Still: Uttering No Sound; Quiet

Silence is praise to you,

    Zion-dwelling God,

And also obedience.

    You hear the prayer in it all.

(Psalm 65:1 The Message)

I am restless. A cold snap in the weather caught me unawares. I miss sitting out on our front porch. To go for a walk seems like a huge effort; to find socks, a coat, a hat and gloves appears insurmountable. I sit in the front room staring out at the empty porch swing, wondering how a little cold weather holds me hostage. My mind wanders and focus eludes me. The sunlight peeps through the window. I need some sunshine. I need some warmth. I want to be outdoors in the solitude and silence of a good walk with God.

I grab my phone, a travel mug with coffee, a book and a pen. I rummage through the closet to find gloves and a warm coat. Walking to the park, my mental block begins to thaw. My soul warms up to God. We just walk together. I try to read, but He just wants to be with me. Uttering no sound, being quiet together, moving through the cold, sunny day is enough.

Enough to bring me back to peace, back to some mental clarity and the ideas for a class I'm teaching on Friday begin to flow, just like the blood coursing through my body and the oxygen filling my lungs. 

Solitude affords me the opportunity to be present to the moment. To listen and soak in God's love. 

In 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time, Pam Farrel reminds us that we have to carve out time to be still and know God:

Enjoying quiet is a lost art. Many of miss God in the everyday, but when things are still, when we take time in the quietness of nature--or in the quietness of our souls--our hearts will begin to tune into thoughts of God. 

If it's been a while since you stopped to smell the roses, do just that. Begin your journey in solitude by a walk in a garden or park. find a grassy knoll and lay on your back...and watch clouds, noting their shapes. then just pray through your thoughts as they come, even if they seem jumbled and random. 

It may feel strange at first to rest in the Lord, but one day of R and R with God can give you back months of clarity and productivity.

©Pam Farrel from 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time (IVP). For more devotional books by Pam www.Love-wise.com

What is keeping you from being still?

Quiet: Enjoyed in Peace and Relaxation

I’ve kept my feet on the ground,

    I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.

Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,

my soul is a baby content.

(Psalm 131:2 The Message)

Over the past several days, we have been exploring ways to quiet our souls. We've cataloged various techniques to cultivate a deeper relationship with God, who loves us and longs for us to linger in His presence. 

You may feel overwhelmed with all these ideas. Or some of them may not appeal to your personality or fit in with your current schedule. Please do not feel obligated to try all of these suggestions. Think of this place as a pantry to return to when you want to add some spice to your devotions. Pick and choose which technique fits you. 

And most of all, get to know God better. Know that He cares more about being with you, than how you spend the time together. Rest in His presence. Enjoy your times together. Enter the quiet and contentedness, He alone provides.

That said, today's idea is one of my favorites. I love baskets and containers, as does Pam Farrel. We are kindred spirits on this topic. As a matter of fact of all the ideas in her book, this is the one I return to over and over again.

I have my everyday basket with my Bible, a journal, pens and a favorite devotional, like My Utmost for His Highest. 

And I also like to have themed baskets such as a prayer, writing or worship basket. One time my friend Kelly and I spent a day putting together baskets accessorized with bookmarks, note cards  and other goodies that complimented the themes. I occasionally loaned them out to friends to encourage them in their walk with God. I regret to say that last year, I disassembled the baskets to inventory my books and organize them on shelves. That goal is still in progress, and I want to put the baskets back together with new, fresh themes.

Pam shares her motivation for keeping these baskets placed in and around our homes:

When I started putting together quiet-time baskets, I found myself spending more time with God. Having a quiet-time basket in nearly every room...helps me to take time to connect to God no matter where my responsibilities take me.

I find that by having devotional material in user-friendly places I can stop and grab a minute with God while putting away laundry or straightening up the the living room.

©Pam Farrel from 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time (IVP). For more devotional books by Pam www.Love-wise.com

These baskets become visual reminders of God's desire for us to linger with Him for awhile. The other great thing about quiet-time baskets is that they are portable. You can easily carry your items to a quiet place outdoors. 

What are some creative ways you

 visually remind yourself of God's love?

Treasure: To Hold or Keep as Precious; Cherish

Who is a God like you . . .?

(Micah 7:18a NIV)

Children are precious. We treasure their tender hearts and we learn from their curious minds. Their laughter is contagious. Their quiet moments are rare, but when they are still, we usually find them nestled in their parent's arms or curled up under the covers sleeping sweet dreams.

Jesus celebrates and welcomes the little ones. He encourages a childlike faith. In your quiet moments do you ever act childish? I don't mean those spiritual tantrums, I am thinking about approaching God with wonder. When is the last time you got out a box of crayons and colored a Bible story? Or gathered some scissors, old magazines and a glue stick to make a collage?

Coloring and pasting appeal to my curious nature. I like to see what comes together with the images and colors. And often, I discover a topic that God wants to dialogue with me about. Like in the above collage, I sensed God asking me and possibly you: 

What do you treasure? 

And the reason I know this is a question God may be asking is that the Bible also speaks of this topic. (See Luke 12:34)

In 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time, Pam Farrel suggests, we approach our time with God like a child, literally. She suggests reading a children's Bible, or reciting a child's prayer or coloring a Sunday School paper or even having a quiet time with a child.

Here is what happened when she took her own advice:

 . . .one Sunday morning, I asked our eight-year-old son what he learned from Daddy's sermon. Waiting for the typical, "Jesus loves me" answer, I was pleasantly surprised when he said, "You shouldn't make up excuses not to obey God." Wow! 

©Pam Farrel from 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time (IVP). For more devotional books by Pam www.Love-wise.com

What youthful activity will you incorporate 

into your quiet moments today?

Announce: To Say (Something) In a Loud or Definite Way {Giveaway Announcement Today!}

See, the former things have taken place,

and new things I declare;

before they spring into being

I announce them to you.

(Isaiah 42:9 NIV)

I couldn't wait. Last night I put all your lovely names in a bowl, those who commented here and on Facebook for the Giveaway. Our winner is Jennifer P! I will contact her and get her the goods: my book and a collage kit based on my recent souldare class, "YOU ARE HERE". Enjoy!

As September ends, I am ready for something NEW! Earlier in the summer, I was pondering what I might focus on for The Nester's challenge: 31 Days Of...

So without further ado, here is my theme:

As autumn gradually leads us to Advent Season, I continue to spend my days with ordinary times. I want to fill these days with quiet reflection and refreshing, new ways to enjoy God's presence, to listen to His voice and to be filled with His desires. 

So I dusted off a little book called 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time by Pam Farrel, who graciously gave me permission to use the contents to share with you this month of October. The book is out of print, but you can still find used copies on amazon. 

© Pam Farrel from 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time (IVP). 

For more devotional books by Pam www.Love-wise.com

Pam and her husband, Bill Farrel have a vibrant ministry that offers encouragement for marriages. I bought this little book several years back, and found the quiet time suggestions spiced up my relationship with God. As many of you know this girl loves VARIETY!

Won't you join me for the next 31 days for some quiet and possibly some LOUD times? And some definite ways to know and love God more deeply?

Prayer for a Winter Day

 

 

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.

(Psalm 42:1-2 ESV)

 

 

Lord of life and love, help us to worship thee in the holiness of beauty, that some beauty of holiness appear in us. Quiet our souls in thy presence with the stillness of a wise trust. Lift us above dark moods, and the shadow of sin, that we may find thy will for our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From the Book of Worship)

Peace: To Become Quiet

Advent{ures}: Let's Go to Bethlehem

For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song.

(Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)

 

 

 

 

Anxiety attacks. Worries weary. Stress increases.

Pause for peace. Peace embraces. Peace calms. Peace blesses.

This peace makes no human sense.

Peace be with you. Jesus promises. Immanuel comforts. Mercy refreshes.

When Jesus enters the room, the disquieting thoughts flee. Heads turn. Do you see Him in the face of a newborn? Or hear Him in the chortle of a toddler? Or notice him in the momentary sparkle of a teenager’s eyes?

Will you pass Him as you hurry from store to store? Will you smile or scowl? Will you see Him sitting at the window of a nursing home, lost in memory? Will emotion overwhelm you when that loved one enters your mind?

When will peace appear? In our moments of quiet doubt? In our moments of loud fears shouting, “Why bother?” Or in the deep joy of knowing everything matters?

Peace will come, always showing up, when we least expect. Peace dispels all fear. It only takes a moment to light a candle in the dark. To sing a happy song.

When Peace enters the room, our eyes meet. All is well once again.

Five Minute Friday: Quiet [Roots]

Quiet Roots

Underneath, beneath the ground . . .

Do you ever ask what shall I do this day?

Or do you just stay the course?

The course of spreading out

Soaking in nutrients

Seeking moisture

Storing energy

Do you ever wonder what you will be?

Do you know if you support a tree

Or do you know you are a tuber, like

a sweet potato or a red one?

 

Oh, I wish I were a root . . .

Without a care in the world

Just meandering, wandering

Never wondering

Just being . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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