Still Life

My reading this morning from Joy and Strength was so right for me today that I have to write about it.
Invincible Patience by Mary Wilder Tileston-
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5

"Plan not, nor scheme, --but calmly wait;
His choice is best.
While blind and erring is thy sight,
His wisdom sees and judges right,
So trust and rest."
Adelaide A Proctor

" 'GREAT peace have they which love My law.' They see that from ME, the sovereign Ruler of the world, who governeth all things with infinite wisdom, order, and love, nothing but good can spring; and that I can take care of them and their affairs far better and more successfully than they could of themselves.
Thus, considering that all that happens to them comes from Me, they are strong with an invincible patience, and bear all things, not only with resignation, but with cheerfulness and joy, tasting in all things that befall them externally or internally the sweetness of My ineffable love. And this is to believe, and meditate with a cheerful and grateful spirit, even in the midst of tribulations and difficulties, that it is I who sweetly dispose all things, and that whatever happens springs from the inexhaustible fountain of My goodness." --St. Catharine of Siena

My immediate response to the reading was, "YES, I know this!" Then, why do I at times wiggle and squirm when I can't see the road ahead or when things are unbearably difficult? Psalm 46:10 reminds me to "Be still, (cease striving) and KNOW that I AM GOD." Ruth 3:18 says "Sit still, my daughter and wait and see how the matter will be settled." The sovereign God of the universe, the One who loves His children with an everlasting love has everything under control! Underneath are His everlasting arms!
"Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed NEVER cease, for His compassions NEVER fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. The Lord IS my portion, says my soul, therefore I have HOPE in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord." (Lamentations 3:20-26)
How do I wait? Psalm 5:3 reminds me that I can wait expectantly. Psalm 27:14 commands me to wait, to be strong and courageous. Psalm 33:20 reminds me that I can wait, hoping in the Lord because He is my strength and shield. Psalm 37:7 commands me to "Be STILL and WAIT patiently. And then there is the well known verse in Isaiah 40 that promises that those who wait for the Lord "will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." There are numerous verses in the Bible that refer to waiting. It is worth the effort to look them all up and write them out. I keep a spiritual journal. It is filled with verses, prayers, devotional words and the words to hymns and choruses. It is within the pages of my journal that I often find strength and encouragement when I am weak.

What is a still life? In art, it is generally a composition of inanimate objects that are placed in such a way as to draw the viewer in and communicate something to them. It can be something of great beauty. For a child of the King, a still life - is a life of resting in the Lord, of trusting Him because He is in absolute control of everything. It is a life that doesn't try to manipulate or orchestrate circumstances for the benefit of achieving one's desires. It is a life that waits for the Lord and stays busy doing the work that He has given to be done. It is a life of continuous surrender to daily circumstances.... a life of contentment which allows no room for complaining about anything - not even the weather. It is a life of great beauty and one which draws the viewer to Christ.

Jesus I am Resting, Resting

Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness of thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
and Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
and have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings;
Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me as I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

Refrain:
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart. Hymn text by Jean S Pigott

blessings,
~Ruth

Comfortable Places

The painting on the left is of an 18th century inn which is nestled against a hill and surrounded by woods. It sits on a bridle trail that follows a winding creek. I've spent many hours on that trail and the surrounding trails. One of my favorite times of the year to visit this hideaway place is the autumn. Imagine the smell of woodsmoke in the air, vibrant colors all around, crispy leaves crunching beneath the feet on the gravely trail and birds singing their farewell songs. The ducks in the creek are generally making their racket, too. Excitement is in the air. The heat of summer has gone! Time to move on! It is a comfortable place to be. When I am there, I savor every moment. I want time to stop. Everything that is stressful or distracting flees for those seconds and life feels wonderful.
But, that isn't life, is it? Most of us can recall moments in time that are absolutely glorious! Moments in which we are bursting from the emotional swells that we feel. Human nature so longs to be in the "Garden of Eden" every day. We often seek things that make us feel comfortable and avoid things that bring discomfort. That is because we can't imagine the end result of going through "uncomfortable" circumstances. Isn't it a blessing that our loving, heavenly Father is busy molding and making us more like His Son, our Savior? That process isn't a lifelong vacation in the Garden of Eden. It is a steady journey that has an earthly beginning and end. It is a journey that winds through the valleys, up to the mountain peaks, along great stretches of sameness and through some very difficult terrain. Often that journey is exhausting! But we are not journeying alone. Jesus Christ, our Savior is right there with us! He said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light."
So, maybe right now you are not in the most comfortable place. Maybe God has pushed you into a place where necessary growth can take place. Submit to His plan! Trust Him! Lean on Him! Be grateful for the blessings that He has given to you.
Not far from the idyllic scene in the painting is a busy metropolis. The scenes that might portray that place might be ones of stress, crime, busyness, overcrowding, sadness, etc. Isn't is amazing that in the midst of all of that, one can retreat to a place of quiet and peace? Likewise for God's children - even in times of difficulty, peace can be found. Isaiah 26:3,4 "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock." That is the most comfortable place to be.
Another favorite hymn.... words which have ministered to me during times of great difficulty and worth memorizing...

Like A River Glorious

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious in it's bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Refrain:
Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest-
Finding as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow,
Never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry,
Not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the sun of love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do-
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true. (Frances Ridley Havergal)

Blessings and peace,
~Ruth

Soil

The hydrangea is a beautiful plant. I have more than a few on my property because their beauty is so captivating. I nearly bought another one this year. It was a color that I don't yet have. The interesting thing about the hydrangea plant is that the color of the flower can be changed dramatically by changing the pH of the soil. A lower pH will result in more blue and a higher pH will result in more pink. I've used fertilizer sticks that are either acid or alkaline to assist in the color changes that I've desired.

How interesting that a plants' color can be controlled by the environment of the soil that it is planted in. Isn't it often the same with us human beings? The soil, or environment that a person lives in has quite an impact on their behavior and choices. Children can not control their environment. It is a great sadness that many innocent children are raised in environments that are detrimental to their well being. Those of us who are adults can make choices. If we are parents, we can strive to maintain an environment that is warm, loving and nurturing for our children. For ourselves, we can choose the kinds of influences that we want to have in our lives. Choices might involve the type of literature that we read, music that we listen to, movies that we watch, places that we go and the kinds of friends that we keep.

On a deeper level, those who are part of the body of Christ, chosen by God before the foundation of the world to be His children and to represent Him in this fallen world that we live in, there are choices to be made which will determine how much one will actually reflect Christ. There are several New Testament passages that instruct us to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph.4:2,3) We are instructed to be people who reflect the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be mindful of this command and consider how we might cultivate a life that will truly reflect Christ. A wonderful prayer....attributed to St. Francis of Assisi follows...

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen

A hymn which is also a prayer.....

Jesus, keep me near the cross
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary's mountain.

Refrain...
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest, beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me
Help my walk from day to day
With its shadows o'er me.

Near the cross i'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.

I believe that when we ask for anything that is according to God's will, He will grant it. It is His will that we reflect Christ, so let us ask Him to enable us to do so. Watch expectantly for His answer!
Blessings dear friends,
~Ruth