Books & Writing -- Short and Sweet

Today's post is short and sweet. I'm a writer who lives with chronic pain and disability. And this morning I woke up with my back screaming at me . . . for unknown reasons. So today is a med day, bed day--not a work day.

Though sometimes we need to fight our way through difficulties, I've also learned there are circumstances that require rest and a conscience free of guilt when we need down time. Today is one of those days. My body will not heal without care and I'm doing my best to help it along.

We can only do what is possible and let the rest go.

Take good care of yourselves!

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

PS So far I'm not doing so good and so I'm asking you for your prayers. Only three days until my daughter's wedding--gotta be there.

TOPIC OF THE DAY: Getting Enough Sleep?

There are a lot of Americans who are not getting enough sleep. I'm one of them. As long as I can remember, I've been a night owl. As a child, I'd lie awake at night with the house silent and dark, longing for sleep and knowing 6:30 AM would arrive too soon.

I read a news article today which stated that sleep deprivation is a global problem, and that those who are not getting enough zzz's are at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke. That makes me sit up and take notice.

I ask, "Why?" Why aren't we sleeping? There are people like me who have inner clocks that don't match the rest of the world but for many the root cause is something else. It may have something to do with lack of rest. We are a driven society. Too many of us refuse to take a break from work or from fulfilling an obligation we couldn't say no to.

Rest is not the same as sleep. It's a quieting of the soul, spirit and the heart. A place where we find serenity. The Bible says that even God rested and in Mark 6 Christ says to the apostles, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest a while." There are many mentions of rest in God's Word. It must be important.

There is a list of sleep remedies--exercise, healthy eating, pharmaceuticals, white noise, restful music, evening routines. . .the list goes on. There's nothing cynical about finding help for sleeplessness. I've used most of the "cures" listed. But I'd rather make a life change. How about you?

Do you have difficulty giving yourself permission to rest? I do. Society has convinced us that resting is the same as laziness. That's a lie--don't believe it. I'm not against hard work, in fact I do a lot of that. And allowing myself to rest doesn't come naturally. I'm doing my best to learn that it means taking good care of myself and that's okay. Becoming restful doesn't look the same for all of us. We need to find our own path toward restoration.

Stress is a huge deterrent. It steals serenity. It's a powerful thief that sneaks up on us disguised as important obligations, work that can't wait, desire for possessions or status. The list is long and varied.

So, how do we destress? Smile. Laugh. Learn to say, "No." Make time for fun. Get outdoors. Spend time with friends and family. Watch a movie or attend a concert. Read a book. And we need to get our noses out of our computers . . . at least more often. And don't forget to spend time with God. He created us for His pleasure. Enjoy His creation. One of my favorite things to do is to launch a boat in a high mountain lake and float lazily on the shimmering waters on a warm summer day with a fishing line in the water. It doesn't matter if I catch a fish.

Taking good care of ourselves is the best thing we can do for others. When we're healthy and happy we become a balm to the people around us.

I've shared some of my favorite ways to rest, what are some of yours? How do you rebuiild your energy and joy?

Grace and peace to you,

Bonnie

Tips For Triumphant Living -- Left Waiting?

Do you have someone in your life that you've been praying for, but there seems to be no change, no leaning toward the Lord? Is there a need in your life that's gone unanswered in spite of fervent prayer? Or an affliction that perseveres although you groan with the longing for release? Perhaps you've prayed for a situation for years and received no indication of change.

It's likely we've all been in this place. When prayers go unanswered, or seemingly so, it may feel as if God doesn't hear or doesn't care. Of course if we believe God's Word to be true, we know He always cares and always knows. So, what should we do when we are left waiting?

God's Word tells us to persevere, to push on, to run the race . . . to believe. In 2nd Corinthians 5:7 it says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

If we're to rely fully on God we must choose to do so. In the midst of a storm or confusion our only hope is to fix our eyes on Him. When we do, our faith is strengthened and we will be able to stand and to wait. Faith almost always requires waiting. We need to remember that God can move mountains. We can rely upon Him.

If my heart and mind are set upon the Lord then my hope is in Him. I can believe and trust. The kind of strength that brings about change comes from God not from man's fragile unsteady self reliance.

Believe. Trust in God, not in circumstances. Be strong in the Lord. He hears our cry and will not turn away from us. Never give up hope. And if God's answer is not the one we expect trust all the more. Rest in his will, for He sees the beginning and the end. And it is in His loving arms that we will find peace.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie

Tips for Triumphant Living -- Rest

My blog’s been kind of quiet lately. I’ve been trying to rest. Recently, life has felt like a blast from a summer storm, and I've been knocked off feet, so to speak. And so, I’ve been doing my best to not push too hard.

Our society seems to have an epidemic of “burn out”. Too many of us are working too many hours, and when life throws hard balls at us we lack the energy to make the catch. That’s where I’ve been. So, I’m trying to listen to my spiritual and physical needs and give myself permission to rest. After all even God rested. I think His resting on the seventh day was a way of making a point. We need to stop and take time to refresh, and enjoy the moments of splendor God offers. We miss so many of His gifts because we’re in too big a hurry to see them.

It’s not easy to put on the brakes and slow down, especially when we're used to flying through life at full tilt. So, the question for many of us may be, “How do I rest? What does that look like for me?”

Think about what makes you feel calm. What do you do that quiets the uproar of the world? Some of us enjoy gardening. Others thrive when hiking forest trails or strolling along an ocean beach. My husband enjoys woodworking. I love to fish a mountain lake, read or watch an old movie or just sit on my deck and enjoy the sounds and sights of the forest. Whatever it is that soothes you, make time to do it. It’s important.

Don’t forget your family, your spouse and your Lord. Listen to the words of wisdom and love they offer. You may be reminded of how blessed you are.

My mother came to visit at Thanksgiving, and she is the most grateful person I know. She’s eighty-four and dealing with pain and declining health, but she remains constantly aware of her blessings and often vocalizes her gratitude. Her thankful heart is a good reminder for me.

As we move through this busy time, remember Matthew 11:28, which says, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie