A Quiet Place

"Let us go alone to a quiet place." - Mark 6:31

Jesus often withdrew to "a quiet place," either by Himself or with His disciples. Why did He do that? And should we? The example above from the Book of Mark is just one of many in The Bible.

With all of the healing that Jesus did and all the teaching and miracles He performed, He usually drew a pretty large crowd wherever He went.

Why did Jesus like to get away from the crowds? And what lessons can we learn from His desire for solitude? First, let's read the verse above in context.

"Jesus said to them, `Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.' Many people were coming and going. They could not even eat.

So they went away in a boat to a lonely place by themselves." - Mark 6:31-32

In this example Jesus was with His disciples. His boys had just gotten back from the journey He had sent them on. They most likely had many stories to tell Him. This time away by themseves was going to be a teaching time, specifically for the disciples.

Unfortunately, many people had seen them leaving and followed them along the shoreline. How many people followed them in their attempt to retreat to a quiet place? Welcome to the story about the feeding of the 5,000. 

Jesus still taught that day but His class was just a little bigger than the twelve He had hoped for.

But we can still see Jesus' desire to get away from it all. Do YOU have a quiet place you like to go to in order to focus on God?

For me it's my living room chair before my wife, or the sun, have gotten up yet. There are zero distractions, other than the ones in my head. It is a very quiet time.

But what is YOUR quiet time? And where is your quiet place?

Even in our prayer time with God, Jesus told us to 'go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.' - Matthew 6:6

It is there, when it is just us and God, that we can offer prayers that we want no one else to know. We can pray about our innermost thoughts and sins without fear of gossip or rumor.

My prayer for you today is that you would find that quiet place to pray. And don't forget to listen! For God speaks in whispers, not earthquakes, wind, or fire (1 Kings 19:11-12).

Seek out the quiet places in your life. God will speak to you there.

God Speaking - Mandissa

Be Still and Know

"Be still and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10

What a perfect message for Christmas, and for the world we live in today.

Think about that verse for a moment. It's really two commands. First, God wants us to BE STILL. Stillness can be found in two ways – lack of motion and silence. We need to quit running around all over the place, and then turn off all the noise that’s filling your heads – phones, television, and the news. Then listen intently in the silence.

The second part of the verse requires a little work. We need to KNOW that God is God. How do we do that? We must KNOW who God is. To do that we must read the Bible, understand it, and all of its implications. Going to church helps. Having conversations about God with knowledgeable friends or family members also contributes. But knowing “the truth” is essential. And Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Simply 'believing' in God is not enough. As James wrote, "Even the demons believe." We must KNOW God - His characteristics, His promises, His commandments and His nature.

THEN, when we are still, that knowledge of who God is brings peace and calm into our lives, rather than anxiety, frustration and panic. So, that is my prayer for us this Christmas - that we would find the time to be still, and to come to know God more. Then, and only then, will we truly KNOW peace.

Thank you for reading and sharing my stories. May you have a blessed Christmas with family and friends.

I will leave you with this prayer. As you read it, be still . . . and know.

"May The Lord bless you and keep you. May The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-26

Where's Your Mountain?

Reading through the Gospels these past few weeks has reminded me of something about Jesus. There are two things that we all can do to make our loves so much more fulfilling.

Jesus was a popular guy. People flocked to Him as word spread about His miracles of healing and restoration. There were times that the crowd was so thick around Him that some climbed trees just to get a glimpse of Him.

Jesus did some important things we all should be doing in our own lives. If we did just these few things we would be so much simpler and fulfilling.

The first is His compassion. Love.

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." - Matthew 9:36

There are so many who need love and compassion in this world. Is there someone in your life who could use a friend right now? Someone with a listening ear? Or maybe just someone to be with?

The other thing Jesus did was He got away from the crowd numerous times during His ministry, just to be by Himself and to pray. Where do you go when you want to recharge? To pray? What do you do?

"After sending the people away, he went up a mountain to pray by himself. When evening came, he was there alone." - Matthew 14:23

For me, I turn off the news shows, close the laptop and pick up my Bible. Reading God's Word takes me out of this world and places me somewhere, by myself, with Jesus. I find that to be very calming. I will also sit in the dark and just pray and love people from the comfort of my living room chair.

The important thing is to DO something. We need to remind ourselves that this world can be a cold, dark place in need of some light. BE that light in someone's life today. And if you need recharging, get away by yourself someplace. Take the time you need to be re-filled. Read God's promises, read through Psalms and pray, visit with a friend.

There aren't many mountains here in Wisconsin but there are Quiet Places we can go to get away from it all and get closer to God. Where's YOUR mountain?

The Old Rugged Cross - Alan Jackson

The Quiet of The Morning

This morning was not a good morning for me. I was pretty frustrated. Do you ever get that way? It's not fun. BUT, I found something today that washed away all of that frustration. Want to know what it was?

A few weeks ago our pastor was preaching out of Mark 6. Right before Jesus fed the 5,000. There is a short passage of scripture that explains it all.

"30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." - Mark 6:30-32

Do you have a quiet place where you can go to "get away from it all"? I do. For me it's the woods or, more specifically, a trail through the woods.

When I get frustrated in life all I have to do is ask myself, "When was the last time you went for a walk in the woods?" My answer to that question is usually, "Too long ago" and then I go for a hike. I always feel better afterwards.

For me, hiking puts everything in perspective. I begin looking at the beauty surrounding me and I quickly forget about the struggles within me. I can spend time talking with God about my struggles. I watch the birds flying from tree to tree and all my frustrations just fade away.

Jesus often went away to a quiet place and prayed. Why was that do you think? I think it was because He wanted to spend time alone with God. When was the last time you did that?

Do you have a quiet place you can go to? Right now? What are you waiting for?

Fields of Gold - Sting