A Hushed Surrender

Hello Friends!

I sure hope you are having a wonderful day! For me, summer is coming to a close as I head back to school in 15 days!! I have been preparing to pack up my things and buying my books online! Other than that, I have been cooking up a storm (I will greatly miss my kitchen), and I have been doing my very best to keep cool. Yesterday, it was over 110 degrees Fahrenheit! I could hardly believe it! Sometimes, I wonder how the thermometer can even measure such outlandish heat. 

Today, I wanted to share a quick story and a poem I had written earlier this year. 

Starting off with the story:

I have been hosting "Tea Talks" since the very first week of college, freshman year. We held it in my room, where everyone brought their own mug and we all piled on my bed and desk and floor to sip tea and unwind together. Everyone has the chance to share the stories of their week and ask for advice or questions or just verbally process whatever is on their mind. Honestly, it is one of my favorite things! I mean, come on- tea, friends, chit-chat??? YES PLEASE!

Well, halfway through the summer, I was driving with my mom and had this moment of realization. Tea Talks didn't just have to be a college thing. I had seen God use the time and space of a good Tea Talk to really bless and encourage my friends (and myself for that matter). I asked my mom what she thought about hosting a tea talk once a week at our house, with some of the ladies from church. She said yes! Woo-Hoo Mama! Way to be on Board!

Every Friday, at 2 o'clock PM, women from ages 19 to granny (you know I wouldn't give away their age, I know better!) come to my door. We have had some times of laughter and of tears, but most of all our conversation is Holy Spirit inspired. Sure, some weeks are all about fellowship, but last week was especially amazing. 

Last week, one of my friends brought a guest. At first when she'd asked, I didn't particularly want extra people because I had quite a lot on my plate. I was planning Mama's birthday party for the next day, plus I'd had a whole week of babysitting and errands and bills and all the yucky adult stuff I am acquiring on my to-do list! I honestly didn't think I had the mental energy to have too many new guests. So I initially told her no... which I later prayed about and while I was strumming my guitar in a time of personal worship I knew I had to call her and tell her to come and bring her friend.

The two young ladies came. And shared their heart. And their struggles. And that they wanted to have faith in God in the hardest areas of life, but they felt like something was blocking it. Let me tell you, what happened in that conversation rocked my socks off! I just love to see God work! Several of us got to share that we struggle too. And we got to exchange personal ways that God helps us through that. One of those tips that kept repeating was to meditate of God. We shared with our new friend that we all deal with "Blockage" at some point or another. And we understood the frustration of not knowing exactly what it is that is keeping us from fully giving the mystery area of our life over to Christ's Lordship. But we could ALL remember God having showed us his faithfulness to show us what is blocking us. 

All of us saw that it was absolutely KEY that if we came to that understanding it was because of a hushed moment in our life, where we allowed God space to speak to us. That hushed moment allowed us to listen, and God spoke to us. 

I would like to share the poem I wrote because I think it expresses what I really mean, from the depths of my current understanding:

"Quiet Surrender.

Silent transformation on inner things unseen.

Patience. Waiting. Breathing. Resting. 

Transformation.

Oh, what mystical unknowns

of the Quiet & Stillness

For the first time,

second time,

infinite times a holy covenant of giving over of self...

At times, it is with words

but more often than not

tis during the silence 

the waiting

the stillness.

...Perhaps silence is the sound of one's utter submission,

like the sound of a heartbeat in the symphony of a life orchestrated under Christ's baton."

{Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, & know I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."}

There is something beautiful about a hushed moment in a busy life. It can feel so impossible. But God does speak in the quietest stillness. He most certainly has in my life. 

I have this desire to share with you some of the aspects of stillness that I have been learning. I know just how daunting it is to feel like you HAVE to be still and quiet but your life is pulling you in  a million and a half directions so it seems near to impossible. I totally get it. So today, I don't want you to read this and beat yourself up about being busy. Nope, not today. I just want you to gently realize inside of yourself that sometimes, hushed is good. And if God has ever spoken to you in a time of stillness or pause, take a second to remember that and smile. 

I love you all and wish you  a wonderful rest of the week!

Sending Prayers of Peace,

Melissa XOXO