October 2024 Women's Devotional Blog
Slow Down for a Minute
Our women's ministry blog is up and running again for the 2024-2025 ministry year! If you are interested in being a contributing author, we would love to talk with you about that. Please reach out at women@gracecomm.org.
True peace is when the soul revolves around its center, Almighty God, craving for nothing but what God continually supplies. Since the soul is large enough to contain the infinite God, nothing less than Himself can satisfy or fill it.
- Edward B. Pusey
- Edward B. Pusey
About a year ago, I bought a gooseneck tea kettle for my office. I liked it because it had a lovely soft shade of green and I was looking forward to having the comfort of a hot beverage close at hand whenever it might strike my fancy. Once I started using this teapot, however, I discovered a little quirk--gooseneck tea kettles are designed to pour slowly! I had not realized how impatient I can be to get hot water into a cup until I met my gooseneck tea kettle. If I even try to rush the pour a little bit, I end up with a water spill and clean up to do. So I have no choice but to patiently wait for the cup to fill.
And therein is the beauty of my tea kettle, because it has forced me to slow down. All there is to do in that moment is just breathe and wait for my cup to fill.
God has been using my tea pouring impatience to teach me that not everything needs to be rushed. A moment to breathe in his presence is a gift to be cherished. The world will wait while I turn my eyes to my Lord. I have come to look forward to each water pour, just me and God, waiting together. I cannot just rush off to the next thing, and thus I buy myself space to remember. I call to mind God's steadfast love for me and teach my heart once more: "God is here. He loves me. He is with me." I remember that He is the only part of my life that does not yield under pressure.
God has been using my tea pouring impatience to teach me that not everything needs to be rushed. A moment to breathe in his presence is a gift to be cherished. The world will wait while I turn my eyes to my Lord. I have come to look forward to each water pour, just me and God, waiting together. I cannot just rush off to the next thing, and thus I buy myself space to remember. I call to mind God's steadfast love for me and teach my heart once more: "God is here. He loves me. He is with me." I remember that He is the only part of my life that does not yield under pressure.
The world is a often a loud and frenzied place. We get pulled in all different directions until we are stretched (as the great Tolkien puts it) like butter scraped over too much bread. It seems as if everything will fall apart if we dare to let go. Where can we find stability that will not fail?
Whatever can be shaken will be shaken, but only because it was never an unshakeable thing to begin with. Stated more plainly, the center will hold.
- Helena Sorenson
- Helena Sorenson
I came across the above quote a couple of years ago, in a blog post about how to face the world when there are many reasons to feel things are falling apart. It is a message I return to over and over as I seek to strengthen my rootedness in Christ. God is the center, and He will hold.
Though the words of the blog post were penned in 2020, they remain as relevant now as they were then. Please give it a read. I pray the reminder of what is truly steadfast in this world will be as much a source of comfort to you as it has been to me.
Though the words of the blog post were penned in 2020, they remain as relevant now as they were then. Please give it a read. I pray the reminder of what is truly steadfast in this world will be as much a source of comfort to you as it has been to me.
This devotional was written by Brandy Eldridge. Brandy is a wife, mother, sister, friend, and willing shenanigans participant who values relationship with God and with others above all else. In her moments of spare time, you’ll likely find her nerding out over biblical Hebrew, debating the merits of various fantasy world characters, or sharing a hearty belly laugh with anyone willing to join in. Brandy has served on the GCC Women’s Ministry Leadership Team since 2021.
Recent
Archive
2024
June
September
2023
No Comments