Stayed Upon Jehovah

In 1876 Frances Havergal was vacationing in the south of Wales when she became very ill. She was told that death was at her doorstep. Her reply: "If I am really going, it is too good to be true."

Frances reviewed her time of illness with written response, recognized today as this hymn of hope.

Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace, Over all victorious, in its bright increase; Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day, Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain: Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest. Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand, Never foe can follow, never traitor stand; Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care, Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

(Refrain)

Every joy or trial falleth from above, Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love; We may trust Him fully all for us to do. They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Yesterday, a boy I knew in high school (I suppose he is a man now) posted a note on my facebook wall: "Hey you, are you enjoying winter?"

You know, winter? Not really. It's cold. The roads are slick. I'm more worried than usual, because I'm afraid my new driver, Fash, might slip on those roads and get hurt. I don't really ski or snowshoe or ice skate. Though I did go skiing with I.T.'s family earlier this season and I did spend about five minutes on ice skates at the ski resort. The views were beautiful! I remained vertical on the skates, but did not do any impressive twirls or anything- just skated to one end of the short pond and then back. I'm not sure what I did actually even qualifies as skating. About the skiing: the chair from the lift booted me in the hind end on my way off, my skis were crossed and my tips weren't up. I fell, bruising my pride and causing a potential pile-up. I did make a few runs down some "green" hills (green, as in "easy" the hills were actually white with snow, tons of snow). All in all, the huge flakes falling on big snow covered peaks and the crunch of thick snow under my boots, as I climbed from the parking space to the condo- the gathering of family around food and conversation- these were the real highlights.

And then, on the more somber side of life this winter, there has been the empty space that death leaves when it comes too soon, as I spoke of in yesterday's post.

But here's the thing. While I may not be exactly in love with winter. I do love Life. I love Life- that indescribable gift from God. Not the physical life I trudge through in winter, but the life He gave me at the cross. I have deep joy that springs from this Life. I hunger and thirst after this Life. And my appetite for Him is quenched by the reading of his precious word, by communing with him in prayer and by reading the works of those who draw breath from this same Life of which I speak.

For example, right now I am reading Dug Down Deep, Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters by Joshua Harris. This young author has gripped the gift given by this Life and is eager to share the joy he has found in it. I read a little, pray a little and then I'm off the couch to do some dishes, read some psychology with Fash, cook. Worry sneaks into some of my moments. The pressure of time makes me hurry. But all the while, I am stayed. Stayed upon Jehovah. And as I'm stayed upon Jehovah, I am aware. Aware that my heart is fully blessed. It has taken me a long time, but I am truly finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Yeah, I have a lot to do and I procrastinate most of it. But one thing I hope I will not neglect is trusting my God fully. For I am persuaded that when I trust Him wholly, I will find Him wholly true.

Am I enjoying winter? Not nearly as much as I am enjoying Life!