kingdom travelin'

  
A couple of weeks back I was on a train from Kyiv to Vinnytsia (Ukraine) when we made our only stop. I got off for some fresh air and a moment of quiet. See these trains are always full and this one had 8 or so kids under 8 years of age. So, knowing these stops lasted a few minutes, I got off, stretched my legs and breathed some fresh air. My reward was this view. I wish I knew the name of the town this beautiful station was in, but I don’t. But this brief view of a well kept, relatively old station was a treat, especially with the lighting as it was.

As we go through our day, we should pause, and go get some air. I have Scripture and prayer reminders popping up on my phone to do this because it isn’t second nature to me to pause. Luther told his barber that prayers shouldn’t be so long and elaborate, but shorter, meaningful and frequent. His idea of frequency came from the biblical admonition to pray without ceasing.

So, take s moment and go get some air.

  
More and more I’m convinced that we do well to grasp the seasons of life and focus on them while we’re in them. First we must determine the season, it’s purpose and then how to flourish it it. 

It’s similar to a conversation about boundaries, or as some have termed it, margin: making enough space in life to prevent becoming overwhelmed.

Which means saying ‘no.’

But what to say ‘no’ to as I seek to attain that space to breathe and live a well balanced life changes as time marches on.

Stopping long enough to think this through may give me the insight I need to understand my season and that will give me guidance to have a sense of that to which I should say ‘no.’

Make the time, consider the season and say ‘no.’

The photo was taken in the library near the end of my last writing season in my doctoral program, I’m now in a reading season for same. Thus, with 4k+ pages to be read and 50+ to be written by mid-March, I’ll know how to say ‘no.’ So that this task doesn’t overwhelm me.
What season are you in? What are the things you should say ‘no’ to so that you can say ‘yes’ to important things?

Remember, don’t let the urgencies of today crowd out the important events that last.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/isa.61.10.esv

Just finished a presentation that I’ll be presenting to some folks Sunday. Here’s the last slide…  

If you’re in C’ville Sunday adternoon and would like to listen in, let me know and I’ll give you details. 

  
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/isa.54.10.esv

just tell you what they think you want to hear.

Listen:

“The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:31-32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/pro.15.31-32.esv