more need of breaking

my heart is brittle

silent as the frozen fields

surrounding our haven of warmth

and shelter

broken yet struggling

to find words

for more need of breaking

one year ends

another begins

we cycle in His hands

 

Continue, Alert, Listen

It has become tradition to pray and seek the Lord for His direction as one year steps aside making way for the new.  I asked Him for a defining word for 2013 but instead of one word He dropped three into my spirit.

Continue.  Alert.  Listen.

I know there is much to ponder as I wait for His wisdom and revelation.  For now, I set them here as stones, to return to again and again as the days move along.

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7 NLT

Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. Mark 13:33 NIV

A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” Luke 9:35 NIV

The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27 Amplified

 

Adding my voice to those who gather at Bonnie's

   

New steps

 

Rejoice in what has gone before

it made us who we are

but without looking back

take the new steps before you

following no footprints but His

 

Sunset to sunrise

The sun sets to end a year

Tonight we gather 

to laugh, weep, pray 

and rejoice in all that He has done

In the morning the sun will rise

the dawn of another year

May we live each new moment

to bring glory to His name

 

A place for everything



                                 Image by istorija via Flickr

Spring may be the time we feel drawn to clean our houses, but there is also something about the start of the year that calls out for a new order.

Today was the day to attack the kitchen pantry, sorting, sifting and placing things back on shelves.  There is something so satisfying about stacking beans with beans, grains arranged side by side, cereal boxes pressed close to the back wall, cans placed neatly like with like.

There is a freedom that descends
when chaos departs
the ability to breathe deeper. 

Inhale. 
Exhale. 
Peace.

Now, to sort through my thoughts in like fashion...

 

In His hands

Rollercoaster ride
dizzying heights
mind numbing lows
fireworks or deep black
another year finds an end tonight.

I could not have predicted the trials
or planned the blessings
learning again and yet again
these things are best surrendered
to His hand.

As you look back
and forward
rest in His promises --

No one's ever seen or heard anything like this,

Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—

What God has arranged for those who love him

1 Corinthians 2:9 The Message

 
 

A year of encouragement

This is the time of year when people look back and post retrospectives on their blog.  Many choose their favourite posts or those that drew the most traffic.  Because God has created me to be different from the crowd I have decided instead to share some of my favourite comments from 2011, one for each month of the year.

January 8th Bonnie Gray who blogs at The FaithBarista left these words on my post Persevere and Expectation:

I love coming by here for my cup of brew. I'm getting used to coming through the door, that you leave ajar for me. :) I feel today you're standing up and letting out a battle cry, as I read the last part of your post. Wonderful words matching persevere & expectation! loved your link.

February 15th Brian Miller of Waystation One commented on Heartstrings:

having heard a string or two break in my day...it is a powerful image...and the restringing bringing the instrument back to life as well... 

March 2nd Jerry of Under the Door Frame noted on Icy Heart:

A heart of ice melted into living water... A heart of stone transformed into a heart of flesh. Thank God for his pursuit...and our often hesitant response. Good. good.

April 27th Nance Marie of various blogs added to Finding light:

grace of the Lord
to cover the sea of bitterness within
the light of the Lord
to shine into my dark soul

May 11th master encourager Glynn of Faith, Fiction, Friends said this on Shouts and whispers:

Beautiful, Karin. Prayer is like an ongoing conversation, "heartbeat to heartbeat," punctuated by those whispers and shouts

June 21st the poet Dustus left this comment on In the blood:

"how the eyes see a laugh so familiar it turns the heads of those who hear" This passage made my head spin. So good and expressed through multiple sense modalities. Great composition.

July 14th Debbie of Heart Choices commented on For each other, by each other:

Very interesting post on faith. If only more believers would be transparent and share their struggles with one another. We can then encourage one another and turn our eyes on Jesus. It helps to know we're not alone

August 8th Linda added these thoughts to Be still:

Oh, my.... That's gripping stuff. I've experienced times like that, too, so my heart goes out to both you and the new pastor. God bless you both as you remain still and rest in the Lord; and wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him. He is good and He is at work, even if you can't see just what He is doing right now

September 30th Beth Werner Lee (link not active) commented about Finding my voice in His:

Thank you, so right you are to ponder on Jesus saying he spoke only what he heard, and was sent to say. Oh, that I could be like him! Only through his Spirit who does the same. Today we were just studying James 1:19,20: quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger...I need to apply this now, daily! Thank you, writing from the fire.

October 4th Sandra Heska King left words on Season of seasons:

I love the contrasts.
Moving too fast while stuck in place.
Softened and hardened.
Decay and hope.
And the spices and scent and aroma and fragrance.
Oh, and that photo. Clever girl.

November 7th Nancy of Out of My Alleged Mind shared her thoughts on Believe?:

I'm really good at trusting God theoretically. Not so much when I can't connect the dots to see how the plan is taking shape. I keep trying to remind myself to look back toward his faithfulness in the past and asking him to increase my faith, even only enough to take the next step.

December 24th Doug Spurling commented on Christmas Tears:

Amen. You are opening the greatest of Christmas presents with your tears, your heart meshing with His to seek and save that which is lost ~ His Presence.

Though I write in obedience to my Lord, not for hits or applause, words of true encouragement help greatly along the way. Please take a moment when you can to visit the blogs of those who so richly blessed me.

I also thank each and every one of you who has wandered about inside these words, even those who never leave a trace of themselves before they leave.  You are truly a gift to me.  May the coming year bring with it the richness of His love.