“Is the
spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"...
“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the
sunshine...”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, author The Secret Garden
What a beautiful picture Burnett paints with her words. Here in South
Carolina, the tulips and daffodils have long since bloomed, and the hot days
feel more like summer than spring. We finally got rain this week, and it was
glorious!
Seems like we went from winter to summer overnight.
Do you ever feel time races past you—much like the seasons do? It
certainly has felt that way this year for me. Seems like yesterday we were
ringing in the New Year, and now we’re planning for Memorial Day. Not enough
hours in the day to accomplish all that I want. I suppose that’s something most
people feel, whether they’re creatively bent or not.
Even nature seems hurried when it rains and the sun shines at the same
time!
The
sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows
to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on
its course. Ecclesiastes1:5-6 NIV
As the days fly by, I try not to feel the pinch of fleeting time
and carve out time for quiet. It’s in these moments that God meets us. And if
you’re really quiet and still, He’ll share His plans for your life. Not in the
hurriedness of our requests, but in the moments of reflection and openness, we
hear Him. His compassions are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). He makes our paths
straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).
So, do I really need to worry about not getting things
accomplished? Or feel rushed to do more than I possibly can each day? No, and
this has been an ongoing lesson for me that God probably wonders if I’ll ever
learn completely.
In the scope of life, the undone doesn’t matter near as much as
how we’ve lived or affected those God has placed in our lives.
Our only goal should be to hear these words one day: Well done, good and faithful
servant. Matthew 25:23a
How do you find quiet moments with God? Do you have a favorite
place or time of day that you spend with Him?
Laura
Hodges Poole blogs at "A Word of Encouragement." Her latest novella, "The Trouble With Jasmine," is
available on Amazon.com.
“Background Sun Indicates Raining”
image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
“Bluebell Woods” image courtesy of
Rob Wiltshire/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
College student and equestrian
Jasmine Gray’s life has been turned upside down. She’s still reeling from the
loss of her father, successful rancher Hamilton Gray, when her newly discovered
sister, Carly Shepherd arrives at the ranch to visit and plan her wedding. With
the spring horse competition ahead, Jasmine’s in a funk and looking for a
distraction.
Ranch hand Zach Crawford tries to
ignore his growing feelings for Jasmine because he knows he wouldn’t measure up
to Hamilton Gray or his wife’s standards. Jasmine’s daily quest to snag him only
adds to his frustration. If he could get her to focus on the upcoming horse
show and not on him, then maybe he’d have time to figure out his own
future. Grieving the loss of his little
brother who had Down’s syndrome, Zach finds it difficult not to be drawn to
Jasmine in her grief.
Memories of the past and the
promise of the future collide with the horse competition and wedding both at
hand. Can Jasmine pull herself together to win? If so, does she have the
courage to walk away afterwards and pursue a future outside the ranch, if doing
so means leaving Zach behind?
Early morning is often my quiet time to talk to and draw strength from God.
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Morning is my best quiet time, as well. It helps me keep my day in perspective, and it's just natural for me to seek His strength and Word before I do anything else. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. God bless.
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