Pause
A Five Minute Friday Challenge
Today I am finally pausing to finish the blog with the Five Minute Friday word from May 25th. "PAUSE".
The other night, I was watching tv and got a phone call and went to hit pause on the remote, but it just kept playing. I had to be more intentional to make sure I hit that little button in the right spot on the remote before the tv show actually paused.
Sometimes life is like that. We need to pay extra attention and hit "pause". We need to be intentional about taking time to notice things around us. It could be for a few minutes, hours, a day or maybe a weekend. For me, weekends, are a time I can usually step away from the busy-ness and business of the week and reconnect with God and my family.
This past weekend both of our daughters were home! We had a great time together; playing cards and just enjoying each others company. We paused.
Last night I paused because after a storm (which I got to drive home in-not so fun) our cable and internet was not working. I read a little and even took a short nap! (and still was able to fall asleep at bedtime)
Recently I paused with some ladies for fellowship, Bible study and prayer. I felt the Lord leading me to read Psalm 84 in The Passion Translation. I pray that you will take time to pause and read this passage. (emphasis is mine)
Longing for God
For the Pure and Shining One
A prophetic song written by the sons of Korah
Set to the melody of “For the Feast of Harvest”
1 God of Heaven’s Armies, you find so much beauty in your people!
They’re like lovely sanctuaries of your presence.
2 Deep within me are these lovesick longings,
desires and daydreams of living in union with you.
When I’m near you my heart and my soul
will sing and worship with my joyful songs of you,
my true source and spring of life!
3 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God,
even the sparrows and swallows are welcome to build a nest
among your altars for the birds to raise their young.
4 What pleasure fills those who live every day in your temple,
enjoying you as they worship in your presence!
Pause in His presence
5 How enriched are they who find their strength in the Lord;
within their hearts are the highways of holiness!
6 Even when their paths wind through the dark valley of tears,
they dig deep to find a pleasant pool where others find only pain.
He gives to them a brook of blessing
filled from the rain of an outpouring.
7 They grow stronger and stronger with every step forward,
and the God of all gods will appear before them in Zion.
8 Hear my cry, O God of Heaven’s Armies!
God of Jacob, listen to my loving prayer.
Pause in His presence
9 God, your wrap-around presence is our defense.
In your kindness look upon the faces of your anointed ones.
10 For just one day of intimacy with you is like
a thousand days of joy rolled into one!
I’d rather stand at the threshold in front of the Gate Beautiful,
ready to go in and worship my God,
than to live my life without you
in the most beautiful palace of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise!
Wrapping himself around me like a shield,
he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory.
Those who walk along his paths with integrity
will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all!
12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
what euphoria fills those who forever trust in you!
How can you pause in your busy day today?
This post is part of Kate Motaung's "Five Minute Friday," which she hosts on the Five Minute Friday website. Kate posts a single word each week and each blogger sets a timer for 5 minutes to write and then posts, with very little editing. Check out the other writers this week!
