The painting above is by Shelly Bandel Rawlings

My Dear Friends:

“The heavens are telling of the glory of God, and the firmament is declaring the work of His hands.”  Psalm 19:1

I send blessings to you this day in the Name Above all Names. I have penned a few thoughts on The Face of God. Hope you not only enjoy but recall your own journey of discovery. The first time I ever saw Him, I experienced His loving Presence. I felt warmed and swaddled (wrapped) in a blanket of liquid love. My chilled life, at 2.5 years was warmed from the inside out. I have never been tempted to look elsewhere for the love that will not let me go, for I have seen and continue to experience the Face of God.

Last night I waved Jay and Josh off as they flew to Jerusalem. Our eldest son David, has been fighting a very nasty virus. It is a heavy time, as Ramadan began on Friday and Israel faces a multi-front war inside and out.  The month ahead is ominous. The Feast of Esther begins on March 22nd despite the ongoing threats. We watch as history repeats itself.

History teaches us that every succeeding generation declines as its morality degenerates. This process takes time, but atrophy inevitably sets in when true morals go out. World powers are brought to their knees when their people throw morality out the window. A healthy family life is the backbone of any stable society, as is the glue of upholding moral standards.

“I had a conversation with a young neighbour in his 40s who assured me “God could not possibly display anger because he is above human emotion.”  This person does not know the Bible. Arguing is fruitless, he has not realized that he was created in God’s likeness. Pause, think of that. Nothing originates with us, it is all a gift.

Very few people take much notice of God’s words to us in the Bible. Fewer desire to read or study the Old Testament, which is as living as the New! Both are eternal, everlasting Covenants. Unbelievers are just not interested and the majority of Christians think it is all for yesterday. Israel couldn’t possibly be relevant at this time. The prophetic books of the Bible have been preserved for our day because they are about to be fulfilled in this generation. We are living in the End Times, believe it or not. Many of these prophecies have been dormant for millennia, but get ready, Israel is the key to their fulfilment. That may be impossible for many of you to believe if you have cancelled Israel and Jerusalem. Things are unfolding very quickly. Jesus gave a warning. “Don’t think I have come to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I have not come to annul their contents but to fulfil them.” Matthew 5:17

The Face of God

How does one catch glimpses of God’s face? Every response is subjective. What’s yours?

I see Him all around me, in my physical world; in the seasons, weather, family history, world history, and the many kind souls I have worked with along with tribal people in their various habitats. I have lived a privileged life, and often see the face of God. HOW?

• in the perfect peace of a sleeping baby. 
  
• in the wind whispering over olive groves, turning them into masses of shimmering silver.
  
• in the kindness of a local farmer bringing oranges and eggs to my door.
  
• in the steady ebb and flow of the sea, reminding me of the One who set its bounds.
  
• in the patience of my husband when I interrupted him at work…
  
• in the incessant buzzing bees going about their business gathering nectar.
  
• in dew drops clinging to grasses as they turn to a sea of shining diamonds at sun up.
  
• in the perfume of flowers.
  
• in the faithful beating of my own heart day in and day out.
  
• in the massive displays of clouds.

• in the spontaneous joy and laughter of children at play.
  
• in joyful family times when at last, we can all be together.

• in my dogs who are delighted to see me. Am I as welcoming to Jesus and others?
  
• in the fearsome size, sound and intense colours of the Northern lights filling the night skies.

•   when our home was in the path of a raging forest fire?

• Have you heard the silence of the immense Northern wilderness? It can be frightening.
  
• Have you lived through an erupting volcano, earthquake, hurricane, war or plague?
  
• He has kept my husband, sons and me through all of that as we lived in many nations.

• Have you been beaten, put down verbally or molested physically or sexually and lived long enough to see how the life of the abuser ended?

• Only man seeks to control, destroy and tear apart himself and his fellow man. He is a predator, a destroyer. Our societies no longer protect the unborn, children and Old people. Man in the hands of darkness works to destroy the natural order of things… unless he is favoured to encounter the LIVING REALITY of the Almighty God. 
  
• Could this awesome Creator possibly be angry with mankind in charge of this world? What causes Him to be angry? Let us never forget: He is the God of Justice and Truth. What does that mean? He will not hold His peace forever. Because of something we label as Sin, the scales are tipped away from mercy. What is sin? Sin is: willful ignorance, hypocrisy, greed, stubbornness, selfishness, cheating, lying, murder … man’s hard heart grieves God.

Death is the manifestation of separation from this life, the cessation of breath. It is our Creator’s prerogative to take that breath at any moment. Breathing is a gift that most of us take as ‘our’ right. God keeps the score sheet of our murmuring and complaining, the taking of offences, and self-centeredness.  Our choices define us. Multitudes live on the negative side of life.

The Bible clearly tells us that the wages of sin is death, mine and yours. We all live on borrowed time and continue under the illusion of being  “in charge.” It’s time to seek Him and He promises that we fill find Him; if we earnestly search for Him with all of our heart.

 I asked Jay, “When did you see the Face of God.”

“I helped the midwife deliver Josh, and remember the awesome moment of stillness until he drew his first breath,” he concluded, “and I saw His face when you came back to life.”

Let us learn what it truly means to; “Kiss the Son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” Psalm 2:12 Amplified I suggest you read all of Psalm 2.

Our Great God and Father has brought this generation to this appointed time. He is finished being ignored as an un-entity, when every good and perfect gift is from Him hand.

Daniel’s prophecies line up with the Book of Revelation. The day at hand. I suggest you put

Isaiah 24 – 27,   Jeremiah 24,   Ezekiel 36 – 38 on your study list.

Lest you despair: take courage and memorize this promise:

“After these things, I looked and this is what I saw: a vast multitude which no one could count, from every nation and from all the tribes and peoples and languages standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes with palm branches in their hands; and with in a loud voice they cried out, saying:  Salvation to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  Revelation 7:9.10.

If you desire to bless the work of Still Small Voice, I will continue doing what I love, which is blessing others. 

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Every blessing to you and your household.  Love from Meridel Rawlings.

I have decided to take a little more time for myself, family and my garden. Look for the Still Small Voice next month. Thank you for being there, faithful in your prayers.

Now for a little light heartedness:

    – “Old age comes at a bad time.” (Ed Sullivan)

    – “The older I get, the better I used to be.” (Lee Trevino) 

    – “Nice to be here? At my age, it’s nice to be anywhere.” (George Burns)

  – “You spend 90 percent of your adult life hoping for a long rest and the last 10 percent trying to convince the Lord that you’re actually not THAT tired.” (Princess Grace)

    – “Old people shouldn’t eat Health foods. They need all the preservatives they can get.” (Bob Hope)

   -“At age 20, we worry about what others think of us. At age 40, we don’t care what they think of us. At age 60, we discover they haven’t been thinking of us at all.” (Ann Landers)

Painting by Shelly Bandel Rawlings. 

 -“I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a lot more as they get older, and then it dawned on me — they’re cramming for their final exam.” (George Chaplin)