Wooed by Wonder

A friend, who is a Life Coach, gave me an assignment for the next week: "Enjoy God in your everyday encounters with Him rather than setting a `daily quiet time' with Him." This assignment stemmed from a session with this friend after I asked her to help me with...well...everything. She's someone who not only knows me well, but she also knows struggle and authentic faith on an intimate level. I trust her. And I've asked her to speak truth to me. This conversation was about my struggle to spend time daily in the Word, in studying and immersing myself in God's truth. So when she gave me this assignment, I just grinned. Not because the assignment is easy, but because it's so contrary to what I've always tried to do. 


You know...


The things I'm supposed to do. Read my Bible. Pray. Have a quiet time. Those things. 


What's frustrated me most is that I LOVE the Bible. Love reading it. Hearing it. Studying it. But I've never been able to do that daily Bible study and quiet time thing. 


Never. 


And I've always criticized myself for that. Told myself to grow up. To get serious and get busy. And it just. hasn't. worked. 


So here comes this wise, wise friend, and she cuts through all the condemnation, all the criticism I've heaped on myself and says, "Go. Enjoy God."


Oh. 


Yeah. 


And with that, the little light goes on in my head and heart. Enjoy God. I ponder that thought, those words. And more words come...


Savor God. Embrace God. Delight. Immerse. Cherish. Luxuriate. Relish. It's a sumptuous feast of words all focused on a joyful, appreciative experience of God. 


Today I purpose to do all of the above. To experience--and enjoy--God however I encounter Him. I invite you to do the same. Throw all the shoulds and musts to the wind and simply...


Enjoy God. 

Karen

Who Hit Fast Forward??

Remember when we were kids, and time seemed to draaaaaggg on by? Days seemed unending, overflowing with spare time to do whatever we wanted.

I miss those days.

I just took one of my dearest friends to the airport this morning for a flight home. (Had her there at 4 a.m.!! Shows how much I love her!) She arrived 10 days ago, and I was so excited. Ten whole days to savor her laughter, her presence, her wisdom, all face-to-face. Ten days to sip coffee and share our thoughts, whether deep or crazy. Ten. Whole. Days.

I remember when ten days seemed an eternity. Now? I'm sitting here wondering where the heck they went! How can they be over already?? Seems like all I did was blink, and it was time to say good-bye. As I sat here missing her already, I thought about all we did over these last ten days. We took day trips to lakes and covered bridges, spent a few days with another dear friend, had lots of talks and coffee, played cribbage, talked some more and laughed and laughed. It was, really, a wonderful visit. But it wasn't enough time.

Seems, nowadays, like there's never enough time.

To be with friends.
To cherish family.
To soak in God's beauty.
To revel in my dogs' adoration.
To listen to music.
To read that ever growing pile of books.

To do any of the things I want to do.

As I thought about it, I realized something. I may not be able to stop time, but I can sure decide how I'm going to use it. I can let it all just pass me by, then regret the things I didn't do. Or I can purpose, each day, to take the time for the things that really matter. Whether it's watching a movie with my wonderful dad, sharing a cuppa with my hubby, being with my friends, or just throwing a ball for the doggies...I can choose to take moments each day to savor all the blessings God has given me. I don't ever, EVER, want to look back on my life (what's left of it, anyway) and sigh, "I just didn't have time for that."

I've got the time. No matter what I say or how stressed I feel, the simple fact is, I have the time.

I just need to use it more wisely. And I'm going to.

Starting today.

Peace, friends.

Karen

Moments to Savor

I heard a quote in a movie yesterday that I've always liked, that always makes me stop and think:

"Live for today, for yesterday is gone forever, and tomorrow may never come."

Do you savor today? Do you take time each day to stop, even just for a moment? To look--really look--at the world around you?

To recognize the gift of each day?

I can't say I always remember to do that. But today, I did. Today I stopped. Not for long. Just for a few moments. I sat in our yard swing and looked around. And saw so much beauty!

In case you didn't get a chance to do the same today, here is a taste of what I encountered. May you find in these snapshots what I did: a reminder that the God of the universe loves beauty. And He loves to share that beauty with His favorite creation of all time: you and me.
Peonies, in all their splendor!



A peony visitor, and Columbine



Last year the woeful lack of honey bees meant almost no peaches or cherries. This year, the honey bees are back! And with them, our peaches and cherries! Yippee!



Don't know what the red flower is, but love it. And aforementioned honey bee visiting the lavendar.



California poppies went to town this year! Along with most of our other flowers. SO pretty!


Peace, all.

Karen