By Barb Tousley
Melanoma! Just the sinister sound of the word struck an unexpected chord of fear in my heart The pathology report, following the removal of a small, persistently-bleeding growth on my leg, confirmed our worst fears। Further surgery was scheduled, treatment options discussed, and the dim prognosis presented with startling honestly by a caring surgeon
The days that followed were a blur of "business as usual" in our public school teaching duties and church commitments, and sleepless nights of tears and prayers. As I lay in my husband's arms during one of those troubled nights, borrowing from his strength and praying for wisdom and courage, I was suddenly WASHED by a powerful surge of peace that filled me, and surrounded me, and lifted me. And those beautiful words from Isaiah, that I had often heard John sing, sang to me then in the darkness: "Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee..."* GOD'S PRESENCE -- steadfast and sure. The months that followed brought the blessings of healing and restoration, and, more important, a new understanding of a God who is forever with us and within us.
As my years increase, I find myself attending more funerals than weddings. And, invariably, the bereaved family chooses "In the Garden," as a much-loved hymn for the service:
"And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own..."*
It is, perhaps, an echo of the human heart, seeking GOD'S PRESENCE in a very personal way.
BUT WHERE DO I FIND HIM?
...We can look for the fingerprints of God IN HIS CREATION. Psalm 19 proclaims, "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork." In the words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "
Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every bush aflame with God.
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pick blackberries."*
...HIS WORD records the love story between God and man: our running away, God's pursuit and redemption. Every small journey into that ageless volume lands us squarely in HIS PRESENCE, so that we might know Him better.
...We can find Him IN THE STUFF (AND PEOPLE) OF DAILY LIVING. When God is our focus, there is no division between sacred and secular. At any moment you can be standing on holy ground -- in HIS PRESENCE. Acknowledge His presence throughout your day: Give Him your waking thoughts, your waiting thoughts, your whispering thoughts, your waning thoughts....and you will find Him.
...Finally, IN PRAYER we enjoy the priceless privilege of meeting with Almighty God "one-on-one." We can pour out our hearts, as to no other; and we can listen. In George Bernard Shaw's play, St. Joan, one of Joan's captors asks condescendingly why the voice of God doesn't speak to him as it does to her. Her simple reply: "He speaks to you all the time. You just fail to listen."
The promise of HIS PRESENCE will ride the crest of joy in times of celebration, and be your strength and courage in the darkness. "If with all your hearts you truly seek Me, you shall ever surely find Me. Thus saith the Lord."
_________________________________________________________
LINKS:
Isaiah 26:3-4 (KJV)
IN THE GARDEN, by C. Austin Miles
I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses..
He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing.
I'd stay in the garden with Him, though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go -- through the voice of woe -- His voice to me is calling.
AND HE WALKS WITH ME, AND HE TALKS WITH ME,
AND HE TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.
AND THE JOY WE SHARE, AS WE TARRY THERE,
NONE OTHER HAS EVERY KNOWN.
Psalm 19:1-4 (KJV)
"Give Him your waking thoughts," etc. - - thoughts from Max Lucado.
An excellent book, JUST LIKE JESUS.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)
_______________________________________________
BARB TOUSLEY is a charter member of MPCC, having been a part of all its 28 years of growing pains. She sings in the choir, coordinates the annual Christmas Collage, works in the library, serves on the Connections Team, and together with husband John (the choir director), leads a small group. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Barb is a retired elementary teacher. Most important, she has been John's wife for 54years, mother of three, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother of two remarkable little boys.
Melanoma! Just the sinister sound of the word struck an unexpected chord of fear in my heart The pathology report, following the removal of a small, persistently-bleeding growth on my leg, confirmed our worst fears। Further surgery was scheduled, treatment options discussed, and the dim prognosis presented with startling honestly by a caring surgeon
The days that followed were a blur of "business as usual" in our public school teaching duties and church commitments, and sleepless nights of tears and prayers. As I lay in my husband's arms during one of those troubled nights, borrowing from his strength and praying for wisdom and courage, I was suddenly WASHED by a powerful surge of peace that filled me, and surrounded me, and lifted me. And those beautiful words from Isaiah, that I had often heard John sing, sang to me then in the darkness: "Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee..."* GOD'S PRESENCE -- steadfast and sure. The months that followed brought the blessings of healing and restoration, and, more important, a new understanding of a God who is forever with us and within us.As my years increase, I find myself attending more funerals than weddings. And, invariably, the bereaved family chooses "In the Garden," as a much-loved hymn for the service:
"And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own..."*
It is, perhaps, an echo of the human heart, seeking GOD'S PRESENCE in a very personal way.
BUT WHERE DO I FIND HIM?
...We can look for the fingerprints of God IN HIS CREATION. Psalm 19 proclaims, "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork." In the words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "
Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every bush aflame with God.
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pick blackberries."*
...HIS WORD records the love story between God and man: our running away, God's pursuit and redemption. Every small journey into that ageless volume lands us squarely in HIS PRESENCE, so that we might know Him better.
...We can find Him IN THE STUFF (AND PEOPLE) OF DAILY LIVING. When God is our focus, there is no division between sacred and secular. At any moment you can be standing on holy ground -- in HIS PRESENCE. Acknowledge His presence throughout your day: Give Him your waking thoughts, your waiting thoughts, your whispering thoughts, your waning thoughts....and you will find Him.
...Finally, IN PRAYER we enjoy the priceless privilege of meeting with Almighty God "one-on-one." We can pour out our hearts, as to no other; and we can listen. In George Bernard Shaw's play, St. Joan, one of Joan's captors asks condescendingly why the voice of God doesn't speak to him as it does to her. Her simple reply: "He speaks to you all the time. You just fail to listen."
The promise of HIS PRESENCE will ride the crest of joy in times of celebration, and be your strength and courage in the darkness. "If with all your hearts you truly seek Me, you shall ever surely find Me. Thus saith the Lord."
_________________________________________________________
LINKS:
Isaiah 26:3-4 (KJV)
IN THE GARDEN, by C. Austin Miles
I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses..
He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing.
I'd stay in the garden with Him, though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go -- through the voice of woe -- His voice to me is calling.
AND HE WALKS WITH ME, AND HE TALKS WITH ME,
AND HE TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.
AND THE JOY WE SHARE, AS WE TARRY THERE,
NONE OTHER HAS EVERY KNOWN.
Psalm 19:1-4 (KJV)
"Give Him your waking thoughts," etc. - - thoughts from Max Lucado.
An excellent book, JUST LIKE JESUS.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)
_______________________________________________
BARB TOUSLEY is a charter member of MPCC, having been a part of all its 28 years of growing pains. She sings in the choir, coordinates the annual Christmas Collage, works in the library, serves on the Connections Team, and together with husband John (the choir director), leads a small group. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Barb is a retired elementary teacher. Most important, she has been John's wife for 54years, mother of three, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother of two remarkable little boys.
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