Category Archives: Fellowship with God

I Needed The Quiet

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I NEEDED THE QUIET

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God says on the seventh day He rested from His work(Genesis 2:2) and since we are created in His image we need rest too.  In the 23rd Psalm David said, “He makes me lie down…”  Job’s friend Jophar gives him a crumb of reassurance saying, “You will lie down without fear…” (Job 11:19).  With great wisdom Solomon wrote these words, “…when you lie down your sleep will be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24b).  Jesus recognized the need for quiet rest when he said to the disciples, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31)

In my career as a teacher and principal I learned just how important rest was.  Long hours and a great deal of stress do not help anyone’s health.  Burning the candle at both ends, ends up with nothing when the flames have consumed all the wax.  I finally came to my senses and retired early.  The job was consuming me and I heard the Spirit clearly say this is NOT what I want for you.  You see, even though I prayed every morning that I would keep Him close all day, when I walked through the school doors I quit focusing on Him and started focusing on kids, teachers, parents and all the issues and stress a high poverty, inner city, school brings.  I ended up quite ill from lack of rest, poor diet, and high stress.  When my awesome husband was hospitalized and in a chemically induced coma for 20 days from a Traumatic Brain Injury I had much time to pray, think, and reflect. The conclusion–my career was killing me.  Once the decision was made, a calmness came over me that I had not known before.  I knew without question this was exactly what God wanted.  I needed adequate rest and He already knew this was the only way I was going to get it.  Praise God! I listened! and rested!

Heavenly Father, thank You! for making me aware.  You deserve my total, rested attention.  I want to do that.  Make my life more and more about You.  In Jesus Name make it so!

Fishy Friends

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fishermanMy dad was an avid fisherman.  As soon as the weather was warm enough to be on the lake he was there.  Of course, he taught all three of his girls the skills necessary to be fisherman.  Such things as putting our own bait on the hook, quiet conversation or no talk at all, and of course how to swim if we fell out or the boat capsized were patiently taught until we got it.  To this day all three of us still enjoy a quiet morning on the water.  In fact I can still filet and skin a fish.

Jesus was into fish too!  His first disciples were persuaded to follow Him by telling them they would become ‘fisher’s of men’.  In Matthew 4:19 we are not only told He said this but they followed immediately.  Then he walked down the road a bit and said the same thing to two more fisherman.  They followed immediately.  These four men Peter and Andrew, James and John became Jesus’ BFF’s!

Christ_feeding_the_multitudeJesus also used 5 loaves and 2 fishes to clearly show that He could and would provide for His people.  (My husband jokes that we will be served fish and chips in heaven, at the Great Banquet, because of the number of times fish is a part of the Story.)

When Jesus appeared to  the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee, before His Ascension, guess what He served?  Yep!  He was cooking fish and invited his friends to have breakfast with Him.  John 21:12-13

IchthusIn the first century church the fish symbol (Ichthus) was used by believers to identify themselves as Believers.  These friends of Jesus would ‘write’ the upper half-circle of the fish when they met someone and if that person finished the lower half-circle they were recognized as a fellow Believer.

Do you use a symbol to proclaim your belief?  Do you wear a cross?  Do you unashamedly carry your Bible?  Do people ask if you’re a Believer because of how you act or look?  Do you willingly talk about Jesus when someone notices what you’re wearing, carrying or modeling?  I take every opportunity I find to talk about my Jesus.  You can too!

Heavenly Father, shine through me.  Let others see Your love, faithfulness, joy, delight…when they see me.  Oh, Lord, let my life be totally about You!  Make it so in Jesus Name!

Conversation Hearts

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hearts 6God so wants a relationship with us!  He sent His One and Only Son for Heaven’s sake (pun intended).  As I pondered fitting posts for this week of love my mind went to those little conversation hearts that are still given for Valentines treats. I’m sure you will be able to name even more scriptures that go with them and I encourage you to keep on looking.

Looking at the picture above John 3:16 instantly popped into my mind.  What is real  love?  Caring more about someone else’s needs before your own.  That ‘s what God did.  He loved the world so much He gave us Jesus.  That’s real love.

 

hearts 5Only God!  He is Omnipotent (The One and Only).  He is Omniscient (All knowing).  He is Omnipresent (Everywhere all the time).

 

 

 

???????????????????????????????????????God wants us to communicate with Him.  On a daily, hourly basis.  He wants us to include Him in everything we think do and say.   Prayer is one of the ways we communicate with Him.  Philippians 4:6 tells us to go to God with every request we have.  Matthew 7:7-8 Tells us to ask and it will be given to us, seek and we will find, knock and the door will be opened.  Each of those phrases requires an action that shows our desire to communicate with God.

Communicate with our Lord through music….Pray On!

Ah, Lord God, You see us, You hear us, You know us, You love us!  You are the reason for our very lives.  Oh, LORD humble us.  Make us aware that You want us to talk with You.  Keep our lives from being all about us and make them all about You.  Make it so!

In The Garden

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How many times is a garden pictured in the Word?   Whether it is in the Garden of Eden or the Garden of Gethsemane it seems gardens are a popular place to meet our Lord.

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Meeting Him in the Garden of Eden, Genesis 2:6-7   Before God even planted the garden He put man in it.  What might be the reason for this?  I think God wanted Adam from the very start of his life to know that God is THE CREATOR.  That everything needed for life is from Him.  Look at what God did on the sixth day of creation.  He created Adam and Eve, the flora and fauna, the animals of the land, sky and sea…everything that exists He created.  Later on in Genesis we are told it was common for God to walk in the garden and commune with Adam and Eve.  Every day they could meet Him in the Garden and create a relationship with Him.  Oh, my, what they gave up for an apple.

Andrea Mantegna's Agony in the Garden, circa 1...

Andrea Mantegna’s Agony in the Garden, circa 1460, depicts Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Travel with me through several centuries to another Garden.  This time at Gethsemane (on the Mount of Olives).  The story is in Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42 and Like 22:40-46.  Jesus had asked James, John and Peter to go with Him while He prayed.  What was His expectation?  I think He wanted them to support Him physically and spiritually.  Physically because He knew what was about to happen and He wanted those He loved around Him.  Spiritually because He was about to spend serious time in prayer and He wanted the support of their prayers also.  But, guess what?  Once again God (Jesus) is disappointed.  Each time He returned to them they were asleep.  He says pretty much what He said in the Garden of Eden…What are you doing/What have you done?  Oh, my, what they gave up for a nap?

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These are the two most well-known gardens in the Word, but there are others.  One the Ancient Wonders of the World was the Hanging Garden of Babylon built by Nebuchadnezzar.  The entire book of the Song of Songs takes place in a garden.   I think I can safely say, God really likes gardens.

Worship Him with song:  In The Garden/There is None Like You

Abba, there is None Like You.  Let me join You in the beauty of my garden.  The day lilies, ferns, and hanging planters are just a bit of the beauty You created.  Praise You and thank You for the colors, the smells, the blooms…Grow me as You grow them, set apart, sanctified for Your purpose only.  Make it so!

My Quiet Place

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383051_345381925473491_226839817327703_1380963_749406284_nWhere is your quiet place? Do you even have one? It seems that men have workshops and garages, children have their own rooms, and women… It is hugely important, for personal and spiritual growth, release of stress and just plain relaxing, that everyone would have a place that is their own. (Even Cinderella had one – – In My Own Little Corner (video) – – Enjoy the memory!)

Jesus modeled the importance of quiet times.  Mark 1:35 (NLT) says – The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.  Jesus had been working very hard the day before, healing many people.  I imagine He was exhausted and when he woke up He needed silence and time alone with His Father.  He choose to go into the wilderness because He knew He wouldn’t be bothered there.  Well at least until someone came looking for Him and of course they did.

Mark 6:31-32 (NLT) tells of another incident but this time it includes the disciples.  Then Jesus said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.”  There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His disciples didn’t even have time to eat.  They left by boat for a quieter spot.  Of course we know the rest of the story…they found them again.  However, while they were crossing the lake there was certainly quiet time in the boat.  They could simply be silent and heal their minds.

Those are just two examples of the places in the Bible that God speaks of the need for a Quiet Place.   2 Kings 4:10 tells the story of the wealthy woman from Shunem who created a ‘little room’ for Elisha the Prophet.  It was furnished, on a cool roof top, a quiet place of his own.  Or, how about Psalm 46:10.

A quiet place can be anywhere as long as it is your place.  It can be indoors or out, it can be furnished or not, it can be at home or away…  I find it interesting that even a piece of cloth can even provide a spot that is quietly yours, evidenced by the prayer shawls of the Jewish believer’s that were specifically designed  to be placed over the head during prayer.

In my quiet spot I have books, music, a warm afghan, silence and above all the respect of my family to leave me alone unless it is a dire emergency.  I encourage you to find a place and make it yours. 

Here are a couple of videos that speak to the idea of a quiet place:

Jesus Is a Quiet Place for Me                 In The Secret

Heavenly Father, You have given me so much, I can’t thank You enough.  Keep me always aware that I have Your attention, always.  Bring me to the quiet place and let me know You more.  Make it so!