The Power of Surrender

"No life is more secure than a life surrendered to God." Our Daily Bread

Over the course of summer I made a conscious effort to live more in the moment instead of always focusing on the outcome. Too often we treat life as though it were a highlight reel of coming attractions or an episode of our favorite tv show with a preview of what's to come instead of trusting an unknown future to a known God. (Corrie Ten Boom).  

About two years ago I found the Morning Prayer of the Optina Elders tucked away in my Bible. I've started my day with it ever since then. In recent months this prayer has become more of a prayer of surrender for me than anything else. When I'm intentional about surrendering my will to God I can live moment to moment knowing that His grace is sufficient for whatever I may face. 

The Morning Prayer of the Last Optina Elders

O Lord, grant that I may meet all that this coming day brings to me with spiritual tranquility. Grant that I may fully surrender myself to Thy holy will. 

At every hour of this day, direct and support me in all things. Whatsoever news may reach me in the course of the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and the firm conviction that all is subject to Thy holy Will.

Direct my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions. In all unexpected occurrences, do not let me forget that all is sent down from Thee.

Grant that I may deal straightforwardly and wisely with every member of my family, neither embarrassing nor saddening anyone. 

O Lord, grant me the strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events that take place during it. Direct my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive, and to love. Amen.

Sitting at His feet,
Valarie

Wired for Worship

Photo by Mary Ann Morgan

"And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him...make us gods, which shall go before us..."

Exodus 32:1

How often are we like the children of Israel? When God doesn't show up in the timing or manner that we expect, how quick are we to chase after and worship other gods? We listen and we watch for a loud clap of thunder when He often shows up in that still, small voice.

When we praise and worship the one, true God, we invite His presence into our lives. God inhabits the praise of His people! No earthly worship experience will give you the joy and the peace you get when you worship God.

He may not show up when you want Him to but He's always on time! Until He does, keep praising and worshiping Him because He alone is worthy!

Sitting at His feet,
Valarie

When Life Doesn't Go According to Plan

Photo by Beckaroonie

I was travelling from Santa Fe to Taos, New Mexico. There's a particularly scenic stretch of highway with a very steep mountain slope on one side. A mesh-like fence had been erected at the base of this slope. A friend explained to me that some years before a man and his wife were driving to Taos along that same stretch of highway when a rock came crashing through the passenger side window inuring the wife. She was left permanently disabled. Her husband, who owned a successful plumbing business, was forced to retire in order to care to for her. 

We've all heard the saying, "Tomorrow is not a guarantee". In truth, how likely are we to trust God with our tomorrows which can neither be seen nor felt? How likely are we to trust Him when life doesn't go according to plan? Can we trust Him when the career that we banked our future on ends suddenly due to injury? Can we trust him when that much anticipated job offer never comes through?

Can we trust him when we hear the words Autism or Down syndrome?

Let's face it. Uncertainty is a scary, uncomfortable feeling; but we really can trust an unknown future to a known God (Corrie Ten Boom). He who created the sun, the moon, and the stars hold all of our yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows in the palm of His hand.

Sitting at His feet,
Valarie

Rest

Photo by Indy Kethdy

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

Rest has been a recurring theme for me this week. When we think of rest we usually think of it in terms of physical rest but there's also the much needed rest for our souls. 

Over the course of summer I found myself going through an unusually difficult time. While I experienced the peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), there came a point during the month of August where I began to feel as if my brain had been kicked into overdrive. I couldn't wait to turn the page to September because I knew that with crisp temperatures and changing colors, there would also be change in the seasons of life as well. 

As I flipped the page on my (in)courage perpetual calendar this morning, I was struck by this passage from Angie Smith:

"I'm going to give myself permission to rest today. 

To soak in all that Jesus has set in front of me, without allowing myself to wonder

what He hasn't."

Christ never promised that there wouldn't be days without adversity; but when we acknowledge the sovereignty of God over every situation, we can find peace in the midst of any storm.

Sitting at His feet,
Valarie

Simply Tuesday

Rarely do I find a book so enjoyable that I read it cover to cover twice but such is the case for the second time in a row with Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World by Emily Freeman. 

To give you an idea of why I'm reading it for a second time, here is just some of the reviews that have come in for Simply Tuesday:

"This book is like a deep breath for my soul." Ellie Holcomb

"We live in a time where we are led to believe that everything bigger is better and something in my soul has been telling me for a while now that isn't necessarily the case. That's why I'm so thankful for Emily Freeman's new book, Simply Tuesday." Rachel Macy Stafford

"It's simply Tuesday, an ordinary day filled with beautiful, breathtaking moments I missed, until Emily Freeman taught me how to see...through small-moment living, my hurried heart is learning how to slow down and savor." Renee Swope 

"Simply Tuesday could move you toward the settled rest that Jesus provides." Dr. Larry Cobb

"What if God takes great delight in the simple acts of bench-sitting and gate-opening and being kind to our next door neighbor? What if the kingdom of God is built on tiny, little gestures on simple days like Tuesday?" Deidre Riggs

"Emily Freeman is a writer after my own heart. She's not afraid to be quiet, to move at a leisurely pace, and to think probably a little too hard about things. She believes that meaning and delight and revelation are found in the small moments. Her writing will slow you down, help your soul exhale, and show you that Tuesday, and every ordinary day, is full of magic." Adam S. McHugh

"Many of us are living at an unhealthy pace. We run from one task to another to another. We end up skimming the surface of life. This book challenges us to be present in the moments that we find ourselves in, and to live at depth with others." Dave Runyon 

Simply Tuesday is on sale now!

Sitting at His feet,

Valarie

Your Theme Song

I was watching UFC Sunday night and found myself fascinated by the whole walk-out process. Each fighter has a theme song played as they make their way from the locker room to the octagon, pumped up, surrounded by very stoic looking security personnel, coaches, trainers....their entourage. It got me to wondering...

Whether you're walking into a season of destiny and purpose or out of a season of hardship, what would your theme song be? Would it be something inspirational like the theme from Rocky? Would it be something whimsical like Tiptoe Through The Tulips? Would it be Gloria Gaynor's anthem about surviving a broken heart, I Will Survive?

I'd love to hear your thoughts....

Want to know what my walk-out song is? Stay tuned...

Sitting at His feet,

Valarie

Tuesday People

"Sit on a bench, count the stars, and let your soul breathe."

Emily Freeman

Who are Tuesday people? Well, there are many ways to describe a Tuesday person but I'll start with just one. Tuesday people are grateful people. Tuesday people find a rainbow hidden in every cloud. Tuesday people find blessings in the things others take for granted. 

To a Tuesday person, a traffic jam is an opportunity to give thanks for the gift of transportation.

To a Tuesday person, having to stand in line at the grocery store means there is food to eat. 

Tuesday people are grateful for the line at the bank because it means there's a paycheck to deposit. 

A Tuesday person is grateful for an invitation to sit on the bench and just be. A Tuesday person is also grateful to extend that same invitation to someone and say that it's okay to just be still and know...

A Tuesday person doesn't worry about what's left on the to-do list because His grace is sufficient...

Simply Tuesday

On Sale Today!

"Is your soul held hostage by hustle? If you've grown weary of do more and dream bigger, small moment living is just what you need. Real life happens in the small moments we find on the most ordinary day of the week." Emily Freeman

Sitting at His feet,
Valarie