The Voice I Needed to Hear

Last night I woke up to the sound of what seemed to my groggy mind as gunshots. . .
Flashes of light , reminiscent of Fourth of July fireworks
then following what seemed like seconds behind was a boom that shook the house and the inside core of my being.
A similar pattern occurred , jolting my mind fully awake, seemingly much louder and threatening.

“Which is it?!” my anxiety ridden heart cried. Shaking, I reached for my husbands arms in the night seeking refuge and answers to the unknown racing through my mind. In a soft and sleepy voice he whispered “It is alright, it is just a thunderstorm.”

“How can it be!?” limbs trembling, I believed that harm was inevitable and I tried to convince my husband of this.
” It is shaking the house. and the flashes are too bright for my eyes!”
My head hurt with each each pounding, rolling rhythm .

Restless,I rose to wander the house, checking on the emotional state of our pets and realized each and every on of them were taking everything in stride. Looking to me and appearing to say, “why so troubled,” Mom.”

Amid intermittent cracks and clashes, I returned to to the bedroom, to the comfort and warmth of my husband’s presence and  his enveloping affections.
Again , but this time adding a comforting touch and inviting me to draw closer into his embrace, he replied, “It’s alright”
” Your senses have been sensitive lately, and it only seems louder. Rest now and go to sleep. It will be alright.” He was not wrong in his observation, because due to a neurological disorder, I have experienced small seizures lately.
“Promise?” I ask in a quivering voice.
“Yes. I Promise.”
He holds me tighter, singing a familiar and jolly little song. Though slightly off tune, it is the voice I am wanting and needing to hear.

As my fears dissipate, along with the receding notes of the storm, I slowly come to  realize what a pleasure it is, these moments, shedding the shroud of fear and anxiousness, and having it replaced by peace . I felt in  awe of a  deep sense and vibrant display of God’s power, not merely with the overt display of natural wonders, but that of His ability and desire to bless me so richly with a love, a leader of our home who so  desires to protect, and bring peace to my heart.

Is this not how our Heavenly Father shows loves us, comforting us, calming us, waiting and wanting us to come into His loving embrace, to rest on His Promises , to yearn to hear His words and listen to His voice.
We can have this security each and every day, by knowing the His truth, His sacrifice for us on the cross. We can come to him, in His innermost chamber with our fears, our questions, as well our joys and
revelations, For His love is never ending and His power eternal.

Often our fears result from previous pain and discomfort, and past occurrences, heightens our anxiety, ( i,e traumatic injuries to our heart, body and souls) Though our flesh may be weak and scarred, we must reach out to Him in hope, believing in He who can heal the internal Hurts and scars.

As did the woman in Matthew chapter 9:

20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment;

21 For she kept saying to herself, If I only touch His garment, I shall be restored to health.

22 Jesus turned around and, seeing her, He said, Take courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well. And at once the woman was restored to health.

The physical healing was but secondary, It was her desire to draw close and touch the One whom she truly believed had the mercy and authority of God to heal her .

So accept His invitation and trust His promise, for Almighty will never fail to be available for you

Matthew 11:28 (NASB)

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Job 37 New King James Version (NKJV)

37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven,
His lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with His voice;
He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
7 He seals the hand of every man,
That all men may know His work.

A Gift from the Psalmist Heart

We are all on a journey. whether or not we realize or acknowledge it, we are a “work in progress. As each day goes by, I am thankful for the lessons I am learning in my new “job” . I am also uncovering and dusting off old passions that I thought were no longer needed or deteriorated beyond my recognition.

Poetry can definitely become a conduit for realizing and expressing  thought and emotion! The first  lines of  this graceful literature I remember reading was the Book of Psalms,written by David, the young shepherd who eventually became one of the world’s greatest kings in history. I am always astounded at how his words, intended as lyrics , often begin as petitions , end in revel elation and/or joy!  Personally, I have endured many trials , kidney and lung issues included, and without the “truth” of God’s heart being spoken through the the words and phrases of  human expression, darkness could have  overwhelmed me. The Psalms are often as the light of a torch or pillar of fire to guide us through the uncharted and uncertain.

Words are gifts from the heart.  God’s Word, are love letters from our Creator’s heart and were written to preserve His story , express His gracious love and enlighten our spirits!  Let us remember that  today and every day , we too can and  are being used as “vessels of encouragement and inspiration!

Psalm 4

Answer Me When I Call

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have given me relief when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

² O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?

How long will you love vain words and seek after  lies? Selah

³ But know that the Lord has  set apart  the godly for himself;   the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴ Be angry, and do not sin;  ponder in your own hearts  on your beds, and be silent. Selah

⁵ Offer  right sacrifices, and put your  trust in the Lord.

⁶ There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?     Lift up  the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

⁷ You have put  more joy in my heart  than they have when their grain and wine abound.

⁸ In peace I will both  lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me  dwell in safety.

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I would like to thank my fellow blogger and follower, “thepoetsbillow” for their willingness to share articles of passion and hope the  quote by T.S Eliot inspires you as well.