Today I am looking at my blog picture wishing I were there. My imagination will have to do it for me. I love being by a brook, hearing the water flow over the rocks. Oh, the quietness! Letting go of all pressures. Communing with God. Maybe even letting a few tears fall.
I was looking in a friends' magazine yesterday. It showed different ways you could build your own little trickling pond or even a small creek in your own back yard. I have the perfect place for it. We have an area of trees in the back of our yard. I have a bench out there that I use for a quiet place. It faces backwards to the field behind our property. It makes me feel like I am out in the country. I have a few Dollar Store stones with scriptures on them scattered here and there. It is not as neat as you would see in a magazine or in some creative person's yard but I like it. I do little clean ups now and then back there. Maybe someday I'll have more time to make it picture perfect. I kind of like the rustic look, though.
Imaginative solitude is nice, too. I am reminded of some lines in the movie "Love Comes Softly". Marty is trying to get Missy interested in reading. She tells her how you can be anywhere or anything you want in a book.
I think there will be quiet places to enjoy in heaven. We will certainly be away from pressures and heartaches. And I could certainly use more time imagining what that will be like.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Pressure Wash
It is our month to clean the church and so last Saturday we decided that we would pressure wash the front porch. Actually, it was Rick who did the pressure washing along with Pastor James. While I was cleaning inside, they were cleaning outside. After they got the green yucky stuff off the porch rails, I guess one thing led to another and they began using the pressure washer on the front sidewalk. I had never thought the sidewalk was black, but once one square was clean the difference was like night and day. James mentioned how this had a spiritual application. We may think that things in our life are looking okay. But if we allow God to "pressure wash" us, he can show us things that we were blind to.
We get so used to seeing things a certain way we get in a rut. Then we are not open to the insights from God that are much brighter and bigger than our narrow view. The saying is if you do what you've always done you're going to get what you've always got.
We get so used to seeing things a certain way we get in a rut. Then we are not open to the insights from God that are much brighter and bigger than our narrow view. The saying is if you do what you've always done you're going to get what you've always got.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Ebenezer
I was looking briefly last night at Sis. Becky Laywell's post. She mentioned an old hymn that had a line "I lift my Ebenezer". She went on to explain how in I Samuel when the Israelites defeated the Philistines, Samuel took a stone and called it Ebenezer, meaning The Lord helped us.
In reading I Samuel 7:1-12, a lot of passages stuck out in my mind.
Verse 2: "...the time was long, for it was 20 years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord." How long a trial can last sometimes. How long we can bear a burden. Yes, it can be years until we see the burden lifted, a soul saved, a situation righted. No wonder God has to remind us in his Word to hold on, take courage, endure, don't give up the faith, don't think it strange the fiery trial that comes upon you. We humans want fast deliverance. Especially in this day and time when we are amidst a generation that wants a quick answer from the internet, a quick meal from the microwave and a pill that cures all ills.
Verse 3: "...return to the Lord with all your hearts, put away strange gods...he will deliver you ..:
What do I need to do to prepare my heart. What do I need to put away?
Verse 9 and 10: When Samuel prayed, the Lord heard him, and as he was performing his offering, the Philistines drew near to battle. Many times when we get down to pray or after we get up, there is a battle that comes against us. When we are seeking the Lord, Satan does not sit still. He goes to work against us. But thank God, we can lift up our Ebenezer stone and say "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
In reading I Samuel 7:1-12, a lot of passages stuck out in my mind.
Verse 2: "...the time was long, for it was 20 years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord." How long a trial can last sometimes. How long we can bear a burden. Yes, it can be years until we see the burden lifted, a soul saved, a situation righted. No wonder God has to remind us in his Word to hold on, take courage, endure, don't give up the faith, don't think it strange the fiery trial that comes upon you. We humans want fast deliverance. Especially in this day and time when we are amidst a generation that wants a quick answer from the internet, a quick meal from the microwave and a pill that cures all ills.
Verse 3: "...return to the Lord with all your hearts, put away strange gods...he will deliver you ..:
What do I need to do to prepare my heart. What do I need to put away?
Verse 9 and 10: When Samuel prayed, the Lord heard him, and as he was performing his offering, the Philistines drew near to battle. Many times when we get down to pray or after we get up, there is a battle that comes against us. When we are seeking the Lord, Satan does not sit still. He goes to work against us. But thank God, we can lift up our Ebenezer stone and say "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The Good Samaritan
Part of the renewal that God gives us is a breath of fresh air from an individual. When you feel like you are all alone, how refreshing to have someone come along and pray for, encourage and uplift you.
When you "expand your borders" and allow someone to minister to you that previously you had not known or been associated with what a blessing it is. The lesson of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 is an example of this. The man that fell among thieves, was wounded and left half dead. Two people that you would think would be the most likely to help him left him to die. Didn't want to get involved, didn't want to risk helping, didn't want to put their reputation on the line. But the Samaritan had compassion on him, bound his wounds, made provision for him. This blesses me even as I write it. Thank God for those who have done this for me. Thank God for the freedom of "expanding my borders" and fellowshipping with others that are willing to risk loving me.
This is just like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who is willing to lay down his life for us. The One who is willing to climb over the ledges and mountains, aware of the dangers, but determined to help us. He has never failed me. He saved me when I was 15 and has been my refuge ever since. My life is not a bed of roses, but thank God for the breaths of fresh air from the Spirit of God and those good Samaritans who have helped bind my wounds.
When you "expand your borders" and allow someone to minister to you that previously you had not known or been associated with what a blessing it is. The lesson of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 is an example of this. The man that fell among thieves, was wounded and left half dead. Two people that you would think would be the most likely to help him left him to die. Didn't want to get involved, didn't want to risk helping, didn't want to put their reputation on the line. But the Samaritan had compassion on him, bound his wounds, made provision for him. This blesses me even as I write it. Thank God for those who have done this for me. Thank God for the freedom of "expanding my borders" and fellowshipping with others that are willing to risk loving me.
This is just like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who is willing to lay down his life for us. The One who is willing to climb over the ledges and mountains, aware of the dangers, but determined to help us. He has never failed me. He saved me when I was 15 and has been my refuge ever since. My life is not a bed of roses, but thank God for the breaths of fresh air from the Spirit of God and those good Samaritans who have helped bind my wounds.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Breath Of Fresh Air
I am starting this blog for more than one reason. I desire to share and listen to "kindred spirits". My daughter, Julie, has inspired me by her own blog. I appreciate the thoughts God gives her. I have much work to do on designing my own blog and I am sure I am going to need her help, as I am not very creative.
Speaking of kindred spirits, one of the reasons for my title is the breath of fresh air I get from the Spirit of God. I appreicate the time he came into my life when I was a teenager. And I greatly appreciate the many times he has breathed fresh air to my spirit. Isaiah 40:31 says, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." And Psalm 23:3, "He restoreth my soul".
There is much more I could add to this, but this is my start. Hope it is encouraging to you.
**NOTE: Mom, you originally had this on your first blog that you were trying to figure out. This post we really written 3 days ago, on Sunday May 18th. Thought I'd add it here so you could still have your first original blog posted here. Hope you don't mind. :o)
Speaking of kindred spirits, one of the reasons for my title is the breath of fresh air I get from the Spirit of God. I appreicate the time he came into my life when I was a teenager. And I greatly appreciate the many times he has breathed fresh air to my spirit. Isaiah 40:31 says, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." And Psalm 23:3, "He restoreth my soul".
There is much more I could add to this, but this is my start. Hope it is encouraging to you.
**NOTE: Mom, you originally had this on your first blog that you were trying to figure out. This post we really written 3 days ago, on Sunday May 18th. Thought I'd add it here so you could still have your first original blog posted here. Hope you don't mind. :o)
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