searching

I've been blogging since Dec '06, and it's been more rewarding than I'd ever expected. When I started, I thought I'd write a few things and my family and close friends might read it, but I never thought anyone from another country would read what I'd typed. That is, until I put the Sitemeter on my page and found out they were reading what I'd written!

I am curious enough, or vain enough, to want to know where my readers are located. Sitemeter gives me lots of information, but no names, etc. It just lets me know where in the world my readers are. I love that those close to me are reading, but I have been constantly amazed that people all over the world are reading my blog.

Granted, there aren't a bunch of them, but over the last four years I have had readers in England, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, and Thailand, as well as, Africa, Canada, Poland and New Zealand. Just in the last four WEEKS I have had readers in New Dehli, India, Phillipines, Turkey, Netherlands, Australia and New York City!

As far as I can tell, I don't personally know these readers, but EVERY ONE of them has one thing in common, and it's not that they love reading my blog because I'm famous the world over for my wit and wisdom. The common thread is that each one of them has searched Google for "peace of mind and heart, " or "how to find peace of mind and heart."

People the world over are shaken by the events of the day. There are floods, earthquakes, riots, financial ruin, catastrophic disease, and private emotional wars raging every moment of the day. Women and men are searching for what is lacking in their lives--stability, a firm foundation--protection in the midst of turmoil. Of course, we all want the storm, whichever one it is, to end, but we crave peace in the middle of what's raging, even more! We all do.

What did they find when they checked out my blog? Well, I have one post entitled "peace of mind and heart," dated January 16, 2008, and the first paragraph is,

John 14:27 "I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid. "

How like our loving Lord to send one troubled person here, another devastated person there, to the website of a small town, southern woman, where the first words of her post are His words of true comfort and security. Only He knows what that person is struggling with or going through. Only He can DO anything about her, or his, life struggles and troubles. The Lord promises us that when we seek Him we will find Him.

Peace of mind and heart. Peace--of mind. Peace--of heart. The Lord longs to give us what we so desperately need, so much so, that he directs a young Thai student, a Swedish mom of three kids, a middle-aged Phillipino teacher, or a Turkish shopkeeper to His Word of life typed in a blog from thousands of miles away. Now, that's a loving God, and it shows us all that He can even use seemingly insignificant resources to accomplish His desires!

We are to be salt and light and know that they will give the glory to God. Our savor will show His love for us and the world. His light in us will show Him to the world! Even if it seems so to you, what you do as a child of God is not minor. He will use it for His glory. He will make it more than we can ever dream or imagine.

Father, thank you so much for your attention to our cries for peace in a turbulent world. Thank you for loving us so much that you will stop at nothing to show us your love in practical ways. I pray that anyone who reads my simple words will see You in them. I pray for deep, abiding peace for us all, in You. Thank you. I love you so very much, Lord.

Suz

quiet time and peace

The last month or so has been a whirlwind. We've been to Alabama a couple of times, Kayla has started going to community college and Byron's mom died about two weeks ago. It's been way too busy, full of new adjustments, and extremely emotional. Seems like there's no time to breathe, let alone decompress.

Some people don't like solitude or private time. For me it's a necessary thing. Without it I feel swamped with things to do--with things to think about. Sometimes I just need time to think--to unwind. To pray.

It's why I often stay up late at night. Byron goes to bed pretty early and Kayla goes to her room to do homework or whatever, I put the three pups to bed and I stay up. Sometimes I read, or research stuff on the internet, or check out friends on Facebook or just watch reruns of Law and Order. There's something calming about a quiet house. I don't have to take anybody with 4 legs and a tail outside to potty. I don't have to talk. I don't have to get up unless I want to get up. I put my mind in neutral and coast for a little while. I might think about a family issue or plans for the next few days or, if I do the best thing, I think about the Lord and talk to Him.

Those big issues, those family situations, they are the Lord's specialty. It can be hard to find someone to listen to your problems, or give you sound advice, but the Lord lives for this stuff--for these special times when we are troubled or vulnerable or just still enough to hear His voice. The Lord won't shout us down, in fact, He will do just the opposite. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Rev 3:20 The Lord politely knocks and waits to be invited in--to be included in our lives. Sometimes I struggle with behaving politely...HA! I know you all are saying, "Well, YEAH!" But Jesus never bullies or yells or coerces anyone to spend time with Him. That's why it's so very special when we are alone with Him. We have His undivided attention. He listens to us. He gives us the best advice there is. He loves us enough to help us, but also enough to tell us the truth, not only about how to handle a problem but also how to handle ourselves and our shortcomings. He doesn't brow beat us down. He is the light and he simply shines on our path, on our heart, and shows us where we need to move up, to do better. There are so many places his light shines on my life and I need the down time to see them--to make plans to change them. To change them.

We all need work. There's not a one of us who is perfect in practice yet. Oh, but one of these days! I try hard most of the time to genuinely do well--to do the Lord proud. To walk in the place of peace and contentment and kindness. Sometimes, I'm there and I love it. Other times, not so much. I'm crabby and irritable and occasionally just plain mean. Yep. Mean. Not Christlike at all. Those are my most miserable days because I want so much to be better than this. I long for the best the Lord has for me, and being grumpy won't cut it. So I pray. I ask Him in and I ask the Lord to make me more like Him. I believe He will because spending time with him changes me. He changes me. It's a good thing.

My whirlwind will continue for at least the next couple of weeks--probably longer. And, I'll stay up late for time with Jesus because I won't find what I really need online or on Law and Order reruns. Knowing that he's my answer.--that He'll make a difference in my life. He's the peace I need.

Father, Thank you for your peace. Thank you for quiet time and opportunity to decompress. Thank you for knocking at my door and for guiding me in your way. I need YOUR way. I love you. Help me hear you and do what you say.

Suz