Being Quiet

Today I have felt a sense of urgency to do something. Maybe because its the last day of our 10 day long holiday. Maybe because I'm heading back to work tomorrow. Maybe because I don't want to waste any of this time... but God is doing something different.

I know He is putting on my heart, like I said in my last blog post, to be SUBMERGED in Him. I am trying to do this. I am taking action and filling my heart and my mind with the things of God. But still, God is doing something different. 

Being a full time working mom to a two and a four year old leaves little to no quiet time. Here I am, with everyone asleep, and I'm lost! (typical.) Over the past 24 hours I have sat down to read/write multiple times. Every time my brain just stops! I have began 3 blogs, picked up 3 different books, all to just stop. I've gone from a Tozer book, to Ezekiel, to a book on marriage, to a blurb I started on The Holy Spirit. Everything just turns into a dead end. Its just not right! So, You tell me, God. What exactly is it You want me to do with this time. 

... and that's what I heard. Be quiet.

Its amazing the things God can do in the quiet.


...


Isn't prayer often a one sided conversation?

We have something we need, or something someone else needs, and we take the prayer time to ask God of it. We bring our laundry list of chores to God. Yes, we will throw in somethings we are thankful for so we don't seem selfish, but when do we just sit quietly, with open hearts before God?

Maybe you do this all the time? Maybe its just me? But in reality, I think its a healthy reminder of how our relationship with God should be!


How easy is it for us to be distracted?

Just think about your thoughts as you go to bed at night. The things that flood my brain involve the events of the day, the things to come tomorrow, things I wasn't able to to get done, chores, bills, events at work, my children's futures, our future, my family members, friends, recipes/crafts I want to try, things I need to improve, goals I want to accomplish. The list is infinite!

Seriously, just... be... quiet...



...



When I close off my brain, and shoo out the distractions, these are the things I have heard God say to me today.

I am great.

“Look, God is greater than we can understand.
    His years cannot be counted.
²⁷ He draws up the water vapor
    and then distills it into rain.
²⁸ The rain pours down from the clouds,
    and everyone benefits.
²⁹ Who can understand the spreading of the clouds
    and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?
³⁰ See how He spreads the lightning around Him
    and how it lights up the depths of the sea.
³¹ By these mighty acts He nourishes the people,
    giving them food in abundance."
                                                 -Job 36:26-31



I love you.
"The Lord your God is in your midst,
   a Mighty One who will save; 
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
    He will quiet you by His love;
He will exult over you with loud singing."                                                 -Zephaniah 3:17



I am faithful.
"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for His compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for Him.”
                                                 -Lamentations 3:22-24


Be Quiet.
³⁸ As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹ Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! ⁴² There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
                                                 -Luke 10:38-42



Lord!
Thank You for the quiet! Thank You for the reminder to hush our hearts so that we can hear the encouragement from You heart. How easy it is to just sit before You and listen. Why do we forget to do that? Help us to be like Mary! We as women are being taught to be like Martha. To serve, and rush, and cook, and prepare, and create! (things which we love and we know are good things but only in moderation!) Tap us on the shoulder when we are being too caught up in our check list and the things that demand our attention! We don't want to be stressed and distracted and frustrated and right now we acknowledge that the lack of quietness before You is likely the cause. Thank You for Your promise in Isaiah 58:9 "Then when you call, the Lord will answer.‘Yes, I am here,’ He will quickly reply." 

Let us remember when our minds get so busy and distracted and worked up what Psalm 116:7 says:
"Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you."

Sincerely,

Jen

February Faith

Well... three posts in and I've already neglected my little blog!! Well... I feel like I haven't had much of anything worth throwing out there until the last few days.

My sweet mommy, Ann, started theme words for each month. So far January was "Joy" and February was "Forgiveness." I think the word God has given me is February "faith." (Of course I'm just now learning my word and it is the last day of the month!)

Ephesians 5:16 "Redeem the time because the days are evil"

Now, more than ever, is this ringing in my ears. I know there are a lot of people going through difficult things right now. Our family is battling with cancer, death, drugs, financial hardships, and these are just to name a few. It's heart breaking when I sit down and think of the people I need to be praying for that are going through something really really hard. Maybe there has been a difficult diagnosis of a loved one. Maybe your husband or wife has left. Maybe you have lost your job and are not sure how your bills will be paid. . . God is in control. I know it's hard to trust that in the face of a seemingly impossible or hopeless circumstance.


“God thunders with his voice in marvelous ways; He does great things, and we cannot comprehend. (Job 37:5 LEB)


This verse struck me as I read it. Yes, God is majestic and powerful. Yes, He does great things. But the fact that we don't comprehend those great things is really what stuck out.

When I think of great things I think of things that people do in the name of humanitarianism. The great philanthropists... Oprah giving away a car or a college scholarship... Extreme makeover rebuilding a family's home and paying off their mortgage... These things you look at and say "Wow! That is a great thing!!"

Now, if God is the Leader and Head of all philanthropists, then wouldn't it be right to see the things He is doing and know they are good? It should be obvious, right? It should be something off our wish list on Pinterest or something that would clearly make our life easier ... or money! We all neeeeeed money.

But we do not comprehend. We see what He is doing and we fight against it.

... We fight: like Peter, we slice off the ear of those who have come to take away Christ, not knowing His capture would bring salvation to all. (Luke 22:47-51)

... We doubt if He really knows what He is doing: Like Samuel, when he was told that David, Jesse's youngest and scraggliest son was chosen to be Israel's king. (1 Samuel 16)

... We complain: like the Israelites after they were freed from slavery. (pretty much all of Exodus)

... We disobey His calling: Like Jonah, who ran the opposite way when God asked to minister to the meanest, vilest people of his day. (Jonah)

... We take matters into our own hands: like Abraham, who (twice) told people his wife was his sister in an attempt to keep his family safe. (which did not work BTW... Genesis 20 and Genesis 27) OR the time he tried to fulfill God's promise on his own by trying to conceive a son though a servant girl (Genesis 16) ... Really Abraham!? You're giving us lots of good examples here...

... We walk away: like the rich young ruler, who thought that the cost of following Christ was too much for him to sacrifice. (Matthew 19:16-30)

"We cannot comprehend." It's like God is telling us... "It's ok guys. You're not going to get it. Just trust Me!"

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord . “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8, 9 NLT)

He's not trying to say we are stupid... He's reminding us that we are little tiny baby sized ants on this big giant world. We cannot see the big picture! (I'm picturing myself like one of the kids in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" trying to trek my way through this backyard of mud and bugs and giant water drops.)

Today my eyes were opened to this big picture when my husband said to me that he can relate to a child being brought up in an abusive household. It is tragic for any child to have to experience abuse. But to see that Ricky can reach out and help one of these little ones because he himself has traveled this road before really got to me. What a view of grace... to see that God really uses people's hurt and can turn it around for a glorious story of people helping other people! (And yes, God did an amazing work in Ricky's parents, both of which are two of the most loving people I have ever known.)

Often, it's a rainy day. The storms of life are heavy and the constant downpour can be overwhelming. It's so easy to get discouraged!! But remember God's promises when the rain doesn't stop, friends...

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the L ord ’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” (Isaiah 55:10-13 NLT)

The rain will bring forth fruit and crops and flowers! It won't be in vain, friend! Hold fast to God and remember we probably won't understand the "Why" now... But it will always be for the benefit of us and of others.

Please, friends, let me know if I can pray for you. There is no need to carry your burdens alone.

Sincerely,
Jen