Tag: #silence

Only the One and Only, Jesus, is able

~ Lisa Brittain ~ 13 Comments

“…know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.” Deuteronomy 4:39 ESV

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 NIV

Wow, what a week!  I’ve been “doing the thang” (read in Beth Moore’s lovely Texas drawl) for several days.  You know, the decorating, handing out candy canes at work, and I’ve even gone so far as to wear reindeer antlers on my head in an attempt to ‘feel festive’.

The smiles on children’s faces have brought a smile to my own.  The antlers are truly a conversation piece.  The other day I heard a middle schooler call out, “It’s a reindeer on the loose!” He caused a chuckle to bubble up from the inside out.Psalm 114.7.8

And then again, the holidays can be overwhelmingly hard for so many people.  Their rock-hard walls are cracking and all the awful is leaking out – at times spewing.  It’s my job.  I must uphold the standards, the policies and guidelines I’ve been given to successfully fulfill my duties.  Lately, it seems compliance with rules is rubbing against the grain of people already stretched and overwhelmed beyond their capacity to comply.

I sat at my post yesterday and took it all.  After so many arrows of accusation landed on my brain and my heart, a tear began to trickle down the side of my nose.  Soon others dripped off my chin.  She, several she’s and he’s, just wouldn’t stop.  Finally, I pulled antlers off because there’s just no point to silliness in the midst of the battle for peace.

And I thought about Jesus.  The One and Only Son of God, Who took it all.  He stood silently as all the sin and hatred and ugly flew in His face, assaulted His senses, and broke His heart.  Yet, He spoke only words of forgiveness.  Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.

Father, write Jesus’ prayer in my heart today.  And when my heart cracks may the only trickle be of Living Water.  May I stay silent except to speak life and love and hope in the One and Only, Jesus, Who is able.

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This post is written in participation with the Five-minute Friday community of beautiful faith writers.  The idea behind Five-minute Friday is this:

I set my timer for 5 minutes and then write prayerfully as Holy Spirit leads me regarding the particular word prompt.  Today’s word prompt from Kate Motaung is {only}.

FMF: Silence is golden

~ Lisa Brittain ~ 3 Comments

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Welcome to this week’s Five Minute Friday writing opportunity!  I’m thrilled with Kate’s word selection this week because I’ve actually been pondering much on {silence} this whole week.  So much have I been challenged by this idea of seeking silence that I committed to obtain 15 minutes of this precious commodity each day for 21 days.

I seem to not be able to do these things alone so I put the challenge out there on my Facebook page – Eyes on Jesus and Shine and I was amazed how many other people wanted to join me in seeking silence before Jesus.  #notalk #noscreens #nodistractions #november

Here’s the scripture verse – familiar to me, probably to you – which Holy Spirit began to open up from a new perspective.  Perhaps the familiarity was my problem.  “Yes, I know that story.  Of course, I’m Mary.  I love to sit quietly at Jesus’ feet – in His word…”

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-41

However, the longer I sat quietly at His feet pondering the truth of God’s word, memories began to play through my mind like an old reel to reel.  I could see myself in the back seat of a car – sitting between Great-grandma Becky and my brother.  My grandfather was driving and Grandma Naomi was sitting in the front passenger seat.

I don’t know where we were going or where we had been, but at some point, Grandpa Floyd grew weary of the backseat chatter.  He declared the start of “the quiet game”.  Oh man, not the quiet game!  The stakes for losing the quiet game?

The loser had to sit in the front seat between the two grandparents!

I being the firstborn, rule follower was trying very hard to be silent.  I wanted to win the game.  I refused to look at my brother who continuously tried to poke and make faces so I would laugh or tell him to stop.  That’s what little brother’s do.silence martha martha

I stared straight ahead.  Eyes locked on the windshield.  And then my sweet precious Great-grandma Becky, in an effort to keep my mouth busy without talking, held out a pack of Wrigley’s spearmint gum.  I was so grateful.  Yes, chew gum – don’t talk!  And then, after taking the stick of gum said, “Thank you!”

I lost…  I cried…  I had to move to the front seat and sit in between my grandparents.

This is all I remember, but somehow Holy Spirit is exposing a lie that when I have difficulty sitting totally still and want to speak out in my quiet time with Jesus, I’m doing it wrong.  Grateful for truth today…  Thankful Jesus delights in me just the way He made me.  Grateful He is healing deep places of my wounded heart to prepare me more and more for the mission He has for me to fulfill on my journey toward HOME.

 

Ponders:

  • Would you like to join me in this challenge to choose silence with Jesus each day?
    • #notalk  #noscreens  #nodistractions  #november
    • It’s not a formula.  It’s not a punishment to sit with Jesus.  There are no losers when we choose to sit quietly with Him.
  • What are your thoughts about sitting silent?  Is it a place where Holy Spirit has permission to expose some lies you’ve been believing without realizing it?
  • Will you journal your experience and talk with Jesus about all He wants to teach you in the silence?
    • What golden nuggets is the Lord giving to you in the silent place?

Eyes on Jesus… you’re Shining!

~Lisa