We had snow, we had cold and we had cold, snow all packed into one very long week. The beauty took my breath away, provided extra time off work and left me with time for introspection. Here is the result.
Snow does this to me… It causes me to withdraw into stillness, creates a quiet space in my soul and opens me up to a place of peace. In the time of reflection, I learn about stillness and find that it becomes the place where quiet meets God.
Enter the world of stillness with me – open your eyes and you will see the whitewash of snow across the landscape. Cotton ball flakes dot the slate, gray sky in bright white polka dots. Tree branches stretching wide catch the white frosting on the upper sides of their limbs. Birds dodge in between the snow in no particular pattern, but twirl in a dance of joy. The silence of the scene laid out before me is magnified by the awe of God’s beauty in the stillness. The quiet beckons for me to enter and accept its gift.
The stillness invites me into quiet, untouched, sacred time. It is a time of one on one with God. It is His Word open wide before me calling out to be read. All come together in a sacred communion graced by God. Stillness is the stopping of the busyness of the world, allowing God to become our center and smooth the weariness from our souls. Stillness is God magnified – the Keeper of our souls.
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Stillness is…
Serenity in times of Turmoil,
Instilled by the Loving Hands of God
Lavished upon us as His New creation
Entered into as silence descends,
As we Sacrificially empty ourselves in Sacred communion with God.
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He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:25-26
I am blessed by moments of stillness. Can you imagine a whole week focused on quiet because of a snow week and not just a snow day? The entering of God into the middle of our quiet time is a gift of love designed to speak to the weariness of our souls. I pray for all that we seize the moments of quiet in our lives and allow God to enter into sacred communion with us.
Blessings,
Mary
Blessed to be linking with:
Dance with Jesus linkup @susanbmead.com
Indeed. There is something special about those still moments. There is a depth in those times, a life-changing beautiful depth. Sometimes, however, I find my heart, head, and feet running wildly, refusing to sacrifice “my” time for the very One who made it. (deep breath) But He’s waits patiently, thankfully. Beautiful post, Mary. Visiting via #DanceWithJesus.
I have to will my feet, heart and head at times to stop running the race. God blessed me with a gift when He brought the snow-the chance to slow down, be still and soak in all He is. I am blessed that you stopped here and thankful for your encouraging words! Blessings!
Thank you for these few moments of peace and reflection.
God bless you.
Thank you for stopping by Victor! May your day and week be blessed!
Oh yes, I know what you mean. The quiet beauty of snow covers the world and makes everything seem larger and more peaceful. Love your reflections on stillness. I’ve been writing on Psalm 46:10 as well and this is another echo of that sweet blessing of communion with God that comes through stillness.
Yes it is! God’s word is the center of our time with Him and for me that is done in humility and stillness. Thank you for blessing me with your presence here and beautiful words of affirmation. Have a beautiful week!
We haven’t had snow this year. A few years ago Portland, Oregon got snow a few days before Christmas. The whole city basically shut down. I seemed as though all of the pre-Christmas hustle and bustle was laid aside and everyone decided to enjoy the holiday even if all the gifts or holiday groceries weren’t bought. I remember pulling my grandkids on sleds around my neighborhood. Everyone was out walking or playing in the snow and they seemed so happy and peaceful. No holiday stress was on their faces. The snow had given everyone an excuse to just stay home and enjoy being together. It is still one of my favorite Christmases.
I love how everyone stopped even in the middle of the busy Christmas season. That just illustrates perfectly how snow brings with it the desire to slow down and soak it in. I’m sad for you that you haven’t had any snow this year but that could be a blessing in disguise. Thank you so much for being here and blessing me with your story.
Thank you, Mary, your beautiful words take me back to still, snow-covered days when I lived in Vermont. That was a long time ago, but your words captured the feeling so well, I was able to remember, and experience it again. Have a blessed weekend!
Thank you June! Your encouragement blessed me! I would find it hard to live in a part of the country that never had snow-there is something about the change of seasons that has God’s Hands all over it. Hope your weekend has been blessed.
This is such a beautiful post and reflection, Mary. Yes, those still, quiet moments are so crucial. Sometimes when the weather is warmer I will go for a walk so that I can get that time away from my littles and hear God speaking to my heart. 😉 Thank you for sharing. Just lovely.
Thank you Abby! I am blessed that you stopped by. I love going for walks because it seems those are the times that I hear God most clearly. I pray the weather changes soon for all of us and we have those occasions to step out into God’s beauty and spend time with Him. Blessings!
How I’ve craved a little stillness on the snow days we’ve had here this week! Too bad the littles don’t view snow days with the same love of peace and quiet 🙂 Games of monster and snow ball fights are what’s filling my days… Love your photos and the reminder to carve out moments of stillness in whatever our days present.
Craving the silence when you have littles will never be quite as you imagine it. But you are doing the important work of being mom and if noise and chaos are what is called for at that moment than you are exactly where you need to be. I love that you were reminded that God is present in all parts of our day and we just need to be seeking Him in every minute. I am so glad that you are her today. Blessings!
Beautiful words Mary! ♥Sometimes distractions and business prevent us from seeing, hearing, and feeling the simple joys in life. The more we are able to be still and present in the moment, the more we enjoy God’s presence and the beauty that life offers!!♥
Blessings and joy this weekend!!
I feel distractions often because I look to worldly things more often than I should. I am working on the quiet stillness in my life so that I can hear God more clearly. The snow week was a blessing of time-time to just be and time to listen and hear God’s voice more clearly. I am blessed you stopped by and I love your encouragement. Blessings!
Two of my favorite books that I read to my kids were, Snow Day and Snowflake Bentley. I usually read them on the first day it snowed, we’d make snow cream, and cookies. We paused our busy in order to enjoy the softness that came with the falling snow. Somehow the slowing down is so appropriate. 😉
This is one of my favorite posts from you dear Mary.
Blessings,
Dawn
Thank you for your sweet words. I love that you stopped and read with your children as well as were intentional with slowing down. That is such a treasured time and anytime we can slow and be still is a time that God can enter. I am blessed by your being here and your encouragement.