Many of us live very busy lives. We go from one thing to the next without taking a break. Sometimes it’s keeping up with our kids: going from work to soccer practice, grabbing drive-through food, cleaning up once we get home, then helping with homework till it’s bedtime and start all over again the next day. For others, it’s working through our lunch break, eating at our desks, running to do errands, and staying late because everything on our list is urgent and needs to be done yesterday. Unfortunately, this describes too many of us.

As I sit here writing this article (multi-tasking a few other things as I do), I am drawn to the space between this paragraph and the previous one. What is it? It’s that white space that my cursor makes when I hit the “return” key. Space…there’s nothing there. It’s empty. Wow. Wouldn’t I like to put some “spacing” in my life? Jesus did.

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” —Mark 6:31

We all need rest, and I’m not just talking about sleeping at night. As an old adage says, “We need to come apart before we come apart.” Studies have shown that this constant going and going leads to more stress and health problems. I’ve even heard conversations where there was a little competition as to who had the most stress on them, like it was a badge to wear, as if busyness was a sign of Godliness. It’s like we’re saying, “God, see how hard I’m working for Your Kingdom?” Performing. Striving. Warring….hit the return key.

That’s it. Double-space your life. If Jesus Himself needed to take time every now and then to quiet Himself and get some rest, then who do I think I am to not need this? Hit the return key again.

Just the other day this verse came to my mind: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength,” Isaiah 30:15. Look at all those nouns – returning, rest, quietness, trust, strength – great words! Words I want in my life!

Okay, that does it. I choose to hit the return key throughout my day, to take some time to breathe deeply, feel the sunshine on my face, and calm my soul. I want to put all my tasks and “to do lists” on the side, just for a little while. I want to live a double-spaced life.

I was reading in the book of Numbers, this week, about the story of the twelve spies who went in to check out the Promised Land. This land was a place that God had said the Israelites would live after they had left Egypt. They would drive the inhabitants out, take over, divide the land between the families, and establish themselves homes. The twelve spies were sent to see exactly what was in the land and who they were up against.

To condense the account, out of the twelve men who observed the land, ten of them came back with negative reports. All they could talk about was how huge the people were and how they, the Israelites, would never be able to win a war with those giants and take their lands. The ten reported there were good fruits and farmlands, but in an, “oh, by the way” manner, still conceding there would be no way to oust the inhabitants to get the benefits.

The other two men, Joshua and Caleb, were optimistic. They brought back glowing reports of how awesome the land was—how sweet the fruits were and how rich the soil was for crops.  They concurred that there were giants living there, but because God had given the land to the Israelites, even promised it to them, they could easily remove these beastly people.

What a difference in perception from these two groups. The first focused on the “now,” the second on the “not yet.” The now’s view included huge challenges to overcome and overwhelmingly impossible obstacles to face, but the not yet perceived a successful future of peace and prosperity.

How do we perceive our circumstances? Do we notice only the negatives, the insurmountable odds against us, or do we look beyond those hindrances and see what could be? It’s true we have to live in the now on a daily basis, but let’s put our faith in God, like Joshua and Caleb did, and believe for something better—the not yet.

I love maps. I really do—especially world maps. What I like about them is being able to see the big picture, the entire world at one time, and how things relate to one another. On a map, I can look and see how far away Cuba is fromFlorida. I can look at Colorado and see how far away the Rocky Mountains are from the Smokey Mountains. Robert was just in India last week, and I can determine from a map that he was totally on the opposite side of the world from me. Maps help me put things in perspective as to where I am.

There are times when I wish I could see the map of my whole life, from beginning to end, pinned up on a wall, but I can’t. However, I do know Someone who can—Father God. He knows all about me, when I was born and when I will die; everything that has happened in the past, and all that will happen in the future.  As the song goes, “He’s got the whole world in His hands,” and since I’m on that world, I’m in His hands.

God knows every little thing about me. For some people, this causes fear, as if He’s a “big brother” surveillance camera, waiting to catch them doing something wrong. For me it brings peace. It causes me to be at rest knowing that this world is not just some freak happenstance, and my life isn’t some chaotic randomness of time and events. No, I believe God has a map of my existence, where He can guide and direct me daily. He knows where I am in relation to everything around me, and He has a plan. Jeremiah 29:11—“I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster; plans to give you a future filled with hope.” Now that’s a good perspective. I really love maps.

The other night I was helping my son study for a vocabulary test, and I have to admit, there were some words on the list that I didn’t know. But one which I did know was idiosyncrasy. What a great word. Isn’t it fun just to say it? It has a unique feel about it. I feel different just for saying it. The definition of it, according to dictionary.com, is “a characteristic, habit, mannerism, or the like, that is peculiar to an individual.” Hmm…I know a verse that mentions the word “peculiar,” 1 Peter 2:9—“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people…”

It is so interesting to see how diversified we all are. Each one of us has certain quirks and tell-tale signs that identify us. We have different likes and dislikes. We have our own marked style of how we talk, how we walk, how we dress, and how we eat. For example, take eating Oreo cookies. You will find multiple modes of what some say are the “right” way to do this. I know within my family there are at least three “best” procedures to eat them, and they all must include milk. However, the fact is, there is no right or wrong method, just your own.

One of my idiosyncrasies is how I put my shoes and socks on always left foot first. The order has to be left sock, left shoe, right sock, right shoe. I do not know why I do this, but I do. Just like I have always put my left earring on first before my right, and wear my watch on my right wrist instead of my left. I have some peculiar habits that make me who I am and not someone else.

God delights in our individuality. He created us in His image (Gen. 1:26), yet has given each one of us our own characteristics, distinguishing us one from another. We all develop unique habits and mannerisms that pertain solely to us, making us peculiar people. We are supposed to be diverse. Revel and enjoy your idiosyncrasies. You are special.

Isn’t it interesting that we can start out with one plan and it gets drastically changed to another in a matter of moments? Just think of Mary and Joseph. I would presume the original plan was to go Bethlehem, take the census, visit some friends and family, and then return home. Having their baby boy born in a smelly stable was probably not on that script, yet it happened. Imagine Mary’s thoughts-God had done so many supernatural things from angelicvisitations, the prophecy from Elisabeth, and supernatural conception, and yet He did not provide a room for her in Bethlehem. But she continued to trust. Things sometimes just don’t work out as we plan.

Many times we get frustrated, angry, even depressed when our plans go awry, but God knows the end of a thing before the beginning (Isa.48:5). Mary and Joseph had no idea of the unforeseen ramifications from the birth of their son, the shepherds coming, or any of the other unusual events that later took place. We too, have no idea what the future holds or the understanding of the reasons why we are forced to experience certain things in our lives.  However, Father God does, and He uses all things for our good (Rom. 8:28) to shape us into the person that can fulfill the unique calling and destiny He has for each one of us.

So “Merry Christmas to all,” I say, as I sit back and enjoy my cup of tea, relishing the smells of pine and terra firma. Whatever God has in store for you this season, it is going to be good-unexpected maybe, but good.

Jesus came out of the house and sat down on the seashore. Interesting—I like to go down and sit on the seashore. Hmm…Jesus likes to do some of the same things I like to do. Here’s the neat thing about the simplicity of the gospel—He is with me—Immanuel, God with us. It’s just He and I sitting on the beach. There has been many times where I have walked along the beach and could feel almost a tangible presence of the Lord. Hebrews 13:5 tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. This has always been one of my favorite verses ever since I was a young girl. It was very comforting to me knowing that He was with me at all times. Maybe that’s why I really liked the verse about Jesus sitting beside the sea. On the surface, it’s nothing profound, yet it speaks to me that whatever I’m doing and wherever I am, He’s there with me. I don’t have to feel alone in this world.

So on those mornings when I get up early and go watch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, I know that He is watching it with me. I also have a feeling that He likes to sit in those tall lifeguard chairs too, just like me.

2 Timothy 2:3, 4 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

1 Corinthians 3:14, 15 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

The US is perhaps one of the more difficult places in the world to be a Christian. When times are good it is difficult not to focus on the good life, the American dream. There is so much pressure from media, peers, and even some preaching, to save for a good retirement, to take nice vacations, to live in nice homes and drive nice cars. We want the best for our kids and try to get them on the right sports teams and into the right colleges. All these things are not necessarily bad as long as they do not replace the main thing.

If I lay up treasure in heaven, no one can take that away from me. If I seek to grow in spiritual authority, the government can take my house, even throw me in jail—yet I can lead the guy in the next cell to the Lord. Perhaps some of the fear we are experiencing in this time of economic crisis is rooted in too much focus on the temporal and not enough on the eternal.

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

                Have you been “dissed” lately? You know-disappointed, disillusioned, discouraged, or disheartened? These days there are many reasons to be described by such large vocabulary words; but for me, on a personal level, I’ve gotten discouraged with my running.

                In March, I ran a great 15K race. I ran great, felt great, finished great, everything was great. I rested for a week, and then went back to running again. I knew better than to keep the same pace and level of running that I had been at, so I tried to ease back in slowly. But after just a few weeks, I hit this wall of pain. It seemed like my legs were sore all over. At night, they’d be hurting when I went to bed. In the morning, they were hurting when I woke up. All day, every muscle seemed to be in some sort of pain.

                I tried running through the achiness, thinking, once I got warmed up, the pain would go away. This worked for several runs, but finally the day came where I ran for only two miles and the agony was too much. My running form was suffering badly and I had to completely stop. I had been in anguish when I’d started, and I almost collapsed when I had finished. It was time to cease from running for a while and rest my body. How discouraging! I’d gotten bit by the running bug and almost felt addicted. (You runners understand, don’t you?) And now I had to stop. I was so disappointed.

                So the Lord brought me to the verses about the children of Israel going in to their promised land. When the Israelites left Egypt to go to the land God had promised them, they ran into one obstacle after another during their travels-the Red Sea, no water, multiple enemies in the land they would have to expel out, just to name a few. It was a long journey and scriptures record that “the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way” (Numbers 21:4).

                This was how I felt about running. In some ways, we all can get discouraged or dismayed by things that happen in our lives. Jesus even warned us that this was a normal part of living. “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows,” He said (John 16:33); but later, in this same verse, He states that He has overcome the world, and all the disappointment it brings.  

                And not only has He prevailed over those “disses”, but He has made us winners and conquerors too. Paul wrote, “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ” (Romans 8:37). Now we’re talking some encouragement here! No matter what obstacles I’m faced with-a job loss, a health problem, a financial crisis-God has promised to bring me to success. Sometimes that may mean I need to stop and rest for a while-to convalesce in His love and be strengthened-before I can “hit the pavement” again, but victory is attainable.   

                I know this is true because I started running again this week. I’m taking it slow and not very far, but at least I’m running. Over this last week I’ve gotten rested, rejuvenated, revived, and reinvigorated. It is so much better than being “dissed.”

               As I walked on the beach with my bare feet on the soft sand, enjoying the warm sunshine of spring in Florida, I could feel my body slide into a more relaxed mode and my spirit lift within me. Just the sound of waves crashing on the shore and seagulls crying made me forget, at least for a little while, about all of the challenges around me right now. The stress seemed to whiff off my shoulders with the cool gentle breeze that was blowing. My favorite places to be are always out in nature. I feel much more at peace with the world and much closer to the Lord there.

                My husband and son have dubbed me an “outside mom”, as opposed to an “inside mom”, because I prefer to be outdoors rather than indoors. Even when I have visited up north in the wintertime, I can’t help but want to take a walk in the snow, knocking down icicles off of trees and stomping on frozen places on the sidewalk. For me, when I’m outside in nature, I feel refreshed, revitalized, and rejuvenated.

                Nature has the capability to help us relax and get refreshed because it feeds our spirit, it nurtures us. Its natural state tends to bring us back to our natural state-at peace with God. In Mark 6:31, Jesus tells His disciples to “come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while.” So should we, yet, in the hurried lives we live in, it’s sometimes hard to find a lonely place-a quiet, solitary place to calm our spirits and regroup.  But finding this place is the very thing that will strengthen us to continue at our daily pace. God wants us to have peace in the midst of the chaos around us (John 14:27), and hope when there seems to be no hope (Romans 15:13). Communing with God is the path that leads to peace, joy, and hope; He has those qualities to impart to us. Nature, to me, is like God’s backyard; it’s His creation. When I’m out in nature, I’m with Him. Whether it’s a waterfall, a butterfly, a rose, or the ocean, I can see His incredible design and handiwork in all of them. And as I see His handiwork, I feel His presence-His Spirit touching mine. When I take the time to find a solitary place, I get rested and de-stressed.

                The Psalms have numerous references to nature, reflecting His glory, His majesty, His presence. “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people,” reads Psalm 125:2.  If things are pretty stressful around you, maybe you need some communion with God-to go away by yourself and rest a while. Go for a walk on the beach, sit on a park bench, find a quiet place outside or with whatever nature is close to you, and feed your spirit.

This has been a real hectic week. It seems like I never have enough time in the day to finish all the things that need to be done. Ever been there? I just keep moving what didn’t get done one day to the next, then that day gets overloaded where things don’t get done, and so on and so on. But for some reason this week I was being overly frustrated with all my unfinished jobs; it just felt like I was living with an angry edge all the time. Traffic was always going too slow, the bank tellers were taking too long, the printer freaked out on me and I couldn’t seem to figure out how to do a stupid report on QuickBooks!

So during my quiet time one morning (that I’m trying to rush through so I can get to all the other stuff that needs to be done!), I was led to 1 Cor. 14:33-”For God is not the author of unquietness, but of peace”. Boy, is that what I’ve been living in-unquietness! Both my body and soul have been tumultuous, not sleeping well, irritable and constantly trying to play “catch-up” every day. But God is the author of peace and quietness this verse says. Well, obviously there was a different author of the “book” I was reading this week!

In meditating on this verse a little I recalled another verse. In Isaiah 30:15 it says, “In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength“.  There’s that quietness word again. And I could sure use some strength too. So what was the Lord trying to show me? When I’m in the press, those super stressful times when all of life is rubbing me the wrong way, I need to return to Him and rest. To sit down in Father God’s lap and just lean on Him for a bit and recharge. I won’t be able to handle all the things thrown at me every day if I cannot quiet my soul. Without inner peace, I have no outer strength.