Five Minute Friday~Listen

I have grown to love Five Minute Friday! Now that summer is here life is very busy. There are days & sometimes a week goes by where I don't have time to sit & write a post but on Friday I'm "given permission" to take just a few minutes to write what comes to my mind about a given word. Today's word is Listen.

Five Minute Friday – Listen

GO.

Crisp, cool icy blue water surrounds me as I float under the bright warm sunshine.

I rest quietly listening to the laughter, water splashing, giggling, & cheers from “award-winning” belly flops.

Grandparents float around catching up on the week’s events & Moms give their little ones the encouragement they need to take the first step into the water.

These are the sounds of summer.

I don’t need to listen hard to hear them, I just need to stop & enjoy the sound of joy & light-hearted fun.

STOP.

Its Five Minute Friday time again where I link up with Lisa-Jo Baker for 5 minute Friday for a time of writing for "5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking."

In His Calm,

Mary

not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing - See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.H4RWVsbv.dpuf

not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing. - See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.H4RWVsbv.dpuf

not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing. - See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.H4RWVsbv.dpuf

not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing. - See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.H4RWVsbv.dpuf

not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing. - See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.H4RWVsbv.dpuf

I've been silent for a little while.

I've needed silence.

For so long my world has been crazy busy, running from one place to the next rushing to get it "all" done. To be honest, I don't know how I was able to get everything accomplished ~somehow I managed but not without sacrifice.

The problem is... I was unaware of that sacrifice.  I was unaware that the rushing around to finish my to-do list, the staying up late to finish projects, the giving up myself to minister to my husband & family & friends was taking its toll on me. I've spent hours, days, weeks, months worrying, praying, giving, loving, planning ~ sacrificing.

The sacrificing has been for good, worthy reasons. Every bit of it I would do over again.

I don't regret the years I have spent planning & praying for Just Give Me Jesus with an incredible group of women. ~ I would do it again in a heartbeat!

I don't regret the hours I have spent talking & praying with my husband over some difficult issues at work. ~ Each moment brought us closer together as a couple.

I don't regret running my kids around to their various activities. ~ I love watching them experience something new.

I don't regret meeting up with a friend who needs a shoulder to cry on. ~ When I take time to love on a friend I am sharing God's love with them.

But, in all of that I forgot to minister to myself. I spent time in God's word but, I forgot to slow down & soak in the quiet moments.

It has taken a diagnosis of a health issue that is caused by stress to make me realize I need to slow down.

Rest in the quiet moments.

Rest in the arms of my Lord, my Healer, my Comforter, my Sustainer.

As I have spent time quietly, alone with Him He has revealed His Truth in marvelous ways.

He has revealed His Perfect Peace and His Amazing Glory.

So, while you are busy today running around marking off your to-do list, ministering to friends, caring for children ~ remember to take time for yourself.

Sit. Rest. in the quietness of God.

Be Still and Know He Is God!

In my quiet moments I will continue to pray for God's direction for The Calm of His Presence, in the meantime I will continue to pop in with ways God is working in my life.

How may I pray for you?

In His Calm,

Mary

grace for this good girl...

do...do...do...
fix...fix...fix...
work...work...work...
try...try...try...

That is me. Always doing. Always fixing. Always working. Always trying.
I feel the need to be in motion all the time. Because, if I'm not in motion then I'm being lazy and that's not acceptable.

But who says that's not acceptable? God? Others? Me?

I'm the one who places those expectations on myself. I'm a people please-er & I'm a God please-er. I want to do whatever is necessary to please God & others.

This summer I am reading through Grace for the Good Girl - letting go of the try-hard life by Emily Freeman. For all of you "good girls" out there you have to add this book to your summer reading!



In Grace for the Good Girl Emily shares how "Martha's desire to please clouded her willingness to trust". "Martha chose to please him (Jesus) because trusting looked passive. To simply sit at his feet and do nothing bordered on offensive to this strong, capable woman. Martha was going to please God no matter what it took." Ouch! I can so relate to Martha in Luke 10:38-42.

Oh how I desire to be like Mary and sit at Jesus' feet basking in His Presence! I want to let go of my "many things" that keep me busy and experience my Savior for WHO He Is rather than what I can do for Him to please Him. I want to worship Him with my heart!

"Worship, not work, flows out of the hearts of those who believe." ~ Emily Freeman

Dear Lord help me slow down and sit at your feet so that I can be filled to overflowing with your loving presence. Help me to experience YOU so that my worship for you will flow out of my heart. In your Name I Pray.

Come back tomorrow for Thankful Thursday as I share with you how God gave us the gift of rest last week.

In His Calm,

Mary

Thankful Thursday ~ Solitary Place

There are places in life that are sources of respite & rejuvenation. 

Joy & laughter come with the remembrance of them. 

Calm, peace & renewal are found there. 

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.' So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." Mark 6:31-32

In Mark 6:31 Jesus took the disciples to a solitary place for rest and renewal. 

In the busyness of life we must make time to get away to remember & focus on those important to us.

For me a cabin in the mountains is that place. Our family takes a step back ~ we enjoy life and one another. 

How do you make time for those you love. Do you have a place of quiet where you can reconnect with your family? I would love for you to share with us about your solitary place.

#145 - #154

• fresh honeycrisp apples

 

• baskets of apples picked with the family
• fresh hot donuts
• crisp, cold apple cider
• sipping coffee on the deck as the day breaks over the mountains

• squeals of laughter from the "dizzy" swing

• red mountain barns
• weight lifting from shoulders as we wind up the mountain
• shade from the bamboo maze
• refreshing sleep

Counting 1000 gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience

In His Calm,

Mary

Green Pastures & Quiet Waters

"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." Psalm 23:1-3

Over the past couple of years summer has been a time for me to slow down. I have taken time for myself and time to be one on one with God. It was a time for me to be refreshed and renewed in spirit and in the knowledge of my Lord.  As I headed into surgery a few months ago I thought I would have plenty of time for spiritual renewal along with the physical rest my body needed. I have received the physical rest but not the spiritual renewal I need. 

God has been nudging me over the last couple of weeks to take a break from Marriage Mondays. To be honest I haven't done a good job listening to Him and I have been frustrated. After talking over my frustrations with Jeff earlier this week he suggested I take the month of July off from Marriage Mondays. I immediately balked at the idea but decided I needed to pray about it before making my decision. 

While talking with God I realized a break is what I need. I need to spend time in the "green pastures" of God's Word. When I rest in his word I will experience the "quiet waters" of His Spirit. As I spent some time alone with Him this week I sensed Him already giving me some ideas for Marriage Monday. So, over the next month while I "lie down" in God's "green pastures" I will be working on a new series for Marriage Monday to begin in August. 

While I am taking a break from Marriage Monday I will continue to post Thankful Thursday. I hope you will join me each Thursday as I find the gifts in each moment of the day. See you in August.

In His Calm,

Mary

Thankful Thursday

"It takes a full twenty minutes after your stomach is full for your brain to register satiation. How long does it take your soul to realize that your life is full? The slower the living, the greater the sense of fullness and satisfaction." One Thousand Gifts pg 76

Over the last month and a half I have been forced to live slower while I recover from surgery. I felt it. I felt the "sense of fullness and satisfaction." While on the mend and resting I was at peace and calm. I realized the need to slow down and life life intentionally. Now, as I move back into the everyday hustle and bustle of life I need to remember to live intentionally.

Intentionally focused on my kids... 

Intentionally focused on my husband...

Intentionally thanking God for His Love and His Gifts...

#31 - #47

• soft piano music playing while I write
• my baby girl growing up way too fast
• giving up my idea of perfection in order to teach my kids how to mop the floor
• surprising G & C with a trip to the strawberry farm to say thank you for their hard work this week
• juicy ripe strawberries & blackberries

•  berry stained shirts & juice covered hands & face from G eating more berries off the vines than those he put in the bucket
• the excitement of the kids to cut fresh flowers from the garden

• bees everywhere pollinating the flowers & us not fearing their sting so that we can enjoy God's beautiful creation together
• impromptu visit with long lost friends 
• true gratefulness from the kids for a wonderful day
• cheering my little girl on as she "swims" the length of the pool in her first swimmeet
• proud Mama heart as I watch my growing boy stand on the podium for two medal ceremonies - 1st backstroke, 3rd freestyle
• date worthy dinner cooked by my husband in the comforts of our home
• hugging my son tight as he wakes from a night terror
• good-morning kiss & whispers of I love you from G
• a new day with new beginnnings
• being reminded to find something to be thankful for even when things aren't going my way

Counting One Thousand Gifts with A Holy Experience.

In His Calm,

Mary

Windows open. Cool Breezes blowing across my face. Birds chirping & singing a happy song. I sit. Relaxed. I marvel over God's glorious creation & His incredible love for me. Ah...peace...

Then it happens... a loud truck drives by and the high pitched buzzer on my dryer breaks the respite. I am suddenly keenly aware of the construction work in front of my house. My thoughts quickly move from resting in God's presence to the busyness of life.

Oh well, back to my day I must go. But, for a short while I met with God. I am grateful for the Calm of His Presence. I can now go through the rest of my day refreshed & renewed.

How are you taking time to be refreshed & renewed in God's Presence?

In His Calm,

Mary 

Drowning to Swim

Welcome to Marriage Mondays. Today I have a special link with Shari Braendel a speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries and the author of Good Girls don't have to Dress Bad. If you are visiting from her blog thank you so much for stopping by. If you are a regular to The Calm of His Presence I would love for you to visit her blog. I am featured today as her Monday Makeover. While there make sure to let her know you are visiting from my blog. Today I am offering my first ever give away. I am giving away 2 Mini-Microdermabrasion sets. You have up to 3 chances to win a set. You get an entry if you comment on my blog, another entry if you become a follower of my blog and another chance if you go over and comment on Shari's blog. I will announce the winner next Monday. Now, grab a cup of coffee or hot tea and enjoy the Calm of God's Presence.

Heads bobbing up and down, arms flailing, and little faces coughing and sputtering water out of their mouths; that is how my daughter's first day of swimming lessons looked. It was hard for me and the other Moms to sit back and watch our children struggle in the water. I found it difficult to give my daughter the freedom she needed to learn how to swim. One of the instructors told me, "She needs to 'drown' a few times in order to learn how to swim on her own". As a Mom I thought, "easy for you to say, you're not her Mom". When I saw her struggling to keep her head above water I immediately wanted to jump in to save her.

How often does that translate into our spiritual life? We jump into things not knowing what danger lies ahead only to "drown" under the mistakes that we make or the burdens we carry. God is right there, just like a mother is for her child, ready to rescue us from ourselves and the world around us. But, just like a child we are stubborn and don't want to accept His help.

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

In these verses Jesus tells us to lean on Him. He will give us rest. He will teach us and ease our burdens. As we struggle to keep our heads above the waters he will help keep them afloat.

When we feel like we are drowning in our pain, marriage troubles, sin, anger or tragedy we can, like David did in Psalm 69. call out to Jesus. He will be there to rescue us from whatever we have weighing us down. "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters: the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched."

If we seek God He will be there to help us. All we need to do is call out to Him and lay everything at His feet. This doesn't mean that we won't ever face hardships but if we turn our troubles over to Jesus He will help us carry the load.

Is there an issue in your marriage you need to turn over to God? Do you find yourself drowning under a failing marriage? Cry out to God. Ask Him to carry you through it. Lean on Him to carry your burden. He will give you the rest your soul needs.

I would love to pray for your marriage. Please leave a comment and let me know how I can pray for you. 


In His Calm,


Mary