Is Your Sanctuary a Place or a Person?

Yesterday morning, it wasn’t that cold outside but the winds and heavy rain beckoned me to the warmth from my fireplace. It is definitely my “sweet spot”. In this busy, hectic, and noisy world we live in, there are just times when we need to find a quiet place for our souls to be soothed and our bodies to be refreshed.

After a packed-full day of busyness, many retreat to their easy chair, but the clamor still goes on with the TV blaring and little children doing what they do – being noise-makers! I remember when I worked at the University of Manitoba and I carried the weight of a department of over 80 employees, bearing the responsibility of their performance and the department’s success. There were times I needed to find a few minutes relief to regroup, refresh, and reload. My “sanctuary” was the bathroom stall! Oh, sweet “reset”! Just a little talk with Jesus made such a difference in my mindset and composure.

This sanctuary sign on my fireplace hearth was given to us by a dear friend on October 10, 2010 (the date is on the back). That was right at the time when we made the decision for my precious husband to go on hospice. Indeed, my friend knew that we needed to be reminded of the “sanctuary” we have in our relationship with God. We embraced that sign and its meaning. We knew that God, Himself, was our place of refuge and shelter from the storm we were in. We did have such peace and joy throughout the remaining days of my Sweetheart's life.

The politics. The news. The hate. The debates. The worry. I turn the news on and then I turn it off quickly. It reminds me why I rarely, if ever, watch those live news broadcasts anymore. I don’t have the stomach OR heart for it all. The combative nature in people these days and us vs. them mentality wears on my spirit. I don’t quite know what to make of it all, but as I sit down to write loving, comforting words for myself and for my readers, God places my attention on a little sign that says, “SANCTUARY” with a scripture reference of Mark 6:31 “Come away to a secret place and rest for while” that reels me back in to what matters most.

It might be that you are craving a “sanctuary” today. You may have young children jumping off the furniture. Their sibling rivalry is at peak performance. Your spouse may be overloaded in worries and cares. Your to-do list is way too long to stop in at the “sanctuary”. I know that atmosphere. It is very familiar to me. But what became the most familiar to me and the priority in my home was making God -- my deepest source of meaning, unconditional love, and real peace. It can be found -- even in small increments of time. I promise you, when our priority is, first and foremost, going to the sanctuary sometime throughout our day, it will create a heart that is settled and peace-filled because of the presence of a holy, loving, awe-inspiring God. When we ask Him to settle into our homes, our workplaces, and even in the marketplaces, we will find Him waiting for us. He is available, present and more life-giving and peace-giving than everything else combined.

Today, I offer you a glance at my sign. SANCTUARY. Doesn’t that sound like a relief, hearing it put like that? That lovely, reassuring place of safety. Relief from all the ugliness out there. A break from it all. I can hear Him saying: “Come away with me! Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.” Mark 6:31-33

Renewed and Refreshed

Retreat -- To Refresh and Renew
Yesterday, I returned from a 4-day women’s retreat in Chouteau, OK. Being on the Leadership Team and preparing for this retreat meant intentional two-times-a-week meeting and much diligence, focus and preparation by our team to give these women an event that had the potential of tremendously impacting their lives.
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Here’s the best part of the retreat. We unplugged from the world. No watches or phones. No distractions. Just all on-purpose to disconnect from all the busy, fast-paced, hustle and bustle of everyday life. Young moms, single gals, and mature women like me…who came to get away from it all to be on retreat.

What does retreat mean? If we were talking about an army, it could mean to withdraw from enemy forces....throw in the towel, so to speak. Contrary to that definition, for us, it is better defined as withdrawing from the routines of life to refresh, revitalize, and deepen our relationship with each other AND God. It was just beautiful how we stopped focusing on what's outside, to focus on what.....rather, WHO is on the inside.

I felt so connected with God and my sisters. Though we were from many various cultures, seasons of life, and responsibilities, we had one major thing in common, we are ALL daughters of the Most High God and we yearn for more of Him. I'll just betcha' God enjoys retreats as much as we do, especially when the common language is LOVE and hearing “God is good -- all the time. All the time -- God is good.”

Though we went away, "retreat" doesn't have to mean leaving town or going to a quiet setting somewhere. We CAN find rest in our lives and homes ANYWHERE though “being in a quiet place” sounds impossible?

When I typed the words ‘refresh’ and renew’ into my computer's search engine, I got a wide range of results, from instructions on how to refresh my computer's websites, to Dr. Oz’s nutrition ideas, to advertisements for health spas, face cream, and exercise regimes, to air fresheners, and even to a conference.

Here's how we can refresh and renew anytime, anywhere. Isaiah 40:29-31 gives us the assurance that God is involved intimately with our lives. “He gives power to the faint and strength to the powerless. They that wait for the Lord shall RENEW their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” His strength is available to us when we need it, to renew and refresh us. Psalm 119:114 "YOU ARE MY place of quiet RETREAT"

Being on a retreat doesn’t necessarily imply that we leave town and go to a quiet, off-the-beaten path, retreat center. It can mean, right where we are – right now – in the middle of our hectic and frenzied day – we just need to pause to retreat with our Lord who renews, refreshes, restores and even rejuvenates us enough that we can walk and run with new strength and determination.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Day 316 of Photo Inspirations -- These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
Definitely not the feet in the beach picture, but a chilly morning, wearing my cozy robe and slippers, sitting in my favorite comfy chair, with the fireplace blazing, sipping on a hot cup of coffee and having sweet, peaceful times....just me and my Father God. Such bliss.  Yes, these are a few of my favorite things.

Okay -- let's get real!  I know that scenario must look and sound like Fantasyland for you moms and dads who hit the ground running.  You do good to get your teeth brushed and your "troll" hair back to normal so you don't startle your little ones before it's rushing to get their breakfast made and their lunches packed and then hustling everyone off to school or work.  And that's all in the first 15 minutes of your day.  The day may hold your job where your fast pace continues, and/or it's a packed-full day of housework, laundry, taxi service, bills paying, meals preparing, etc.

I know that pace -- been there and done it with my kids and even my grandkids.  One day, you, too, will have earned this calmer, more stable and relaxed place of casually....getting your day going.

This quiet place is where I get some of my best inspirations.  That's where this post today comes from -- a peaceful, noise-free place.  But I know it's also possible during the times of craziness to find a secret place -- maybe a closet or even the bathroom.  Lock the door, even for 5 minutes to "chill" and listen.  God's still small voice is there to settle you down and whisper His profound love into your ears.  When you acknowledge Him at some point of your day, I promise you -- you'll recognize Him throughout your day.  Those times when you almost forgot to do something and then you recall it before it's too late or that extra ingredient in the recipe that you almost forgot to add, but didn't, or you're just pulling out of your driveway and you remembered your cell phone or book or deposit you needed to take with you.  Those are those "Thanks, God!  I know you reminded me!"

Having these little quiet times of dedicated focus on God (acknowledgeing Him) is like a divine roto rooter that clears the passageways for entry of God's voice that brings clarity into your thinking.

So whether you have a cozy spot like mine, or it's a bathroom stall at work.....go there for R & R (refilling and refocusing) on Him whose got all the answers AND the bases covered for you!

Jeremiah 29:12 "Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will hear you."

Psalm 91:1 "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."