Sunday, May 29, 2011

it was one of those moments

"Fasting from any nourishment, activity, involvement or pursuit—for any season—sets the stage for God to appear. Fasting is not a tool to pry wisdom out of God's hands or to force needed insight about a decision. Fasting is not a tool for gaining discipline or developing piety (whatever that might be). Instead, fasting is the bulimic act of ridding ourselves of our fullness to attune our senses to the mysteries that swirl in and around us."—Dan B. Allender, PhD


“Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”—Exodus 3:5 NIV

Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him and His strength (His might and inflexibility to temptation); seek and require His face and His presence [continually] evermore.—Psalm 105:4 Amplified

It was one of those moments…my senses were more alert, more intensified, more attuned to the mysteries that swirl in and around us, more aware of God's presence…it was about 7:30 in the morning, when I opened the door to go to work, the brilliant rays of the morning sunrise came bursting through our neighbor’s tree, directly into my eyes. 

I paused, amazed at the beauty, I moved slightly to the right and I couldn’t see the sun’s rays, moved slightly to the left and I couldn’t see the sun’s rays, but as I returned to the center point, for what seemed to be several minutes, those rays shown straight into the eyes of my heart, and I suddenly became conscious of His Presence. I stood very still, almost frozen in time, actually not wanting the moment to end, thanking the Lord for the beauty He created, and for drawing my eyes and my heart to appreciate Him all over again. 

I shared my experience with a few people…they just laughed it off, kind of made fun of me for thinking it was anything special, but in the innermost part of my heart, I knew it was the Lord, I was totally captivated by the stunning beauty of those rays, perfectly symmetrical, glowing so intensely, I even spoke out loud saying, "Lord Jesus, Thank You, Thank You, You did that for me! Just for me!"

The memory of that moment makes me crave Him more, remembering the experience makes me yearn for more of His personal touch in my life, makes my senses truly alert, more attuned to the mystery that is our Savior...I'm looking forward to experiencing Him more and more, alive and active in my life every moment of every day...Praise His Holy Name!

(c) 2011 beth willis miller

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What are your thoughts about this post?
      In what ways have you experienced God's presence?
            How does a certain location bring back that memory to you?
 

Sunday, May 15, 2011

if you have gone a little way ahead...call back

Looking Glass Falls, Brevard, NC
During a recent trip to Brevard, North Carolina, we followed a Waterfall Hunting Guide in search of one beautiful waterfall after another. Sometimes the climb to see one waterfall was a little more strenuous than another...it took a little more energy and determination to make it to the summit to see the beauty. During our trek, the words of a poem I had read many years ago in the daily devotional, Streams In The Desert, kept coming to my mind. Once we got home, I located the poem in the following December 19 devotional, and thought it might be an encouragement for fellow travelers...

"It shall turn to you for a testimony."--Luke 21:13

Life is a steep climb, and it does the heart good to have somebody "call back" and cheerily beckon us on up the high hill. We are all climbers together, and we must help one another.

This mountain climbing is serious business, but glorious.

It takes strength and steady step to find the summits.

The outlook widens with the altitude.

If anyone among us has found anything worthwhile, we ought to "call back"...

If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back­;
'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track;
And if, perchance, Faith's light is dim, because the oil is low,
Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go.

Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm;
Call back, and say He kept you when the forest's roots were torn;
That when the heavens thundered and the earthquake shook the hill,
He bore you up and held you where the very air was still.

O friend, call back and tell me, for I cannot see your face;
They say it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race;
But there are mists between us, and my spirit eyes are dim,
And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him.

But if you'll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry,
And if you'll say He saw you through the night's sin-darkened sky,­
If you have gone a little way ahead, O friend, call back,­
'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track.

- anonymous, December 19 Streams In The Desert devotional

Pisgah National Forest Waterfalls
Triple Falls, Dupont State Forest
Upper Whitewater Falls
(c) 2011 beth willis miller
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What are your thoughts about this post?
      In what ways have you been inspired by a poem or a scenic view in nature?
            How has a scenic view in nature reminded you of a familiar poem or song?

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