The LORD is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23, NLT

These well-known words penned by David continue to offer hope, comfort and much more in the midst of the unknowns 2020 has given us. David, a shepherd, recognized that God, the LORD was his shepherd and his model for caring for the sheep, for their thriving.

 

Mary  texted, “I hope your family is thriving in their new place.”*

Immediately this question surfaced …

What does thriving look like according to Psalm 23?

Thriving recognizes who God is.

The LORD (Psalm 23:1) — Yahweh, the one who is, who was, and who is to come. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8.

One of the characteristics of God is that he does not change. His faithfulness to me as a new believer is the same as his faithfulness to me in our current chapter, the empty-nest, grandparent, pandemic chapter. What does God’s faithfulness look like to you today?

“… therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Jeremiah 31:3

My shepherd (Psalm 23:1) — my necessary one, my care-giver, my protector, my leader, the lover of my soul, my wisdom, my omni-present, omniscient, omnipotent one, and more. My shepherd, the one I need today. Nothing is missing. How might God fulfill your needs today?

“For the LORD God is a sun and a shield;”
Psalm 84:11

Thriving is allowing God to see my need and work in my life.

He makes me lie down in green pastures (Psalm 23:2) — total surrender, total rest, total trust — often the very thing I need.

He leads me beside still waters peaceful streams (Psalm 23:2) —  After lying down, the message of still water is next. In still water, reflections allow me to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation twice. Sometimes in still water I see my reflection. “So all of us who have had the veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the the Lord.” II Corinthians 3:18 NLT

“Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD.” (so I can reflect you)
Psalm 4:6 … As I pray this verse, I often add the words in parentheses.

The green pastures and the still waters restore my soul, renew my strength readying me for the next right path (Psalm 23:3) — I take a deep breath and move forward in trust.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD.”
Jeremiah 29:11

At the moment, what am I in need of … green pastures, still waters, or the next step?

For his name’s sake (Psalm 23:3) — The paths that God readys me for bring honor to his name.  Yes, my heart’s desire, that God allows me to picture him to my world. Isaiah 60: 21 in my Sue paraphrase communicates that I am the work of his hands so that He might be glorified.

Thriving does not negate the hard.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, (Psalm 23:4) — Earlier this week, I attended the Face Book launch party for Shelly Miller’s new book Searching for Certainty. I read the galley copy on-line. Also yesterday, Amazon delivered the real book to my doorstep. I (re)started it already, anxious to underline the wisdom I hear from Shelly. Shelly is living with a serious cancer prognosis. Her words last night were a balm to my soul, “My hope is not in my healing, my hope is in Jesus.” I will fear no evil! YES, I highly recommend this book that she wrote before the pandemic, before her cancer diagnosis.

David started this Psalm referring to God in the third person. He lets, he leads, he renews, he guides. But with the words of the valley of the shadow of death, David changes to the more familiar second person. You are close, your rod, your staff, you prepare, you honor, your goodness. Like David, I need that personal relationship, that close friendship always and especially in the hards of life.

Thriving recognizes the blessings of God’s love toward us.

For you are with me, you are close beside me, (Psalm 23:4) — Am I aware?

“The Lord is at hand (near), have no anxiety …”
Philippians 4:5, 6

Your rod and you staff, they protect and comfort me, (Psalm 23:4) — These essential tools of a shepherd’s trade guide away from danger. Exodus 3 and 4 record part of Moses’ story. He was also a shepherd (Exodus 3:1). He referred to his staff as the staff of God (Exodus 4:20).

“Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.”
Proverbs 13:24

“Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.”
Psalm 119:76

How do I see God’s rod and staff actively demonstrating his love to me?

You prepare a feast for me, (Psalm 23:5) — David focuses on the rich green tablelands God provides for his sheep instead of the surrounding dangers. Song of Solomon 2:4 became real for me last February at my sister’s memorial service. Crazy, I’m saying good-by to my sister and enjoying God’s feast at the same time. Death was not the enemy.

“He brought me to the banqueting house,
and his banner over me was love.”
Song of Solomon 2:4

Because he loves me, I wonder what feast God has planned for me today?

You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. (Psalm 23:5) — David recognizes the bountiful anointing as the blessing of living out God’s purpose for his life. Ephesians 1:3 and 4 speak this truth to me.

“Long before he laid down the earth’s foundations, he had us in mind,
had settled on us as the focus of his love …
In love he predestined us for adoption
according to the purpose of his will.”
Ephesians 1:3 (the Message rendering), and 4 (ESV)

Am I living out God purpose in my life?

Thriving means I’m caught up in God’s love.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me (Psalm 23:6) — God’s love is indeed pursuing me. Am I turning around to see and experience it?

“We know how much God loves us,
and we have put our trust in his love.”
I John 4:16

Thriving guarantees my home, my forever dwelling place.

God’s heart is for me, for us to thrive.

“And I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”
Psalm 23:6

 

Scripture references are from ESV, NIV, and NLT translations unless otherwise noted.

*”your family”, referring to our son’s family, not ours.

Copyright, Sue Tell, October 2020.

 

 

 

If you missed reading last week’s post, My Nothing — God’s Hovering, please scroll down for the background to these words.

N — Nothing An
O — Ordinary Word
T — Turns
H — Holy
I  — In the
N — Nearness of our
G — Good, generous, & gracious God.

This wasn’t always my practice. Actually time with God looked more like a check-chart. Have I read my Bible? Have I thought about how I might apply what I’ve read? Have I reviewed that verse I’m trying so hard to memorize? Have I prayed? Have I done it all? Is God pleased?

My time with God didn’t look like a relationship; it was more like doing what I’m supposed to do.
After all, I’m a Christian.

Thankfully, that way of being with God has morphed over the years into relating, into friendship.

If you could see our deck on a beautiful Colorado morning, you’d see me too. Sitting with my coffee, the view, the Colorado sky, the trees, the birds who visit. Yes, my cell phone too — on silent — ready to capture the God-created beauty surrounding me. Quiet is defined by the breeze through the trees, the chatter of the birds, and an occasional plane overhead. I listen. It is good.

I start my morning experiencing the holiness of nothing. Or is it something? I’m starting my morning anticipating the voice of God. He is hovering waiting for my ear.

My offer from last week still stands. I would like to send you a small gift. If you follow Echoes of Grace, respond to my note with your address. If not, please send me your address to sue@suetell.com.

If you’d like to talk more about doing nothing and anticipating God, I’m here.

Copyright, Sue Tell, October 2020

 

“There are times
when in order to keep ourselves in existence at all
we simply have to sit back for a while
and do nothing.”
Thomas Merton

As the instructor finished her teaching, she used the common phrase, “I have good news and I have bad news” to introduce our potential applications. “The good news — you have choices; the bad news — one of your choices is to do nothing.”

Is nothing always a bad choice?

Arriving at our cabin last summer, the weather report was predicting several rainy days. That was good news for me. I just wanted to sit, to be, to do nothing! Nothing seemed good.

The account of creation recorded in Genesis reports

“In the beginning God created … The earth was formless and empty …
And the Spirit of God was hovering …”
Genesis 1:1,2 NLT

The earth was empty, there was nothing! And God was hovering. Hovering, don’t you sense the expectation? Something is about to happen.

God is present; God is hovering over the nothingness — the perfect set-up to display his creating, transforming powers.

“Then God looked over all he had made,
and he saw that
it was very good!
Genesis 1:31, NLT (bolding mine)

Nothing transformed into something very good!

At a wedding Jesus performs his first public miracle filling empty pots with water and then turning the water into the finest wine, John 2:1-12. Those pots with nothing in them were poised for Jesus to demonstrate his creating, transforming, very good powers.

 

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay
to show that this all-surpassing power is from God
and not from us.”
II Corinthians 4:7, NIV

As believers, we’re described as ordinary clay jars filled with treasure, God’s all-surpassing power. But I can only be filled if I come to God empty, with nothing.

Nothing is sometimes a good choice. It invites God to hover, to fill me with his wisdom, his goodness, and his love. Like the old hymn, Rock of Ages, proclaims, “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling”.

“May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation —
the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ —
for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”
Philippians 1:11, NIV (bolding mine)

So I come to my devotional times with nothing, anticipating God’s hovering, ready to fill me.

“so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11, ESV (bolding mine)

I have a gift for you. Email me your address sue@suetell.com or if you follow Echoes of Grace reply to the most recent devotional note with your address and I’ll get it in the mail to you.

Copyright: Sue Tell, October 2020

 

 

 

One morning last month, I woke up to a phone call from my friend, Sue. We hadn’t connected in many years. What a wonderfully delightful gift the next twenty minutes were!

Sue was on a several day pause between her master’s program and the beginning of her internship. She decided to use those days to call the friends she connected with along her journey and say thank you; thank you for how you contributed to who I am today. I was one of those friends. Surprised? YES! Overwhelmed? YES! Humbled? YES! Thankful? ABSOLUTELY!

She shared several stories that we experienced together. Most I remembered. Some I did not.  She spoke of taking walks together, going to coffee shops together, having dinner with Bill and me — even the conversation we shared over the dinner table one particular night. She shared about staying overnight in our home soon after one of my foot surgeries. All of these stories happened 15 – 20 years ago.

The nugget buried in each and every story was how I ministered to her. Huh? I would have called it friendship.

My leather journal — the one I review often and use to fuel my prayers — devotes several pages to what I call my life lessons. After her call that morning, I amended three of my life lessons.

Life Lesson #3 – I don’t need to create ministry, or accept all that comes my way. I do need to create space for God. Amended, August 2020 – I don’t need to wonder if I’m ministering to a friend. I just need to be where I am and who I am.

Life Lesson #4 (a sub-point) – Ministry is not what I do; ministry is who I am. (Similar, I know) Amended, August 2020 – Friendship is ministry. “A friend loves at all times;” Proverbs 17:17. Love is what ministry is all about.

Life Lesson #7 – Influence is ministry. Affirmation, prayer, stewardship are all qualities that contribute to influence. Amended, August 2020 – Friendship is influence.

“Long before he laid down the earth’s foundations
he had us in mind and settled on us as the focus of his love,
to be made whole and holy by his love.”
Ephesians 1:4, The Message

This verse was the key to another memory Sue shared. We were both at a staff development training in Indiana 19 years ago. I remember. She spoke of the small group we were in together  when I shared this verse. I don’t remember. My words were (and I trust her memory) “That wholeness and holiness result from receiving and trusting God’s love for us.”

To this day, that verse — the ink now faded — is at the very top of page 4 in my leather journal. I continue to pray almost daily to receive and trust God’s love for me. I anchor it with verse 5.

“In love he predestined us for adoption
according to the purpose of his will.”
Ephesians 1:5, ESV

My (our) adoption is filled with purpose. For me knowing God has purpose for my life is an indicator of his love for me. And I’ve often said, friendship is a high value for me.

In the connections God orchestrates like the one last month, friendship, purpose, and ministry  seamlessly weave together in one package wrapped in his love.

In 1983, Michael W. Smith recorded a song, Friends are Friends Forever. For sure, he was on to something. You might remember it. Here is the chorus.

“And friends are friends forever
If the Lord’s the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
‘Cause the welcome will not end
Though it’s hard to let you go
In the Father’s hands we know
That a lifetime’s not too long
To live as friends”

Yes, Sue will forever be a friend even though we rarely are together. We live about 1000 miles apart. Her affirmations challenge me. I want to be a friend like that!

What about you. I wonder if you might put a piece of your story in the comments about a friend who has affirmed you. We’d all be blessed.

 

You might remember, last Thursday’s post ended with John 15:5, “… without me you can do nothing.” Next Thursday some more thoughts about nothing.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, September 2020

 

 

 

The Autumn Equinox signaling the end of summer is less than one week away. And I have one more summer story to share with you. It evolved all summer, a new chapter every few weeks.

We live in Colorado and that means Memorial Day signifies the time to plant annuals that beautify our deck each summer. So late May we donned our masks and headed to the garden stores. Color, height, texture, and our favorites all contribute to our flower decisions.

Back home I arrange, re-arrange, decide, and transplant. This year’s finished product.

 

 

 

Flowers are resilient and can often withstand the elements that Colorado dishes out … yes, even in June! This one day (picture on the left below) snow bent their heads to the ground. But when the snow evaporated, my flowers once again stood tall.

We headed to our cabin for a week. And sadness upon sadness, while we were gone a major hail storm rolled in and decimated the beauty I so enjoyed. (middle picture above)

When I shared my disappointment with my husband, he suggested, “Give them a little fertilizer, maybe they’ll come back. With VERY LITTLE hope (oh, how human I am), I fertilized them. And amazingly (to me) the flowers once again came to life displaying their abundant beauty.

We left again for our cabin for ten days. This time, a bit wiser. I pulled our deck table over the flowers for protection (picture on the right above). I didn’t want to risk another hail storm. Yup, that could happen in Colorado even in July.

Again, back home to re-stock, a profusion of beauty welcomed me. I was overwhelmed, amazed and profoundly thankful for the work of our Creator with the help of a bit of fertilizer.

The plants …
chosen,
cared for,
fertilized,
and protected, led to abundance.

I identify. Do you?

As a chosen child of God, I too can experience abundant beauty as I care for, fertilize, and protect who God created me to be. This was the gift of our Sanctuary this summer. It provided the setting. I’m learning.

Rest isn’t something I only need when I’m tired;
rest is a spiritual discipline I need to practice every day.

The solitude and quietness of the Wet Mountains helped me re-discover the joy and the need of connecting daily with my Creator. It is the daily pause of re-visiting and remembering God’s love for me.

My fertilizer came from an unexpected source–a series of novels some friends pointed me to. I mentioned them last week (scroll down if you missed it). They are easy reads showcasing God’s ability to grow us. In the midst of the stories, the author shares actual spiritual practices that God used in transforming the main characters.

Like the plan of moving the table over my flowers, my plan of intentionally meeting with God was my protection.

Jean Fleming, one of the older women in my life wisely asked me about a year ago, “Sue, where are you, what are you doing when you’re most apt to hear the voice of God? Is it time in the Word, a walk in the woods, listening to Christian music?” Yes, yes, and yes. But the bottom line is the plan.

“I want to show you how God works in you life …
and what you can do to cooperate with Him …
You’ll be surprised to discover how much God wants abundance for you.
Bruce Wilkinson

“I am the vine; you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit,
for apart from me, you can do nothing.”
John 15:5

 

 

Once again under the protection of our table. You just got to be flexible when you live in Colorado. My wardrobe was summer on Monday and winter on Tuesday. LOL! But my shorts will be back in style; winter will again revert to summer; my plants will be uncovered.

What protections do you put on your time with God? Let’s help each other.

 

Hmmmm, those delicate summer blooms did not survive last week’s snow. Updated picture to the right. I’m appreciating their gift of autumn beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

Coming next Thursday, a wonderful story of the ministry of friendship.

Copyright: Sue Tell, September 2020

 

 

 

“He brought me to the banqueting house,
and his banner over me was love.”
Song of Solomon 2:4

We left for our Sanctuary in the beautiful Wet Mountains on July 31. We had plans.
Live there for the entire month of August. Check.
Rest. Check.
Work on our writing projects. Nope!

We found ourselves once again experiencing that long-ago memorized scripture …

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
plans for welfare … to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11

Early in the month we realized this was a sacred time reinforcing to us that Life is Precious. We were experiencing this life in a new way.

Life is Precious
Life in a different Place
Life at a different Pace
Life on the Path
Life offering a different Perspective

I penned these words on August 10. They proved true all month. Rest was different than our expectations. It was good.

“It’s not the experience that brings transformation,
it’s our reflection upon our experience.”
Jan Johnson

Several words described our month. Experience tops the list. Our different path, the different place, and our different pace provided the experience leading to perspective. As I reflected upon our August experience, many ah-has surfaced or re-surfaced.

The menu for our banquet was simple: simple meals, simple schedule, simple joys.

Early on I realized this banquet eliminated  shoulds. I should check in with this friend. I should get this project finished. I should research rest. I should … Subtracting the shoulds was so restful.

I also did some adding. I added two new pages to my leather journal and reviewed the scriptures on these pages almost daily. Pondering these familiar words from a different perspective shined the light on their truth in a new way. The two pages I added: How God Views Me and How God is Glorified.

I realized that reading is very restful for me. I read several novels this summer and a few non-fiction too. My favorite novels were The Sensible Shoes series. And I heard the voice of God through And Yet Undaunted. This book led to my two new journal pages.

I experienced God shining his flashlight on two of my life-principles recorded in my journal: I don’t need to create ministry and Friendship is Influence. Stay-tuned. I’ll be sharing a very special story with you.

As I’ve been reflecting on our experience, I’m appreciating the freedom God allows with daily choices.

I’m learning about capacity. Understanding my capacity is the first step. Then I must protect the capacity God gives. This is sometimes hard for extrovert me.

I’m enjoying a new hobby, thank you to our son Jeff. Identifying birds.
This is one of my favorites. I like the colorful ones best.

The simplicity of August was a banquet of rest orchestrated for us by the God who loves us.

What was your summer like? How was it for you? Click on the comment tab and please share. I’d love to hear about your summer too.

“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him …”
Deuteronomy 33:12, NIV (italics mine)

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, September 2020

 

 

 

 

 

Each of these pictures share art and speak truth to me. (Click on the picture for the name of the artist.)

Ashlyn’s picture is one of confusion. I love her choice of colors and her art draws me in even though the paths intersecting, doubling back on each other, and generally hard to follow. Does life ever feel that way to you?

Shelly’s picture is a man-made path in London. It’s straight, heading to a specific place. Often I want life to look like that, a straight solid path that I can walk knowing where it is going.

But the beauty pictured by Carol speaks more truth to me. It’s a soft path winding through a woods in South Carolina. It’s a narrow path that sometimes is covered over by the small flowers on its side. I need to pay attention. It’s easy on my feet and I love walking through a woods. This path too has a destination. It’s also a path that reminds me of great sorrow. This picture is from Ramsey Creek Preserve where Carol’s husband and my friend was buried last June.

As I reflect on the past 12 months, the extreme hards and the wonderful highlights, it seems that Ashlyn’s art was an apt picture. The rhythm of life bounced in ways I would have never dreamed.

“For everything there is a season …
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 7

It seems that now — this summer — is a time to sew, a time for Echoes of Grace to be silent, for me to pause, to review, to listen well for the voice of God, to discern how the path God has me on is leading. I’m planning that Echoes will return in September.

If you’ve signed up to follow Echoes of Grace, I’ll stay in touch over the summer. Other blog sites are publishing my words and I’ll be sure and let you know when they are live. Today you can click here and read my words, Soul Rest in a Restless Time, on the PCA women’s blog site. (Currently it is the second article from the top.) And maybe, just maybe, God will nudge me to share some new thoughts on Echoes during the summer — again, I’ll let you know.

Thank you to Anna Saks for this path picture from the Maroon Bells in Colorado. Thank you to my friend Kathy Lorimor for creating this graphic. The words communicate the path I’ll follow this summer.

Pause:  Psalm 46:10, The Message — “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”
Review and Remember: Romans 15:15 — “But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder,” I’ll be reviewing my journals from the last four years.
Listen: Isaiah 55:2,3 — “Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good … Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live.” YES!

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:105

“True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.”
Psalm 23:3, The Message

Copyright, Sue Tell, June 2020

 

 

 

I want my life to be fruitful.
I want my life to make a difference in the kingdom.

I’m guessing you have the same desires.

Fruitfulness is intimately connected with a life that abides in Christ.

Fruit is born in a hidden place starting with a tiny seed. For us, that seed is called abiding.

 

“I am the vine; you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit,
for apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 (bolding mine)

Fruit-bearing depends on abiding.

As Doug Nuenke says in his forward to Abide in Christ (NavPress’s 2019 lightly modernized edition of the Andrew Murray classic), “… abiding in Christ is our God-given destiny. Abiding in Christ is our birthright as children of God.” (page vii)

Abiding is our path to abundant fruitfulness. “When you’re joined with me and I with you … the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.” Eugene Peterson’s translation of John 15:5, The Message.

As I think about abiding and fruitfulness, five observations come to mind.

1. My privilege — Abide.  Jesus’ words from John 15 echo David’s words in Psalm 1:1, 2 and 3, “Blessed is the man … but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

Enjoying my intimacy with the Lord, meditating on his law looks different for different people. For me it means reviewing and praying over the scriptures that God has spoken to me of his love and his purpose for my life. I often start my quiet time that way and ask the Lord what it would look like to trust his love for me on that day.

Song of Solomon 7:10 is a favorite word God whispers to me, “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me.” And the rhetorical question in Romans 8:31 encourages me, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

2. God’s responsibility — Fruit.  Many scriptures come to mind. Will I abide and entrust the results to God?

“I planted, Apollos watered,
but God gave the growth.”
I Corinthians 3:6

God gives us purpose, and he’s keeping the responsibility for the outcomes in his court. I can breathe easy. Not only is he the one in charge of fulfilling my purpose, my purpose is wrapped in his love.

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.”
Psalm 138:8

 As I abide in that truth, I’m experiencing his love. I can rest.

3. God’s guarantee — His Promises. As I abide in who God created me to be, he promises fruitfulness.

In the first chapter of Philippians Paul prays for that young church, “that they would be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through [abiding in] Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (verse 11). Because they know Jesus, because we know Jesus, the fruit of abiding in that relationship brings glory to God.

Proverbs 12:12 promises, “The root of the righteous bears fruit.”

In our abiding resulting in fruit-bearing, God is at work in another very special way, maturing us into who he created us to be. “But now that you have been set free from sin … the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” Romans 6:22

4. Paul’s life – an example. I appreciate Paul’s candor in his first letter to Timothy. Paul one of the most fruitful men in the Bible, says of himself and of Jesus …

“I [Paul] thank him [Jesus] who has given me strength, …
he judged me faithful, …
appointing me to his service, …
though formerly … (I fill in the blank here. My life was not like Paul’s, but I have a formerly.)
I received mercy …
the grace of our Lord overflowed for me …
To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God be honor and glory forever and ever.”
(verses 12-17)

Paul came to know the Lord. He learned to abide in his love. And his life still is bearing fruit today.

5. The blessing of God upon those who abide and bear fruit.

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit
and so prove to be my disciples.”
John 15:7 and 8

The abiding relationship is natural to the branch and the vine. For us as believers we cultivate that relationship and experience God working in and through our lives producing fruit.

“By this my Father is glorified,”
John 15:8

 

Copyright, Sue Tell, May 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May I suggest if you haven’t read last week’s post, Soul Rest in Restless Days that you scroll down and read it first. It will provide a context for these words.

The Corona virus is changing me. I’ve been home and good things are resulting. Psalm 23 and Psalm 139 are influencing me. Many of the ah-ha’s I’m observing rest in the truths David speaks in these Psalms. I hope I don’t return to my former ways!

These are re-setting weeks. I’m recording what I’m hearing. I wonder if you identify with any of these coronial confessions.

“Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight?”
Psalm 139:7, The Message

No! God’s Spirit is with me, making itself known in the quietness of these at-home days. And I’m learning …

1. I’m easily tempted. I want to do it all! I receive many invitations for classes or seminars online in these weeks, every one in my area of interests. They all sound  good. “I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.” Psalm 139:2, The Message. Or in ESV, “you discern my thoughts from afar.” God is a discerning God (He knows what I’m thinking … I want to say yes). Like God, I need to be discerning. In his book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg McKeown says, “If the answer isn’t a definite yes, then it should be a no.” One reason something is a no in these days is because saying yes required more screen time — something I don’t need.

2. I love ministry. Okay, this isn’t a new thought, it’s a warning though. God determines my capacity. Whatever group I join, I naturally begin thinking, who in this group can I reach out to? Another question I must consider, do I have capacity for additional relationships? “You … are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:3. I too need to be in tune with all my ways.

3. I’m a leader by design. But, I don’t need to lead everything. All my thoughts are not needed. I can and need to allow others to initiate. Will I allow God to lead? Asking this question has sometimes stopped me. “Even there you hand shall lead me…” Psalm 139:10. According to my good friend at TrueFace, “My influence is about stewardship.”(not leadership)

4. My excuses are evaporating on writing a manuscript on rest. (This is scary to put in writing!) In the stillness of these days, God has gently reminded me of this leading. The words I wrote on the Exodus 3 and 4 narrative have spoken clearly, as have several other instances. “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent … ‘Who has made [wo]man’s mouth?'” Exodus 4:10 and 11

5. I’ve not thought of myself as a controlling person. It’s easy to see that in others. God is fine-tuning me. I don’t like that calendar control has slipped from my hands.  I want to know the next time I will visit our GRANDS. I want to plan having friends in for dinner. “Every day of my life was recorded in you book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:16, NLT. This truth begs, will I trust God?

6. I sleep better when I’m tired. I can hear you saying, duh! This thought is prioritizing how I spend my day, and how I prepare for sleep. For someone who loves writing, it’s too easy to put exercise at the bottom of my want-to-do list. And if I sleep better, even my writing flows more easily. “… for he gives to his beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:2. This is another trust issue.

7. It’s easy to hi-jack a good opportunity with my do-list. It’s a beautiful day (tomorrow it could snow). I wonder, should I alter my plans to enjoy this gift of spring-like weather? God has given a gift, will I receive it?

8. My love language is words. In 1992 Gary Chapman authored The Five Love Languages. As Bill and I have talked about this over the years, we agree that we both want to experience all five: words, time, gifts, service, touch. This is still true, but words have crept to the top for me. And I’m married to an introvert!

Love languages are a way to experience the need for love God has created in me. I can’t expect Bill to meet a need that God has reserved for himself. One love need we have is attention. Again, I find myself reviewing those God-given needs and asking God to meet them. Sometimes the answer comes from Bill, sometimes from others, sometimes in a book I’m reading, sometimes from God himself. “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it.” Psalm 139:14, NLT.

9. We can still eat if we visit the grocery store once every two weeks.

I’m leaving a blank page in my journal; I’m guessing this list is going to grow.

Perhaps the most important thing I’m realizing is summed up in Psalm 139:17. In The Message they read, “Your thoughts — how rare, how beautiful! God, I’ll never comprehend them!”

God reminds me to allow him to take the lead.
God is at work continually conforming my character.
God cares about my experiencing soul rest.

“He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.”
Psalm 23:3, ESV

“True to your word, you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.”
Psalm 23:3, The Message

 

Copyright, May 2020, Sue Tell

 

When I visited Barbara last fall, she reminded me of the parable of the mustard seed. It became one of the scriptures we prayed over together reminding each other that it’s not the size of our faith but the presence of our faith that matters.

Resting in the hands of God amazing things happen. Barbara and I learned to rest in the hands of God as we encouraged each other with our mustard seed faith during those hard days of last fall and winter.

A tiny, tiny mustard seed breaks open and grows into a magnificent tree.
A tree providing a home, providing rest, providing protection,
providing nourishment, providing beauty, and so much more.

A mustard seed, one of the tiniest and most insignificant seeds has the ability to grow into a tree that could be 20 – 30 feet tall and have a 20′ span. It can grow in hot and dry climates or in cool and wet climates. It will push through rocks. It will grow back even if pruned to only its trunk remaining. Unlike a grain of sand, a seed is a life-giving force that leads to bearing fruit.

My friend Carol reminded me, God is the one who gives life to the seeds.

These truths continue to offer life to me as I walk this journey called grief practicing mustard seed faith.

Barbara was a rock artist often sharing her craft with RVA Rocks. Her work amazed me.

I knew when I received a gift to use in her memory, I wanted a painted rock. My friend created this for me. Do you see the tiny mustard seed at the base of the trunk? There is so much meaning tucked into his work. I’m wondering, what do you see?

I asked him to include the words everlasting love.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Jeremiah 31:3

Jeremiah 31:3 was another important scripture that Barbara and I repeated to each other and prayed over many, many times.

This love for Barbara is now her reality.
This is love that God asks me to trust every day.

At Barbara’s memorial service, her son James told the story of Barbara reading Shel Silverstein’s book, The Giving Tree to him as a child. He shared how Barbara was a giving mom to him at every stage of his life.

You know, just a thought, but I wonder, was that giving tree was a Mustard Tree?

Resting in the hands of God amazing things happen.

“Peace I leave with you.
My peace I give to you.”
John 14:27

Copyright, Sue Tell, May 2020