Whitespace for the Soul So We can Hear and See Something More

I will make a grand statement and include you in the fact that our lives can be so full.

Full of good things.  Things we do for others
Full of things pushed upon us that maybe we wouldn't choose to do or maybe we have to do because of circumstances.
Full of the mundane things that need to be done.
Full of...

When an artist paints a picture they often leave an empty space called whitespace.  Whitespace creates a place for the eye to rest as it views the picture.  It's empty.

When life is full, when there is constant activity, we really have no room to absorb the things that bring rest or soothe our soul.

How do we rest or create whitespace in the middle of all the demands and things that cry for our attention?
Our children, the little ones who need the constant physical care and the older ones who need guidance whether they want it or not. :)
Our jobs, that provides the needed income to provide for our family's needs.
Our relationships, that we want to nurture and care for.
Maybe you or a family member have a physical condition that requires a lot of doctoring and attention.
The ones who are lonely or discouraged and we want to care for them.
And the list goes on of things to do.

There is a time and place for specific time outs of rest.  Times when there's quiet and an atmosphere that refreshes our souls.

But then there are times when we need to pause, right in the middle of all the demands and to-do-lists, and quiet our hearts and inhale God's Greater Truths that refresh and upright our hearts.

So, take a moment and scroll through these pictures... Whitespace.  Space to breathe.  Breathe in  and allow them to refresh your souls...

Whitespace... creates a space where we exhale.  We let go.  And then that space can be free to see what really matters.  What really is important.

And sometimes a snow day forces you to do just that.  To let go of all the plans for that day and adjust.  To breathe in.  To reset.

It takes courage to enter a whitespace.  To let go to see something more.  Go ahead.  Be brave.
Be intentional as you go about your day to take those moments that come your way.

Breathe in.  Breathe out.
Breathe in God's peace.  Breathe out stress.
Breathe in God's love.  Breathe out those lies.
Breathe in...  Breathe out....

God's Invitation

Jesus invites us to come to Him.
He wants to offer Himself to us.

Come unto Me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest... Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:28-29

In the storm, in the busyness of duties that call us, in the joys,  He invites us to COME...

Come...
to find rest.  To quiet our hearts.

Come...
to find perspective.

Come...
to be reminded of whose you are... His Beloved.

Come...
Simply to be loved.  He loves you.

Come...
to weep and cry about the burdens and the storm that overwhelms your soul.

Come...
for whatever need you may have...

Come...

The Call to Be in the Midst of a Doing World

This corner of the world has been a bit silent...  Many things have been happening and schedules a bit turned around since the dismissal of school days to exchange with summer days.

Days of summer have given to grass cutting, husband home and so off we do this or that, biking, chicken coop shopping, tending flower gardens, birthdays, and more.

So, how does one BE in the midst of DOING???

Being vs. doing is a passion of mine because I believe it's a passion of God's.  It's a call from the heart of God and I have caught a glimpse of it, but when there are moments of so much to do and you're in the midst of raising a family, there is simply MUCH TO DO.
When you are given the strength of youth, now is the time of doing and there is MUCH TO DO.

So, how does one BE in the midst of doing?  What is God really calling us to?

I honestly can say, I haven't got it down pat.  I struggle with the reality of staying in the presence of God and working (doing, busy, even good things for God) at the same time...

What I do know is, the name for God that I had recently was I AM.

I AM.
Nothing more and nothing less.  God is who He is.  He needs nothing more to prove anything.

When Moses was to go to the children of Israel and say "The God of your fathers hath sent me to you,"  and he wondered what he should say when they asked what is His name.
God replied, "I AM THAT I AM."

He is and nothing more.  He is ever present in the midst of life and ever aware of us.

Maybe it's our heart's attitude... Is it feeling a need to perform or is it simply resting in the finished work of our Saviour and learning more of Him??

Jesus also says in Matthew 11:28 -  "Come unto me,... and I will give you rest."

Rest.  Rest from what??  Come...

Mary obviously found it as she sat at Jesus' feet.  Present.  Listening.  Engaged to the voice of the Master.
And I believe Martha could have been listening and present while serving the people there.  But she got caught up in the doing-serving instead of the being-serving.

So, how do we live engaged, present in the midst of our MUCH TO DO??

A few points that I have found that help me are:
Intentional living.  Aware of more than what we are doing and remembering Who we are serving. Making a conscious effort to focus on my Saviour, right in the middle of it all.  And to those of us who are introverts to different degrees, that is a bit harder to do, for we like quiet to process.  Jesus said, "My grace IS sufficient for thee,"

Abide in the Vine.  John 15.  Stay connected to Jesus.  His Written Word tells us about Him and brings a refocus to our perspective as we absorb and inhale His Truths.  His Truth sets us free as we believe it.

Jesus says in John 7:38, "He that believeth on Me, out of his belly shall FLOW rivers of living water."
Jesus is the Living Water, and when He is a part of our breath, He will flow out.  It simply is.  It will happen.

I don't believe that being is equivalent to doing nothing.

Being/be, in the Webster's dictionary means to live; to exist; to have a place or position.
Also, a bit of English, being verbs take the place of the action verb.  They connect the subject to the rest of the sentence.

And so, for us, being takes place of doing, doing and it's our connection to do life.
To be. To be present.  To live. Being connects us to Jesus.  It connects us to life.

And when we become doers we forget who we are and wrap our identity in our doing.
We are because Jesus is.  And I believe we must bask in His Presence and snatch those moments to refocus on Him, who loves us.

Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, that no one should boast,

Am I rambling???  Perhaps. :)  But how does one describe or grasp this truth?

So don't forget to live today in the Presence of Jesus.  Inhale His Truths, absorbing them into your bloodstream, so they may flow out of you today.  Living Water - Jesus.

Be.
Be alive.  Be present.  Be real.  Be connected.
Be a be-doer. 

A bit from the prayer of Ephesians 3:14-21
... and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.