Word Filled Wednesday - New Every Morning

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “ Therefore I hope in Him!”  The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:21-26 NKJV

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One Word Carnival - Strength

I thought it took strength to fight, but am I strong enough to be still?

Always another battle around the corner
over the next hill
and standing is not for the faint of heart.

The victory has already been secured
for those who wait and watch and pray…

Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.  Exodus 14:13-14 Amplified
 
You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you. 2 Chronicles 20:17 NIV
 
Strength is silent.  Strength is still.  Strength is patient.
Strength is in learning to surrender and find my life in Him.  

This was written as part of  Bridget Chumbley's One Word Blog Carnival.  Come join the fun.

Tuesdays Unwrapped - Hummingbirds

I cherish the ways that the Lord chooses to speak.  As I picked up my journal this morning I noticed the activity of the hummingbirds at the feeder we have hung outside the livingroom window.  Here's the journaling session that followed:

Another morning, another day, another chance to choose whether I will stumble about blindly in the dark or seek Your wisdom and revelation.

Yes, little one, I do allow you freedom in your choices.  My wish is to Be your desire - that you come to Me without force.  I will not manipulate, even when I can see you wasting time, energy and emotion following your own ways. 

I watch and I wait.  Sometimes I chuckle and shake My head - in the same fashion as you do when you watch the hummingbirds that come to drink the nectar you provide for them.  You laugh to see them using great quantities of energy, wings in constant motion, hovering, that they might drink.  And you know there is a perch that they might rest upon where they could stop their flapping and drink with ease.  But you can't tell them or show them, they must find it on their own. 

So too is it with the resting place I have for you in Me.  I cannot take you there, you must find it for yourself.  Yes, others may speak of it, teach of it, pray that the way is made clear, but each one must find it on their own, in their own time and manner.

You sing songs about preparing a resting place for Me - but never forget that that I Am the resting place for My people.

Pray, little one, for I have chosen you.  Pray that more will choose the way to My heart.  Yes, speak of Me.  Yes, teach of Me.  But pray, for I have made you righteous in My sight, and your fervant prayer accomplishes much more than you know.

The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with James 5:16b The Message

Do not forget the tenderness you feel for these tiny birds - such is My heart for you.  I provide you nourishment, shelter, rest and peace.  I Am the God of plenty, the God of more than enough.  But just like the birds, you so often fly off when others are near, letting your peace scatter.

Be still - be still and know.

Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!  Psalm 46:10 Amplified

There are great joys to be found in every moment.  Come share at Emily's Chatting at the Sky the gift you've unwrapped today.

Parasites

Image via Wikipedia

I know it may seem like I'm spending an unusual amount of time talking about mosquitos.  If you have ever lived in Manitoba, however, you would understand that it is almost impossible not to think about the pesky insects.

This morning I brought the issue to the Lord and He did have something to say about the matter.  So, I now share my journaling session with you:

So why exactly did You create mosquitos Lord?  Just wondering.  You need not answer, but please share whatever is on Your heart today.

There will always be things and people in your life that will test you and provoke you and annoy you.  Your part is to stand.  I thank you, little one, that you choose to praise Me even as you question "why?"

Do you suppose these are the worst of parasites?  For truly I tell you, anything that draws your attention and life away from Me is like those mosquitos - anxious for blood - giving nothing in return.

It could be riches and the pursuit of wealth.  Love of power, entertainment, distraction, flattery, fame.  Yes these and more, parasites that suck the spirit from you, often so smoothly you do not notice.

Open your eyes to see.  Open your ears to hear.  These are days to draw closer to Me with all of yourself, not merely that watered down remains.

Just as I leave you to swat away the mosquitos - so too must you choose to rid yourself of all the other parasites as well.

Choose you this very day whom you will serve - and let wisdom be your guide.

Thank You, thank You for being such a jealous God.  My heart cries out in reply to You  "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD  Joshua 24:15 NIV

Pleasantly Disturbed?

My blogger friend Duane Scott, in his pleasantly disturbed fashion has chosen to begin a new carnival link-up titled Pleasantly Disturbed Thursdays.  He asks us to throw together random thoughts that have filled our brains, noting that there is no requirement that the posts make sense.

Being one who can't turn her back on a challenge, here is my entry to this week's randomness.

While I was looking at the clouds Tuesday morning, wishing that the rain would not come, but knowing there was no stopping it, I knew I had to praise God anyway.  Out of the blue, from my lips burst my own version of an old song, and I knew that my spirit was singing to my Lord.

I'm gonna love You, like nobody's loved You, come rain or come shine.
Happy together, in all kinds of weather, now won't that be fine.
Days may be cloudy or sunny, I'm in or I'm out of the money,
But I'll love You always, I'm with You, rain or shine.
You always love me, like nobody's loved me......

And the skies grew darker, thunder rumbled, the wind roared through the trees and the rain pounded down so loudly I kept running to the door to see if it was hail.  Three years ago we had a hail storm in our region that left almost 90% of the homes needing new roofs and siding, softball size pellets with jagged edges tore through whatever was in their way.

I like sunshine, warm breezes, and grass that stops growing so it doesn't need to be cut.

How many mosquitos could a softball sized hailstone crush at one time?  I know.. God created mosquitos, I wrote about that last week.  He also created ants, and over 250,000 different varieties of beetles.  Would you call Him pleasantly disturbed also?  But I will yet praise Him.

I used to be a city girl from the Chicago metro area, one state away from Wisconsin, dairyland USA, where most cows are Holsteins, black and white.  Imagine my surprise upon arriving here to find brown cows, beige cows, solid velvety black cows, cows the colour of cinnamon (would they give cinnamon milk?) and many other pigmentations.  They eat grass and grain and taste really, really good.  If you stop next to field the herd will all turn with the same expression on their faces, as if to say "What do you want from me?  I'm a cow!"

Oh, by the way.. did I tell you, I really, really don't like mosquitos.

Are you disturbed yet?  Is it pleasant?  Come share with us at Duane Scott's where we may not be making any sense at all.

Letters of love

To my beloved:

My love grows beyond words, but words are the only tools I have.

I speak them, type them, write them on crisp lined pages in a journal

I keep for you to read each night

before we curl up to dive into prayer and snuggle into sleep.

I can't decide which I savour most, the waking at your side,

or the peace of drifting off, knowing I am anchored and safe.

I could not have dreamed this life, this union orchestrated by the Master.

I could not love until I knew His love,

I could not allow another to know me, or love me, until I could love Him.

Year after year of reckless pursuit left me weary, and angry and cold,

joining with strangers like steel meeting steel

not wanting to know their hearts, or needing to know their names.

Once touched by His hand, I was ready

for the arms of the one He was preparing to receive me.

You, the man with three first names and a heart pliable in His hands.

You opened your small town life to wash away my city filth

as together we dreamed smaller, a place out of town,

the country, in what was already a new nation for me,

but more home than I had ever been before.

You loved Him enough to love me.  

You care for the plants, the pets and me

with exquisite tenderness that brings tears to my eyes.

Together we walk the path He chooses,

however twisted it might appear to our understanding.

Rejoicing in wonder and thanksgiving as He moved us to our country house.

Reeling with worship and awe as He sent us to Africa, starting a chain reaction

that will continue to ripple and alter our lives

so that one day Canada may become only a place to visit.

In the bright swirling blue of your eyes I lose hold of this world and find home.

My prayers cover your back and my heart aches for blessings to surround you.

I learn more each day how to be the wife He desires

for the man that He cherishes much more than I will ever be able

yet I do love you

and love you, with all that I am, now and always.

 

This was written as part of Ann Voskamp's - Walk With Him Wednesday 

Word Filled Wednesday - Path

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore  Psalm 16:11 Amplified

Come read more Word Filled Wednesday posts and add one of your own!

Tuesdays Unwrapped - He Is

As I was thanking and praising the Lord with my journal in hand this morning, He poured out the following word.  Truly a gift meant for me to share.

And if the rains come?  Are you ready to continue to walk in faith?  Are you ready to believe Me on behalf of others - for the farmers you pray for and listen for?  Continue, child, to speak My words - over the harvest and over their hearts.

The enemy enjoys sitting back, watching you draw conclusions based on what you see in the natural - it takes little effort on his part then to drive you to despair. All he needs to do is distract your vision, turn your eyes from Me.  Stand fast and firm, little one, with your eyes and your heart fixed, yes, fixed on Me.

And I will move mountains or give you strength to climb them.

I will part the seas or give you power to swim.

I, Who can make water flow from a rock can bring forth a harvest from a desert or a swamp.

I may not deliver you from your circumstance but deliver you in that circumstance.  I may not remove obstacles but instead choose to give you victory over them.

Will you this day, allow Me to choose the manner in which I will provide My miracles?  For truly I tell you, every miracle is Mine, to glorify My name.

Do not pray for your miracle, watch for Mine.
And I will Be your Deliverer.
And I will Be your Healer.
And I will Be your Peace.
Come running to Me in the bright sunshine.
Come running to Me in the rain.
Sing as the birds sing, simply because I Am.

What are you unwrapping today?  Come share your gifts at Emily's Chatting at the Sky

Lazy Summer Ramble

Image via Wikipedia

My thoughts are scattered, I submit them to the Lord
I praise Him for this day as the sun burns its way through the clouds
just as I have praised Him through the rains that yet threaten to continue
But He is God, in all things, of all things, through all things.

All things.. yes, that must include the mosquitos
inescapable in this the wettest season we've seen in years
seeming as large as the hummingbirds that hover
fighting for spots around the feeders we provide
I must coat myself in repellents or choose the safety of the indoors
where I watch as they seem to taunt me from the window screens
but.. He is God.. of all things, yes,
even when, particularly when, I cannot comprehend His reasoning.

Okay Lord, I'm not complaining, really,
it's not me You hear, it's the whine of the dreaded insect
as I slap it dead against my bare skin, awaiting the welt that will rise,
repeating to myself, "this is a test, this is only a test...."

At last, I have thought of one benefit of the noxious pests..
they make me forget about the wood ticks.

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it). Romans 11:36 Amplified

Creativity Boot Camp -Smooth

The word prompt was smooth. Click on image to enlarge.

Note: The words I have used in the work above are not scripture or paraphrase - but inspired by my heart's understanding of the passage.

A voice of one who cries: Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord [clear away the obstacles]; make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God! Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made straight and level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory (majesty and splendor) of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. Isaiah 40:3-4 Amplified

Creativity Boot Camp - Hush

The word prompt was hush. Click on image to enlarge.

Word Filled Wednesday - his Master

Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn Genesis 24:49 NIV

Click on image to enlarge.

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Creativity Boot Camp - Full Bodied

The word prompt was full bodied. Click on image to enlarge.

Tuesdays Unwrapped - A New Blue

We have finally come through "the days of rain" to see the clouds thin and the gray vanish. The sun is again shedding light and heat upon our land.

Flowers that have waited with much more patience than I, are stretching, unfurling; revealing promises they had hidden within.

As I wandered in the stillness of yesterday's late afternoon, I was attempting to catch digital images of the beauty of small flowers tumbling from one of our hanging baskets.

When I reviewed the images on the larger computer screen my breath was stolen by the colour of the sky, a new shade of blue so bright and so deep and so very alive it appeared to be digitally enhanced.

Only God, to display His glory, could create such a blue, and in His great love, allowed me a moment to unwrap His gift.

Come visit Emily at Chatting at the Sky and share your unwrappings

Creativity Boot Camp - Drizzle

The word prompt was drizzle. Click on image to enlarge.

Creativity Boot Camp - Ornament

The word prompt was ornament. Click on image to enlarge.

Creativity Boot Camp - Fly

The word prompt was fly. Click to enlarge image.

Creativity Boot Camp - Fluid

The word prompt was fluid. Click on image to enlarge.

Creativity Boot Camp - Grow

The word prompt was grow. Click on picture to enlarge.