Welcome to Quiet Time!
June 24, 2009 by Nancy Martin
Filed under Six Secrets To A Powerful Quiet Time Blog ~ Nancy Martin
Dear friends,Thanks for joining our ‘On Location’ study of “Six Secrets to a Powerful Quiet Time.” I am so excited about journeying with you for the next few weeks. I did this study on my own in March and April and was so inspired by it. I have never been able to establish this practice in my life until I read this book. Once I started reading this book, I didn’t miss a day of Quiet Time. It’s changed my life and I pray it will do the same for you.
I’m a ‘by the book’ person. I read a magazine starting at page one and going straight through to the end, I can’t cook without a recipe, and I’m an eternal list maker. The P.R.A.Y.E.R. Quiet Time plan was just the thing for me. It gives me a framework for what to do in this time spent alone with God. But at the same time I love that Catherine emphasizes you don’t need to follow the plan in order, doing everything every day, or doing the same thing every day. It’s your time; you can do it however you please; you simply have a framework to use if you want it.
Our first study meeting was a thrill for me! We had over 40 people sign up to join us. That’s almost miraculous for a church of our size and for a summer study in Minnesota, where so many people take off for extended periods of time and are so involved in summertime activities.
I shared an object lesson called “The Rice and the Walnuts” where the rice represents all the things we must do in life such as brush our teeth, eat meals, walk the dog, go to work, go to school, do homework, read or watch the news, buy groceries etc. etc. The walnuts represent the more important things in life such as spending Quiet Time with God, spending time with our spouse and children, giving a listening ear to a friend, helping someone in need, visiting someone in the hospital or in prison.
If you put all the rice ( 1/2 c.) in the small jelly jar first, the walnuts won’t fit. But if you put the walnuts in first and then pour the rice in, the rice surrounds the walnuts filling up the gaps and everything fits.
Everyone in attendance our first night received a jar of “The Rice and the Walnuts” to take home as a reminder to make time for the important things. If you weren’t able to attend our first study session, and would like a jar of rice and walnuts (it’s actually rocks since I couldn’t find walnuts at this time of year) just let me know your name and address and I’ll be glad to send you one!
I hope you’ll enjoy the daily messages in “Six Secrets” this week!
Nancy
You may join this study by emailing me at nancy.martin3152@gmail.com
Nancy,
I am excited about this opportunity to “retool” my devotional time with God. My heart is thirsting for more of Him, and this emphasis is just what I need. Thanks for all your energy and enthusiasm. It will be a great 6 weeks!
Hi Nancy
I enjoyed what you had to say here. How true this is: If you put all the rice ( 1/2 c.) in the small jelly jar first, the walnuts won’t fit. But if you put the walnuts in first and then pour the rice in, the rice surrounds the walnuts filling up the gaps and everything fits. And how often we forget! It would be a much better world if we could all just remember the ‘really’ important things, wouldn’t it?
Keep up the good work. You are a wonderful, caring person.