Take a few moments to write seven short sentences. See what you can accomplish in one brief paragraph. I’m serious! Stop reading this, and go find some scrap paper and a faithful sharpie. I’ll be here when you get back. In fact, I’ll do this with you:
1] Today was a my-blessings-are-obvious kind of day!
2] I got to sleep in until 6am!
3] Erika and I grabbed coffee @ Espressso earlier and got to read our Bibles for a little bit.
4] Lynnae called!
5] Jeremy told me a cool story at work about how he prayed and God answered.
6] The road trip to training camp is less abstract than it was earlier this week.
7] I’m on sentence number seven already…shoot!
Okay, so my sentences don’t even BEGIN to make a complete story…I know. My bad, all. My bad. If I permitted myself 15 or so, I could probably do this– and defeat the purpose of this post. I’m reading the book of Mark in my quiet time this week. Gospel books seem to really fill me up when i’m feeling restless! With graduation quickly approaching, the race just around the corner, and finals week…i’m a “little” restless! With studying, homework, letters to mail out, emails to send, meetings to attend, calls to make, Bible study, Nava Java, and a part-time job…I seem to be a little crunched for time these days. Being a lover of words, I used to think this was a bad thing: Busy Leslie=less time to talk to people=less words. I love words. I love reading them. I love writing them. I love speaking. I love listening. I love communication. Is that weird? Lately, God has been teaching me how to be
“A man of few words”…only with a little more estrogen. 🙂
Mark 10.46-52— a good example of this for me. Go figure–the things God has me read in His word are the things that apply immediately to my life. Who saw that one coming? (Bueller? …Bueller?) Anyway…I’m learning that it’s often difficult for me to say all that I want/need to say in a shorter amount of time than i’m used to having. I’m deciphering between what is essential and what is “extra”. Father God, will you show me how to use the little time I have to say a lot? I read Mark 10 earlier…in LESS THAN SEVEN SENTENCES, God sets up a COMPLETE story! We’ve got:
- A Location: Roadside in Jericho
- Main Characters: Bartimaeus and Jesus
- Physical descriptions of characters: blind man, beggar
- Action: Shouting and pleading!
- A hero: JESUS!
- A problem: Bart=blind
- A solution: Bart’s faith in Christ’s power=healing!
- A happy ending: Bart follows Jesus…litteraly 🙂
God wrote an ENTIRE story (with all the trimmings) in SEVEN sentences! If God can do that, surely I can handle cutting down on my talk/listen time with others without compomising my message! (Right!?)
Father,
Sometimes you use many words. Other times you don’t. Right now You are showing me how to say a lot with few words. God, this is hard for me! I don’t want to compromise your message, but I don’t want to waste my (our) time, either. You have given me just enough time to hear what I need to hear, and to say what needs to be said. Your timing is perfect, Father. And, as usual, it’s taking me time to adjust to your schedule as I learn to drop my own. You and me, God. Those are the only three words I need right now: “You and me”. And they will always be enough, no matter how much time you give me (or don’t give me) to say them. I long for you, Lord. And I’m listening.
Sometimes you use many words. Other times you don’t. Right now You are showing me how to say a lot with few words. God, this is hard for me! I don’t want to compromise your message, but I don’t want to waste my (our) time, either. You have given me just enough time to hear what I need to hear, and to say what needs to be said. Your timing is perfect, Father. And, as usual, it’s taking me time to adjust to your schedule as I learn to drop my own. You and me, God. Those are the only three words I need right now: “You and me”. And they will always be enough, no matter how much time you give me (or don’t give me) to say them. I long for you, Lord. And I’m listening.
Amen.
