A Season of Misses

Logging into my blog just now, I couldn't help but notice the date of October 23rd being the last post written.  Sweet friends, that is too long to go without saying hello.  My deepest apologies.  

This post has been stirring in my heart for a month or so.  A Season of Misses.  

And now it is the Christmas season, and I believe under all the decking of halls and silver bells, our hearts are ringing with: 

"Lord, don't let me miss this.  Don't let me miss You this season." 

Business is a word that would have defined my life a few months ago. That is until the Lord gave me a "season of misses."  Below are a few things scheduled until the Lord changed all my plans.  These are some of my "misses":

A weekend away at a women's conference.  Spending sweet time with dear friends at the conference. A weekend away ministering at the Deeper Still Ministry retreat.  A weekend women's conference in my home city.  Going to my aunt's funeral,  Speaking at a women's event.  Going to visit my family in Illinois.  Hearing a good friend speak at a women's conference.  Going to the mom's group at my church.  Going with my family to visit dear friends who moved away.  

This list is just some of the "misses" in the past two months.  I am sure I cannot remember all of them.   Why did I miss them?  Life.  A husband with a torn Achilles and sickness in our family the whole month of October.   

At first my heart was heavy with misses.  But Lord, I really wanted to go to that ministry event.  But Lord, I love Deeper Still.  But Lord, I really miss my family.  But Lord. I really wanted to go to my aunt's funeral.  And hear my friend speak, and spend time with the ladies at church.  But Lord...

Then, my perspective changed.  Perhaps my misses were not misses at all but rather the Lord redirecting my call.  

Sue, where is your heart?  Do you hold up any of these as idols in place of Me?  Let's take a pause and step back so you can realign yourself with my best for you.  

"Look here, you people who say, 'Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there for a year.  We will do business there and make a profit.'  How do you know what will happen tomorrow?  For your life is like a morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone.  What you ought to say is, 'If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.'  Otherwise, you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil."  James 4:13-16

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and he will direct your paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6

This season of misses turned out to be one of the best things that has happened for me.  He has been teaching me to pause, to ask for His direction and turn my eyes towards Him.  

This Christmas season, I pray we will set aside time to reflect on and cherish the true Gift of this season.  All the tinsel and parties and holiday events are fun, but too much business will cause this season to pass and we'll miss the One thing we need the most.  Let's not miss the Person for the sake of celebration.  Fully embracing Him and His glory is worth any misses.  I'll gladly miss if it means gaining Christ.