Heart Choices: Guest Post by Sassy Granny ~ Spending Time Alone with God -->

Theme Layout

Boxed or Wide or Framed

Theme Translation

Display Featured Slider

Featured Slider Styles

Display Grid Slider

Grid Slider Styles

Display Trending Posts

Display Author Bio

Display Instagram Footer

Dark or Light Style

Guest Post by Sassy Granny ~ Spending Time Alone with God


I'm so excited to have my friend Kathleen of Sassy Granny write a guest post for me.

If you've not had the pleasure of reading her pearls of wisdom, I can guarantee that you will love her.  I can't help but return to her blog to read her posts.

I've also had the distinct pleasure of getting to know her in real life.  What a blessing that has been for me. I've gone to church several times with Kathleen, we've done lunches, day trips to Prescott, Arizona and hopefully much more before she's moves off to the state of Washington in July.  Boo hoo; just when I was getting to know her.  But that's what's so great about blogging friends.  No matter where we live, we get to share our hearts with each other.  So without further ado, here's Kathleen or Sassy Granny's guest post ...

This is what the LORD says:

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom


or the strong man boast of his strength


or the rich man boast of his riches,


but let him who boasts boast about this:


that he understands and knows me,


that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,


justice and righteousness on earth,


for in these I delight,"


declares the LORD.


Jeremiah 9:23-24

It’s been my privilege and pleasure to get to know Debbie over the course of some months – both virtually and in reality. Thus I am deeply honored that she’d invite me to put in a guest appearance on her blog.

Since Debbie’s request was specific, I’ll begin there:

Spending time alone with God.

First a confession or two:

I have absolutely no credentials apart from Christ. I’m not a Theologian. I’m not even an expert on any one subject unless, of course, it would be about ice cream. Oh, I could provide a litany of things I’ve done, or books I’ve read, or people that have taught me, or me them. But altogether, and in sum, they’d not equal or compare to the enabling grace found uniquely in Christ, and in Christ alone.

Years ago, one of my sisters said to me: “Don’t worry too much about books or conferences; this teaching or that. You get grounded in God’s word and maybe then those other things will have value. Apart from His word, they could be a sad substitute at best, a crafty counterfeit at worst.”

I’ve never forgotten it.

Much is said and touted about “quiet time”, or “doing devotionals”, but I often wonder to what degree those good things are fully embraced. It concerns me that so many of us run to-and-fro to hear this one speak, that one lecture, or another perform. We can always quote our favorites, and sometimes the scriptures. Our nightstands are filled to the lampshade with umpty-umpty books on various – and worthy – subjects. Our experience and knowledge stores are filled to capacity, yet our itch is often not scratched.

I wondered why that is myself some years ago; my own itches somewhat plaguing. It then occurred to me that my priorities were out-of-order - both in sequencing and in function, like the “out of order” soda machine that refuses to give up my beverage, or my change.

That’s when I thought of something truly novel:

Why not spend time alone with God?

No books, no agenda, no list of wants or needs - just He and me. At first I thought it may be a wee bit boring, but nothing could have been further from the truth.

Furthermore, another light-bulb flashed when I finally (I’m often a slow learner) figured out I might live a better horizontal existence if I could get the vertical one to work first. As if a liberal application of Calamine Lotion had been applied, the itch subsided. It continues to subside in direct proportion to my time alone with God.

Neither concept is new. They’re as old as creation itself, and fully embedded in the New Covenant. Love the Lord … Love yourself … Love your neighbor …

My thoughts now shift to: What do I leave you with? “Ten Easy Steps to Spending Time Alone With God” won’t do. It’s exactly what I’m attempting to avoid. After-all, it’s our prescriptions that often jam up the flow of His lavish love, or the enabling word He wants to speak into our lives. We can rest assured that we sheep know, or will know, His voice! Quiet listening sure helps.

Besides, you know yourself what works best for you. If you don’t, then what a great adventure you’ve got ahead in discovering what that is. The only thing I might suggest is that you free yourself of expectations, be consistent, and have a Bible and journal at the ready.

Then I hope you’ll settle in for the adventure of a lifetime. For truly …

Blessed is the man who does not


walk in the counsel of the wicked


or stand in the way of sinners


or sit in the seat of mockers.


But his delight is in the law of the LORD,


and on his law he meditates day and night.


He is like a tree planted by streams of water,


which yields its fruit in season


and whose leaf does not wither.


Whatever he does prospers.


Psalm 1:1-3


Kathleen
Sassy Granny




QuickEdit
Debbie Petras
19 Comments
Share This Post :

You Might Also Like

19 comments:

  1. I am ALWAYS challenged by your posts...how blessed we are that HE exercises his kindness to us as undeserving as we are. Thank, you Debbie and Kathleen!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for letting me be introduced to Kathleen, dear Debbie.
    I might not be that systematic doer of the word, but I can attest that your recipe works!
    For 53 years I saw my dad read the Bible, two chapters a day, armed with a pen and a ruler.
    Now I have his old Bible and my brother his newer. They are both marked with underlinings and small notes, like, "Thank you, Lord "e.t.c.
    My Bible too, the one I got at the age of fourteen has been used this way. I hardly can read "strange" Bibles, I cannot seem to find what I seek there.
    My dad never needed any place special for his Bible studies. He'd mostly sit in his recliner, lost from the world.
    He read the Bible from A to Z 37 times, even the Chronicles.
    I have only done that twice.
    But I know in my heart my dad did the right thing.
    There are so many "hidden" treasures in the scripture.
    Of course you are right in your other point. One have to live vertically with God, to get a horizontally profit as well.
    I guess I need to get these once so evident facts repeated.
    So many things will drag me away from the only necessary.

    I must confess I also have some funny books and old, really old Reader's Digest on my nightstand, combined with my Bible and this wonderful book by Billy Graham, Angels, Angels, Angels.I stopped by the last one at a flea market, because of some lines written by dear Sonja.

    Good words are also spreading on the blogs, like rings in the water.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Amen! I know about that itch...and the soothing balm that heals it...

    Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Granny.... You tha girl!" I'm hooked! I'll be comin' over!

    Great post. Great insight. Great truth. Stellar pointing to our Jesus.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't tell you how much this blessed me this morning. I have been having such similiar thoughts recently. NOTHING ever is quite as good or as spirit calming, or as fulfilling as just time alone with the Lord. Be still and know that I am God is what I feel He has been impressing on my heart recently. Not a "new" concept of course, just soo much more personal. Thanks for sharing here this morning, and thanks for inviting her Deb. Hope you both have a wonderful day. HUGS

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh Amen!! Great article, enjoyed reading it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kathleen shares so much Wisdom in all that she does!

    I am a lover of many things and books is at the top of that list! I have to say that nothing teaches like the Bible! No book on tape, no lesson can compare to the lessons in the Word!

    Thank you Kathleen for sharing from your heart and the HEART OF GOD! For it is Truth that brings forth LIFE!

    Love to you both Debbie and Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  8. Debbie, What a wonderful guest to have post for you today-and of course the topic was so important for all of us. I'm sorry that Kathleen is moving but know you'll continue to grow in relationship.
    Kathleen thank you for sharing! I pray you won't stop blogging when you've moved-love the riches that you share with us.
    Hugs to you both.
    Noreen

    ReplyDelete
  9. I enjoyed your post today. I love those last verses you shared. I even set them to music. But I haven't sent in the copyright yet. Thanks for sharing those thoughts. Blessings~

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well how wonderful was this, to come and visit Debbie and get to hear Kathleen too!!

    That was so good, SO good!! You know... there is no substitute for God Himself! It reminds me of how some religions go 'through' another thought or idea, to get TO God... our access is directly to HIM! And no matter how great the studies at church are, or the tapes or whatever, there is nothing like the direct access to God that is ours because we are His!

    LOVED it... again!!! And I just add a hearty AMEN!!

    Love you both sweet sisters,

    Sonja

    ReplyDelete
  11. Debbie, thank you for sharing Sassy Granny with us all. Very touching and a very nice blessing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just had to drop by to tell you how much I appreciate your warm hospitality, Debbie; and to thank each and every one of your visitors who have left such rich, humbling comments.

    God bless you, my dear friend.

    Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  13. I just want to say how thrilled I am for each one of you to get to know Kathleen. She has been such an encourager and mentor to me. I had to share her with you all. Gosh, I'm not even from the south. I'm from New York!

    Love you Sassy Granny!

    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  14. Kathleen's post cut's to the chase...there's no book better than THE BOOK, and there's no substitute for that alone time with God...another great post, Sassy!

    BTW...I'm an ice cream connoisseur, myself. ;-)

    Thanks for sharing Kathleen's post, Debbie!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This was such an encouraging post and yet, also challenging. My quiet time is, at times, too hurried, but when I really sit and listen, Bible and heart open, He speaks, and oh, what pearls He shares in His Word!

    What a joy to meet you,Kathleen! Thank you, Debbie, for sharing her with us!
    Blessings and joy,
    Laurie

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Debbie,

    I pray all is well with you. You already know that I adore Kathleen (and you); so I'm thrilled to have read the words of wisdom that the HOLY SPIRIT led her to share here.

    As always it's a blessing.

    This said it all for me: "Why not spend time alone with God? No books, no agenda, no list of wants or needs - just He and me."


    Awesome message--nuggets of wisdom!

    Love ya!

    ReplyDelete
  17. This was really great. What an insightful woman, I love wisdom.....pointing out the importance, but not necessarily the "best way" to do this. Thank-you Debbie, thank-you Sassy Granny.

    ReplyDelete

I love to read your comments! I know you have something to share so join in the conversation. And thank you for taking the time.

[name=DEBBIE PETRAS] [img=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2CDrwq9-7eo/WV6tdbP-QgI/AAAAAAACfb0/ViqQSnSVaDsMLXyz3AEEzZ5-78luBHOGgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Debbie%2BFace%2Bblog.JPG] [description=]