Being Still: Notes from the Garden
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And then it happened. It was a beautiful morning during the spring of 2008 when while turning the coffee-colored dirt of my garden plot, God met with me. Hed heard my cry and came to bind up and restore my broken heart. But then why was I surprised? Didnt it all begin in the garden?
Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God
Hillary L. Humberson
Hillary Humberson, a former nurse, ministry coordinator, and church volunteer presently serving in women’s and worship ministries finds joy in gardening, singing, writing, photography, scrapbooking, and “digging in” to the Word. She considers her most important role that of being “Mom” to their two adult children who love the Lord and “Nana” to her darling grandbabies. Married thirty-two years to the love of her life, she and her husband reside in Castle Rock, Colorado.
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Being Still - Hillary L. Humberson
Copyright © 2013 Hillary L. Humberson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
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ISBN: 978-1-4497-7863-7 (e)
ISBN: 978-1-4497-7862-0 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4497-7864-4 (hc)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012923217
WestBow Press rev. date: 1/11/2013
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
Late Winter, Early Spring
Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer
Summer
Late Summer
Autumn
Late Autumn
Winter
Conclusion
Heart Note
Recipes
Bibliography
A wonderful read for those who long to hear God’s voice in every season of life. Hillary’s combination of story, scripture and the miracle of nature is beautiful.
Marci LaMunyon-Director of Spiritual Discovery Groups Cherry Hills Community Church
Hillary’s unique understanding of God and creation is insightful, inspiring and practical.
Dr. Blake LaMunyon-Pastor of Evangelism Cherry Hills Community Church
Lord, I dedicate this writing and give all glory to You. Thank You for dying on the cross for me. Thank You for meeting me in the garden.
To my husband, Bob, and to my kids and grandkids—I love you and will forever.
And to my friends, so very dear to my heart, who have continued to encourage and inspire me, thank you.
Be still, and know that I am God.
—Psalm 46:10
Preface
It was the spring of 2008 when my world was rocked by an unexpected announcement, turning life as I knew it upside down. For over twenty years, our family activities revolved around our home church. Those activities included many aspects of family life from music to youth events, retreats, Sunday school, volunteerism, and traveling for mission opportunities. Late in the summer of 1995, I’d begun working for the same church, always appreciating how our church took great care in relationship building.
Having had the privilege to serve in several ministries including counseling, family, and community group formations over a span of eleven years, an opportunity arose late in 2006 to assist in rebuilding a ministry in need of a new vision. This new ministry would be led by the church’s youth pastor, a young but experienced Fuller Seminary graduate whose accomplishments proved his expertise in leading teams while making every day a great day to serve the Lord!
Eager for a challenge, I jumped at the chance to work for this enthusiastic servant of God. With a fresh vision as our charge, the workload understandably increased and the demand for creative thinking took immediate precedent. On any given day, I could have taken on the Energizer Bunny and probably have made a nice pot of rabbit stew!
Between 2006 and 2008, crazy, wild, and meaningful ministry flew by with every day bringing a fresh new vision, all the while serving in any way we could. Mission work, counseling, creating, feeding, helping, teaching, and preaching interlaced seamlessly with every day, bringing a newfound love for kingdom building.
With the pace of the ministry never slowing, the announcement that turned my life inside out came so unexpectedly that it sent me into an emotional turmoil almost from the minute the words were spoken. Our new ministry was going to lose its leader. This same vibrant, young, ordained minister announced that he’d accepted the role of senior pastor to a church in a small town in the heart of Wisconsin, and he would be moving almost immediately.
While sitting on that old front porch in the cool spring air, I felt my heart sink as the news unfolded, and with that came unexpected sorrow. Ministry movement happens all of the time; however, losing this particular coworker and his family felt like I was losing a piece of my own life. Now a new chapter was coming into their life and the unknown into mine.
After all, I had always felt certain God had laid out this life, this plan for me. The opportunity arose, the change was swift, the ministry grew, his style of leading encouraged each team member to excel—and suddenly it was all coming to a halt. The future of the ministry was uncertain, and with that, the certainty of employment no longer existed.
It was difficult to pinpoint the heart of my grieving as the changes occurring with my church life transpired after a series of several other significant life-changing events that I’m certain are not unique to this stage of life. These changes included our two children growing up, going to college, and later moving on to