How much time do YOU, individually, need to spend with the Lord daily in order to get enough spiritual nourishment? How many times a day? 1, 2, 3, more?

<small>[ July 02, 2004, 10:53 AM: Message edited by: Songbird ]</small>

Love it SpeakerMom! As a matter of fact, I have it on my Elvis Gospel CD...great song...

I reserve my driving time back and forth to work for praying but that isn't the only time. I also like to take a cup of coffee in the early morn sometimes and sit outside and pray...or even when I am soaking in a hot bath. There is no "set" time for me. I have so many things to tell HIM, and lots of things to ask HIM, and even MORE things to say thank you for...so HE is a part of my day...everyday...all day. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

One thing I would like to mention is that sometimes when I walk outside late in the day, I look up and God speaks to me then. No, not with words like we know them, but with a beautiful sunset with colors running all over the sky, clouds with different shapes of things, animals, faces, objects, whatever, maybe even a rainbow after a summer shower. To me it is God saying to me, I'm here Georgia. I'm closer than you thought, eh? I'm right here. Talk to me.

I love those silent talks. It is, I'm happy to say, almost an everyday occurrence. THAT'S my miracle.

JJ

JJ, that is beautiful.
I too find God in nature. And I find Him in science. Your reference to rainbows reminded me.

After my Dad died, I was alone in the car driving east during a rainstorm. The sky was dark and I began to cry. In my spirit, I was asking God if my Daddy was okay. Suddenly the sun began to shine through the clouds and a huge beautiful rainbow appeared on the horizon. At that moment I knew it was God's promise that my Daddy was with Him and that he was fine. As I drove farther, another smaller rainbow appeared beneath the larger one and I knew that was God's promist to me that I would be alright too.

I had never seen two rainbows together like that. I think God speaks to us in nature and I think he performs miracles both naturally and supernaturally.

Thanks for reminding me of the rainbow.
smile

<small>[ July 03, 2004, 12:47 PM: Message edited by: smilinize ]</small>

Goosebumps girlfriend...wow!

I don't think we have to have a "special time" with our Heavenly Father. I have conversations with him all the time, sometimes questions, sometimes thanksgiving and sometimes just thinking of all the good things that I have been given.

My own rainbow story. Most know that I spent 4 days with Dad in California, when I was driving home from the airport, the sky was blue and sunny but in the background dark clouds hovered in the direction that I was driving. I thought about a possible meaning, it seemed a little foreboding. When I started to stew about it (I try not to but sometimes I am overwhelmed and June was not a good month!), and started feeling a little worried, but didn't know about what.

I turned off the radio and just drove quietly, just allowing peace to come and let the worry out. I looked once more at the gathering clouds in the distance and there was a beautiful huge rainbow! It was beautiful, especially since I was driving in sunny blue sky weather. I began to thank God for such beauties in nature, and there beside it was a smaller rainbow! I felt then that God was telling me that things would look dark to me for a while, but to hang on, "Joy Cometh in the Morning."

Sorry it is so lengthy.

Sherri

Instead of picking up the paper in the morning, I pick up my Bible. I typically hit 5 days a week.

I have a basket near my kitchen table with my Bible, journal, prayer folder, a copy of The Message, by Eugene Peterson, a couple pens, and the most recent addition...my READING GLASSES! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

I also am in touch throughout my days as the spirit moves me.

I listen to Christian music when I'm in the car alone, and I always have some kind of spiritual book going.

I need all the reminders I can get! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

I'm grateful to be at this point in my journey, and look forward to staying the course.

Rainbows:

I took my son for college orientation ten hours from home. I'd never been on the campus and was overwhelmed with the feeling of losing my oldest son to a place so far away.

The first evening I called my sister and cried like a baby. She'd been through it twice before and understood. She calmed me and assured me life would go on. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

I warmed up to the campus and the idea as the weekend wore on.

Arriving at the airport to return home there were HUGE storms that happened to make the evening news back home in Baltimore.

We waited a couple hours to board the plane after the storms blew on.

Settled in my seat, I looked over my son's shoulder to see what the skies were doing and lo and behold, there was a rainbow. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

I believe rainbows are signs of God's covenant with us.

I was moved to tears and took it as God's sign that my son would be taken care of by Him in his new college town.

During his first year when I would start the worrying, I made myself remember God's sign and promise.

I'm still amazed at His grace by sending a sign during such a appropriate time in my life.

Hi friends:
I see that each of you have a different "routine" when it comes to time with the Lord.

Speakermom and JJ- I remember that song, from a long time ago.

Silent talks with God and praying without ceasing are very important in our relationship with Him. It's great that you find God in nature. We can learn to know God closer through it. And I love that quote from Goethe!

Sherri: Do you recall that the first time the Bible mentions a rainbow is after the flood, when He promised Noah and his family that the earth would not be destroyed again with a deluge?(Gen. 9).

Friends: Ever since that, the rainbow has a connotation of hope and promise! God is in control. Isn't that great to know?

Dotsie: Reading the Bible in the morning, for me is the best thing I can do! I too have three devotional" books, (with articles for each day of the year). I read several (1-2 pages from each one, usually) and a Bible scripture. I also like to sing to the Lord. After prayer, I feel "ready" for the day.

Of course, I talk with God about everything during the day and/or night. I pray without ceasing too.

But I find that stopping during the day to read some scripture, (if only for a few minutes) helps me keep focused and "armored" for the daily spiritual battles.

Stepping away for a moment from my daily tasks, to pray is vital for me!

One of the main advantages of being a Boomer has taught me to be closer to God at all times of the day or night. I am not as religious as most of you and have taken Gods gifts and blessings for granted in the past. Oh, I always say my prayers and pray for those in need but until I became a part of this special group of women, I didn't do enough. I have always appreciated the skys, flowers, rainbows and all of the majesty and beauty of nature to me it represents God. I love all the animals because of their closeness to God and their innocence. I am becoming a better Christian due to your examples.

Chatty Said: </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> I am becoming a better Christian due to your examples.[/qb]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Dotsie: I'd say Amen to that and Praise the Lord! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />

Chatty: I feel blessed to be part of this forum and share with such beautiful ladies too <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> .

<small>[ July 06, 2004, 09:28 AM: Message edited by: Songbird ]</small>

I try to read the Bible and pray daily every morning before chores and my work. The time I spend in the morning is about a half hour. I make a point of always reading Psalm 91, for it is a psalm of protection and love.

I also pray throughout the day--not just for help and guidance but to give praise and glory for the day--no matter what is going on--good or bad.

Prayer and praise can be done at anytime, for God lives within our hearts.