Stillness

The Parting of the Red Sea by Arnold Friberg

I stopped doing resolutions a few years back.  They just didn’t seem to be getting me anywhere except discouraged.  As I was thinking of doing away with these things, I was reading over past journals.  I noticed that there seemed to be themes that the Lord was working on in my life.  So I started praying about these themes, “Lord, what is it You want to work on in me this year?”  Last year, it was rest.  This year it is stillness.  I have found that when I keep my focus on something that I think the Lord wants to do in my life, other things seem to fall into place (i.e. relationships, weight loss, organization, etc.).

As I was thinking on the themes of rest and stillness, I thought they were the same thing; but as I did a little study, I found this was not so.  I learned several years ago to look up words in an English dictionary to capture the different meanings.  Rest is refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor; relief or freedom especially from anything that wearies, troubles or disturbs; a period or interval or inactivity repose solitude or tranquility; mental or spiritual calm.  It is a noun.  It is something that the Lord gives to us (Matthew 11:28-30).  Stillness is silence, or a quiet hush; the absence motion; free from sound or noise as a place or persons: silent ‘to keep still about a matter’; subdued or low in sound; hushed; free from turbulence or commotion, peaceful, tranquil, calm; without waves or perceptible current.  In Psalm 46:10, it is a verb, a command; something that the Lord tells us to do.  Why?  So that we can know that He is God.

There were several verses that I turned to while thinking on these things:

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: (Exodus 14:13a)  The Egyptian army was bearing down on them and the Red Sea was behind them.  They had no other choice than to give up control and see what God would do.

Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall:  (Ruth 3:18a)  Ruth had obeyed all that Naomi told her to do and now it was time to wait.  That is soooo hard, isn’t it?  Was she going to marry a nearer kinsman, Boaz or perhaps no one at all?  God knew and was in control.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. (Psalm 4:4)  When sleep won’t come, what I am thinking about?  Am I dwelling on the Lord?  Keeping my heart still?

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. (John 11:20)  And once again we have an example of poor Martha taking the bull by the horns, while Mary remains still.

While I was dwelling on all of this, some things came to mind.  I have to be still in order to hear the still small voice of God (I Kings 19:12).  I need to be free from noise in order to have stillness in my soul.  What are some noisemakers in my soul?  I can think of a few.  Can you?  Keep still and see what God will do.  What is the opposite of stillness?  If you have to stand still to see the salvation of the Lord, then that means you are giving up control!

I have so many changes looming this year.  My heart has been anything but still!  I’m praying this will be a year of change in my heart and that I will be still and see what God will do!

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

~Psalm 46:10

The Prodigal Son

I had the privilege of attending a Christian university majoring in a specific area of fine arts.  One particular teacher was very challenging.  I have to confess that I dreaded his class; however, I did learn much from him.  (That’s usually the case with those kind of teacher’s, isn’t it?)  This particular university had vespers (a program the consisted of music and literature with a religious theme) regularly.  A few of these programs stand out in my mind.  When I was in graduate school, I had the privilege of working in the auditorium where these vesper programs were performed.  I was able to work with many faculty outside the classroom.  It was while working during one particular vespers that I gained a new understanding and appreciation for the aforementioned faculty member.  I witnessed first-hand that what he expected from his students, he demanded from himself.  When I had the opportunity to take another class with him, I jumped  at the chance.

Try to picture yourself sitting in an auditorium in total darkness.  A man that looks to be in his 60′s walks out on the stage and the spotlight shines.  You see his expression and the way he carries himself.  You can’t help but sit up straight, relax your shoulders and prepare yourself for what is to come.  He pauses in a moment of silent prayer and then begins…

Young man—

Young man—

Your arm’s too short to box with God.

 

But Jesus spake in a parable, and he said:

A certain man had two sons.

Jesus didn’t give this man a name,

But his name is God Almighty.

And Jesus didn’t call these sons by name,

But ev’ry young man,

Ev’rywhere,

Is one of these two sons.

 

And the younger son said to his father,

He said: Father, divide up the property,

And give me my portion now. 

And the father with tears in his eyes ‘said: Son, 

Don’t leave your father’s house.

But the boy was stubborn in his head,

And haughty in his heart,

And he took his share of his father’s goods, 

And went into a far-off country.

 

There comes a time,

There comes a time

When ev’ry young man looks out from his father’s house

Longing for that far-off country.

 

And the young man journeyed on his way,

And he said to himself as he travelled along:

This sure is an easy road,

Nothing like the rough furrows behind my father’s plough.

 

Young man—

Young man—

Smooth and easy is the road

That leads to hell and destruction.

Down grade all the way,

The farther you travel, the faster you go.

No need to trudge and sweat and toil,

Just slip and slide and slip and slide

Till you bang up against hell’s iron gate.

 

And the younger son kept travelling along,

Till at night-time he came to a city.

And the city was bright in the night-time like day,

The streets all crowded with people,

Brass bands and string bands a-playing,

And ev’rywhere the young man turned

There was singing and laughing and dancing.

And he stopped a passer-by and he said:

Tell me what city is this?

And the passer-by laughed and said: Don’t you know?

This is Babylon, Babylon,

That great city of Babylon.

Come on, my friend, and go along with me.

And the young man joined the crowd.

 

Young man—

Young man—

You’re never lonesome in Babylon.

You can always join a crowd in Babylon. 

Young man—

Young man—

 

You can never be alone in Babylon, 

Alone with your Jesus in Babylon. 

You man never find a place, a lonesome place, 

A lonesome place to go down on your knees, 

And talk with your God, in Babylon. 

You’re always in a crowd in Babylon.

 

And the young man went with his new-found friend,

And bought himself some brand-new clothes,

And he spent his days in the drinking-dens,

Swallowing the fires of hell.

And he spent his nights in the gambling-dens,

Throwing dice with the devil for his soul.

And he met up with the women of Babylon.

Oh, the women of Babylon !

Dressed in yellow and purple and scarlet,

Loaded with rings and earrings and bracelets,

Their lips like honeycomb dripping with honey,

Perfumed and sweet-smelling like a jasmine flower;

And the jasmine smell of the Babylon women

Got in his nostrils and went to his head,

And he wasted his substance in riotous living,

In the evening, in the black and dark of night,

With the sweet-sinning women of Babylon.

And they stripped him of his money,

And they stripped him of his clothes,

And they left him broke and ragged

In the streets of Babylon.

 

Then the young man joined another crowd—

The beggars and lepers of Babylon.

And he went to feeding swine,

And he was hungrier than the hogs;

He got down on his belly in the mire and mud 

And ate the husks with the hogs.

And not a hog was too low to turn up his nose 

At the man in the mire of Babylon.

 

Then the young man came to himself—

He came to himself and said:

In my father’s house we many mansions, 

Ev’ry servant in his house has bread to eat, 

Ev’ry servant in his house has a place to sleep; 

I will arise and go to my father.

And his father saw him afar off,

And he ran up the road to meet him.

He put clean clothes upon his back,

And a golden chain around his neck,

He made a feast and killed the fatted calf, 

And invited the neighbours in.

 

Oh-o-oh, sinner,

When you’re mingling with the crowd in Babylon—

Drinking the wine of Babylon—

Running with the women of Babylon—

You forget about God, and you laugh at Death.

To-day you’ve got the strength of a bull in your neck

And the strength of a bear in your arms,

But some o’ these days, some o’ these days,

You’ll have a hand-to-hand struggle with bony Death, 

And Death is bound to win.

 

Young man, come away from Babylon,

That hell-border city of Babylon.

Leave the dancing and gambling of Babylon,

The wine and whisky of Babylon,

The hot-mouthed women of Babylon;

Fall down on your knees,

And say in your heart:

I will arise and go to my Father.  

~James Weldon Johnson

Today…

Outside my window…

it is cold and dark at 6:00 p.m.

I am thinking…

about language school starting on Wednesday.

I am thankful for…

the small blessings that come from the Lord.

From the kitchen…

pork chops in a tomato sauce over rice.

I am wearing…

something warm!

I am going…

grocery shopping tomorrow.

I am reading…

The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Dwelling in His Presence by Cynthia Heald

Daily Readings from the Life of Christ by John MacArthur

I am hoping…

for some time to myself with no chores to do.  =)

I am hearing…

Avonlea:  The Calamitous Courting of Hetty King playing on the t.v.

On my mind…

“The same Jesus who walked with such resolve and determination throughout His own earthly life has a distinct and daily purpose for yours.  What pieces of this plan are becoming clearer to you?  Pray that He will continue to reveal…and that you will continue to follow.” ~Daily Readings from the Life of Christ by John MacArthur, pg. 10.

“How remarkable that our Lord, who was so grieved by His followers’ prideful contentment with the world, would even want to be a part of their lives.  Yet there He is, standing at the door of their church and at the door of their hearts.” ~Dwelling in His Presence by Cynthia Heald, pg. 23.

“Undeniable guilt, plus undeserved grace, should equal unbridled gratitude.” ~Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

“The trick is not to let the power of what might happen tomorrow ruin today.” ~The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall, pg.24.

Noticing that…

I need to get off the computer and finish dinner preparations!

Around the house…

the Christmas decorations are all put away except for the village.  Just can’t make myself tuck it away yet.

Picture thought I am sharing…

My babies' first Christmas ornaments...my first baby will be married in April!

For more Simple Woman Daybook entries, click here.

For more week in words, click here.

Still, My Soul Be Still

Worth the Read…

I’ve been on a bit of a break, but I’m back now.  We went away for a few days to spend some time with family.  It was a good time, but I’m glad to get back, roll up my sleeves and get back to work!!  There is much to be done, especially since I will be headed back to language school next week.  I read a couple of posts during the break that really touched me in one way or another and thought I would share.  Hope you enjoy!

My Most Cherished Christmas Gift

What to Do If You Wake Up Feeling Fragile

Stillness…

…my theme for 2012.

Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

~Catharina von Schlegel

*****

“Be still, and know that I am God:”

~Psalm 46:10

Amazing Grace

Have a Blessed Christmas

I will be back next year.  I’m taking a break to fulfill responsibilities and enjoy the days with family and friends.  To see photos from another Christmas outing, visit our co-worker’s page.

Orchid Gardens

Christmas Village Display

Wreath Contest

Time With a Friend

Beautiful Orchids of Many Varieties

Beautiful Lights

New Memories…Maybe a New Tradition