Feeling Far From God?

When I am feeling far from God, it does not take long to figure out who moved. (It was not God.) I am not RUNNING from God, but I am not running TO Him either. Why? I get caught up in the day to day. Spending time with God is not a task, it is supposed to be a relationship. I WANT to spend time with God. Of course I still talk to Him everyday, more than once a day for that matter! It is an open dialog all day. Kind of like tweeting all day long just without the computer and followers. But that is just "updates." Does God just want my updates? No, He wants me to seek and to listen. He already knows what I am doing, He doesn't need a tweet!
Recently I have been inspired by so many people. Inspired and convicted at the same time. (Funny how that works!) A young man where I work came in and said "Guess what I did last night?" Assuming he was going to tell me something funny or crazy that he did I asked but turned to go back to the task I was in the middle of. He proudly boasted "I accepted Christ!" I was so happy for him. I stopped what I was doing and got all excited! I told him how wonderful that was and "welcomed" him into the family! I am so ready to see how God is going to use him!
Then my friend's son, who was going through a rough patch, came home from church camp with that camp high! He was (and still is) so on fire for Christ! I could see the change in him. He even invited me to read the Bible with him. I was honored. He read aloud and then we discussed what he was reading. Then I asked him how he was going to apply that to his life! It was amazing! I think I got at least as much out of it, if not more than he did!
Running...it is time to start running to Him. There are so many questions in my life right now. Money problems I am worrying about, trying to decide if past decisions were correct, if recent decisions were correct, what will happen next, what decision do I need to make now. I know I need to rest in His peace. I am not going to find it on my own.
Most people know Jeremiah 29:11. I encourage you to continue reading to the end of verse 13. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
God didn't move, I did. It is time for me to call upon Him and pray and to seek Him with all my heart.

Welcome to 2010!

With the new year here we have a chance to look back at the previous year and look ahead to the coming year.
Ecc 3: 1-8 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
In 2009 I saw many of these "times." I have wept many days, and I have enjoyed laughing with friends many days. I have enjoyed the time I got to dance, play, and have fun with my students. I have had to spend some time searching and I am still looking! I have enjoyed being able to keep old friends close while I had to throw away bad habits of the past. I have learned that often I need to be silent when I speak too quick. I have loved my family and friends, both old and new. I have enjoyed getting to know other educators that have encouraged and inspired me, even though we have never met face to face. I know that I should love more, or at least show it more. I know that my life has been in the mist of a spiritual war, but I enjoy the peace of God.
I look forward to the good times of the coming year, but I also know that I have to expect the hard times that will come. I know I need to lean on the Lord in those difficult times. I thank the Lord for the blessings of 2009 and thank Him in advance for the blessings of 2010. Please take the time to share your blessings of the past and your hopes for the future here!