This morning I was rushing to put a load of clothes from the washer into the dryer...rushing because my husband was waiting for me in the car to leave to go run some errands...and I remembered at the last minute that the clothes were sitting in the washing machine and I didn't want to come home to stinky clothes that would have to be washed all over again...and yes, I was in a hurry as usual...because that is just how I tend to operate...
and God got my attention....
I looked up and out of the window that is just above the washer and dryer...and there sat this beautiful male cardinal...partially hidden in the branches...but an obvious contrast to the green leaves surrounding him. Naturally, I stopped what I was doing...and ran and got my camera, and prayed he wouldn't fly away before I could get a picture of him...and there he was, waiting for me...
because he was God's little reminder to me about my new One Word for 2017...REST... Stop what you are doing and pay attention to ME for a moment...the errands can wait...(even though my husband came back inside to see what was taking me so long...) The pictures aren't the best quality due to being seen through a dirty window and it was rather cloudy this morning...
but God got HIS message across to me...
and here it is:
"You are my Hiding Place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with
songs of deliverance."
Psalm 32:7
and:
In Psalm 32:8 He says:
"I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye."
"Oh how great is Your goodness,
which You have laid up for those who fear You,
which You have prepared for those who trust in You
in the presence of the sons of men!
You shall hide them in the secret place of Your Presence
from the plots of man;
You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion
from the strife of tongues!"
Psalm 31:19-20
Oh yes! I believe I am going to enjoy this new One Word adventure for 2017... The Lord is drawing me closer to Him...hiding me in the secret place of His Presence...away from the plots of man and this world and away from the strife of tongues. He is already surrounding me with songs of deliverance...singing His loving lullabies over me...and sending songbirds to brighten my pathway.
Now, if I could just learn to stop rushing around so much!
Have a blessed, joy-filled, restful, peaceful day, my friends!
I am reminded of how He feeds the birds and takes care of His creations and how much more precious are His children. We do need to remember how He cares for us and all we need do is trust and 'wait' on Him. Good blog post Pamela.
ReplyDeleteTHank you Sylvia. Yes, I love how God shows us His love and care in the most interesting ways that we weren't expecting. He is opening my eyes to just how much He loves me and cares for me...and I just need to slow down and pay attention.
DeleteGod's reminders always seem to contain a moment of joy? Rush, rush, rush or rest, rest, rest----our choice.
ReplyDeleteI'm always on the alert for the joy factor. And rush rush rush or rest rest rest...Of course I'd rather REST...But I have to learn to not get into such a rush to do it! It's going to be an adventure for certain!
DeleteReading this was such a blessing to me, Pamela! I can so relate. And that bird! Wow. Just wow.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandi. I am glad you understand my issues... And yes, the cardinal was magnificent...I just wish it was a little clearer...but I feel blessed to have captured this picture at all! He didn't seem to be in a rush...unlike me! :)
DeletePam: I have found it better if I don't rush through chores or getting ready to go out the door. I enjoyed your pictures of the cardinal. We do have to rest our minda and our hearts in order to follow God's leading.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is always better not to rush...but sometimes I tend to be scatterbrained, and when my hubby said let's get going...I realized that the laundry was ready for me to move at the same time. Anyway...when dealing with a spouse who tends to be a bit on the impatient side...I have to adapt... I need to get him involved in my One Word for 2017 so we can BOTH REST at the same time! :)
DeleteOh Pamela~this was so beautiful! Isn't our God just amazing!! You are certainly finding REST in the little details that the Lord is placing in your daily life.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing God's love and goodness with us ♡
Thank you Debbie! yes, I love to see how God brings His plan all together. I just need to be observant and ready to heed His call...a call to come unto Him and find rest... Yes, so thankful.
DeleteOh Pamela~this was so beautiful! Isn't our God just amazing!! You are certainly finding REST in the little details that the Lord is placing in your daily life.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing God's love and goodness with us ♡
I love when God puts those little reminders in our path!!!
ReplyDeleteYes...Isn't He awesome??
DeleteThank you for sharing that with us! I too ask God for a Word, sometimes it's a new verse or simply a word. This year it is a word also, that scared me to pieces....More. I immediately said, "MORE? You want me to DO more?" Because that's just what we do, right? Well when I calmed down enough to listen, He spoke More to me...Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.; Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning....etc. I am looking forward with expectation to MORE of Him to do More with, to be able to give MORE to be able to do MORE.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how God will use the smallest of things to remind us to slow down and rest in Him? I'm so glad He gave you this precious moment, Pamela!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I'm late getting to posts today, but yours did indeed make me pause and reflect on the beauty of our world and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!! Thank you for this inspiration!
ReplyDeletePam, God's little reminders never cease to amaze me. When I saw the title of your post, I immediately thought of Psalm 91. Rest. Hmm...now that I think of it rest is similar to my word for last year "abide". Interesting. Now to see what God's word for me is this year. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings!