Skip to main content

Sanctuary

"And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone." Matthew 14:23 KJV

One week ago I left home frazzled. The increasing demands of work, and my commitment to ministry, had me running at top speed for several months. When I started my SUV to begin the eight hour drive to Ohio, my prayer was "Lord, please bless my time away." The Lord heard my prayer and answered in a way that was beyond my expectation--the way God always does.

Last year, one of my daughters had decided to "up-size" and bought an older home that had been designed by an engineer. The home includes a sunroom with a vaulted ceiling, skylights, and windows that give a panoramic view of the large back yard. I saw the sunroom when my daughter first moved in. What I saw when I arrived this time was a true transformation: the best word to describe the transformation is "sanctuary."

Everyday since I arrived I have spent time in the sunroom listening to the birds, watching the white squirrel (yes, white squirrel) forage for food, and absorbing the tranquility that God has put in the blues and whites of the sky, and the variant greens of trees and bushes. I have felt the frazzle melt away and a profound peace has been restored in my spirit.

Life has not "gone away" while I have been here. A cousin was brutally murdered and preparations for his burial are underway. I have had to "pop into" work twice to take care of some pressing things. My husband is holding things down back home while I am away and I am grateful for his sacrifice that allows me this time. 

Life will always bring challenges. God, through the example of his son Jesus, encourages us to step back, pray, and take some time alone to refresh.



Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 2, 2022 at 10:33 PM

    God believes in self care Even he rested on the seventh day. I love ❤️ you and am thankful everyday for you💕

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Green Spring Baptist Church

We have been very, very busy getting settled in Virginia. God has favored us tremendously. We have met so many nice and helpful people, and this has allowed us to feel at home here. One thing that was at the top of our list was to connect with a ministry, so that we could continue to walk in our pastoral calling. God orchestrated what I call a "divine appointment." A local pastor, who befriended us early on, invited us to a pastors' prayer breakfast. He introduced us to the attendees while the breakfast was in progress. Immediately after the breakfast, a gentleman approached my husband, introduced himself as a deacon from Green Spring Baptist Church, and asked my husband to come and speak at the ministry. He shared they had been without a pastor for several years and they were hoping to find the right person to fill that role. Dates were arranged. Fast forward to today. My husband is now the interim pastor, and I have been welcomed as a minister. The members are hungry fo...
2 comments
Read more

Unwanted Gift

Before I get into today's post, I want to say "Thank you!" When I started this blog I had no idea there would be so many people who would take the time to read what I write. I want you to know I greatly appreciate each of you and your readership is very encouraging to me.  Unwanted Gift Have you ever received a gift and thought "What were they thinking?" or "What am I going to do with this?" I confess that I have. However, once I got past my initial reaction and opened my mind to the possibilities, some of those unwanted gifts have proven to be a blessing and have become part of my daily lifestyle.  Every believer is a gift that God has given to the world. Each of us has unique talents, abilities, and skills that bring great benefit when we are received and allowed to perform the function that God had in mind. Believers make things better!  However, there are times when what we have to offer will not be wanted, received, or appreciated. Jesus warned hi...
1 comment
Read more

I Grant Thee POWER!

We are having some outside work done on our home, and the contractor knocked on the back door. I went to see what was needed. He was holding the plug to a heavy duty electrical cord and his words were "I need power." I showed him where the outdoor socket was, and asked if he needed water or anything else. He assured me he was fine and I went back to what I was doing. A few minutes later, my sense of humor kicked in. "I need power" popped in my head, and I pictured myself extending my hand toward the contractor, and saying with solemn authority "I grant thee POWER!" I laughed to myself at the thought...and was very grateful I did NOT do that to the contractor.  But as I kept on thinking, a parable came forward. I must always stay "plugged into" God. Just like the contractor, the "tools" that I have cannot function as well, or may not function at all, if I don't stay connected to God through prayer, reading His word, and allowing the ...
2 comments
Read more