A Gentle Whisper

It stands silently, rather unobtrusively, under the bedroom window waiting for night to fall. It knows that before I hop into bed I will turn the knob that sets its blades whirling and dancing with life. Its gentle hum filling the room, lulling me to sleep.


It first made its appearance when my husband experienced a ringing sound in his ears. We thought the noise of the fan would cover the ringing and help him sleep. It didn't work as planned, but I have become so used to that constant noise I can't sleep well without it. It has become smugly secure knowing we will even take it with us when we spend the night somewhere else. For some reason, when it isn't turned on the silence presses against my ears and I can't sleep. I have become quite dependent on it.

Ironic, since my word for this year is "quiet." Like the consistent hum of the fan, the background noise of my life had become a habit. I was constantly filling the silence, not realizing what I was missing until I simply couldn't hear myself think any more. Worse still, I couldn't hear that gentle whisper above the din.

There is a verse that keeps coming to mind these days:

"Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, 'This is the way you should go,' whether to the right or to the left."
Isaiah 30:21

How I long to be all He created me to be; to live out the story He wrote before I ever drew breath.* I have a tendency to make difficult the simplest of things. I don't have to struggle to find the right path. He is right behind me. Think of it! He is speaking to me, and far too often there is so much noise I cannot hear Him.

I am deliberately creating little oases of quiet throughout my day. Places where I can escape from the noise and just be still. I don't always stop what I'm doing. I just turn off the clamor and drink in the quiet. And often there is the sound of a gentle whisper.

Blessings,
Linda

*"Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."
Psalm 139:16

One Thousand Gifts

"O Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth; The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it; And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker."
Psalm 95: 1-6

The list, corrective lenses that give me clearer vision of Him, continues:

32 - a seagull gliding over the waters of the Gulf


33 - seagulls taking flight


34- soaring into the clear blue sky

35 - Sandpipers racing the waves on tiny legs


- 36 Brother -in-law and sister-in-law strolling down the beach

37 - brothers, spending time together

38- the lovely homes in the historic district of Victoria

39 - cardinal singing for joy on top of a telephone pole
40- the sound of bubbles popping while taking a relaxing hot bubble bath
41- pigeons lining the birdbath, gathering for an early morning drink
42- getting my hair done
43- cows gathered at the watering hole
44- husband's black eye - getting better every day
45- the clouds dispersing to reveal a brilliant sun
46- beautiful ride to Corpus Christi
47- flock of birds circling the cows feeding pen
48- a.c. in the car as we head south and the sun shows his face
49- rays of sunshine slicing through the clouds to earth - glory!
50- bales of hay - like huge spools of golden thread, scattered in the fields
51- the flat land stretching out to the hills
52- husband helping the man in the wheelchair at McDonald's
53- live oaks
54- little white wooden farm houses
55- palm trees swaying gently in the wind
56- crossing the Gulf on the huge bridge
57- the Gulf stretching to the horizon
58- "riding" on the water
59- rich black soil waiting for the plows
60- frightening world events but peace knowing He is in control
61- little abandoned house all falling down; what memories does it shelter
62- waterways through the grasses
63- breakfast outdoors, sitting by the RV
64- water, water, water, as far as the eye can see
65- sweet little cottages
66- first blossoms - tree dressed in white flowers
67- Ocean Drive
68- walk along the ocean front
69- duck diving underwater - fishing
70- diamonds sparkling on the water
71- elegant egrets
72- ferry ride (free!)
73- new leaves wearing that new-born green color
74- hawk perched atop a tree
75- little white and purple wild flowers, delicate harbingers of Spring
76- wonderful teaching on overwhelming grace

The Gratitude Community is growing weekly. Please come and join us.

Blessings,
Linda

"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"

Helen Lemmel, the daughter of a Wesleyan Methodist minister, was born in England and moved with her family to America when she was twelve years old. They eventually settled in Wisconsin.

At an early age it became apparent that Helen was gifted musically. Her parents made it possible for her to take singing lessons from the best teachers, and when she was older she went to Germany to continue her studies.

When she returned to the United States she began her ministry - giving concerts in churches and auditoriums throughout the Midwest. She was talented enough to have become a professional singer but chose to use her gift to serve the Lord. Eventually she taught at Moody Bible Institute.

It was in 1918, when she was fifty-four years old that she wrote the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." She was inspired by a statement in a tract written by Lilias Trotter:

“So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness.”

She wrote about the profound affect these words had on her in her memoirs:

"Suddenly, as if commanded to stop and listen, I stood still, and singing in my soul and spirit was the chorus, with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme, or note to note to make melody. The verses were written the same week, after the usual manner of composition, but nonetheless dictated by the Holy Spirit."

This deeply inspirational hymn was published a few years later. It is only one of over 500 hymns Helen wrote. She also wrote poetry, music for children and a children's book entitled, "Story of the Bible."

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free!

Thro' death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion-
For more than conq'rors we are!

His word shall not fail you-He promised;
Believe him, and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Chorus: Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace.

Blessings,
Linda

Taking a Little Break

I am taking a little "bloggy break." See you in a week or so!

Blessings,
Linda

"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"

The author of the hymn "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" is Joseph M. Scriven. His story is so filled with tragedy I was hesitant to share it. However, his life was one of such selfless service and the words of the hymn so precious I decided I would.

Joseph was born in Ireland in 1829 where he eventually attended Trinity College. The future looked bright. He graduated and was engaged to married. On the eve of their wedding his fiance died in a drowning accident. Filled with grief, Joseph emigrated to Canada.

He taught in schools in Ontario and also tutored Pengally family. It was during this time that he met and fell in love with Eliza Roche, a relative of the family. Tragically, unbelievably, she died a short time before their wedding of pneumonia.

After this second heart-break, Joseph joined the Plymouth Brethren and dedicated the rest of his life to helping the elderly. His own suffering produced in him a heart filled with compassion for the weak and poor. It was said that he lived out the Sermon on the Mount, giving away his money, his service and even his own clothing. He never married.

His famous hymn was originally written as a poem for his mother back in Ireland. It was written to comfort her at a time when she was ill and was originally titled "Pray Without Ceasing." Joseph had no desire to gain any notoriety; it was a friend who discovered the poem and had it published.

There are questions surrounding his death. His body was discovered on August 10, 1886 in the spillway of the grist mill owned by his neighbor. He suffered severely from depression, and his friends were not sure whether his death was accidental or a suicide.

Joseph Scriven's legacy of service and love continues to touch lives today through the words of this familiar and cherished hymn:

"What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there."



Blessings,
Linda

Simplify - Write It Down

Simplify. It's a whole sentence all by itself. I've been giving it a lot of thought lately. Part of me feels a tad guilty that there is this need to simplify in this season of my life. It is the season of an empty nest - a time I thought would be filled with leisure hours. It hasn't quite worked out that way.

In thinking about simplifying - or more accurately for me, balancing - I have realized that I would have more of those leisure hours if I didn't waste so much time. Hours to use wisely and well.

For example, often I turn on the computer to check email after breakfast. That simple task should take only a few minutes. Seriously, I don't get that much email. In reality, an hour or more later I am still sitting there in my bathrobe having allowed myself to wander over into blogville and FB. The rest of the morning becomes a mad dash to catch up. The sad thing is, I am apt to repeat this performance again in the evening. I plan all sorts of creative pursuits - knitting, writing, reading, any number of things I enjoy doing - and then leave very little time to do them. Feelings of guilt follow me to bed, and I vow to live a more balanced life.

One simple thing that has helped me to find balance n the past, and one I used to do faithfully when there were actual children living here and lots more work to get done, is make lists. I have old notebooks filled with them - a sort of journal of daily life in my home. I stopped writing daily lists when there weren't as many things to do in a given day, and I need to get back into that habit.

For me, writing things down helps me not only do them, but it helps me think things through. When I have procrastinated about doing the necessary little tasks around the house, they begin to weigh on me. I even have dreams about trying desperately to get something done and being frustrated at every turn; simple things like making a phone call (I know I sound absolutely paranoid). In my dream I try over and over again to make the call without success. I wake feeling exhausted.

If I take the time to make a list of those things, they suddenly look quite manageable. As I work my way down the list (without allowing myself to get distracted), it seems to go so quickly. I cross off the last item with a real sense of accomplishment.



That is one step I'm taking toward simplifying my life. I've also gotten away from keeping a journal - letting blogging take its place. I somehow never feel that things are "finished" if I don't write about them. It helps me sort out my thoughts. I am sure that would help me to find the balance I'm looking for to.

So...onward in the journey.

Visit Cheryl's blog if you would like to come along.



Blessings,
Linda

Time

I have this one moment
this fragile, translucent
piece of time.
I am not promised more
just this one
tick of the clock

May I spend it wisely Lord,
hold it close
and see the treasure
deep within;
whether of joy or pain
wealth or poverty,
see the gift
from Your hands.

May I not spend it
rushing ahead in thought
to all that must be done
to all that I fear may come;
or looking back
to all that I regret
to all I wish to hold.

Give me eyes
to see in this moment
all that Your eyes see.
Engrave it on my heart
with all that You intend
that I might grow
in wisdom and grace.

linking to One Stop Poetry today.

Inspired by this - the book, chapter 4, her talk

Blessings,
Linda