Seeking and Seeing

What do we do on a scorching hot end-of-summer day, when tempers are reflecting temperature? 
A 2-month string of days with 100+ on the thermometer gets to us all eventually. 
When it's too hot to garden, or play outside, or hike, or well, most any of the things we normally do when we are tired of being inside-  we head to one of our favorite places to see what beauty we can discover.


A space with fans blowing cool, moist air, lots of green ...



fountains! 



trays and trays of crazy beauty- some lovely, some beautiful by virtue of downright weirdness!



And what do my beautiful beauty-seekers choose from the myriad of offerings (for you know we must bring home a plant or two)? 



Living Stones (lithops)

Of all the plants, not only in the greenhouse but outside, my children choose these because they look like stones (another of their favorite collectible items). 

Amazing, this God of ours.
We go hunting for relief from the heat, a change of scenery, some new living thing for the home; and in our searching we find what we really need, the one thing that will bring the refreshment we are seeking, true beauty-  Him.

For there He is- right there in that tiny plant, just waiting for us to see Him:

⁴As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ⁵ you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶For it stands in Scripture:

"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
1 Peter 2:4-6 (ESV)

He is there, wherever you may be today. 
Take a moment to really look ... seek and ye shall find. 


Another of our favorite places we visited yesterday- oh the loveliness of all that yarn ... so many ideas (but that's another post)! 

Summer Thoughts

This fiery zinnia perfectly represents the weather here lately- HOT. 

Despite the sizzling temperatures, I've continued to enjoy quiet days of simply "being".  Wandering the community garden in the evenings, sitting poolside and watching the children swim, enjoying the birds and other small creatures that seek out the flowers, feeders, and fountains.  Letting my thoughts wander freely, sometimes scratching them down on paper ... often not.  Simply enjoying summer.

His words for me this season seem to be ... Be Still. Just "be".   And when I am, I find Him in those quiet spaces- speaking to me through the beauty of creation, splashing water, cool breezes, waves on the water ... Everywhere, when I take the time to be fully present.

Have a wonderful weekend.  I urge you to take a few moments (or a few days, weeks, whatever you can manage) and practice the art of simply "being".  It is hard for those of us who are accustomed to busy lives of "doing", but what a blessing it is to simply "be still" before the LORD. 

I'll be back soon ...    



Quiet Thought for Today ...

The eyes of faith are more reliable than eyes of sight. ~ Andree Seu, from this post

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:1-2

Open my eyes that I may see ...



How Do You Change a Mind (or a heart) ?

People's minds are changed through observation and not through argument.  ~ Will Rogers

Pondering this today and wondering how to apply it to a situation that is causing me great sadness.  We've already spent far too much time and energy arguing; and we are no closer to resolving our differences. 

What frustrates me most is that most of the arguments set forth aren't even logical. 
Questions like, "What do you mean by all"? 
Well ... what do you think I mean by "all"? I mean all! Every,todos, ALL. 
Is that really so hard, one little 3 letter word? 
I think not.

"Who are you to question God?" 
I'm not questioning God at all, what I am questioning is your interpretation of Him. 
And for what it's worth, I don't think it bothers God one bit for me to question Him ... He's big enough to deal with questions from His children. 

Lots and lots of words ... my words, other people's words, more importantly- God's WORD;  but words aren't working here, and I am simply tired of both talking and listening.

So, maybe the only thing to do now is be quiet, pray without ceasing, continue to walk in love ... and leave the rest up to God.

What do you do when words don't work? 

Pray for my friends please? 

On Being Spoken

Pondering this today ...

"We do not need to defend who we are. Such defense prevents us from becoming who we're meant to be." 
(Oh that I had read that yesterday, before I felt the need to defend ... and did, badly. )

The above quote is from Fr. Stephen Freeman, shared in this post, much to glean there. 

Authenticity
and
Transparency 

have both been on my heart lately. 

And this from the book I am reading these days, Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning-

"God utters me like a word containing a partial thought of himself.  A word will never be able to comprehend the voice that utters it.  But if I am true to the concept God utters in me, if I am true to the thought in him I was meant to embody, I shall be full of his actuality and find him everywhere in myself, and find myself nowhere.  I shall be lost in him.  ~Thomas Merton

In patient endurance we wait for God to make clear what he wants to say through us.  Such waiting demands not only alert attention but the courage to let ourselves be spoken.  Such courage arises from unfailing trust in the wisdom of God, WHO UTTERS NO FALSE WORD.  ~ Brennan Manning, Ruthless Trust

So my friends, dare we allow God to speak through us? Are we prepared for what He has to say to the world via our lives, both the beauty and the brokenness?   If so, we must join these other brave souls and live life authentically, transparently ... and together we will write the beautiful story of the God of grace, or rather He will write it through us!

Just me, barefoot and doing what I do- loving the little ones and the least of these.  This little one is my niece, a very special blessing indeed.  She was born on Thanksgiving day almost 2 years ago, and we've been giving thanks for her every day since! 

The Work of Christmas

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.
-Howard Thurman

Shall we get to work my friends?

The Gift of Joy

There are souls in this world which have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go. ~Frederick Wm. Faber

I want this gift! To find joy everywhere, and then to leave it behind where ever I go ... Yes, finding and spreading Joy; that's a good gift.

Since in His Presence is fullness of Joy ... and He is indeed everywhere, this really should be a simple thing to do ... if only I'll keep my eyes on the Joy Giver instead of my own little dust-being.


Joy is the flag you fly when the Prince of Peace
is in residence within your heart. ~Wilfred Peterson

I pray our flags of Joy fly high and spread the gift of Joy everywhere we go this season ... and for all our days.

Joy...a net of love and my heart's cry

Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. ~Mother Teresa



Thinking about spreading a net of love today...
There are so many stray souls, precious souls, who need to be caught up in love by joyful Christians and brought to Him...so, so many.




Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Matthew 9:37


Lord,
So many need you, your love, your salvation, your grace.
Help me, Jesus, to be joyful so that I may spread the net of love
for those lost ones, those wandering ones, searching for something...
searching for Love, for You; though they might not realize it just yet.

Lord,
Help me choose joy, when my first response is irritation.
When I spend Labor Day morning rushing from place to place, children in tow,
with husband searching for a place for a homeless man who asked for our help to lay his head that night.
When finally an available bed, and a promise to hold it is secured (Thank you, Jesus!), and we have just enough time to dash home for husband to change into his work clothes and drive the 15 minutes back into town to drop him off.
When I must assume the task of meeting the homeless gentleman and directing him to his place of shelter; with strict instructions from husband, as this is not the safest area of town... he'll call to check on me.
When not wanting to make another round trip home and back, the children and I spend the day in town, window shopping, running assorted errands...mostly waiting for the appointed meeting time.
When I arrive a bit early and find no one waiting, so I drive down the block and come back. No, he's still not there. I drive around again, being instructed not to park and wait for him...and I drive, and pray, and wait. Nothing. Frustration mounts. I've spent most of the day on this man, and now he doesn't even show up. I assume (and pray) he's found his own place to stay; but I am annoyed that he didn't even bother to come and let us know; especially after he was so adamant yesterday that my husband not forget to meet him!
When husband calls and I must tell him the news.
When after he gets off work, we go back to the shelter so he can go inside and check to see if perhaps the man is there.....no, not there. Irritation at the thoughtlessness of this man remains throughout the evening, interrupted by intermittent prayers...just in case something happened to him.
Where was my joy? Why could I not just do my part and leave the rest to You? I made the wrong choice...until that little whisper of the Spirit caused me to pray.

"Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul."

Lord,
Forgive me when I am irritated at the inconveniences that come with serving You.
For, it was You after all, that we were serving as we searched for and located a place for this man. I should be grateful for Your provision for him, even if he didn't take advantage of it.

How many times, Lord, did you make provision for me, only to have me choose to do things my own way instead?
And Your response to me? Not frustration or irritation,
but grace, grace upon grace, time after time...
how I still need Your grace, Father!

Help me, Lord, to choose joy,
when it has to be a conscious choice,
when otherwise my flesh
would yield up something quite less lovely.

Help me, Lord, to choose...
joy instead of judgement,
grace instead of griping,
to learn to live and love like You, always.

Thank you for Your grace, Lord;
for I am so very, very needful of it myself.

Thank you for the Joy that comes
when I choose to serve no matter the outcome,
because of You, for You, with You...
for in Your presence, Lord, there is fullness of Joy!


I pray that a multitude of joyful souls will spring up and go forth, spreading joy to those who need it most; and that those willing to choose joy, will be renewed, refreshed and abundantly blessed for their obedience to the Joy Giver!


Join me in choosing Joy today...for His glory, and for the sake of those souls who need to be brought into His kingdom?




To read more heart's cries today, drop by Holy Experience.

A Simple Shell

Pilgrimage into Prayer...

(Girls dancing on the beach as the sun rose...3 years have passed, but they still greet each day with singing and often dancing!)

Pondering these words from Gift from the Sea...

I mean to lead a simple life, to choose a simple shell I can carry easily- like a hermit crab. But I do not. I find that my frame of life does not foster simplicity.

I find that sometimes I take on more than I can carry easily...it is not hard to do in today's world, is it? There are so many good, worthwhile things to do.

When I notice myself (and my family) struggling under the weight of my "shell" it is time to do some unloading of excess baggage and simplify life a little.

As the hermit crab seeks out a new shell when his no longer fits, I may have to remove things and rearrange my life so that it almost seems that I have a "new shell", too. A life that fits my frame (and my family's)...a frame that can only handle so much, since I am (we are), after all... "just dust"! For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. Psalm 103:14

It takes time...this soul searching and prayer that I must do in order to adjust my life to align with His Will. I may find it needful to retreat into my own shell for a little while...and just sit at His feet and listen. But, when I pray and wait, seek His counsel and His path for me...my life, my shell, becomes easy to carry...for His yoke is easy and His burden light (Matthew 11:30).

Then, there will be time for the important things...like greeting the sunrise with a dance on the beach.

I always come back to these words:

But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. ~Hans Hofmann

What is the necessary saying today?

(4 year-old Cana, offering Mommy a shell...She still collects shells for me, even though she's 7 now!)

Lord, give me ears to hear and eyes to see You today...in the little things, like a sunrise dance on the beach, or the gift of a shell from the hands of my child. As I spend time with You in prayer...sitting at Your feet; show me what is necessary this day. Help me create a shell that fits...for their sake as much as mine.

(in)courage...What Encourages Me

What encourages me?

Words...yes, as in the familiar phrase... an encouraging word.

But, not just any words... they must be truth-filled, life-giving, living words. When I think of being encouraged or (in)couraged...the living Word, God's Word is first and foremost in my mind.
Words such as:

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you He will not fail you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Wait for the LORD;Be strong and let your heart take courage;Yes, wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, " Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Matthew 14:27

Over and over the Word of God tells us to take courage!

These words are very (in)couraging to me.


The other words that encourage me are the stories of other women who have taken courage; who have overcome their own fears and failures to become wonderful, grace-filled vessels that the Lord uses to bless others.
These brave souls who share their stories are the encouragement for me to push past my own fears and folly, to tell my own story...and His; hoping that my simple words will encourage another seeker of Truth, another thirsty soul who needs a little living water poured out for her to drink, another sorely tried and soul-tired traveler, in need of a little (in)couragement.

But Jesus turning and seeing her said, "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well." At once the woman was made well. Matthew 9:22

Be (in)couraged! He has overcome the world...He (in)courages!

Come, and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what He has done for my soul. Psalm 66:16

On Solitude

It is in deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers. The more solitary I am the more affection I have for them… Solitude and silence teach me to love my brothers for what they are, not for what they say. ~ Thomas Merton

Pondering this as I prepare for an evening of solitude, a rare occurrence for me. Most of my times of solitude come in the early morning hours after my husband leaves for work and before the little Loves tumble out of bed. But, tonight I will have several hours to myself...hours to spend in silence, in prayer, in Bible reading and meditation. Time to again find the gentleness I need to truly love those around me...something that I am very much in need of these days.

He knows what we must have, and meets every need...Thank You, Father!

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

He will not always strive with us,

Nor will He keep His anger forever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Just as a father has compassion on his children,

So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

For He Himself knows our frame;

He is mindful that we are but dust.

Psalm 103:8-14

Lord, I pray that as I spend time in silence and solitude this evening, Your Spirit will fill me and change this one who is very dusty today...

As the cool of the evening brings new blossoms and a sweet fragrance to the Four O'Clock...

I pray that You will bring freshness, newness, the fragrance of Christ into my life. More grace Father, I am always in need of further grace...Fill me so that I may once again gently pour out Your Love to the dusty souls You bring to me.

A Reminder for Me Today

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. Psalm 34:8-10

Oh how I need this to sink in and take root in my heart.

Pondering...

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you", that would suffice.
~Meister Eckhart

My thought today is, "Should Thank You, Lord" not flow from my own heart a thousand times each day? And, even if it did...it wouldn't even begin to be enough.