Comments on God Is Doing a New Thing: Busyness - My Refusal to Rest in the Lord

Hi, Nina. It is so ironic to me that I have been h...

2010-08-23T17:40:23.905-07:00

Hi, Nina. It is so ironic to me that I have been here again recently...so soon, too, after posting this. Now it is the end of August and I have streamlined things considerably. I am not writing the book that I hoped to be...not yet anyhow. I have resigned my "official" position at Thin Within, though I will continue to participate, of course! The writing projects I was "officially" involved with have to be set aside...well, other people will be invited by our faithful Lord to participate. And now, God has called me to be faithful...here at home. My heart is called HOME. My feet and my rear (and all attached parts...LOL!) have been home, but my heart has been with others...because I feel some measure of "accomplishment" and "success" when I reach out to people outside of my family. Go figure...with my own family I feel like a failure...So God is calling me to deal with this. To take care of it instead of to run from it. Wow...it is hard! Will I ever learn? :-)

Oh thank you so much for this post, I stumbled acr...

2010-08-14T17:06:25.939-07:00

Oh thank you so much for this post, I stumbled across your blog and this post rung so very true with me...always i am running, running...yet my soul, my heart craves to be with the Lord..yet I busy myself with something even when I have the chance to be quiet and still, for some reason keep running...what is wrong with me...I don't usually run to food, it is usually technology - facebook, email, phone. Perhaps I don't want to hear what God has to say, worried that He is disappointed in me, with me.

Hi, Darla! I don't think I have seen you here ...

2010-06-10T23:30:55.325-07:00

Hi, Darla! I don't think I have seen you here before, have I? Welcome! Thanks so much for commenting and I have entered your name in the drawing. I hope you will continue to visit and join in on the study!

what a wonderful post! Thank you for those words....

2010-06-10T07:16:19.556-07:00

what a wonderful post! Thank you for those words.

Hi, Mama23 - Me, too. I love the image of God sing...

2010-06-08T21:32:07.803-07:00

Hi, Mama23 - Me, too. I love the image of God singing me to a peaceful slumber, smile on his face. Yes...babies in the faith, indeed.

Hi, Sheri. Welcome to the blog! I can soooo identify with what you have shared here. Thanks for saying it. And thank you for your encouraging words--and for having a place to share the link to my blog! How cool is that!

Hi, Ann. I am so glad you found my blog from the highcallingblogs link. Avoiding what could be the most amazing experience, if I would allow it, has often kept me from being still, I fear. :-( Thanks for sharing my post with others at notsofastbook.com, too!

Hi, Peggy. I have had a very dear friend who was a pastor's wife (you know who you are, dear one...I love you so!). I can't imagine living with the pressures that are placed on women who minister first and foremost to the shepherds of our churches. Anyhow, you and I can definitely relate to one another in our avoidance of the stillness. God is doing a new thing, though! I KNOW IT!

Hi, Nimmi! I think you are right. Even just meditating on one verse can make a huge difference!

Hi, Believerkjk - YES! This is precisely the case. My body appears to be still, but my mind is helter skelter. Go figure. OH YES, what you said makes TOTAL sense. It is the difference between conversing WITH him and being IN his presence and sort of thinking *about* him. One is so rich compared to the other... Great point! Thanks!

Hi, Katie. Thank you for your kind words. I am so glad you have stopped by!

Amazing, you really hit the nail on the head. Tha...

2010-06-08T19:37:47.287-07:00

Amazing, you really hit the nail on the head. Thank you so much for sharing your heart and using your God given talents to bring truth (and some much needed conviction(that would be me)) to others.

I thought I was a fairly calm and quiet person -- ...

2010-06-08T11:12:03.795-07:00

I thought I was a fairly calm and quiet person -- until I read this blog! After examining myself -- oops! I don't have difficulty being still in my chair with my bible and a good study book -- but getting my mind to be quiet is another issue. It's a much bigger challenge. And it's one I'm up to tackling during the upcoming TW book study. I want to keep my thoughts focused on what the Lord is teaching me and let the Holy Spirit dig deep into my spirit. I also have this thought -- I tend to keep God in the "third person," when I have my quiet time, during my journalling, and even sometimes in my conversation/prayer time. I really want to begin to have full realization of His presence with me at all times. I don't want to think "He is with me." I want to fully experience "You, God, are with me." Does that make sense?

Thanks for this post - this came at time. Instead ...

2010-06-08T00:37:39.113-07:00

Thanks for this post - this came at time. Instead of being still on Sunday as I planned and should have - focusing on Him - I kept myself busy. And the hoping-through-scripture is just what I tend to do - and I always feel like u missed something. Well maybe by mediating on just one vers or even only one word I would feel enriched.
I will take this to heart - thank you.

This one made me tear up. Definately an issue in ...

2010-06-07T13:41:51.877-07:00

This one made me tear up. Definately an issue in my life. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that just perhaps it is a fear of an encounter with an Almighty, living God. As much as I want to, there is a part of me that fears what He may want me to change and the pain that could be associated with that change. Anyway...thanks once again for being so transparent. You asked if I am a Pastor's wife...I am :)

You posed some excellent questions following your ...

2010-06-07T13:18:31.399-07:00

You posed some excellent questions following your self-analysis.

People seem to busy themselves for many reasons; motivations vary from person to person (one person may be competitive and another insecure).

You hit on a fascinating (and sad) possible motive: "avoiding a true encounter with the Living God."

I hope people take time to ask these questions and strike up a conversations with their loved ones.

I think it's helpful for all of us to examine (and re-examine) the *why* we choose to be busy and make sure it's in line with (and allowing for) faith in the Lord.

Great post. Can't wait to share it at NotSoFastBook.com!

Such wise words. This really applies to me, and I ...

2010-06-07T12:13:55.352-07:00

Such wise words. This really applies to me, and I try so hard to not recognize it. I am so very busy, but in the rare moments when I have a moment to rest, I flounder. I find something else to keep me busy. I refuse to let myself rest, either my body or my mind. Even lying down at night to finally sleep, I let my mind race ahead to the next day, week, month. The next worry. And by doing so, I never truly let Him in.

Thank you for visiting my blog; I am so glad I read this today.

Zephaniah 3:17 is one of my favorite Bible verses,...

2010-06-07T09:30:53.747-07:00

Zephaniah 3:17 is one of my favorite Bible verses, if it's possible to have such a thing. I love the image of God quieting me with His love and rejoicing over me with singing!

We are such babies in the faith. Remember how hard it was to coax our own babies to "be still" when they were all tired out and fussy?! Thank God He is infinitely more patient with my squirmings than I am/was as a human parent!