A waste of time.
It seems driving our kids to and from school – putting miles to do multiple grocery runs – or going to the dentist for a cleaning never falls into the “waste of time” category.
We see the value. We know that doing anything of worth and necessity requires some sink time.
How about soul time?
Why is nurturing our souls any less important than any of the above?
The one thing that seems to most easily fall off our priority list is you. And me. The one thing that gets most easily worn and tired is the one thing Jesus cherished as His time slipped away on a cross.
You and me at rest with Him. Free to be who you are. And who you are not.
The one thing He wanted to restore was who we are inside. His.
“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
Is anything worth more than your soul?” Mark 8:37
Space For Her
This is the story I want to live. The story of a daughter who is beloved.
Who isn’t a waste of time.
Someone who makes space for her. Cherished for who she is, not what she can do.
Not a slave whose main purpose is usefulness.
Not a stock investment that needs to perform and show an ROI.
I want to spend my time, the way my Father in Heaven does — an artist who paints on the canvas of a popsicle summer evening sky, who places wild poppies where the soil is rocky and dry.
His Canvas
I want to make room in my life to be His canvas, that He can fill with beautiful, mysterious things that reflect the unique me He designed.
Every night, when he paints a sunset, God paints it slowly, mixing colors so patiently the sky begins to look like the dawn of a sunset.
With every turning wave, God slowly pushes grains of sand onto the shore. For countless number of moonlit turns, God took the time to sweep soft land, so that you and I can walk barefoot, feeling our toes squish in silken sand.
God as artist lavishes time on his most beautiful creations in nature.
How can you and I be any less?
God made our hearts hungry. For beauty. Dreams. Intimacy with Him. Friendships. Quiet. Rest.
God made our souls long for all these things — that take time.
We are not projects for God. We are poeima of God.
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How are you longing to create space to nurture the you God made?
Pull up a chair. Click to comment.
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Let’s Celebrate Finding Spiritual Whitespace!
TWO Special Book Launch Giveaways:
Lisa Leonard Hearts Connected Necklace &
Times Of Refreshing Journal
I’ve created TWO giveaways to celebrate the launch of my new book Finding Spiritual Whitespace. I hope you’ll enter both giveaways and win! Enter by Friday 6/6/14 midnight PST.
GIVEAWAY #1: {35 Winners} Times of Refreshing Journal from DaySpring
My hope is that this wiro-style journal with a handart inscribed Scripture cover inspire your to capture your voice and your ideas — as you take your own soulful journey to rest and find spiritual whitespace.
** CLICK HERE TO ENTER the Times of Refreshing Journal Giveaway **
GIVEAWAY #2: {15 Winners} A Gold Connected Hearts Necklace by Lisa Leonard PLUS Times of Refreshing Journal Gift Set Giveaway from DaySpring I love wearing this beautiful necklace as a visual reminder that Jesus’ heart is interlocked with mine with rest, as God’s daughter of worth (gold). I hope this encourages you on your journey to find rest with God. To enter this special giveaway, purchase a copy of my book Finding Spiritual Whitespace. Winners of this giveaway will need to provide proof of purchase to claim their prize. I’m so excited about taking this journey of rest between the pages of this book, friends. Let’s bring as many people with us as we can. And for more ways to join me on this journey to rest, check out my 21 Days of Rest Challenge over here.
Thank you so much for all your kindness and support during this book launch, friends. Your thoughts and stories continue to amaze and inspire me. I’m so grateful that we can journey together.
Take The Journey of Rest With Me
Take the Finding Spiritual Whitespace journey to make space to rest, despite whatever chaos and stress clutters our everyday lives.
Take the journey of self-discovery with Jesus. Let’s live a better story of rest. Together.
Purchase a copy of my memoir-driven guidebook for yourself and your friends. Because rest isn’t a journey we need to take alone. We need each other.
Because some stories can’t be told on a blog. They are so intimate, they can only echo in the sacred space of the printed page. Letters from my heart bound together for you.
Let’s be kindreds. Let’s meet between the pages of Finding Spiritual Whitespace.
Read about Whitespace from Authors You Love
{click on the endorsements below to visit my friends and read about their Whitespace}
“Why I’m Breaking Up With My Quiet Time” by Lysa TerKeurst
“Help when Your Life Feels Too Busy” by Holley Gerth
“Finding Spiritual Whitespace” by Tsh Oxenreider
( Ann Voskamp shares words of grace at A Holy Experience )
10 Comments
I might be weird but I create soul space by pulling weeds or planting in my yard. It helps me sort through thoughts while pulling out unwanted weeds. If it is quiet enough, I can process my “own weeds” in my life and ponder how to uproot them. The end result is a calmer me and a prettier yard.
I don’t think that’s weird, I think it’s exactly what Bonnie is talking about… weed/garden time is your “turn pages on a sunlit sofa” moment :). Weed away, and may God richly fill you in those whitespace moments!
Cathy that is me exactly. I love the gardening and it is a great way to create whitespace for God. Watching how he creates the seed to grow into beauty and/or food for our bodies– enjoying the weather when it is nice and enjoying the rain to water our plantings and freshen the air.
Bonnie, thank you for your beautiful book, and the beautiful, refreshing words that we read here. I love your daily prompts, with the verse to go along with it. We are on a five-day little vacation time this week, the perfect setting to begin reading your book … and a gift from God to pull away for some extended whitespace time. Sending love and prayers for you on your book launch week.
[…] find Bonnie’s Day 4 blog post here. “I want to make room in my life to be His canvas, that He can fill with beautiful, […]
Such a beautiful thought that we are never “projects” to God, but He values us as His beautiful workmanship. “I want to make room in my life to be His canvas, that He can fill with beautiful, mysterious things that reflect the unique me He designed.” Amen. Thank you, Bonnie. I love these 21 Days of Rest.
Oh, Bonnie, you’re speaking right to the heart today! I came across your blog through a friend and am so excited about your book and its premise. Before I found you, I’d just posted on my site that I need rest so I can be stronger, just like muscles need rest between workouts so they can build strength. And here you are, speaking right to this issue! Congrats on your book. Looking forward to more on this topic here.
I’m attempting to make space to nurture my soul by listening, for once. Listening to my behavior, my heart, my thoughts, my dryness. Looking into that stuff, instead of running from it or ignoring it. It’s time. 🙂
Thank you Bonnie for sharing your daily reminders of ‘soul rest.’ This is exactly what I’ve needed more than anything in the past 15-20 years. I feel you give me daily permission to ‘rest’ in whatever way I need for that day to find peace and comfort that God is with me and directing my steps. I look forward to your post on this subject matter every day. Congratulations on writing this book, what an amazing, inspiring and encouraging book you are offering so many women who need this ‘soul rest’ as well.
From one Bonnie to another, I will be delighted to align with your 21 days of rest event. Next week I will have back surgery requiring many hours of bed rest for recuperation…..Doctors orders! It certainly will allow me time to create some “white-space”, and I will journal my way through this. I will call it MY PRECIOUS MEMORIES AND JOYS. As I recall these, under your guidance, I will dedicate each one to my precious Jesus and Savior, who is my all-in-all. Congratulations on your publication,