Hello readers…
Thank you so much for your emails of encouragement! I am doing well and the Sabbath rest was incredibly beneficial. I feel refreshed to blog again after a season of large writing projects and articles due one after the other.
Now my brain is popping with dozens of posts and ideas for this space! I’m sure you’ll hear about them all in due time!
Let me review our 52 ways from June:
week #21 & #22 shorten your to-do list and get outdoors!
week #23 simplify vacation expectations
week #24 rise above your past
week #25 resist the urge to compare!
Week #26 Practice Margin in Time
We have an incredibly interesting phenomenon going in our country. America is probably the lead (or close to it) in time-saving technologies among nations of the world.
Yet, as author Richard Swenson says in his excellent book Margin, the tech gadgets may not save us time at all. Instead, they ‘consume, suppress, and devour’ time.
Have you ever found this to be true?
I’ve already shared with you about the idea of a time budget, and how peace in your days can be found by practicing this principle. In all of the planning and deciding of how to spend time, be sure to add some buffer room.
Margin. White Space. Unscheduled Blocks.
Oh yes, I know! Life is incredibly full, there is much to do and the list is long. I know. I truly understand a full household and the many responsibilities which come alongside of our roles.
Still, I strongly encourage you to block out moments, minutes for pause. To stop for a little. For the unexpected, or just to catch your breath.
There’s a calmness this practice brings…so it’s well worth the effort.
Week #27 Memorize Scripture
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (emphasis added)
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Yes, not quite related to the first encouragement, but so important!
Not only should we read what feeds our souls and spirits, the act of committing Scripture to memory will minister peace in a way no other book can!
For God’s word isn’t just an account of details from long ago. It’s not only an integral part of our faith and salvation…God’s word does a work in our hearts today. Right now.
The truth of the matter is, we’re not as smart as we think. 🙂
We need a standard bigger, larger, more sure and steadfast than our range of emotions, ideas, and pursuits! I’m certainly not knocking good counsel, great biblical teaching or the advice of friends.
We need circles of community, yet this should be alongside of digging into what God is saying in His book to us.
Want to be encouraged and uplifted?
Need wisdom on how to deal with an issue?
Have a question about how to honorably disagree with a friend?
Feeling a little lost and unsure?
There is something in the Word of God for you.
Again, please don’t hear me saying there’s not a need for others – but I wonder where we run to the most with our problems, questions and circumstances…
…the opinions of friends or to the unshifting, all powerful, living and active Word?
This fall, women in our congregation will memorize Scripture and offer accountability to one another as we all focus on a particular passage. This has me planning, praying and SO thrilled, I can’t wait until we get started!
I am excited to resurrect this practice in my own life. May I encourage you to memorize as well?
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Action Plan: well, maybe the two do intersect some! – take a look at your time and see how you might squeeze out moments here and there to commit ONE scripture to memory in the next week. Start with one and go from there.
More to Read: The Practice of Creating Space, The One Habit God Really Wants for Your New Year
