Women of the Secret Place: A Collection of Inspirational Stories and Personal Moments with God
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Women of the Secret Place - Ruth Ellinger
Women
of the
Secret Place
A collection of inspirational stories
and personal moments with God
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Foreward
Going Beyond Ourselves
Re-setting the Tone
The 1978 Pennies
Gift of Years
My Tears in a Bottle
The Box in the Closet
Life Is Fluid
Simple Pleasures
In the Ashes
Something New
The Day of Letting Go
Like Spokes in a Wheel
A Father’s Love
First Grandchild
Lesson from a Hatbox
Sunday Morning Attack
God Bless the Boomers
The Boomer’s Prayer
Early Came the Healer
Miracle Under the Peach Tree
Day-tripping with my Heart
Bread of Heaven
Enough Peanut Butter
Simplicity
The List
My Pearl
The Christmas Challenge
Raving Mad
The Broom Closet
Letter to my Father
Askin’ for It
A Ladder and a Rose
My God Shall Supply
Things That Go Boom in the Night
Trailblazer
Rainbows
Though a Tree Be Old
The Giver
Journey to Dawn
The Babe
You Would Wait Too
The Road to Healing
Return of the Edits
The Conclusion
First Glimpse
Endings
Baby Smuggler
Please…Don’t Let Me Die!
Recalling His Enduring Mercies
My Own Agenda
Kindred Spirits
Broken…
Writing Blind
My Simple Thanks
About the Author
Contributing Authors
It is in the moments…those significant, never forgotten moments… that we truly live. And it is in the quiet times in our secret place with God that we understand…we can go on.
Women of the Secret Place
A collection of inspirational stories
and personal moments with God
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© 2012 by Ruth Carmichael Ellinger
All rights reserved
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Printed in the United States of America
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ISBN: 978-1-62020-001-8
eISBN: 978-1-62020-002-5
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Scripture quoted is in KJV unless otherwise noted.
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Cover Design by Matthew Mulder
Page Layout by Kelley Moore of Points & Picas
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AMBASSADOR INTERNATIONAL
Emerald House
427 Wade Hampton Blvd.
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www.ambassador-international.com
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AMBASSADOR BOOKS
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The colophon is a trademark of Ambassador
Dedication
To my sisters, Laura and Mary,
We have shared lives, laughed often, and loved much
We didn’t have a choice when it came to sisterhood,
But if I had to choose—I’d choose you both
And…to my lovely daughters, Lucy, Kendy, and Kathy,
Who have brought so much happiness to my life
I love you all
Foreward
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1
There is a place, a secret place where women find refuge from the daily stresses of life, those besetting troubles that often leave us perplexed and wondering, Why, Lord?
Women who resort to the quiet sanctuary of the secret place
find the strength to move forward, to meet the challenges of the day with courage and confidence. We understand that this place belongs to God alone. He beckons us to come closer to Him, to find all that we need, all that is truly important, all that is meaningful to our happiness in life.
In this private and secluded place, we discover the value in our experiences—good and bad. We see things as they really are: not disguised, neither distorted by our human reasoning. When the veil is lifted during our visits to this solitary place, we see Him more clearly—a God of love and compassion who shows us ourselves. It is in those moments alone with God that we see Him as He is: merciful, ready to forgive, an amazing Deliverer sharing our daily life.
The stories, devotional excerpts, and personal experiences on the following pages are the reflections of my own experiences and those of other women who abide under the shadow of the Almighty, who wish to share what they have learned in the beautiful sanctuary of the Most High. Some stories will make you laugh, some may touch a chord of sadness and compassion, and still others will spark a searching, a desire to discover your own secret place with God. This is our prayer.
~Ruth Carmichael Ellinger
Going Beyond Ourselves
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
Phil 4:13
Etched on a white marble grave in a small cemetery surrounded by ancient oak trees are these words: He takes us where we would not go alone…beyond ourselves. I visit this cemetery often and have pondered those words many times. The very thought of going beyond myself, beyond my own natural ability, is saying to myself as a human being living on planet Earth, I am very limited. There are many things in life I want to do, things I hope to accomplish, even adventures I dream about, but I cannot. Why? Simply because many of those things are beyond my capability…if I go alone.
Only God can take me to that place of impossibility, a place where I simply cannot go. In my own strength, I would not attempt to go where even angels fear to tread, that ridiculous, impractical, presumptuous place, that place that is beyond me. But, with His help, I can go beyond my natural human measure to rise above my earthly and fleshly resources. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness
(2 Corinthians 12:9).
It is an awesome thought to know that God is able to take us beyond our weaknesses, to work with us in spite of our character flaws, our personality hang-ups, and our fleshly inadequacies. He takes us beyond social and cultural boundaries, beyond all the devices Satan has purposely set up to impede and stop our progress. If we allow him, Satan will throw up roadblocks, try to turn us around, and thwart our every effort to keep us from reaching our goal–especially if our desire is to give God glory and to advance the work of the gospel.
We have all read the historical accounts of the persecution of the Church, how God’s people stood true to the faith against great and terrible odds. We marvel at their bravery as they stood at the burning stake, no cords holding them in place. How did they do it?
As God went before them, the Christian martyrs rose above and went beyond their own human strength and endurance. However, the most important thing to remember is…they did not go alone. God took them there, where they would not—could not—go alone.
Today, we face the dark and deceptive battleground of the mind, often causing us to fail before we ever put a hand to the work! We must recognize the plot of the enemy and go beyond every hindrance that arises in our forward progress. Go in the strength of the Lord. I have learned this principle while in the secret place. God takes us where we would not go alone…beyond ourselves, beyond our physical weaknesses, our besetting faults, our incredible circumstances, our inabilities, our human limitations, and in truth, He takes our weaknesses and uses them to make us perfect in Him and to glorify Him.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
~Ruth Carmichael Ellinger
Re-setting the Tone
With my soul have I desired thee in the night;
Yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early:
Isaiah 26:9
It was one of those days everyone talks about—a day of small disasters that cause us to wonder why we crawled out of bed.
Sitting at my computer, I stared at the screen, seeing nothing, my mind a myriad of jumbled thoughts, wondering why this day seemed entirely out of tune with everything around me. Anything that could go wrong had gone wrong. Wearily, I tried in vain to focus on the next task: a writing deadline with a manuscript due in one week.
My peace of mind had vanished, leaving me worried and anxious over small, insignificant provocations. Things I would normally brush off became huge mountains of anxiety and perplexity. The really big concerns now loomed before me as near impossibilities.
What had happened? What went wrong with my day? Why was I thinking so negatively? Then I remembered the early morning phone call that jolted me out of bed, the thirty-minute counseling session that ended unresolved. As I hung up the phone, a deliveryman insistently rang the doorbell, the front door of our home that I never use with the keys I can never find. I ran from the screened porch, clad in my robe, waving my arms frantically just as the deliveryman drove away with the package I had been eagerly waiting for.
The next thing I remember was staring in horror at the dropped coffee pot while the fragrant dark brew seeped into my off-white carpet. While getting dressed, I recall my big toe connecting with the sharp edge of the chair leg. And finally, the proverbial last straw—the friend who dropped in just to use my bathroom on her way to work, the same bathroom where I had piled dirty laundry that was still heaped on the floor, waiting for me to do something.
The day was far-gone when I realized what was wrong with me—with the entire day for that matter. I had missed the most vital part of my hectic day. Even after the abrupt beginning that morning, I had found no place of prayer to cover me with His grace. The usual morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving had been forgotten in the busyness of the morning. I desperately needed the Lord’s strength and support to guide me though the niggling little upsets and untimely frustrations that came out of nowhere. There had been no audience with the King that morning, no reassuring Hand to order my steps, to guide me through the obstacles. How often in the course of my life did this happen? More often as life grew more hectic. I must remember to stop—to wait quietly until the tone of the day is re-set on a positive and peaceful pitch.
During my first waking moments, I had struck the wrong note, and that same discordant note had echoed and vibrated throughout the entire day. I became distracted with other concerns and did not seek the first opportunity to direct my prayer to God, early in my day, before the hours passed and my efforts to complete a task became a total waste of time, and my work proved unproductive. No marvel the day resonated with the sour tones of discord. I will hurry to Him when the cares of life and disruptions occur to overwhelm me. I will re-set the tone.
I will seek Him early, the strength and stability of my life. Every morning He waits for me, desiring to help, listening for my footfalls in the quiet garden of prayer. He is the Lord of all my moments, all my days, the Solver of all my problems. When I call on Him early, I will sing in tune, and the sour notes of disharmony will not threaten my peace. Grace will cover me, and my days will sing in tune.
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord.
Psalms 5:3
~Ruth Carmichael Ellinger
The 1978 Pennies
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil;
Cleave to that which is good.
Romans 12:9
For many years, I did not speak to my only sister. Some serious family conflicts resulted in anger, frustration, and heartache for my husband, my children, and me. So many times, I wanted to pick up the phone and say, Hi, Sis
, but I never knew the right words to say. My Christian friends and I prayed for her many times. She was married to a man whom many referred to as … a violent monster. This man had done very cruel and hurtful things to my eldest son and to my family. Because of his actions, we sold our beloved farm. We simply didn’t feel safe living next to him.
On a warm sunny day in June 2007, my cousin told me about a situation that my sister was experiencing with her (now) ex-husband. I was truly amazed at what this man wouldn’t do. After hearing of her trouble, I felt it was time to pick up the phone and offer a helping hand. God had been working and had answered my prayers. She was hesitant when I first spoke to her, but she did talk to me and explain what was going on in her life.
I questioned if talking with my sister was the right thing to do. So much had happened between us. When I hung up the phone, I left the room and looking down; I saw a penny on the floor. I picked up the penny and noticed that the penny was stamped with the date 1978.
That was the same year our beloved mother had passed away.
Several months later, I spoke with my sister again. After we ended our conversation, I began cleaning around my house. As I dusted the room, I looked down and saw another penny on the floor. This penny was also stamped with the date of 1978.
I felt our mother was watching over us and wanted us to reclaim our sisterhood and our relationship with each other. My sister and I have four sons together, and they needed a family too.
God had answered my prayers and placed the two 1978 pennies where I would see them, knowing the date of 1978
would be a special reminder of her love for my sister and me and would bring me a sense of joy, peace, and a renewed relationship with my precious sister.
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good (Romans 12:9).
Some situations may seem hopeless, especially those that involve broken family relationships, but God is still working, even when the situation may seem impossible to resolve. God can speak through a penny
to remind us that there is someone who loves us, and He can heal the most difficult situations in life.
~Julana Alspach
Gift of Years
So teach us to number our days,
That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalms 90:12
Someone is looking back at me in the mirror, and it isn’t me, it’s my mother—or maybe it’s my grandmother!
For some years now, I have watched this person from a safe distance, peering at me from every mirror in my house. I didn’t like her appearing uninvited and so unexpectedly in my life. With the passing of time, I hoped she would disappear and not plague me with her mature
facade. But contrary