Silence

A Morning Prayer

/ Bybrendat / 2 Comments

 

songbird

Photo by Donald M. Jones

 

Songbirds tweet in harmony as I willingly and excitedly step into the silence. Silence, after all, is the threshold that one must cross to enter the heavenly realms and the presence of our Precious and Mighty God.

His voice is clearest in the quiet, intimate times and it often seems as if I can hear His very heartbeat. His love for me is overwhelming and I pray that mine for Him is just as obvious and abounding.

As I breathe in His breath, I exhale peace and love. I’m here, Father. Use me. Send me. Heal me and equip me for the journey. Fill me with first trust, then with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

I want to be everything You created me to be; to accomplish all that You planned for me; and, at such time I enter Your Presence for the rest of eternity, to hear these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done.”

Amen and Ehmen.

 

Turn and Toss

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Me and Thee Time

December 15, 2015, 6 AM

 

Good morning, Lord.

As you know, I have been up since about 3:30 a.m., tossing and turning, dear godabout work; thinking about sleeping; thinking about not sleeping; about weddings and funerals; about You. Of course, as per usual, I put You last, when I know in my heart and soul that You should always be first. I shouldn’t be tossing at all, just turning to You. Oh, but how easy that is to forget. Lord, my sweet, sweet Savior, please help me to remember to turn to you first and foremost as I go through this and every day. Help me to lay all my stresses down today; to get my work done so that I may have some peaceful days off and turn my focus to You, Billie and family, both biological and extended. I love you, Lord…with all my heart and soul. Amen and Ehmen.

My dear, dear Child,

I love you. Don’t ever forget that. And, I Am always here beside you, whether you recognize it or not. Even, right now, as you sit here staring at this blank page waiting for words or direction from Me. What I need you to learn, my dear one, is that sometimes silence is the most precious gift of all; for it is in the silence that you can fully experience My Peace; no noises to distract you, just sweet, sweet Heavenly Peace. One of My favorite songs of all time is Silent Night. Sing with me, child.

Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright round yon virgin silent nightmother and child. Holy infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at the sight; glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born! Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light; radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Silent night, holy night, wondrous star, lend thy light; with the angels let us sing, Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born!

See, dear child, silence, peace and holiness are a package deal. You can’t focus on Me without quieting your spirit; turning loose of all the things and worries of the world. The world will always make you toss and turn; but I, my child, will give you sweet, sweet Heavenly peace where you can rest and sleep, and awaken to praise, to love and to be loved by Me. I have missed you, dear child, as you have let the noise and distraction of the world and the sting of pain and suffering take you from the foot of My throne—the only true safety zone. Welcome home, child, I have you and I have all of your concerns for yourself and your loved ones in My capable hands. You need not worry or stress; you need not cuss and yell; for My Peace surrounds you at all times; My joy is yours for the taking; and My love will never fade nor fail. It was there when I created you and it will be there when you come to Heaven. Just breathe through the days in between, child, and remember not to toss and turn, but to turn and toss: turn to Me when the enemy tries to steal your peace and joy and we will, together, toss him out on his ear. Have a good day, my child. Go in peace, joy and love.

Oh, my sweet Jesus, thank You. Thank You for silent nights and for unending access to You and Your Throne where I can always bask in Your Presence where love, peace and joy abound.  Amen and Ehmen.

Savor the Silence…

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Writer’s Note: Just before Thanksgiving last year, I spent a weekend at a monastery. Knowing that God was clock photocalling me there for a little ‘Me and Thee Time,” I went. And, boy, am I glad I did. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew WHO to expect. As promised, He met me there and taught me more in a few moments of silence than I could learn in years of busyness and bustle. Thanks for reminding me of this, Dear Lord, as I have let the loudness of life take its toll on me this week. Back to the stillness, to the silence, to Your Peace! Happy Sunday, y’all. May you find Him in all that you do.

In the silence, I sit. The only sound is the ticking of a nearby clock. Tick tock. Tick tock. The echo of minutes, of hours, of time passing by.

But, you need not be left behind. Grab hold of one of those moments and don’t let go. Delve deeper and deeper into solitude and into that sweet, sweet place that only you and God dwell.

Oh, how much easier it is to hear Him when you are in the same place at the same time. Oh, how much easier it is to see and feel Him when all else falls away.

Why, I wonder, do people fear silence so much? Why do they treat it as if it were a roaring lion trying to devour them when in reality it is the noise and distractions that are most dangerous? Yes, the truth is that silence is beautiful. It has a rhythm which ebbs and flows and harmonizes with every beat of you heart. It is the foundation of God’s own voice, speaking directly to you. Can you hear him? I can.

Lord, may I learn to embrace the silence and You on a daily basis, whether at a monastery or at home where finding peace and solitude is more of a challenge. May I learn to turn down the volume of everyday life so that I can commune with you and hear the sweetness of your still, small and mighty voice every day. I love you. Forever and ever. Amen and Ehmen.

1 Kings, Chapter 19

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”