Good morning…
“Morning sweet friend,” she texted me this week. “We are headed out the door to walk the dogs, and I’m going to put this little gift on your doorstep.” Nearly four hours later she texted again, “Hey there…just checking to see if you found the gift I left on your porch.”
“Oh, I have been totally immersed in The Blue Book all morning,” I finally texted back, “so enthralled that I forgot to write to say I had received your kind gift. I love it! Thanks so very much.”
“That’s wonderful!” she replied. “I’ve had a copy for years, and when I grabbed mine off the shelf not long ago, I thought to myself right away, ‘Sue would love this.'”
She is right. I absolutely love this new-to-me treasure, The Blue Book, written by Jim Branch in 2002. As I google his name, I discover: “Jim Branch is an incredibly ordinary guy that longs to live a life of extraordinary depth and quality. He is a fellow journeyer and pilgrim, just trying his best to understand daily the depths of God’s great love and affection. He has been in ministry for over thirty years, eighteen of those with Young Life, and loves seeing people of all ages come to know Jesus in the most intimate way possible.”
“Remember that three main enemies of your spiritual life are crowds, noise, and busyness,” Jim reminds us in the book’s introduction. I deepen down to unpack God’s truth for today.
Crowds. Large crowds are discouraged during this global pandemic. Is our spiritual life being enhanced by alone time with God and more intimate connections with others?
Noise. For many of us, the cacophony of noisy needs has quieted down to the most essential. Are the basics of our spiritual life drawing our attention? Ongoing conversation with Christ. Eating daily from the Word of God. Creative reciprocity with others in need.
Busyness. With fewer places to be and a shorter list of distractions, may our cadence be calming down to walk in step with the Spirit?
But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God) (Galatians 5:16, AMPC).
As the pace of our ordinary lives starts to speed up again, let’s not forget to remember: “Remember that three main enemies of your spiritual life are crowds, noise, and busyness.”
…Sue…
P.S. Please join us for online worship this morning through Northside Church.
8:30AM · Traditional Worship
9:45AM · Contemporary Worship
11:00AM · Traditional Worship
Join us via Facebook or our website.
P.S.S. We recognize that in these times we have to change what we are doing to respond to the world around us. Beginning on August 2, 2020, we invite you to join us online for worship and Sunday School at the following new times:
8:00AM · Traditional Worship
9:00AM · Contemporary Worship
10:10 – Sunday school for all ages
11:15AM · Traditional Worship
