Book discussion group

I'm joining Beth Moore's discussion group for her new book SO LONG INSECURITY on her blog.
Join me?

Jesus and me and the sea...

The God who made me, who wrote a journal about every day of my life before I was even born, (Psalm 139:16), knows of my affinity for the sea.  So, surely He knows I'm really not much of a mansion type gal...and that place He has gone to prepare for me, surely He knows I would much prefer a simple cottage by the sea.  Yes, I'm quite sure He does know, for often that is where He meets me now, there by the sea...I look out at that endless expanse of blue, gray waves and the fact that He made and controls the wind and the waves reassures me that there is absolutely nothing in my life beyond His control.  And I am overwhelmed, that this great God, creator of all things, knows the number of every hair on my head, has thoughts about me that number more than the grains of sand on the very beach I walked today, and loves me with the whole of His great heart.  I walk, look out at the beauty, talk to the One Who created it, created me, and His peace, His presence rolls over me like the waves.

Thank you God...

251) ...our regional minister's meeting is being held at my favorite place...by the sea.  Thank You for ministering to my heart as I walked and talked with You today.

252) ...friends who let us use their beautiful timeshare condo here instead of having to stay in a small hotel room

253)...kind and encouraging blog comments

254)...snuggling up in bed on a rainy night under a cozy quilt reading a good book

255)...being awakened by the sun coming through our window the next morning

256)...watching how a dollar to spend at Dollar Tree makes my grandson head over heels happy

and how he so carefully weighs his decision about what to buy

257)...hearing my grown daughters talk about childhood memories

258)...buds and blooms and impromptu flower arrangements

259)...an evening at home by the fire with hubby

260) God's peace and presence

I simply remember my favorite things...Friday's favs

I thought I would share with you my favorite blogs today.  First of all, of course, are the blogs written by those I love...my daughters.  I love the peek into their hearts that sometimes comes more readily to computer screen than face to face.  But today I set aside my prejudice and love for blogs of those I know personally.  I will share my favorites of those I wish I knew...

Ann's blog, Holy Experience
Ann is a deep well, thought provoking, challenging

Tomato Soup Cake
The first time I read this blog, I just had to email the author personally.  If we lived near each other, I am sure we would be friends. 

Flower Patch Farmgirl
She just makes my heart happy.  A young mama with a quirky sense of style and humor...love her.

a beach cottage
A blogger who left England with her family and bought a run down cottage on the coast of Australia.  This blog is my idea of decorating heaven.

Getting Down with Jesus
Love the author's heart...

Lisa Notes...
Love her too!

So, while there are many more blogs I enjoy I would say these are my most favorite.  Check them out! Comment back to me what your favorites are...

Blogger's Block...

A rare evening home...it's rainy out.  But inside, hubby has built a cozy fire.  He sits on the couch reading.  I sit on the floor by the fireplace with my computer waiting for inspiration to hit.  I gotta tell ya...I got nothin'.  So instead, why don't you just join me...

Ok, so this first photo is a bit blurry...I either wiggled or the camera is on the wrong setting...again.

A conduit of God's love...

 

"There come's a time when you come to the end of your human capacity to love", the voice on the radio said. I was a very young wife, with a beautiful brown-eyed baby girl sitting there in her high chair in our small yellow kitchen. Husband went to college in the morning and worked a full-time job late into the night. This was my companionship- Holy Spirit, baby girl, the voice on the radio. Those words have been etched on my mind and heart since that day so long ago-that day 31 plus years ago. The voice continued, "that's when you must ask the Holy Spirit to give you His love. (Romans 5:5) It takes God's love in you to even love God back...and especially to love others."

During our 33 plus years of marriage, our over 30 years in ministry, those words have been a treasure hidden in my heart. All human love runs out...when Husband said or did something that hurt my overly sensitive feelings, when little girls filled the house with noise and mess, when people and their problems seemed impossibly overwhelming...and yet again, when I asked Him, let Him, Holy Spirit love poured in, and I the simple conduit, when I let Him, felt the "divine flow" that wasn't from self. Him loving Hubby, girls, difficult and hurting people, through me.

What joy, when I'm yielded, tender, willing, to be a conduit of His love. What a privilege for this voice to speak His words of love to a wounded heart, for these arms to be used by Him to hold one who is mourning as they sob out tears onto my Sunday dress, to love Husband and girls when I, at the end of my "human" love, did not feel loving. That the Holy Spirit puts God's love in my heart, not only for me, but through me to love Him back, to love others as He does...what a wonder that is.

adapted and reposted from the archives for this Walk with Him Wednesday

Is it in my DNA?

I woke up today to the sun shining through the window in the stair landing, right through my bedroom door, right into my eyes.  I must have just stayed there for ten minutes, loving the peek of evergreen covered hills and blue sky that I see over the rooftops of the apartment complex at the end of my street here in the city.  Portland...a wonderful combination of city and nature. And yet, as I lay there, it was thoughts of the sea that ran through my mind...wondering if just a 90 minute drive away, the sun is shining on the sea.  And then I wonder if this love of, this longing for the sea is in my very DNA.  Something inherited from my ancestors who settled Prince Edward Island, my grandparents who migrated south to Maine, my mama who longs for the seafood and the lobster that were, and are, common to those who grow up in that beautiful place by the sea. 

The ancestral home on P.E.I.

Beautiful Oregon Coast

The sea consoles me and comforts me.  When I look at it, I know that I know, there is a Creator God who is in control at all times.  Something in me feels I am at home by the sea...and again I wonder, is it in my DNA?

Always something....to be grateful for...

 

Have you ever said it, "It's always something!" with anger, or frustration in your voice?  Well, it is always something living in this world...from little annoying somethings, to big disastrous somethings.  Nobody made of flesh and blood escapes it.  It seems to me like somethings come in bunches. We go through a season of relative calm and then, wham! all the appliances in the house AND the car break down at the same time.  You know what I'm talking about.  In the ministry, you don't only deal with your own somethings, but a lot of other people's somethings as well.  It can be quite overwhelming at times.  But then, with just a little heavenly tweak in my perspective, in the midst of  "It's always something!", I can honestly say instead, "There's always something to be grateful for."  God has never, and will never, never, no never, leave me or forsake me in the midst of the somethings I have to deal with in this life, and the evidence of that fact is all around me, everyday.

Thank you God for...

241) A giant Starbucks coffee brought to me by my son in law...oh I was so desperate for good coffee that day, and it was so, so, good!

242) A very specific, clear word two days in a row to me from God's Word addressing what was going on in my heart.

243) An encouraging email addressing what was going on in my heart...God speaks through His people as well.

244) A hospital visit that was more encouraging for me than for the patient.

245) Computers, and phones, and tools to communicate.

246) Sunday pot roast dinner.

247) People who pray for and encourage us.

248) A dear friend who got back a good report from the doctor.

249) The tulips are peeking up in the yard!

250) A visit with my sister and brother in law.