Wednesday Treasures: "An Island of Calm"

Good Wednesday Morning!

What started out as a typical Wednesday morning, hunting for "treasures" to share with you, as is the norm for many of my blog posts, one thought led to another, and it ended up being something totally different than what I thought or planned.  

In removing all of the Christmas decorations, I started looking around for something different to fill the blank spaces until the next holiday, and of course Tea Time is always a background theme for my home.

So here above we have a couple of my favorite dolls, Valerie and Anne of Green Gables, sitting down for a little tea party. I've had Anne of Green Gables tea parties before:

"A Kindred Spirit", Pamela's Victorian Cottage Has a Very Special Visitor, Diana Is Invited to Tea, A Merry Heart is Good Medicine,  to name a few...

but this tea party took a different turn. As I picked up the book that you see on the table above, 

"If Teacups Could Talk", by Emilie Barnes and paintings by Sandy Lynam Clough,

I turned to the page below and the story entitled,

"Fill Me with Serenity...Islands of Calm in an Ocean of Chaos"

Wow! Did that ever speak  to me with all that is going on in our country today! Who doesn't long for an "Island of Calm" in the midst of all this chaos around us these days?

(painting by Sandy Lynam Clough)

The story goes on to talk about how you could always "grab a quick cup of tea", or "heat a mug of water in the microwave" and "plunk in your teabag or stir in some spiced-tea mix and carry the whole thing back to your desk to gulp while you work."  But the author goes on to say that if you do that "you'll miss one of tea's most beautiful benefits...the blessing of slowing down to enjoy it."  You will miss the "opportunity to stake out an island of calm serenity in the chaotic ocean of daily life." (Emilie Barnes, "If Teacups Could Talk", page 11)

So I began to think about this...

And as I looked around my home "office space" (office sounds so stark and busy and unfriendly...I need to think of another name for this space where I create and enjoy looking out at Still Waters Pond while I write to you... maybe you can help me come up with a better name)

(I just took this picture as I was writing to you...this is "hot off the press!")

And as I looked around my little room I noticed this picture hanging on the wall that I have had forever. It was a greeting card from someone that I liked so much I framed it and hung it on the wall...

My own little "Island of Calm"

and here below is what I felt led to create for us just now to bring this thought even closer together:

And this became my prayer as I thought more about this today:

"The Serenity Prayer"

But then I wondered, where in the Bible could I find some words of serenity and peace and understanding in the midst of the chaos of our world's current events?  And the 37th Psalm seemed to fit the overarching need of my heart today...and perhaps yours as well.  I recommend reading the whole 40 verses, but I have only included the first 11 for you here today:

Psalm 37:1-11 

1 Do not fret because of evildoers,

Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,

And wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,

And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,

And your justice as the noonday.

7 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.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;

Do not fret—it only causes harm.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off;

But those who wait on the Lord,

They shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;

Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,

But it shall be no more.

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,

And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Can you see the theme of "The Serenity Prayer" in this Psalm?   I do...I see Serenity, Courage, and Wisdom throughout these words of King David.  The Serenity Prayer is a wonderful way to sum it all up, but getting into the meat of God's Word is what truly gives us peace (Serenity), courage, and wisdom.  

So that is where my "Wednesday Treasures" hunt led me today. I hope you are able to find an "Island of Calm" in this chaotic world today.  Perhaps a cup of tea would help, but spending time in meditating on God's Word provides the best results.   

May your day be filled with Serenity, Courage, and Wisdom...

the Secret Garden Chronicles - Speak, Lord, In the Stillness - Revisited

This was written a couple of years ago from the Secret Garden.  Today I am feeling a little under the weather...allergies/sore throat/tired...anyway, this message soothes my soul today, and I wanted to share it with you again.  I hope it will be a blessing to you as well.


Original Post 2/26/2017:

While sitting in the Secret Garden this afternoon, the Lord led me to discover this song in my old hymnbook.  It was not familiar to me, so I found this version on You Tube, sung by Andy Pratt. His words are the modern version, replacing the Thee's and Thy's with You and Your, etc., but the message is still so serene and comforting.  The tune is named "Quietude"....which is exactly how this feels...quiet, peaceful and as if you are in a holy place...which is where we are when we enter the Presence of The Lord...whether it be in a garden, or your prayer closet, or maybe a quiet sanctuary after the close of the services, kneeling before the altar of the Lord...  I hope you will turn on your sound and sit quietly and prayerfully sing along with this beautiful little song. You will be blessed by it, I assure you.

Speak Lord In The Stillness, 

modern version sung by Andy Pratt

written by E. May Grimes

1

Speak, Lord, in the stillness,

  While I wait on Thee;

Hushed my heart to listen,

  In expectancy.

2

Speak, O blessed Master,

  In this quiet hour;

Let me see Thy face, Lord,

  Feel Thy touch of power.

3

For the words Thou speakest,

  They are life indeed;

Living bread from heaven,

  Now my spirit feed!

4

All to Thee is yielded,

  I am not my own;

Blissful, glad surrender,

  I am Thine alone.

5

Speak, Thy servant heareth,

  Be not silent, Lord;

Waits my soul upon Thee

  For the quickening word.

6

Fill me with the knowledge

  Of Thy glorious will;

All Thine own good pleasure

  In Thy child fulfill.

7

Like a watered garden,

  Full of fragrance rare,

Lingering in Thy presence,

  Knowing You are there.

I think I will close with these verses from Psalm 63

1.  "O God, You are my God;

Early will I seek You,

My soul thirsts for You;

My flesh longs for You 

in a dry and thirsty land

where there is no water.

2.  So I have looked for You in the Sanctuary...

to see Your power and Your glory;

(this is not in my Secret Garden, but a lovely place on the Ocklawaha River we hiked to one time, near Davenport Landing)

3.  Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You,

4. Thus will I bless you while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your Name.

5.  My soul shall be satisfied with marrow and fatness,

and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips."

Praise the Lord!

I hope you've enjoyed this time of "quietude" 

in the Secret Garden with me today. 

May it bring peace and solace to your soul.

Amen