What if I MISS my Quiet Time???

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

We've all heard and quoted this familiar phrase from Psalm 37. A delightful cliche that goes along with that thought is, "God is not about rules, but about relationship".

This morning I had coffee with a friend who, like me, tries to 'please' God. The way we have defined that pleasing is through rule keeping. We belong to the club of 'good' Christians who beat ourselves up all day if we missed our 'quiet time.' We just know our day won't go well because we didn't start it right. Kind of like God is a timed release vending machine we put coins in early in the morning (the earlier the more godly you are!) and then He pays out all day. Good quiet times can hold you over till almost dinner, weak or short ones may leave you wanting chocolate mid afternoon.

We discussed how difficult it is for us recovering performers to believe in our hearts that God simply wants us to delight in him, be His friend and out of that relationship choose to do what He says.

Think about it. Jesus is the Lover of our souls. Not scorekeeper.

Jesus is our Peace.

Jesus is our Joy.

Jesus is our Sustainer.

Jesus is our Provider.

Jesus is our Best Friend...and so on! There are no conditions attached to those attributes...whether we have a good quiet time or not. All day long, every hour, every moment. With or without our quiet time. Does that make you feel uncomfortable? Me too. Is it true? What do you think???

Prayer for those far away.

It's been 5 years since we were evacuated out of Kinshasa due to threats of violence around their first democratic election in decades. I read today that the borders are closed again and more violence is expected. A life so far removed from the comfort of my cozy living room as I sip coffee in front of my fake fire looking at my fake Christmas tree. What's real?

I've been reading blogs this morning from sisters around the world that I am virtually connected to through Women of the Harvest . Real women with messy lives living in challenging circumstances. Many of us glamorize missionaries, or think that they are somehow more spiritual than the rest of us, that they've been given extra measures of strength to live in difficult circumstances. Not true. I so admire these women and families who have followed the Shepherd to the field where He leads them. And, I pray that all of us will listen to the leading of the Shepherd in our own lives and that during this Christmas season our feet will bring good news of peace to a broken, fearful world.

"Dear Jesus, I abide with you this morning for my sisters around the world who have left homes, family, familiarity and comfort to take your message of salvation to your children. It's December Lord, and good or bad, we all have expectations of what this month should bring. I pray for those far from families they love and long to be with, comfort them Dear Comforter. Give them joy like Peter knew...beyond expression! I pray for those who are lonely and disillusioned, strengthen them Lord. with the strength you gave David when he was in a foreign land feeling so alone. I pray for those whose marriages are being tested beyond what they think they can handle due to internal and external pressures inherent in marriage, but exacerbated in foreign cultures; give them patience and endurance as they hope in Your ability to give them wisdom and discernment. I pray for mommies who are trying to love, discipline and educate their children. That is a challenge in 'normal' life, but even greater on different soil.

Give us all sensitive ears to your still, quiet voice as You guide us each moment to the path of life, the path of peace, the path of restoration every moment. Bless my precious sisters, Your chosen daughters, abundantly this Christmas Lord. Lift their heads to You and not to people near or far that they feel could meet some need they have. Remind them of Your lavish love, Your deep delight in them, and let them hear Your voice singing over them, rejoicing that they are Yours. Hold them close. In Your tender mercy, amen."