Still Dews of Quietness

By E. Jane Seeman

Feeling a need to experience Gods peace in spite of strain and stress has been the impetus for the writing of the meditations in Still Dews of Quietness. Each meditation has a lead thought or nugget from Gods Word followed by choice thoughts and a challenge or prayer relating it to daily Christian living of the reader.
A priceless feature is the easily accessible thoughts of the 140 topics by using the cross referencing pages in the book. They will enrich your life, provide thinking for sharing with others, and be foundations for presentations in seminars, retreats, and other ministries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 18, 2009
• ISBN: 9781469103006

E. Jane Seeman

E. Jane Seeman is a retired single woman living in New Philadelphia, Ohio. She is a graduate of Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., and has a Masters Degree in Education from New York University. She has a wealth of experience in directing Christian Education in Flushing, N.Y., Pittsfield, Mass., and Cranford, N.J. churches. She also directed and taught in a Weekday Religious Education program of the New Philadelphia Council of Churches for hundred of children. Directing and teaching in Happy Day Christian School day care and preschool followed. These two ministries spanned 29 more years of leadership. A unique talent she exercises is writing leadership manuals for teachers and stories for children to illustrate moral/biblical principles.

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Copyright © 2009 by E. Jane Seeman.

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47719

Contents

PREFACE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

PERSONAL DATA: E • JANE SEEMAN

INTRODUCTION

BIBLE TRANSLATIONS AND VERSIONS USED

I     

II     

III     

HYMN QUOTATIONS USED IN STILL DEWS OF QUIETNESS

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES USED IN TEXT

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES USED IN TEXT

TOPICAL INDEX

Dedication

To the many Christian friends who have touched my life, both saints around and saints above, I dedicate this book so that love, peace, and joy they instilled in my life will be yours in Christ Jesus.

PREFACE

Intended for use in the home for either personal or family devotions, for brief meditations, or for thought provokers to start committee meetings, this book provides materials for parents, group leaders, and all seeking and searching Christians.

While the subject matter covers a definite biblical outline, it is not necessarily to be read in a certain order. A person may select topics on an indexed subject basis. Parents, for example, having a problem with a child telling lies might like to look up lies on a certain day. Groups preparing to discuss areas of concern such as tasks to be accomplished or money matters may find meaningful starters. Then, the Let’s Talk About It section gives opportunity for thought and discussion.

Words of many hymns are used in the text for inspiration and as prayers. The depth of their meaning and the beauty of their verse are sometimes lost to us when we just sing them.

When thy heart with joy o’erflowing,

Sings a thankful prayer,

In thy joy, O let thy brother

With thee share.

(Theodore C. Williams)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Without the help and encouragement of Esta Doerres, I could not have completed my final preparation for these messages. She edited, researched, and assisted in compiling the devotionals into sections. I present my sincere thanks for all her hours of work. I also thank Mark Mathias, director of music at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in New Philadelphia, for his help in researching the background of some of the mentioned hymns.

PERSONAL DATA: E • JANE SEEMAN

EDUCATION—1949 (BA) Hartwick College, Oneonta, New York

   Major in Christian Education

   1951 (MA) School of Education,

New York University—N.

EXPERIENCE—1951-60—Parish worker or director of Christian Education in congregations of the Lutheran Church in America in Flushing, New York; Pittsfield, Massachusetts; and Cranford, New Jersey.

   1960-70—Weekday religious education teacher for council of churches, New Philadelphia, Ohio.

   1970-72—Nursery school teacher in Church of the Nazarene, Canton, Ohio.

   1973-81—Associate director and teacher of own nursery school and day care center—Happy Day Christian School, New Philadelphia, Ohio.

PUBLISHED MATERIALS—Articles written for educational magazines of the United Lutheran Church (now Lutheran Church in America)—seventeen articles as follows:

Files and Records, Augsburg Teacher for Little Ones and Juniors, Jan.-Feb. 1952

Religious Education is Important, High Ideals, 1957

And Ye Visited Me, Luther Life, 1956

Starting Your Own Library, Oct. 1955, Parish School

Sending Christmas Into the Home,

Nov. 1955, Parish School

How Much Did VCS Accomplish?

March 1957, Parish School

Cranford Church Assists Parents,

May 1959, Parish School

Film Your Own Christmas Story,

Nov. 1954, Parish School

A Successful Christian Family Institute,

April 1954, Parish School

The Children’s Superintendent,

Oct. 1953, Parish School

A Yardstick for our own Children’s Department, Sept. 1952, Parish School

Using the Bible With Children,

June 1952, Parish School

Electric Map, May 1952, Parish School

Confidential Notebook, April 1952, Parish School

Closing Day, March 1952, Parish School

Source Material for Use in Class,

Jan. 1952, Parish School

Don’t Mention Christmas Programs to Me,

Nov. 1965, Resource

INTRODUCTION

Be still and know that I am God.

—Psalm 46:10 (KJV)

The television was on, and I didn’t hear a word you said.

You have probably had it happen too. Someone might be talking to you in normal tones, quite oblivious of the fact that for some reason, his message is not being heard. He keeps on talking and never stops to wait or listen for a response.

God must experience the same thing with us. So often, we talk to him—or at him—never stopping to let his Word speak to us. We seem afraid of silence. We are afraid to be alone with ourselves, our Bibles, and our God.

"Drop Thy still dews of quietness

Till all our strivings cease,

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess,

The beauty of thy peace."

"Breath through the heats of our desire

Thy coolness and thy calm;

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,

O still small voice of calm!" Amen.

(John Greenleaf Whittier)

BIBLE TRANSLATIONS AND VERSIONS USED

King James Version (KJV), 1611

Moffatt, James Moffatt DD, 1930

Living Bible, 1971

Good News for Modern Man, 1966

Goodspeed, Edgar J. Goodspeed, 1923

Phillips The Gospels in Modern English, J. B. Phillips, 1952

Revised Standard Version (RSV), 1885

The NT in Language of Today, Book (NTLT)

New King James Version, Nelson, Inc. 1985 (NKJV)

I     

FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

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I

FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

A. GOD’S WORLD

1.   Really True or Make-Believe

2.   God Uses Men

3.   Snow

4.   King or President

5.   Each Day a Picture

6.   Calming Troubled Waters

7.   A Picture Book

8.   Sunrise to Sunset

9.   The Gift of Life

10.   God in Control

I.   FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

A.   God’s World

1.   Really True or Make-Believe

And God saw everything that he had made,

and behold, it was very good.

—Genesis 1:31a, b (KJV)

It’s fun to make believe. But some people seem to live always in a make-believe world. They daydream when they should be working and tell all kinds of impossible stories.

Can you tell the difference between a make-believe story and a really true story? Part of growing up is learning the difference. We might be quite disappointed too when we discover it was only pretending.

When asked what was bad in his city, a schoolboy answered, The tigers in the streets. He was old enough to know that the only tigers in the city were those he saw in the movies or on television. He had mixed up the make-believe stories that he had heard and seen with what was really true.

God wants us to know our world as it really is because he has created it orderly and beautiful. The things which God created are even more wonderful than our minds can imagine.

PRAYER   

"For the beauty of the earth

   For the glory of the skies,

   For the love which from our birth

   Over and around us lies;

   Lord, of all, to Thee we raise

   This, our hymn of grateful praise." Amen.

               (Folliott Sandford Pierpont)

Let’s Talk About It—What is the difference between a make-believe and a real story? Name some things which show God planned an orderly universe.

I.   FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

A.   God’s World

2.   God Uses Men

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the firmament showeth his handywork.

—Psalm 19:1(KJV)

The things that are unseen are eternal. This is so true when we measure the qualities of love, forgiveness, and compassion with the material things of life.

Yet we dare not make the mistake of assuming that all material knowledge or material possessions take man from God. Has not God used man’s knowledge to reveal himself along with the truths that he has wanted us to know? Jesus was able to reveal great spiritual truths to men through his simple parables. Through science, new doors are daily being opened to solve the problems of disease and suffering among men. The further we go in space exploration, the greater our God seems. With the men of Apollo 8, we can confidently read from Genesis 1, In the beginning, God . . .

PRAYER

Help us to see our world, Lord, as a manifestation of thy power and greatness. May the wonders of life itself arouse in us such feelings of love and gratitude to thee, our Heavenly Father, that we may use all thou hast given us—body, mind, and spirit—for thy kingdom’s work. Amen.

Let’s Talk About It—What do you see in the world that makes you think of God? Why? Name some inventions or discoveries which have shown the greatness of God.

I.   FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

A.   God’s World

3.   Snow

She is not afraid of the snow for her household.

—Proverbs 31:21a (KJV)

There are many people who have never seen snow. They know nothing of the beauty that falls to God’s earth in tiny white flakes. Some boys and girls have never made snowballs or dug tunnels in the cold white snow.

Snow doesn’t fall in the places where there are warm climates. There are some places in the United States where snow has never fallen. We even might wonder why we read about snow in the Bible. Does snow fall in the Holy Land? Yes, there are, at times, some snow-crowned mountain peaks such as Mount Hermon.

As much as children like snow, often grown people fear the inconvenience which snow brings. There is always shoveling which is hard work. Travel is dangerous on slippery streets. To go out in the snow, people must own warm clothes.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, wherever the snow falls and whenever it falls, we give thee thanks for its beauty. We pray that you will give strength and help to all who fear its danger. Amen.

Let’s Talk About It—What does a snowflake look like? How has God made all snowflakes alike?

I.   FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

A.   God’s World

4.   King or President

Blessed be the king who comes in the name of the Lord.

—Luke 19:38 (RSV)

God is the ruler of the universe and of our lives. Knowing that he created us and has provided us with everything necessary for life, it is a most ungrateful human being who would not acknowledge the role of God in the affairs of men.

In our churches, we sing such hymns as Come Thou Almighty King, O Worship the King, and Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne. We are saying that God is our king. For those of us who do not live under a form of government which has a king, it is perhaps hard to understand the role which God should have in our lives. It would sound quite out of place for us to say that God is our president. Is this simply because the presidential form of government is comparatively new, or does the position of president draw a different meaning? We think of a king as sovereign, of royal blood, and being set aside for his task. A president is one from the ranks who has been elected by the people. His powers are limited, and his position is not for life.

While neither title adequately describes our relationship with God, certainly the thought of God as king has a much truer ring. We remember too that when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he was acclaimed a king. He is really King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we would ask you to come into our hearts and rule over our lives so that all that we do and say be worthy of a citizen of thy kingdom. In the name of the King of Kings we pray, even Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Let’s Talk About It—Tell some ways you try to obey God. Who else must we obey?

I.   FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

A.   God’s World

5.   Each Day a Picture

This is the day which the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

—Psalm 118:24 (KJV)

If you have ever seen a picture book which is made up of numbers and dots to be joined, you know that it takes work, a steady hand, and a clear thought to make the picture come out as it was planned to be. Sometimes you can guess by looking at the outline of the dots what the picture might be. Even then, you could be mistaken.

Try to think of every day in your life as a page in just such a picture book which God has planned. Sometimes we know how it will end. Other times there are surprises along the way, or disappointments. It takes hard work, good clear thinking, and a lot of love and faith to make God’s picture of every day a worthwhile one for you.

God made a picture for my day

And planned that I should be

More careful of the words I say,

More thankful, Lord to Thee.

I’ve traced the lines and seen the plan

He made for me to see.

O, may I grow to be the man

He hopes that I might be.

—Anonymous

PRAYER

Dear God, help me to make this day a beautiful picture of what thou would have it to be. May I be kind and loving, helpful and slow to anger. This I ask in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Let’s Talk About It—Did you think about God at all today? When? How did God help you today?

I.   FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

A.   God’s World

6.   Calming Troubled Waters

I sink in deep mire where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters where the floods overflow me.

—Psalm 69:2 (KJV)

The thoughts of floods and overflowing waters are not strange to many areas which are periodically threatened with destruction. Overflowing riverbanks caused by high water levels result in millions of dollars worth of damage and leave many homeless every year. When the water rushes on, there seems little that human power can do to stop it.

The psalmist speaks of the waters of despair flowing from the events of life, which are rushing upon him. Whenever we feel as he did, we have one to whom we can turn, for he has the power to calm the troubled waters. It is Christ of Galilee.

PRAYER

"Thou, O Christ, art all I want;

More than all in Thee I find.

Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,

Heal the sick, and lead the blind.

Just and Holy is Thy Name,

I am all unrighteousness;

False and full of sin I am,

Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with thee is found,

Grace to cover all my sins;

Let the healing streams abound,

Make and keep me pure within.

Thou of life a fountain art,

Freely let me take of thee;

Spring thou up within my heart,

Rise to all eternity." Amen.

(Charles Wesley)

Let’s Talk About It—Did any trouble or danger come to you today? How did you help yourself? What did God do?

I.   FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

A.   God’s World

7.   A Picture Book

Declare his glory among the heathen,

his wonders among all people.

—Psalm 96:3 (KJV)

The Bible is God’s Word. A song about the Bible written for children says it is also a storybook and a picture book. Yet maybe you have learned that not every Bible contains pictures. Then, why is it called a picture book? You must think a bit to understand what it means. Actually, when you read these stories, they become so real and vivid in your mind that you can picture them easily.

You can walk with Abraham as he goes up Mount Moriah with his son Isaac and prepares to offer him as a sacrifice to God. You can sit with the multitude as Jesus feeds five thousand people with the loaves and fishes.

Turn to these two stories in the Bible and read them now (Genesis 22 and Luke 9). After each, close your eyes and picture what happened. Can you visualize the scene? If you can, then the Bible is for you a picture book too.

PRAYER

"O may Thy heavenly pages be

My ever dear delight,

And still new beauties may I see,

And still increasing light." Amen.

Let’s Talk About it—After you read the Bible references, tell what you saw with your eyes closed. Did you imagine you heard anything?

I.   FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

A.   God’s World

8.   Sunrise-Sunset

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof;

the world, and they that dwell therein.

—Psalm 24:1 (KJV)

Crossing the ocean in a jet plane is a thrilling experience. In a little over six hours, you can land on the shores of Europe. Perhaps it is night when you leave and morning when you arrive. But nowhere else can you see such a wonderful spectacle of the sun setting and rising all within a period of about two hours.

At a time like this, you feel the nearness of God while you view the vastness of his universe. It is a little easier to understand what has been said, that a thousand years in God’s sight is like a passing moment. The earth, sky, time, and eternity belong to the Lord.

PRAYER

"Great God, how infinite art Thou!

How frail and weak are we!

Let the whole race of creatures bow,

And pay their praise to Thee." Amen.

                  (Isaac Watts)

Let’s Talk About It—When have you felt that God is very near? What do you think is most beautiful in God’s creation?

I.   FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

A.   God’s World

9.   The Gift of Life

All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life,

and the life the light of men.

—John 1:3-4 (RSV)

One of the greatest gifts to man from God is life. The gift of life here on this earth and the gift of eternal life for all who believe in Christ is the most wonderful thing we have in our possession.

Stop to count, someday, the many things which you see, touch, or even eat, which once had life—life given by God.

Albert Schweitzer, the famous missionary, told how, when he was a boy of seven, he and a friend aimed their slingshots at birds in the trees. One day, as he was about to shoot, suddenly a church bell rang. It reminded him of God’s commandment, Thou shalt not kill. From that moment on, he promised himself that he would never kill just for the thrill of killing. He had learned a new reverence for God-given life, and he never forgot it.

PRAYER

Teach us, dear Lord, to reverence life. Make us mindful of the needs of others and merciful unto all Thy creatures. Amen.

Let’s Talk About It—Name some other gifts of God. Sending his son was his greatest gift. Who was his son? Where was he born?

I.   FOLLOWERS OF THE WORD

A.   God’s World

10.   God in Control

And the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

—Genesis 2:15 (KJV)

Machines can do most everything these days. There are those called the machine with a brain. So intricate are the workings that the common man can hardly fathom how to operate such machines. Yet when we think that man must still operate and repair them, we realize that the machine has not replaced man.

In the same way, there are those individuals who think that man is about to replace God. He has learned to travel in space, manufacture bombs which could destroy whole nations, and now he is attempting to produce life in a test tube.

God is still in control. He is the source of all life, and He gives to us our minds and skills so that we might better understand our world.

PRAYER

Lord, we know that you have given us this world to keep and care for. Make us mindful of our responsibilities. Let us use our minds and