The Power of Pause

 As we all find ourselves navigating the ups and downs post-election, I feel led to share a devotional I recently presented. I think we could all use a moment to pause and reflect. In a time when emotions and opinions are high, the act of stepping back to regroup, recharge, and then get busy with what needs to be done!

Here’s what I shared with the team, with a prayer for each of you to find a pause that renews and strengthens your heart.

PACC Devotions – 11/12/2024

By: Hannah Wildes-Trumble

The Power of Pause

There has been a lot of talk around here in the past few days about taking a pause…when reflecting on this I thought…I often overlook the significance of a “pause,” but really, it holds immense power. As I thought about it some more, I was reminded of how Jesus himself took time to pause…. regroup, reflect, and rest.

In fact, throughout the Bible, we see numerous instances where pausing is emphasized. Jesus set this example, as he frequently took time away from the crowds to pray and seek solitude. For example, Mark 1:35, it says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” This shows us the importance of taking time to pause and connect with God.

A few more examples of pauses in the Bible that highlight its significance:

• Creation: After each day of creation, God paused to reflect on His work and saw that it was good (Genesis 1). This shows the importance of taking time to appreciate and evaluate our efforts.

• Moses and the Israelites: After crossing the Red Sea, Moses and the Israelites paused to sing a song of praise to God for their deliverance (Exodus 15:1-21).

• Samuel’s Ebenezer Stone: Samuel set up a stone called Ebenezer to commemorate God’s help in defeating the Philistines, encouraging the Israelites to pause and remember God’s faithfulness (1 Samuel 7:12).

• Communion: Jesus instituted the practice of Communion, asking His disciples to pause and remember His sacrifice (Luke 22:19).

• Selah in Psalms: The term “Selah” appears frequently in the Psalms, inviting readers to pause and reflect on the words and meditate on their meaning (e.g., Psalm 46:10).

These examples illustrate how pausing can help us connect with God, reflect on His goodness, and gain strength for our journey.

So, why pause? A pause is powerful because it makes us stronger. It reinvigorates us and gives us time to invest in ourselves so we can more fully invest in others. When we take a moment to pause, we allow ourselves to recharge and gain a fresh perspective.

After I wrote down my thoughts, I got to thinking that the Pause is only half the challenge – the other part - that is crucial, is that we don’t get stuck there. We should use this time to rest and restore, but then we need to get back to our work with renewed vigor. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” This includes both times of rest and times of action.

My challenge to you today is to consider incorporating pauses into your daily routine. Whether it’s a few minutes of quiet reflection in the morning, a short walk during lunch, or wandering into the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights, these pauses can help you stay grounded and focused. So, as we go about our busy lives, let’s remember the power of pause and how by taking the time to rest and reflect, we can draw closer to God and then as we step back into our hustle and bustle, we can have renewed energy and be more effective in our service to others. Selah.

May Jesus, guide us into moments that help us quiet our hearts, renew our minds and our energies and help us to refocus ourselves on the One who deserves all the glory – Selah and Amen.

Cover People

 Cover of the Book Day! 

Yup it’s made up, I made it up just now! Since there are so many made up holidays I am making my own! 

Beaver and I liken our kiddos’ stories and our family journey to a book. Not everyone gets to read it. In fact, most only get to see the cover! Some actually care enough they get to read the back and learn a little more. Some get to see the summary or intro page. While others are afforded peeks at certain chapter we reveal and those closest, most trusted, see the whole story. 

As we look back at our story we see our Village throughout the pages! The times when the ink runs dry or the words are hard to find you’ve helped write our story with infusions of love, prayers, safe spaces, brave spaces, spaghetti casseroles, a load of laundry, a hand to hold or to pass a tissue, or to laugh with us at absurdities that others can’t even fathom nor would they even find it the slightest bit funny! 

Soo..Cover Day inception….

Here we are in a new chapter of…. adult….ish! It’s a different, interesting and often a fun and difficult one to navigate for all of us.

And today (yesterday now) I was in a place where the ink was dry….as in the past months people, who don’t deserve to even read the cover, have been cruel and others have taken advantage. 

So, here’s to you Cover People who, at a glance, think you understand what is inside and judge and act without even caring to read the back cover to gain a tiny bit more insight and perspective, it’s okay though you don’t deserve to read it, we understand it’s not for everyone! Bless your hearts 💕 (I can say that with intention now since I’m kind of a southerner 😂)!

For those who’ve made it this far, welcome to the ever evolving summary! 

This is my boy, our boy!! Such a great kid…most of the time…(🤣IYKYK🥰) and we love him, ALL of the time! 

He is a full-time college student and a Veterinary Assistant a local Animal Clinic. He is tender hearted, kind and  therefore often loves pets more than people as the level of acceptance and understanding from the former is greater! He is active in church,  striving for acceptance and also wanting to learn more about Jesus and how to serve Him. 

Austin Jonathan, we pray for you to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. We pray you continue grow to love all of God’s creation (even humans in all of their…human-ness) And again, discernment…of those who get to be close enough to understand certain chapters and those who need to be kept as Cover People!

Don’t pass the Mayo!

 Thank you all for your prayers. Our Mayo visit yesterday went extremely well. Everyone was exceptionally knowledgeable, organized, and kind. 

Probably the most comforting aspect of our visit was the validation. It felt good to know the trajectory we’ve been on, since connecting with our local endocrinologist, is spot on; and now the folks at Mayo will help take it to the next level to determine treatment and advocate for further exploration. 

More testing over the next few weeks and then we hope to have a more definitive diagnosis and plan. 

So, in true Trumble-fashion…on the way there I rolled down the back window instead of the front, no biggie, but it wouldn’t roll up!!! Why?!! 

Hmmm…okay, we have all our stuff in the car we can hardly just leave it in the parking garage with the window down…

We phone a friend for any tips…nothing…Beaver is googling tips…

We pull into a parking lot and open and SLAM door several times in case it helps….(hey, ya never know). I thought people would think we were nuts so then I got laughing…lending more credence to their potential thoughts of my instability… added to this is that Beaver is outside pulling up on the window and saying “you aren’t slamming it hard enough” and “well don’t slam it 50 times in a row, you look crazy!” 

Hahahaaha!!! 

Omgosh! By then I was biting my cheek so I don’t bust up laughing. Suddenly, something worked….likely just the grace of God saving us from ourselves…and the window sailed up!! Whoot Whoot!!! 

All in all it was a reminder that despite ourselves He is ever present in our times of need. We felt your prayers and now you know that your intercession for us included a rebellious window!

Jehovah Tsaba

 Reading the book, The Power of God’s Names, by Tony Evans. I highly recommend this book! 

As we deal with curveballs of Beaver’s sickness, job loss, and our families’ struggles, it’s comforting and faith affirming to learn more about the God who is real, powerful, practical, present, and personal! He is far greater than even the most curviest of curveballs! 

The one that stood out to me tonight: Jehovah Tsaba: The Lord Our Warrior! 

How amazing to realize anew that the Lord of Heaven’s armies fights for us! 💕

Happy Birthday to Me!

 

Be Still

 Be Still

This is a picture I took of my prayer plant, before we left for the hospital today. 

A dear friend one told me her meditation mantra for when she is anxious. I adopted it and have used it often!

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I Am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.

Psalm 46:10a

(Temporary Backup) Be a helper!

* Voice to text, please excuse typos and the lack of punctuation. 

Friends after seeing the news this morning about all the Michigan schools closing, knowing others will soon follow suit, I stood in the shower and just cried and prayed.

I prayed for kiddos and families who otherwise don’t have food and resources and perhaps even less coping skills.

Prayed for the protection of kiddos who will now be home alone or placed here and there, or home with a parent who is struggling to keep themselves together.

I prayed for foster parents who rely on that 8 hour break. For the kiddos parents who are experiencing a lack of control over their child and may have fearful hearts.

And I prayed for all those who when this is all said and done and even now are naysayers to preparation and will in a twisted way decide if the pandemic wasn’t bad enough to warrant the hype. And are ignorant to the fact that it’s due to the cautious preparation lives will be spared.

Take a look around at your community neighborhood, the kids your kids go to school with, Food pantry, babysitting...What can you do to support someone today?

Agreed we should secure our own oxygen mask before assisting others… But while you’re securing your mask be thinking about how you can respond in an effective way to those around you.