I haven't written about Bible study much lately and some great things have been happening there so fasten your seat belts, here comes a sermon. ;)
Our group of eight has almost completed the study: HE SPEAKS TO ME by Priscilla Schreier (forgive my spelling please). This has been a wonderful study of reflection and self discovery for us all. We have done several studies over the past year of different people in Scripture, so this is a nice change of pace. We have been talking about being still and letting God speak to us. BOY do I struggle with that. For any of you who know me at all - you know that Rose blood runs through my veins like kids run through candy stores. The Roses do not 'be still'...sit still...stand still...lie still...LoL. When our feet hit the ground in the morning we go until the are back in the air that night. There are several people in my life that are attempting to help me ... 'slow down and smell the roses'. It seems to be working, but I have a long way to go. I take note of simple things like a beautiful flower or peaceful sunset - things I've never really appreciated before. Over the past week I spent some time in Florida with a friend from Barton College. If asked my favorite part of the trip - it was sitting STILL on the 'beach' at the resort and watching the fireworks being shot off at Cinderella's Castle about a mile away. Something I never would have put a lot of thought into before...It was pretty amazing. So I encourage you - to BE STILL and see the beauty in the small things.
This week - I have been very convicted about distractions. I think it began last week when our Bible study was about being still and waiting to hear from God, and I was in one of the busiest vacation spots on this side of the country - Walt Disney World. I fought to find time while I was away to get Bible study completed, much less sit and listen for God's voice...but I heard it a few times, and saw Him in several things along the way.
Today as I worked on my Bible study I was very distracted by the things around me...As soon as I got started the dog needed to go out...Then my phone chimed with a text message (usually my phone is on silent and in another room when I work on Bible study b/c it deserves my undivided attention)...When I didn't respond to the text, my house phone starts ringing - it was like a chain reaction started by the devil to keep me from my Bible study...but it's okay I won. :) I just got to thinking today about how sad it is how easily we are distracted. We can devote three hours to a movie with a friend, but have a hard time finding thirty minutes a day to spend in God's word. We can drive an hour for dinner with a friend, but have a hard time bouncing out of bed and going to church for three hours once a week. We can spend HOURS of our time wasted on Facebook, Twitter, Google...whatever...But again, can't make time for God. I'm really trying to work on these things personally. I know it is important to dedicate time to the people in our lives that we love, and to things that we enjoy - But shouldn't God be our greatest love, and time with him come first on the 'daily to do list'? Rhetorical question - you don't have to answer it.
Well, that's about enough rambling for now. My prayer is that my focus turns from things of this world (I think technology would probably be my biggest distraction) to things pleasing to the Father. Don't get me wrong - sometimes the things of this world can be great tools to carry out His will...but most of the time, they are just a stumbling block between where we are and where he wants us to be.
