I've been on the go this week. Perhaps you can identify. It seems like everybody I talk to has had a challenging week and we still have so much week to cover. I was tempted to feel a little frustrated with the pace of things. It seems like the more I cross off my list as complete, the more things creep back on the list.


New things. 


Challenging things.


And, well quite frankly, I'm tired. Just. Plain. Tired. 


I was tempted to complain to the Lord about how much work stays on my plate. I was tempted to ask Him for some relief. Not because I can't use time management to get my portion done, but instead, because I am tired. My body is saying "I just don't wanna...." 


And then I remembered. 


It's Holy Week. This is the week where we remember and praise God that even when Jesus was tired, He didn't stop. He didn't quit. He didn't sit down and refuse to go another further (like my grandma used to say).

I found myself praying...please God, please.


The feeling overwhelmed me.


I read my daily devotion and the topic therein caused me to examine my heart right then and there. My knees buckled underneath me. The mattress caught and held me. Please God, please.


Please never leave me, God. Please, never forsake me. Please never let me run from You or hide from Your presence. Father, help me to always run to You as my Lord and my keeper. That's my heart desire.


I don't want anybody but You. Nothing else is important but You.

I cannot imagine my life without God in it. Where would I be?

Meditating on my smallness in view of God brought me to a wonderful place of worship. And, I pray that you too have the right perspective: We are small, He is not. He is God. We are not. Without Him, we can do nothing. With Him, all things are possible. And, when I think on just these few things, I'm back to where I started. Please God, please. Never leave me. Never forsake me. Never let me run from or hide from Your presence. For it is in You that I move and have my being.

Thank you God for loving me. Please continue to help me keep a right perspective.

I have two little friends that don't do anything fast. And when I mean that they don't do anything fast, that's exactly what I mean. In fact, whenever I want them to do something by a certain time, I give them 45 minutes to an hour before its due. For instance, if I want to leave the house by 9:00am, then I tell them to get ready to leave by 8:15. They move that slow. Plus I have to tell them the same things multiple times. It seems the first few time, they really didn't "hear" me.

I, on the other hand move really fast. I zip from one thing to the other and by the end of the day, I have accomplished a mass amount of things - all well done, of course... I value efficiency. I want to move in and get the job done and then move on to the next thing and the next thing. I want to feel like I've accomplished something at the end of the day. I rest better that way.

So, I imagine this week that God has really gotten a kick out of watching me relate to these little friends of mine. They are little. I cannot expect them to move with speed and agility like me. They are accustomed to moving ever so slowly - so in a week's time, I cannot expect them to value efficiency. No, I just have to adapt.

So, I've been adapting. My first full day of adaptation meant I slept past the call of the roosters (literally). And, now I'm in a rhythm. It's different from what I'm used to but for this week, it will work.

And, that's the way that it is sometimes. I've been talking about trying something new and this is indeed something new. It's a much, much, much slower pace than what I'm used to but that doesn't make it bad - instead it gives me fresh perspective. And, who can quarrel with that?

I was listening to a song whose verses chant “I won’t stop.” The artist is singing about experiencing difficulties in his walk with the Lord but continuing to push to evangelize despite the odds. And, well, that spoke to me.

I think that I sometimes get comfortable in my walk with God, and in so doing, when things get a little hard, I get a little lazy. And, I don’t believe that I’m the only one. This song challenges my perseverance. We all need to persevere for our faith – that God be glorified.

I thank God for giving the artist those lines. I won’t stop. Abraham didn’t stop. Moses didn’t stop. Paul didn’t stop. We cannot stop!

I challenge you today to let your witness be – “I didn’t stop!”

Have a great Tuesday!

Hello Bloggy Friends!

Wow. What a morning. Last night, I managed to hurt my back - I had already done something to it on Monday and then last night was the knockout punch. So, this morning, I've been moving really slow... I'm in pain.

I spend my life in high gear always racing off to do one thing or another. But, having to slow down has given me a new perspective. For instance, I realized just how high the steps are when you are trying to climb them; I realized what a blessing hot water is when you're trying to soothe something, and don't let me forget about good ole electricity that powered my heating pad throughout the times I used it. I'm sure that is much more to discover as I heal.

I don't have anything "super spiritual" to say today. I'm just thankful to my God for allowing me a little pain to give me a better perspective on things. With God's help, this pain will pass and before long I will be back to my routine. But, I will remember this - that I should take time to stop (or at least slow down) and smell the proverbial roses.

Be blessed today!
Sanya

I am optimistic today. I am a recipient of new mercies from God. Grace is abounding in my life. As I looked at the view from my hotel room this morning, I was inspired. I am in Boston, on the 26th floor. From this vantage point, I can see for miles. It got me to thinking. God has a perspective of our lives in which we cannot imagine. He knows everything about us – and knowing all of this, He still cares for us. While I may have been low down, deep in the valley only able to see a few paces in front of me, God looks over the expanse and sees everything there is to see concerning me. He can see for miles – literally and figuratively. So, there is no need for me to worry about things that I can’t see – I just need to rest in the assurance that God is for me and He is with me. He said that He would never leave me nor forsake me. So, I’m leaning and depending on Him alone. I surrender the urge to “control” my circumstances. Instead now, I recognize and confess that I cannot control these things. I’ve had the wrong focus. Looking out the window from here suggests to me to keep my eye on the real goal – to keep my focus Heavenward. If I stay entrenched and focused on one street or one block, (ie one situation or circumstance) I will miss seeing the majestic view of God’s plan for my life. Life is indeed worth the living with my hope properly placed in God.

It’s funny. I really didn’t want to make this trip to Boston. But, in being here, I have gained more strength for the journey. I will continue to press forward. I am making new strides and I am connected to my Father in a new way.

And, if you are wondering, no, I do not have tickets for the world series. I’m a few grand short! Yes, tickets are really going for thousands. But this trip has been a spiritual homerun!

Yours and His,
Sanya