Halfway There

Dear Momma,

For some reason, I’ve loved waking up in the morning while it’s still dark outside. I used to just want to stay in bed the darker it would get in the mornings, so this is a change for me. By the time I drop my daughter off at school and begin the 30 minute journey to work each morning, I get to see how the Artist of ALL artists paints the sky from the very beginning of the day. I swear He has never painted the same picture in the sky more than once. What I’m learning is that even within that 30 minute span, the entire landscape of the sky has changed so quickly, so drastically. During this change amongst my drives in the morning to work, I notice how the trees change. I feel a dip in the weather. I see the pumpkins decorating front porches and mums lining businesses all around. I’m sitting at the edge of October with most Friday night’s filled with football games, schedules filled with activities and a quarter of learning behind us and our favorite Fall traditions ahead of us staring into November sitting here thankful for and in awe of it all.

I’m continually reminded that just as quickly as the sky changes in the morning and as quickly as I turn the page of October to November how much time it feels I have left with my girls under our roof until the Lord draws them to their next chapters. I’m reminded that their roots, their foundation of faith and their relationship with our Heavenly Father continues to be the most precious, beautiful, and important thing they will ever have in this life on this side of Heaven and it’s more important than ever, especially as the time seems to move more quickly than ever to lean into Him.

For the past couple of months, my girls and I have been reading The Normal Christian Life. If you haven’t read any of Watchman Nee’s work, I’d highly recommend. His writings are a game changer. (Side Note: A couple of weeks ago, our family read the book of Romans together. Each family member took 3 chapters of Romans and read it aloud to ‘center’ us in what this whole text was referring to. There’s also something beautiful about the Living Word of God being read aloud in your home with no distraction, no disruption, but just family and His Words in the space.)

We haven’t been consistent. Sometimes we’re too tired. Other times we feel that we’re too busy. There have been times we’ve forgotten. Yet, we always make time to keep coming back together to learn about our Lord and simply sit with Him.

Currently, we’re halfway through the book.

Today, we watched a sermon titled “So we fasted” by Pastor Phillip Anthony Mitchell. It was Holy Spirit Inspired. After we watched the sermon and reflected on it afterwards, Holy Spirit prompted me to ask all of us to go to a ‘secret place’ to spend quiet time with Him. No technology. No distractions. Nothing to do. Nowhere to be. No plans to make. No chore to complete.

15 minutes with Him. Alone. Our entire household.

So, each of my girls went to their spaces alone to be with Him. I did the same.

The Spirit was strong in our household. After 15 minutes, I walked upstairs and His presence was palpable. The time could have lasted much longer.

Each of the girls experienced Him differently…

The beautiful part? I picked up the book, where we left off, and began to read…. Below are just a few of the words we read aloud from Watchman Nee’s work while reflecting on our time with the Lord where we could.

“When the Holy Spirit is poured out upon God’s people, their experiences will differ widely….”

“The trouble with the Corinthian Christians was not that they lacked the in-dwelling Spirit, but that they lacked the knowledge of His presence. They failed to realize the greatness of the One who had come to make His abode in their hearts…”

“The Spirit who dwells within me is no mere influence, but a Living Person; He is God. The infinite God is within my heart…”

“Why is it that some of God’s children live victorious lives while others are in a state of constant defeat? The difference is not accounted for by the presence of absence of the Spirit (for He dwells in the heart of every child of God), but by this: Some recognize His indwelling and others do not. True revelation of the fact of the Spirit’s indwelling will revolutionize the life of any Christian.”

Thank you Lord Jesus for always being so much more than I could ever even ask for.

Today was a beautiful reminder of John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

So, 15 minutes a day just my girls, my household and Him. Every single day with Him to stay connected, to Honor Him, to know Him, to love Him, and to experience Him. My challenge for you is to do the same with your girls this week. 15 minutes a day the house is completely quiet. No tv is on. No phones are buzzing. Laptops are closed. Windows are open and the schedule is completely clear for the most important meeting time of the day: Time with our Lord and Savior, our Helper, our Protector, our King of Kings undeterred.

What was I reminded of? I was reminded of Joel where the Word says to ‘return to me with ALL your heart” and I was also reminded of Malachi and Zechariah where the Word says, “Return to me, and I will return to you.”

Today was a day of the He continued to reveal who He is even with me, even with us, even in the midst of having sinful hearts, busy calendars, seasons that seem to change more quickly than I can comprehend, and a book halfway read and halfway there, we returned to Him and He returned to us.

Let’s turn our Eyes to Jesus because it’s all for His Glory.

In love,

Kassie Leigh