Excitement while waiting

One of the hardest things for me to do is to rest. Standing still or staying in one place just about kills me. This past school year featured a special field day for the senior high, and we teachers were relegated to standing around and applauding the efforts of the various student teams to which we were assigned to oversee. We couldn't do anything but stand around. ARGH. I'm telling you, that had to be one of the longest days of my life. I don't like to stand back and observe; I like to get in the mix, even if I fall.

That's what has been so unusual about this summer. I'm standing still quietly...and I like it. I've been holding still, waiting upon the Lord to see what He has for me. In the last few weeks, the verse calling me to "rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" ( Psalm 37:7 ) has been especially important. Having no "churchy" activity has made me take my vision and place it more specifically upon things I've not enjoyed so intensely before. For instance, our vacation trip to Disney World was one of the most enjoyable weeks in my memory. I had a great time (despite the shockingly brutal heat and humidity) being with my family in a quiet and conversational way that I'd not experienced during the school year. My devotional life has taken a new turn. My prayer life has also seen new windows open to truths.

Most surprising of all, I have been contacted for some new proposals in publishing ideas. Those of you who are writers understand the shock of publishing firms approaching you. Most of the time, it is the writer running after the publisher with hat in had. This truly is a "God thing."

I encourage you to take time away from summer diversions to stop and "abide under the shadow of the Almighty" ( Psalm 91:1 ). You may, as I have, see some new things occuring that can only be described as God-generated blessings.

I will keep you posted on the blessings that have been coming our way. Please continue to pray for Jill's dealing with fibro myalgia. It is still a great concern to the family.

Thanks for your patience

I have been in a "retreat" mode since school has let out. I have withdrawn from any teaching, preferring to sit in meetings and assemblies and get fed without the feeling of having to stand up and teach a class within the next 24 hours. Don't get me wrong - I do love to teach, especially relaying God's truths, but there comes a time when I need to sit by the wayside and rest. I lvoe the stillness and the solitude.

Lately it's been more important for me to get away for restful times. I've found myself sitting alone and reading a good devotional book or a passage from the Bible, re-reading a particular truth in order to let it sink in.

I am finding these intensely quiet times as important to my life as exercise or fellowship. This has become increasingly important to me. If I am going to know more about my Friend, isn't it right to just sit at His table and let Him talk to me? How can a friendship be based on inattention?

I want to know more about Jesus and what it is like to truly, truly, truly regard Him as the most important One in my life.