Still Small Voice

It's been a quiet week here at Still Waters Pond. I haven't been out much...no rides in the kayak yet this week...just keeping cool and calm and away from the noise of the world as much as possible. Probably a good thing for us all to do. The noise of the world is getting louder and louder, and it is becoming more difficult to hear that "still small voice" of God in the midst of the tumult. 

I Kings 19:11-12 "Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."

I stood out on the back deck early one morning and enjoyed this beautiful full moon reflecting on the pond. It was so peaceful there...just me and the frogs croaking and no other noise for a little while...a good time to pause and thank the Lord for His Presence in our lives and invite Him to be with us throughout the day.

And then another morning the sun was rising out in the east, as I stood on the front deck of the house and went through the morning ritual of putting out our flag and thanking the Lord for the blessing of living in a free country, and praying that it remains so forever.

Another morning I baked some more of those good Blueberry Bran Muffins (Recipe can be found HERE), and sat out on the back deck and enjoyed listening to the birds sing while I "Rejoice In Each New Day"  (my favorite morning tea mug).  and listened for that "still small voice" of God to begin my day.

Psalm 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

One other day I heard the very loud voice of this Red Shouldered Hawk in the top of this very tall dead pine tree...

He was declaring his sovereignty over the woods surrounding his perch above the tree tops...

and then again, this morning I heard the familiar loud call of this Red Bellied Woodpecker high up in that same tree, declaring it was time to rise and shine!

One day while we were walking I spied this very young little bunny, quietly nibbling on some grass alongside the road.  He was listening very attentively to the sounds around him as he ate his "salad", and as soon as he detected my presence he was off "quick like a bunny" back into the safety of the woods.

But the most wonderful experience of the this week happened this morning as we took our walk. I could hardly believe my eyes as I saw this gorgeous Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly flitting about from bush to bush...

This lovely creature was at least as wide if not wider than the span of my hand, and just so graceful and beautiful as it fluttered from one place to another.  I tiptoed ever so quietly up behind it, hoping it would stay still long enough for me to capture a few good photographs.

And, thankfully it did oblige me. I whispered my thanks to this magnificent creature, and then gave thanks and praise to our Magnificent Creator, our Lord and God, who created all of the beauty that we see around us every day. 

I know the news has been disturbing to many of us, and I even had a dear friend ask me for prayer because she was becoming overcome with fear and anxiety and slipping into depression because of the current state of the world.  I can understand her feelings all too well.  If we didn't have the Lord with us and on our side, how would be be able to cope in this constant deluge of turbulence? 

That reminds me of Psalm 124, which says:

1.  "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,"

Let Israel now say--

2.  "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,

When men rose up against us,

3.  Then they would have swallowed us alive,

When their wrath was kindled against us;

4.  Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,

The stream would have gone over our soul;

5.  Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul."

6.  Blessed be the Lord,

Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

7.  Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;

The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

8.  Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made heaven and earth."

Let us "Be Still and know that I Am God",

and listen for that 

"still small voice" as He whispers our name and reminds us that He is still on our side, and that He is our help and shield.  We need not fear what man may do to us.

Praise God!