Monday, May 15, 2006

Breathe in the Breath of God

Psalm 23(NIV)
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.


I got to spend some time studying this scripture with my son, as he had to memorize it for Sunday School class. It's such an amazing passage of scripture to trap deep inside your heart, so as to draw on during the different aspects of life. It was a passage I needed to hear and draw on...life can be so "hectic" and "noisy"...for me it seems to at times drain me. I was thinking tonight that there are those times when you just simply try to survive. I don't like those times, as you miss so much of life during those points. It's so much better when you're able to just quiet yourself and to take things how they come. Really, to look at life through your children's eyes. Our kids went up and did a presentation yesterday in church...it was such a blessing to see these kids go up and share why they loved their mom. A lot love their mom's cooking or because of something they help them with...school or as my child put it...because she makes my bed! They might seem like simple things, but it spoke to me the fact that life doesn't have to be so complicated...it just doesn't have to!

So tonight I made a decision that I'm going to set a goal for the remainder of this year. No matter what is getting thrown at me, I will find a way to handle it with grace and integrity. When I'm going through a time of battling illness, instead of pushing everyone away and being a grouch, I'm going to try and handle my roles with love and devotion, no matter how bad I might feel. I'll continue to learn the grace of putting others before myself. I'll learn to sit back and enjoy the small and simple things in life and realize each thing for what it truly is!


Romans 8:28-30(NIRV)
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. He appointed them to be saved in keeping with his purpose. God planned that those he had chosen would become like his Son. In that way, Christ will be the first and most honored among many brothers. And those God has planned for, he has also appointed to be saved. Those he has appointed, he has made right with himself. To those he has made right with himself, he has given his glory.


We're all place here for a reason...we might not always know what that is or think that we're doing the best with things, but there's a purpose for all things. Do we have to be perfect? No...He's knows we're not perfect, but He loves us despite that and this should really be the driving force in how we live day-to-day. I find it so hard somedays...to hear Him...this life drowns out so much...makes it so difficult to feel His presence. The thing I do take comfort in is the fact that deep down, I do know He's there, even when I can't feel or hear Him...that's the awesome thing about faith. It's not always the easiest thing to do, but once it becomes a foundational rock, no matter what, it's there to draw on and to help bring us through.

I received some very important advice coming into the weekend. Tonight as I look at these words, they bring a sense of peace. I can feel God's presence and am going to do exactly what the statement says.


"Breathe in the breath of God"


Life's truly precious and a blessing! I'm taking comfort tonight in the fact that no matter how "hectic" things might feel...no matter how "noisy" life gets...He's there, waiting for us to breath Him in. I'm also taking comfort in the fact that there's nothing which can ever separate us from Him...they might try, but will never be successful, because we are HIS!


Romans 8:38-39(NIRV)
I am absolutely sure that not even death or life can separate us from God's love. Not even angels or demons, the present or the future, or any powers can do that. Not even the highest places or the lowest, or anything else in all creation can do that. Nothing at all can ever separate us from God's love because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.

4 comments:

dwg said...

“ . . . there are those times when you just simply try to survive.” I feel like I’m backpedaling on my heels often and honestly, for me, sometimes surviving is virtue enough. Maybe surviving with grace, peace, and bravery is the way. Yes, breathe in slowly and deeply God’s Spirit and grace. Good thoughts.

Karuna said...

Nice blog sister.

God Bless.

Cinder said...

Christopher ~ I know what you mean about feeling like you're backpedaling on your heels...I've felt it a lot in the last year and half especially. I think it does become more a fact of how we survive...if you can do it with grace, peace and a brave-heart, I think that speaks a lot to a person's true character. As my friend told me, the only thing we really can do is to breathe the breath of God and as you said, "breathe in slowly and deeply".

Thanks for dropping by...God bless ;D !

Godzheart ~ Thanks for stopping by my blog...God bless ;D !

audrey` said...

Yeah!
We belong to Him.
He is faithful and forever :)
Amen!