Quiet What?

"All the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly for a while

each day in our room."

Blaise Pascal

1623-1662

For the first time in the 3 1/2 years we've lived in PA, a bear visited our backyard. It was a thrill to watch. Thankfully, both Abby and Jo were inside. It walked around for about 10 minutes. When it started climbing over the fence, Jerry opened the back door with a shout to hopefully send it away. Abby got out and chased it in the yard, and it jumped over the fence, running into the woods.

Quietism. Have you read about this movement before? In a devotion book of women in Christian history I read about Madame Jeanne Guyon, a French mystic, Wikipedia called her. She spearheaded a new movement that became know as Quietism. The definition: "getting quiet before God, praying silently, listening to him, and communing with him in the stillness."

It's the word mystical that threw me off about Guyon, but my dictionary defines it "as a person who seeks to obtain union with God by spiritual contemplation and self-surrender." That sounded okay.

"True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body,

nourishment and refreshment."

William Pee

1644-1718

The writers of the devotion book shared: "Seeking spiritual direction from Father Francois Lacombe, she began to write and teach from her own experience of mystical union with God. Spearheading a new movement that became know as Quietism. Madame Guyon attracted both followers and opponents." Randy Petersen and Robin Shreeves


 Madam Jeanne Guyon was a French Catholic, born 1648-1717. The writers of the devotion book said: "The well-known Twenty-third Psalm says the Lord 'leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul.' In a way, that's what Madame Guyon has done for us. She herself was led by Francis de Sales, Father Lacombe, and others, and she led Fenelon, Cowper and Spurgeon, who all led countless others. We are a centuries-long procession of believers who lead each other beside the still waters of God's restoration."

 

"I cannot be the man I should be without times of quietness. Stillness is an essential part of our growing deeper as we grow older."

Charles R. Swindoll

1934 - 

I do like to be quiet. I am restored and refreshed in solitude. The confinement we all have found ourselves in hasn't made me uncomfortable. Introverts love being by themselves. If I had to be in a room with other people for two months, I would be going crazy.

I'm not sure of Guyon's Quietism Movement, but being quiet before God so you can hear His voice is an important part of our spiritual development. So slow down, get quiet and just listen for what God says to you!

"What a sweet delight a quiet life affords."

William Drummond of Hawthornden

1585-1649

It's Time for Baby Leaves

This Is My Father's World

Maltbie D. Babcock 

"This is my father's world, And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres

"This is my father's world, The birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white
Declare their maker's praise

"This is my father's world, I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wrought."

Baby leaves . . . God's sign of new life and hope.

Many of you know my story about baby leaves. I love to tell it because it shares how God encouraged my heart during a difficult time. As baby leaves are just about to open up here in NW PA, maybe there's someone who doesn't know my story, so I'm sharing it again to encourage your heart, and encourage my heart too! This happened many years ago as told in an article I wrote . . .

"The blistering wind hit my face as I opened the door. Winter was here. 'Come on, Sparkie,' I said. 'You have to go for a walk.'

"The wind slapped my face and tears dropped from my eyes. 'It's been a difficult year, Lord,' I thought. 'Winter has harbored in my heart leaving me cold and dead, just like the trees.' My eyes traveled around the yard taking in the bleak appearance.

"The trees, once full of foliage now stood bare before me. And the remains of our productive garden now showed hard, cracked earth. 'Even the geese took a detour on their way home,' I told the wind.

"The year had left stains, and the ache in my heart hurt. 'Hurry, Sparkie,' I yelled. 'I want to get back inside.'

"My eyes fixed on the maple tree behind our home. Stripped of all its colorful clothing, it looked dead. 'Just like my heart,' I thought. And then I remembered the baby leaves.

"Last February, I began watching the buds develop on the maple tree. I couldn't remember ever taking the time to watch leaves grow, and decided I'd see first hand how God gave them birth. Sparkie and I would stop every evening on our walk to look for any development. It was a slow beginning, but finally--one day in April--the buds opened.

Quickly leaves grow.

"Long tentacles reached out, as many as 15 or 20 from each bud, as I remember. At the end of the tentacles were blossoms and at their base were leaves. The leaves were bound together, just like the cold buds had been. As the weather warmed, they began to unfold.

"My heart tingled with excitement when the leaves began to open. My husband, Jerry, was at the garden and I remember yelling excitedly to him, 'Come quick! The leaves are opening.'

"Half-inch baby leaves, perfectly shaped, stretched their little frames for all the earth to see. In one week, some leaves had grown to 3 inches in length. My eyes couldn't believe the transformation. As the leaves grew, the blossoms were blown to the ground. I walked on yellow drops of sun splattered all over the place. I had witnessed the birth of one of God's creations.

"The cry of a lone bird brought me back to the present. Chilled, I headed back to the  house, shivering. But my heart was no longer cold.

"You see, it's February now--just the time I began watching the frozen buds last year. When everything looked dead, and no life was visible, God was working. And now I knew God was working in me.

"It's been a long year, but I know my heart will feel the warmth of God's love again. Why, in just a couple of months, He'll bring be baby leaves."

"The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the Creator."

Louis Pasteur (1822-18950

Ever since that cold February day I look for my baby leaves with anticipation for God's reminder to me that there is hope.Here in NW PA buds are slowly beginning to open on a few trees, but I'm still waiting in our yard. In just another week or two I will have baby leaves. I'm so excited!

 

I hope you can take time over the next few weeks to see God's creation come into bloom and realize the hope God gives us each day.

My baby leaves story was published back in 1992 titled "There's Life in Winter," in Women's Touch, January/February 1992.  The above is an abbreviated version.

"The tree is full of poetry."

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Be Inspired!

If you follow my blog you know that I love to sing hymns. You've read about my "Melody of Hymns" and you've read about reading hymns during my devotion time. Starting at the beginning of my hymnal at the beginning of the year and working my way through to the end, I read a hymn each day of the year.

Do you pay attention to the words of a hymn? If your heart is 100% pure with God, the words you read will inspire, encourage, convict and refresh you. Those hymn writers of long ago wrote incredible stories in their songs. 

I just finished watching two 30 minute Gospel Music Hymn Sings on YouTube. If you want to be refreshed I definitely recommend joining in on the videos.

A number of years ago Gerald Wolfe, from Greater Vision, orchestrated the beginning of this congregational singing of amazing hymns. From their website I found their story:

"What began as a simple 'sing-along,' during a Gospel Concert in a small theater in Shipshewana, Indiana, eventually led to the first video recording of a "Gospel Music Hymn Sing,' in the Summer of 2014. Two local church choirs, along with 50 well-known Gospel Music Artists came together for the event at the First Baptist Church of Morristown, Tennessee, and a capacity crowd, with attendees from as far as 2000 miles away, filled the auditorium . . . for the Monday evening event. It was obvious to everyone in attendance that this was something really special, and there was obviously a real desire, a real hunger, for a revival of congregational Hymn singing."

You can find their website at: http://gospelmusichymnsing.com/about-us/

You'll see very quickly that most of the audience is of the older generation, and I have no problem identifying with them. I certainly knew hymns in my younger years, but it wasn't until I was saved in 1978 that hymns became much more than just singing. My heart was forever bonded to their messages.

When you're with a group of brothers and sisters singing God's songs, there isn't much that can equal the joy and inspiration received. Knowing their conviction of the Bible and Jesus is the same as yours inspires and encourages my heart.

One of the things I have enjoyed most in the church we landed in after moving to PA three years ago, is hearing our pastor sing a hymn or praise song to open the service. Knowing his conviction to the Gospel and Jesus is real and true makes that time special.

I sang in a choir when I was a young child, and when I first found Christ at age 28, but shortly after that, during a difficult time in my life I suffered from a muscle spasm in my throat and could not sing after that. I've never regained my voice. I can sing very softly at a lower level, but if I sing too long my throat begins to hurt. But you can be sure my heart sings out every word!

You may not think you sound very good singing, or have other concerns about singing like me, but I challenge you to sing with your heart and send your praise and worship up to our Loving God. What a blessing it will bring to your heart. Whether young or old, don't deprive yourself of the great hymns of our faith and the stories of the Gospel they convey.

Yes, I love hymns. I'm thankful to realize their importance in my faith and plan to be singing them the best way I can until my life ends on this earth. Then I expect to be singing in the great heavenly choir for all eternity!

I just lovely Magnolia blossoms!

Those Who Write

"A few songs with Him might change the way you sing, Forever."

Max Lucado 

"Ray Palmer was having a tough year. He wanted to go into the ministry but was stuck teaching at a girls' school in New York City. He was lonely, depressed, and sick. Then he found a German poem about a sinner kneeling before the cross. He translated it and added four stanzas." The One Year Book of Hymns, William J. Peterson and Randy Peterson, April 26 devotion

I enjoy reading the inspiration behind a song. Maybe because I like to write. How do other people write? What inspires them? Ray Palmer wrote the hymn "My Faith Looks Up to Thee." You may remember the first verse:

"My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!

Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, O let me from this day Be wholly Thine!

Continuing from the devotion, "I wrote the verses with tender emotion," he said later. "There was not the slightest thought of writing for another eye, least of all writing a hymn for Christian worship.

"Two years later, while visiting Boston, he ran across his friend Lowell Mason. Mason, a major figure in American music in the early 1800s, was preparing a new hymnal. He asked Palmer if he'd like to contribute anything. Palmer bashfully showed Mason these verses. Mason said, "You may live many years and do many good things, but I think you will be best known to posterity as the author of 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee.'"

 

I like the other verses too:

"May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire;

As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee Pure, warm and changeless be, A living fire!

"While life's dark maze I tread And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my guide;

Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow's tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside.

"When ends life's passing dream, When death's cold, threatening stream Shall o'er me roll,

Blest Savior, then, in love, Fear and distrust remove; O lift me safe above, A ransomed soul!

                                                                                                                        Ray Palmer (1808-1887)  

We can learn so much about Jesus and the gospel from hymns. They encourage us, strengthen us, teach us and inspire us. They repel discouragement and worry. But most of all, they praise God.

If you don't know the tune you can listen here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGKLmThF2to


Thank you, Ray Palmer, for turning your discouragement into praise for God! We still sing your song.
 

The Birth of a Chip

National Potato Chip Day, March 14
  (my birthday)

With all the concerns in our country and the world right now, I thought I'd post an article I wrote back in 1990 to bring a chuckle and a smile. 

I was 41, still young enough to have a little fun. The article was 850 words, so I left out half of it so it wouldn't be too long, but I hope you'll have fun reading what's here. Smile!

"When my husband, Jerry, told me we were going to tour a potato chip factory, a flashback of all the reasons I married him ran through my mind as I clobbered him with a giant hug! Potato chips is my middle name. Jerry never knew what hit him.

"I don't recall when my love affair with potato chips began. I remember coming home after church services each Sunday, heading straight to the kitchen to fill a plate high with chips. They were my favorite snack. Plus, they took care of my growling stomach.

"My Sunday morning feast got me in trouble when I was young. Mom would have dinner on the table an hour later, and my stomach rebelled. I knew the score: "No more chips before dinner." if I complained of being full. There was only one thing to do: obediently eat dinner and suffer silently.

"All through my life, potato chips have been my friends. Diets didn't distract me--everything was off limits but the chips.

"I could scarcely keep still in my seat as Jerry and I made the hour drive to the UTZ factory in Hanover, MD. UTZ delivers chips and other related edibles to my home town in MD, as well as other locations from New Jersey to North Carolina.

 Here's two of my UTZ T-shirts that I enjoyed wearing. And yes, I'm licking the beater filled with chocolate on it!

"When we arrived at the plant, we glanced through some brochures provided by the company. We read about the operation and received a peak at what we'd see on the tour. One of the brochures begin with the history of the first potato chip.

"'The year was 1853. The place was 'Moon's Place,' a popular resort in Saratoga Springs, New York. There, an Indian cook named Aunt Kate accidentally dropped a very thin potato into hot fat. As Aunt Kate fished the crispy morsel from the fat, restaurant owner, George Crum happened by and tasted America's first potato chip . . .' (I checked out the story online and there are similar reports of the history, which say Crum deliberately dropped the thin potato in hot fat because a customer had complained about thick, soggy fried potatoes, but this is what was on the UTZ information we received.)


"The production plant is huge, 500,000 square feet. In an elevated, glass enclosed observation gallery, we listened to recorded messages about the chip production process . . . The most amazing thing I learned was the quickness of going from raw potato to packaged and ready-for-delivery chips. From start to finish is barely 30 minutes.

"There are four steps in making potato chips: potato selection, preparation, frying, and inspection and seasoning. Each process is carefully supervised by trained attendants. It was all Jerry could do to hold me back from taking my place on the production line. Several workers observe all the chips and pick out the dark ones. My hands would be going straight to the perfect ones!

"In one hour, 12,000 lbs. of potato chips are produced. Potato chip heaven!

I had this magnet for my refrigerator door!

"When the tour ended, Jerry and I drove to the outlet store a few blocks away, which is well stocked with all of UTZ's products. I had the pleasure of picking out two potato chip shirts.

"Well satisfied, we drove home thinking about potato chips. 'You know, I've made potato chips before,' Jerry said. 'You have?' I responded surprised. 'I bet we could make ourselves a few chips,' Jerry teased. I filed that adventure away for another day.

"Well, gotta go now. Dinner's about an hour away and old habits never die. It's Chip time!"


 
I sent the article to UTZ to see if they wanted to publish it. They didn't. But they did send me a 3 1/2 gallon can of my favorite chips!!!

I took some pictures but haven't found them. Although I sent the article to several other places, I never did get it published, but I sure had fun writing it!

I still hunger for those potato chips, but they just don't taste as good as they did way back then. Actually, I think it's my taste buds that aren't cooperating anymore. Aging seems to change a lot of things.

I'll always remember those potato chips and my visit to their factory! One of those "best" days!

My Highlighter Works

"Words are things, and a small drop of ink

Falling like dew upon a thought, produces

That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think."

Lord George Noel Gordon Byron (1788-1824)

 Last week I spent time looking through all my deer pictures and pulling out special ones that I've taken. Remembering where I was and when I snapped a shot is always a happy memory. My heart is always filled with joy when I find fawn just laying around relaxing. This is one of them.

I'm a highlighter. I love to highlight sentences, paragraphs or words that speak to my heart. I love to write down those things I've highlighted in my journal so I can read them again.

Charles Spurgeon said if a book isn't worth reading a second time, then it's not worth reading at all. I agree. If I'm going to keep a book I've purchased, I read it again. Sometimes a number of times through the years. Highlighting parts along the way always brings back memories.

I watched this doe and fawn and two other does walk up this hill one early summer morning. Just slowly enjoying the early morning as they walked along.

During this time of confinement I was able to purchase David Jeremiah's Study Bible. It was $20 off, and I decided I could buy it. This week I've gone down memory lane.

From Genesis to Revelation I've gone page by page in the Bible I've used for 40 years and
highlighted all the verses in the new book. What an experience! What a journey!

I always love tender moments between doe and fawn.

I make notes also on the pages of my Bible. It helps me remember important times in my life by seeing notations written down. Happy memories and important decisions that I've made along the way.

I've found by highlighting verses in the Bible I know where they are when I'm in need of encouragement. I've not been successful in memorizing verses, but by highlighting verses I can recall them and find them quickly. I can see them on the page. I may not remember every word, but I easily have my hand on them quickly.

Maybe you don't need a new Bible or can't afford one. If you've made similar notations or highlights along the way, you can experience the same joy I have. Start at the beginning and go page by page. You'll be encouraged and inspired as you stop and consider what your notes bring to mind.

Another month and I'll be leaving first light to find those young fawn once again. Can't wait!

My mighty highlighter is a constant reminder to seek out those words that refresh my spirit, inspire my soul and strengthen my mind. My highlighter works! Do you have one?

"Words--so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become, in the hands of one who knows how to combine them!"

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)

Now that's a big boy! Always a thrill to see a buck standing strong and majestic. 

PS  In Charles Spurgeon's devotion yesterday he said Jesus is a "sachet of myrrh" Song of Solomon 1:13

"He meets every variety of needs, not just one, for everything we need is found in Him. Just consider the wonderful variety of roles He fulfilled. Jesus is a treasure of sufficiency: Prophet, Priest, King, Husband, Friend and Shepherd . . . Picture His Goodness, Courage, Self denial, Love, Faithfulness, Truth and Righteousness. Everywhere we look He is a treasure of sufficiency. We must value Him as our greatest treasure, prizing His words and His precepts."

Saturate Your Mind and Heart

"Solitude is bearable only with God."

Andre Gide, 1869-1951

The season of new birth. Calves are a delight to photograph. Here's a chuckle on me: One early morning driving to work I saw a newborn calf far off in the field close to the beltway. It was raining. No other cows were around. I took the next exit, counted the houses and pulled in and knocked on the door of a farmhouse to let them know the calf was alone. I'm sure they had a good chuckle that morning!

Sunday morning I watched a video by my pastor in Maryland and at the end he provided words of encouragement. Hymns. Old hymns. Sing them.

Why? Because hymns aren't just songs. "They are powerful instruments of God to draw people closer to His Word and the saving riches therein." Billy Graham  You learn the gospel when you sing hymns.

An early morning thrill of watching a newborn stand up for the first time.

That same morning I read a devotion from God Hears Her by Our Daily Bread titled "Remembering . . ." I found the words interesting since I'm in the age group they were being applied to.

"Our difficult part of growing older is the fear of short-term memory loss. But Dr. Benjamin Mast, an expert on Alzheimer's, offers encouragement. He says that patients' brains are often so 'well worn' and 'habitual' that they can hear an old hymn and sing along to every word. He suggests that spiritual disciplines such as reading Scripture, praying, and singing hymns cause truth to become 'embedded' in our brains, ready to be accessed when prompted.

"In Psalm 119 we read how the power of hiding God's word in our heart can strengthen us, teach us obedience, and direct our footsteps. This in turn gives us hope and understanding. Even when we begin to notice memory slips in ourselves or in the life of a loved one, God's Word, memorized years earlier, is still there, 'stored up' or 'treasured' in our heart. God's words will continue to speak to us.

“Nothing—not even a failing memory—can separate us from His love and care. We have His word on it.”

  

 Wilson's Farm in MD gave me many opportunities to take pictures of calves.

I've mentioned my Melody of Hymns before and can see how they will always be a part of me, pulling them up at just the right time. The same would be true in memorizing Scripture. Rereading favorite and meaningful Scripture over and over to the place where you know it in your heart. It will never leave. It's is a part of you.

You read occasionally about an older person sitting down to play the piano, remembering the song completely, yet has lost all memory of the past and present. Or singing songs of faith when there seems to be no memory at all.

God's Word stays with you. He gave each of us the ability to retain our faith by deeply saturating our being with His Words and hymns through our entire life.

If you are young, take these words to heart. Saturate your mind and heart with God's Words and His hymns. You will be amazed, grateful and thankful in your later life to realize what your earlier learning has done for you. You will be supplied with inspiration, encouragement and joy from what lies in your heart and mind.

I call them lumps in the field.

Yes, I will be singing my way through the frightening and anxious season our country is in. Pick up a hymnal, recall those songs from years ago that spoke to your heart, and fill your mind with truthful, reassuring words knowing God can and will get us through in such a time like this.Very good advice Dr. Trammell. Thank you!