Be Still and Know

Whenever you are given a command to be kind, be loving, be giving, be fruitful or just to be there, that command is always followed by the word “be”.  Be is a funny word.  It has a meaning of either occupying or existing.  This might not be considered some sort of action, but to just maintain.

I see this word however, as expressing the idea of awareness and presence.  I see the word “Be” to give presence  and awareness to any command especially spiritual.  When God says to “Be still,” He is telling me to live in this moment.  I am to see myself as a part of the Be Still experience.  I am not to just exist,  but I am to give myself to the awareness of who He is.

“Be” makes me a part of that moment.  It brings awareness instead of just “be-ing there. His presence is what I seek, and I want to experience all He may have for that “Be still” moment.

I see the word “Be” as meaning to come alive, to see and experience what He is saying and doing at that very moment.  We are not just to be present physically, but  “be” there and open to the spiritual  life.  Earth I have read is finite, but the spiritual life, life with a mighty Savior, is infinite.  And to experience that infinite moment, we have to “Be”!

“Be” with your God today and see His face and spoken word as never before!

Love,

Margi

 

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It’s interesting that the message of the apostles recorded in Acts does not mention the birth of Jesus Christ.  Instead  they talk of His death and resurrection.  We then see some years later, with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, they wrote the story of His birth.  They tell of a birth born  miraculously beyond our understanding! God stepped into our world to say He is here!  They shared of angels, a star and even shepherds coming to worship Him.  They spoke of the humble, they spoke of praise and they spoke of peace on earth.  The story of His birth didn’t stop there – it has been told and shared and retold throughout history!

It has been only a little over a week since Christmas day, and already many are moving on to the next American holiday.  But I tell you that we as Christians, must remember that Christmas should be every day of the year.  We must continue the story – we must tell others of His salvation from His birth to His resurrection!

Let us not forget it is Christmas – for all of us every day of the year!   Merry Christmas to you for each day of 2017 – this new year with a new beginning.  And don’t forget to smile! Margi

 

Then comes the very day after Christmas.  No longer did that gentleman open the door for the women. The driver of the red Mercedes could not wait for the woman to cross the street, and the white Ford spent five minutes honking at drivers he felt were a bit too slow that morning.  Aw well, back to the realities we might say.

But life does not have to be this way.  There are lessons the Christmas spirit can teach us.  Instead of kindness being acted out, it can be something we share throughout the year.Instead of frowns, smiles can be given and giving, generosity and love can still be shared.

I guess it will always start with a few.  After all, it did with the gospel message over 2,000 years ago.  Only twelve men took a message of hope and eternal reward to the world – they spread this great message far and wide. I am believing there are many more of us than twelve who can spread the hope of Christmas to a world where selfishness and misery has become a norm.  I know this Christmas spirit can be caught – one from another.

Today, in your Be still and know time, ask the Lord to continue to move your forward with this Christmas message – a message that can and will change the hearts of this world!

 

 

 

A friend recently shared a story from the television series, Undercover Boss.  I was intrigued and decided to tune in.  It seems that the head of a corporation (or owner of a business) pretends to be a new employee, and his staff has the job of training him. This boss can then observe the work ethics of each person in his company, but he also learns much about their personal lives and the struggles they have.  At the end of the show Mr. Boss meets with each of them individually and shares what he has observed – whether good or bad. He rewards them with various sums of money, but also tries to help resolve the tough load they carry.  He may give them a year’s worth of rent, buy them a new car or even pay for their college tuition.

One evening while praying, I felt the Lord share that He himself was much like the Undercover Boss to many people.  For some out in the world today have never really known Him personally, but He is still there observing and listening to their daily struggles.  He doesn’t have to be an Undercover Boss, for all they have to do is reach out and accept His hand of help.  He is there to not only observe and listen but to resolve, to heal, to love and to guide.  His heart yearns to help, to reach out and touch those afflicted.  But for us who have known Him, He is no longer the Undercover Boss – He is our Emmanuel – God With Us!

Christmas has once again past.  But it doesn’t have to.  We can still share the good news of a God who wants to interact with His people, for He loves to reach out and grab a new hand. We can keep the Christmas spirit alive!  Just because December 25th has come and gone does not mean the Spirit of what Christmas is about has. Let us share the great news that God is not the Undercover Boss but He is Emmanuel – He is the God who is with each one of us!

Mark 4:33,34  With many similar parables Jesus spoke the Word to them, as much as they could understand.  He did not say anything to them without using a parable.  But when He was alone with His own disciples, He explained everything.

There are some pretty hard sayings in the Bible.  Many ask, “who can understand?”  I know for I have been one of them.  However, the Word of God was not written for intellectuals and Textual Critics, but for us, every day people!

Read (and listen) again to the last verse – But when He was alone with His own disciples, He explained everything.  Getting alone with  God, having that Be Still and Know time with Him is the Key!

We have only to set time aside, relax, breathe Him in deeply and listen to His Word.  I find a quiet corner, a place of solitude and bask in His ever present presence.  He will then begin to explain everything to us.  Have you begun your Be Still Time with Him?  Set that time aside – put it on your agenda.  You will always be glad you did!  Margi

 

I struggled to make it through the day.  I taught classes for  School of Ministry, tried to keep an immaculate home,do the laundry, coach  my daughter’s cheer team,  and ran my son to soccer practice.  I was over committed and the price was constant fatigue, stress and lack of sleep!

My husband held down a full time job, being president of his company and at home he preferred the newspaper and the television to family time.  He was always too tired to talk to anybody or even take an interest in my day.

My daughter was a straight A student, but the pressure was beginning to show in her life.

I then began to blame this hectic weirdness of our existence on our fast pace lives.  As a Christian, I was feeling I should be experiencing more peace.  Yet there was no evidence in many of my Christian friends lives as being any different than my own.

As I was studying for classes in church, I noticed the lives of many Christians throughout the ages.  Among these studies were men like Martin Luther, David Livingstone and Hudson Taylor.  I read that each one of them suffered great hardships beyond belief!  As I began to hear their stories, I realized they had an inner peace that permeated their lives.

Each one of them had one thing in common – They would always communicate with God, even in those days of hardships!  They each had learned to Be Still and Know that God was there!  Drawing near to God in wordless prayer and knowing His peace was the key!  And it still is today!

Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ who You have sent.  John 17:3o 

Being still I have found has made me see God as friend – not just in word, but in practice.  Being a friend to God can make a difference between just having a burnt out lifestyle and fulfillment.  Before I would take in small breaths of God – now, I can breather Him deeply!

In my Being Still time, I have noticed that God does not call me by a number as the world does (social security, etc).  To Him, I am Margi – I am daughter – I am His.  So sit back and begin this lifestyle of  Being Still and Knowing He is your God!