You wake up in the morning and before your feet hit the floor, your mind is already flooded with the items that didn’t get checked off your “to-do” list yesterday.

If you have a “to-do” list. If not, making a “to-do” list is likely on your mental “to-do” list.

If you have children, its likely that you wake up to little voices asking for your help with something or the need to break up a sibling squabble.

Not exactly the way to get a peaceful start to your day.

A Pew Research study in 2006 claims that about 1/4 of American women and 1/5 of all men “always feel rushed.” And while a more recent study by the University of Maryland states that the population at general is less rushed now, it is also less happy.

Interestingly enough, those surveyed in the UMD study who were happiest (less than 10%) didn’t have more free time on their hands. Researcher John P. Robinson concluded that “This small slice of the population…seems to have found a way to organize their lives in a way to resist the rat race and hurry sickness than afflicts the rest of us.“

What can we do to “organize our lives” in such a way where we rejected hurry and embrace the gift of each moment that is given us?

God provides us with much instruction from His Word on how we can live a full life with quietness and intentionality. Here are three such thoughts for your further reflection:

1) Decrease Anxiety through Prayer: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6. My in-laws have a plaque above the door which exits their home stating, “A man who is too busy to pray is too busy.”

Even if our inbox isn’t flooded or our task-list on overload, our minds can still be constantly running with anxious, unrestful thoughts. While anxiety is a common human condition, as believers in Christ we can choose to daily, even hourly if necessary, give him those worries and fears in prayer, inviting his peace into our thoughts.

2) Practice His Presence: Psalm 37:7 admonishes us to “Be still before The Lord and wait patiently for Him.” As a society in general, we don’t like to be still OR to wait patiently – but this is a clear invitation from God which brings rest, peace, joy, and renewal of strength. We can walk and talk with God when we are anywhere, doing anything. He promises that when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.

3) Take Time to Dwell in the Moment: Psalm 37:3 encourages us to “…dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.” To dwell means to settle down and abide. Observe your surroundings. Pull your head up from your smart phone. Smile at your neighbors. Don’t just water your flowers – smell them.

A full life doesn’t have to be a frenzied life. Embrace God, embrace your place, and embrace peace and joy right where you are!

What or who has helped you learn to slow down and focus on the blessings right in front of you? I would love to hear from you!

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” – Matthew 13:44

This week we have a guest staying in our basement apartment. She has an 8 month old boy, so the girls and I went on a walk to show them where our nearby park is located.

Somewhere along the way, while I was immersed in conversation with my new friend, Abigail chucked her little orange croc shoe out of the stroller. Of course, I didn’t notice this until we were at the park and she looked up, grinning at me with one bare foot.

We searched for it on our trip home but to no avail. I chalked it up as an inevitable loss of toddlerhood and moved on. Grace, however, did not give up so easily.

She was adamant that we find Abbey’s shoe. So out we went again, Grace on her bike speeding ahead of us craning her neck this way and that, searching in every bush and behind every tree.  “Mom, I see it!,” she said. Her speed picked up and I saw what she saw – a little blob of orange in the middle of the sidewalk further away.

“MOM! HER SHOE!!!” – you would have thought Grace had found a million dollars she was so excited. She snatched it up (not giving it back to Abbey yet because, “She’ll just lose it again.” Point taken.)

The best part was what Grace did upon returning home. She said, “I need to make a sign. It will say that Abigail lost her shoe, no one could find it, but GRACE found it!”

So…she did! Here’s the sign:

She taped it to a stick and actually stuck it in our front yard for a day or so, advertising to any passer-by her victory. I smiled at the pride of her finding.

It’s pretty fun when we find something we have lost or need desperately.

It’s also pretty cool when we find things we forgot we had – and recognize how valuable they are to us. I was recently going through some old photos and found a handwritten poem from my Grandfather who passed away a few years ago. My hands trembled as I read his words, written for our wedding rehearsal dinner nearly 12 years ago:

“I hope you have lots of children – all girls, as sweet as you.”

Tears filled my eyes as I realized his wish for me, a prayer offered up with prophetic weightiness that a Grandfather can carry, had come true.

As precious as these physical treasures are, none compares to those that are invisible yet of inestimable value. The love of God poured out on us through His Son. The love of others.

The treasures of God’s eternal kingdom aren’t redeemed by jewels or the green paper we exchange for stuff every day. While unseen, the treasures of knowing God and being a part of His kingdom are greater than any riches on this earth.

Will you search for this kingdom? If you have found this kingdom, are you willing to give up everything else in order to have it?

You are Christ’s treasure, the pearl He came to find. Let’s love Him because He first loved us, giving us access to a kingdom that can never be shaken.

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,  rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.“– John 13:3-5

How do you determine your self worth? To whom or what do you look for validation or security in your personhood?

Jesus offers a brilliant picture of healthy sense of self when He washed His disciples feet.

In John 13, We discover that:

1) Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart to the Father. He was assured that He had loved those who had been entrusted to Him until the end (He did what He had been called to do).

2) He knew that the Father had given all things into His hand (He knew the authority God had given Him).

3). He knew that He had come from God and was going back to God (He knew whose He was, where He’d come from, and where He was going).

From this place of knowledge of God, knowledge of Himself, and knowledge of His purpose on earth, He did an interesting thing.

He stooped. He served. He took a towel and washed His disciples feet.

His disciples hadn’t been wearing tennis shoes and walking on paved roads. No, they were likely wearing sandals and walking on extremely dirty roads.

Feet were filthy. He didn’t mind. He knew who He was and was confident in what was His.

And this freed Him to serve without restraint. Without fear of being rejected. Without fear of being looked down upon or criticized.

Through His example, we learn:

1) Healthy confidence stems from assurance that we have been created in the image of God – that while the world may say our noses need correction or our faces need lifting or our tummies need tucking, God looks at us and sees His work of art.

2) The God who was not ashamed to wash his friends dirty feet is not ashamed to wash our dirty hearts and call us His friends. And while Scripture says that even our mother and father may forsake us, God never will.

3) We can be full of peace and contentment in the portion God has given us knowing that He will fulfill His purpose for us, just as He fulfilled His purpose for Christ.

4) Truly confident people aren’t afraid to serve. Only the truly secure person can be truly humble and confident at the same time. They aren’t looking out for themselves because they know they are loved and valued and provided for by God.

While this world places value on beauty, wealth, fame, popularity, success, God places value on all human beings regardless of their status, rank, or job title.

The God who created us, called us, loves us with an everlasting love, washes and redeems us from our sins, and empowers us with purpose to live a life of honor and good work unto Him says, “you are made in my image – and I don’t make mistakes!”

So receive His love, take a towel, and stoop lower to see with new eyes for humanity.

When you do, you will be following in the footsteps of the King of Kings.