Decluttering Christmas ~ Day 2

Have you ever noticed how when there's a lull in the conversation some people tend to get uncomfortable and fidgety? They start babbling trying to take up the silence. Sad to say, I'm guilty of that, but I'm learning. I have a husband who enjoys silence and a very dear girlfriend.

Over the years, the sounds of silence have begun to resonate well with me.

Part of the beauty of Christmas is the sounds of children laughing, choirs singing, instrumental music playing our favorite songs of the season. I love the song, "Silent Night."   

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born.

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Part of Decluttering Christmas is taking some time to sit in silence before the Lord. I realize that most of us work, have children, etc. Total silence all the time isn't possible unless you live in a monastery. But we can all etch out 5 minutes each day to be silent before Him and focus totally on Him. 

A Declutter Challange for today: Make sure all distractions are turned off. No sounds that you can control, TV, radio, MP3, computer, etc. Just you and the Lord. You will be listening for the voice of the Lord in the stillness and silence.

I've paraphrased some scripture  for you. ( Psalm 46:10; Zechariah 2:13; Zephaniah 1:7 & 3:17; Psalm 131:1,2 & 113:7)  You can read it silently before you enter into your time of silence, or you can read and meditate on the words to "Silent Night."  

The Gift of Silence

"But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth hush and keep silence before Him. (Habakkuk 2:20)

Are you afraid of stillness?

Does quietness alarm you - remind you of your aloneness?

Perhaps that is why your life tends to be so noisy,

and you think yourself brash, boorish,

like a thrashing mule at times, or a prating ox.

I want you to be silent before Me.

I want you to listen diligently to the quiet.

Be still.

Hush.

Know that I am God.

Can you pierce the heavens with your noise?

Can you trample your way into My eyes with your pleas and promises?

I have seen you.

I have known you without a sound.

My silence is perfect communication issuing from My holiness.

It is My sigh of love,

My bond with you through My written Word and My Spirit.

You were formed as the final work of My creation,

an act I performed in silence

with a breath.

You are My sigh,

My heart,

My breath.

Will you not hush, still your pride, and stop your racing thoughts?

Will you cease from involving yourself

in matters that do not pertain to you

and problems too great for you?

Hush! Compose and quiet your mind.

Let your soul rest as a weaned baby rests

against the quiet circumference of a mother's body.

I am your God, and I am with you.

I will save you, don't fret.

I rejoice over you with great gladness,

Let my love silence you

and listen as I sing over you a song of My love.

Listen to the stillness,

where no calamity can reach,

where human plans cannot rule,

where the needy personality is lifted from the ash heap

as if on wings of a dove to a holy place

away from the stormy winds of daily cares

and the continual flux of human motion.

Enter into yourself and listen to the stillness of

My life deep, deep, deep....in you.

Do you want to join me in Decluttering Christmas? Here's how,  replace everything else that gets in the way with these 5 things:

1. Simple joy.
2. Authentic peace.
3. Unending hope.
4. Unfathomable love.
5. Wonderful grace.

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Decluttering Christmas ~ Day 2