Two O'clock Saturday Morning

Two o’clock Saturday morning, for some unknown reason, i woke up and could not get back to sleep. For an hour i just laid in the darkness, lost in thought. Nothing profound-just going over my to-do list in my head, rehashing events from the day before and trying to remember the title of the crazy song that keeps playing its annoying self in my mind. Though my mind was busy nothing was getting accomplished. As the minutes ticked away my frustration began to mount. Then it occured to me that i should pray.

Three o’clock Saturday morning, i began to pray. It was as if God was asking me, “Child, what took you so long?”. He knew the answer but i had to hear it for myself, “I was so distracted that i forgot.” Isn’t that true in all our lives and not just at two o’clock in the morning when we can’t sleep? Things happen, problems arise and crises occur but instead of taking it to God we turn to distractions. To numb the discomfort or pain we go to the kitchen for a bag of chips or ice cream. To keep ourselves from looking at our circumstances we busy ourselves with endless activity. To avoid being “exposed” to others we withdraw to the television or the internet. Satan uses many distractions to isolate us and prevent us from experiencing freedom and healing. The longer he can keep us distracted the harder it becomes for us to hear God calling out, “Come to me and I will give you rest.” Please beware of the distractions in your life that isolate and take your focus off the One who gives you peace.

Four o’clock Saturday morning, i thanked God for opening my sleepy eyes to the distractions in my life and asked Him to help me to be more aware of them in the future. I know He is smiling at this time. Then the eyes that know no sleep watched me as i drifted off to sleep.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and i will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

No T.V.? Read a Book

Since turning the satelite off over a month ago evenings at our house have been a bit quieter. Instead of fighting over the remote and arguing over what television show to watch we now have read aloud time. This week as part of our schooling we have started reading about Cameron Townsend. Until recieving the book with "My Father's World-Exploring Countries and Cultures" last month i had never heard of Cameron Townsend and had no idea who he was. So it has been a real treat to learn about the man who started Wycliffe Bible Translators. We are only three chapters into the book-reading the fourth tonight-but the children and i look forward to this time now. The question is no longer, "Can we watch Disney Channel?" but, "When are you going to read to us?". They are learning far more from this man who died in 1982 than they ever learned watching "Hannah Montana". Last night we read how Cameron Townsend started his mission work in Guatemala. When i finished the chapter, Rachel wanted to find Guatemala on the world map so we enjoyed gathering around and testing our map finding skills which we have been honing in our Geography lessons. In the 4+ years i have been homeschooling i do not remember a time when the children have been more enthusiastic about their studies. I don't remember a time that i have been more excited myself. By the way, it has dawned on me that i have not shared the title of the book we are reading. My apologies. The title is, "Cameron Townsend: Good News in Every Language" by Janet & Jeff Benge. It is just one in a series of "Christian Heroes: Then & Now". In the coming months we will be reading about others in this series. With names like Amy Carmichael, George Muller, Nate Saint, Gladys Aylward and David Livingstone i am sure they will all be good. Television? Don't miss it. Besides, we do still have the Wii. We haven't gone cold turkey just yet.