Rest

Return to rest, my soul, 

for the Lord has been good to you. 

Psalm 116:7

 Familiar melodies, meaningful refrains 
fall from the tongue, from long ago memory. 
Dearly loved hymns seem to stay in the mind's folds. 
Even if unsung, dormant for a time, they rise. 
Memory holds them 
though much else will diminish.
Words for the soul.



 Be Still My Soul, a well loved 19th century hymn 
sung here by the lilting voice of Leigh Nash, 
settles my heart in quiet reflection 
and joy filled praise. 
Click here to enjoy the music. 
The lyrics below...

~

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future, as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise

On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;

Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,

So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.

Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine

Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Author: Catharine Amalia Von Schlegel 

Composer: Jean Sibelius 

Tune: Finlandia

The Hushed Voice, The Gentle Whisper

A spirit glided past my face, 

and the hair on my body stood on end. 

It stopped,

but I could not tell what it was.

A form stood before my eyes,

and I heard a hushed voice...

Job 4:15-16

~

After the earthquake came a fire, 

but the Lord was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face 

and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

1 Kings 19; 12-13

~

From L.B. Cowman’s Streams in the Desert, A.B. Simpson writes on June 30...

“This ‘gentle whisper’ became for me the voice of prayer, wisdom, and service. No longer did I need to work so hard to think, pray, or trust, because the Holy Spirit’s ‘gentle whisper’ in my heart was God’s prayer in the secret places of my soul. It was his answer to all my questions, and His life and strength for my soul and body. His voice became the essence of all knowledge, prayer, and blessings, for it was the living God Himself as my life and my all.” 

Fall Fresh On Me

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

Daniel Iverson

~

Eyes seek the canopy overhead.

It shimmers with transparent green.

Branching limbs reach heavenward, 

botanical veins silhouetted against the sky.

Airy currents softly brush leaves and skin,

both uplifted to face the light.

The unique brilliance of overcast skies

intermingles with layers of deep shade.

In the whispers of His forest sanctuary

a grateful voice praises,

a longing soul listens,

a believers heart worships.

~

Hoping you find His Spirit 

in your quiet places this weekend.

Lisa