A Word of Hope –With a Voice of Singing

Sitting on a worn teak garden bench just over a zig-zag wooden bridge in the outside room of the fern glade garden, shaded by the covering of large white oak, pine, giant leafed cow cumber-magnolias and small dogwood trees, small-leaf azaleas, oak leaf hydrangeas, rhododendrons totally surrounded by ferns stands a very tall eight or nine feet slender iron-rusted metal sculpture of an angel on its tippy-toes with a very slender body and full-length wings nestled closely by its side.  The angel has a stance looking out and slightly up with hair combed back by the wind as if waiting for someone to arrive, not exactly anxious, but expectant, maybe for its next assignment, looking serious, listening, very still, unmoving, as if bird-like on its pedestal, yet ready to move upon command, to take flight to its new destination as a messenger of God.

Quietly the crickets are chirping, leaves ever so slightly, gently moving with brown fallen leaves on the uphill sidewalk, engraved in the concrete are all sorts of fern leaves of many varied species.  In the distance squirrels scamper, two birds on different limbs and in different trees talk to one another, calling out, cooing, perhaps mating calls; one bird seems lonely, or maybe it’s sort of a signal that a human is nearby. 

What is God’s signal?  How do you know He’s near?  Do you sense His Presence?  Are you aware of His longing to have fellowship with you?  Do you listen to the messengers of God in your faith community?  Do you take time to meditate on His Word and be still before the Almighty?  He cares for you!  He loves you!  Do you know His song?

My dear friends Don (who’s gone to Heaven) and Ann Yates had a rule at their house.  Whenever they bought some piece of new clothing, some old piece had to go.  As a result, I became the recipient of the “Don Yates Collection.”  Always gracious, always kind, always treating Ann (whom we lovingly call Anna) like a queen.  He exhibited to me what a Christian gentleman truly is.  I wonder…can we do this in our lives?  Can we put down and let go of things that so easily encumber us and let the weight of what’s bothering us go? Can we take on a new light-weight garment, ready for the tasks at hand, willing to pray, give and go. We would be the better for it.

But for now…
                Be still…
                                Listen…
                                                Be ready…
                                     Do you hear His voice singing?  I believe I can hear it!

With A Voice of Singing

With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, Alleluia.
Utter it even unto the ends of the earth.
The Lord hath delivered his people, Alleluia.
O be joyful in God, all ye lands,
O sing praises to the honor of his name, make his praise to be glorious. – Martin Shaw

Prayer:  Teach us dear Lord, to listen to your voice of singing.  Help us to be quiet and listen to Your song!  Amen.

As we serve together, I am your friend,

Mark David Jackson