Turn on the Light?

Turn on the Light? (03.08..11—-Spiritual Discipline!--Luke 6:126)

May I ask you a question? As we go about living in this noisy world it’s difficult to actually shut it out. Do we just cope or do we strive to shun it?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

Holly and I have raised a family of four and now all four are married. Dinnertime not long ago was a busy, noisy time at the Brunner home. Since we were homeschoolers there was talk of the day’s lessons. Then there was talk of dance and piano lessons, 4-H meetings, dog-training issues, bicycle repairs and sundry other topics of particular interest to our children. In all the hubbub that surrounded dinnertime and even the hours following dinner (those were filled with homework help and reading books to the little ones), Holly and I had precious little time to ourselves to just, well, talk. It really didn’t matter what we talked about; in fact small talk was something we craved but had little time to practice. That’s when we discovered that bedtime, kids all tucked kids in bed, provided just the right amount of solitude to facilitate some small talk–just Holly and I. To this day it isn’t uncommon for us to drift off to sleep with small talk whispering in our ears.

Looking for quiet time? Spiritually we need it. Shutting out life’s busyness is another important key to spiritual health.

Here's a story: In a letter to his friends, hymn writer Wendell P. Loveless related this story: One evening a speaker who was visiting the United States wanted to make a telephone call. He entered the booth, but found it to be different from those in his own country. It was beginning to get dark, so he had difficulty finding the number in the directory. He noticed that there was a light in the ceiling, but he didn't know how to turn it on. He fumbled all over the booth looking for a switch but found nothing. As he tried again to find the number in the fading twilight, a passerby noted his plight and said, "Sir, if you want to turn the light on, you have to shut the door." To the visitor's amazement and satisfaction, when he closed the door, the booth was filled with light. He soon located the number and made the call. (Our Daily Bread.)

In a similar way, when we draw aside in a quiet place to pray, we need to block out our busy world and open our hearts to the Father. Our darkened world of disappointments and trials will then be illuminated. We will enter into communion with God; we will sense His presence and provision for us. Jesus often went to be alone with his Heavenly Father. Sometimes it was after a busy day of preaching and healing and at other times it was before making a major decision (Luke 6:12). Seeking solitude, in that sense, is a discipline, one that must be cultivated and practiced. And, as Holly and I had to search for that quiet time when the kids were in bed to get a worthwhile conversation going, so it is with our prayers and God. Try finding a quiet place to talk with Him and you might find that a little small talk can reap big dividends.

We pray. Heavenly Father, when we draw aside in a quiet place to pray, we need to block out our busy world and open our hearts to You. Our darkened world of disappointments and trials will then be illuminated. We will enter into communion with You; sensing Your presence and provision for us. Jesus often went to be alone with You. Sometimes it was after a busy day of preaching and healing and at other times it was before making a major decision (Luke 6:12). Seeking solitude, in that sense, is a discipline, one that we must cultivate and practice. Help us daily Lord to search for that quiet time to share our prayers with our God. May each of us find a quiet place to talk with You and that small talk that can reap big dividends in our relationship with our spouse. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Turn on the Light?

Turn on the Light? (03.08..11—-Spiritual Discipline!--Luke 6:126)

May I ask you a question? As we go about living in this noisy world it’s difficult to actually shut it out. Do we just cope or do we strive to shun it?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

Holly and I have raised a family of four and now all four are married. Dinnertime not long ago was a busy, noisy time at the Brunner home. Since we were homeschoolers there was talk of the day’s lessons. Then there was talk of dance and piano lessons, 4-H meetings, dog-training issues, bicycle repairs and sundry other topics of particular interest to our children. In all the hubbub that surrounded dinnertime and even the hours following dinner (those were filled with homework help and reading books to the little ones), Holly and I had precious little time to ourselves to just, well, talk. It really didn’t matter what we talked about; in fact small talk was something we craved but had little time to practice. That’s when we discovered that bedtime, kids all tucked kids in bed, provided just the right amount of solitude to facilitate some small talk–just Holly and I. To this day it isn’t uncommon for us to drift off to sleep with small talk whispering in our ears.

Looking for quiet time? Spiritually we need it. Shutting out life’s busyness is another important key to spiritual health.

Here's a story: In a letter to his friends, hymn writer Wendell P. Loveless related this story: One evening a speaker who was visiting the United States wanted to make a telephone call. He entered the booth, but found it to be different from those in his own country. It was beginning to get dark, so he had difficulty finding the number in the directory. He noticed that there was a light in the ceiling, but he didn't know how to turn it on. He fumbled all over the booth looking for a switch but found nothing. As he tried again to find the number in the fading twilight, a passerby noted his plight and said, "Sir, if you want to turn the light on, you have to shut the door." To the visitor's amazement and satisfaction, when he closed the door, the booth was filled with light. He soon located the number and made the call. (Our Daily Bread.)

In a similar way, when we draw aside in a quiet place to pray, we need to block out our busy world and open our hearts to the Father. Our darkened world of disappointments and trials will then be illuminated. We will enter into communion with God; we will sense His presence and provision for us. Jesus often went to be alone with his Heavenly Father. Sometimes it was after a busy day of preaching and healing and at other times it was before making a major decision (Luke 6:12). Seeking solitude, in that sense, is a discipline, one that must be cultivated and practiced. And, as Holly and I had to search for that quiet time when the kids were in bed to get a worthwhile conversation going, so it is with our prayers and God. Try finding a quiet place to talk with Him and you might find that a little small talk can reap big dividends.

We pray. Heavenly Father, when we draw aside in a quiet place to pray, we need to block out our busy world and open our hearts to You. Our darkened world of disappointments and trials will then be illuminated. We will enter into communion with You; sensing Your presence and provision for us. Jesus often went to be alone with You. Sometimes it was after a busy day of preaching and healing and at other times it was before making a major decision (Luke 6:12). Seeking solitude, in that sense, is a discipline, one that we must cultivate and practice. Help us daily Lord to search for that quiet time to share our prayers with our God. May each of us find a quiet place to talk with You and that small talk that can reap big dividends in our relationship with our spouse. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.