dear Jesus,
i don’t know how to start the new year.
so many directions. so many voices.
which is my own. and which are the others? and which one is yours?
what if i choose wrong?
why can’t i hear clearly? i don’t want to be on autopilot mode.
i want to feel alive. i want to be present. and I want to hear from you.
i just want to be with you.
because when i’m with you — really close to you — i can hear my heart speak.
then, i can feel you near me. and i can hear your whispers to me too. gently rising in my heart.
“great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” lam.3:23
{my first dawn of a new day of the new year}
Breath of heaven.
Hold me together.
Be forever near me.
Breath of heaven.
I have travelled many moonless night
Cold and weary, with a {dream} inside
And I wonder what I’ve done
Holy Father, you have come
And chosen me now
To carry your {Light}
“i have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.” ps131:2
{journeying into the new year. early morning quiet among redwoods}
I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now
Be with me now
Breath of heaven
Light up my darkness
Pour over me your holiness
For you are holy.
“the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end…” lam3:23
{breathe. his love for you. is forever}
Breath of heaven
Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me
God’s answer as I began the year with eric and the boys in spiritual whitespace outside in nature came to me in small quiet moments. A handful of Scriptures shared above.
They all seem to whisper one thing.
God is whispering —
“No matter how many promises God has made, they are”yes i Christ.” 2 Cor 1:20
And these are the words He whispers to you and me today, this first Sunday of the new year.
Are you standing at a crossroad on your journey – as you step into the new year?
Rather than looking for a detailed plan — or a specific next step — stop.
Open your heart to who He wants you to become.
Take the direction that will put your hand into God’s – just the two of you.
He knows your story.
Your life is His story. A journey between you and Him. Not a project. Or even a plan.
Life is journey of becoming known with the One who calls you His.
What are the few quiet moments God whispered a word to you this week?
Give yourself permission to take those words and allow them to stay with you.
Write down your prayer — not of what you’ll do — but who God’s inviting you to become — when you rest in the safety and warmth of God’s whispers of love for you.
What do you long for this year — what are you afraid — desire for — standing at the cusp of a new year?
You can tell him.
You can confide.
Be with Him now. Pour out your heart and let yourself receive the peace that has always mean to be yours.
Offer all of you to God.
As is.
Come. Draw near.
Listen as Jesus whispers His words to you. Right now. Tenderly.
Look into his gaze because He wants you to see — how much He wants to just be with you.
Confide in Him. Surrender what you’ve longed to say.
Your Words
Confide in Jesus, as friend to friend.
Make space for the words your long to express. As prayer.
Pull up a chair. Click to comment. You are among kindreds. In this quiet space.
{Soul rest is soul beautiful. You are are #soulbeautiful.}
Our Book Club Begins January 22, 2015!
* Get Finding Spiritual Whitespace for Only $1.99 Today *
wow… I just saw you can get the Kindle version of Finding Spiritual Whitespace on Amazon for $1.99 today! Just in time for our #SoulRestBookClub starting January 22!!
All you have to do is like my Facebook page. The book club will take place there. Know someone who would enjoy this soulful journey? Share and invite them. If you host a book club gathering in your home, I’ll add you to a special private Facebook Page for leaders. Click here for the info.
{lyrics quoted} Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant, sung by Sara Groves.
click here to listen to this beautiful, soulful song.
9 Comments
Thank you Bonnie. I plan to take January as a month to be refreshed and renewed. I need to slow down and just “be” just as is, and be okay that really I m not okay. I need to be okay in the silent stillness and hear from my Father and what he has for me. Ahhhhhh!!!!
I thought these same words as the new year began…so many opportunities…which ones will I choose. As I knelt in church tonight, I felt His light all around me and my prayer was that of thanksgiving for His nearness. I asked Him to help me carry His light out into the darkness of the world and into my own darkness that arises from time to time. I asked to be His hands, his feet in a world that seems to have so many needs. I asked for Him to help me choose the path that He needed me to take. Thanks for giving us the space to write it out and offer these words to Him who holds us all together. God bless. Happy New Year!
Dear Bonnie,
Thank you so much for your beautiful devotional you just shared with us. I just love how you write, I can really feel the depth of where you are coming from. I particulary loved the picture of the redwoods, as many years ago my 1st wife and I lived in Trinidad, Ca, 25 miles above Eureka to go to school at Humboldt State for 2 years. I have been back there so many times, camping, exploring, walking on the beaches. There is something about being amongst those trees, I feel small but also keenly aware of God our Father who created such awesome, breathtaking beauty. It so vividly demonstrates that He is the creator of all Heaven & Earth and I am standing amidst the splendor of His creation, you know there is a loving, compassionate, caring God who loves us so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross for us, so amazing. Thanks again so much.
Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family. I feel the good Lord has so much in store for us, look forward to your next posting. Psalm 16:2
Happy New Year to you and the family, Bonnie. Thank you for the good and encouraging advice. It really helped confirm some things and calm my soul as we walk into 2015.
Thank you for that Bonnie, for your gentle spirit and reflection .
as we have our home up for sell to move closer to our children & grandchildren i need that peace within knowing we are going down the right path!!
Again you write the deep longings of my heart, Bonnie. Thank you for letting me join this journey of kindred spirits in this past year. I’m so grateful God led me to your site. May God richly bless you in 2015! May we “come, listen, look, and confide in Him!”
Ah Bonnie…how reassuring that I’m not the only one greeting the new year with a flutter of uncertainty? Yesterday my pastor shared a word…”abide” ( and I thought of #spiritualwhitespace ) and the scripture John 15:5 (a gentle reminder, we are the branches and cannot produce fruit without Jesus, our vine). Blessing to you as you bravely & passionately lead others to finding spiritual whitespace through your upcoming online bookclub.
My to be list for this year is…peaceful n calm not irritated or agitated..
Gentle, not harsh.
Firm, not reactive.
An artist.
Nature walker.
Thank you Bonnie!
Come. Look. Listen. Confide. Love those verbs, Bonnie, that encapsulate prayer. They’re not guilt-inducing words, but invitational words, encouraging us toward intimacy with our Heavenly Father. And these words: “Write down your prayer — not of what you’ll do — but who God’s inviting you to become — when you rest in the safety and warmth of God’s whispers of love for you.” What a wonderful journaling prompt as 2015 gets underway. Thank you, Bonnie!