And voila! More excuses.

Another Christmas.
I love Christmas, and I'm glad for the joy it brings, and the good times with family. I was at the Christmas Eve service at church tonight, and it was wonderful! Candles, songs, and cookies in the foyer.... We opened gifts today, and it was fun to see a good gift received.

School wrapped up for me in a whirlwind of activity -- Preschool Christmas Crafts at Heartland, 2 days of exams, watching the Nutcracker Ballet, and going to Michael W Smith...

In all this, though, I've had trouble resting.

I don't mean dozing on the couch, or watching tv.

I mean resting. Really resting.
Resting in the silence and the presence of God, and being still before him.

I use so many excuses: it's so hard when classes are wrapping up -- all the papers and assignments. It's so hard during exams, there's so much studying and not enough time. It's so hard when you're working two jobs.

It's so hard during Christmas because all the family is around, and there's so much action.

It's so hard.

blah blah blah.
It's basically just an excuse. I was struck today how I want to "rest" and "take a break" from the stuff I usually do, but I rarely deliberately take the time for the rest that will heal me on the inside. Ironically, I find that when I take time away from my day to spend with God, suddenly, there seems to be more time for other things.

This dichotomy has got me to thinking:
I don't think we're made for frantic activity.

I've been reading through John lately, and Jesus was really deliberate about people, and doing the will of his father, which at times, required that he take time away and hide himself from his disciples, and pray.

My prayer for you and I over the Christmas season is that we'd take time for the things that matter. For people.
and for God.

and that we'd take time for the rest that matters.
Cheers!

Merry Christmas