What we do with our time

Dear blogging friends,

I was blessed with an opportunity to hear a super dynamic woman of God yesterday. One of my good friends at work was hosting this woman in her home. Patty Scheneier was in town to speak at a conference for student leaders at one of our local Catholic parishes. Now, if you are not Catholic, that does not mean you can skip this post. I am not Catholic but I did tag along with my friend during the lunch hour and was absolutely amazed with how devoted Patty is to giving her time to the service of God. I think she has a lot to say to women of ALL faiths.

Here are some of the highlights that I was able to bring away with me:

"I don't have time for this!"
How many of us have said and still say that. We are all super busy. (Side note to the moms of this world...I do NOT know how you do it. I am scrambling to get myself out the door in the mornings much less dragging kids out of bed, making lunches, signing homework, finding missing shoes, strapping them in the car, ...etc... My hat is off to you!!!) That being said, here is how Patty squeezes it in. She sings hymns while she irons, she uses her carpool time to discuss scripture with her children, she TRIES to start her day with 15 minutes alone with God and yes...that means getting up 15 minutes earlier. My favorite suggestion was using our "waiting" time. While standing in line at the pharmacy, she prays for all the mothers who are waiting for a sick child to heal, for all of the unwed mothers who are waiting for their babies to arrive and the uncertainty they will face, she prays for all of those who sit by the bedside of a dying parent who are waiting for the end and are torn between the joy of that loved one being with Christ and the sorrow of not having them anymore.

"I want to hear God's voice and see God's face!"
Patty provided several examples of how merely immersing herself in His word that she finds the answers she is seeking. She instructed us to find a daily instructional book that provides suggested scriptural readings and poses questions we can then expand upon in a daily journal. By reading His word and journaling her thoughts, intentions, requests, agonies, she discovered that God does speak to her...and she HEARS Him!!! There are a lot of times that God is talking to us and we are so busy running about trying to solve this and that we cannot even see Him waving his arms at us wildly trying to get us to stop and be still. It is our business that drowns out his voice. We cannot possibly hear Him if we are too busy to read His word.

We need to turn off the music, turn off the TV, close the door, shut out the world, sit still and be with the Lord. Once you have invited Him into your heart, He came in and sat down. He is your guest and He is waiting for you to stop being busy and just sit with Him, talk with Him, pray with Him, sing with Him...just be with Him.

On my way to work this morning, I did not listen to my favorite c-w tunes. As I walked out the door, I popped my head in my living room and asked Christ to "come along with me." He got in my car with me and we sang hymns on the way to work. I prayed (and I mean truly prayed) for a good friend who is losing her father to cancer. I prayed deeply for someone who is longing for a baby. I prayed for a friend who needs a healing touch in her marriage. I prayed for a friend's daughter in college about to get her Ph.D. but the bills are tight and she is facing struggles as she pursues this degree. I prayed for my own marriage which could use a healing touch. (Note to readers, all prayers were said with eyes open!!! I was watching the road - remember I did have a copilot also.) Further, I said my prayers ALOUD. I did not worry about the folks in cars next to me...I am going to assume they thought I was singing with the radio. I can tell you that I arrived in a much more peaceful state of mind and no, I did not leave Christ in the car. I asked Him to come inside with me. I have felt a true difference today because of that. (I hope I remember to take Him back home with me!)

Today's scripture: “Be still and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10

Friends, please ask Christ to be your friend...He is just waiting to help you.

If you want to know more about Patty Schneier...visit her at:  http://www.pattyschneier.com/

Love, Kerry