March 02, 2012

FIND REST MY SOUL


 (Reposted)

      Lyrics for Gospel Song Still

  I Will Be Still and Know You Are God




HILSSONG


Hide me now, under Your wings.
Cover me within Your mighty hand.

Chorus:
When the oceans rise
and thunders roar.
I will soar with You, above the storm
Father You are king over the flood,
I will be still and know You are God.

Find rest my soul in Christ alone,
Know his power, in quiteness and trust.

When the oceans rise
and thunders roar.
I will soar with You, above the storm
Father You are king over the flood,
I will be still and know You are God.

Find rest my soul in Christ alone,
Know his power, in quiteness and trust.

When the oceans rise
and thunders roar.
I will soar with You, above the storm
Father You are king over the flood,
I will be still and know You are God.

When the oceans rise
and thunders roar.
I will soar with You, above the storm
Father You are king over the flood,
I will be still and know You are God.
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A Prodigal Son


Does that lamp still burn in my Father's house,
    Which he kindled the night I went away?
I turned once beneath the cedar boughs,
    And marked it gleam with a golden ray;
    Did he think to light me home some day?
Hungry here with the crunching swine,
    Hungry harvest have I to reap;
In a dream I count my Father's kine,
    I hear the tinkling bells of his sheep,
    I watch his lambs that browse and leap.
There is plenty of bread at home,
    His servants have bread enough and to spare;
The purple wine-fat froths with foam,
    Oil and spices make sweet the air,
    While I perish hungry and bare.
Rich and blessed those servants, rather
    Than I who see not my Father's face!
I will arise and go to my Father:—
        "Fallen from sonship, beggared of grace,
        Grant me, Father, a servant's place."
-- Christina Rossetti~
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NOTE:


There was a glitch in the internet here, I unfortunately UN-POSTED this post I published yesterday.  I wish there is an options for recovery of posts deleted by mistake, something like a recycle bin.  Anyway, the damage is done already.  I am making a repost of it, and I will try to remember as much as I could how I wrote it yesterday.  I am convinced that it is advisable, to keep a copy of our texts to our computer, to save us the trouble of rewording the post again.  I am also doing this because of the comments attached to it.  Please bear with me.  Thank you.


For those who have read it on its original form, pardon for the inevitable changes as I could not recapture it word for word. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(First posted on March 2, 2012)

For several days now, I have been concentrating on my time-alone-with Jesus development. Not that I don't have one, but that I have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to make it a regular-early-morning-alone-time. It even made me decide to rearrange the little space we have at home so that I could get the best nook and keep it as my permanent quiet time corner. I have mentioned in my previous post, that the usual time I have my appointments with my Lord, is during lunch break at the office. We have an hour lights-out time. I could get my verses from the on-line Bible sites. There's a lot of sites one can get a devotional material from and  a host of Bible study guides too. And yet, I am being lead to go up the prayer mountain at dawn.

The spot I have chosen is at our dining table, which is by a window, so that when you look out towards the mountain-village of the rich, you are able to see the sky changing hue, from dark to light. So I told Jesus, “this is where we will meet at dawn, my Lord.” There were also changes needed with my sleeping time so that I'd be as clear minded as I can, which is positively difficult for me. My usual time to get up is at 6:00 A.M. There is not enough time, as this is already rush hour. I thought, I should give up watching my favorite programs in the evening especially the late show.

Thus, I found myself awake the next morning at 4:00. The sky was still clothed in darkness. I sat, as comfortably as I could, in the plastic dining chair at my corner. I was thankful that I did not have the usual lethargy I experience when I wake up at this time. I sat in silence for a little while as I closed my eyes to listen closely.  I wanted God to make the first move.

Then I started praising the Father of heavenly light, all His attributes pouring out of my mouth. I raised my voice to all the blessings He has afforded me, thanked Him for family and friends and even the sustenance of life. Then, rejoiced  at the negative things which made me stronger. After that, followed supplications and the laying-down of my transgressions down at the altar of grace.


As soon as I was unfolding my mental note for petitions, because this time I was ready to give them wings, I stopped on track because there was a big lump in my chest which made it difficult to breathe. I took several deep and slow inhalations and slower exhalations. It was as though, I was squeezed so tightly, I was gasping for air. Tears came pouring out like rain. It was the kind of tears which one feels after being pardoned for an unforgivable wrong.
I wondered what has given to the tears when I was not yet praying for anything. Then suddenly I realized, I was in my Father's tight embrace. I believe He wanted me to become aware of it. Grace was manifested. It was a Holy Hour of Grace.

Wasn't it the Father's eager welcome hug to a prodigal daughter home at last? The Holy spirit was waiting for me to have this special moment alone together. It was a happy reconnection. Indeed, He wanted to meet me in the early-morning-hours. “Father, here I am, home at last.”



Psalm 37:7
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. (NLT)



Psalm 40:1
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. (NIV)



Heavenly Father God, thank you for giving me this opportunity to experience your welcome home hug.  Pardon me for all the times I did not appear at our appointed times of meeting.  Help me, I need it badly, Lord, to keep this a regular habit.  And give me the longing for those moments everyday.  Amen.
 










Comments previously posted:
(I am glad that the comments are intact after the accidental deletion of this post).
by Diane:
Oh, I'm so happy for your time with Jesus, Lolita! Isn't the early mornings extraordinary? Hallelujah! This was a beautifully written post. Thank you for sharing your time with us all.
3-2-2012 - - - - - - - - - - - - 


reply by Lolita:
Thank you, my dear D, my ever faithful companion and prayer partner. You are welcome to my time and space. Yes, D. The early-morning-alone-time at Jesus' feet are extraordinary. Miracles grow in the garden visited by God.
3-2-2012 - - - - - - - - - - - -  

by Pam:
You wrote this so beautifully, Lolita! How wondrous your time with the Lord was this day! God bless you with more of his hugs. Thanks for all your prayers! Pam 
3-2-2012

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reply by Lolita:
@Pam, I am glad you like it knowing that you are my model. How I admire the way you use figurative words that make your writings amazingly alive. Thank you. As for my prayers, I am seeking to put everything aligned with God, for I long to be able to carry other's burdens and upload them all to his altar

3-2-2012