#write31days

hope and joy in the midst of sadness

/ Joy Lenton / 21 Comments

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I listened, cradling phone to ear, trying to digest the news. A long-lost cousin had managed to track me down to say my uncle (her father) had passed away and the funeral was scheduled for the next day.

She had left it deliberately late to pass on the information, because she knew what a long journey it would be for me, and the strong likelihood of my being too unfit to travel – right on both counts.

When I came off the phone, having stayed calm in my concern for her and the rest of the family, I couldn’t help tears flowing freely when I related the news to my husband. He held me close as I cried.

My cousin had a year to adjust herself to the prospect of losing her father, fearing the worst many times over the last few months. But I had blissfully assumed he and his wife were still enjoying a fairly active retirement, pottering about in their beautiful garden, the joy of their lives.

Memories and sadness sat with me as the day slowly unwound. I went out into the garden for a breath of air and a brief time of prayer. God always meets with and speaks to me most through creation.

With eyes downcast, I was well placed to spot a feather flying with the wind. I snapped a few photos, hoping to capture those moments when ground was its mattress. And this is what emerged…

As a white flag

Spotting a white feather on the ground

is often seen as a sign of God saying

‘I do not forget’ as he gently whispers

his balm to our broken hearts

 

When I stepped outside for a while,

needing air to breathe as I assimilated

news of a relative’s demise, feeling low

and aching inside with sad hollowness,

 

before long I spied this feathery

friend beckoning me as wind tossed her

hither and thither, and I shivered

in an autumnal breeze, hugging myself

 

with folded arms to ward off the cold

It felt like God was speaking soft into

my emptiness, reminding me how much

 

heaven aches in sympathy with us

And how his bright light feathers down

sometimes, as white flag lying on the ground

©JoyLenton2016

“For his anger is but for a moment; his favour is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning” ~ Psalm 30:5 NRSV

What is the joy we have in the morning? I believe it’s realising we are accompanied in our sadness and sorrow. There is no experience we go through which is out of the reach of God’s love and compassion.

God holds out a flame of hope in painful circumstances, a balm of peace and calm. He brings unexpected joy and strength back to hurting hearts. He is the lifter of our head, Comforter for wounded souls.

Getting through grief can be painful and lengthy, especially when we lose close loved ones. Scripture reassures us that  joy will return, difficult as it is to believe when we’re grieving. We will have days where we can see light breaking through, sense God’s comforting presence, as we gradually begin to smile and laugh again.

As I mourn my uncle’s passing, I think about how we often take life for granted. May I suggest you hug your loved ones closer today, appreciate their presence in your life?

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Welcome to #day14 of #write31days of journeying into joy. You can access #day13 over at wordsofjoy.me where I am sharing a few posts in this series. To catch my reflection on beauty and butterflies, please click here... How have you experienced hope or joy in the midst of life’s painful circumstances? Please share in the comments below, so we can pray for one another.

seeing by the light of a silvery moon

/ Joy Lenton / 8 Comments

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I prefer subdued hues. Bright light doesn’t feature much in our house as I live with my mole-like tendencies. Others adjust – or offer a few seconds warning if they actually want enough light to see something properly.

It’s a hypersensitivity thing induced by having M.E, and it’s a personal preference when a world seems to shout for attention. I love deep and muted shades, softness and calm, though the world invades all too frequently with harshness, glare, noise and storm.

So I tend to want to lower the lights, dim things in my home, turn away from loud and fast and furious. Maybe that’s why I love clouds so much. They’re soft white fluffy pillows floating in azure seas, gilded golden layers revealing sunset’s splendour, or dark brooding heaviness waiting to rain refreshment on us.

My window watching and cloud gazing bring me joy. I could easily lose myself in them, desire to float serenely like they do. I also enjoy clouds when they’re stirred by wind’s breath, blown asunder at the onset of thunder, shredded by strong wind, torn into wispy cotton-wool threads on gentler days.

The moon also brings me joy. Each varied cratered face she shows is a marvel to behold. It doesn’t matter what stage she is at, if she’s displaying a crescent curve smile, suggestive half halo or full gleaming globe, they are all lovely in my eyes.

This poem grew out of observing a silvery moon…

Silvery moon

Sky hangs heavy with shades

of liquid milky-grey

as silvery moon swims and

bathes her benevolent gaze

upon a world melting

all too soon into fading

light while night usurps the day

©JoyLenton2016

Today, I invite you to spend some time looking out the window, or going outside. Take a while to breathe and enjoy the moment, to see and savour signs of creation’s beauty.

And if that seems impossible or invisible to you because of your less than salubrious surroundings, I understand the dilemma, I really do. Few of my photos get shared before being cropped and edited.

Maybe you could try to aim your gaze higher or zoom in on smaller things in the frame of your fixing. Keep looking, say a prayer and ask God to reveal what grace gifts lay literally at your feet, or out the window for you to view.

We journey deeper into joy whenever we can see creation’s beauty and become more appreciative of the world around us. Maybe it will stir gratitude, a prayer, a few whispers from God, a desire to try to capture something in words or via a lens. I’d love you to let me know what you discover, and how joy is unfolding for you.

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Welcome to #day12  of #write31days – where we are discovering ways of  journeying into joy.

I so appreciate you being here, supporting and praying for me as I aim to write more frequently this month. 🙂

find joy in being true to yourself

/ Joy Lenton / 16 Comments

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Be bold. Shine out God’s glory. You were made for more than ordinary. You are created for such a time as this, a time to be all you’re intended to be.

You may feel fragile, weak and weary, fearful and hesitant, wanting to hang back from the crowd. Others may consider you to be of no significance, but God sees the beauty, potential and promise within.

Let your head be lifted high. His desires for you won’t outrun His capacity to give to you. God doesn’t leave us defenceless. He provides for every contingency.

Maybe you’ve been used to cowering, hiding away while others take the forefront. Maybe you’ve ruled yourself out on some pretext or other, convinced yourself you’re no use to God or others, have nothing of value to offer.

Please don’t buy into that lie! You are of great worth and value – right now, Just As You Are on the way to all you are becoming by God’s grace. You don’t have to take a course, pretty yourself up, make a recognisable mark with your art, perfect your prose or poetry.

Your own unique version of creativity will bring a measure of joy to this world, if you are willing to unleash and unfurl it little by little, one small bit at a time. Trust in God. Trust in the process itself.

Find joy in the journey by being true to who God created you to be. He doesn’t make mistakes. No-one else can create in the exact same way as you can. And that’s a freeing thought. Only you can excel at being you. Failure is a word others may choose to judge us by; it’s not a measure of our ability, but rather a stepping stone to improvement and change.

Your circumstances may have drained and depleted vital energy but they cannot steal the central core of who you are. Stay true to the way you do things, while you learn and grow your expertise and lean on God for everything.

Because guess who is continually cheering you on from the sidelines (apart from me and a whole host of unseen witnesses)? It’s none other than your loving heavenly Father who gets excited every time you decide to trust in His leading and guiding. He’s beaming proudly at His beautiful daughter, saying, “that’s my girl!”

Here are a few life lessons to aid your progress:

  • unleash your art
  • trust your heart
  • make and create
  • it’s never too late
  • listen and learn
  • grow wise and discern
  • enjoy all gainful employ
  • keep journeying into joy

God is right there with you every step of the way, every single day. Take holy courage as your badge of belonging to Christ.

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Welcome to #day11 of #31days of journeying into joy. I want to offer you a fresh infusion of encouragement today as we continue this journey, because parts of it are hard and challenging to traverse.

I also want to remind you of just how much God loves, approves of and celebrates YOU! ❤

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seeking to enjoy the journey we are on

/ Joy Lenton / 12 Comments

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While we journey into joy, we soon discover how much better it is to have support, friendship and companionship to encourage us along the way. Especially when it becomes tough at times, there are mountains to negotiate or skirt round, several hills to climb, much travelling to do and lessons to get through.

The travelling can feel endless to reach our goals. Yet the road yawns wide before us, stretching its fingers toward the future, inviting us to do the same.

As we place our faith and hope in God, He will slowly unfurl the rich potential of days still to come, and grant us grace to enjoy the current view of the journey we are on.

The prayer below reflects on part of my creative journey, which is continually being shaped by faith and made achievable by God’s goodness and grace. May you see your own dreams reflected in it too.

Dear Father,

It seems strange to think that our afflictions can become joy bringers. Yet I know that without mine I would probably lead a disconnected selfish life, all the poorer for losing such deep need-driven daily dependence on your grace and mercy.

For in love, you have given us joy in knowing you, in living with your constant presence, in the persevering, enduring and overcoming, and joy in the journey itself.

We are created to dream big dreams, to believe for the impossible, to see your hand at work bringing life from what seems dead. A dream was laid on my heart. I dared to hope for something beyond the everyday.

I desired to write a book of poetry.  A seed of hope was sown, liberally watered by the encouragement of those you chose to accompany me. Their interest and support helped the fragile seed to grow, flower and flourish.

You knew I lacked courage to walk this path alone, that I would be tempted to give up without prayer and words to cheer me on, how my fears and failings would make me falter, weakness make me wilt and pain bring a halt to proceeding.

And you gave blessings in abundance, as you always do to each one of us – liberally, freely, graciously, lavishly, unexpectedly, joyfully.

You provided friends to walk beside me, peace in pursuing purpose, strength in sharing, courage in creativity.

All helping me to be here now – still walking in faith, still writing, still living and believing for greater things to come.

For you reward all who diligently seek after you. May it be our goal, always. The Giver of all good gifts does not disappoint us.

For these things and for your manifold mercies, we give you our grateful thanks and praise.

Amen

“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”

~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

PS: *Take heart, friend – though we may have to wait a while, God-sized dreams do eventually come true. After over 2 years of waiting, I’m so thankful to have the fruit of this particular dream available now as a real live book to read! You can click on the link to access ‘Seeking Solace: Discovering grace in life’s hard places’, or UK readers will find it in the sidebar here. Every copy sold helps to raise funds for Action for M.E*

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31-days-of-journeying-into-joy-badgeWelcome to #day10 of 31 days of journeying into joy.

How is the journey going for you? Can you testify to God bringing a dream to pass?

Do let me know in the comments below.  🙂

how a shifting view yields glimpses of joy

/ Joy Lenton / 12 Comments

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It was late afternoon as we travelled home. Sky was displaying her sunset colours, so I swivelled round as far as I could in my passenger seat, trying to capture the breathtaking beauty behind us.

As sun dipped low, leaving golden trails, I pointed and clicked my phone’s camera, desperately hoping to get a good enough shot as we whizzed past the scenery.

In seeing a sunset I am undone. Nothing speaks more to me of God’s glory and majesty. It’s like a loud clarion call at close of day, a last hurrah as night is ushered in.

I had to swivel uncomfortably to catch the sky’s dying rays, but oh it was worth it! When at home I try to remember to check the view, see if twilight and dusk are melting into sunset, sneak outside for a few moments if able and just marvel anew. It’s never stale or ordinary to me.

Just like wonder, joy seeps into the edges of our consciousness, nudging us into awareness. Though there may be many days when we fail to heed or receive it. Whenever I do, it usually stirs the poetic. Here’s the poem that came from those fleeting moments in the car…

A shifting view

A shifting view seen through

car windscreen while journeying

yields a glimpse of golden glory

rays as sun melts liquid into

horizon’s darkening depths

 

And my heart is captured

too as I point and click

with great rapidity, knowing

how life’s changing scenes

 

need to be seen, savoured anew,

given over to gratitude

for the gifts we can unwrap

in every waking hour

©JoyLenton2016

Sun’s brilliance captured and captivated me, but how much more does the Son of God Himself, our Lord of creation, produce awe, wonder, gratitude and reverence in us? He alone is worthy of all worship and praise.

Sadness may nibble away at the edges of everything, because we live in a dark and fallen world. It is all too easy to fall into discouragement and despair. But what if we deliberately try to capture beauty, take note of nature’s offerings? Even simple family pleasures take on greater significance when viewed through a lens of gratitude.

Maybe in seeking to pay attention to our days we could bring joy back to our hearts. It doesn’t have to be by camera. If we can be more fully present in the moment, then those experiences will naturally etch themselves on our memory.

Sometimes we just need to step outside of our familiar, view the world around us from God’s perspective, see how marvellous it is. In the looking and listening itself we can become more joyful and content, grateful for God’s myriad blessings in the everyday.

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Welcome to #day9 of the #write31days writing challenge, where our focus is on journeying into joy.

I’d love to know how this series is speaking to you. Please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you!  🙂

 

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you carry seeds of joy and hope of glory

/ Joy Lenton / 10 Comments

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There are days when we hang our head; maybe it droops low with fatigue, low mood, shame or shyness. It can be hard to lift it up again when life weighs heavy.

It’s in those times that God reveals Himself as the lifter of our head, the carrier of hope and healing. He imparts joy back into weary hearts. He sings softly to us of love and of how infinitely precious we are in His sight, just as we are.

“The Lord your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The Lord will delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you” ~ Zephaniah 3:17 GNT

Poppies are a sign of remembrance, of battles fought and won, blood shed and victory secured. As we wear our poppy with pride (on Remembrance Sunday or Memorial Day), we think about the fallen, the brave and the bold who dared to lay down their lives for us.

Freedom comes at a price, and none higher than the shed blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He gave His all to save all for eternity. That’s how much you and I are valued by God.

Friend, you are not forgotten. Your life isn’t insignificant to the One who died so that you could live eternally with Him.

You are not a number, but a person of great worth and value to God. He knew you before you were born, lovingly crafted you together in your mother’s womb.

“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you” ~ Jeremiah 1:5 Message

Our earthly parents can reject or neglect us, but our heavenly Father never will. He longs above all things to reassure you of just how much He cares about you.

God sees the hope of glory residing inside, which opens its heart to the warmth of His presence. He sees all you are now and all you can become by His grace.

You and I carry joy seeds within when we are in relationship with Jesus. His characteristics are sown into our souls and new life germinates from the old.

As children of God we can live with head held high, heart at peace and joy within reach. Though pain and problems abound, there is comfort and hope to be found by trusting our unknown future to a known God.

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Welcome to #day8 of the #write31days writing challenge. Thank you for seeing me through my first week!

I appreciate your company and thoughts as I reflect on ways of journeying into joy. Do join in the conversation below.

finding joy in the dark times

/ Joy Lenton / 12 Comments

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I woke feeling out of sorts, restless and agitated. Insomnia and pain often affect my mental state, because the weariness they bring begins to permeate everything like a dense heavy cloud. Maybe you’ve felt that way, too?

On days when light and joy seem to be absent and our souls feel downcast, we have to make a deliberate effort to pursue joy. Because joy hides behind every dark cloud and we see it when we search it out. It’s a matter of the will, of mind over matter, Spirit-led living over flesh-induced feelings.

Rest and joy are closely aligned, dependent on one another, especially resting in God. Our days of extra busyness, weakness and weariness are speaking to us of a pressing need to pause, a soul drive toward silence and stillness instead of a crash-and-burn-style of living leading to illness.

This isn’t just for those of us who have M.E and chronic illness; this is for everyone. Because we all live in a fallen world which can drain every ounce of vitality out of us if we let it. The words below were whispered to me in prayer. My hope and prayer is that they will speak to you, too…

prayer whisper image

 

“Rest isn’t an emotion or a feeling, though at times it will seep into your mind. But the kind of rest I offer you is one that sinks into your spirit and lingers. It’s a turning toward Me, a continual attitude of trust, no matter what your circumstances might be.

It’s a gift of grace which brings inner peace and Holy Spirit ease to accomplish all I call you to do. It’s an understanding which fires you to willingly live close to Me. It’s knowing Me as a loving, caring Father who always has your best interests at heart.

The more you learn to lean on Me, the more you will be held secure in every way, because I created you to live in dependence on Me. Your greatest and deepest joy will be in receiving My rest as it permeates every aspect of your life.

You will grow more aware of My presence watching over you like a protective mother hen. You will have strength and equipping for everything. You will have deep inner peace that remains. Your whole life, memories, past, present and future will be seen as safe in My hands.

Relax. I know everything about you, My child. You can rest in My infinite love, tender compassion, mercy and forgiveness. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to give you. Come and rest with Me. Pour out your fears and tears. Allow Me to soothe them all, to hold you close and whisper words to help and heal. Come now…”

A prayer

Gracious Father,

Forgive us for being so weak and easily led by our feelings. for falling into anxiety and worry, frustration and fear, stress and distress, for neglecting to spend quality time with You.

Thank You for your words of hope and reassurance. We receive them into our spirits. May they take root and begin to fill every hurt, wounded and aching part of us.

Only You know the heaviness of the human heart, and only You can show us how to live fully and freely again.

Help us to sense deep holy joy within, hovering on the margins of our days, always readily available in Your presence.

Amen

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Welcome to #day7 of #write31days of journeying into joy. Thank you for being here! 

As we examine those things which steal our joy, may we also discover how to regain it again by resting in God.

 

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how our small candlewick faith becomes a flame

/ Joy Lenton / 10 Comments

candlewick

 

When joy is thin on the ground we search for ways to ignite it again. The means may vary, but the aim is to recover some semblance of contentment, a small spark of joy whereby we feel more alive and engaged.

I derive a great deal of pleasure from creation’s beauty, the way it leaves its signature scent on each day. The hard part is to develop awareness, to deliberately turn my eyes toward the window, step outside a while and simply breathe a bit of fresh air, marvel at the changing seasons, take some photos.

Being housebound needn’t limit appreciation of the world outside my window. If anything, it intensifies it. Clouds are a constant source of delight when I remember to watch them. Sometimes all it takes is a simple lifting of eyes and heart heavenwards, a reaching out to God in gratitude for all He is and all He has given us.

It is said that those who develop an attitude of gratitude are among the happiest people in the world, because thankfulness sparks deeper contentment and joy. Making space to record God’s goodness toward us sets us on a reflective path which leads to pleasure, whereby we focus more on fullness instead of perceived lack.

I’ve recently decided to journal again after neglecting to do so for a few months. Now I regularly use an app to write a few words of poetry and add a photo or two, sometimes write out first/last free-writing thoughts in a simple spiral notebook, as well as keeping a prayer journal where whispers from the Lord sit beside notes on Bible verses or from books that are speaking to me.

However we plan or prepare, whatever gratitude notes or  journaling method we use, it can be a great means of reconnecting to the creative self within, as well as making us more aware of God’s footprints in our day. And once we actively seek out God’s presence, He begins to ignite faith, hope and joy again, reviving weary souls with renewed strength.

Igniting joy

A thick blanket of darkness covers

us, smothering hope and joy within,

dampening our dreams, pouring

cold watery streams on the fire

of desire and imagination

 

Then we take our small faltering

candlewick, hold out our brief spark

like a trembling flag of faith from

quaking, fearful hearts. And we watch

mesmerised as it ignites a fiercer

 

Light, burning companionably

beside ours, its fulsome flame

strong enough to consume each part

of dark; every inky cloud covering,

every dim place – now blazes bright again

©JoyLenton2016

“The Light shines in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it]” ~ John 1:5 AMP

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Welcome to #day6 of 31 days of journeying into joy.

I hope and pray these daily posts are a fresh infusion of joy and a blessing to you.

The post for #day5 can be found on wordsofjoy.me as I am sharing a few there. Just click here to read it. Thank you! 🙂

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learning how to wait, stretch and grow

/ Joy Lenton / 10 Comments

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I spied passionflower fruit growing on a neighbour’s fence, marvelled at its bold colour, resilience and strength at a time when most other garden life was drab, dead or dying. Those golden globes hinted at summer indulgence combined with harvest bounty.

They brightened up my day each time I saw them. I wondered at the way God pours such delights and insights into plants. Because the more I thought about it, they held a secret lesson within.

In our stretching and growing toward the light seasons, we may have to wait a while, sometimes years, before fruit appears. Impatient as this might make us, we have to trust that God knows what He is doing.

The fruit of joy is no exception, though it can be sparked into life, or suppressed, by how we view and react to our lives and circumstances.

If I focus most on my pain, fatigue and problems, then before long I feel deflated at least, if not discouraged. Such things are an everyday, pressing reality that infringes on the hours, but I don’t have to let them become all I think about, or preoccupy so much space in my mind.

You and I can choose what to focus on the most – blessings or bad things, pain or purpose, joy or distress. Our days are moulded by what we stretch toward, those things that help us to grow most Christ-like, or not.

I discovered that passionflowers are in a botanical group called woody climbers. They cling to hedges, hang down from heights to reveal their magnificence. Flowers appear in summer through autumn, and they tend to lift their faces to full heat of sun, or sit calmly in dappled shade.

They are of a hardy disposition, bearing exposure to full frost and winter’s cruel cropping. However, despite stealing their tops away, winter cannot steal their ability to bloom again when new shoots appear in Spring.

Maybe you are going through a wintry season of the soul where all looks cropped and bare, and you wonder when fruit will appear again. Maybe you are growing impatient with seeing so little fruit of joy, or another fruit of the Spirit in your life.

These flowers and their beautiful fruit speak to us of having a beautiful purpose, a time to shine, a part to play in the garden of life, even when all feels dead around us. You are made to manifest God’s beauty within,  good godly fruit that is visible to others, if not always apparent to you.

No matter how long it takes, as we stay faithful where God has placed us, fruitfulness will arise, though it’s often invisible to our own eyes. But the beauty of it will be a golden glow of grace to others seeking God’s face.

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Welcome to #day4 of 31 days of journeying into joy.

How does your focus affect your joy and happiness?

Please share below…

 

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what night’s inky blanket says to us

/ Joy Lenton / 11 Comments

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Night whispers its presence as soft kiss of dusk and sunset’s flame fanfare yield to a falling curtain. Each slide toward dark’s velvet covering begins to  conceal day’s warmth and light, suggesting we’re safer staying inside.

Comfort and coziness is found more indoors on these chilly autumnal days as we seek warmth and shelter, try to relax body and mind, unwind from a day’s busyness, crave peace and rest. Though I like to leave curtains open as long as possible as I watch gradual invasion of night swallow up the view, and savour every last chink of light peeking through.

Every shadowy silhouette reflects how even the known, the all too familiar can become draped in mystery. We see so little when we really think about it. Noticing can become dull and senses dim when we are stuck in a rut of finite everyday-ordinary and fail to lift the eyes of our heart toward the infinite.

Inky blanket

Night wraps her inky blanket

softly round a darkening world

 

She steals the light we move within

then proffers silver smattering

 

of stars that glitter jewel-bright

Displayed at their finest now

 

enshrouded as they are by

this murky midnight-blue sky

©JoyLenton2016

Glory moments can be found when we stretch our souls to hear their sound, begin to truly listen to what our lives and the world around  are saying to us. And when we switch off from preoccupation and busyness, we soon discover that silence is full of noise, because a world on constant hum of readiness is continually speaking to us.

I also hear the continual thrum of tinnitus in my ears, a sound I tend to want to drown out with an alternative. Sometimes we hear our own heartbeat or breathing when we still enough to listen, pause for our next breath in the midst of activity or prayer.

God is always offering us an invitation to listen, to hear holy heartbeats, sense sacred echoes in the everyday. Joy is made manifest in His presence, because night is as day to God; there is light and life in abundance, more than enough to refuel and refresh weary souls.

“You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful” ~ Psalm 16:11 CEV

It doesn’t matter when or how we come, the important thing is to answer the call. God waits with infinite patience, but it is to our own detriment if we fail to find time to be with Him.

Sometimes these daily slowing down periods which night reveals are all the reminder we need of life’s short span, of all that fights for and consumes our attention in the daily grind. They also speak of just how much we need the stabilising power of joy that only God can provide.

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Welcome to #day3 of 31 days of journeying into joy. It’s good to have your company!

How are you hearing creation speaking to you, or sensing sacred echoes best? Do share in the comments below. 

 

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