Be Still...

Over the past couple of weeks I have encouraged at least three people to take a retreat for the first time. Each of these people were either really stressed or they were feeling somewhat disconnected from God. I was encouraged to add this to my repertoire about a year and a half ago and it has really helped me…in so many ways, especially in my relationship with Christ.

Because I have been a little stressed lately and because I am seeking His direction in a lot of areas of my life, I thought I better take my own advice. So…yesterday, I had a retreat of my own. It amazes me how different each one is for me.

Sometimes I get some incredible revelations while other times I feel God’s presence in amazing ways.

Yesterday was not one of those revelation days. But, it was a day filled with His presence and peace. I spent some time praising Him. I did some reading. I did some praying. I spent time simply being quiet before the Lord. I spent about three and a half hours in all, maybe four.

And you know what? The second half of my day went very smoothly. Do you think there is a connection here?

It’s amazing how things work when you put Him first.

“Be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10a

Be Vewwwy Quiet....

A couple of years ago I was wrestling with the direction God wanted me to go in my life. A good friend and accountability partner asked me when the last time I had taken a day and just spent it with God.

"Uh...never," was my response.

He challenged me to schedule this day within two weeks of our time together.

This was not something I was excited about. Truth be told, the thought of it intimidated me. What would I do during this time? Won't I be bored out of my mind? But...I was challenged. So I scheduled it...and brought along my Bible and a concordance and actually spent that time with Him.

It was incredible to say the least. God really spoke to me about a couple of things.

I have since tried to make this a regular part of my schedule. I have tried to do this at least quarterly. This morning is one of those mornings. I am taking a "mini-retreat," about four hours or so to just seek His presence.

I have gone from dreading this time to looking forward to it and expecting to hear from Him--cool stuff! I highly recommend it--in fact I challenge you to try it!

"Be still, and know that I am God."

Psalm 46:10a

Smile, Part III

Here we are, two weeks before Christmas (Can you believe it?!). Other than some fleeting moments and some time in church, I hate to say this, but I haven't thought much about Christmas and I certainly haven't thought much about the true meaning of Christmas. Isn't that sad? It is and I'm somewhat embarrassed by it.

I have been consumed by my "to do" lists and the stress of life. Some of you can probably relate. I have heard it said that we are to "stop and smell the roses" and that we are to "enjoy the journey." I get all that, but yet I still find myself often striving for the destination and not even thinking about the journey, let alone enjoying it.

I am convinced that God is trying to get my attention in this area. He is telling me, take time to laugh and to smile...even at the simple things. This time of year I think that many of us can miss this.

Two posts ago I wrote about the importance of smiling. Then I did again yesterday because of something that was emailed to me. Well, something else was emailed to me that I felt I needed to share along these same lines and it comes from a book called Laughter is an Instant Vacation. Here are a few quotes that made me laugh. I hope they do the same for you.

My doctor is wonderful. Once, when I couldn't afford an operation, he touched up the x-rays.-Joey Bishop

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.-Ronald Reagan

I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.-Zsa Zsa Gabor

If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel.-Will Kommen

Insanity doesn't run in my family. It gallops.-Cary Grant

Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work.-Robert Orben

Misers aren't fun to live with, but they make wonderful ancestors.-David Brenner

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far I've finished two bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.-Dave Barry

I'm not going to vacuum ‘til Sears makes one you can ride on.-Roseanne Barr

To attract men, I wear a perfume called New Car Interior.-Rita Rudner

If you love something, set it free. Unless it's chocolate. Never release chocolate.-Renee Duvall

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for 30 years she served us nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.-Calvin Trillin

I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her.-Rodney Dangerfield

My grandmother was a very tough woman. She buried three husbands and two of them were just napping.-Rita Rudner

My husband wanted one of those big-screen TV's for his birthday. So I just moved his chair closer to the one we have already.-Wendy Liebman

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.-Douglas Adams

I have an aunt who married so late in life that Medicare picked up 80 percent of the honeymoon.-Don Reber

I hate housework - you make the beds, you do the dishes - and six months later you have to start all over again.-Joan Rivers

My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle.-Henny Youngman

Inside me there's a thin person struggling to get out, but I can usually sedate him with four or five cupcakes.-Bob Thaves

Quiet Time

Yesterday morning I was stressed because I had a magazine article to get written for an upcoming deadline. I also have a newsletter to write for an upcoming issue of Bleedership and I had a talk to prepare for in addition to my regular duties. I wasn't sure how all this was going to happen and I was a bit overwhelmed.

As my day ended yesterday I realized that I had a great day. It seemed like everything worked out. In fact, I not only got my article written, but I wrote another one for the next issue! I also was able to work on my talk a little bit and began formulating some ideas for my next newsletter. Everything else seemed to work out also. And...this all happened in a little more than half a day!

The first three hours I decided to spend with God, just being quiet before Him and listening to what He had to say to me. It was an incredible morning filled with God's presence and I received some direction on several things in my life.

So...I had a great day yesterday--very productive and I spent a good portion of it with my heavenly Father. I think there is a lesson there! What do you think?

"Be still, and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10a

Be Still...

Things have been a little hectic in my life lately. It has all been a good hectic though.

God has been doing some amazing things in the past several months.

This past year I was chairman of the National Day of Prayer Breakfast in Toledo. Our speaker for that May 1st event was Ray Hilbert from Truth@Work in Indianapolis.

After the breakfast, Ray and I spent a couple hours getting to know one another at a local Bob Evans. Little did I know that during our brief time together God was going to show up in such a big way!

We discussed the possibility of starting the Truth At Work concept in NW Ohio and I was very excited. It was as if God was telling me that this is what He has been preparing me for. So I decided to go to Indianapolis to observe one of their half-day sessions. This included a group of business owners and key executives who gather together each month to discuss issues that are critical to their personal, business and spiritual success. During this executive roundtable the group was guided through a highly structured and proven program that helped them advise one another on how to handle critical business and personal issues from a Biblical perspective.

Ray is coming to Toledo next week to conduct a couple of private briefings regarding Truth@Work. The purpose of this is to inform Christian leaders from our area as to the benefits of this program and to invite them to participate in an executive roundtable group.

As a result, I have been sending out invitations, learning as much as I can and preparing for these meetings.

I feel as if I have been running hard.

In the Bible, when Jesus sensed that He had been going hard, he retreated to a quiet place to be with His Father. When I have a lot to do, the thought of going off and “doing nothing” and being with God doesn’t seem logical. However, I am going to follow Jesus’ example this morning and have a personal retreat with God. I am hopeful that I can be still enough to hear what He wants me to hear.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10a

Be Still

I’m off this morning to Catawba Island for a day with God. Last December, I took my first spiritual retreat like this, just me and God, and it was incredible. He revealed some cool things to me and I felt His presence in a big-time way. I immediately scheduled my next one, which is today.

I am really seeking some direction from Him so I can’t wait to see what God has in store today!

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10a