the time is here

time to leave the green of The Netherlands

and the ease and comfort

of the Western world

now the adventure truly begins

Zambia and Malawi

here we come

 

not mine

time is all at once

too fast, too slow

I have not yet adjusted

to the new truth

that time is not my own

it never was

thoughts that I possessed

anything at all

were mere illusion

more stones to drop

slipping through loose fingertips

not to leave a trail to follow back

but simply to release excess

weight or ties that hinder

every bit I let go of

teaches me

how vast the store

still in my grasping

hands and heart

enough to sink a spirit 

yearning to float 

free

joining Kelli where the rhythms are His alone

 

opening

hearts are cracking

opening fresh, wild

ready to draw in more

tears and smiles

mingle, how privileged

are we to watch

as God moves nations

Halfway into the Global Orientation Conference
we are surrounded by those much younger than us
the other night we sang Hosanna

I see a generation
rising up to take their place
with selfless faith

and I journalled:

Last night I sensed that You plan to use us as examples for the generation following us. How best can we do that Lord?

obedience and surrender
they will see your willing spirit
when you die to self with joy
they will see how you love
when you allow yourself
to be moved by the wind of My Spirit
they will learn how to dance with Me
step by step, breath by breath

not by might

this morning's quiet time - listening:

So he said to me, 

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. 

Zechariah 4:6 NIV

My power

My faith

My courage working in you

You need not strive

or worry

or ponder plans

but give in, simply, totally

and I will have My way

for it is not what you do

but what I have already done

time slows

and spins

at My command

yet has now no power

in the context of eternity

breathe in the release of that truth

acknowledge your total lack

of control

and in that, find your peace

and so remain

in the vine

 

sunny afternoon

for a time after lunch today

the Dutch clouds parted

and we took a walk on the grounds

in the warm sunshine

finding flowers

and penned animals

a chance to stretch, walk and be quiet

now back to the busyness

of the Conference

quiet time

Our first quiet time of the OM Global Orientation Conference and I realized my cheeks were wet - I opened my journal to ask:

Why the tears Lord? Joy? Relief? Awe?

He didn't leave me to ponder long, but quickly answered.

All, little one.
And the tears are sweet to Me.
In the rush and go you have felt alone
our time alone disturbed
but I Was - I Am  - I Will Be
always with you
So now again
let Me be your centre.
I have pulled every string.
This is My orchestra
and the music shall play on.

Thank you for following, for singing along
even when you do not know the words
this is part of your lessons
ongoing lessons in surrender
and I accept your tears, your sacrifice.

As you bow low
it is easier for Me to lift you
why struggle to walk
when I can carry you
Then in My power
you stand, and move
and I breathe in and through you
for the glory of My Own Name.

You will say
what you cannot say
and you will do
more than you can do
because I Am
and I can
and the world will know

So welcome home child
ever in My care
take your comfort, peace and strength here
what ever felt lost shall be found
time has not been wasted

With each new sun
we have only just begun
like a feast set out before you
take each moment
consume
as you allow Me to have all of you
you allow yourself to take in all of Me

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,  for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV


 

spring forth

Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; 

neither consider the things of old. 

Behold, I am doing a new thing! 

Now it springs forth; 

do you not perceive and know it 

and will you not give heed to it? 

I will even make a way in the wilderness 

and rivers in the desert.

  Isaiah 43:18-19 Amplified

the river runs

and time wings

days,months and years

of dreams and plans

have stopped here

this very moment

feet long planted

will not step, but leap

into the new thing

we carry your love

close in our hearts

thanking God 

remembering you 

always in our prayers

 

no hurry hurry

Hurry, hurry has no blessings

Swahili proverb

let me find blessings

in the waiting

the slow

wonder

as God's sun sets

on the Canadian prairies

soon to rise

on the African plains

looking for a still space with Sandy

 

holding Canada close

one of the things that drew me

to the lake

was the opportunity

to drink in the sight

and sounds

of our common loons

at once peaceful and eerie

a wailing song of Canada

I allowed it to saturate

my heart, deep

anther bit of home

to carry on my journey

 

in and out

we spent a day and

a night and

a day

at the lake

to rest, refresh

receive prayer, hospitality

and too much food

more memories to file

my time here

in this little online space

is brief and precious

I am in

and out

and in again

as life moves on

 

between breaths

Sometimes 

the most important thing 

in a whole day 

is the rest we take 

between two deep breaths,

or the turning inwards in prayer 

for five short minutes

Etty Hillesum

stop along the road

pause, pray, praise

find the centre

breathe in beauty

before continuing on

finding the stillness with Sandy

 

more goodbyes

I wrote here

when we gave final kisses, belly rubs

and words of farewell

to our sweet dog two weeks ago

two nights ago, Rick dismantled

his aquarium, gifting it and all the fish

to a younger relative

just a part of the series of goodbyes

that we are walking into

and through

the hummingbirds still hover

at feeders that will remain

to be filled with nectar

by the family soon 
to be renting our house

and the cats, three adults

two sets of three kittens

black and white all

will remain, another part of us

roaming the acres, taking refuge

in the barn

things will continue

here, in our absence even if

it feels a bit unsettling

to hand our lives over

to others

all this, and we haven't yet

begun the real work

of saying goodbye to

loved ones

eleven days and counting

the time is

now

sharing at The Grove at Velvet Ashes

 

intoxicated

our last days here are wild

sweet like the clover

blooming in full fragrance

I am intoxicated

dizzy with the collecting

of sights, scents

hungry to hold and file

tastes of home

I can pack them, weight free

in my heart, where soon

they will blend

with all that is new

a fusion only The Master

Himself could brew

joining Kelli living in unforced rhythms

 

liquid

dive in

to each moment

allow time

to remain liquid

free to move

as you find your 

quiet place

don't rush

He's got this

seeking the stillness with Sandy

 

hindsight-foresight

This weeks prompt at The Grove was hindsight
Danielle writes to a younger version of herself, newly arrived on the mission field and then asks us:

In hindsight, that’s what I’d tell my fresh-off the plane self.  What would you tell yours?

Since we are still two weeks from departure, I'll have to put a bit of a reverse twist on the question, speaking back from the future that hasn't yet arrived.

Karin--

breathe

big gulps of the fresh Canadian prairie air

take it in deep, pause

now exhale, let it all go

relax into the spin

the swirling rush, the imaginings

soon enough your eyes will see

ears hear, what you have only dreamed of

don't lose your last home moments

to worries of what you can not now know

your new life will have troubles of its own

unfolding in their own time

as will the blessings

you will weep

you will laugh

you will stand in awe

and you will be changed

breathe, pause, let it go

make room for all He has to give

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:34 The Message




joining in the conversation at The Grove at Velvet Ashes