I am reading a good book by Paul E. Miller on , "A Praying Life". I think this paragraph has helped me see how business and simplicity can go together....I have often thought about how busy Jesus' life was and tried to reconcile that with trying to live a simple life.
"The quest for a contemplative life can actually be self-absorbed, focused on my quiet and me. If we love people and have the power to help, then we are going to be busy. Learning to pray doesn't offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart. In the midst of outer busyness we can develop an inner quiet. Because we are less hectic on the inside, we have a greater capacity to love... and thus to be busy, which in turn drives us even more into a life of prayer. By spending time with our Father in prayer, we integrate our lives with his, with what he is doing in us. Our lives become more coherent. They feel calmer, more ordered, even in the midst of confusion and pressure." THIS WAS VERY HELPFUL AND I CAN SEE THAT is TRUE WITH THE WAY JESUS LIVED....IN THINKING OF SIMPLICITY ...THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN TIE IT IN WITH A BUSY LIFE.
Amen. Good thought indeed. I need this in my heart and life right now. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis is good stuff. I also liked your post, "How Failure Can Be Good For Us." I'm sorry you don't like the way Dawson McAllister writes. In the back under "About the Author" it states that for more than twenty years he has been speaking to and for the American teenager. I try to give away books that will appeal to people from every walk of life. I have made some friends by doing this that come to me when they think I can help. I like that! I also like Dawson's way of writing for the same reason you don't care for it. My bookshelves are heavy with books on this same topic but that treat it in a factual, historical way. Some people are bored with that and need another approach. Hopefully we will reach as many as possible for Christ. His style is different. I wouldn't call it "lingo." Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteHi Cliff, again---well, as I have said , I have been enjoying the book, I am just not used to that style of writing. The fact that he has spent more than 20 years speaking to and for the American teenager is reflected in the style of the book. I am not saying thatthe style therefore bad--just that I do not enjoy that style. As you have said it would be really good for certain types of people. It is also good if you want some light reading that still is powerful enough to touch the heart. (hope I wasn't tooooooo negitive!)
ReplyDeleteI really liked this...
ReplyDeleteLearning to pray doesn't offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart.
Sounds like a great book. I need a good shot of prayer in my life right now.
ReplyDeleteDusty--yes, Paul Miller's book is very good.
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