Simplicity. We've lost it in our culture today.
Our lives are filled with opportunities and pressures that distract us from the One Thing that we all know matters most and is the source of all love: intimacy with God.
Oh for a simpler and deeper life! A few years ago this longing for God alone led me to my knees to pray over Thomas Kelly’s classic devotional book, A Testament of Devotion. I prayed every word, cover to cover (it’s just over 100 pages), and then fell on my face before God.
Let his words echo in your soul...
“Over the margins of life comes a whisper, a faint call, a premonition of richer living which we know we are passing by… We have hints that there is a way of life vastly richer and deeper than all this hurried existence, a life of unhurried serenity and peace and power. If only we could slip over into that Center! If only we could find the Silence which is the source of sound!”
Do you long a simpler life focused on God?
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Certainly life can get overwhelming at times and I guess it can be hard to slow down! We are often "programmed" into a fast pace through the lightning speed of TV shows and commercials. And of course we are tempted on the internet to watch videos and read news that really is not something we would search out but the "by-line" hooks us.
ReplyDeleteI try to stay focused on God thoughts! Yes I spelled that God thoughts and I try to think through the day 'what have I done today that would please Him? What have I done or said or thought that would not please Him'. I can pray over those good and not good things that way.
I am now into a global on-line game called Akoha or random acts of kindness and I try to do one Mission a day. After 25,000 Missions world-wide the sponsors build a school and reading room for needy kids. It keeps me focused at least part of the day. Anyone interested go to Akoha.com and see the wonderful stories!
Have a great week, Dr Bill and whoever drops by this site.
Jan-Michael
Jan-Michael, what kindness missions have you done?
ReplyDeleteAs you will have seen on Akoha.com there are now over 100 suggested Missions as players over the world are suggesting new ways to help others in their countries.
ReplyDeleteI have completed 119 Missions since Jan 24 2009 111 confirmed and 12 were played to me and I confirmed all 11 with 'the story' of the mission played.
I now have been contributing ideas as the most active payer. I have planted tree seedlings, spread wild flower seeds, made strangers SMILE when we crossed paths in public and saw they seemed unhappy. As an example, I was pushing my walker to the store (I have MS) and saw a lady of age hunched over her walker but looking sad. As I passed, her not looking up, I called out, "Nice looking Walker you have there, mam"!
She looked up eyeing me and then seeing my walker responded "Not as shiny as yours".
"A little cleaning and I can do that with the damp towel I have here on my walker". "Thank you" she said and after a little shining in the shopping mall she said she'd ask her Grandson to finish and she then SMILED broadly. "Oh you have a nice Smile". I said Now here is a card to give your Grandson that says I made you smile and it explains how he can go to his computer and it will help kids get a school room full of books" She did not quite follow but her Grands on must have as the next day he posted how hid Grandma came home smiling and how her walker was now cleaned"
Akoha has opened my eyes to how many times we can easily do a random act for a stranger if we are just watch and don't stay restrained or afraid we will be intruding or thought "stange" for doing something for a stranger.
If I see a bit of garbage on the lawn as I pass a house I pick it up and I SMILE more now, getting smiles back! Akoha is wonderful and eyeopening to all the possibilities right there to be helpful and be made happy ourselves in the process
God is so blessing us all!
Jan-Michael
Forgot to add this link and note
ReplyDeletehttp://akoha.com/event/19298/
One good thought leads to others...here is one of the missions I payed that led to others with meadows and wildflowers.
Blessings!
Jan-Michael