Rest

After a week, oh what a week(!)- of tax filing, 2 memorial services back to back on the same day, and a birthday party (My 'baby' will be 13 on Monday!).  A week when all of the little details and to dos  press in and stress and strain, and after a while my heart pounds, my brain refuses to make even simple decisions like 'What's for dinner?', and I want to crawl under the covers and hide, or get in the van and drive far, far away, just to have a little peace and quiet.

I wake up early, pull out my Bible, sit a while and read; and I remember the promises, words I've hidden in my heart for times such as these.  The verse above is one I turn to time and time again, a reminder that I don't have to bear these burdens ...

Jesus says, "Come to Me, weary, burdened, headed for burn-out Mama.  Lay those crazy-making things that you are stressing and worrying over right down.  They are too heavy for you, but not for Me.  Sit at My feet.  Don't be afraid.  Trust in Me.  I have overcome the world.  Your troubles are no match for my strength and power.  Rest."

Why do I wait until I'm at the edge of sanity to remember?  Why this soul amnesia?  Why do I think that I could or even should bear these burdens alone?  I don't know, but I do know that when I come to the end  of myself and reach up, He is there waiting, offering peace, blessed quiet, and joy for my soul.

So, if you've had one of those weeks, or days, or what seems like a whole season of burdens too heavy to bear.  Remember, rest and refreshment are only a prayer away.

I pray for a weekend filled with the blessing of resting in Him, for peace that passes understanding, and abundant life-giving Joy for your soul.

Love,

Catherine Ann

HAPPY EARTH DAY

 

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for He founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.  Psalm 24:1-2

Embracing Old Paths

As I EMBRACE my life this year, I find myself returning to old paths-
life-giving practices that nurture heart and soul.

Steeping myself in the WORD, reading and meditating on one chapter a week from the book of Mark. Loving this app for reading and listening on my iphone.

Memorizing scriptures from the book of John- #TheJesusProject.

Rising early for silence and solitude.

Journaling gratitude. 1000 gifts

Daily Morning Pages- 3 pages scribbled into a composition book which clears the air for creativity to speak.

Studying the Classics- Mentoring in the Classics (continuing education for mom)

Herbcraft for the  Home- a daily practice for many years

What paths are you walking this season?

Word for 2014- EMBRACE

EMBRACE
1. To take, clasp or enclose in the arms; to press to the bosom, in token of affection.

2. To seize eagerly; to lay hold on; to receive or take with willingness that which is offered

3. To comprehend; to include or take in

4. To comprise; to enclose; to encompass; to contain; to encircle.

5. To receive; to admit.

6. To find; to take; to accept.

(from Webster’s 1828 dictionary) 

As I've pondered and prayed for a word for the coming year,
this one embraced me.
Kind of snuck up and grabbed me, you know,
like one of those hugs that you aren't expecting,
but are thankful for once the initial shock is over?  

And as I sat with this word- embrace ... it fits.

  

It is time to embrace this life; this simple,
home-centered,
Christ-centered,
mama life that I live.  

The life that is messy and often loud,
crowded with people and projects that all vie for my attention,
sometimes all at the same time.

And also the life that calls me to slip away for solitude and silence,
time alone with my Lord and my pen and the page.

It is the year to EMBRACE who I am,
even if I have heard "You are something else"
too often for comfort lately ...
something else, well maybe I am, and I'm OK with that ...
especially since I'm not even sure what the comparison is ;) .  

So, here's to 2014- the year to EMBRACE
the something else that I am,
the journey I am on, the life I've been given,
my work in this world,
and the beautiful souls I am blessed to share it with.  

What are you embracing this year?

Do you have a word for 2014?  If so, I'd love to know what it is!

Prayers for many blessings this year my friends,

Catherine

PEACE

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. 

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Isaiah 9:5-7

Hoping you find PEACE in the Advent waiting ... 

In this busy season, take time for seeking peace, slip away for a few quiet moments, 

have a cup of tea, read a few lines of a favorite book, go for a walk and take in the beauty of nature, listen for that still small voice that whispers 'My Peace I give to you'.

Where do you find peace this season?

A Prayer for Today

Almighty God, who of Thine infinite wisdom hast ordained that I should live my life within these narrow bounds of time and circumstance, let me now go forth into the world with a brave and trustful heart.
~ John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer

This is my prayer today, for each of us- that we will go forth into this world with brave hearts, trusting that the Great God who calls us to our particular set of circumstances and knows the battles that must be fought today, that He will be with us, leading, guiding, protecting, providing.

Because for some of us, just getting out of bed is a full-on war.  Others must conquer foreign lands such as algebra, the minefield of teenage emotions, the war-zone like appearance of a house filled with kids and their friends, hard conversations with spouses, illness, debt, a difficult boss, the editor or critic who insists that you can't possibly say what you know you must (because it is your story after all) ... these and  the myriad other situations that require us to show up, be brave, and trust that God will see us through.

For though there be dragons- sometimes they are friendly...  

like this little dragon who found his way to my desk.  

He seems quite pleasant and encouraging.  

I hope the daughter who created him will let him stay with me a while.   

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24
Be brave today friend.  He is with us. Always

Thankful for Simple Gifts

Simple gifts I'm thankful for this season:

More serranos and jalapenos than I honestly want to think about- abundance gathered before the first freeze.

Jars of pickled peppers- some for eating, others to be given as gifts.

eucalyptus and bay trees brought inside for winter- outside in, freshening the air, brightening the home

citrus in bloom, despite grasshopper ravaged foliage- sweetly scenting the house

 

ginger infused honey on the windowsill- both seasonal relief, and tasty treat

leaves for the Thanksgiving Tree, to be signed with thoughts of gratitude and hung on simple branches- counting gifts of grace

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
    I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.  Psalm 9:1-3

What are you giving thanks for this season?

Sacred Space

"Work is not always required... there is such a thing as sacred idleness, the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected." - George MacDonald

A timely reminder as I work on a schedule for this season of life.  I'll be intentional about leaving space in our days for practicing 'sacred idleness'. 

I like the sound of that.  A bit of sacred idleness will be a welcome change.

How about you?  

Where are you leaving space in your schedule for rest, holy leisure, sacred idleness?

Sitting by the Sea

When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused.
- Rainer Maria Rilke

 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.  Matthew 13:1

Spending these summer days sitting by the sea, sitting on the back porch watching the rain drip off the roof, purposefully sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Soon enough it will be time to get back to the busy routines of daily life; but for now ... I am content, waiting for the gift found in sitting at His feet.


From one of my favorite summer reads:

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach--waiting for a gift from the sea."
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

What gifts have you discovered this summer?

Through the Door of Stillness

salvia

Today

Today I’m flying low and I’m
not saying a word.
I’m letting all the voodoos of ambition sleep.

The world goes on as it must,
the bees in the garden rumbling a little,
the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten.
And so forth.

But I'm taking the day off.
Quiet as a feather.
I hardly move though really I’m traveling
a terrific distance.

Stillness. One of the doors
into the temple.

-Mary Oliver  A Thousand Mornings

Simply thinking quiet thoughts today, praying silent prayers; being still.

Letting God be God...

Be still, and know that I am God.  from Psalm 46:10

Quiet Thoughts

It's a rainy, wintry Friday.
Perfect weather for an afternoon nap,
a cup of tea,
and quiet prayer.

Me, being silent, listening; waiting peacefully for that whisper of Grace.
For Spirit seldom shouts ...

... 'in quietness and trust is your strength' ... Isaiah 30:15



Wishing You a weekend filled with quiet, whispered Blessings,

Catherine

Return to Simplicity

2013 is my year of Return.

A return to the life I desire to live.

A life of simplicity; with less muchness and manyness, and more simply being.

Last year was busy.  Crazy busy, good busy mostly; but the busyness of last year sent my simple life spinning in too many directions for sanity.  

As I prayed and pondered about the new year, the word RETURN kept surfacing.

And as I've meditated on it, I realize that is exactly what I need- a return to simplicity.

Less doing and more being.

Less going and more staying.

Less working and more praying.

I also plan a return to writing regularly in this space.  I've missed being here ...

Happy Weekend!

Beyond ...

"This is beyond me, far more than I can do on my own, Lord.

But, You know that; and honestly, isn't that the point?  

If I can handle it on my own, it's probably not a God-worthy task anyway.

So, OK then ... Your power is made perfect in my weakness, right?"  

My thoughts upon finding out via voicemail that I've been named to lead the Street Camp Bible studies for our mission trip after the 'real leader' had to cancel.  Which means that I'm about to be stretched wayyyyy beyond my comfort zone.  Kids' Bible studies. no problem.  I've done that hundreds of times.

4 days of Street Camp with August in  Texas heat AND a donkey puppet ... Lord help me!  

Seeking Sabbath

Come to me all, who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28


Seeking His quiet rest this evening:
glass of iced green tea and a
stack of books on the night stand-
Bible, Isaiah 58 today
Simplicity, by John Michael Talbot, a title I pick up again and again
One Thousand Gifts, revisiting the many highlighted pages

listening to- Build Your Kingdom Here, by Rend Collective Experiment


I pray you find His rest this weekend,
Catherine

Making a List

Just this today- 10 Real Ways You Could Really Be the Change in the World

As I make lists for our mission trip, I'm making another based on this post.  Making a few changes here.
How about you?
Join in and Be the Change.

Blessings,
Catherine

FREE

My word for 2012 is FREE ...
to do new things,
to revisit old paths,
to say no to things that aren't for me this season,
to simply be free in Him who sets the captives free.

More on my year to be FREE later, do you have a word for 2012?
If so, I'd love to know what it is.  

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!) 

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)! 

Steps and Stops

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Psalm 37:23

The stops of a good man, as well as his steps, are ordered by the Lord. ~ George Mueller


Have you ever had the Lord stop you? Keep you still, perhaps in a place that you wanted to step right on out of?

That is exactly where our family has been for what seems like a very long time to our finite minds. Stopped. Waiting. Hoping, praying, pleading for the Lord to move us on from where we are ... knowing that until He does so, we are at a full stop; no going anywhere from where we are "camped".

It hasn't been a place I would have chosen to stop and tarry for so long. Yet, I know that there are purposes for our God caused stop, some of which I will probably never know until I reach heaven.

We are seeing the cloud lifting and are beginning to prepare for whatever lies ahead. 

Still more questions than answers ...

But, we know that He has the answers, and knows exactly when and where to move us in our journey with Him.
He has said, "Get ready." So we are getting ready and waiting for His call to "Follow Me."
And, off we will go, with great joy, knowing that both our stops and our steps are ordered by Him!

If you are at a place where you feel stopped, stuck, or stalled...
Take heart, it very well could be exactly where the Lord wants you for a season!
I'm not saying it is going to be an easy place to be; but if it is from Him, it is good, because He is good and what He does is good (Psalm 119:68).

Take joy, Trust Him and tarry there as long as He says to do so.

There are many blessings in obedience...something I wish I had learned years ago..

A slightly edited repost from the archives today ... 2 years ago and yet it fits just where we are right now.  The journey indeed has its seemingly endless stops and starts, but we can trust Him to bring us to the final destination all in His good timing!

Tuesday Tip ~ Evaluate and Eliminate

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

This is one of my favorite simple living quotes, but one of the hardest for me to follow. 

I find so many good things that I want to read, do, create, and so forth.  It is easy to get bogged down with good things, even in my spiritual life.  Chapter 1 of my newest read, Radical Together, titled Tyranny of the Good, addresses this very issue.  It states, "One of the worst enemies of Christians can be good things in the church."  I can so relate to this right now.



Spring is always a busy time of year for my family-
The garden demands daily watering and weeding.
We are working to finish up the year's homeschool stuff (though year-round learning is in the works for us).
There is a seemingly unending schedule of holidays and celebrations to plan for, attend, serve at, etc.

All good things, but after a while I find myself becoming increasingly stressed and ready to hide out in a very quiet cave for a month or so, something that sounds very tempting about now ... which tells me it is time to elminate some good things so I can joyfully enter into those that are best for me and mine. 

This is never an easy task, but a necessary one. 
Over the next few days I will be prayerfully taking an inventory of  all the good things on my family's to-do list, evaluating each one, and asking which need to go so that there will be time and space for us to fully enjoy His best things for us.   

How do you evaluate and elimate even good things in order to simplify your life?

More thoughts on this topic in this post.

For more Letter E Alphabe-Thursday fun, visit Jenny Matlock!