…You could just slow down.
You could cook breakfast once or twice a week. You could sit on the porch and watch a flag blowing in the wind as the sun comes up and the dew stretches its legs. You could wear pajamas all day because that doesn’t make you lazy (hello, they’re comfortable). You could go to the gym because you want to go, but not because of the pressure to be more.
You could put down work every now and then to dance with the kids to Taylor Swift’s Red, and you could giggle like you were back in high school.
You could learn something new. Play a new instrument, cook a new recipe, work with a new charity. You could be less consumed with church and more consumed with Him, and your perspective on life would shift eternally.
This voice?
This voice should never be silenced. This is the voice of Believers, changers, dreamers, doers.
This is the voice of the Redeemed, the hopeful, the strong, and the sure.
This is the voice that gives you permission to live the life that you want to live. You could run a marathon, start a new business. You could have lazy Saturdays instead of the rat-race.
When we stop comparing our do’s to everyone else’s, we are finally able to let go, to rest in Him…to do what we are passionate about. Don’t get me wrong: there’s a place for sports, and a little frantic running, and certainly church. The problem is that we overdo everything. We stink at moderation most of the time, and our juices run out.
So all the while we’re “yes people” to everyone else, we come home and there’s not much left to give. We rush, we hurry, we sign up for every event at school, church, and community, and inside, we are tired.
I’m convinced there is a season for all the things we’d love to do in this life. We took a pause on international mission work for a few years, not because we don’t still want to go, but because we are convinced that our mission for now is to capture the hearts of our children with a deep, passionate love for Christ and for other people. Soon enough, we’ll take them along with us.
We still serve in our church, but friends, and I know I’m treading lightly on this one: Church doesn’t take you to heaven, doesn’t redeem you from the lowest depths. His Grace does. So while we still serve (I’m teaching class right now, and we drive about an hour to our church every Sunday), it’s okay if we aren’t there for every single event that takes place. I know, shocking.
We are committed to Him, and this life we’re convinced He approves of. We want slower days, less noise, more together, and lots of unity in our family. We want to be slow enough to see when our children really need us, when they really need Him. We want to try to remove the lenses from their eyes so they easily see the hurting and the broken.
We want Grace to run rampant in this house.
But it needs room.
It needs room in between the soccer games, baseball, gymnastics, birthday parties, school events, church events, playdates, work, and the running. Space and time and rest are good things, and we need them to stay fixed upon Him, and honestly, to breathe without comparing or trying to strive for perfection.
Our work in this home? It’s sacred. Not because of us or them, or our mad parenting skills (i wish), or our perfect striving…nope. It’s because He went to Calvary on death stained cross and He bore every ounce of ugliness, hate, and shame this world had to offer.
I want to give him more than an hour and a half once a week. I want to give Him room to work, to change, to transform.
You could slow down.
And in doing so, you can live the life you want to live.
- “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”
- –Romans 12:1-3, The Message
I am loving these posts. Yes, yes, yes. Keep them coming!
I love this and plan to share it on my blog as I believe this is another way the Lord is speaking to me this week. Thank you so much for this post and for sharing the bible verse at the end. God is so good!
Thanks for your encouraging words. We all tend to forget what is really important – our relationship with Christ and how it impacts our family and those in our sphere of influence.
An absolutely beautiful post! This one and the one before it have really spoken to my heart in a way I needed deperately this week. In a time when the internet can provide more stress and hurry, I feel so blessed to have found you, and some other bloggers, who are truly inspiring, uplifting women of God. xoxo
What an inspiration you are today….you really spoke to me today….
Love, Love, Love this post! Thank you for sharing from your heart because you definitely spoke to mine. Got Bless you!
Amen Sista! God speaking to me right now!
Thank you!
You are so on the mark Shaunna! I’m going to share too. I found Jesus Janurary 2013, and was baptized June 2013. I am in the process of finding that voice that directs me. Then I will listen to that voice. I just need more help in recognizing it! After all, it is MY journey right!
Love this blog, it brings me so many things on so many different levels. Than you for all that you give us. I for one, am grateful for your public love for our sweet Lord. Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
In Christian love to all, Hope
Love!
Thank you for your boldness on this subject. I believe God is asking us to focus on Him and be a light in this dark world. I serve as called and for a season, but I don’t say yes to everything. I ask myself and friends “how are you affecting others for Christ”. It looks different for all of us. My prayer is that we all are quiet long enough to listen to Him.
I love this! It’s such a strong truth that is so easy to forget in the rush & messiness that is everyday life. Christ at the center, and let everything else fall into place.
Thank you…..
please remove my email from your web site subscription
May 2014 be a year filled with joy and peace for you.
Hey there, I can’t remove subscribers (i don’t think) from our feed, but I know there’s a link within your email where you can click unsubscribe. Hate to lose you, but let us know if you need more help. Have a good one!
🙂
shaunna
Thank you so much for all of your words which ring so true and clear. It has been a very difficult time that began on December 23, 2013 and continues with more trials and tribulations of health issues with my Mother-in-law. We have been steadfast and my prayers and commitment to my Lord and Saviour is what seems to keep our spirits up and living our lives being thankful for which we have been blessed. All I know for sure is that, we will love her for however long we have her and thank God everyday for the time he has given us to be with her. God Bless You.
Exactly what I needed to hear right now. Thanks Shaunna, God bless you!
Such a beautiful and encouraging post. Keeping up and doing ‘enough’ are things I struggle with daily. Such a good reminder that our hearts should be fixed on the eternal, not on the temporary rat race of life.
What a wonderful message thank you for your obedience in sharing it. OODLES of hugs to you.
This seems to be the message all around me..and yes, Lord I’m listening! 🙂 Thank you for the reminder that we not only have permission but are required to stop and lay it before Him as an offering. Love the Message version of that passage..
Thank you! Thank you!
Soooooo incredibly, amazingly rich!!!!!!!!! Love your blog!
Yes! Such a great post and I agree with you wholeheartedly! Offering our lives for God to use… Slowing down to be where He wants us… Taking time for our spouse and kids… Why is it so hard to do when we know it’s the best way to live our lives?!
I think this might be my very favorite post you’ve ever written. And that’s saying a lot, because I like them all. 🙂 This idea of slowing down, of actually LIVING life and seeing the moment and really being THERE – being able and willing and having ROOM for God to work and shape us…. it’s so darn simple and yet so so hard. My prayer is that God will keep my eyes on His and my days hole-y (see what I did there??) enough to make room for Him… the only thing that matters.
I was truly touched & blessed by your words & insight. God obviously is using you Shuanna, as He does of all of us if we allow Him. Thank you for listening!
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