His Voice

A Softer Voice has been absolutely “silent” for the past few weeks. Sometimes life requires that we reprioritize, and that’s exactly what I have had to do. 

I’ve had the privilege of spending valuable time with my family as my three siblings and I have visited with and cared for my mother. She will soon be moving from her home into an assisted living facility. The past couple of weeks we have poured over old photographs and a library of wonderful books that originated with my grandfather’s collection, along with other small treasures from the two previous centuries. 

It’s a bittersweet time for our family. I have to confess that there have been opportunities to seek refuge with the Lord, and that time could have led to meditations to share through this blog. But my spare moments have been spent idly – not wanting to read, think, or even pray. It’s no surprise that, when I did attempt to write something, the well was dry. 

Was God silent? Had he also “reprioritized?” I worked my way through this speechless time with the following: 

    His Voice

    When You are silent, I cannot move 

    I long to hear your voice. 

    Whether to bless or to reprove 

    I surrender to your choice. 

    There are no words unless You speak

    Your silence lingers on

    As restless whispers fill the air

    After day is done. 

    Your Word is life and never sleeps 

    Your Spirit -- abiding near 

    Waits for me to turn my face 

    To Yours so I can hear 

    Your Word, the Light, continues to shine 

    Its glow illumines the way 

    God of wisdom, hope and love 

    Lord, speak to me each day. 

                             Nancy K. Sullivan 

                             March 31, 2011

From The Tip Of My Tongue

I Corinthians 13:1
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love,
I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (NISB)

The written word that comes from within
Speaks ever so softly to souls of the men
Who read and consider, then receive what is said
Into their own lives and, like sheep, they are led.

The warning is sounded as pen becomes tongue
That words not become noise like cymbals when rung
Clanging empty speeches and selfish desires
To those who seek truth that calms and inspires.

A spirit that is cold will reap much the same
From seeds that are planted with hopes of acclaim
Rootless, idle promises sent soaring like dreams
That will surely and quickly fall apart at the seams.

The continuing thread of each word that I write
Must be woven with His love for faith to become sight
And seek only to share what His Word reveals
As, through His Spirit, He speaks and He heals.

May I never forget that this mission of mine
Is a gift of the Father and I must align
My will with His as I write and as I live
May His love be the only hope that I give.

Nancy K. Sullivan
12-20-2010

(Photo by Ken Kniskern at K2ProStudio.com Copyright 2010)