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On fire for the LordOn fire for the Lord
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 
Overcoming an abusive and addictive past, a Duluth woman earns her high school ...
Read more...
Couple answers God's call to volunteer at Alpha Center in Sioux FallsCouple answers God's call to volunteer at Alpha Center in Sioux Falls
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 
Christy Alten / The Digital Butterfly Dale and Alice Ann Stange stan...
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To the edge of death and back againTo the edge of death and back again
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 
A motorcycle accident left a Two Harbors’ man battling for his life for f...
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Pick-up Locations

Mountain Scenery
Written by Sally Bair   
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
On a recent trip to Alaska with a friend to sell my book, I tried to follow an agenda. I had places to be on certain days, including a planned date of arrival back home. My agenda meant long days on the road. On our way home, we traveled forever, it seemed, along the rough Alcan Highway. One day we drove a mere 310 miles, compared to at least double that when crossing the Canadian prairie.

During our slow days on the road, we were surrounded by beautiful mountains on all sides. Great peaks rose right next to the road, sparkling waterfalls cascading from their heights every few miles. What a sight!

“Look at that,” my friend would say, pointing to a new, breathtaking scene. I’d agree, and drive on. Eventually, I looked at those mountains and curvy roads ahead and thought, “This is getting a little monotonous.”

I realize now that my agenda—keeping a tight schedule for book signings, book selling, and book talks—kept me from truly enjoying the beauty around me. I feel jealous of all the backpackers and campers we met. I’m still in a kick-myself-in-the-butt frame of mind. All that beauty, all that pure air, all those surprises of nature, wasted by my agenda.

Although I enjoyed great times visiting my son and his family during my trip, and enjoyed the camaraderie experienced with other authors and with clients, the time restrictions I placed on myself became too strong a focus. On my next trip I’ll make time for serendipitous moments—or hours—in nature-delights. My agenda was a killer.

Agendas can be killers spiritually, too. When we plan our days so tightly that we miss hearing God’s voice, miss His spur-of-the-moment blessings, we lose the focus of our Christian walk. When we become so busy “doing” for Him that we abandon time “being” with Him, life can seem monotonous. It’s the moments, the hours spent in close communion with Him, that bring new excitement and a sense of awe to our whole being.

 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11: 28-29)

Lord, we don’t want to be heavy laden with tight agendas that keep us from missing the beauty of Your creation, the greatness and awesomeness of Your presence. Keep us so focused on Your Word and holy, loving presence that life will never become monotonous. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

www.sallybair.com

 
 

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“To be laughed at is no great hardship to me. I can delight in scoffs and jeers. Caricatures, lampoons, and slanders are my glory. But that you should turn from your own mercy, this is my sorrow. Spit on me, but, oh, repent! Laugh at me, but, oh, believe in my Master! Make my body as the dirt of the streets, but damn not your own souls!”
--CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON

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