Have You Been Wondering Where I've Been? An Update.

DEVOTIONAL LIFESTYLE MOMENT has moved.

Just a wee post to invite you to The Heart Change Place where you will find the Devotional Lifesyle Moment devotionals.

 

The Heart Change Place is a virtual spiritual retreat center that is open 24 hours a day. 

Come on in and relax. 

You will find that your visits here will help you to 

connect your Sunday faith with your everyday Monday to Saturday life 

by cultivating a devotional lifestyle.

 So drop by to continue reading short Devotional Lifestyle Moment devotionals that will help you cultivate and live a devotional lifestyle.

See you over there!

 

Do you have a case of "overload?" Here's the solution. Unplug. Realign.

Giant screens loomed high above the street, unapologetically demanding my attention by flashing ultra-bright advertising images from the latest T.V. shows, music videos and movie trailers.

A steel pan band, half a dozen buskers, and a kilt-adorned bagpipe player, all competing for the pocket-change of those walking by, were resolutely determined to showcase their talent in spite of the constant noise coming from traffic, car horns, fire-engine sirens, and the pressing crowds.

And speaking of crowds—where did all those cell-phone-talkin’, i-pod-listenin’, blackberry-textin’, ear-phone-wearin’, plugged- in people come from anyway? I mean…literally hundreds.

I stood still for a few moments and took it all in. It was sort of like in the movies. You know, when everything around you suddenly turns into s-l-o-w motion.

As I did, I was overcome with a sudden case of overload.

Chances are, you too have been overcome with a sudden case of overload.

You see, overload does not just happen at the corner of Yonge and Dundas in downtown Toronto on a Friday night.

It happens in the suburbs.
 
It happens in small towns.


It happens in churches.

It happens in families.

It happens in our hearts.

It happens as a result of the hurry-up, always-plugged-in, no-time-to-rest, over-scheduled, productivity-addicted, noise-polluted, frenzied-pace we often choose to live our lives at.

Is it happening to you right now? I am sure you would agree—it’s certainly not a peace-filled way to live life.

So what are we to do?

Be still, and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

Is it difficult to even hear yourself think, let alone try to be still and know God?

Here are just a few suggestions:
1. …it’s time to unplug.
• Turn your T.V. off early at night and spend that time alone with God.

• Drive or commute to work without the radio or ipod playing, instead listen to God.

• Schedule regular personal retreats of silence.

• Ask God to show you other ways to “be still.”
2. …it’s time to realign your heart to God’s heart.
• Be accountable. Ask your small group, Bible study group, or close friend to partner with you as you create space in your life to” be still.”

• Get a life coach or spiritual director who will link arms with you as you learn to arrange and organize your life as a whole around God.

Take time today to unplug and realign your overloaded heart to God's heart.

Then do it again tomorrow...and the next day.

Blessed Assurance!

I will lie down and sleep in peace,

for You alone, O LORD,

make me dwell in safety.

 

Psalm 4:8

Love-in-action.

Ever wonder what love-in-action looks like?

Several days ago, I came across this story:

One Sunday I was entertained in a farm home of a member of a rural church. I was impressed by the intelligence and unusually good behavior of the only child in the home, a little four-year-old boy.


Then I discovered one reason for the child's charm. The mother was at the kitchen sink, washing the intricate parts of the cream separator when the little fellow came to her with a magazine. "Mother," he asked, "what is this man in the picture doing?"


To my surprise she dried her hands, sat down on a chair and taking the boy in her lap she spent ten minutes answering his questions.


After the child had left I commented on her having interrupted her chores to answer the boy's questions, saying, "Most mothers wouldn't have bothered." "I expect to be washing cream separators for the rest of my life," she told me, "But never again will my son ask me that question!"
-Unknown

A picture of love-in-action!

I have to admit, when I read that story, I thought about many times where, unlike the mom in the story, I ignored and/or displayed impatience at the questions of my children.

Kind of made me sad to have missed those opportunities to demonstrate love-in-action. Do you know what I mean?

But that was in the past.

Today is a new day.

God, in His grace and faithfulness to me, provides opportunties each and every new day to be His love-in-action.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others that for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.
I Corinthians 13:4-8 (The Message)

Ahhh, so that's what love-in-action really is!

Missed opportunities to show love-in-action in the past is no excuse or reason to miss today's opportunities.

How will you be His love-in-action today?

It's Time. Get Up!

Am I the only one?

The only one who wishes that God would give me more information?

Ok, let me start by giving you a bit more background.

The other day, during my devotional time, I became very aware of a growing irritation in my soul.

You see, God had already given me a "next step" in a particular area of my life.

And boy, was I was excited!

But I wanted more.

More information.

In other words, the next step after the next step He just revealed to me.

So...I lingered in my devotional time.

Not a lingering motived "to be Him."

A lingering motived to "find out more."

"This next-step is not enough God. Tell me more." said my demanding heart.

I was irritated. At God.

Oh my. He's so patient. Because a few moments later, He spoke again. This time through words from my favourite classic devotional book.

Listen to this:

God never gives guidance for two steps at a time. I must take one step, and then I will recieve light for the next."

HELLO...message received loud and clear. What was I waiting for? It was time to get up and out of my prayer chair and get doing the next thing. In His time, He will reveal the next-step.

Peace flooded my heart. I confessed my irritiability.

So here's the question for today.

Do you know God's "next thing" for you? Are you doing it? What are you waiting for? Get up off your chair, and start doing it today. He will reveal your "next step" in His good time.

Have you listened in to our Talking Book Club yet? We are reading Character Makeover over at the Girl's Gathering Place.

Week One podcast on the character quality of humility is ready to listen to right now!

Check out the Girl's Gathering Place blog to read our personal character makeover journey!

On a short break.

Devotional Lifestyle Moment is taking a break...

but just for one week.

I'll be back for Monday February 1st.

Have a great week...see you on Monday!

Are you ready to sign on the dotted line?

A layman visited a great city church during a business trip.

After the service, he congratulated the minister on his service and sermon.

“But,” said the manufacturer, “if you were my salesman, I’d discharge you.

You got my attention by your appearance, voice and manner; your prayer, reading and logical discourse aroused my interest.

You warmed my heart with a desire for what you preached; and then--and then you stopped.

You stopped without asking me to do something about it.

In business the important thing is to get them to sign on the dotted line.”
-James Duff

Now granted, most of y'all reading this right now are not preachers.

But that doesn't let us off the hook! We all can learn something from this story.

How many times do we read God's Word; attend a conference; participate in a Bible study group; listen to an audio; read a book; do our devotions--well, you get where I'm going here--and we learn more about God and spiritual life, but we do not put our knowledge into action...into doing.

The pastor or leader may not have "gone in for the ask."

Hmm, is it possible that we can use that for an excuse?

Bottom line: we have no excuse.

God has "gone in for the ask." It's an all-inclusive ask that covers every time His life-changing truth has been breathed into our lives.

Here it is:

But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.

James 1:22 (ESV)

Tonight, and during the day tomorrow, many of us will be attending church services, adult Bible classes, and/or small groups etc.

So, when we hear the Word this weekend, are we ready hear the question:  "What are you going to do about it?

God is asking.