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{Soul Rest Sunday} In the Secret Place. Hold On To Me.

By Bonnie Gray • March 2, 2014 • 22 Comments

Sometimes, the world can make you feel small.

It can be a crowded place, so many voices.

Loud. Insistent that you have something to show.

For who you are.

And what you have to offer.

What you hold in your heart — faith, hope, and love — can feel inadequate.

As you see what others are offering, you may be tempted to put your hopes and dreams back in your pocket.  And close the door of your heart to the possibility of who you really are — when you are wrapped in the safety of faith, hope and love.

Don’t listen to those voices.

Step closer to One Voice who knows you.

The Secret Place

Listen to the One has seen you the very moment you were born.

When you broke into this world, helpless, eyes shut, fingers balled up in trembling fists, lungs blaring with hungry cries, He saw you.

And loved you.  Completely.

You were exactly the way He dreamed of you in His heart when He made you lovingly in the secret place.

And you are still that same Beloved — when He looks through what everyone sees — and sees straight into the secret places in you.

When He looks past all that has made your faith weak and weary.

It’s how Jesus might have felt looking into faces of people He had met for the first time, after finding His disciples.  He was taking a walk on a trail that led to the mountains, where He loved to often spend alone himself.

It was there He told them what He had been waiting all His life to say to them face to face.

A Soul Conversation

Step into this moment now to be with Jesus.

Imagine sitting close to Him, as the sun warms your skin and clouds are moving in clear blue sky around you.

Feel the breeze quietly brush past your ear as it often does on the mountain in open spaces.

Come. Draw near.

Listen as Jesus whispers these same words to you.  Right now. Tenderly.

Look into his eyes because He wants you to see — how much He wants you to believe what He’s about to say.

Confide in this moment He’s longing to bring you into. Tell Him what you’ve longed to say.

Hear His voice speaking to you — with kindness — in the soulful whitespace in Matthew 5:13-16 alongside Luke 8:16-17:

“You are the salt of the earth;
but if the salt has become tasteless,
how can it be made salty again?

It is no longer good for anything,
except to be thrown out
and trampled under foot by men.

“You are the light of the world.
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

“Now no one after lighting a lamp
covers it over with a container,
or puts it under a bed ;

but he puts it on a lampstand,
and it gives light to all
who are in the house.

“For nothing is hidden that will not become evident,
nor anything secret that will not be known
and come to light.

It is hard to face the fact that faith can also fade, if it is not nourished.

God’s light with can grow dim, if we don’t care for it.

In that secret place, even when the flame within us feels like a flicker, Jesus is there.

Take a moment to think back to all you’ve journeyed through the past few weeks.

Notice — what are things that are helping you to hold onto faith, hope and love?

{close your eyes}

{see it all}

{hear it all again}

{confide}

{still}

{rest}

{lay them down}

Pause as you look back….

….Now, look back again.

Notice — is there anything moving you away from faith, hope and love? What are they?

What You Would Say

What would you say if Jesus were right here — with you?

Close your eyes.  Breathe.  Let Him be present with you.

Stop and give Him the space right now to respond to you.

What I Would Say

I want to be salt.  I want to be light.

Give me courage to keep moving towards you out in the world — and anything that helps me to do that.

I don’t want to hide anymore.

Give me even greater courage to stand up and out — and move away from anything that keeps me hidden.

Restore all parts of me to be all yours.

What He Would Say

I’ve made you from the very beginning — in the secret place.

Your personality full of all the subtle and bold flavors. Unique.

I’ve put a light in you, meant to be seen.

Don’t hide.

Hold on to me.

I’m holding onto you.

Step out.  Just like the wild flowers, dotting the mountainside, take your place out in this world.

Lighting up the world quietly with beauty — with beauty that I see.

So that others will know you belong to me.

~~~~~

As your heart feels prompted, share this quiet space with us.

Pull up a chair. Click to comment.

You are among friends. In this quiet space.

~~~~~

Slow Down. Journal on Soul Rest Sunday.

Do you enjoy savoring quiet time with God and journaling your reflections on a Scripture verse, song, or prayer?

 

Share it with us.  Link-up Sunday or Monday. Click on the blue button “Add Your Link” and submit the url of your post (not just the name of your blog).

This isn’t just another blog post.  Let’s experience something real and sacred together.

Come. See. Listen. Confide.

Be a part of {Soul Rest} community.
Slow and savor time with God.
Refresh your soul for the new week.


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22 Comments

  • Reply Trudy March 2, 2014 at 6:50 am

    So peaceful, Bonnie. Thank you. My heart is turbulent when I listen to the cacophony of negative voices inside me, but it is peaceful when I let Him be present with me, listening to His voice alone. I need to let faith, hope, and love influence me more. I don’t want to be in hiding anymore. I want to live fully and freely in Christ as the person He has created me to be. Have a beautiful soul rest day, Bonnie!

    • Reply Bonnie Gray March 2, 2014 at 8:07 am

      enjoy this quiet day, trudy. you are soul beautiful.

  • Reply Patty O March 2, 2014 at 7:13 am

    I’ve had a rough – health-challenging – three weeks which have been filled with fear and “Why me’s?”. Thank you for this beautiful, peaceful reminder of God’s love, of the power in sitting with Jesus, and the purpose we are given of keeping our ‘light shine’.

    I’m sharing your blog (trackback) on mine this morning. I hope and pray it will touch others the way it has touched me.

    Thank you for speaking His truth.

    Bless you.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray March 2, 2014 at 8:09 am

      that’s very kind of you. thanks for sharing, patty. take care as you rest from all that’s happening, on your journey to recover. peace tucked in unexpected places for you…

  • Reply Brenda March 2, 2014 at 7:29 am

    Dear Bonnie,
    Thank you for encouraging us to listen to our Lord, and reminding us how much He loves us and desires to be alone with His children. Beautifully written.
    Grace and Peace to you,
    Brenda

    • Reply Bonnie Gray March 2, 2014 at 7:56 am

      grace and peace to you, Brenda. enjoy your sunday, friend.

  • Reply Faith Barista: {Soul Rest Sunday} In the Secret Place. Hold On To Me. | A Thankfully Imperfect Woman March 2, 2014 at 7:35 am

    […] {Soul Rest Sunday} In the Secret Place. Hold On To Me. […]

  • Reply mary maccauley March 2, 2014 at 7:54 am

    Thank you again Bonnie, this is my worship today. When I stop and look back all I can do is say thank you to God for all he has brought me through. I thank Him for loving me at my most unlovable, for grace and forgiveness, and for the promise to never leave me. I ask for courage to write what is in my heart this Lenten season and share it with others. I want His light to shine through me, so the world will see Him and be drawn to Him.
    Your words touched my heart. Thank you for sharing. You are a light for Him.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray March 2, 2014 at 7:57 am

      yes, let’s walk into this week of Ash Wednesday together. opening our hearts.

  • Reply danyalle March 2, 2014 at 7:57 am

    Thank you for this today.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray March 2, 2014 at 8:11 am

      thanks for being here, danyelle.

  • Reply Prayer Notes by Cynthia March 2, 2014 at 9:38 am

    This post radiates love and peace. Thank you, for your beautiful words, which open hearts, Bonnie. Your words are a gift that I treasure. Blessings and joy!

    • Reply Bonnie Gray March 2, 2014 at 2:59 pm

      thnx for being here. sharing this space, Cynthia. have a restful sunday…

  • Reply radical rose March 2, 2014 at 10:28 am

    Bonnie, You are that small pencil in HIS hands, “Give me courage to keep moving toward You (Jesus) out in the world.” Beautifully soulful.
    Yes I want to be able to move towards the beloved as I am completely envelope by his light. Like the wild flowers take your place. How wonderful and simple, Blessings to you my friend these words move me towards HE who knew me in that seceret place.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray March 2, 2014 at 2:59 pm

      Like the wild flowers take your place… yes. beautiful reflection, radical rose.

  • Reply Cherry March 2, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    Bonnie, thanks for these thoughts on a quiet Sunday afternoon … these words especially caught my attention: “Step closer to One Voice who knows you.” This is so true – the One Voice that truly knows us, the One who made us, and loves us more than any other … this is the voice that I want to listen to above all other voices (in this noisy world). This goes along with what we were reminded of in our church service this morning … to replace all the other voices in our lives, with the one Voice that is always true. Wishing you a restful, refreshing day …

    • Reply Bonnie Gray March 2, 2014 at 3:01 pm

      restful and refreshing… you here, cherry… i can tell you listen to that One voice… i hear it in your peaceful, salt/light quality when i read your writing…

  • Reply Debbie March 2, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    I feel peaceful simply reading your words today Bonnie. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to link up. It was so good for me. Going back to church after being gone for a few weeks was so good for my soul. There’s something so beautiful about corporate worship for me. I love my daily quiet time with the Lord and don’t want to miss that either.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

  • Reply Morag March 2, 2014 at 4:48 pm

    I sensed His presence and He made me smile and said “we can do it together”. The idea of doing something together with someone is not how I normally live my life, i’m very good at stubbornly doing things on my own!

  • Reply Valerie Sisco March 3, 2014 at 6:42 am

    Bonnie,
    Love this: “In that secret place, even when the flame within us feels like a flicker, Jesus is there.” Once again your beautiful words speak just what I needed today. I love the imagery that when it’s hard to hold onto our faith about a particular situation, we can hold onto God.

  • Reply tinuviel March 3, 2014 at 10:07 am

    “Step out. Just like the wild flowers, dotting the mountainside, take your place out in this world.

    Lighting up the world quietly with beauty — with beauty that I see.

    So that others will know you belong to me.”

    Yes! Let it be so, Lord, for Bonnie and for me.

  • Reply Adaykis Betancourt March 31, 2014 at 2:48 am

    I have been hiding..hiding behind guilt and shame and fear and the reality and knowledge that I have failed him..yet again..worst than ever..I tell Him Lord, how do I find my way back home to you..how do I do this when I am in sin and that sin is ever before me. I know You love me. I know you are still here..I know you see beyond all that & you know and understand the pain, the tears, the broken places, the reasons why…still..I love you Lord..and when I finally get in your presence all I do is cry as you hold me and as I ask..WIll I be ok Lord? You whisper..Yes child. You are ok and will be more than ok because You are mine. U belong to me. I see you and I know you and I love you completely. Oh how can I let you go my darling? I can’t. I died for you. I took all your sins and the weight of your guilt and shame all upon myself..how can I let go of you ever?
    I am sitting with Jesus as a little girl curled up in his arms as he holds me and caresses my hair and dries away my tears with His loving touch and rhose dove eyes. In this moment..I Rest. I know. I feel. How wonderfully and incredibly I am loved.

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