Reflections

Reflections is a weekly meme hosted by Kristin of A Simply Enchanted Life and Fizzy of Fizzy Pop Collection. Every Sunday we will dig deeper in our recent reads to explore the real-life lessons within the pages. Reading the book yourself is not necessary to participate. If you would like to host your own reflection, you’re welcome to copy and paste this introduction, with the link to our pages. You may use our current or prior reflections or come up with your own.

In ‘Words From the Heart‘ by Kathleen Fuller Noah Schlabach is a workaholic, building and maintaining his auctioneer business. However, he develops some health issues that affect his ability to work and force him to take some time away. Obviously, he struggled with this necessity as he was such a go-go-go person and had some trouble slowing down and finding a new balance in his life. A balance that included making more time for his faith and his Father as he navigated his new future. Do you have trouble “slowing down”? What are ways you take time to spend time with God?

For such a benign question this one is really tough. I mean there are the obvious answers that every person who even flirts with the idea of Christianity will pat down without batting an eyelash or twenty. Church, Bible, prayer. Faith is so much more than that however. Let’s be honest, I don’t regularly attend church, it’s people-y there. I get overflowed with people all week at work. People drain me. That doesn’t mean that I don’t find my own time and way to worship that is not 10:30 Sunday morning in my pew. Faith is also so much more than just reading the Bible. Yes, reading the Bible is admirable and is a vital part of learning and growing with God but it’s not just a task to mark off your daily to-do list. You have to read to absorb and then apply. Kinda like school, there’s doing homework and getting through and then there is real learning. Prayer is one of those things that is so very personal. There are those quick little help me find my keys or please don’t let me be late to work prayers but then there are the conversations with the Father that help you grow closer and build a stronger relationship. I mean I do those things, in my own way. But I also find myself more in tune with God through my books. I know, crazy idea for the book girl right? Here’s the thing, even when I am reading mainstream fiction (or even nonfiction!) I find myself finding parallels and ideas that relate back to my faith. I find myself digging deeper into who I am and in my relationships. God is a relationship. He’s not a deity, he’s not a judge and jury, he’s not an idea to talk about. Just like any other relationship, I have to invest myself into it in order to progress it. Not everyone’s way is the ‘right’ way. Bells, many people would consider me a heathen because Sunday morning is jammy time. It doesn’t mean that I don’t worship or believe or have faith and a relationship with Him. It just means that I find my own ways that work for us.

Your turn! What are ways that you take time to spend with God? Share in the comments below.