Good Listening

Recently my pastor posted Listening on his blog. I found it interesting, probably because I do more listening than talking. I have his permission to share it with you here:

“An eighty year-old grandfather went to his daughter’s home for Sunday dinner. When the meal was over, he announced he was going to take a walk through the neighborhood. ‘I’ll be back in fifteen minutes,' he said. Two hours passed before he returned. ‘Sorry I’m late,’ he said upon his return, ‘but I stopped to talk to an old friend and he just wouldn’t stop listening.’

“How good are you at listening? Have you ever thought about listening being a ministry? Sometimes we fail to appreciate the significance of just being a good listener. There is an old saying that says, ‘A self-centered person doesn’t feel the time is being used wisely unless the air is filled with the melodious sound of his own voice.’ Know anyone like that? Preachers sometimes are the worst offenders. We just think people always enjoy hearing us talk. Someone once said, ‘Remember, God gave us two ears and only one mouth.’

“There is a real ministry to be offered to someone who is hurting. It is called a ministry of presence. It means that you go to someone who is hurting without all the answers to their problems. It means you realize you don’t know why something happened to them, or what they should do now. Sometimes just being there without saying a word – not giving opinions or advice – can provide great comfort to that person who is hurting. By your being there you are saying that you care and that you share in the other person’s pain. Too often with the best of intentions we say things like, ‘I know what you’re going through’ when we don’t. Again, sometimes just being there is what is needed.”

I liked the idea of a “ministry of presence.” You really can make a difference just being there for someone. Yes, listening is a viable ministry. As my pastor's blog asks, "How good are you at listening?"

Some quotes to enjoy . . .

"Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering." Winnie the Pooh

"A good listener is a silent flatterer." unknown

"If you spend more time asking appropriate questions rather than giving answers or opinions, your listening skills will increase." Brian Koslow

"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand." unknown

"Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again." Andre Gide

"I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen." Ernest Hemingway

"A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something." Wilson Mizner

I found the above picture at a Hospice Facility close to home. The pictures below are of some farms I found while I was out and about.

Sweet Sleep

“ . . . for he grants sleep to those he loves.” Psalm 127:2b

I am very fortunate to be able to sleep well. No matter what is going on I’ve always been a quick-to-sleep person. I’m talking one minute to begin snoozing! Now, that’s fast.

This post in no way suggests that God doesn’t love you if you have trouble sleeping. I recently read the above words from the Psalms and knew how thankful I am to be one who sleeps.

Sleep is very necessary if we’re to function normally. Some can function on very little sleep and others need more than average sleep. Either way . . . it is very necessary.

Following are some quotes I’ve read about sleep:

“It takes more than a soft pillow to ensure sound sleep.” Unknown

“Sleep recreates. The Bible indicates that sleep is not meant only for the recuperation of a man’s body, but that there is a tremendous furtherance of spiritual and moral life during sleep.” Oswald Chambers, 1874-1917

“O bed! O bed! Delicious bed! That heaven upon earth to the weary head.” Thomas Hood, 1799-1845 (I like this one!)

“Tired nature’s sweet restorer, balmy sleep!” Edward Young, 1683-1765

“Thank God for sleep! And, when you cannot sleep, still thank him that you live to lie awake.”
John Oxenham, 1861-1941

I smiled at this last quote. I guess if you can’t sleep, being thankful that you live to lie awake is the next best thing. And praying, of course.

I've posted both pictures in this post before, but find them approproiate here, well just because their sweet! The picture above is the lamb I caught beside its mother. The picture below my friend, Kathy Kreyling captured. Oh to be so dreamy-eyed as thee!

October Gave a Party

“October gave a party,
The leaves by hundreds came
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand.
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.”
George Cooper

Isn’t fall grand! Sweatshirts . . . evening fires . . . falling leaves . . . wind blowing.

Recently I wrote to a lady in Florida who is living there because of her illness. Suzanne and her husband were in Brazil for many years teaching at a school for children of missionaries. Her health brought them home, and they spent several years in New Hampshire. Now they’ve been in Florida for many years. I asked her: “Do you miss the seasons?”

I can’t imagine living where there is only warm weather. Missing the beauty of snow, the glory of spring, the rest of summer, and the color of fall is something I don’t want to ever miss! For all the hardships each season may bring, their own special beauty outweighs it all.

The two pictures above were taken at one of my favorite ponds, each on a different morning, a different side of the pond. I waited 20 minutes one morning for the geese to fly, but they didn't. I still got a nice shot though. The second morning they flew! I’ve never gotten a good picture of geese flying; this is the best so far!

The two pictures below are of lightposts I pass on my drive to and from work. They both happened to be lite and it provided a special scene!




Below, I even found a fall calf nursing vigorously as I snapped!





"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” Albert Camus

Yes, fall is a gorgeous season!

Taming Thoughts . . .

“No! No! No! Get out of my mind! Jesus is in control, not you, Satan!” I’ve certainly had my share of thoughts that crippled me. Thoughts mostly of heartbreaking things that I have no control over. Early on in my years, I started a practice of shouting at Satan and reminding him that I belong to the King.

This practice has been fine-tuned over the years. What use to take months to stop dwelling on something, now only take me a few weeks before it’s under control. And it usually only takes me a few days to remind myself to begin the process to stop those bad thoughts.

In Diamonds in the Dust by Joni Eareckson Tada, one of her devotions is titled “The Thought Patrol.” And this is just what she’s talking about. “When I catch myself, I’m aghast at how many lazy, anxious, or lustful imaginations wheedle their way into my head. When they do, the “thought patrol” goes on alert . . .”

2 Corinthians 10:5 says it is possible for every thought to be made obedient, to become captive to Christ. The “thought patrol” that Joni speaks of is just another name for the Holy Spirit. “The only way you can exercise power over your thought life is to do so in the power of God’s Spirit,” Joni said.

Remember, when those thoughts just won’t get out of your head, attack them with the power of the Holy Spirit. Then think on good things, and you will have peace.

The above picture was taken one evening at a friend's home. Her husband walked past the patio with a bucket in his hand. As he continued his walk up the drive to the barn, cats started coming out of everywhere to follow him. I started laughing and my friend, Jackie, said, "He's going to feed the cats. This happens every evening." By the time I got a snap off he was up the hill aways. I cropped the picture so it would take in the fence and wheel, so you can't see many cats. But there was at least 20 following him to dinner. The picture below closes in on more of the cats.

Amish Proverbs

I recently purchased the book “Amish Proverbs” by Suzanne Woods Fisher. The Amish life has always interested me, and I thought reading the proverbs from the Amish community would be telling. I’ve listed some of my favorites below:

“Every mother crow thinks her own little crow is blackest.”

“Choose your love and love your choice.”

“Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.”

“One thing you can learn by watching the clock is that it passes time by keeping its hands busy.”

“A task takes as long as it takes.”

“Nothing is all wrong; even a clock that has stopped running is right twice a day.”

“Remember, when you talk, you only repeat what you already know; if you listen, you might learn something.”

“We always admire the other fellow more after we have tried to do his job.”

“Those who let God provide will always be satisfied.”

“Standing your ground is easier when you are grounded in God’s word.”

“Good deeds have echoes.”

“Every hen will lay an imperfect egg now and then.”

“Nothing is quite so annoying as to have someone go right on talking when you are interrupting.”

I especially laughed at the first quote and the last. And there really isn’t “anything new under the sun,” so listening is indeed a worthy habit.

The rain and dark mornings have limited my picture taking opportunities each day, so I’m sharing one of my favorite pictures, above. Sammy was still a puppy. She wanted to be on the other side of that gate so badly.

Satisfied

Recently I was off work a few days, and one of my desires was to visit three ladies that I’ve been writing. One of the ladies had been in my SS class for a season. Another lady I’d seen only twice in morning worship, and one lady I’d never met.

Mrs. Brown is an older saint and isn’t able physically to attend church anymore. For the short time I had to enjoy her presence in SS, I came to admire her. It was a joy to sit with her a spell and, again, enjoy the saintly countenance of her presence. There’s just something special about being with one who has walked with God for many a year. I think of words such as satisfied, restful and serene.

It was a delightful country lane that took me to my second visit. Radean has multiple sclerosis. I’d only seen her twice before, and began writing her about two years ago. What a fun time we had! I discovered we grew up in the same general area, and her brother attended the same high school as me, possibly the same year. I’ll have to find my yearbook! She was comforting to talk with, and I hope we’ll get together again.

I met Janet at a coffee shop in Mt. Airy. This new friend has been fighting cancer for a number of years, but you couldn’t tell it. This lady was alive, focused and exuberant! As one who encourages others, she encouraged me! God has filled her with His work, as she goes around cheering the hearts of others struggling with cancer. I was transfixed for two hours as she shared her story and the things God has done through her. I look forward to being with her again.

I consider it a great privilege to have sat down with these three ladies as we shared our lives. Moments like these are what memories are made of. My vacation days were well spent . . . and I look forward to the time when I can make visits like these more frequently.

After writing encouraging notes for many years now, I know God will provide the words He wants me to share. This ministry has been a healing balm for me, as many times I suffered from heartache to headache when I’ve sat down to write. There is something much stronger that drives me to write, for it is what God has called me to do. His power goes before me. Yes, I am satisfied.

The picture above and below of this fine colt were snapped near Littlestown, PA. Jerry and I had just enjoyed a delicious lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, Hillcrest, and we took a different route home. (Actually the route would take us closer to a favorite ice cream store for a double dip chocolate cone!) I enjoyed taking a few snaps, although this colt wasn’t happy I was there. I still managed to bring away some pictures to enjoy, though.

My Little Acre . . .

My little acre of land, my little acre of influence, and travels, how well do I know thee? George Macdonald puts it this way:

"Few are needed, to do the out-of-the-way tasks which startle the world, and one may be most useful just doing commonplace duties, and leaving the issue with God. And when it is all over, and our feet will run no more, and our hands are helpless, and we have scarcely strength to murmur a last prayer, then we shall see that, instead of needing a larger field, we have left untilled many corners of our single acre, and that none of it is fit for our Master's eyes, were it not for the softening shadow of the cross."

This quote has always moved me as I've read it over the years. It certainly reminds me that I have much to do in my own little sphere of note. As I share when I speak on note writing: "This may appear to be a very small service in God's family, but it has the potential to change a life. I should know . . . my life was changed by a note."

And the same may be true as you share your gifts from God with others. It may seem very small, but in actuality, it may change a life.

In Look Upto Me: The Devotions of Charles Spurgeon, the September 10 devotion opened with Mark 3:13: "Jesus went up on a mountain side and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him."

"This is an example of God's sovereignty," Spurgeon wrote. "Impatient souls may fret and fume because they are not called to the highest places of ministry, but dear reader, let your heart rejoice that Jesus calls whom He wills. If He asks you to be only " . . . a doorkeeper in His house," Psalm 84:10, cheerfully bless Him for His grace in allowing you to do anything in His service."

Yes, my little acre is quite enough to fill my time in living for Jesus and sharing encouraging words. It is done because of His grace in me, and I can rejoice that I can do this for Him.

Whatever God has given you to do in your little acre, do it faithfully for you never know when your gift will change a life!

The picture above is of Sammy playing "stick" in our little acre.

I saw a fawn and doe by the side of the road the other morning and quickly turned around to see if I could get a picture. They moved into the trees so I turned into the next street, parked the car and walked just inside the tree line. It took about 5seconds before I spotted the fawn, who was looking at me. I was able to get several snaps before my camera said, "change the batteries." I never saw the doe.

It wasn't until I was working with the picture in Photoshop at home that I noticed the doe in the picture. It caught my breath! What a thrill.