Quiet, Quiet, Quiet...
Over at God-Sized Dreams today, they are asking the question, "Have you struggled to give words to your dream?"
Why YES, Yes, I have!!
Not that I haven't tried... I called myself a writer once or twice, I focused on creating more last year, and I even gave words to my dreams last year...
But my dreams are all still a jumble in my head and I'm having a hard time sorting them out. I keep reading and reading on dreaming, and writing, and creating, and pursuing Jesus, and being a better wife and mom. The problem is with all those (GREAT) voices speaking at once I can't keep track of what I've read and what I've heard and most of all I can't hear God's voice. And hearing the Voice of Truth is most important.
So Quiet, Quiet, Quiet
In the craziness of the holidays, and travels, and unexpected (expensive) car troubles, and plumbing issues, and mountains of laundry, and then seemingly unending snow/ice days, God has pressed on my heart... Quiet
Be quiet, live quiet, pursue quiet, speak quiet, study quiet, experience quiet...
I wanted it to be all pretty with a neat quote or a Scripture verse, but the truth is, there hasn't been enough quiet for that yet. I don't know what it's going to look like and I know that if "you fail to plan, you plan to fail," so I'm putting it out here for a little bit of accountability. I don't have a set plan or goal, but I have some intentions or guidelines.
* I am returning to analog weekends --not every weekend, but most weekends, no facebook, no blogging, no social media...
* I want to read blogs and "surf the internet" with purpose. So much time wasted jumping from here to there without true community. This one will be hard because I've made so many great blog friends that I haven't interacted well with many of them. I need to make a list and stick to it...
* I want to talk less and listen more; this may result in less blogging (or more if the removal of other distractions allows me to think clear enough for better writing).
And then there is this part of being quiet that includes my kids... 2014 is the year I am going to stop yelling at my kids. This will mean I have to get off my butt a little more. Not all of my yelling is in frustration. Sometimes I'm just lazy and want them to come to me. But I'm also that parent that can scare my kids with my words and I don't want to be remembered for yelling...
Vulnerability alert: This has been a struggle for me for YEARS! It all started when I got mad at God for giving me four kids in 4 1/2 years and I took it out on my kids. For all the patience and forgiveness and grace I have received from my God, my husband and even my kids, you would think that I could return the favor a little more often. Would you pray for me that I would see progress (not perfection) in this area ... and that my kids would notice too!
I want to be QUIET this year...
surrendered to be a space for God... Let Love, Be Loved, Be Love
Quiet, but never alone
Lay down anger, impatience, selfishness, laziness, fear, my wants and agenda...
To find abundance in the quiet
Jesus is enough
Grace.
