Be Still

 

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10

Our grandchildren took us on a hike to their secret hideout. They led us up leafy paths and across boulders to the dirt road rarely traveled anymore. There along the road bloomed dwarf irises and tiny white violets. The youngest reached down gently touching the purple petals of the iris, studying it with her eyes and hands. 

The other child noticed the violets and searched for the heart shaped leaves, but these were a little different. These were the more rare violets with the oblong leaves. As we turned back onto another trail mountain laurel were budding. "Laurel, that's my middle name. I'm named for the mountain laurel."

Ferns were popping up along the trail with fiddle heads beginning to unfurl. The littlest announced, " My middle name is Fern. I'm named after the ferns."

Two small children interacting, connecting their lives to God's creation, appreciating it's beauty, beholding the majesty. How often do we pass by in our hurried lives missing the wonders of purple irises, delicate white violets, clusters of mountain laurel, and the unfurling fronds of ferns. We had not reached a specific secret hideout. We had reached the spot where children naturally Be still, where God is exalted in the earth. We were hidden from all that disturbs and knew that He is God. 

Where is your secret hideout? Where do you go to be still? 

Hey Kids:

Do you have a place where you can go and be still with God? 

Maybe you don't have woods but are there other places?

You might want to try making a quiet spot.

• a sunny corner of your room
• a small chair in the back of the flower bed
• seated on a limb of a leafy tree
• on a rock beside a trickling stream
• on a bench underneath a flowering tree

Maybe you could grow a quiet spot. Stand in the middle of an area where you could plant a circle of sunflower seeds around you. Pull the weeds and watch your flowers grow. By summer you will have your own quiet spot surrounded by sunflowers. 

Blessings, 

Gail

Under the Shadow of His Wings

 

Your Love, O Lord by Third Day

This song came to mind as I read Psalms 36:1-7 (KJV)

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Have you ever heard the story of how a fire raced across the fields where a mother hen and her chicks were feeding? When the fire was over the mother hen lay dead but her chicks were safe, hidden under her wings. 

As I read this Psalm I thought about how each item named shows us how the Lord created the universe as a covering reminding us He keeps us under the shadow of His wings. 

• The heavens - God's Mercy is not getting what we deserve. In the heavens, God placed the ball of the sun to remind us He gives us the Light that emanates from Him. He wraps us in the unseen warmth of His loving Holy Spirit. The light and the warmth are all part of the trinity God demonstrates with the sun. 

• The Clouds - God's Faithfulness is demonstrated in the clouds. God is faithful to draw the water into the clouds. Then they release the waters on the dry ground, the plants and animals and us without which everything would die. God never leaves us or forgets us but is faithful to supply our needs. 

• Mountains - God's Righteousness is demonstrated by the unmovable mountains. God's laws never change. We can depend on the fact that what was sin in the past is still sin today. What was right in the past is still right today. God doesn't move the goal post. His laws never change. 

• The Deep - God's Judgements are right. If we were wronged and the judge at a trial turned the defendant lose because it was the first offense, we would feel betrayed. He would be an unrighteous judge. But God is a righteous judge. Sin must be punished so He sent His Son to pay for our offenses, our sins. He has judged His Son in our place and cast our sins into the depths of the seas where He will remember them no more. 
• The Shadow of His Wings - God is trustworthy. He is there for us. We can trust Him and find comfort in all He does. 

How will you put your trust in God's mercy; finding Him faithful this week? 

Father God, thank you for the beautiful universe You have created with such purpose. Help me keep my eyes and heart wide open to Your wonders. In Christ's name. Amen

Hey Kids:

Have you read the book I Went Walking by Sue Williams? 

There are animals hiding in plain sight that go walking with the child once she sees them. 

I wonder what you might find hiding this week that God has put in plain sight to remind us of His mercy, His faithfulness, His righteousness, His judgments. His creation lets us know we can trust Him to take care of us. 

What could be important about a grain of sand, a caterpillar, a sparrow, and other things God created? 

Take a walk. Enjoy your findings. Keep a nature journal. Share your journal with your family and friends.

Blessings,

Gail

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

 

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; ~Ephesians 5:19 (KJV)

April is National Poetry Month. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are all forms of poetry. Right now there is probably a song going through your head.  Listen to yourself. Why that song? How often does it sing through your mind? 

We usually open up our church services with songs right after prayer. Have you ever wondered why? Singing opens up our emotions. Psalms is an entire book of poetry. Often the writer will start off sounding down in the dumps but when he thinks of all the good things God has blessed him with, the tone of his psalm changes. He often bursts into praise. So with our church songs/hymns. Did you sing He Arose on Easter Sunday? Did you notice how it started off sad and somber but when we got to the chorus there was joy and triumph. It opened up our emotions and we just wanted to yell, "Yeah!" when we sang, 

Up from the grave He arose

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain

And He lives forever with His saints to reign   

Then we ended,

 "Hallelujah, Christ arose!"

I can still feel the emotion. I can't even read the words without singing them in my head. It opened up my heart, my soul to worship. We entered into the preaching ready with worship-filled hearts.

That song you had rambling around in your head. How does it touch your emotions? Is it one that causes you to worship? 

Are you making melody in your heart to the Lord? 

Father God, help us fill our days with song and praise to you for all your loving kindness. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

What's your favorite song? 

Did you know it was a poem before it was a song? 

It had rhythm and rhyme. 

Then someone added music to the words that added to the emotion of the poem. 

Our spring is beautiful this year. Why not try writing a poem? Maybe a friend, parent, or grandparent can help you set it to music. 

Don't worry if it's not perfect. The Lord hears and sees your heart to honor Him. 

Blessings,

Gail

The Old Rugged Cross

 

 

Everything is showing signs of spring - peach and apple trees blossom, daffodils and tulips pop up everywhere. Even the pine trees are sporting new growth. But wait! What is that I see?