{"id":2802,"date":"2012-07-05T05:46:56","date_gmt":"2012-07-05T09:46:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=2802"},"modified":"2012-07-05T21:26:34","modified_gmt":"2012-07-06T01:26:34","slug":"the-blank-page","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/07\/the-blank-page.html","title":{"rendered":"The Blank Page"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Each morning I sit in front of a blank page waiting for me to write something. \u00a0For more than<\/span> 50 years, all during the day, I’ve listened within my spirit for the Lord’s prompting and teaching. \u00a0In the morning, afternoon and evening, I wait for and hear the Holy Spirit promptings and guidance. \u00a0Yet, it appears that like frightened birds those thoughts and teachings fly away the minute I sit down at the computer.<\/p>\n

Often, I’ve written notes to help refresh my memory. \u00a0Sounds great but I almost never have any idea what I meant by the sketchy “locked doors” or “leaky faucet” notations by the time morning rolls around. \u00a0However, each day the Lord gives me a word that speaks to my heart and I’m able to fill the blank page. \u00a0As I type, there flows from my spirit something that ministers to me. \u00a0Sometimes, others share that it also helps them.<\/p>\n

Today is different. \u00a0There are many things knocking on my heart’s door wanting to be released. \u00a0I’m especially thinking about Teresa, a new member of The Special Gathering, which is a ministry within the mentally challenged community. \u00a0We exist to disciple and evangelize this often forgotten population. \u00a0Almost a year ago, Teresa shyly approached me and said, “Can I come to Special Gathering?” \u00a0I took down her address and phone number and promised to call her mother. \u00a0After looking up her address, I realized that there was no way that the bus would be able to pick her up. \u00a0The next time I saw her I told her about the problem. \u00a0She smiled and lowered her head.<\/p>\n

“Can your mother bring you? I can get you home, if your mom can bring you.” \u00a0Without lifting her eyes, she shook head, “No,” and quietly walked away.<\/p>\n

During the year, I’ve spoken to her explaining that I was still looking for a ride for her. \u00a0She would smile and say, “Thank you. \u00a0I really want to come.”<\/p>\n

A\"\"<\/a>bout two months ago, I was able to arrange a ride for her. \u00a0Teresa has attended every week, sitting on the front row, eager to hear God speak through the praise, worship and scriptures.<\/p>\n

Teresa is so much like the blank page that greets me each morning. \u00a0 Waiting quietly. \u00a0Yet unlike a blank, unfeeling page, Teresa shows such an eagerness to learn and hear. \u00a0Teresa’s personality is withdraw and pleasant. \u00a0But her eyes follow every movement as the worship team leads the music. \u00a0She leans forward as the prayer team ministers to their peers. In anticipation, she opens her Bible ready to hear from the teachings of the Scriptures.<\/p>\n

My heart is warmed by her joy and anticipation; but Theresa is like so many other Special Gathering members who sit like tiny birds in a nest with their mouths open waiting to hear the Lord speak. \u00a0Of course, there are problems and concerns. \u00a0I can fill a book with disappointments and failures. \u00a0People within the mentally challenged community are people. \u00a0They fail and disappointment. \u00a0But most of the time, they desire to learn. \u00a0They recognize their deficiencies and hunger to be better. \u00a0The promises of the gospel are like a fresh, cool stream of pure water in the middle of their desert lives.<\/p>\n

Filling a blank page is fun for a writer. \u00a0I can only imagine the Lord’s joy as He ministers to Theresa who sits eager and hungry to hear the truth of God being explained. \u00a0I can imagine God’s pleasure because she certainly fills me with delight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Each morning I sit in front of a blank page waiting for me to write something. \u00a0For more than 50 years, all during the day, I’ve listened within my spirit for the Lord’s prompting and teaching. \u00a0In the morning, afternoon and evening, I wait for and hear the Holy Spirit promptings and guidance. \u00a0Yet, it…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5,20,397,40,186,49,16,147,8,243],"tags":[690,21,696,7,699,715,701,694,19,689,6,700],"class_list":["post-2802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autism-spectrum","category-christianity","category-church","category-devotions","category-faith","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-intellectual-disability","category-leadership","category-mentally-challenged-community","category-writing","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-church","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-faith","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disability","tag-mental-retardation","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-simple-scriptural-truths","tag-spirituality"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Blank Page - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/07\/the-blank-page.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Blank Page - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Each morning I sit in front of a blank page waiting for me to write something. \u00a0For more than 50 years, all during the day, I’ve listened within my spirit for the Lord’s prompting and teaching. \u00a0In the morning, afternoon and evening, I wait for and hear the Holy Spirit promptings and guidance. \u00a0Yet, it…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/07\/the-blank-page.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2012-07-05T09:46:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2012-07-06T01:26:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/files\/2012\/07\/blank-page.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. 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