1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 2: This is Donna Jones and you are listening to That's 3 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 2: just what I needed. Hey, friend, if you've ever been 4 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 2: in a conversation where you've walked away thinking, Wow, that 5 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 2: was just what I needed, you know how life giving 6 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 2: that can be, Well, that's what this podcast is all about. 7 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 2: We're women who want to know, love, and follow God 8 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 2: in our real lives, but sometimes wonder just how to 9 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 2: do it. So each week we'll talk about what following 10 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 2: God looks like in the midst of daily demands and 11 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: crazy cultural chaos. Because this isn't just what we need, 12 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 2: it's actually exactly what we need. Hey, hey, my friend, 13 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 2: welcome to the podcast. 14 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: Oh. I have such a great interview for you. 15 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 2: I know this because I loved this interview, So I 16 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 2: just going to figure if I love it, you'll love it. 17 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 2: You are going to get so much out of this. 18 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 2: I promise it's going to help you go deeper in 19 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 2: your relationship with Jesus and I'm just so excited for 20 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 2: you to listen to it. Before we get to our conversation, 21 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: I wanted to remind you that if we haven't connected 22 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 2: on social media, let's do that. You will find me 23 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: at Donna a Jones on Instagram or Donna Jones speaker 24 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 2: and author on Facebook, and this spring, I'm kind of 25 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 2: going everywhere speaking and I would love to connect with you. 26 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 2: If I'm going to be in your neck of the 27 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:31,119 Speaker 2: woods or if you are part of a church or organization, 28 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 2: I would love it. I would count it a privilege 29 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 2: to be able to speak for your church or your 30 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 2: women's event. So you can get all the information on 31 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 2: that at Donna Jones dot org. Well, let me tell 32 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 2: you a little bit about today's guest. Her name is 33 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 2: Jim Fadling, and Jim is Ajem. 34 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: As a matter of fact. 35 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 2: As you will soon find out, Jim is the co 36 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: founder of a nonprofit called Unhurried Living, Inc. And, along 37 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,919 Speaker 2: with her husband, she is the cohost of the Unheard 38 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 2: Living podcast. She's also the co author of the book 39 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 2: what does Your Soul Love? And the author of the 40 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 2: book Hold That Thought. And Jim is about to reveal 41 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 2: how we can go even deeper in our relationship with Jesus. 42 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 2: So help me welcome my new friend, Jim Fadling. Well, Jim, 43 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: welcome to the podcast. 44 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 3: Oh thank you so much for having me. It's a delight. 45 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 2: I'm so glad that you are here. You have this 46 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: ministry that I have quickly become a fan of called 47 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 2: Unhurried Living, which if there was ever a time that 48 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 2: we needed something like that, I feel like this is it. 49 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 2: So tell us a little bit about what does it 50 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 2: mean to be unhurried, because I think it's probably different 51 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 2: in your definition than maybe what we're thinking. And how 52 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: is that even possible in twenty twenty six and beyond. 53 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: I know it's an interesting word, isn't it. I mean, 54 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: the reason we came up with this idea for calling 55 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,079 Speaker 1: our organization on is because my husband Alan wrote a 56 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: book called An Unhurried Life, and it did really well 57 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: and it's still selling now, and we just sort of 58 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: leapt off of that idea of unhurried. And we're not saying, 59 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: of course, let's start with what it isn't We're not 60 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: saying everyone's just sitting around doing nothing. We're all moving 61 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,519 Speaker 1: very slow, and we're being very logical about things. It's 62 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 1: not that at all, because we all know we live 63 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: in the real world where the freeway is moving fast right. 64 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: Technology is on this huge j curve that seems never ending. 65 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: We're distracted, we're overwhelmed, we know, I live in a 66 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: real home in a real city. I see it all. 67 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: And that's busyness, right, that's activity. Unhurried is something that 68 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: could happen inwardly, and we would argue that Jesus modeled that. 69 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: You know, we're following Jesus as our unheard savior. Jesus 70 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: was certainly busy. There's accounts of him going from morning 71 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: till night with people needing healing, you know, once the 72 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: word got out. And yet even in the middle of 73 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: one of those stories, there's a verse in Luke that says, 74 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 1: but Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray. So 75 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: even in the middle of those days when the crowds 76 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: were clamoring, Jesus withdrew. And So, because our work focuses 77 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: on Christian leadership, people who have influence, and that doesn't 78 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: mean you have to be a CEO. All of us, 79 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: in our own way have an influence on other people. 80 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: We're just saying, what if you had patterns like that 81 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: so that you could stay sort of in that focused, 82 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: refreshed mode that we see Jesus. And Jesus wasn't ruffled. 83 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: I mean, I know Jesus probably experienced every emotion because 84 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: he was a human, but he didn't function out of 85 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: his anxiety. Right when you see him speak, he's present 86 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: with people. He stops for the blind man and for 87 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 1: the bleeding woman, and he's right there and other people 88 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: are pushing him around, but he's like, no, I'm stopping. 89 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: He was focused, he was attentive, he was present. My 90 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: husband and I are just audacious enough to say, wouldn't that 91 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 1: be a cool way to live? Serving God doing what 92 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 1: you believe he has called you to do who he's 93 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: called you to be. And somehow, in the midst of 94 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: this very fast current the swimming around us, what if 95 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: you could do that present, focused, attentive. So we're trying 96 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 1: that's what we're trying to do. So Unherad Living is 97 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: all about that. We founded this organization so that we 98 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: could help Christian leaders at the intersection of spiritual formation 99 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: and leadership, and so we're really just calling people back 100 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: to the vine in the branch from John fifteen. Okay, 101 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 1: you have piqued my interest because I really loved it 102 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: when you just said, we're just audacious enough to believe 103 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: that we could actually do this, And I love that 104 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 1: you made the distinction between busyness and living unhurried, because 105 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: everybody listening right now understands busyness. We have moms of 106 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 1: kids that are driving to carpool and sports activities and 107 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: making breakfast London dinner and doing laundry. And then we 108 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: have women. 109 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:55,119 Speaker 2: Who are working, and then they have the responsibilities at home, 110 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: and then we have women who are volunteering. I mean, 111 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 2: it's just it's endless. It's endless, and even you know 112 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 2: later in life, there's still somehow we all live this 113 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: life that can be just super chaotic and crazy. So 114 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 2: I love the possibility that we can actually live this way. 115 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: So you're gonna help us today. You're gonna help me. 116 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 2: You reference John fifteen as the basis, So explain to 117 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 2: us what that is, what that passage says, and why 118 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 2: that's the basis. 119 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, So it's that beautiful passage. I mean, it's in 120 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 1: the upper room right because John thirteen to seventeen is 121 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: just the beautiful passages of Jesus washing the feed and 122 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: he's saying all the important things before they go to 123 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 1: the garden of Gussemite. And in there is that John fifteen, 124 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: which is just it came to my consciousness when I 125 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,359 Speaker 1: was twenty six, and once I read what it said, 126 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: I feel like it's been sort of the path I've 127 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: been on my whole life. It's remain in me and 128 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: I will remain in you. There's a part from me 129 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: you can do nothing. You did not choose me. I 130 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 1: shows you and appointed you to go and bear fruit. 131 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: Fruit that will last. Right. These are just words you 132 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 1: could just like read, oh yeah, that's beautiful. But no, 133 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: for some reason, it hit my soul and it says 134 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: I no longer call you servants. I call you friends, 135 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: is what it says. You're my friends, right if you 136 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: obey what I command. There's just so many beautiful sentences 137 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: in there, and that idea of apart from me, you 138 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: can do nothing. I was twenty six. I remember distinctly 139 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: because I was at a workshop led by a man 140 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: and he read John fifteen and I felt like I 141 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: had never heard it before, and it was one I 142 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: really decided, like, well, apart from him, I can do nothing, 143 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: So that means I'm going to remain in him. With him, 144 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: That's what my Christian life is, I guess. 145 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 2: Right. 146 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: At that point, this man was his definition of the 147 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: Christian life was an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. That's 148 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: the basis, and so I was like, Okay, I'll take 149 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: this seriously. That sounds good to me. And so that's 150 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: really the invitation here under all the stuff that we 151 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: teach and train, when there's so many things that are 152 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: good to know in our discipleship journey, when you go 153 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: down to the kernel of it, Jesus is saying important 154 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: things in the upper room. Apart from me, you can 155 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: do nothing, and I will bear the fruit through you, 156 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: fruit that will last. And see when you come back 157 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: to this idea of productivity and busyness and unhurried. If 158 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: you're thinking about a vine and a branch, if you've 159 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: ever been to a vineyard, or even you have a garden, 160 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: or if you've been to an orchard, there's a root system, 161 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: there's a trunk, there's branches that come out. Unless a 162 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: branch stays on the plant, it literally will die. It's 163 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: not even rocket science. So that's our humble invitation. Jesus 164 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: gave it boldly. We're giving it humbly. What does it 165 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 1: look like for you to abide to be a branch 166 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: that stays on the vine and then the fruit that 167 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: you're so worried about that's gonna happen because you're on 168 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: the vine. Right. If you're not on the vine, you're 169 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 1: on the ground and you're shriveling. But on the vine, 170 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: the fruit will emerge. And so this idea of business 171 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,079 Speaker 1: and productivity, you know, we get if we're staying on 172 00:08:58,120 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 1: the metaphor of the vine and the branch. We get 173 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: very focused, hyper focused on the grapes or the apples 174 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: or the almonds, whatever's growing on the tree. And I 175 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: don't know that that's necessarily our invitation. What it says 176 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: is remain in me. The branch stays on the vine. 177 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: I've appointed you to go and bear fruit, much fruit 178 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: that will last. I've been to vineyards many times, and 179 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: there's this whole process that happens with those branches. They're prune, 180 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: they're thin, They take grapes off because you don't get 181 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: quality wine from a grape if they leave all the 182 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: grapes on the bush. So not only do they prune 183 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: the branches after harvest, but before they pick the grapes, 184 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: they throw multiple bunches of them on the ground because 185 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: they know that they don't get quality if everything is 186 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: left there. So that was the conversation I opened up 187 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: that I feel like takes us down another road. But 188 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: if you're a leader or a person, a human that 189 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: wants to thrive in what God has for you, this 190 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 1: idea of being unhurried enough to notice what might be 191 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:05,839 Speaker 1: too much and to be okay and open to the 192 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: thinning and the pruning. So the quality of what you're 193 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: offering is good and even best. So I could go 194 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: on about this forever. Yeah, yeah, no, this is so good. 195 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 2: So basically you're saying sometimes less is more when it 196 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,959 Speaker 2: produces real fruit rather than just a bunch of grapes 197 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 2: that aren't worth anything. They're not really you can't use them. 198 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 2: So okay, something that you said, I'm going to take 199 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 2: you back to when you were in that seminar and 200 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 2: the gentleman that was leading it said, basically, it's an 201 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 2: intimate relationship with Jesus. And then you explain to biting remaining, 202 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 2: which is really an intimate relationship with Jesus. So how 203 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 2: do we cultivate that? I mean, I know the typical 204 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 2: Sunday school answer is have your quiet time, read your 205 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,719 Speaker 2: Bible every day, say your prayer, and what ends up 206 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 2: happening is for a lot of people, that's like a checklist, 207 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 2: but it's not an intimate relationship with Jesus. And so 208 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 2: then we are doing what we think is supposed to 209 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 2: produce all of this fruitfulness, and yet we still feel 210 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 2: empty and stressed and hurried and overwhelmed. So I'm suspecting, 211 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:22,079 Speaker 2: Jem that you have a different answer to what that means. 212 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 2: So I want to know I actually do. 213 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I've come up through the church. I've been 214 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 1: a Christian almost my whole life. My first Bible I 215 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: think my parents gave me when I was in sixth grade, 216 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: and I've had multiple conversion moments over the course of 217 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: you know, over the course of my life. So I 218 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: know what it's like. I know the Christian Good Girl 219 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: to do list for sure, and it's the list you made, 220 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:42,719 Speaker 1: and you could add other things to that if you 221 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: wanted to. But yeah, there's so much more here. So 222 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: of course we're going to read our Bible. Of course 223 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: we're going to pray. Of course we're going to be 224 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: in community. These are beautiful things. It's just that sometimes 225 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:58,719 Speaker 1: we just stop short of the fullness of those things 226 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: because they become just another item on a to do list, 227 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: like you said, and so I'll share with you the 228 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: practice that I would credit with opening me up to God, Jesus, 229 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit, the Trinity in a way that's unique, 230 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 1: not unique to me, but I just think it's a 231 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: unique You've heard of the practice of silence and solitude, Yes, yes, 232 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,719 Speaker 1: so an unhurried living. We call it unhurried time with 233 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: God because we're trying to stand brand, of course. But 234 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: I'll just tell you I keep bringing up when I 235 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: was twenty six because when I was twenty six is 236 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: when my husband, my husband's twenty nine. We met these 237 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: four gentlemen and they came into our life as living, 238 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: breathing mentors in this way of abiding. And so that's 239 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: why I feel like it's so profoundly deep within me, 240 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,680 Speaker 1: because I had the gift of people modeling for me. 241 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: They taught, they trained me, and they modeled. And so 242 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: one of the gentlemen, his expertise was on helping people 243 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 1: have what he called extended personal communion. It's just a 244 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 1: fancy way of saying silence and solitude. And so for me, 245 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: that's a practice that you can learn over time. Of course, 246 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: I've been doing it now for decades, so it's easy 247 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: for me to say, but when I started, I was like, Okay, 248 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: can I do this for forty five minutes. It's not 249 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: just doing nothing. It's not just being silent and alone. 250 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: It's silence to listen to God. It's solitude to be 251 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: with God. So there is an activity there. But what 252 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: you're doing instead of doing something that you're checking off 253 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: the list. Okay, I read this, I prayed this. It's 254 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: more like stopping halfway through the sentence. Here, I am Lord. 255 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: Our first assignments quote unquote were forty five minutes are 256 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 1: an hour because I had never done that before. And 257 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: I would go to a park just down the street 258 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: from my house. I would sit in a beach chair 259 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 1: under a tree, and I would just allow the sun 260 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: to shine on me and the wind to blow, and 261 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: I'd watch the grass move and I would just say, here, 262 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: I am Lord. And I didn't know what to do 263 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 1: at that time. My brain was racing and I'm thinking 264 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: about all the things. 265 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 2: You know. 266 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,839 Speaker 1: It's not like it was necessarily relaxing, but it was 267 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 1: a practice that I started, and it did open me 268 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: up to what I would consider a more intimate connection 269 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: because I wasn't trying to do anything or prove anything. 270 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 1: I was just saying, here I am. And you know, 271 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 1: sometimes at the end of the hour, in the last 272 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: five minutes, there would just be a nice, little sweet 273 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: insight that maybe God would give me about my life, 274 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: something that he would open my eyes to, and it 275 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: just felt like, oh, yeah, I see what I'm doing there. 276 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: And I'm not saying this is a prescription for how 277 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: it's going to work for everybody. I'm just telling you 278 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: what happened with me. And I just started to notice again, 279 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 1: I was in my twenties, so that's a pretty young person. 280 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 1: That's a pretty young Christian. But God was gracious to 281 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: just share with me what I could manage that time 282 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: to understand about my own life, and I was able 283 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: to make adjustments that help me. So that's how it started. 284 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: But I've continued that practice now for how long is 285 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: that I don't know, thirty five forty years. Okay, So 286 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: this is fascinating to me. I had so many questions 287 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: that I know our listeners are thinking what I'm thinking. 288 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 1: So we're going to take a quick break and when 289 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: we come back, I'm going to ask you the questions 290 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: that I'm thinking and that I know my listening friends 291 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: are thinking as well. Okay, so, Jim, you just talked 292 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: to us about this practice of silence and solitude and 293 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: how you would just take your beach chair and it 294 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: was forty five minutes an hour and you would just 295 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:15,479 Speaker 1: sit there. So I'm going to give you multiple questions 296 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 1: right here that I hope that you will be able 297 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: to answer. Okay, Number one, I'm thinking some people might 298 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: think forty five minutes, I don't know for an hour. 299 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: I don't know that I can do that just sitting 300 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: that long. Or Number two, I've got little kids. I 301 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: don't know how that would just never fly with my schedule. 302 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 2: So I want you to talk about just the practical 303 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 2: aspect of that, and then I want you to talk 304 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: about a little bit more. You touched on this, but 305 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 2: what that look like for the person that is thinking, 306 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 2: there's no way forty five minutes to an hour is 307 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 2: either too much for me at this point, or too 308 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:58,479 Speaker 2: much for my schedule given my family, or in more dynamics, 309 00:15:58,520 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 2: what would you say to that person? 310 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: Okay, so let's go back to where I was. So 311 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: when I was twenty six, it was nineteen ninety. That 312 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 1: was when the phones were still attached to the wall, 313 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: and we had answering machines. We were not in the 314 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: information age as we are now, so I will confess that. 315 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: And I didn't have children yet. I was twenty six, 316 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: I had been married for five years. My life was different. 317 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: I have three grown sons, so I can tell you 318 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: stories of what it looked like in every decade of 319 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: my life. But if we go back to the very beginning, 320 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: I was free. I was working full time in the 321 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: corporate world, and I partnered with my husband in church ministry. 322 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: So you can you imagine how busy I was, and 323 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: you have energy for that when you're twenty six. I 324 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: did all the church meetings, all the retreats, all the 325 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: small groups, all the Bible studies, and I worked eight 326 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: thirty to five. So I don't even know how I 327 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: did that, But for whatever reason, this still struck me 328 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: at that point. And I was hungry. See I was hungry. 329 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: So maybe that's a place to start. You don't have 330 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: to force this on yourself, but can you find inside 331 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: of yourself if you pause even for one minute, are 332 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: you thirsty for more? Are you hungry for more of 333 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: connection with God? Whatever that means for you? Right now. 334 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 1: I was hungry. I was longing for something different. I 335 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: had been in the regular church for long enough to 336 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 1: just go, this is what's going on right all the 337 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 1: there was something in me that was longing. You wanted more, 338 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: you wanted that relationship with Jesus. I did. I wanted more. 339 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: So it drove me. I wanted it. I wanted it. 340 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 1: So maybe that's the thing. Check in with yourself, what 341 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: do you want? Do you want this? Because for me 342 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: that was an engine for action. I was like, okay, 343 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: so now it's a Saturday, I have a day off 344 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: from work, and I take my chair down the street 345 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: to the end where there's a park, and I just 346 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,640 Speaker 1: sat there. Now, you don't have to sit. You can 347 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:43,639 Speaker 1: walk a lot of times now I elect to walk. 348 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:45,439 Speaker 1: You don't have to sit. That's what I chose to 349 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:48,640 Speaker 1: do then. But sometimes I sit and sometimes I go 350 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: on a walk, and that's fine. And I gave myself 351 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: one hour because that's what the guy said to do. 352 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 1: And again it was I had no cell phone. Maybe 353 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: I had a VCR access to media and the way 354 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,479 Speaker 1: we're distracted now, it just did exist then. So there 355 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: was a different version of me that just took my 356 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: chair and walked down the street and sat for an hour. So, 357 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: first of all, that's what it looked like. And yes, first, 358 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: when I was practicing, I would spend the first fifty 359 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: five minutes probably a little bit like itchy and anxious 360 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: and my brain was swirling and I didn't know what 361 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 1: to do about that. But I decided that I was 362 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,880 Speaker 1: going to try this anyway, and just it was kind 363 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 1: of a discipline that I chose, and I just hung 364 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: in there. So if you're that person who wants to 365 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: try it out, I wouldn't even tell you to do 366 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: it for an hour at first, unless you really felt 367 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: like you just had it in you. These days, because 368 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: we're in a different world with a different vibe, I 369 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 1: would say, could you set aside five minutes, ten minutes, 370 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: fifteen minutes, just give yourself the grace of sitting in 371 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 1: a chair and just taking some deep breaths. Put your 372 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 1: phone in another room, or walk out your front door 373 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: and walk your block. That might take you ten minutes, 374 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: and just pray that prayer that I was saying that 375 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: I borrowed from Isaiah. Here I am Lord. And if 376 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: you found out that you were hunger or thirsty, tell them. 377 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 1: I'm thirsty, but I don't even really know what it 378 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: is I'm asking you right now, but I'm guessing that 379 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: you have more for me than I even know. So 380 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: I'm telling you that I'm open. And then the practice 381 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 1: of it really is this, how many times can you 382 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: pivot your frantic mind back to what you want? 383 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:17,640 Speaker 2: Right? 384 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: Because my mind, I told you, I'm in my sixties. 385 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 1: I've been practicing this for thirty five years. My brain 386 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,919 Speaker 1: still flurries, I still have anxious thoughts. I don't just 387 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: sit around with this zen cloud in my brain where 388 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: nothing happens. I still have to come down from all 389 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 1: those things. So the practice is not that you're trying 390 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 1: to empty it all out and have nothingness. The practice 391 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,160 Speaker 1: is every time you catch yourself, just pivot back into 392 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,400 Speaker 1: what you want. That's the practice. And as you do that, 393 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 1: your brain, your heart, your body will start to memorize that, 394 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: and it'll start to show up in your life when 395 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:56,120 Speaker 1: you least expect it. That's why we practice it concertedly, 396 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: and then it can show up when you need it 397 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 1: without even realizing it. So does that make sense? Yes, 398 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:02,359 Speaker 1: it does. 399 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 2: I'm picturing myself taking a walk, let's say, around my 400 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 2: block ten minutes and I start off my walk, I 401 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 2: take a deep breath and I just say here I 402 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 2: am Lord, and then I just keep walking. So then 403 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 2: of course my mind's going to be like, Okay, what 404 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 2: do you have for me? God? 405 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: That's where my mind is going to go. 406 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 2: And so then I'm gonna want God to like speak 407 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 2: to me right then. But then if he doesn't, then 408 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 2: I'm going to be like, Okay, I'm actually trying to 409 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 2: figure out how I'm going to do this. I'm just 410 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 2: like everybody else, right So if my mind starts to 411 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 2: go off on different things, then I just take it 412 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 2: back to Lord. I just want to know you more. 413 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 2: I just want to be with you. I just want 414 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 2: to connect with you right now. Lord, let me tell you. Jim, 415 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 2: you can tell me what you think about this. So 416 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 2: oftentimes when I open up my Bible to kind of 417 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 2: have a quiet time, I will read my Bible. And 418 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,199 Speaker 2: I'm a journaler because I write down my prayers. So 419 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 2: oftentimes I will open my Bible and I will say, Jesus, 420 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 2: if you were here with me right now, what would 421 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:05,200 Speaker 2: you say to me? But then I'm reading my Bible. 422 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:10,119 Speaker 2: So how does that relate to maybe what you're talking about, 423 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 2: or doesn't it depending on who you talk to and 424 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 2: how long you've time you set aside, and what you 425 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 2: think silence and solitude is. 426 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 1: There's a lot of things that can go on here. 427 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 1: So what I'm suggesting for the ten minutes is I 428 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: would say I wouldn't suggest doing anything. Put a pin 429 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: in that, because we can come back around. I just 430 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 1: had one of these times last Friday. I had a 431 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: morning and I'll tell you what that looked like. But 432 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: for the ten minutes, I would just practice being attentive. 433 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 1: You don't have to get a word from the Lord, 434 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: you don't have to have an insight, you don't have 435 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: to have anything. You're practicing being present, You're practicing being open. 436 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 1: You're practicing being open. And for some people that can 437 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: seem a little odd or a little scary or whatever. 438 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: But I believe that the Holy Spirit is holding us 439 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 1: together and is capable of granting us discernment and wisdom. 440 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: And we also have people in our communities that can 441 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 1: provide wisdom and counsel if we need it. But I 442 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: think that the Spirit will be with you if you're 443 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: walking your neighborhood for ten minutes and you're saying, God, 444 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 1: I'm just making myself available to you. I don't need anything. 445 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: I don't need an insight. What I want is you. 446 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: You're practicing turning your heart there. And see, this is 447 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: why we call ourselves unhurried, because you have to have 448 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: some semblance of belief that you have the time for 449 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:29,160 Speaker 1: such a thing. Right, a lot of us don't even 450 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,639 Speaker 1: give believe that we have the ability to make this 451 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 1: choice because everything is pulling. But see, I don't choose 452 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 1: to live that way. I don't live on the other 453 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 1: end of other people's chains. I decide what's important, and 454 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 1: to me, what's important is I've devoted my life to God, 455 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: and I've devoted myself to serving people out of whatever 456 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 1: that means. Okay, that's what I'm doing. And so if 457 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 1: that's the case, then where am I going to get 458 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: my insight, my creativity, my wisdom, my restedness, my ability 459 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 1: to be present, all the things that it takes to 460 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: do my work. That's why Jesus said, I only do 461 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 1: what the Father does. I only say what the Father says. 462 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 1: Right when he went away to pray, he was probably 463 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: finding these things out, and of course he inherently knew 464 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:15,679 Speaker 1: because he's a member of the Trinity. I get that. 465 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 1: But again, I'm trying to follow Jesus and he lived 466 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,639 Speaker 1: a kind of way. I'm trying to live my best 467 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 1: version of what I think I see him doing. So 468 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:29,160 Speaker 1: could I not give myself ten minutes to just say 469 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: here I am Lord? And then later, of course John fifteen, 470 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 1: the rest of the sentence can come send me. Yes, 471 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,160 Speaker 1: God will send us into our lives to be people 472 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 1: who love and serve and give. But a lot of 473 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 1: people are already pouring out, pouring out the last drop 474 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: of the emptying cup. We're suggesting to come back to 475 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: the fountain and be refreshed. So ten minutes of here 476 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: I am Lord? Does that sound more doable? 477 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 2: Oh my goodness. Okay, I feel like my brain is 478 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:04,879 Speaker 2: exploding with aha moments right now. Okay, so here's my 479 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 2: confession to the thousands of people who are listening right now. 480 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 1: Okay, So, what. 481 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 2: I realize that I have inadvertently been doing. And I 482 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 2: love Jesus so much, but I realized that even when 483 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 2: I'm reading my Bible or I'm praying, yes, I'm communing 484 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 2: with the Lord, Yes he's speaking to me. But what 485 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:28,679 Speaker 2: I'm looking for is a piece of fruit. I'm looking 486 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 2: for that piece of fruit on the tree. What yours 487 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:37,719 Speaker 2: suggesting is that what I should be looking for is 488 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:43,200 Speaker 2: nothing more than just being with him. That's it. And 489 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:45,679 Speaker 2: this is revolutionary to me. I mean, and it's not 490 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 2: like I don't know this, but somehow I feel like 491 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 2: I haven't known it. 492 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: I want to show you a picture, don it. Do 493 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:54,439 Speaker 1: you mind, I'll show it to you. Okay, So, like 494 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,160 Speaker 1: I said, I've been to vineyards lots and lots of times, 495 00:24:57,480 --> 00:24:59,880 Speaker 1: and I've taken photos. So I'm going to show you. Well, 496 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,679 Speaker 1: show you this one first. It's a photo of a 497 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:06,359 Speaker 1: grapevine and there's lots of grapes, I mean a lot 498 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: of grapes, and so I remind myself, of course this 499 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 1: is what Yeah, maybe this is much fruit that lasts. 500 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 1: But watch here's another image. This is a picture of 501 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: the branch on the vine. Now that picture is not 502 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 1: as interesting. It's kind of boring. It's like brown wood 503 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:25,680 Speaker 1: and a green branch and there's no fruit. There's a 504 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 1: little fruit in the background. But this is the invitation remain. 505 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:32,879 Speaker 1: If you read that passage, I think it says remain 506 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:35,440 Speaker 1: nine times. I could be wrong on that. Go back 507 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 1: and count. No, it is nine times. 508 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 2: Yep. 509 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,640 Speaker 1: I'm not on that vassage. So it's nine times, yes, 510 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: nine times. Remain in me, Remain in me, remain in me. 511 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 1: Depending on your version, I might say, abide in me, 512 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:50,400 Speaker 1: Abide in me, abide in me. This is our invitation. 513 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: And that's why that ten minutes of here I am 514 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: Lord matters, because that's this spot right here, and then 515 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:00,680 Speaker 1: this stuff I'm holding up the grapes again, this stuff 516 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,880 Speaker 1: will happen. The spirit is within us. The spirit bears 517 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:08,160 Speaker 1: the fruit. And if we get concerned about this, that 518 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 1: is why we're anxious and overwhelmed and forur out, and 519 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,920 Speaker 1: we don't think we have enough time because we're trying 520 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 1: to Like you said, you're trying to get a piece 521 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 1: of fruit. I get that. I totally I do that. 522 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:21,680 Speaker 1: I still do that. But my invitation is here. 523 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:24,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, this makes so much sense, and I think it's 524 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 2: making sense hopefully to everybody that's listening, because we want 525 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 2: a certain outcome, and those outcomes are good. Like I 526 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 2: want to be the best mom I can be, or 527 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 2: I want to be so patient, or I want to 528 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:40,359 Speaker 2: be purposeful, I want to do what God's called me 529 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 2: to do, or I want you fill in the blank 530 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:46,360 Speaker 2: according to wherever your life stage is right. But those 531 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 2: are the outcomes, those are the fruit. And what you're 532 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 2: saying is the way we get all of those things 533 00:26:54,320 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 2: is first by accepting the invitation to simply connect with Jesus, 534 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 2: no agenda other than just here, I am. I just 535 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 2: want to be with you. 536 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: Think about this, what if there are a billion Christians 537 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 1: around the planet. I don't know how many, I don't 538 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 1: know what the count is right now, But what if 539 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: one billion people around the planet said here I am, Lord, 540 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 1: send me. And it doesn't have to be fantastical. I'm 541 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 1: not talking about your mission trip to Africa. I'm talking 542 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 1: about in my own life. Lord send me all of 543 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,879 Speaker 1: us around the planet doing the very simple practice of 544 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: being present, attentive, listening, focused. None of those words describe 545 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:36,640 Speaker 1: our culture right now. Everybody is just flapping their jaw, 546 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 1: just reacting to everything, throwing this stuff back at whoever 547 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:44,600 Speaker 1: just threw it at them. I believe in the loving 548 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 1: presence of God and the goodness of Jesus making a difference, 549 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 1: and so because I can't solve the whole planet's problems, 550 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:53,399 Speaker 1: I want to do that in the places where I 551 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 1: do have influence, and That's what I'm trying to do. 552 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 1: But it starts right here in that very boring part 553 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: of the picture where that just the branches on the vine. 554 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:04,160 Speaker 2: Okay, so good, all right, Jim, As we are wrapping up, 555 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 2: is there any last thing that you would want somebody 556 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 2: that's listening to know. 557 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: I would say this, whatever you're taking away from whatever 558 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: we just said, start where you are, whatever that means. Whatever. 559 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 1: I told you that in every season of my life, 560 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 1: I've been able to find a way to track what 561 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:26,919 Speaker 1: my perception is of what God is doing in me 562 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:28,680 Speaker 1: and through me, and I've been able to figure out 563 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 1: what that means to cooperate with him. I've been single, 564 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 1: I've been married without kids. I've been married with little 565 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 1: kids and then teenagers and now grown adults. You know, 566 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 1: now I'm an empty nester and I have my own organization. 567 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 1: But every one of those seasons had its own things 568 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 1: that were going on. And I'm telling you, I'm not 569 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: a genius, but I was able to figure out because 570 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 1: I cared, I longed, I wanted to connect with God 571 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 1: in that season, and God was very generous and gracious 572 00:28:57,520 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 1: to show me what that meant for me at the time. 573 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 1: So I'm just saying to you, whoever you are, whatever 574 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 1: age you are, whatever stage you're in, God can meet 575 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: you the same way. Just ask him. Let him know 576 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 1: you're hungry and thirsty. I think Jesus loves thirsty people. 577 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 1: What are you thirsting for? 578 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 3: Right? 579 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:14,720 Speaker 1: Whoever thirst come to me rivers of like living water 580 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:16,840 Speaker 1: will pour forth. He was talking about the spirit and 581 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 1: he would say things like, what do you really want? 582 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 1: What do you want me to do for you? Are 583 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 1: you thirsty? Come? All of those phrases from Jesus. I 584 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 1: would just open yourself to those, Just see what He 585 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 1: might have for you without having an agenda about that. 586 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 2: Jem, this is so good. You are my new best friend. 587 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 1: Well we can be because we live close to each other. Right, 588 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 1: I know, I know. 589 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 2: But all of our listeners can also be your best 590 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 2: friend because you have a podcast and lots of resources. 591 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 1: So tell us how our listeners can connect with you. Yeah, 592 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:54,719 Speaker 1: so everything is Unhurried Living, So Unhurried Living dot com. 593 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: You can go to our website and learn all the things. 594 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 1: But there's an Unhurried Living podcast. Unhurried Living is on Instagram, 595 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: it's on YouTube. I really encourage you as well if 596 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 1: you want more encouragement like this. Every Wednesday, my husband 597 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:10,160 Speaker 1: and I we take turns. We write emails that are 598 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 1: like this. We have these conversations, but we write them down. 599 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:15,480 Speaker 1: So every Wednesday you'll hear one of us sing something 600 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 1: about this relationship with Jesus and what it looks like 601 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 1: in our real, everyday life. So when you get on 602 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: our website you can sign up for that and just 603 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 1: hear more from us. Love that. 604 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 2: We will put all that information in the show notes. Well, Jim, 605 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 2: thank you so much for being on the podcast. It's 606 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:33,800 Speaker 2: been such a joy to hear your wisdom, hear your insights, 607 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 2: and it just makes me hungry to go deeper with 608 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 2: the Lord and just abiden him and just grow in 609 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 2: my intimacy with Jesus. So thank you so. 610 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 3: Much, Thank you so much for having me. It's been 611 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 3: wonderful to connect. Well, wasn't that a great episode? I 612 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 3: hope you got as much out of that as I did. 613 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 3: And as a reminder, if we haven't connected on social media, 614 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:56,480 Speaker 3: let's connect. 615 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 2: Donna A. Jones on Instagram, Donna Jones Speak. You're an author 616 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 2: on Facebook or check out my website Donna Jones dot 617 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 2: org and, as always, my friend, I can't wait to 618 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:09,040 Speaker 2: see you next time, for that's just what I needed.