Friday, July 31, 2009

and the list grows on....

38. words that revive a dry parched soul.

39. a night shared with young teenage girls who teach me more than I teach them.

40. rain that revives a thirsty garden.

41. meeting friends who are looking for more of Him and who encourage me on my journey.

42. a new life born.

43. reconnecting with old friends who have lost touch.

44. fears that subside

45. peace that resides


**this list is a continuation of the Gratitude Gifts list that Ann has going on over at Holy Experience. To learn more about it please click on the 1000 Gifts link on the right hand side of my page.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Strongholds

In the past, when I have thought of the word stronghold, I thought of it as something that holds me back from moving on. Like fear of failure, fear of death, fear of anything holding you back from accomplishing God's will in your life. And according to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 it can be these things that hold us back.

But ...could there be another definition? One that doesn't make me hide in shame or give up when I feel like I am not worthy of His love?

The dictionary.com 's definition of stronghold is as follows:

A fortified place or a fortress.
A place of survival or refuge

Gee, that word doesn't seem so scary any more. God is these things to me:

A fortified place or a fortress.
A place of survival or refuge


How amazing is that? Pretty darn....I guess sometimes you have to research something that holds you back until it doesn't seem so scary anymore. 'Cause sometimes I am too busy in my own mind instead of getting busy in His Word.

****updated photo of seedlings before transplanting (just for Lyla-lol)

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Sweet Sundays

#32- Blue skies in July

#33- Breakthroughs

#34-Natures color wheel
#35- sweet silence to reflect on all our blessings

#36-Contentment

#37-attentiveness to all that surrounds

Friday, July 17, 2009

A Perfect Way to Start the Day

I woke up surrounded in love this morning. The love of two dogs and a cat. Not to mention a hubby that had already rolled out of bed due to lack of room. When I opened my eyes I had a black lab on one side of me and a yellow lab on the other side staring at me with tails waggin'. The cat, well, he of course was curled up by my head purring like crazy in my ear. After saying good mornings, I turned over and reached for my Bible and opened the pages.....

"That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day" 2Timothy 1:12

I must have read over these words many times before, however, they really jumped out at me this morning. What have I entrusted to him for today? What have I been doing each morning? Honestly, I have not been entrusting him with my days. I have been trying to fix, change and handle everything. Now I know why I have been struggling.

So today, a new day. A new way to begin my days from now on. With a little help from my four legged furry children of course........


Lord, today I give you everything. Whatever may come, whatever may not come its okay because you are in control and I am not. Take my worries and hold on to them for me...I trust you with them. Thank you for this great reminder today. Help me hold onto these words all through my days.


#31- Perfect ways to start days

Friday, July 10, 2009

The Master Gardener

Dirt stirred around.

A seed sown.

Covered with soil.

Water to bring life.

The wait begins.

Hopeful anticipation of what is to come, what it will be.



I check them in the morning and then again in the evening. Searching for a stirring, a breakthrough. I wait..not so patiently.

But He is....patient. This is what He does....Patiently watching me...feeding me...waiting for a stirring.

My dirt is stirred. My fears, anxieties and trials are all brought to the potting bench.

A seed is sown. Kind words from a friend sharing a verse to reflect upon.

Covered with soil. Prayers are lifted up and troubles are handed over.

Water brings life. His word, water for my dry soul.

And He watches over me patiently. Waiting for my response to His call. Waiting for me to break through and reach for Him and feel the warmth of His Son.

I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Psalm 143:6

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Details

Details. Wow! When you stop and really look at things in your ordinary everyday life you realize that there are so many tiny little details that you just don't take notice to on a daily basis.

I was walking around the yard this evening and I noticed. I noticed how detail oriented God really is. Sure, I know he cares about the little things as much as He cares about the big things but He really went above and beyond in pointing things out to me that I may normally overlook in the hurriednss of my day.

Note to self: This is one of the those times He is reminding you to slow down. To stop and notice the details.


Well, I have decided to take you on a tour and join me in some details. Nothing profound just a reminder....


My purple butterfly bush always looks so beautiful when its blooming. The blooms look like they have been strategically placed in a spiral pattern up the stem. And just how did God get that orange dot perfectly placed in the center of each tiny flower?



My yellow butterfly bush which is right next to the purple one makes me smile when I look at it. It is just now starting to bloom. This one looks like yellow pom poms.

My obedient plant. (that is really the name of it). I bought it as a reminder to be obedient to His calling in my life. It looks so delicate but since I have planted it I have found out that this plant can be quite invasive in some growing zones. Just one more reminder to me that I have to tame my humaness and rely more on Him.


Our sitting area by the koi pond. My favorite place to just sit and listen to everything all around me. The sound of the water can put me to sleep!



My little kids-lol. These are our Koi and yes, I have them all named. They are all so different and have so many bright colors. They even have different personalities. They love to be hand fed and love to be petted. Once again, a reminder that we are all different shapes and colors and personalities but God made us all. We also all long to be loved.


So this evening I am thanking Him for the details of my life. He knows every one of them by heart. He reminds me that with Him anything is possible.


Gratitude gift #30

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Just Because....

When I was a little girl I remember being so full of questions and my parents having to try and answer those questions to the best of their ability. They were always so patient with me...they still are. Sometimes the answers were very well thought out and explained and at other times it was a simple "Just because, honey".

The older I get the more I realize that more and more of my why questions are answered with "just because". Little by little I am realizing that not everything makes sense in my very very small perspective of things. To some questions I may get real tangible answers but other questions may not be explainable to my human mind. However, the "just because" works to put peace in my heart.

Why has this happened?

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)


He whispers to me "just because" so that I give my fears and anxieties over to Him. He tells me that it is not always going to make sense.

But HE does. HE makes perfect sense....and right now, that's all I need to know!



"We live by faith...not by sight!" (2 Corinthians 5:7)