Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Silence

Thinking is a good thing. Thinking alone in silence is even better. This is something that I have found to be a necessary refreshing step in the journey we call life. This is no easy feat. The demand of everyday responsibilities and unplanned so-called crisis interrupt daily activities. Carving out time for self is hard. It is not the length of time but the quality of the time spent, pondering, thinking and praying that is so needed for our weary souls, minds and bodies. A lack of intimacy with the Father is at the heart of our embedded troubles. Jesus told us we would have problems in this world, yet we are to take head to his words: "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened 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." Matthew 11:28-29 Here is a question posed by Charles Swindoll in his book "Intimacy With the Almighty" -- "Do you want to be profoundly aware of His presence, in touch with Him at the deepest possible level, thinking His thoughts, gleaning His wisdom, and living as close to His heart as is humanly possible, operating your life in the nucleus of His will?" Then we must get serious about pondering His Words to us. We must become intimately engaged with Christ and Christ alone. No program, no Bible study group, no worship experience etc. will give us that which we seek at such a deep level. Pure and simple Bible reading and thinking about what you read -- this leads to wisdom and knowledge about our Father. One of the most difficult yet rewarding aspects of my journey so far has been cultivating absolute silence. Psalm 46:20 states "Be still and know that I am God." I want to share about my experience last Saturday when our family went up to the mountain to cut some fire wood. I went along for the opportunity to take pictures of wild flowers and to go for a walk alone in the forest to ponder, think, pray -- for some silence. I was reading Psalm 62 "Find rest O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him...One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you O Lord, are strong, and that you O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done." I was walking along a steep hillside looking around, praying silently when all of a sudden two young stags appeared right in front of me. I think they scared me as much as I scared them. Yet we all just stood there for a brief moment in time: perfectly still, perfectly silent. It was a moment I won't forget. The words of Psalm 42:1-2 "As the deer pants for stream of water so my soul thirst for you O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." These words come to mind and I was moved to tears as I stood their alone on a hillside with my thoughts. It was if God knew how desperate I was for Him to speak to me, so He sent two deer to cross my path and remind me of His desire for intimacy with me. I sat down and just cried. It was a good cry. I know this may sound weird but trust me something happens deep with in when you can release the burdens. I have many. We all do. I just happen to have cancer -- chemo -- life. Saturday, I felt like I couldn't move forward, I needed His strength. This is why silence is so important to me. With out that time on the mountain alone in silence where I have a come to Jesus time I can not face the "real mountains" set before me. My heart was beating wildly. My thoughts then turned to praising a gigantic God who created the heavens and earth. I felt so small in the midst of big fir trees, mountain tops, flowers and deer. Yet, God sees me and knows my heart. How sweet that silence was.

"The Bible is not an end to itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts." A.W. Tozer

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