Dwelling in His presence, there is strength for today and hope for
tomorrow. While resting in Him, I couldn't help but notice the glorious
creation He had painted here in the desert. Equipped with only my
meager, inexpensive cell phone camera, I snapped away at His majesty as I
looked up.
AUTUMN IN ARIZONA
"You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat."
Isaiah 25:4a NIV
From My Heart to Yours,
Linking with Word-Filled Wednesdays at the Internet Cafe
With the holidays upon us and issues to sort through in my life, I will be taking a break from blogging.
Thank you to all of my faithful followers who have inspired and encouraged me in this journey of writing. I pray you have blessed days with family and friends through this season. And, maybe, when I return to writing, we can reconnect again.
Giving thanks to the Lord for:
724) Coworkers who are friends that celebrated my birthday with gifts and a chocolate frosted cake, joy, and laughter, inviting others to join
725) Dinner out with the family--upscale Chinese food
726) Brunch with my special friend at our cozy tea house, flowing with pink linens, floral table toppers, lace and porcelain tea cups
727) Accomplishing an abundance of Christmas shopping, pushing even through exhaustion
728) For sweaters and sweatshirts, nippy mornings pointing toward a change of season
729) For the Book of Ruth full of hope and restoration
730) For deep-dish pizza
731) For wise counsel
732) For friends who rush to meet your needs
733) For my blogging friends who visit with encouraging comments and added insight to bless all those who stop by
734) For warm weather comfort food
735) For evenings with Hubby relaxing on the sofa and watching a favorite show
The thank you list will be continued. Let's enjoy a cup of tea together to remember the lovely days we've spent together and the hope of more to come in the future.
"... I tell you the truth whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40 NIV
Last week, our church teamed up with AMOR Ministries and built three houses for families in Mexico. The families who are recipients of the new homes have been identified by a local Christian church as being in desperate need of a new dwelling. While living in leaky, clapboard houses, camper shells, or sheds, the families petition the church for a new home. When the volunteers start mixing the cement, laying the foundation, framing the house, the families pitch in, full of gratitude for their new homes.
Pastors of local churches interview prospective families, selecting the neediest families based on the following eight criteria:
Current housing situation – Where are they living right now?
Time period – How long has the family been living in these conditions?
Family size – How many people live in the current conditions?
Income – What is the family’s collective income?
Transience – How long has the family lived in the community?
Health – Are there any health problems that having a home would make easier to solve?
Age – Does the family care for very young or very old members?
Resources – Does the family have other resources (e.g. a family member with housing for them in another town)?
I snuggled onto our family room sofa to to read my morning devotional. But once I started into Colossians, Chapter 3, I could not stop.
"Set your hearts on things above,..." I read. The room was quiet and the view outside was cloudy creating a calming spirit in the room. I could see that my heart and mind were not focused on heavenly things but on those of this world--the housework, bills, family issues, work, worry about the future. Change was definitely needed. I made note as I continued reading this chapter which contains some of my favorite verses. Favorite because we chose them as a reading for our wedding.
"...as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you many have against one another..." I paused. This was hitting home because these words for me were all about how we should treat each other within our family, especially.
Had I really forgiven my sons for whatever hurt had been sent flying my way? Or had I just put the hurt behind me and continued on with life? Had I forgiven them the way God has forgiven me?
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,.." That hit me between the anxious thoughts and episodes of need to control that lately invaded my life. Deep breath as I pinched the the bridge of my nose. I let it settle into my heart for a moment before I read on.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, ..." I thought about yesterday when a friend from church spent her afternoon encouraging and admonishing me in the Lord. Listening to her continuing experiences in parenting two sons, the Scriptures and words the Lord had given her, and how the Lord had worked in various situations filled my heart with hope.
Back in the family room, I returned to basking in the Lord's presence. Then my eyes fell on a fraction of a verse that I had just skimmed over before. A verse that tied all the rest together drawing a heart to focus on things above.
"And be thankful." Amazing how just three words could carry so much weight in a chapter entitled "Rules for Holy Living." Everything I had read recently was reminding me to be thankful--even in the unpleasant circumstances. I thought of all the Lord has done for me from salvation to healings in my life. He has filled my life with the love of family and many friends and He was continuing to draw me closer to Him.
My heart was full, focusing on all the Lord had shown me in the past two days. There was much for which to be thankful and a direction on where to set my heart's longings.
Scriptures are from Colossians 3:1, 12-13, 15,and 16 NIV
Giving thanks this week for the Lord's rich blessings and fellowship:
714) For a Christian friend who cared enough to follow the Lord's tug on her heart and spend time encouraging me while we shared and laughed over coffee and tea.
715) For quiet time before the Lord, meditating on His word
716) For hubby and youngest son traveling to Mexico this weekend to build houses with AMOR ministries
717) For the safety and health of the whole team of workers on the AMOR project
718) For meeting an old friend unexpectedly at the coffee shop. Warm embraces and promises to see each other soon.
719) For times this weekend to talk, without interruptions, to oldest son
720) For phone calls from friends, laughing, sharing, remembering, caring
721) For a thought-provoking sermon at church this morning--Jesus and the temptations He faced in the desert. God is greater. Just one of many points made.
722) A promised rainfall that quenched this dry earth and freshened the air
723) For a warm, cozy evening with the family
From My Heart to Yours,
Linking with Multitude Mondays and Playdates with God
A few clicks of the phone keys as I walk across the cement pathways connecting classrooms on our elementary campus can ignite a charge of unnecessary emotions. The message so urgent to relay, I can't wait until the last bell rings and the kiddos wild with elation dash for their buses. I press send, flip the phone closed, slip its slender case into my pants pocket, and walk into the classroom. Now, I just need a reply, a vibration in my pocket alerting me that the receiving party has acknowledged the urgency and is responding.
The minutes tick by. The pocket clings quietly and straight to my leg.
It's time to meet my student. I try to clear my head and focus on the lesson at hand.
"Let's look at that paper, buddy, and see what you have left to do," the words come out mechanically while my mind is riveted on another message. "Tell me which word from that list in the upper right corner best describes the underlined word in the sentence."
I look for a moment for him to work alone so that I can turn away and in a discreet move glance at the slender time bomb in my pocket. No words left on the screen. Focus on the lesson as the pulse steps it up a cardio beat.
The afternoon minutes drag in agony as I tutor my student. My mind jogs between the lessons and the urgency of my message. I cross the campus again, unmindful of the blue sky and tall, green bushy trees stretching their canopy upwards.
One more trip across the cement pathways, and at last I whisper to the Lord my prayer for the thoughts that hold me tense. Soft dirt, still impressionable from yesterday's rains border the cement, and my heart softens with the hope of a whispered prayer. Why have I put my trust in the charge of an electron when the God who is in charge holds the answers in His hand?
"In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.... "He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind,... "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters." Psalm 18:6, 9, 10, 16 NIV
Why do I wait so long to humbly seek His help? Do you ever do the same thing, too?
From My Heart to Yours,
Linking with Word-Filled Wednesdays at the Internet Cafe
The sky was a patchwork of puffy, white clouds stitched across a blue background. The air whistled a crisp fall breeze as the children danced around the play equipment and fed the curious animals in a traveling petting zoo.
Adults dressed in purple shirts wearing warm, easy smiles wrapped their guests in love as all proclaimed the goodness of the Lord. After three long years, a sweet girl with brown ringlets had become the daughter of a very special couple. (And where was my camera--I felt I might have been a little intrusive, so use your best imaginations.)
An adoption that had taken twists and turns finding the couple with their precious little girl for some of the time and then without her as the courts bounced the toddler between homes. There had to be a surrender, a letting go of the one they desired most. A trusting in God and His wisdom above all of thief hearts' longings.
Yesterday, the blue-eyed, bright child officially became theirs in a community-wide celebration held in a local park. The festive occasion is designed to legally unite children with families as part of the National Adoption Day coming up next weekend.
Today, those who had prayed that the Lord's hand would direct the best future for this curly-haired child gathered and rejoiced. Basking under the sunny sky, we all hugged and praised God for His blessings, His lessons, and His working in each one's lives.
To God be the glory for all He has done. As the couple dedicated their little girls today, this song was sung in church.
Giving thanks to the Lord for:
695) Answered prayers and ringlets flowing in the autumn breeze
696) For times when God answers our prayers in ways different from what we desire--"Even if He doesn't do what we will, His will is still right and His heart is still good and the people of God will not waiver," as Ann Voskamp has said in her post highlighted above.
697) For the opportunity to buy cute "pink and glittery" princess clothes for two of God's precious children
698) For sweet fellowship and "rich conversation" with a friend from the past, not seen often enough
699) For patient and calm wisdom given by my husband
700) For safe flight for oldest
701) For youngest and hubby preparing the tent trailer for a mission trip
702) For all the anguishing thoughts that have made me look deeply into the foundation of my faith
703) For God's revelation, painful but enlightening
704) For God's mighty right hand that upholds me and guides me and protects me
705) For learning to trust that God really is in control, and for being exhausted from trying to be in control and do His job
706) For my friends who uphold me in prayer when I have no strength to pray myself
707) For Christmas shopping begun and salespeople who smile and help you pick out just the right present
708) For spicy smelling candles of pumpkin and cranberry that fill our home with the season's scents
709) For encouraging emails
710) For articles published
711) For rain
712) For crisp autumn weather, wearing sweaters and sweatshirts, bundled up and cozy
713) So grateful for the comfort of a roof over our heads, a soft bed in which to sleep, warm meals on the table and a family to love.
May the Lord bless those who need the basic provisions of life and may we be His instruments in meeting those needs.
"A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." Proverbs 29:11 NIV
Like a tree tossed ferociously in a storm is a person consumed by anger. The feelings and thoughts whip one around with hurricane force. The person does not know which way she is bending but words spewed from the mouth in anger are carried on the vicious wind, never to return.
So much damage can be done and hurtful words hurled about when one is angry and does not seek the Lord's help to control it. Proverbs tells us "A quick-tempered man does foolish things;" (Prov 14.17) and "A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless."(Prov. 14:16)\
We think that if we can express our thoughts and feelings, we will gain control of the situation. But the situation controls us. We know that what we want to say is right and justified but if we spew out our venom, we will act recklessly, tearing apart relationships, uprooting the planting of love, splintering trust.
When the churning starts, we need to trust the Lord with our emotions and thoughts. Find a place to cool down. And wait for the Lord's direction on how and what to say.
From My Heart to Yours,
Linking with Word-Filled Wednesdays at the Internet Cafe
