Monday, November 29, 2010

Start slow and go slower...

Picture taken by Martha Brown


As I was looking at this picture a little closer along with the comment from the friend who took the picture saying, "Love how the snow makes "stars" on the tree!" In all honesty I'd never really seen the stars before, nor had I even thought to look at them as stars before this picture along with her comment. But yes, I now do see the stars on this tree, and I think they are simply beautiful! I can't look at it enough now that I see them...

As I was reading my devotional yesterday in a new book, my friend Charlotte, just gave me called, 'One year devotional, Worship the King,' it made some very good points about how to get out of a rut. As many of us are aware, for one reason or another, the Holidays can be a very sad and lonely time for many people, a rut some have been in for years. I lost my dad December 23rd, 2009...I am feeling that valley sneaking up on me.


"There is only one way to get out of a rut or that valley and that is to establish genuine praise of the Father, the son and the Holy spirit as a daily experience." ~ Worship the King

Psalm 145 is a wonderful place to start. It mentions the urge to worship daily. We need to read it daily, slowly, thoughtfully, worshipfully. We need to be careful not to let it become a stale routine, only a treasured habit.

I tend to carry around a full plate and often find myself hurrying through a lot of things, just like that picture above, a quick glance and I was on my way. If someone hadn't taken the time to direct my eyes toward the star I would have missed it

I tend to find myself drawn to people and things that reach in and force me to slow down a little bit. I find that when I allow this process to happen I feel blessed, cleansed a little lighter and even enlightened.



Last night as I was going through, reading and rereading, Psalm 145 I grabbed a couple index cards and went through the Chapter and jotted down some words and looked them up and wrote the definitions down on my cards. I then took those cards and went through and reread the verses again, verse by verse.

Psalm 145:1 I will extol Thee, my God, O king; And I will bless Thy name forever.

Extol - Praise enthusiastically!

I don't know about you but I don't use the word extol a lot in my everyday conversations. I know what it means but it is a word I may quickly read over along with a lot of other words in the bible, even everyday common words.

This is just one verse and one word but you get the idea.

This process helped slow me down a little and really take in the verses and my heart and soul was so refreshed!

"The exaltation of the King is always to be enjoyed." ~ Worship the King


Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised; And His Greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:3

Unsearchable: unable to be clearly understood
Highly: high degree

Let us start out slow and go slower. We were created to overflow with worship of the King.

I choose to slow down and let Him pull me out of my rut this Holiday season.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.
The Lord keeps all who love Him; But all the wicked, He will destroy
Psalm 145:19-20

Fulfilled: satisfied or happy because of fully developing their character or abilities
Wicked: evil or morally wrong

I encourage everyone to dip deep into that ever living well and splash His ever loving word all over you, daily, slowly, thoughtfully, worshipfully!

"Our pain has us ready for a revelation of His comfort." ~ Worship the King

~enjoy


3 comments:

Kristens Creations said...

hi Christine, I had to laugh at your comment! I know what you mean...that house is unbelievable!

Loved this post...that's exactly what I need to do. Slow Down!


Kristen

Sonja @ Craft-Werk said...

Hey Christine, thanks for leaving a comment on my leaf rose wreath! And thanks for including me in your blogroll *smiles*. Greetings from snowy Dublin to snowy Seattle!

Kathleen said...

Hey Chris<3 Love your post today! And the Stars are just beautiful..! I did see them at first glance...Have a Great Day..!