Oh, but if you only knew! This little Grandpuppy of mine is anything BUT still! She is a force of nature bursting with energy. Chasing her human-boy-sibling, and guarding the home, there’s never a moment for rest. But offer a treat, and call the word, “Place!” and all else around her dims. Her focus is keen and alert, quietly waiting.
Ahh, the lessons I could learn!
In the middle of my quest to learn more about Heart-Stillness, I have been part of an Online Devotional Study on the book of Luke, led by Ifeoma Samuel, who blogs at: Purposeful and Meaningful. Last week my thoughts were stirred within me as we read the Christmas Story in Luke 1 and 2 — not your usual readings during Lent, the time of preparation before Easter! The story of Zechariah, and his questioning of the angel’s promise, followed by his time of silence until his own son, John, was born, struck a chord within me.
And then just this week, my readings led me to another great Biblical blogger, Joanne Viola, and her site: Joanne Viola, Days and Thoughts, where she wrote more beautiful thoughts about the waiting time required by Zechariah. As I typed out my response to her blog, I heard the Lord say “pay attention to what you are writing.”
In these days of my own stillness and silence, is God perhaps wanting to grow something similar in me? I have sensed a longing for more awe, for more child-like wonder in my heart over many years, throughout many seasons in my life.
Lifting up that longing for wonder to the Lord, I would spend several days trying desperately to keep my eyes open for that wonder. Hunting and digging, as for buried treasure, I searched out those nuggets in my days that seemed to speak of awe or wonder. But invariably, the busyness of life returned. Days became months, and the hunt for treasure took a backseat to duties and chores and the need of the moment.
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:25-26 NASB
“make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
May you be blessed by this Messianic offering of worship:
I am linking today with:
Debbie Kitterman, #TuneInThursday
BettieGsRAseasons 
Beautiful song! Thank you for reminding me the privilege and responsibility of my awe of the Lord. Blessings!
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Totally shared Bettie.
Thank you so much.😉 for participating in the study. It is amazing how much God teaches us daily through His Word.
God bless you, Bettie.
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Yes, isn't that such a wonderful song of worship? I'm thankful you stopped by here, and were encouraged! Blessings to you!
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Dear Ifeoma,
Thank you for sharing this. What a blessing God's word and His voice are to us, right? I am thankful that He finds ways to gently open our hearts to more of Him. Blessings to you, dear Ifeoma!
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What a wonderful post today. Thank you.
God bless.
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Thank you! I appreciate your kind words so much, Victor! God's Blessings to you!
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Oooh, I love that God stopped you and got your attention! It is so easy sometimes to rush past stuff… and YES! God totally does that to me too… especially in moments when I may miss something BIG He has been trying to speak to me about. So many good thoughts here in your post from the lessons from your grand puppy to words God spoke to your heart and all the stuff in between and after. Thanks so much for linking up with #TuneInThursday today.
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“But invariably, the busyness of life returned. Days became months, and the hunt for treasure took a backseat to duties and chores and the need of the moment.” Oh, Bettie, I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me. I really want to have that wonder, and I want to get back to my Bible study. I really meant to do the Luke study and have not started it yet. Guess I just let too many things interfere. Thanks for your thoughts and inspiration here.
Blessings to you, dear sister! xoxo
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Dear Debbie, Yes, isn't our God so good to break into our days! And it's pretty amazing the things He uses to get through to us, isn't it? Thank you for offering a great place to link-up together! –Blessings to you!
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Dear Gayl,
I'm so grateful you were blessed here today! I sure understand how our lives seem to “take over” some days, don't they? It seems like we just have so many options nowadays, that the days get away from us. I'm glad we can pray for each other through all of these things, though, and bring encouragement to watch for His Ways. Blessings, Hugs, and Love to you dear sister! xoxo
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Thank you Bettie
Blessings to you too😂😂😂
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Beautiful thoughts and poems, Bettie! Your dog is so cute! We can learn so much from God's creatures, can't we? This line especially spoke to my heart – “Only in a posture of waiting can my heart truly understand the salvation that has been won for me.” So very true. May we continually find that “place.” Love and hugs to you!
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Bettie, this is such a needful word. Oh how swiftly life's busyness can cramp our desire for awe and wonder! I stand convicted by your words here:
“How could a heart filled with such
deep longing for wonder
become so numb and so quick to move on?”
How indeed? And yet I have, even as I've tried to encourage others in the pursuit of God's wonder, His glorious presence with us in the midst of the mundane. Bettie, you have stirred something deep within by your honest questioning. I see my longings have taken a backseat recently, as have heart surrendered times of praise and worship. It's time to remedy that. Thank you, insightful, wise and inspiring friend. I needed to read this today! Yours gratefully, with hugs, love and gratitude for all God is doing in you. It's a wonder to behold.. truly it is. xoxo
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Bettie, your words here have blessed me! “Only in a posture of waiting can my heart truly understand the salvation that has been won for me.” This season of Lent so makes me see my own selfishness and realize all that the Lord sacrificed for me. Grateful to have stopped here tonight!
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Dear Trudy,
Oh, yes, I think those creatures are little gifts from God, meant to touch our hearts! 🙂 I'm so thankful that we have been given such a precious salvation to ponder. Isn't His patience with us so amazing, as He waits for us to come to His Place? Hugs and Love to you too!
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Oh Dear Joy,
I am so grateful that God moved in your heart here today! He has certainly moved in my heart so many time when I have read your words. I am awed now that He weaves our paths together to help us hear His voice. You have been in such a heavy-weighted place these last few months, my friend, and I am sure that those longings of yours have been carefully preserved in His hand till the storm has passed over. I pray that His healing balm will bring refreshing to you! Thank you for being such an encouragement to me, even in your own hard places. Blessings Love and Hugs to you! xoxo
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Dear Joanne,
I am thankful that you were blessed here! And, I'm grateful for the words you shared in your post that stirred in my heart too. Our Lord is truly so full of Grace and Mercy towards us, and this season only makes that even more evident! Blessings to you!
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Laying down selfishness…your Lenten sacrifice? xo
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God calls us to waiting and uses others words and scripture to show us the way. It reminds me again how God provides exactly what we need. I love hearing how God is working in you during this season of Lent.
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Yes, Susan! Laying down my selfishness and picking up stillness before Him. So thankful for your Devotional and the journey through it this year at Lent! xoxo
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Dear Mary,
Oh, yes, isn't our God so good to provide what we need? He sends His Word just when the time is right. Thank you for stopping by here today! Blessings!
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Thank you for this! What a blessing to use this season of your life for cultivating awe and growing closer to God. yes, I have had that experience of writing or saying something and feeling as if the Lord is tapping me on my shoulder to get my attention.
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Thank you for your kind words, and thanks for stopping by here! I am so grateful that God is here to help in the cultivation and growing times! Even that can be a source of awe & wonder if I stop to realize it! –Blessings to you!
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