Just thankful

I had clean laundry waiting to be folded on the bed.

Dinner in the oven and the salad was yet to be prepared.

Items were still out of place in the family room.

The dishwasher was waiting to be started.

Yet, in the midst of the busy, I was looking out the window.

I was extra tired yesterday, and it was an effort to do the normal tasks.

My heart was yearning for some quiet with my Lord and in that moment of looking outside I felt a tug.

Take a walk.

I didn’t hesitate.

Donning my coat, I told Jase I was going for a short walk around the property and left.

The sun’s rays lit up the sky in beautiful color.

Of course my phone’s camera couldn’t do justice to the awesomeness of God’s creation.

But I walked, took pictures, and prayed.

It was so good.

Exactly what I’d been needing.

Something about standing outside and looking at the amazing beauty of God’s creation reminded me to rest in Him.

Upon returning to the house I was able to complete all the required tasks.

My heart was at rest in His truth, for surely, God has every detail in hand and His ways are best.

Psalm 8:3-4NKJV — When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

Psalm 8:6-9NKJV — You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Dear Lord Jesus,

How great and awesome is Your name in all the Earth! What a blessing and privilege it is to know You, to have even a tiny amount of understanding about You and Your ways! Thank You, Jesus for all Your blessings. Thank You for being the Creator of the Universe. Thank You for being the Savior of our souls. Thank You for showing us truth and mercy, compassion and justice. Lord Jesus, You alone are worthy of all praise, all honor. May my life bring glory to Your precious name. Thank You for all You are doing and all You have done. I love You. Amen.

Displacing gloom

It’s been a few weeks.

I’ve just been extra tired or had migraines or just simply didn’t feel well.

It’s difficult to be open about days like this, as I never want to complain, but instead rejoice in the daily blessings.

This morning I felt like Eeyore.

Just a tad on the gloomy side.

Mostly, due to today’s physical limitations.

But I know what is the priority when I’m in these difficulties.

It’s extra time with Jesus.

As I prayed this morning the Lord gave me this verse.

Psalm 31:3 NKJV — For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me.

It immediately brought me through the gloom and set my heart upon trust.

God is my strength and nothing else.

If I’m limited, then He will handle it.

He guides and directs and will continue to.

All that is required of me is to trust and obey.

Praise the Lord!

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for lifting the gloom this morning. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Lord Jesus, You amaze me. Your truth, Your faithfulness, Your love, Your ways are incredible. You turn what seems to be a disaster into a blessing. You use heartache and grief to heal. You build and restore, You guide and direct. Your love is amazing! Thank You for Your wonderous works. May the whole Earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of You. Amen.

More of Jesus

Although it’s been a great month, with lot’s going on, I’ve found myself struggling.

Mostly with letting go.

Life has taught me when I’m struggling, I need more Jesus.

If I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed, I need more Jesus.

If I’m weary and burdened, I need more Jesus.

If my asthma is kicked up and my immune system is low, I need more Jesus.

Because it’s through His gentle voice I find wisdom for everything.

Sometimes it’s a matter of rest or diet.

Sometimes it’s a heart issue that needs to be surrendered.

Sometimes I just need more time with my Lord.

As I’ve been seeking God this month through prayer and extra Bible time, I felt led to read A.W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God.

It’s been wonderful.

Last night’s reading was exactly what I needed to hear.

“All our lives long we might talk of Jesus, and yet we should never come to an end of the sweet things that might be said of Him.” Chapter 3, page 39

“…God is so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful that He can, without anything other than Himself, meet and overflow the deepest demands of our nature, mysterious and deep as that nature is.” Chapter 3, page 40

There was much more, but these two reminders of Biblical truth were treasure to my heart.

God can and does fulfill all my needs.

Jesus is the most incredible person and there is no end to His goodness, His love, His faithfulness,…

I know these things.

I’ve experienced them to be true.

I just needed a reminder.

I just needed more time with the Lord.

And it has been sweet indeed.

Psalm 104:34 KJV — My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for Your truth. Thank You for being all we ever need. Lord Jesus, You truly are good, righteous, pure, holy, noble, faithful, loving, kind, gracious, and so much more. It is You, Lord who sustains us. Please let our hearts be cleansed before You. Please let us be humble and teachable, not haughty or proud. Lord, when we come across anything, joy or pain, let us look to You. Let our lives be focused upon You. Thank You for everything. Thank You for the good and the trials, for each are an opportunity to draw closer to You. May the knowledge of You fill the whole Earth. Amen.

Tired

This enormous moth,
lay on one side,
in the path of any foot,
which happened to be careless enough to step upon it.

I almost did.

Instead, with a quick sidestep,
I scooped it off the planking which makes up our stairs.

It fluttered,
slowly opened and closed it’s wings,
and clung to my hand.

I don’t know what caused it to end up on our stairs but after some sugar water it flew away.

Yet part of me could relate.

Since our return,
I have been exhausted.

Nothing seems to slow down enough to get the rest my body needs and my mind has been overwhelmed with the tasks before me.

However,
even in the rush of “do”,
I can put my tired self into the Father’s hand.

I can trust Him for the required actions of each day and let go of the ones uncompleted at the end.

Through prayer and patience I can seek others around me who might be willing to shoulder the load while I re energize.

Most of all,
I need to be on my guard against
frustration, depression, and bitterness.

When I look at the circumstances it is easy to allow selfishness to creep in and it leads to the other undesirable thoughts and actions.

To judge those around me because I can’t see myself clearly.

To feed the tired with entitlement would be to step outside the blessings of why I’m weary.

To allow thoughts which are not in line with the Lord, would be to step off the path of righteousness.

Therefore,
as I flutter from one task to the next,
I praise God for His hand of comfort;

A safe landing helping me through the tired.