YOU for taking time to hang out and talk. I always love talking about God. I would have responded last night, but my internet connection went down. Try to enjoy the rest of your stay.
Jeremy |
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| January 28, 2009 |
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| Alone time with just you and God is so precious. And it's hard to realize you need it sometimes. Thanks for the encouragement :). |
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| January 28, 2009 |
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| It' s great to have that alone time with God, sadly most of us don't take nearly enough time to meditate and praise Him. You put your time to great use! |
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| January 28, 2009 |
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| Mike, He was lonely for you so He designed the trip so He could hear from you by yourself and gave you some sweet rest paid in full. I love it when God's plan comes together |
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| January 28, 2009 |
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Jeremy, it was awesome to see you. Thanks for driving over here and meeting me at the hotel. Last eve was fun!
Sheree, you know, I'm ashamed to say I hadn't looked at it like that. Thanks for that fresh perspective!
I agree Shirley!! I think it's safe to say we could ALL use more of that. |
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| January 28, 2009 |
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Mary, that is a wonderful way to look at it too....praise God!! Panda, it is! I am! Thanks! =) Good idea Jen. Of course, I tell them those things often, so it wouldn't be anything new to them, lol! Aw thanks Rebekah, I'll be here! Todd, it was/is a "secret place". Thankfully the walls here are thick, so my neighbors didn't hear me sing. Or maybe I would have wanted them to. Hm, I dunno!
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| January 28, 2009 |
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| I never have a problem being alone. I very rarely find myself feeling lonely, perhaps it is because I like my solitude and my alone time with God. I would never trade a quiet evening alone, with a group of people drinking beer! lol I like spending time with my Christian friends, but give me solitude and I am just as happy or more. Hopefully you will be back with your family and this time alone will be a great time with God. |
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| January 28, 2009 |
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| I hope you're warm and cozy |
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| January 29, 2009 |
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LOL... my brain cramped at ... no it's Mike.... no, that was Laura.
Alone time is ALWAYS good.
"content where your at"
it's all about perspective
you could have not worshiped and been miserable |
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| January 29, 2009 |
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glad you had a nice time. It is alwasy special meeting with a friend we know from online.
I choose that today as well then to a "hydro bowl" lol
I so enjoy my quiet time ALONE, when I get it lol
being on hubby is always home ( on retired/disabled) dont get me wrong
I LOVE my time with him and wouldnt trade it for anything today!
But I do love my alone time, although I am working on becomeing more disaplined
when i am alone! instead of being on here or cleaning .
I am a work in progress and so loving it!!!!!
Thanks Mike God Bless u and ur family! |
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| January 30, 2009 |
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Being on here isn't being disciplined? lol Thanks Donna, bless you and yours too! =)
Bubbles, I too found that odd. Maybe a separate account for Laura? But then, she'd NEVER come on here!
I was Joey. The beds there were sooooo comfy, I had the hardest time waking up in the a.m.!
Deb, it's funny. I often prefer being alone. But whenever my work travel takes me away from my family, I get lonely. Go figure! Maybe it's the distance, the sheer isolation. At least when I'm alone at home, I can get unalone pretty quickly. I suppose if my companionship comes from God, I won't feel so dreadfully alone when separated from the people I love, though I will still miss being with them. Thanks for your thoughts sister! |
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| January 31, 2009 |
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| Did you catch what i said Mike? =/ |
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| January 31, 2009 |
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| Yep, I caught it Megan. I sure did have em in my heart, though I still missed them sorely. Only by praising God in my time of difficulty did I find real joy amidst the alone time. At least that worked for me. |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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| Ouch, as I'm setting alone in a practice room, this seems really appropriate.......hehe, of course I do have to make sure I get the practicing done..... |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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| Ah yes, Dennis. You are alone with a purpose! Last week, I actually had down time in the evenings...free to worship! (Not that you can't worship God where you're at, it just may take a little creativity!) |
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