“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) 

     Being still sounds like you are not doing anything.  Being still sounds hard.  Painful even.  I like my things to do lists.  I like marking things off.  I like accomplishing goals.  I like getting to the end of the day and thinking about everything I have gotten done that day.  Being still is not my nature.

     However, according to God’s word, there is a time to be still and wait, to be still and worship, to be still and listen, to just be still and know who He is.  That’s why I need to make it my nature.

     Especially in our modern American culture, we like activity, we like being busy, and to go-go-go.  While stillness doesn’t mean lying around on the couch all day waiting for God to act (or fill the stillness) it doesn’t flow very well with the worldly attitude of running ourselves to death.

     In stillness, our minds are quiet.  We are not trying to figure it all out.  We are not striving to fix ourselves.  We are trying to work out God’s plan so that we can make it happen.

     At any point in life, there may be lots of things that we would like to see happen.  Right now, I would like my in-progress house to be completely finished.  I would like some things to change about my job.  I would like a wider social circle and some new challenges to take on.  However, I don’t have much control over the house and the job.  As for the rest, there isn’t anything on my horizon presenting itself as the right thing, so I am being still.  I am doing what’s before me, but I am not as busy as I am used to being.  I am staying home more.  I am waiting for God to work the right thing into my life at the right time.  I believe that he is in control.

     Sometimes, we may be forced into a season of stillness or waiting.  By this, I mean, we can’t figure it out, so we stop trying and therefore we are being still.  True stillness is a type of worship to God.  There is joy in stillness, and peace.  When we are still before the Lord, waiting patiently for him, there is the assurance, like champagne bubbling just under the surface, that he is doing something wonderful, and after this time of rest from work (stillness) we will see something glorious come to fruition.  It’s kind of exciting.  We do not have to work for it, but we know that after a time, we will see God act.  He does not need our help to work this new gift, challenge, activity, person, etc. into our lives.  He is completely capable of taking care of it and getting the circumstances and the timing exactly right.  God wants us to enjoy stillness.  After all, isn’t the second half of the verse pretty amazing?  Know that I am God. 

     With the stillness, we are finally quiet enough, peaceful enough, rested enough to get our eyes off of what we are trying to do, and focus our attention fully on God, and what he is doing in our lives.

     Today is Day One of my Love Dare experience (see Book Page), so I am reflecting on patience as a way of showing and demonstrating love for my husband.  In doing so, I have been thinking a lot about all of the ways he is patient with me.  Last night is a good example.

     In an effort to use up some leftovers, I got a container of sloppy joe meat out of the freezer to thaw.  I was going to visit a relative for a bit in the early evening, and I thought that would be an easy thing for him to heat up, if I didn’t get back in time to fix dinner.

     Well, I got back around 7 p.m. (starving), and since my husband farms, I assumed he would be working until dark.  I was going to go ahead and eat a sandwich, and then fix something for him when he came in.  I got a hamburger bun out and opened it on a paper plate.  I opened the reused container containing the sloppy joe meat.  Only, this was not sloppy joe meat.  This was frosting.  I had accidentally thawed out frosting for our dinner.  That’s what I get for being in a hurry and not looking in the container earlier to verify its contents.

     So, when my husband came in from working, I had to confess what I’d done.  I did not offer him a frosting sandwich, but I felt bad because he works so hard, and I wanted to have a decent meal for him when he came back to the house.  He got a kick out of my silly goof-up, and was content with a grilled ham and cheese sandwich.  Thank God for my patient husband.

     As I was checking out blogs the other day, I came across one by a Christian woman that took me a bit by surprise.  The most recent post discussed the evils of Facebook, and likened a Christian spending time on Facebook to going into a bar with the intention of witnessing.  I have heard a lot of jokes lately about “Facebook addicts” (some directed at me), so I began to ponder this…Is Facebook a worldly evil?  Is it a ministry tool?  Facebook is marketed as a social networking site.  It is a tool, and like any tool, it can be used for good or bad.  I believe that “the Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” (Psalm 24:10), so in my mind, that includes all technology, including Facebook.

     Facebook has been a blessing that has allowed me to:

• Renew contact with long-lost friends– After I joined Facebook, I regained contact with many Christian friends that I used to know from church, friends I attended graduate school with, and many others.  It is great to be able to return to a friendship, and find that even with the passage of time and geographic distance, you can still relate.  You can still talk, reminisce, catch-up, and be social.
• Maintain closer contact with family and friends–Many of my family members, my husband’s family, new friends, and colleagues are also on Facebook.  We never see each other in person as much as we would like, but this site allows us to share family photos, and to keep up with how everyone is doing.  If a friend leaves an update that she is having a rough time or a bad day, she gets quick responses from others to cheer her up and bring encouragement.  I have seen prayer requests, programs that allow you to send scripture to friends, and a birthday calendar (a really great blessing to me!).   I am able to keep up with people so much more effectively.  I have also received travel advice, recipes, and praise reports on this program.  Social contact makes people happy!
• Have fun and enjoy my leisure time–I have not thought much about trying to witness to people on Facebook–the thought of it sounds awkward to me.  I see my time spent on Facebook as down-time, leisure time, recreation.  Everyone needs a breather now and then, and I find it refreshing to see what my friends and family are up to and how they are getting along. 

     That said, anything can be bad if it is taken to extremes.  Anything can become an idol in our lives if it steals time away from God and what we really should be doing.  It’s probably not a good idea to spend time on Facebook when you are at work (depending on the nature of your job), or to the point that you are neglecting face-to-face relationships with family and friends.  While some people might see it as a time-waster, I don’t see anything wrong with using Facebook as long as we keep it in balance and enjoy it in moderation.

     Finally, if you do find yourself with a “friend” who tends to leave a lot of updates or comments that you find distasteful or offensive, Facebook allows users to “block” a friend, to “unfriend” and to filter what people can see.

    This last Saturday, I spent some time with my mother.  We visited, shopped, and ran errands.  The day included the typical girly highlights–a leisurely breakfast of pastries and coffee with alfresco seating, and a big favorite for both of us–clothes shopping.  Even so, I think the biggest joy of the day, at least for me, was the time we spent in the greeting card aisle at a local drugstore.

     Mom was searching for specific cards for specific occasions for specific people, and also just replenishing her stockpile of cards.  The woman really does her part in keeping the Post Office in business.  I have been the recipient of many of her letters/greeting treats–they usually come with stickers, encouraging words, and even hand-drawn pictures.  I was just looking for anything amusing, and picking up every card that had a cat on it.  We looked, read, showed each other, reread, and laughed over and over again on our card hunt.  My favorite card that I picked up to send a friend said something like, “I tried a dessert called death by chocolate, but it only made me stronger.”  I bought that one and a couple of others, and Mom bought–well, she’d be embarrassed if I told you how many cards she bought.

     I thought about this and came to the conclusion that ministry requires personal investment–of time, money, and talents.  I had never considered my mom’s mass sending of cards and letters a ministry before, but that is probably the most appropriate term to describe her committment and joy in card-sending–she does not miss a birthday or anniversay in our immediate and extended family, friends, and church group.  She sends sympathy, thinking of you, encouragment, just for laughs, graduation, wedding, new baby–there’s not a category she doesn’t touch.  I doubt she would call it a ministry.  She is more likely to give a simple smile and say, “People like to get cards.”

     The subject brings to my mind Proverbs 25:25 “Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.”  I interpret “distant land” broadly here, and simply believe that a card, letter, or a short note is like a cold drink of water in the middle of a long hard, day.  It is a great way to spread joy and encouragment and be a blessing to others.

     Letters and cards, unlike emails and text messages, can be carried around in a pocket or a purse, reread, and saved for years.  It is special knowing someone took the time to think of you and write down her thoughts.  I have reread special letters or cards I’ve received that really touched me many, many times. 

     It is fun to build a stash of pretty stationary and unique greeting cards and stickers, but it’s not necccessary.  All it really takes is a piece of paper, a pen and a stamp.  Jot down an encouraging message to whoever is on your heart, and stick it in the mailbox.  I bet you make someone’s day.

     Be encouraged!  Be built up!  Ephesians 4:29 says “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen.”  That’s my goal with everything I put on this site.  Please explore, have fun, and above all, be encouraged.