A wonderful imagining

My riding mower has been returned

repaired and ready to ride

but it has been too wet to attempt cutting.

This is the scene from my back door

not really grass

but weeds.

Yet I can imagine.  

Indeed I can imagine.

Not quack grass and plantains

but lush spread of Kentucky blue

thick and cool between my toes.

Not weeds, no

but delicate, precious golden flowers

the finest dandelions in the province

the envy of everyone for miles around.

Until the ground is dry enough

 to let the mower blades remove it all.  

Just for a moment.  

Just for today.   

Imagine.

 

linking up at Lisa-Jo's where the word today is imagine

 

All for His glory

The day between the rains dawned cool

the road through the park wore a cloak of fog, thickening

the only way to reach our destination

was through

so mile by mile we trusted

pressed in, moved on

and found the sun

After an afternoon of errands

goals accomplished

laughter, conversation and a meal shared

we turned for home

driving into the bright of the skies

as again clouds drew themselves close together

Back in the park

there was no fog to mask His beauty

how He picks colours

to blend into a perfection

all other artists

simply imitate

As we drove the last road home

I found myself

awed to a surrendering point

praying to remember

with all I speak, or write, or do

I am not the centre

this world is not of me, or for me

but always all and only

for His glory

Let the name of the Lord be praised,

both now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

 the name of the Lord is to be praised.

The Lord is exalted over all the nations,

 his glory above the heavens.

Psalm 113:2-4 NIV

walking with Emily and the broken redeemed

 

At last, the rain

mist gathered into itself

drops cleaving

synergy revealed

and clouds shatter

spilling sweetness long denied

birds find shelter 

in newly leafed boughs

the parched ground

stills its constant cry

to drink

long and deep

hanging out at the pub today

 

His work

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful:

The Lord God made them all.

 

singing with Deidra and the Sunday choir

 

Simplicity

That we might accustom ourselves 

to a continual conversation with Him, 

with freedom and simplicity. 

That we need only to recognize 

God intimately present with us, 

to address ourselves to Him every moment, 

that we may beg His assistance 

for knowing His will in things doubtful, 

and for rightly performing 

those which we plainly see He requires of us, 

offering them to Him before we do them, 

and giving Him thanks when we have done.  

Brother Lawrence

 

seeking that quiet place with Sandy

 

View from my heart

April began cold and snowy, clouds covered the sun.  As the days moved through, mom passed from life to death.  And the snow fell again.

There were acts of terrorism, lives lost in Boston, explosions in Texas.  One thing flowed into the next.

And I thought like Job, I will yet praise Him.

Ice blew in on the lake and devastated summer cottages and year round homes.  The breath taking power of nature on display.

Nature roared again, in tornado winds that took lives and changed lives forever in Oklahoma. I wondered why I was growing numb.

In these parts there have been horrific highway encounters between cars and semis, more loss, more devastation.  Yesterday, in town, the roads were blocked by fire trucks, ambulances and police cars, the scene shrouded with cloths and my heart cracked to let the tears flow.

The view from here is jagged, hard, dark and sharp.  Life does not appear to be  a safe place.

But still my heart sees colour, bright, pure, shining.  Because He never changes, and His truth is more real than what I see.  I will grab hold of that in the centre of these clouds.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

joining Lisa-Jo talking about view

and abiding with Cheryl

 

numb

media rush
news floods fresh
streaming video
words, images
instant graphics
and prayer requests
how many wounded?
fatalties?
children lost
or broken?
I care
or want to care
but I am muffled
a numbness
settling around me
not ice, not fire
no, instead the absence of
like sleep, thick and heavy
here, it is safe

yet I fear the waking

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! Revelation 3:15-16 NLT

Yes, pray for the hurting, the lost and the broken in Oklahoma, and feel

Linking up at the pub today

 

Abundance

We stayed up late last night, talking and laughing with friends in the warmth of our own living room.  We talked about today, about yesterdays and about what we think the future has waiting for us.

This morning I stayed snuggled under the quilt longer than usual, attempting to recover lost sleep.    The extra time was ripe with dreams.

Dreams of abundance.

Not an abundance of things, or money or any other sort of material wealth.  What was being stretched out before me was an abundance of opportunities.  Each time I would being work on a project someone would come along and offer something else that sounded interesting, fun or challenging.

I was asked, again and again, what I really wanted to do with my time.  My answer was consistent.

I want to write and prepare for whatever long term mission work God sets before us.

Dreams exposing my heart.  Dreams revealing the heart of God.

Watch out sings my spirit.  Doors are going to start opening like crazy!

This is what the Lord, ·who saves you [your Redeemer], the Holy One of Israel, says: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you ·to do what is good [what is best; or how to succeed], who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 Expanded Bible

  
 

Thirsty soul

As the deer pants for streams of water, 

so my soul pants for you, my God.

 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 

When can I go and meet with God? 

Psalm 42:1-2 NIV

 

singing with Deidra and the Sunday choir

 

Breathe to My rhythm

We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. 

He is nearer than our own soul, 

closer than our most secret thoughts.  

A. W. Tozer

He knows what I'm thinking before I utter a single word.  He knows my struggles and my fears.  His response this morning, in the quiet of the dawning day:

You still need to learn to breathe to the rhythm of My timing, as irregular as it may feel to your flesh.

There will be times you feel like you can not keep up, as if there is not enough air to fill your lungs.  Lean into Me.  I Am what you need.

Other times you will feel that is you remain still one more moment you will burst.  Again I say, lean, press hard, allow Me to keep you in the place I have set you.

My plans.  My time.  My purposes.

It is all faith.  All trust.


in the quiet with Sandy

and abiding with Cheryl

 

Pleasantly disturbed, again...

For some reason it feels like Friday.  I have been thinking Friday all morning.  It is, however, Thursday, and though my friend Duane stopped his weekly link-up long ago, I am feeling pleasantly disturbed.  So here, in no reasonable order are random thoughts fluttering through my head today.

Wood ticks.  While I am happy to report I have not noticed a singe mosquito yet this year, wood ticks have made their presence known. Just thinking of them makes the crawly feelings begin and I find myself scratching, swatting, checking and rechecking every inch of myself for invaders before they have a chance to take a bite and burrow in.

Rick was out taking pictures of a unusual cloudy sky the other night and couldn't resist snapping a few shots of Faith.  I was thrilled that her beautiful blue eyes were visible without the typical camera red-eye glare.

But what's that at the top corner of her eye?  I didn't recall Faith having a beauty mark.  She doesn't!  Upon closer examination, the spot was indeed a wood tick getting ready to grab hold. Here come those creepy sensations again....  I know that God has a reason for all things.  I'd be quite willing to listen to His explanation for creating these noxious pests.

Our garden tractor needs repairs but the grass is not willing to wait. So this morning, instead of my usual cycling or video aerobics workout I walked in circles with the power push mower.  Around and around and around, longing for the 54" cut of the tractor but not able to imagine how one could push such a thing.  I trod and pushed until I ran out of gas, using quads and hamstrings, triceps and pectoral muscles.  I could have used the time to sing, or pray or ponder a solution to world hunger, but instead I seem to have spent the ninety minutes numb brained, thinking of nothing at all.  Perhaps the synapses needed the rest.

Every day there has been the scent of smoking stubble drifting by as farmers burn their fields before cultivating and planting.  This is an effective and natural technique that never fails to frighten me.  No matter how safe they try to be, man can not control the changing directions of the wind and fire has a life of its own. Disturbing indeed, but the smoke and ash in the air help create stunning sunsets.

Duane Scott who first dreamed up Pleasantly Disturbed Thursdays is graduating from nursing school.  I applaud his efforts and his ability to continue writing, loving, and giving God glory through his time of studying.  He has even redirected some of his excess creativity into painting.  Stop by a give him a shout at his site Scribing The Journey.  You might want to mention squirrels, one of his disturbing pleasures.

This is not a squirrel.  If you thought it was, you might have already started celebrating Thursday a bit too early.
 

Enter into ice

As always, Spring has returned to the Canadian prairies. Brown and grey are quickly being replaced with all the shades of green that only the Master Creator can imagine.  The breeze stirs hearts towards warm.  Thoughts turn to planting, bright days and long evenings.

Yet all is not well.  The heat combined with strong winds have caused havoc at the lake, freeing ice to crash into the shore with unforgiving force.  Cottages and houses were buried or splintered like toothpicks.  All this the announcement of the new season.

At another beach it was easy to imagine we were in the Arctic, as we snapped picture after picture, the cold from the ice clashing against the warmth of the sun.

The natural appears unnatural

there seems to be a way to enter

crawl deep into the ice

as if there might be refuge there

a peace in confronting the heart of the cold

and then, the melting

walking with Emily and the broken redeemed

 

Dream of a door

image found at http://www.thechinabeat.org/?p=2520

In a dream this morning

my attention was caught

by an old stone building

the solid gray wall, empty

but for one closed door

high, second story

without steps

I stared, puzzled

and sensed an inner voice

there are some doors not ready to be opened yet

The image lingered, and I pondered this with the Lord.

My spirit resonates with His reply

what you saw is true, true indeed

but remember, I can create stairs at any time

But I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way, who can’t see where they’re going. 

I’ll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. 

I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don’t fall into the ditch. 

These are the things I’ll be doing for them—sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute. Isaiah 42:16 The Message

 

Mennonite Girls Can Cook - Celebrations

I was excited to receive my copy of Mennonite Girls Can Cook Celebrations hungrily flipping through the pages. The website for these already proven cookbook authors states

Life is a gift from God, so why not celebrate?

From births to marriages to holiday meals gathered together these pages are filled; not only with tasty delights but also with words of praise and prayer.  There are stories, reflections and blessings woven between the recipes.

The brilliant photography not captures much more than the food with shots of nature and familes.

Tonight I followed the recipe for Raspberry Drizzle Salad Dressing.  It was quite easy to preapre and unlike any other dressing I have tried.  I plan on making it again, and again, using my own home made raspberry jam and pepper jelly.

I know I will return often to this wonderful volume that proves that not only can Mennonite girls cook, they can write great cookbooks as well!

Book has been provided courtesy of MennoMedia and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Herald Press, a publishing imprint of MennoMedia
The opinions I have expressed are my own.