Good day, my friends, In today’s blog, I decided my opening should follow up on two statements I made in two of my previous blogs. I have found summarizing my words in a short blog challenging. There is so much! Thus a follow-up.

I have a close friend, Joanna, who jokingly said it took her an hour to read one of my blogs. I reassured her that I could have written much more! Lol! Her statement reminded me of a book I had many years ago titled, “Could You Not Tarry With Me One Hour?” by Larry Lea. At the time that I got that book, I was a young Navy wife and mother of two small girls. My thought just looking at the title was, “How in the world would I spend an hour praying and reading the Bible?” How is that for being honest?:) My husband was gone most of the time so as you military wives and spouses of those who are extensively away from home know, the demands and responsibilities were on me. I was too young spiritually to know that although the duties were great, my time with the Lord would have been a burden lifter. During those earlier years, I also had the misconception that I was saved for eternity, and from then on, I was to do the best I could with what I was given. Of course, I believed God helped us out! He proved Himself faithful over and over to me. Thankfully I stayed in Church, Bible studies, and experience with the Lord, which He used to help correct some of my misconstrued notions and false sense of responsibility. Again, thank God for His correction and continued spiritual growth!

The Lord gave me a poem to further confirm that He was with me all along and the benefits that come with more time with Him. I’ve heard it said, “The busier your day is, the more time you need to spend with the Lord.” I have learned why. The benefits are incredible.

The poem I referred to is “God in Our Seasons” in “Inspire Me”(my first book) pages 42-43. Here are a few lines from that poem:

Your love through the years You have faithfully showered

In Your Word for each day, You strengthened and empowered

When I reached out to you in my most difficult hour.

You have helped me all along, and now I see clearly

My time with You, You desired so dearly.

You wanted to guide me, comfort me and carry my load

In this life’s daily journey, the long narrow road.

You were there to teach me, love me and be my all

My time with You would have made my struggles so small.

Several verses later I ended with this:

I will take time to share my seasons, to help others see,

And encourage them all to take time with Thee.

For our time with our Maker makes our burdens light

If we choose the Giver of Time, in all our seasons of life!

Now this leads right to my first statement I consider a follow-up on my blog titled “IF” a Big Two Letter Word. I will quote part of the first paragraph…

“He is reminding me of the truths of His Word as I first get still and sit in His Presence. As I organized files and rediscovered things I had written down in years past, I realized The Lord was leading me to do what He called me to do in this season of life. I thought He started with my first poem, “Expressions of His Endearing Love” in my first book “Inspire Me”, but I now see that it began many years ago.”

This explained why I had jotted down moments in my life without understanding why.  The Lord was preparing me to do things that I had never imagined for use in a future season of life. Then He inspired me to write poetry, narratives, and blogs. A whole series of callings on my life that I could have never dreamed of. The means to fulfill: My Mission Statement: To glorify God through writing, sharing His Word, and my life experiences, communicating the love of Jesus Christ to add to His Kingdom.

“I will take time to share my seasons, to help others see,

And encourage them all to take time with Thee”.

Now for the next follow-up on my blog titled Defining Moments, I will quote the statement I made about using devotionals and the additional thought.

“BAM! I was ready to get things in their proper order because I have to admit, I have been known to read a devotional and the verses of scripture referenced in it or listen to an online sermon or prophecy without really making time for just me and the Lord in His Word.

(I am adding this thought. It is not wrong to read a devotional or listen to a sermon as it may sound like I am suggesting. After all, this was taken from a devotional! Those things can land us right where the Lord wants us in His Word. But there are times we spend doing only those things that prevent us from simply being still before God (I’ve mentioned sitting still doesn’t come to me naturally) and letting Him speak to us personally through His Word. You know that One-on-one time.)”

I truly hope you got a clear understanding of how I view devotionals because shortly after this blog I came upon this note I had made on my phone.

“Listening to the birds sing and how the mockingbird stood out. Gazing at the stillness and beauty of the details of my front yard. The tall oaks and dogwood that made it through an oak falling on it, and the beautifully shaped redbud I had transplanted. The flowers, weeds, and bugs along with the funny squirrels… so beautiful! Everything thing was so still as I noticed the sun’s rays increasing as it rose and cut through the thick trees. This all brought my thoughts to God and His incomprehensible creation. Then I started reading my devotional in my lap that I had already opened to today’s date, June 18^th. As I read about “STILLNESS AND TIME WITH THE LORD… IMMANUEL GOD WITH ME. THE LONGER YOU GAZE AT ME THE MORE YOU CAN REJOICE IN MY MAJESTIC SPLENDORS,” a strong breeze blew through the tree tops right in front of me! Most would not believe it unless they saw it! The other trees were still as these few swayed so beautifully. I caught my breath as I recognized the Holy Spirit is in the wind and every breath I breathe. Praise God for my time with Him to, as my Pastor would say, fill my tank!”

This occurred about 10-11 years ago. There I was, sitting still in His Presence with my devotional in my lap speaking to me the Truth of God’s Word. The devotional I referred to is one that dear friends, (Karen and John) gave to me as a birthday gift. It is Jesus Always (Embracing Joy in His Presence) by Sarah Young. Here is the full devotional for June 18^th.

“Could You Not Tarry With Me One Hour?” Now I see clearly what I miss when I don’t and I don’t want to miss out on anything God has for me. How about you?

It brings tears to my eyes as I not only see the Lord putting all of this together for me but also experiencing what He has for us by “Tarrying With Him”. The words in the old hymn “How Great Thou Art” come to mind,  “I scarce can take it in”. The hymn’s first and second verses praise God for the beauty of nature. The third verse shifts our thoughts to God not sparing His Son to die for us. No wonder my tears and that I can scarce take it in. My God, how great thou art!

Tarry defined: To stay there longer than you meant to and delay leaving.

By the way, our Pastor Mark Laster gave the message at our church last Sunday. The title was “God is in Your Story.”

To God be glory,

Reba