There’s a reason why,
In the architecture of Your perfect poetry,
You ordained that this foundation of a phrase
Should bear repeating:
“The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah” (Psalm 46:7 and 11)
Pausing at Your command
to reflect on words that should stop me in my tracks everyday
(but, often enough, do not),
I will carry the truth of Your presence
and Your protection
into this summer day.
Lord of hosts, God of incomparable power;
God of Jacob, the One Who knows me by name:
You are present
in the rich fruition of summer gardens
and in the joyful gatherings of family and friends–
evidence of Your delight in our pleasure.
You are my refuge
in the blazing heat of temptation
and in the drought of discouragement.
God of the Angel Armies,
God of the Old Testament Patriarchs,
God of Middle-Aged Mothers
who grow weary and fall short:
Thank you that Who-You-Are
redeems who-I-am.
Thank you for this pause–
the most productive moment of this summer day.
Selah
Thank you for pausing here with me here to read and reflect on truth,
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And you can write poetry too? Beautiful words. I love the word “Selah”. Just the sound of it.
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Me, too, and for years I didn’t know what it meant, so now that I do, I try to heed it and pause so that the words before it can wash over me a bit.
Those psalmists knew how to write and how to live.
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Not sure I know what it means, I just love the word. What is the meaning?
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It’s a musical direction usually interpreted to be a pause.
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Perfect reflection for this summer day! Thank you for sharing,
friend!
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I’m loving these days of summer. The daisies are blooming, and the tomatoes will soon be ripe!
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Simply lovely, Michele! Pinned twice.
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Sarah, you are so good at encouraging, and this time, you’ve actually reminded me that I have not pinned the post myself. 🙂
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Thank you Michele, that was beautifully written. ~ Abby
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It’s always so nice to hear from you!
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…and the graphic looks wonderful. ~ Abby
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Oh, thank you for saying that!
(You know how I love working on those graphics!)
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Great post – love the quote and thoughts
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It’s one of my favorite psalms, but this summer, I’ve been captivated by that particular line–and the fact that it is repeated.
Thanks for reading!
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Beautifully said.
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Betty, Thank you so much!
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Thank you that Who-You-Are
redeems who-I-am.
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I’m VERY grateful for that fact.
Thanks for noting it here.
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Amen! Thank you!
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❤
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Amen! Lovely, Michele.
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Especially needed this today . . . thank you for sharing. Blessings!
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It’s such a gift when the right words come at the right time! Thanks for letting me know, Vickie!
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In the middle of my blogging break I am glad that I slipped in here. Your poetry is such a beautiful reminder and confirmation to pause and look up to our Redeemer. He is with us! Blessings to you, as you find joy in your summer.
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Thanks for slipping in, Bettie. I love it when poets come to call. Keep enjoying your break. Mine starts next week, and I’m looking forward to it!
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Such beautiful words today, Michele. This slowed me down in the very best way. Thank you!
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I love how sacred words can put on the brakes for me, and it’s wonderful to carry them with me into the garden.
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Beautiful, Michele! You’re my linkup neighbor in a couple places. So glad to visit your place this morning. Have a great day! 🙂
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Always good to bump into you, Kelly! Thanks for all you do to encourage!
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Michele, just beautiful! I loved every word!
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That’s so encouraging, Joanne!
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So lovely, Michele. I’m praising God and resting with you this morning, my friend. 🙂
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I am refreshed.
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Love it!
“God of Middle-Aged Mothers
who grow weary and fall short”
That’s me!
So glad He understands the weariness and gives us a Selah.
I’ve been studying Selah for quite some time. I love when He repeats it more than once. Pausing and calmly thinking is important to Him.
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That was a lovely and refreshing way to start my morning.
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Oh, that makes me so happy, Kara!
Thanks for the gift of your eyes here in this space!
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Our refuge. What a blessing and a promise. Love the poetry. 🙂 Have a beautiful week.
Peabea from Peabea Scribbles
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Thank you, Peabea! It’s always great to connect with you over words!
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As I have been immersed in my final book proof editing, I missed this until today. I read it while listening to a beautiful CD by Jim Brickman entitled “Soothe” and it was the perfect background for this beautiful reflection on Selah. How you blessed me with this! Like others…so you write poetry too??? Not an area I have ever seemed to master, my friend, but I salute the gift in you!! ❤️
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And to add to the blessing of your words right now, today I met a little girl in our church’s summer outreach ministry whose name is Selah. I love it!
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This is beautiful, Michelle. I loved reflecting on these words and thinking about who God is. Thank you for sharing at Grace and Truth. I would love to feature this tomorrow.
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Oh, Dawn, that’s such an encouragement! I’m always a little skittish about sharing my poems on the blog, and it’s so reassuring to hear from friends that the words resonate for them.
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Wow, what a beautiful poem on a passage I’ve been meditating on all summer. I also want it to stop me in my tracks. You are so talented. I’m with the person above who said, “I am refreshed.”
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I love that you and I are marinating in the same beautiful truth, Betsy!
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A really interesting poem. You’re (clearly) very talented. Thanks so much for sharing. #ThatFridayLinky
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Well, thank you for that wonderful encouragement!
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Oh, Michelle, I love this so much! God must be trying to tell me something. I also used Psalm 46 in my latest post, and I’ve been reading more psalms reminding me that God is my refuge. We all need these times of selah, where we can pause, rest and remember God’s blessings on our lives. Blessings to you, Michelle! xo I’m your neighbor at #SundayThoughts.
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Isn’t it amazing how a phrase sometimes just attaches itself like a burr and won’t leave you alone until you “do something with it”?
Thanks, Gayl, for your encouragement and for all you do.
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This is just beautiful, Michele! Thank you for the rest for my soul!
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Thank you for taking time to rest here.
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Seems we both had poetry on the mind today. The soul speaks best in rhyme, don’t you think?
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Yes, I do think so, and the discipline of meter helps me to frame my thinking and be concise.
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I love your round-up posts, Michele. It’s good to see the favorite books of the many you’ve read. I’m always interested in what you like.
Love the mustache! 🙂
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Thanks, Lisa!
I wish I had gotten a picture of all the kids with their mustaches!
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Beautiful. I love the pause in the day when I stop to catch my breath and to be thankful for God’s presence in my life.
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We miss so much when we go headlong into the day. I have to be so careful of this tendency to live blind and oblivious to all the beauty.
Thanks, Kara, for reading!
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