Silence

Silence - A Pleiades Poem


sounds lost in the southern night

softly moved the baby's chest

stillness in a waiting room

surrendered soul lifted up

searching for just the right words

set apart in reverent prayer

'cept for ringing in my ears

Author's note: "He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words."  Elbert Hubbard

1) Stillness in my southern, spring night is a peaceful time as I write this poem tonight.
2) As my 19 year old son prepares to leave for Air Force Basic Training this November, I am remembering my sweet, slumbering baby in my arms.
3) I'm consumed with the anticipation of a loved one whose hands are clutched to the chest as the surgeon comes with news.
4) Glory bumps cover me as I linger in remembrance of the silence this past Sunday morning just before the preacher baptized a young lady.
5) Think of the silence during a heated conversation as at just the right moment healing words come forth.
6) I am remembering when I knelt in prayer in a sanctuary with no other people present to break the silence.
7) I chose an exception to the true Pleiades form in the beginning of the last line.  In the depth of silence the ringing in my ears is deafening at times.

written by: Nan Forehand
Tuesday, June 14, 2011

A Light in the Darkness

I read something recently that has kept coming back to my mind.  Up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina is Linville Caverns.  I want to go there sometime.  I read that when one goes down into the caverns to a certain depth there is complete and total darkness.  The report stated that if a one stays in the darkness long enough blindness occurs.  The trout swimming in the water below the earth in the caverns are blind.
I am thinking in terms now, of spiritual blindness at this point.  When a person allows the darkness of negativity and destructive thoughts to become manifest as negative actions or at times, lack of action that would bring in the light (the Light of God), I can understand how one can become spiritually blind, even to the point of losing connection with the other senses God gave us.  A person can hear words spoken with good intentions and yet, not hear.  It is as if their spiritual ears stop picking up the sound waves and are unable to process the sounds.  As well, they can still speak, but the spiritual voice is quieted to the point of becoming mute.  How sad for a spirit to become blind, deaf and mute and then succumb because of a failure to thrive.  God didn't design our spirits to live in darkness and He didn't design us, physically, to live in total darkness.  Why would He have given us our senses if He didn't want us to use them to the fullest extent.  I understand, there are those who were born sightless, some unable to hear and others born unable to speak.  They do the best they can with what they were given, even to the point of heightened awareness of the senses they were given to accommodate for the lack of the other.
I want you to be that beam of light in the lives of others.  Your smile or encouraging word may be the only bit of light that shines through the dark abyss in which a human being cowers.  Be careful, though, because when one has been in the darkness so long, too much light at once may be overwhelming.  When you hold the candle and share it with another, your own light is not lessened.  Rather, the darkness is lessened and both can see better and therefore, both are comforted.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Dot to Dot

Dot to Dot

By: Nan Forehand

remember this game of your youth
listen now and I'll tell you the truth
it's easiest to begin with "Number One"
listening to the preacher, you begin to connect
verses you'd forgot - now you recollect
anxious to see the big picture
take your time - don't go too fast
this picture won't fade - it's made to last
life is a mystery - yes, it's a puzzle
sometimes the dots are close - some far apart
it's not always as easy as it looks, but God knows your heart
do your best and stay on the right track
when you make  mistakes, God allows  erases
forgiven ---  you become one of  God's aces
follow the right dots and one day you'll see Christ
on this journey of dot to dot
help others    .....   it will mean a lot
written on 1-22-07

Ecclesiastes 3:11-14

He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God.  I know that everything God does will endure forever, nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.  God does it so that men will revere Him.

None of us are perfect, but when we intend to live as Christ would have us live, our intentions make us more aware of the outcome of our decisions.  I intend to live each day as if it were my last day on earth and to think about my decisions before making them so as to have no regrets on my last day.  We sometimes eat things we know aren't healthy for us and as well, we may drink beverages we've been told aren't good for us.  Sometimes, we don't find satisfaction in our toil.  It is in striving to eat healthier and to drink healthier beverages and to take satisfaction in our toil, regardless of the task, that we receive the gift of God.  God knows the desires of our hearts.  Keeping our desires in alignment with God's will keeps us on the right track.  If your decisions are contrary to your desires, rethink them and take corrective action. Motivate and activate!  Get motivated and get activated.

I've noticed that in some of my writings I am quite direct, i.e., "get motivated", etc.  I just put my finger on the "why" of it.  I remember how God, Jesus and the apostles spoke in the Bible.  They were convinced of what they were talking about and they knew that if the people would do as they said, it would go well for the people.  Many times in the Bible, they spoke very directly so as no one could misunderstand the point.  They had the wisdom and insight we sometimes lack; mind you, not that I boast of wisdom and insight, I'm speaking of what I understand of God, Jesus and the apostles and their way of speaking to the people, then and now; one on one and also to the masses.  I am convinced of what I understand to be truth.  I don't doubt my Lord and what He is capable of and I don't doubt what you are capable of when you are motivated and activated.  That is why I speak so passionately on your behalf.  I care about you.  I want it to go well for you.  So, enough said.  Get motivated and get activated!!

I have to get up from here and finish getting ready for work!  I'm motivated!  I'm activated!

Get busy connecting the dots, then you'll see the beautiful big picture!  Have a wonderful day!  Love you! Nan

Joy, Joy, Joy

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  Psalm 51:12

My joy isn't in the past.  My joy isn't in the future.  My joy is in the here and now.  No one can take my joy from me without my permission.  Now, I ask you, why would any of us allow someone else the power to take away our joy?!!   God restores us and teaches us to abide in Him.  This is at the core of joy.  God never lets us out of His sight and He always has great things to teach us when we will be still and quiet long enough to hear Him.
Those times you come to visit and haven't read a recent post, remember I'm not gone far and I will be back!  There are days at a time I don't sit down to the computer, and even those days you are in my thoughts and prayers.  I hope you are at peace and that you have joy overflowing.  If you aren't feeling joyful right now, ask God to "restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."  And He will!!  Trust Him!  Remember the song, "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart to stay." "I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus down in my heart, down in my heart to stay."
Have a wonderful day! Love, Nan

Rest in Thee, O Lord

Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee, O Lord.
Augustine

With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

Though my mind has not been at rest of late, hence, the absence of Nan's Calendar for the past several days, I continue to rest in the Lord.  Does that sound like a contradiction of terms?  I feel every word in that first sentence is absolute truth in my mind.  I know that the thoughts and concerns I've experienced lately are temporary and I won't always feel as I do right now.  Sometimes the mind and the spirit do not move in perfect unison.  Why am I sharing this with you, you may wonder.  I share this with you because I'm real and I'm not perfect.  I don't always have perfect thoughts.  Things don't always go as I would rather they go.  It's not about me sharing vivid details with you here, but rather keeping in touch even though I don't currently feel hugely inspired to write.
I've heard it said, "you can't give what you don't have."  I still have love in my heart and I want to share that love even in the midst of thoughts that are cloudy.  My purpose in writing Nan's Calendar has always been to uplift, inspire and encourage.  I'm stepping beyond myself as I sit here and draw my thoughts to you and away from self.
I wonder how you felt when you've visited this site and didn't find a new message awaiting you.  I hope you've prayed for me.  I think you must have, because I sense an energy that has pulled me here to the computer.  This has not been an easy message to write, but I didn't want anyone to think I have abandoned my station.  I remain steadfast in faith and continue to thirst for communion with the Lord.  I will drink deeply of the Living Water He has provided to quench my thirst.
I continue to pray for you and all that concerns you and your loved ones.
Take care and enjoy this beautiful day.  Love, Nan

Spiritual milk and a rose!!!

What do spiritual milk and a rose have in common?????  Read on and you will know!

1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly - mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.  Indeed, you are still not ready...... (written by the apostle Paul)

Hebrews 5:11-14
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.  In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.  You need milk, not solid food!   Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil..... (this author did not identify himself in this book, but some believe it was Paul, while others believe it may have been Luke, Apollos or Barnabas)

1 Peter 2:1-3
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (written by the apostle Peter)

It's easy to discern what these scriptures all have in common, right!  It's spiritual milk!  We need frequent feedings of God's truths to sustain us each day.  Every single one of us is in need of either spiritual milk or in need of God's bread of life, depending on our stage of development.  I know a very special lady I will call my Michelle who has continually been fed spiritual milk and now she is partaking of the most wonderful, healthiest food ever prepared!  She is being nourished by the bread of life!  I am so happy for her and her progress.  My Michelle and I have never met in person (yet), but I am bursting at the seams for joy for her and how far she has come since "meeting" a number of years ago.  Because she is hungry for frequent feedings of God's truths, she is growing in leaps and bounds!  She is very intelligent, caring, loving, funny, and she is beautiful.  She is like a magnificent rose that I have "watched" grow from a bare root rose whose root system has stretched and reached for the Living Water for nourishment and has been given all the nutrients to not only survive, but to thrive in any condition.  Her beautiful green leaves grew and one day I saw a tiny rosebud and now her true colors are showing.  She is blossoming before my eyes and what a sight to behold!  Her fragrance is sweet to the senses by the way she lives her life.  Right, I'm not with her every day to witness the way she lives her life, but I know her by her words.  I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit glowing inside of her as she shares her thoughts with me.  She didn't get to where she is overnight nor did I nor will you.  We are all a work in progress.  God isn't finished with us yet.  We still have more growing to do and there are more roses to come!

Where are you in your spiritual development?  Are you still in need of spiritual milk or have you moved on to solid food?  Either way, make sure you have frequent feedings.  Take care and remember I love you!  Nan

Bring on the music

Perhaps if words are mind to mind, music is soul to soul.
Sheila Walsh

I love the music I hear in church.  It isn't only the lyrics I love.  It is truly the music itself.  I have attended a lot of churches over the years and I know when my spirit leaps in my chest from experiencing soul stirring music.  One thing I treasure about the location of my Sunday School class is its proximity to the choir room.  It's a big church and I've never been in the choir room, but as we have our class, we can hear the choir rehearsing and sometimes, as we are involved in a very profound part of the lesson, we hear what sounds like a choir of angels singing above our heads and the music is breathtaking.  So, before we even enter the sanctuary to prepare for the sermon, we have had the pleasure of a "preview" of the wonderful music we will hear for a second time in the sanctuary.
Music prepares our soul for God to speak to us and music releases whatever is inside of us, whether we are full of grief or joy.  I thank God for the gift of music.  If you haven't listened to some beautiful music lately, do yourself a favor and allow yourself the quiet time to experience God through soothing, relaxing, music.  As well, music can be invigorating and very stimulating, prompting us to become motivated and activated.    There are so many amazing types of music that I can't recommend one over the other.  Some prefer classical while others prefer jazz.  As nimble fingers float across the keys of a piano, peace and joy float through the spirit, lifting it.  When the spirit is lifted higher than the ego, amazing things happen!

Let us come before Him (God) with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.  Psalm 95:2

Make beautiful music a part of your day today!  Love, Nan