Monday Musing

Signs of spring popping up:

I am so thankful for these little surprises popping up here and there- signs that spring is indeed coming after what seems like a long, cold, hard winter.  

Good Things found on my visits around the web this past week:

Simple Chicken Noodle Soup making this soon!

Lemon Pudding with Raspberry Sauce  and this one, especially since I seem to have an abundance of lemons hanging out in the fruit bin.

READ THIS Oh how He blesses when we give all to Him!

The Impact We Have  yes.

What Brings You Joy  lovely, encouragement here friends.

As we bring this month to a close, I pray you find great joy in the journey, and that the God of Hope brings you peace.  

Grace and Peace to You my Friends,

Catherine

Pondering the Power of Words

 "Everything we do is infused with the energy with which we do it."  
~Marianne Williamson

Printing this as a reminder to be mindful of what type of energy I am spreading these days.

Pondering these timely words from Study in Brown today (which  is also where I read the above words of wisdom).  

Our words are very powerful.  
Tools for building up, or sadly, when ill used- for tearing down.

I am learning that what one says and what another hears are often polar opposites.   And that I must remember to do all I can to be certain others really hear the message I am speaking and not some twisted version of it.  That very thing happened recently.  In this instance, it wasn't even spoken words, but written ones; and I learned all too well that to some people, beginning a note with please, ending with thank you, and even  including a :) in effort to convey a friendly request,  can still  be perceived otherwise.    Unfortunately, this  led to a lot of other words being shared- texts, emails, talks, and more drama than this peace-seeking mama can tolerate with grace.  
And after all my efforts to communicate with this person seem to be falling flat, I have to wonder if in this instance, it is my issue at all? 

What do you do when someone simply can't (or won't) hear what you are saying?  
I think perhaps the best thing to do now is to  offer the gift of silence and much prayer.   
And perhaps see if I can send some positive energy their way :) .  

Pondering Peacefulness

First, have peace in thy own breast, then thou wilt be qualified to restore peace to others. Peacefulness is a more useful acquisition than learning. 
~ Thomas a Kempis 

These words today (here) ... yes.  Peacefulness is so very needed these days.  It is something I am seeking to bring to my home, my little part of the world, a quiet peace.  Not reactionary, not jumping at the latest whatever that is vying for attention, not always having to put in my own opinion or even defend myself.  Sometimes just remaining silent and praying to be that person of peace (even when my flesh desires quite the opposite) is the very best I can offer.  

Blessed are the peacemakers ...

How do you pursue peace?

On Being Rich

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.
~Henry David Thoreau
I am slowly learning that there are more and more things that I should let alone.  They may be good things, the new, "in"  things, tempting and very useful  things; just not for me things.  


Knowing what to embrace and what to let alone frees me to focus on those things that truly make one rich- treasures in heaven.  


What do you need to let alone these days?  Pondering that question more and more as the new year approaches ...


I wish you simple blessings and eternal treasures in 2012!


(and I will get this template issue ironed out sometime soon .. i hope!) 

Rest

Five Minute Friday: REST.

"Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest."  

One of my very favorite verses. 

I particularly love this one in the Amplified version which says I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls. 

Oh, but how often do I ignore these words; and instead spend my time worrying, working, and wondering how I can fix things on my own?  When instead I really ought to be taking full advantage of His offer of rest, relief, and refreshing.  Oh, and that blessed quiet for my soul He also promises ... in a life as noisy as mine is lately, blessed quiet is something to be treasured!

As I write this my daughter is in the next room working out the chords to Restless by Audrey Assad ... beautiful song, such truth-

I am restless 'til I rest in You.

May you find a place of quiet rest in Him this weekend kind friends! 

Linking today to:

Beauty in Differences

Would this garden be lovelier if the flowers were all the same?
 I think not. 
Does that not ring true for people as well?
 

Let everyone be himself, and not try to be someone else. 

God, who looked on the world He had made and said it was all good, made each of us to be just what our own gifts and faculties fit us to be.  Be that and do that and so be contented.

Reverence, also, each other's gifts; do not quarrel with me because I am not you, and I will do the same.  God made your brother as well as yourself. ...

Let us not torment each other because we are not all alike, but believe that God knew best what He was doing in making us so different.  So will the best harmony come out of seeming discords, the best affection out of differences, the best life out of struggle, and the best work will be done when each does his own work, and lets everyone else do and be what God made him for.  ~ James Freeman Clarke

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 ...



Do It Anyway

DO IT ANYWAY
By Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, It is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Great words of wisdom, don't you think? 

Whatever we attempt will always be met with opposition- sometimes from enemies, often by friends; but the reality is that in the end it is God's opinion that matters ...

Dare to be yourself and do it anyway! 

Please visit Jenny Matlock for more Alphabe-Thursday posts featuring the Letter D!

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 oikos

Pondering some things I've been reading lately, such as:

The Greek word oikonomos ... translates literally as "one who manages a household", and is composed of the words oikos (household) and nemein (to manage). 

and

In its most developed form, householding becomes a model for the world at large.  ~ Harriet Fasenfest, A Householder's Guide to the Universe.  (very interesting book thus far, though I'm just getting started reading it)

I think the reason this grabbed me was because when I first saw that little word oikos, I thought of the passages of scripture that talk of "you and your household", your oikos. Often the reference is to salavation, an entire household coming to faith.  Which brings a totally different meaning to the quote to my mind than what the author probably intended. But it is true, our management of our household, our day to day living, if done purposefully and according to the Lord's leading can indeed be a model for the world at large.  A rather unnerving thought at times, because my oikos is sometimes not very orderly, and my management of it is possibly only useful as serving as a warning to do things differently or this is what may happen. 
Yet, when it comes right down to the heart of the matter, even in my often messy and mixed-up management of my oikos, the focus is on Christ, keeping Him as the center of it all and clinging daily to his amazing grace.  Perhaps those of us who don't do it so well but keep trying day after day, mess after mess, to "get it right" ...  maybe just maybe, our perseverance even in the face of frequent householding disasters, and our desperate but ever-hopeful clinging to His promise of new mercies every morning, are just the model He has chosen to use. 

... or maybe I just had too much coffee with chocolate soy milk this morning and have been spending too much time reading! 

Thoughts on your own oikonomos? 

I like this book so far, and I think I like that word householding, too. 

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! 

Rainy Day Fun

What shall we do on a rainy day?

splash in puddles
wander and wonder at the beauty of a world washed clean
nap
bake cookies ( I think ours will be a bit simpler, but had to share these beauties)
curl up with a cup of tea and a stack of books
nap
daydream
knit something
nap
play with paper dolls
eat cookies and drink more tea
nap ...

I think I see a pattern emerging here.

What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day?

Maybe I Will ...

A quote from Country Chronicle by Gladys Taber, while pondering her own experience with the Census Bureau seems very fitting today-

At what point can a citizen of our great country have any privacy?  Are we by any chance tending toward an era when the government will regulate our whole lives?  I wonder if I were to say, "I do not wish to be in the census, thank you.  Try my neighbors down the road"- would I make the FBI files?  I am too docile to ever know. ~ Gladys Taber



I suggest you read it in its entirety if you can get a copy of this book, very entertaining reading.  The part about the census was amusing, yet somewhat disturbing as I ponder actually opening my census envelope, let alone filling it out ...

Yes, I did get a rather curt notice that a response is required by law, so I should send it in right away...  a whole 2 days after I got the census envelope.  OK ...

And maybe I will ... or maybe I'll see what happens if I don't.   Docile isn't an adjective that describes me very well, I'm afraid.

And please don't rush me, it only makes me move that much slower.  That's just the way it is.   I am a classic example of James Dobson's The Strong-Willed Child, a book which was highly offensive to me when I first read it (being one, you know); but rather helpful when I had one (now 3) of my own! 

OK, enough rambling for now, I'm off to read a book, drink a cup of coffee, and ponder the question, "Will I or won't I?".  Maybe I'll just give the thing to my husband ... :)

Seed Sowing and the Colors of Spring

... pink and green, my favorites!
 
Sage, Thyme, Dianthus, and Zinnias from years past, also some of my favorites. 

I'll be growing them all again this season and next, and the next...

I plant sage because it grows like crazy, is pretty, useful for hair rinses and essential for holiday cornbread dressing.

I plant thyme because it is simply lovely and so handy in the kitchen.

Dianthus is planted because it makes me happy with such cheerful flowers.

And I must plant zinnias because they remind me of Grandma who grew zinnias in her flower gardens every year without fail, a tradition I gladly carry on.

What do you plant season after season?

Why?

I'm planting seeds indoors today, and pondering this post about sowing seeds of an entirely different, though more weighty, kind. 

What have I sown that I, or those I love, will someday reap?

What do I plan to sow in the days to come?

How do I tend those seeds that are just beginning to sprout to insure they reach maturity and produce the desired harvest?

How about you?

Many questions today ... I'm sure it is Spring Fever!

Contemplating Creatures

In a mouse we admire God’s creation and craft work. The same may be said about flies. Animals are the footprints of God. Adam and Eve derived the fullness of joy and bliss from their contemplation of all the animal creatures. ~ Martin Luther

In a mouse ... yes, cute little critters that they are, it is easy to admire God's creation in a mouse. In the rat(s) ? that have inhabited the walls of my house, that seem to find the spot in the wall behind wherever I'm sitting to be the perfect place to scratch and chew and make all sorts of odd noises; rats that sneak out at night to collect their dinner from the kitchen, and scare me half to death when I disturb one in its garbage can diving ... I'm not admiring this creature these days. No... not admiring rats at all. I might be able to admire them better if they would kindly remove themselves to the backyard.

Right now I'm contemplating the bliss of walking into the kitchen without the dread of seeing a rat's tail disappearing under the stove ... or reading a book without hearing the scurrying and scuttling of creatures racing about in the wall (what are they doing in there anyway?).

I'm trying to find Joy in this situation ... really I am.

p.s. my husband keeps telling me they make great pets. i'm not buying it. no, rats are not pets. not in my house.

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.

New Beginnings

Pondering this beautiful post and the Lord's timing today. Ann has such a lovely way of expressing her thoughts, it's always a joy to read her words.
Today's entry touched me deeply, as the Jewish New Year will also be a day of new beginnings for my family. As only the Lord can do, He orchestrated it beautifully without me having a clue until I read today's post at Holy Experience.
You see, on Saturday my husband and I have a very important meeting. In our realm, it is called a Church Planter Assessment. What that means is that we get to spend the hours from 12:00-3:00 pm answering lots of questions from our local director of missions, a representative from our state convention, a fellow pastor, and perhaps others. It promises to be somewhat nerve wracking for this woman who prefers the comfort of a backspace button to correct her frequent errors of speech. Nevertheless, this assessment will help these gentlemen see where we are in regards to our church plant, and prayerfully will encourage the entities represented to provide my husband with financial support so that he may spend more time on ministry and less time working 2 jobs to provide for his family.
Regardless of what happens in the assessment (which we have been assured will go great, no worries), this new season promises to be one of great change and challenge for us. Some changes have already taken place, many more will come in just a few short weeks, and I know the Lord has some planned that He will surprise us with at just the right time!
In light of the new year, the new season, I think a celebration is in order. I'll be perusing the links in Ann's post again and reading my copy of Celebrating Biblical Feasts to put together a little Rosh Hashanah observance for our family.
If your family observes the Biblical feasts and holidays, I'd love to hear how you celebrate them.
And, if the Holy Spirit leads ... Would you whisper a little prayer for us in the coming days?

(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.

Who Does God Want to Use?

Can God use me, flawed and failing as I often am? Has that question crossed your mind? Or do you just know that God doesn't want to use you, and you've got a long list of reasons why? Who does God use?

Ann says it much more gracefully than I ever could here. Be sure to follow the link to the rest of the story, you don't want to miss it.


I'm pondering that along with these words from Max Lucado:

BLESSED ARE THE AVAILABLE.
Blesssed are the conduits, the tunnels, the tools.

DELIRIOUSLY JOYFUL
are the ones who believe
that if God has used sticks and rocks
to do His will,
then HE CAN use us.


Also, thinking about words from yesterday's sermon. We have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that the first believers received at Pentecost. The same Spirit that sent ordinary men and women out to change the world.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7

And then, my scripture memory challenge from Memorizing Scripture Together, and it is quite a challenge for me; Romans 12 yes, the whole chapter!...but just the first verse says enough for today:

Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Lord, help me, help us all, make no more excuses, no more "if only this and when that". Help us all to say, "Yes, Lord" and get busy, now! Even if all you ask from us today is a smile, let us smile wholeheartedly, knowing it is for you.