silence speaks

Sometimes, silence shouts at us. Like when your sullen child does not talk to you in order to make a rebellious point, or when silence shouts of fear as an audience collectively gasps at the work of a daredevil on a trapeze. Other times, silence whispers to us. Like when you gaze silently in awe of a marvelous wonder of creation, or contemplate some new profound insight into the intricacies of life itself. In either case, silence always says something to us.

For two weeks now we have been allowing silence to speak to us in a contemplative prayer and communion service. We have allowed psalm 46:10 (Be still and know that I am God) to lead us into silence and to guide us out of silence. This past week one of the participants in the service awoke from the silence of sleep to pen these words:

Linger a while with Me and let the still small voice speak wonders in your ear.

Come, sit at My feet and let us commune together. As you give time to Me, I will increase your time to accomplish those necessary chores.

Just come, and linger a while with Me. Come and linger.

Silence speaks, calling us to come and linger at the feet of Jesus- listening to the wonders of God being whispered in our ears.

prison, bibles, and the work of God

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

Jesus as quoted by Matthew

12 days ago….

17 River of Joy families partnered together to make a dent in the 100 woman waiting list at the Shakopee women’s prison for NIV Recovery Bibles.

19 children crafted book marks to place inside the Bibles that we hoped to purchase.

We prayed over the bookmarks and asked that God would shower his grace and embrace the women who would use them.

We passed around a paper lunch sack and collected over $1100 dollars that we thought would buy us 44 Bibles at $25 per paperback Bible.

Since then….

We have found the Bible in hardcover (which is out of print) for $13 per Bible.

We received two additional checks for God’s cause in providing his promise to these women.

We ordered 85 of the Bibles which will be delivered next week.

We received a heartfelt thank you from the prison chaplain.

We arranged for a partnership with a congregation to have this ministry as their focus on their mission Sunday.

We have thanked God for the opportunity to be an earthen vessel that pours out God’s blessing and allows the kingdom to be seen (ever so dimly) through 'small things that have been done with great love.'