by Stacy Turley | Jul 12, 2022 | In the Word |
Have you ever found something that you did not realize you had lost? That happened to me last week. I was looking for a t-shirt to wear with some of my comfy pants since I was going to be home most of the day. I wanted to feel like I was in pajamas without actually looking like I was in pajamas. So I was digging through a bin on the bottom of my closet where I kept my t-shirts. And out of the deepest depths of the bin, I felt a super soft, cozy, t-shirt. “Hmmm…intriguing…which one is this?” I said to myself. And as the other shirts seemed to part like the Red Sea, it was as if my closet was filled with the sounds of trumpets celebrating the lost t-shirt that was now found! It was one of my very favorites shirts! Until that moment, I did not know I had misplaced it. I forgot I even owned it.
A few days after finding my t-shirt, I was listening to 2 Kings 22 on the The Bible In A Year podcast (with Fr. Mike Schmitz). King Josiah of Judah was taking steps to have the Temple repaired. King Josiah put the high priest Hilkiah in charge of the efforts. At some point Hilkiah found the Book of the Law in the Temple…maybe even in the deepest depths of a bin in the bottom of a closet! Soon after finding the Book of the Law, the secretary to the King read the book to King Josiah. The king was devastated over the words in the Book of the Law for he knew the people of Judah, and their ancestors, did not follow the LORD’s covenant requirements.
It appears that King Josiah and the priests did not realize they had lost the Book of the Law. They may not have known that it existed. The Book was a guide on how to live within the covenant with God. There may have been great joy when they found the Book and at the same time the king was filled with much sorrow as shown by the tearing of his clothes. The king was enlightened to the separation that was created with God due to their current behavior that did not aligned with God’s demands based on this newly found treasure. However, King Josiah believed the Law and he acted faithfully with a repentant and humble heart. God responded to King Josiah by showing mercy on him due to his conviction.
How many times have I “lost” the Word of God? How many times have I ignored the commands on righteous living? Maybe I have gone days or weeks or more without picking up my Bible to read and to process His Word. I know there have been many times when I have followed my own desires rather than what God may be calling or directing me to do. In these times, I have lost my guide…or ignored it. But even after I have lived for myself and my selfish desires, when I have realized my sin and error, when I have humbled myself and sought the forgiveness of my Lord, He has responded. He has forgiven me. He has reminded me that I am His child and He will welcome me home. He will show mercy on me…on us…when we come to Him with a repentant heart and accept him as our Savior. Jesus died for our sins…all of our sins…no matter how big or small.
I was giddy when I found my t-shirt. But the giddiness that I felt in finding that small treasure is nothing compared to the joy I feel when I “find” the Word of God and His promises to us. Whether I have stepped away for a week, a day, or an hour, I am filled to overflowing. His Word has the power to show us a path to forgiveness through Christ, to provide us all with a guide to right-living, and to fill us with joy regardless of our circumstances.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: Please share your thoughts in the Comments Box!
- Have you ever found an item important to you that you did not realize you had lost?
- How did you feel when you found it?
- What treasures (or verses) have you “found” in the Bible that have spoken to you in such a way that you felt they were meant for you?
PRAYER: Abba, Father. Thank you for the reminder of how blessed we are to have Your Word at our fingertips. Your love letter to us is one of our most valued treasures. You have filled it with words of wisdom…to guide us, to nurture our spirits, to lead us to you when we are troubled, and to show us the path to forgiveness and eternity with you. Thank you, Jesus, for the sacrifice you made for our sins and the gift of Your precious Word that we find in the Bible. Amen.
Hugs & blessings,
Stacy
by Stacy Turley | Jul 1, 2022 | Life's Journey |
Hello, Sweet Circle of Friends. Last week, I was on my second Silent Retreat. It wasn’t at a conference center or hotel or hermitage. I found this little gem on AirBnB in December 2021. It has been my own little miracle from God. It is a tiny, little house that sits in a tiny, little, boutique town next to a not-so-tiny walking trail that stretches for miles and miles. The house has been completely gutted and remodeled, and it is chucked full of charm with all the personal touches from the owner, Randa. I LOVE the house and I LOVE times I have spent with God there.
Last week was no exception. I had 36 hours of silence and solitude to pray, read, walk the trails, and listen for God’s nudges. I rested and napped too! It was divine. During my time of silence and solitude, I am completely unplugged from the world. I have all electronics off…not just silent, but OFF. No TV…no radio…no phone…no computer…no kindle… no talking. You get the point. It was just me, my Bible, my favorite pen & journal, my study books (paper), the lovely outdoors and, most importantly, chatting with our loving God.
I felt God drawing me towards two topics last week. They were topics that came up during my recent sessions with my amazing counselor Kim. (Counseling is great, my Friends. I highly encourage it!) One of the topics was my need for deep friendships. We all need deep, friendships. People we can call up at any time because we lost our job or found an amazing deal at Target or feel guilty because we snapped at our kids or just need a shoulder to cry or laugh on and we don’t even know why.
I read and discovered some great nuggets on friendship during my time with God and the resources that I took with me. I wanted to share just a few of the nuggets with you.
The Company We Keep: In Search of Biblical Friendship by Jonathan Holmes
- “Adam needed community in order to better image the God who is community. He was created to pursue, develop, and maintain human relationships as an integral part of being made in the image of the triune God.” (page 20)
- “Biblical friendship is intended by God as an all-encompassing spiritual discipline that engages every aspect of who we are: how we think (cognition), feel (emotion), and act (volition).” (pages 31-32)
- “Biblical friendship is developed organically. It takes patience, commitment, and liberal applications of grace.” (page 61)
- “We need to live with a mindset that resists substituting technology for friendship or chitchat for conversation.” (page 67)
Time, patience and grace are so critical for deep friendships. In order to grow deeper in relationship with another person, it takes TIME together…face to face. Living life together and communicating from the deepest places of our hearts. This takes PATIENCE too in order to give each other space to share without our comments, judgements or advice. I am reminded that we have to be vulnerable to be authentic and real for the other person. We have to go into those conversations with the attitude that we will open up first. Once we do, the other person is likely to share her own personal experiences, both encouraging and challenging.
None of us are perfect. We all have flaws and wounds. When we only talk about the surface stuff or the good times, then we are not revealing who we really are. We are not fooling anyone! If anything, sharing only the good and avoiding the challenging may actually push others away rather than drawing them closer. We will also hurt our friends from time to time due to our flaws, imperfections, and past wounds. We will say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing. Rather than run away or write them off during the challenges, we need to offer GRACE and allow for communication, clarification and forgiveness to grow closer and move on together.
When we share from the personal and tender places of our hearts, the seeds for deeper friendships are planted in ripe soil to prepare for future growth. The time spent together and continued honest and open conversation will allow those seeds to grow and flourish. God created us for relationship. He wants us to experience the benefits and fulfilment of the bonds shared with others as well as Him in all forms just like His own bonds with His Son and Holy Spirit.
“A sweet friendship refreshes the soul.”
~ Proverbs 27: 9
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: Questions I am asking myself too!
- Who are your closest friends?
- Are you able to pore out your heart with them? Call them at anytime for even the smallest things?
- If not, why do you think that is?
- Challenge: Call a friend and set up a girls night out!
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for our friends. For the people we are able to share life together, grow closer to You together, and hold each other up when we are falling. We are stronger together, Lord, especially with you at the center. Help us remember to nourish these relationships with our time, patience, and grace towards one another. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Hugs & blessings,
Stacy
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