Echoes of Eternity, Vol. I. Hal M Helms

      2011 Sixth Printing

      Unless otherwise designated, Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

      Scripture quotations designated RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.

      ISBN: 978-1-55725-173-2

      © 1996, 2004, 2011 by the Community of Jesus, Inc.

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Echoes of eternity: listening to the Father.

       p. cm.

       ISBN 1-55725-173-8 (alk. paper)

       1. Devotional calendars. I. Paraclete Press.

      BV4810.E24 1996

      242’.2—dc20

      96-24801

       CIP

      10 9 8 7 6

      All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in an electronic retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

      Published by Paraclete Press,

      Brewster, Massachusetts

      www.paracletepress.com Printed in the United States of America

      Introduction

      Talking and listening. Speaking and hearing. These are the fundamental prerequisites for conversation. Yet with most of us, our relation with our heavenly Father consists mostly of our speaking. Our oldest traditions, however, tell us that we are invited to hear as well as speak.

      We do well to be cautious in this procedure. Our own wishes and the interference of other voices can drown out the “still, small voice,” unless we arm ourselves against illusion, delusion and deception. We do well to be modest in our claims about what we have heard.

      Yet having said all that, there is a wonderful invitation that stands as valid today as it was when it was spoken:

      “If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me…. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:20b, 22 RSV)

      What the Spirit has said to one who has listened is shared in the hope that these impressions will convey “what the Spirit says” to the hearts of those who read them and will encourage others to “open the door” to hear for themselves what the Spirit is saying.

       Hal M. Helms Chaplain of the Community of Jesus, Orleans, Massachusetts August, 1996

      JANUARY

       Lord, speak to me, that I may speak

      In living echoes of Thy tone;

      As Thou hast sought, so let me seek

      Thine erring children lost and lone.

      Frances R. Havergal

      1836-1879

      January First

       Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

      Psalm 90:1 (rsv)

      Have no fear for tomorrow, My child. Tomorrow will hold only what I bring or allow in your life. All your tomorrows are in My hand. I am the Lord of the years. My hand is a gracious hand and all My ways are faithfulness.

      As long as you keep your eyes focused on minor pains and difficulties in your path, you rob yourself of the joy of My fellowship—the communion of the Holy Spirit. You are meant to walk in a different realm—the larger reality of My kingdom. This is not an imaginary “place.” It is a present reality which is open to My children who seek and find it. Doubt and self-pity close off this reality from you, but they do not, cannot, destroy it. So seek and find, My child. Seek and find what hitherto you have only dimly grasped.

      January Second

       First be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

       Matthew 5:24

      Put away ill will. It corrodes and eats away the very foundation of your soul. Fight against the feelings of hurt and outrage, and turn every thought that would lead to ill will into prayer. You cannot hate and really pray for someone’s good at the same time.

      Realize, however, that it is primarily for your own sake that you are doing this. You must guard against further indulging in hateful thoughts and feelings—even repressed ones—and pray for good for those who hurt or oppose you. You see examples of what can happen to a soul who did not restrain feelings of hate and vengeance. Not a pretty sight, is it? Hatred and ill will are never pretty when fully unmasked. The pleasure you derive in them cannot be compared to the joy you will have when you put them away.

      January Third

       If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.

      Psalm 130:3,4 (rsv)

      Your fear of being wrong, My child, shows that you are not living by grace, but by “works.” This is not a minor fault, but a major block in our relationship and in your spiritual growth. Go and read again Brother Lawrence’s testimony—and let your heart absorb the truth of it.

      Worry about what others may think of you, how they react to you, puts an obstacle between you and Me. No matter how pious you may appear to others, I see your heart, and I tell you again: your fear of being wrong shows that you are not living by grace. Your soul is filled with accusations against My goodness. Otherwise, there would be only a desire to please Me out of gratitude, not out of fear.

      January Fourth

       While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.

       John 12:36

      Hark unto Me, My dear child, and listen attentively. Learn to look with the eyes of the spirit beyond the outward shell. Let your thoughts and your words aim at what lies hidden from the natural view, and do not be confused by it. I will give you the discernment you need in order to minister life. Remember that My love and care go beyond any immediate problem. Pray that you may see with Me the long view—the goal to which I am leading each child of Mine. Too much attention to each single incident can cloud that vision and cause unnecessary problems.

      January Fifth

       If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

       Romans 12:18

      My Spirit strives within to bring your spirit into harmony with My divine purposes. Often you are like a bird trapped or held in the hand—struggling to get “free”—to what? You do not know.

      My Spirit strives to bring you into peace. You long for peace, but you do not know how to achieve it. Only My wisdom and My way can bring you into perfect peace—and for My way to prevail, your ways must be given up.

      Marvel not that the striving between us often leaves you confused and unsatisfied. These are indications of your lack