Holy Moments and Quiet Hearts June 2023 |
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SCRIPTURE FOCUS: (Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV). |
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The Lord your God in your midst The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing |
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Feisty. That’s how I felt. Maybe with a drop of rude mixed in to give my last biting comments a touch more color. I don’t do that often. I’m kind. So, when I do, I seem to justify it at the moment, convincing myself I should take the opportunity to speak my mind. Been there? I was trying to get out the door, already behind, for a trip I spontaneously planned the day before to go see my sister who, a year ago, was placed into an assisted living facility in New Hampshire, far away from her family. The day before I planned to go, I asked my girls if any of them could join me, but they all had prior commitments. Bobby voiced he would love to come, so in my mind, that was the plan. |
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Saturday morning, I crawled out of bed later than anticipated due to hardly any sleep, only to see Bob pulling out of our driveway. It was already 7:15. I planned on leaving between 7:30-8:00 as it’s a 3-hour drive. I tried calling him. I tried again and once again. Why have a cell phone if you don’t answer it and never read your texts, Bob. My tension was building. I knew my sister would be waiting and not understand if I wasn’t there when I said I’d be. She had already canceled her lunch with her kitchen staff. |
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I called. I called again and once again. I texted. I texted again. By this time, if he happened to read his texts or listen to his voicemail, he’d have a clue I wasn’t a happy camper! I decided to get myself ready and if Bobby didn’t answer me or arrive home, I’d take our work van to New Hampshire, which would be frowned upon. See how I was already feeling spicey? The car pulled in. “Did you forget we planned to go to my sister’s early this morning?” I remained calm but slightly icy. He asked me to give him a minute. |
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He pulled some things out of the car, and when he shut the door to the car I went outside. I asked him if he was coming, and he said he had been confused and didn’t know it was a definite we’d be going––that he wouldn’t be able to join me so quickly. |
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I climbed into the driver’s seat and asked him to pray for me. He asked me to be the one to pray. I put it in drive and pulled out. No prayer. Leaving tense. Not wise. I know better. But God … but His holy moments. Moments we don’t deserve. If it was up to me and this battle was mine alone, I’d be struggling to kick the little foxes that spoil the vine out of our garden, referring to Song of Solomon 2. |
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You must catch the troubling foxes, those sly little foxes that hinder our relationship. For they raid our budding vineyard of love to ruin what I’ve planted within you. Will you catch them and remove them for me? We will do it together (Song of Solomon 2:15 TPT). |
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Up to us, we may pet the foxes for a while first. But Jesus? Nope. He’s always ready to do business with us. To bring us to a place where we can climb into His arms and ramble, or weep, or complain (only to Him) till our hearts feel His mercy and grace and the goodness of His love pour over us. And we quickly ask His forgiveness for our tension or hurt or anger … whatever emotion we allowed to cloud our vision of His love and goodness to us. And that’s what happened to me on my trip to New Hampshire. While I was driving, I climbed on Jesus’ lap and lamented about how I gave in to tension and now felt so creepy. I asked for His forgiveness and felt sad that I was edgy. |
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I called Bob and left a message then I texted him and asked for his forgiveness. My heaviness was lifted, and all was well in my heart. As if that wasn’t enough, now for the even more amazing stuff. The very Holy Moment. My Holy Interruption. |
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Aware the Lord was doing something, I spoke out loud. “Lord, I feel like you want to speak to me. I sense you want to tell me something.” That sense went on for a while. I thought the Lord was going to speak to me about the content for this newsletter which I had been asking Him about for a few days. |
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Suddenly, it was as if someone was sitting right in the car with me. I hadn’t felt the tangible presence of God for so long. Tears spilled over, and I began to thank Jesus for His presence. But then, the truth of the matter is, instead of just praising Him and being quiet in His presence, totally still, soaking in His love, I began to ramble again about my edginess this morning and how sorry I was. I just needed to be quiet. How often, I should just keep a quiet heart. Say less. |
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His tangible presence was brief. I don’t think He left because He was upset with me. He knew what to expect and what my reaction would be to experiencing His presence before He even filled the car. Immediately, I began begging Him to let me feel His presence again right then. I pleaded with Him to stay. Finally, I thanked Him again for visiting me, even though I felt like I squelched His presence with words I had already said. I told Him I was sorry for talking too much when I should have just been resting in His love. I ended up having a wonderful day and some precious time with my dear sister. I went home full. |
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Every Monday morning, I have a Business Meeting with God. A meeting where we go through all I have on my plate work and ministry-wise, and I seek the Lord for the week’s plans and His direction. It’s a precious time. One I cherish. In my meeting this week, again I began lamenting for the way I spoke too soon in the car, instead of just resting in the presence of the Lord in quietness. As I reflected on it, I guess I felt a bit like Peter who always seemed to have things to say––comments that were not always necessary. I was reminded of the time Peter, James, and John were at the Transfiguration with Jesus, when Moses and Elijah arrived and the three of them were talking. And what does Peter say? He blurts out something about it being good they were all there and did Jesus want him to build a shelter for each of them. Really, Peter? |
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Then God the Father speaks, a thunderous voice from Heaven,” This is My Beloved Son in whom I have great delight. Listen to Him.” That experience with Jesus was a Holy Moment––a definite Holy Interruption for those three disciples. No words had to be spoken. God said it. Just hear My Son. Sometimes all He wants us to do is be quiet. Listen. Soak in His presence and His love for us. That’s what I came away with from my experience in the car. What He showed me later is He just wanted me to know He was there. Right there with me. Even after the rough start to my day. And that He loves me. And He enjoys me. I love this. So, during my Business Meeting with Him on Monday, I asked Him to speak to me about the content of June’s newsletter. Lord, I need to hear Your heart. I’m waiting to hear You. This is what I felt like the Lord gave me: |
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You’re starting a deeper journey into living with a quiet heart. |
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He’s called me to begin a deeper journey with Him. A journey to keeping a quiet heart––what that really looks like, how to tend it and nurture it, guard over it, and how to live with a quiet heart continually regardless of what’s happening around me. I’m excited. I know when the Lord has work He wants to do in us, as we yield our hearts to Him, He will do the work He has planned. |
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I’d love to hear your stories and what the Lord is saying to you about keeping a quiet heart. It’s so multi-faceted. I’m anticipating going deeper. If ever there was a time we needed to walk in the peace and joy and confidence of a quiet heart, it’s now. It’s today. Will you take this journey with me? If so, send me an email and let me know if you’d like to join me. I’d love to share this journey together with you. … To be continued … |
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The time for summer reading is upon us. Holy Interruptions is a fast and easy read. It is so personal–––stories about beautiful women and how the Lord worked in their hearts. And slices of my own life that were painful, precious and necessary to write. I opened my heart and life and wrote it like I was talking to my best friend. Consider grabbing a copy for yourself and your best friend. You won’t be sorry. I promise! |
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With unflinching transparency, Debbie Dufek shows us what it looks like when we embrace God’s “holy interruptions” in our lives and allow him to birth his dream in us. Weaving her own backstory of shame and abandonment alongside lessons gleaned from the stories of women inscribed in Scripture, she offers insight, encouragement, and practical suggestions for living a life that will impact generations to come. Her writing is so real and conversational you’ll think you’re having coffee together instead of reading a book. ~Marcia Moston author of Call of a Coward: The God of Moses and the Middle |
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On this journey together, Deb |
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