Still Saturday::away from the crowd...

...Christ came so that we would not need to pursue the vainglory of the world.

In Him we find a resting place away from the trappings of the crowd.

What better place to be than in the quiet strength of Jesus.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lord Jesus, 

keep me from the noise of the crowd by giving me

your quiet,

your rest,

your strength.

Willard, Timothy (2014-10-14). Longing for More: Daily Reflections on Finding God in the Rhythms of Life (p. 68). Baker Publishing Group.

Still Saturday::to remove the rough edges...

...today, consider beauty.

Suppose we begin to paint our Christian apologetics

in a different light.

Suppose we began to point folks to beauty...

...beauty in our lives

...in our relationships

...in nature

...in reconciliation

...in all of it.

Perhaps in using beauty as apologetic,

the rough edges of our sophisticated Christianity

would fall off.

Willard, Timothy (2014-10-14). Longing for More: Daily Reflections on Finding God in the Rhythms of Life (p. 274). Baker Publishing Group.

Still Saturday::to be reminded...

On this day lift your hands high, for the Lord of Hosts loves you. 

This heavenly love echoes in our daily reality. 

 

It is in the dance of the trees, the cool of the breeze, the hope of calmer seas. 

How kind of God, the creator, to throw shards of himself all over the landscape and in our relationships.

"Here," he calls. "Here I am in the blasting morning sun! I am giving it to you today, and tomorrow, and the next day, so that you will be reminded of my loving-kindness." 

Willard, Timothy (2014-10-14). Longing for More: Daily Reflections on Finding God in the Rhythms of Life (p. 30). Baker Publishing Group. 

 

Still Saturday::remember that we are not worthy...

You and I love not because we find worthy objects to love. Remember the cross!

Remember that we are not worthy. We are jerks, terse and stubborn people. We do not deserve God's love, and yet he provided it for us. 

Salvation's beauty comes by way of sacrificial love---a love that gives itself up for the unlovable. And that bloody love gave us life. It should be our joy to mime this kind of love. 

Today, you and I have the opportunity to bring life to others by way of our sacrificial love. 

Are you bringing heaven with you into your relationships? 

Willard, Timothy (2014-10-14). Longing for More: Daily Reflections on Finding God in the Rhythms of Life (p. 27). Baker Publishing Group. 

Still Saturday::quiet corners...

And there, in the quiet corner of your day, God finds you. There he wraps you in his whispers: "Blessed are you...blessed are you." 

Willard, Timothy (2014-10-14). Longing for More: Daily Reflections on Finding God in the Rhythms of Life (p. 22-23). Baker Publishing Group.