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
" by Ann Spangler, I'm more aware of how big our God really is. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord of All. 
