Be Still My Soul...

Hello! I was just sitting here in my "Room with a View", looking out the window as I was trying to decide what to write about, and there were these three Sand Hill Cranes walking about on the other side of Still Waters Pond. So I hopped up and went out on the porch and took a few pictures...

I hadn't seen them lately...they are the little family that would sometimes fly in and fly out, I thought earlier in the year looking for a good place for a nest, but the Canada Geese had already beat them to it so they went elsewhere.

But then a few months later came back and brought their "baby" with them. So they show up now and again and have a snack on the pond and then fly up and over the house and away to who knows where for the night.

So, just after they flew away, and I do mean literally up and over the house right up in front of me...I thought they were aiming right for my window but shot straight up and over the house at the last minute...not long after as I was trying to once again organize by thoughts about what I should write...the sky looked like this, and I had to run back out on the porch to take some more pictures...

I mean, who can resist a lovely sunset right before your very eyes? 

I know I can't. I wait until the very last, or until the bugs start biting ferociously, whichever comes first...

Snapping pictures every minute as the skies change right before our eyes...

And finally the bugs got the better of me and I headed inside, but it was worth the pain of a few bug bites...

Previously I had been sitting out on our swing, enjoying the sounds of the frogs on the pond and the stillness of the evening setting in, wishing I had some friends and family to come join me in the afterglow of day...but I had to realize that summertime in Florida really isn't the time to sit outside in the evening for very long.  If it's not too hot and muggy, it's definitely too buggy.  When I relayed my feelings about wishing we could have a gathering outside in the evening, my hubby reminded me of those details, but promised when the weather cools down in the fall and the mosquitoes go away, we can begin to really enjoy our back yard and set up our firepit and do all the things I love to do.  

I sure hope he remembers his promise to do this in the fall, because things might be a little different for me this fall.  In case you've wondered, I did finally get the results of the MRI I had a few weeks ago on my neck...(remember THIS post a while ago?)  Just as I kind of figured, my neck is a mess with bulging disks and impinged nerves, etc., etc., and I have been referred to a neurosurgeon for further examination.  I finally got a call from his office today, telling me the earliest appointment he can see me is September 1st! Wow!  Meanwhile, I am on some strong medication to relieve the pain and spasms in my neck, but I don't know how long I can stay on that without further treatment. So, unless the doctor gets a cancellation and can see me sooner, (or if we decide to look for a different doctor who isn't so booked...but this one came highly recommended)...I'm kind of being put "on hold" for a while as far as making any plans or going anywhere or doing anything beyond the essential regular routine. Thankfully the medication is helping to relieve the nerve pain, but I kind of feel like I am in "la la land" and don't think I should drive or do anything too "exciting". 

So I hope you enjoy the pictures of the lovely blossoms on the Rose of Sharon bush in the Secret Memorial Garden,

and the myriads of new hollyberries ripening on the big holly tree...

I was thrilled to see so many berries again after last year's record "crop" and the flocks of Robins and Cedar Waxwings who showed up to eat them on their way south for the winter...

All this wonderful rain we've been having seems to have helped them develop and multiply!

For now I've ceased helping out at our kids' "Dixie Cottage" store once a week because not being able to rest during the day was putting extra strain on my neck (I missed my nap! LOL) , and we've also had to put off our plans to go to Maine in October to visit our grandson. I am just having to pace myself and not overdo it or things flare up again.

So that's that. Hopefully there will be some non-surgical alternatives that will help relieve this condition. I really hadn't counted on having to wait so long to even talk to a neurosurgeon, but I guess that is just the way it is these days.  I know I am not alone in having to wait for specialized treatment, and many people are in much worse condition that I am in, so I am trying to remain positive and not complain...just a bit frustrated right now. I don't like taking medicine if there is a better way.

So I tell you all of this not for sympathy or even for advice, but would just appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we seek these answers. 

This popped up in my little "Choose Grace" devotional book. Thought it was appropriate for today and for what I'm currently experiencing:

Yes, Lord, thank You for the gift of "stillness" (beside Still Waters Pond?), and again, help me to learn to wait patiently for You.  Amen.

I just realized as I was typing this that one of my friends at church and fellow choir member has asked me to sing a duet with her in the near future, "Be Still My Soul"... Hmmm...God must be trying to tell me something again...

1 Be still, my soul! for God is on your side;

bear patiently the cross of grief or pain:

leave to your God to order and provide,

who through all changes faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul! your best, your heav’nly Friend

through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2 Be still, my soul! for God will undertake

to guide the future surely as the past.

Your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake;

all now mysterious shall be clear at last.

Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know

the voice that calmed their fury long ago.

3 Be still, my soul! the hour is hastening on

when we shall be forever in God's peace;

when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

love’s joys restored, our strivings all shall cease.

Be still my soul! when change and tears are past,

all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Good Night.

 

Waiting on God - Updated

UPDATE 4/23/2020:  I like to go back and look at things I've written in the past around the same time of year as the current time, and this was written on 4/24/2018.  I think the theme of "Waiting on God" certainly is appropriate for our current situation today, don't you? We are all waiting on God, for this Covid 19 Crisis to pass, and waiting on God for the okay sign to get back out into the realm of the living again...allowing people to get back to work safely, and for us to begin to slowly get back into the mainstream of life once again.  

These pictures below came from our previous home. I sometimes miss the beauties of that place, but then again, God has given us some wonderful beauties to behold here in our new home as well. We waited patiently for the Lord to sell our house and find us a new home, and I must say that God does all things well. We can trust Him, friends, to bring us through this crisis into a stronger and better place than before. Just keep your eyes focused on the Lord, and He will never let you down.

Original Post, 4/24/2018:

 "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass."

Psalm 37:7

"Wait on the Lord;

Be of good courage,

and He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!"

Psalm 27:14

 "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,

to the soul who seeks Him.

It is good that one should hope and wait quietly 

for the salvation of the Lord."

Lamentations 3:25-26

"The eyes of all look expectantly to You,

and You give them their food in due season"

Psalm 145:15

"You open Your hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing."

Psalm 145:16

"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,

to all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He also will hear their cry and save them."

Psalm 145:18-19

Dear friend, Are you waiting on God today for some answers to difficult questions?

Are you waiting for the Lord to show you His plan for your life...whether it be financial, medical, personal family situations, salvation of a loved one...

Whatever it may be that you are waiting for, you can trust God to meet your need...

He is always there...He hears your prayer, and He sees your heart...

Trust in the Lord...

"Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God,

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

Amen!

The Secret Garden Chronicles, Day 5: Rest = Silence=Worship Revisited

This was originally written a couple of years ago, when the Secret Garden was a new place for me to sit and "rest" and pray and worship the Lord. I am sorry to say that I have fallen away from that daily habit in the years since, although I do still go out there periodically when I really need to just be "silent" before the Lord. I think I am due for a visit, but not today. It's been raining non-stop all day and is about 48 degrees out there right now. However, since this is a Sunday afternoon, my thoughts have been on resting in the Lord. This past week was full of turmoil in the world, and my heart and soul need a rest from the news and sorrow of how dark our nation is becoming.  So come along with me as we enter the Secret Garden and sit silently and give our hearts and minds some "rest".

Original Post 1/28/17:

As we enter the Secret Garden today, this song comes back to me once again:

"The Lord is in His holy temple,

The Lord is in His holy temple;

Let all the earth keep silence,

Let all the earth keep silence before Him,

Keep silence, keep silence before Him."

Amen

In yesterday's post I wrote about Psalm 37, and in the process of reading that passage, verse 7 in particular...please note where it says "REST in the Lord...", there is a reference in my Bible that says the words "Rest in the Lord" literally means "Be silent to the Lord, and it gives a reference to Psalm 62:1, which says "Truly my soul silently waits for God..."

Well, since writing yesterday's post these words keep coming back to me, especially in the form of the call to worship chorus "The Lord Is In His Holy Temple", which is actually a quote from Habakkuk 2:20.  In trying to understand how the words "REST in the Lord" equates with the translation "Be SILENT to the Lord", the Lord drew my attention back to this song...and it's as if God is making a point here to me to notice something in this song that further explains what He means by REST=SILENCE.

Let us look at this music score together so we can further understand what God is telling me through this passage:

Do you see where it says, "Let all the earth keep silence" and then there is a little note or musical symbol after the word SILENCE...and that symbol is actually called a REST, which means that the singer and the instruments literally stop and REST, or be SILENT for just that moment before continuing on to the next phrase/note.  If you will further "note" (pun intended) the REST comes again after "Let all the earth keep silence before Him, and then every time  after the word "Silence", there is another REST!  Do you see what I see???

Lord, I love that YOU are making this point, especially in light of the fact that my "One Word" for 2017 is REST...and here I am, attempting to do just that as I come before Your presence here in this place that has been set apart particularly for worship, meditation, and REST in You.  I am in awe of what You are showing me as we come together each day.  Even though we are learning here that REST=SILENCE, I am seeing that in this time of RESTing in You, and being SILENT to You, I am learning more about what it means to  truly WORSHIP YOU.  The only thing is, it really is difficult for me to be SILENT when everything we do here leads me to give You praise!  However, I know there is something beautiful in silently coming before the Lord...and waiting on You to lead the way.

These songs come to my mind and voice as I think about this...

"Open my eyes that I may see

Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me.

Place in my hands the wonderful key

that shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee,

Ready my God, Thy will to see,

Open my eyes, illumine me,

Spirit Divine."

("Open My Eyes That I May See" by Clara H. Scott)

and

"Spirit of the Living God,

Fall fresh on me,

Spirit of the Living God,

Fall fresh on me.

Melt me, Mold me, Fill me, Use me.

Spirit of the Living God, 

Fall fresh on me."

("Spirit of the Living God" by Daniel Iverson)

Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to come into Your Presence each day.  As I leave this place today, I am refreshed and rested. I am learning more about what it means to be silent before the Lord...and to allow His soothing Presence to calm my spirit and fill me with His Spirit...and then I am better equipped to tackle whatever comes along.  

Praise God!

Amen.

Messages In Nature

Messages In Nature

If you look closely, you will see a big heart in this old oak tree. 

I didn't notice it until I looked at the picture, 

yet it was there all the time. 

Isn't that the way it is with love? 

Sometimes we can't see it because of all the clutter and stuff surrounding us...

kind of like not being able to see the forest for the trees. 

But God's Love is right there...in places we don't expect to find it. We just have to step back and take a breath and look again. 

When we look at the "bigger picture", 

we begin to understand the message 

God is trying to get through to us. 

Perhaps you can help me find some other hidden messages in these pictures from more of God's creation all around us...

"He will not be afraid of evil tidings;

His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  

His heart is established;

He will not be afraid."

Psalm 112:7-8a

 "The Lord is my strength and song,

and He has become my salvation."

Psalm 118:14

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him."

Psalm 37:7

"Blessed are the meek,

for they shall inherit the earth."

Matthew 5:5

"But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid!"

Matthew 14:27

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."

Ephesians 5:1-2

I thought perhaps these positive words from scripture might be a blessing and a breath of fresh air in the midst of a week full of turmoil and negativity. Perhaps this will inspire you to be on the look out for more "messages in nature", sent with love from God to you!  Be sure to either capture them in pictures, or write them down...and share them with us so that we can be encouraged as well!  

May God be with you always!