Category: soul

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)



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Acedia: Apathy or Boredom

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance. 
(Psalm 42:5 NKJV)

I woke up in a funk. I didn’t want to read or pray. I didn’t want to bundle up and go out for a walk. I didn’t want to do anything. So, I just sat on the couch.

I can’t quite remember how I got up off the couch and over to my blue thinking chair. I think it was God reminding me to take care of myself. I did a mini collage, looked at my previous collages, and scribbled a poem using words found within the collage.

false
           facades

                         collapsing,

creating
unassuming
decisions
(or quince frescoes).
 

This made me smile. And it made me think. What false facades do I need to let collapse? When I do, what will this create? Unassuming decisions? What does that mean? Or would I prefer to create “quince frescoes”? Sometimes just being silly and creative can get me out of a funk.

This little exercise rejuvenated my desire to sit and listen. I listen by reading and journaling.

I browsed one devotion and then another, then responded in my journal, where I confessed to God that this time of year just does not motivate me.

I like to talk and rant and complain. God invites me to listen. In my listening time, as I often do, I picked up the dictionary. I wanted to know what it meant to listen. The three entries in my pocket dictionary outlined a handy action plan for listening.

1. Make an effort to hear.

A simple first step, if I am going to listen, I have to make an effort. I have to open my ears. Place myself in the presence of the One I desire to hear. Open the Bible, uncap the pen, listen as one being taught and given words for the weary. (Isaiah 50:4)

2. Pay attention.

Once my listening ears are tuned in, I have to pay attention. Record what I think I’m hearing, ask God questions, and clarify with the Holy Spirit as to where He is leading for the day. (Isaiah 28:23)

3. Take notice of and act on what is said.

And finally, once I’ve noted what has been said; act on it.  Of course, this is a lot easier said than done. As I listened to God invite me to take care of myself, this prompted me to get out of the blue chair, bundle up in some warm clothes and take a walk on this sunshine laden day. When I returned, my funk was gone. I was ready for some more listening. (James 1:25)

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Proclaim: To Praise or Glorify Openly

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5 ESV
On Halloween, a profound sense of holiness and awe came over me. As the holiday season approaches, my heart yearns for the sacred One.
We often associate Halloween with darkness, goblins and ghosts and candy. Yet the word hallow merged with eve means holy night. The word holiday has become common enough, yet I see holy plus day in there, and I remember that each day can be filled with the distinctive character of God.

As I pursue a season of rest and solitude, this slowing down of the pace and this shortening of days that pours in more darkness than light, I am strangely comforted. My heart desires to wander through the shadows and see if there is any good in the dark.

As I contemplate the holy entrance of winter and Thanksgiving and Christmas, I discover this quote over at Seasons with Soul:

“Humility, like the darkness,
reveals the heavenly lights.”Henry David Thoreau

And a deeper appreciation for darkness invades. A longing to comprehend how the contrast of dark and light mingle. How a light entered the world and overshadowed the darkness. A miracle of light playing off the night sky, a star leading us to a Savior.

Words taken apart, distilled to parts, broke open a fresh perspective—a need to embrace the holy, the sacred, to sing with hope a carol of redemption. To proclaim a Savior’s birth. To fall on my knees in humility.

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
 
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.
 
(John Sullivan Dwight)
 
 
Linking with:
 

Word Filled Wednesdays

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Window: A Means of Entrance or Access

 
 
When I look out this window, what do I see?

Every beautiful thing, Lord, which you have done for me.

The earth, the moon, the stars, the sea;

Every quirky friend, each member of my family.

The times of plenty and the times of need,

When I was sowing, and you were planting seed.

The song of the bird and the wind in the tree,

The mountain in the sky and the valley down below.

Everything you thought of too great for me to know.

Even the suffering and things of misery,

All you have allowed, so your glory I can be.

When I look out this window,

I’m in awe of what I see,

Your simple pleasures and awesome majesty.

O, God, you humble me.

 

“The View from My Kitchen Window”

April 19, 2012

To Kel, with true love,

Kelly Greer
 
Earlier this year, my husband and I were out exploring the Mississippi River on our boat. We were moored to a floating barge near Kimmswick, MO. We were at Hoppie’s Marina, a famous stopping point on the river. Many boaters who travel the Great Loop stop there for gas before they head down river to Kentucky. I was doing the dishes after dinner, and as I looked out the little window the wide, rolling river carried my cares away. In that moment, I remembered how I often wished I had a window over my kitchen sink back home. I have always wanted to gaze upon a calming scene, while I did the dishes. That day on the river, I marvelled at God and this gift to see so many new scenes out the window of the boat. (Having a boat, was a mid-life, surprise venture that we decided to embark on about three years ago. Beyond my wildest dreams of where the future would take us.) I snapped the picture to try to capture that moment. I texted my friend, Kelly, because she loves nature and I knew she would share my awe. She sent me a poem to remind me that the window of our soul has so much to rejoice and reflect upon. Thanks, Kelly!
 
The moorings at Hoppie’s marina

 

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