Be still and know I am God. I will be exalted among the nations [schools].

(Psalm 46:10)
In rest and repentance is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your
strength…. (Isaiah 30:15)
Seeds, Stillness and Rest
Melanie Stillwell was a doer, a no nonsense “let’s get it done” kind of woman,
wife, mother, Christian, and twenty year public educator. Her work ethic came from
growing up on a farm where chores began soon after one learned to walk. Work was life
and life was work. The disciplines of being still, deeply resting and taking time alone for reflection and prayer with Jesus were not a part
of her regular daily routines. Amidst her motherhood home chores, church work and long overtime hours at school, she maintained a
garden and some chickens in her rural home which helped her stay in touch with her family roots and heritage. She truly loved to work.
At a Christian educators’ conference in which she presented a devotional, Melanie stated in her deep southern drawl, “Up until
last summer, the only times I had ever taken to be still were when I was fishin with my daddy or sittin in a huntin blind.”
Her relationship with Jesus was the same as her home and professional lives and could also be summed up in the statement,
“Let’s get it done!” She had been active her whole life doing things in the church – singing in the choir, organizing service projects and
providing Christian education to others. She was always “doing” things for Him, but rarely just “being” with Him. In the summer of 2017,
however, all of that began to change. Melanie, active and healthy all her life, had a serious health issue that involved surgery and being
physically still and unable to work at anything for six weeks. She had chosen to have the surgery during the summer so she would not
miss school. This health issue forced Melanie to be still, stop everything, and deeply rest whether she wanted to or not. It was a time
for people to serve her rather than her serving them.
One night, early in her recovery, Melanie had a dream. She saw the nail-pierced hand of Jesus and in it was a single seed.
She saw Him plant the seed in the dark soil and she heard the seed crying out not wanting to be alone doing nothing in the dark. Then
she saw Jesus standing in a field with a scythe harvesting, by hand, a huge endless field of wheat. There were many workers with
Him. Melanie then heard the still small voice of God within her saying, “This all came from one seed that allowed my Son to hold and
plant it. Will you let Him hold you and plant you in your home and in the field of education where you work?”
Something began to germinate in Melanie that summer – a deeper, closer, more intimate relationship with Jesus. She began
to start off each morning, not with her cup of coffee and what to do list which had been her norm, but with her Bible, a devotional, pen
and journal. In her aloneness, in her darkness and inability to work, her spiritual roots sprouted and began to grow deeper into the word
of God and her love relationship with Jesus. She began to send the daily devotionals she found to some of her personal friends and
friends at school who were deeply touched by them. This growing circle of people began to spiritually communicate with Melanie and
one another, sharing prayer requests and reflections on the devotionals which they had never done before.
Melanie’s self-concept began to change. Once, as a seed in the wind blowing from task to task at home, school and church,
she had always measured her worth and value as a person by how much distance, how much work, she could accomplish in each area
of her life each day. In the summer of 2017 God helped her realize her true identity was not in the work she accomplished but in
growing in love with Jesus, her first love. Her true identity was found in abiding with Him, listening to him and following His instructions
at home, school and in the community. She had heard and knew by heart the Bible verse about the peace that passes all
understanding (Philippians. 4:7) but had never fully experienced it until that summer.
As her six weeks of confinement came to an end, Melanie realized that the need to be still and alone in the Lord’s presence
had become a habit, a daily necessity. This was not something she was just to experience when she was sick. She hungered to
continue growing roots down into the new directions God had given her so her school routine changed. She went to bed at night and
woke up in the morning thirty minutes earlier than usual in order to continue her disciplined quiet time with the Lord which had started
that summer. At school she began to organize and facilitate a share, care and prayer group to help the teachers take thirty to forty
minutes once each week to spend time in God’s presence after school. As never before, Melanie felt the hand of God both upon her
and within her working through her at home and at school.
How do you measure the value and worth of your life? Is it by the work in your home, school, and family which you complete
or is it by being in God’s presence, listening to and following Him? Are you a seed in the wind or are you a planted seed bearing much
fruit in His garden and field? Fear not the stillness and darkness of the soil. Do not be afraid to rest. Let your roots grow deeper this
year into Jesus and may you bear much new fruit for Him in your home, school and community.

Prayer: Jesus, plant us. Mix just the right amount of stillness and rest in our soil [souls]; germinate us; help our roots grow
deeply in You.
Reflection: How do I measure the worth and value of my life? Is stillness and rest a discipline in my life? Does God want it to be?
Getting Real: Spend time in God’s presence with a Bible, journal and devotional. Rest in and with Him as He leads you.
CLASSROOM LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: In the Garden of Education (For info or prayer contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) WEEK 3