Anna Kettle - Sand Between Your Toes: Inspirations for a Slower, Simpler, and More Soulful Life

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Sand Between Your Toes: Inspirations for a Slower, Simpler, and More Soulful Life

Copyright 2020 by Anna Kettle. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of pink clouds by Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash. Cover photograph of sky and waves copyright Tetra Images/Getty; all rights reserved. Cover photograph of Adirondack chairs copyright Steve Cole Images/Getty Images; all rights reserved. Cover photograph of flip-flop sandals copyright shalamov/Depositphotos; all rights reserved. Cover illustration of pattern copyright ELENA/Adobe Stock; all rights reserved.

Interior photographs and illustrations are the property of their respective copyright holders, and all rights are reserved. Sea shells copyright mashuk/Getty Images; coconut leaf copyright drpnncpp/Depositphotos; sunrise sky copyright volgariver/Depositphotos; ocean abstract copyright davidschrader/Depositphotos; flip-flops copyright belchonock/Depositphotos; star fish copyright goir/Adobe Stock; yellow umbrella copyright NinaMalyna/Adobe Stock.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation; used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188; all rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version. Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson; used by permission of NavPress; all rights reserved; represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV; copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.; used by permission; all rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.; used by permission; all rights reserved.

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ISBN 978-1-4964-4388-5

ISBN 978-1-4964-4390-8 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-4964-4389-2 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-4964-4391-5 (Apple)

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Have you never heard?

Have you never understood?

The L ORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless.

ISAIAH 40:28-29

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.

PSALM 23:6

I love this verse because its such a sure promise these days when certainty doesnt seem like a very common currency.

We live in times of political, social, and economic instability, not to mention rapid technological change. All those factors can leave us longing for some constancy in our lives.

Some people search for that sense of stability by believing that we need to go back to the good old days. Others simply try to control their present reality in equally unhealthy ways.

But the truth is that we cant go back and recreate what has already been; we can only go forward into our future. The good news is we can do it with hopeful hearts that are laid wide open to Gods love.

His goodness and unfailing love are undisputed certainties. They have remained unchanged throughout the ages, truly standing the test of time. And they arent hidden away or hard to find either.

The Bible says that his goodness and love are actively pursuing us; pursuing us in the same way that a man pursues a woman or a treasure hunter chases clues proactively, passionately, and urgently. What an incredible thought!

I desperately want a life that is overflowing with Gods goodness and love, dont you? When we commit ourselves to him, he promises to give us just that.

How confident are you of Gods goodness and love? Spend a few minutes reflecting on some of the different ways youve experienced him pursuing you throughout your life.

Lord, today I am opening my heart afresh to experiencing your goodness and your love. Please fill me to overflowing so they can impact every aspect of my life.

Be still, and know that I am God!

PSALM 46:10

Being still is so countercultural in a world that is always moving, isnt it? And its also really hard to do!

I grew up in a Christian family and was taught from a young age the importance of regularly setting aside time to spend with God. But even now, at forty, I struggle with being still before him.

Because Im such a doer, being still has always sounded, well... a little bit boring to me. But these days, I find myself craving more stillness.

Im a full-time working mom with a busy schedule. I juggle the responsibilities of parenthood and running a household alongside the pressures of a career, and I try to keep some semblance of a social life. Sometimes the expectations of modern life can feel relentless, cant they?

What about you? Are you frequently exhausted and longing to slow down, yet discovering that its difficult to create any margin for rest in your life? Do you often find yourself mentally harassed by all the things that need to be checked off while struggling to relax, feeling that you should be doing something more productive?

I love todays verse because it reminds me that were not human robots designed for ever-greater levels of efficiency; were human beings created to be in relationship with our Maker and called to live in his love.

So lets connect with God in stillness today, remembering who he is.

Take a few moments to sit quietly in Gods presence. Turn off your phone and push aside all other distractions. Simply focus on who he is and let that truth begin to change your perspective.