A father and his daughter were great friends, especially since her mother had died. They spent a lot of time together. They enjoyed walking together in the cool of the evening, chatting about their day and sharing their thoughts on many subjects.
The father became grieved when the daughter began excusing herself from their walks. She also started to retire earlier, even though her light was still on much later.
Soon, it was his birthday, and as he opened the carefully wrapped parcel, he found a pair of slippers, exquisitely hand embroidered. Then he realised why she had not spent time with him. She had been working on his slippers.
He told her, “My darling daughter, I love these slippers. I greatly appreciate your hours of love in sewing them, and I will treasure them always, but next time, please just buy the slippers and give me the pleasure of your company. I would rather have my beloved child than anything she can make for me. The pleasure of your company is valued above all else.”
I wonder how many times our heavenly Father is grieved
when we fail to spend time with Him?
How many times does He say “My darling daughter, I love the enthusiasm in your service for Me. I love the way you serve Me by serving others. But, my dear child, don’t you know that I am grieved when you do not spend time with ME? Don’t you know that when you spend time with Me FIRST, your service will be much easier and will take less time, and will be more fruitful? I long for your company. I wait for you to join Me. I want to hear of your problems and help you solve them. I long to show you more of Myself. I long to shower you with more of my abundance. I want the pleasure of your company!”
We should never be so busy
that we neglect to spend time with our loving Father.
Maybe the letter to the Church at Ephesus has something to say to us. [Revelation 2:1-5] The Lord approves them for being serving, steadfast, separated and suffering – but the accusation comes because they have “left their first love”
Mark 12:30
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
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MEETING IN THE CLOUDS 
This is so good. I have been convicted of this lately. Staring at my computer, instead of staring into God’s word. Thank you for this reminder!
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Nothing should ever take precedence over our time with God. I’ll admit that there have been emergencies to DELAY that special time, but then the emergencies (when over) make it even more important.
When I was working very long hours (voluntary work) in a children’s ministry, I found it necessary to have a written priorities list for each day, which was updated a couple of times during the day. I always found it surprising how quickly work was completed when the Lord had been given the FIRST time of the day. Conversely, things never seemed to go right when that time was skimped. Not surprising really . . .
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It is wonderful to have time to visit with the Lord during a time of prayer, Bible reading, or listening to worship music and singing along, etc. It doesn’t have to be a set time every day, in the same place, but it is important to have fellowship with the Lord. Read ‘It Happened In the Garden’
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I agree. It is ALWAYS a tremendous blessing to meet with the Lord and it should be a continuing, CONSTANT time, as we walk through each moment of the day with Him.
Personally, I find that a set time, at the beginning of the day, is essential for me – a time when I am ‘alone’ with God. This is a special time which has its own unique significance and blessing which I don’t experience in any other times of ‘togetherness’ even though those other times are real and personal and a true blessing.
We serve an amazing God who delights to spend ‘alone’ time with His blood-bought adopted children.
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Cloudwatcher, actually, I have my prayer time in the morning then go back to sleep afterwards. Interesting thing is that it is usually around 3:25 a.m. when I look at the clock. So you can say that the Holy Spirit gets me up!
I like what you said:
“it should be a continuing, CONSTANT time, as we walk through each moment of the day with Him.”
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Thank you for that testimony. How wonderful that God has set an appointment and wakes you to keep it, and that you have that special time with Him. I’m sure it sets the pattern for the day for you.
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Thank you Angela! I know that I’m on the right track. It has been my desire to spend more and more time in His Word, of late! There is a thirst for righteousness, that can only be quenched in His presence! Thank you for reminding me, that I must NEVER be so busy with doing the work of the Lord, that I forget about the LORD of the work! May the Lord bless you, abundantly!
Paulette
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Hi Paulette.
>> “There is a thirst for righteousness, that can only be quenched in His presence!”
That sounds so like you! You always lead us to seek more of Him and His righteousness. The abundance of His blessings amazes me and of course, as I praise Him more, He blesses more. Isn’t He wonderful?
We serve an amazing God who wants to bless us more and more and more . . .
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“We should never be so busy
that we neglect to spend time with our loving Father.”
Amen…
Nothing we can chase after can ever take His place.
Blessings
ann
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I agree, Ann, ‘nothing CAN take His place’ . . . but sometimes we forget this. What a blessing that He very quickly makes us realise that without Him, we are nothing and can do nothing.
What an amazing God!
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Wonderful reminder, thank you so much. This helps me to understand why God has pulled me from several ministries at our church. He is doing a work in me in our alone time. Thank you again.
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As His Word says – “God’s way is perfect . . . and He makes my way perfect” Psalm 18:30,32. We can rest securely in the fact that God knows best and only wants the very best for His blood-bought, adopted children. Therefore, we trust His guidance. Therefore we spend time with Him, getting to ‘know’ Him better and understand His purpose for us.
We serve an amazing God who delights in our company.
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there is a song that was popular a few years back. It was written as if God were the one writing it. One of the lines says “I miss my time with you, those moments together. I want to be with you…” Yet how easy it can be to get absorbed in daily living for God that we neglect God.
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I’ve never heard that song, Gloria. Yes, it is easy to neglect our time with God. I have no doubts that ‘practicing the presence of God’ – starting the day with Him and continuing to acknowledge His presence throughout the day – is the best life, but I also know that ‘things’ interfere and we tend to run off on our own, without consulting the One who knows best and is willing to show us the right way. How foolish we are at times! And yet, our amazing God still waits for us to turn back to Him and is always there, ready to forgive and to undertake for us.
What an amazing God!
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A blessed reminder, How easy it is for all of us to get so busy doing things, even areas of service, that we take no time to be with our Lord. We all need to be on guard against doing ANYTHING to the exclusion of time with Christ. Lord bless you. Thanks for another great reminder.
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I found this a challenge when I was so busy in the children’s ministry. We had so many deadlines to meet, and worked such very long hours. First thing in the morning, after only a few hours sleep, my mind would be racing ahead to get that particular job finished and I sometimes skipped or shortened my ‘alone with God’ time. And guess what? Yes, I know you know. Things never went right.
Time spent with God is never wasted. In fact, the reverse is true. Time is wasted when we neglect that time, and time is spent profitably when we put Him first. Work is completed – and completed well – AFTER we give Him His rightful place.
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Thank you for showing us in that special way you do . ..that way that really impacts me . . .to make sure we aren’t putting other things first before Him. Even those things that we think we are doing for Him, or to please Him. This really makes me think! And pray!
God bless you, Angela, as you share His heart with us! Love and prayers!
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Debbie, I know you spend precious time with Him, because it is so evident in your ‘simple poems’. They are so clearly given from Him. I know our amazing God will continue to bless you, giving you many more ‘simple poems’ which He uses to bless me and many others.
We serve a truly amazing God!
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This is a timely piece, at least for the believers whose lives are so cluttered with “time wasting” activities. Spending alone, quiet time with our God was His purpose for creating us! He truly desires each of us to commune with Him and I can say that it is a JOY. Thanks sister Angela…
Be much blessed!
Stephanie
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Amen Stephanie. In the beginning, He created Adam for fellowship and He enjoyed time spent with him. He longs to spend time ‘alone’ with His blood-bought, adopted children, and it must grieve Him to be waiting and asking “Where are you?”
It is indeed a joy to spend time ‘alone’ with Him and the day never seems ‘right’ when that time is rushed or missed. We are so privileged!
We serve an amazing God!
Angela
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“You busy yourself with much Matha… but Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will not be taken from her.” An excellent encouragement we need to remember. Blessings good friend.
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I thought of that incident too. Spending time ‘alone’ with God, learning directly from Him and being blessed by His company is the greatest privilege and joy.
What an amazing God!
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Thank you for a good illustration of a deep truth. Nothing can replace time spent enjoying Daddy God. :-D
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Amen! It is a privilege and a joy, and supplies all we need to face whatever comes.
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Beautiful a wonderful parable. Thank you for sharing your heart.
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Thank you Jennifer.
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