TIME OUT TO TUNE IN

Call a TIME-OUT in order to TUNE IN!

Life is moving at craziness speed. It’s important to slow down. You must slow down on purpose. Regularly, what I do is call a “Time-Out Day.” REST TO REFRESH: A day to turn off the phone, don’t check email, turn off all the media; I just enjoy my family and enjoy my God. I may read or nap or go on a lunch-date with Kim. This helps me “tune in” to the important priorities and values of my life.

Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC, says, “When your routine, becomes routine, you need a change to your routine.”

Be careful of being blindsided by the “rush of routine.”  Upon recognizing that life is getting too routine or you have been getting in a rut, just go ahead and call “Time-out!”

In a sports game, coaches call time-outs for a few reasons: A) Sometimes, they just need to slow the game down so everyone can gain focus and composure. B) Sometimes, a time-out is called strategically, to plan a play. C) Other times, a coach calls a time-out and just gives an encouraging pep-talk.

In Psalm 46:10a (NIV) we read, “Be still and know that I am God.”

It’s in those times of stillness, when we carve out and stop the pace of life, that we are able to really hear, apart from all the noise and clutter around us, how much God is for us. We can hear the Spirit’s gentle whisper saying, “It’s going to be all right.”

Do you need to call a time-out in order to tune in today? Is it just to slow the pace of life down? Or to sit down and think about you’re next steps? Or is it just to hear an encouraging word or whisper from the Lord saying how much He loves you and how much He is for you? Hey, guess what, call that “TIME OUT” and win!   -Larry

CHASING???

What are you chasing? Or more reality, what’s chasing you? Ever feel like the guy in this picture?  Running so fast from it all, you hope you just make it.  This is an annual event in Spain called the “Running of the Bulls.”  Seems fun? Seems stupid to me?    

Chasing after what?  Deadlines? Undone assignments? Bills? You name it, whatever?  “Life happens fast.” Instead of being lead by the Spirit, we are lead by the urgent or need to accomplish or please.  Our minds get racing and chasing. What matters most is chasing after the heart of the Father!

A while back, I was playing some game with my two of my little daughters.  At least three times, Rebekah had to say, “Dad, it is your turn.”  Finally, she got my upset, and said, “Hey, would you PAY ATTENTION.”  Ouch! Rebuked by a 6 year old.  I wish I could have blamed it on my A.D.D., if I had it (many say I do).  Needless to say, that moment woke me up to begin to consciously S-L-O-W down.  What’s the hurry?  So go ahead and take some time today and schedule what I call- “Making Difference Time.”  Go and have coffee with your spouse.  Take a walk.  Spend a day with your parents. Call an older, wiser, lonely friend.  Play a board game.  Oh, all of this is better, if you can turn off the cell phone and computer.

If I’m not careful to “BE” fully aware of my life and day, I can get so caught up chasing after whatever or the whatever is chasing after me, that I miss the significance of the new day that God has given to me. We can get so chasing after good stuff: doing for God, serving at the church/community, school stuff, etc.  However, I’m growing intentionally to enjoy just BEING in the moment wherever I am.  It is OK and legal just to “chill” from it all.  We live in this technologically advanced, cool world, but if we are not careful, we can get caught up in the “high tech and low touch” syndrome and miss moments from His presence and relationship.  STOP DOING AND JUST BE!   -Larry

SPEED RACER.

“Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer go….”  Growing up (like I have finished), the Speed Racer cartoon was my favorite.  Wow, I would watch every episode. The excitement of Speed, Racer X, Sparky, the monkey, etc. was for me adventure in everyday.  That’s what I call the simple life: TV in the 70′s.   

As I recall while reflecting upon my life, I acquired an “addiction to speed.” By speed, I mean the rate at which I fly and move through life; not “speed” like the drug.  But honestly, I have acted so impatiently at times, it may have appeared that I  was drugged up.  I have missed so many opportunities and memories because I was there, but not there.  All I wanted to do is finish my list and get to the next event.  I used to hurry to do nothing.  As the saying goes, “Speed kills.”  Speed sure can kill times with God, times with love ones, and times of being used by the Holy Spirit. 

By growth and becoming fully present, I have learned (and still am learning) to SLOW DOWN and obey the speed limits- the God set ones, the natural ones, and the traffic ones (well, that’s an area of struggle).  

ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!! This has been a personal motto of mine for over 5 years.  I have learned to call TIME OUT and hit PAUSE.  Making this principle a part of my life, I have enjoyed more times with my wife; enjoyed more of my girl’s games and school concerts; enjoyed bed time prayers, enjoyed more sunrises; and enjoyed more of our immediate family’s soup picnics. 

So it is time to HURRY UP and stop doing some things.  Engage in what counts!  3 reminders: Enjoy Family, Enjoy Friends, and Enjoy the Walk of Faith. – Larry

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”   It’s a “Walk of Faith.”