Over the last several months, I had every intention of coming to this place and opening myself onto a screen for anyone to see. That, however, is not what happened, as I am sure you can see if you take the time to look at the date of my last post. Shame on me.
Loss of job, difficult weeks of not knowing how life's needs would be met and general fatigue have caused upheaval.
Dealing with major life changes always causes us to readjust our hearts. Change is hard....whether good or bad....sometimes it just hurts. Along with that is the difficult period that must come where you struggle to find what road you have been led to at this juncture. Should we do this....or maybe that? Questions permeate the day to day. I find myself longing for permanence. Something unchanging. Security.
I believe that the Lord takes us to, and ultimately through these times to remind us that this life is not permanent. We are simply camping here. Perhaps getting too comfortable is just not producing the fruit we need in our life. I do not understand, however, why my faith becomes shaky and pallid. Will there come a time when my faith will stand strong in the face of the tempest? When I will not begin to sink as Peter did, but will walk confidently upon the waves. When I will know that my Lord's proximity is surety of my deliverance.
What is clear is that the Lord has chosen to give breath to me at this moment in time. He intends that I continue breathing. Frequently I find myself breathing too fast, requiring a conscious slow down. In this crazy and often times chaotic life, breathing requires thought and effort. My children surround me, breathing the the same air I am. They too struggle, but I must show them how to breathe.
We will continue to learn and grow together, as long as the Lord continues to supply the breath to breathe. And in that breathing, may we remember to praise the One who has supplied.
"Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." Psalm 150:6
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Friday, October 7, 2011
Days of Prayer
Some days are simply days of prayer. Days when all you can do is lay on your face before the One who made you. The requests of your heart spill out as a muddled mixture of uttered and unuttered pleas. Yearning for the comfort and knowledge of the One who loves us, we place ourselves before Him awaiting the blessings He has in His store.
These are the days in the misty times of life.
"Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26
These are the days in the misty times of life.
"Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Misty Times Of Life
With the loss of my husband's job, we are forced to look forward in a new way, and probably in a new place. The emotions that come during a time like this are raw and personal. There is, however, a desire within to share some of it because I know so many others have or will go through this situation. So as simply as I am able, I will share our story over the next several weeks, with the hope that it will encourage someone else, and that it will give me purpose in another misty time of life.
In the past, I have written of the misty times of life. They are the times when nothing is clear. Our plans have fallen through, and we lose our ability to stay focused. They are times that are not understood until much later when we look back in the perfect vision of hindsight.
I cannot say that we did not see the inevitable coming. We knew this job would not last forever....nothing does. There had been signs for some time that we should begin looking toward our future. Our prayers have been frequently requesting direction for a future that was becoming increasingly unclear. My husband prayed, "Lord, I'm not as bright as I might be. Send me a neon sign if it is time for me to move on."
The Lord answered that prayer the day he was called into the office and notified that his position was "being eliminated". Ok. Moving on it is. The next questions immediately take center stage. Where? How? What now?
I found breathing to become increasingly difficult as the last days of work, and paychecks, came closer. Yes, I believe the Lord has a plan and will not leave us alone. He has promised to meet our needs. Yet, there is much in this situation that takes me back to the past. A past that hurts. A past of financial burden. A past of loss.
Please Lord, don't let us go back to the past. It hurts too much. The burden of being unable to pay our bills is too much. Please, Lord.
The thought comes quickly that maybe I must revisit the past once again, that there are times when we are given the opportunity to go back and do it again. With more experience, more maturity and more trust....a chance to go back in order to move forward.
My task in this as a wife and mother is in some ways easy....trusting. Trusting my Lord, and trusting the man he gave me. But in so many ways, this is the most difficult task of all. There really is very little I can do to affect the outcome. My task simply affects the day to day.
I must continue to be the symbol of life within my home. Each one must eat. the house must be cleaned. Recently emptied boxes must again be packed with the tidbits of our life. Children must be taught....and loved. My husband needs my love and support. These are the things I can do, and must. Most of all I am needed to be the face of security and love to my children.
The future is unclear. I do not know what we will face, but I pray that my focus will remain on the only One Who holds tomorrow. That my faith will be stronger tomorrow than it is today. That I will continue to hope, and that I will pass that hope onto the children God has given us. That my children will learn faith through the work God is doing in our lives today.
"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." Matthew 6:31, 32
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:11
In the past, I have written of the misty times of life. They are the times when nothing is clear. Our plans have fallen through, and we lose our ability to stay focused. They are times that are not understood until much later when we look back in the perfect vision of hindsight.
I cannot say that we did not see the inevitable coming. We knew this job would not last forever....nothing does. There had been signs for some time that we should begin looking toward our future. Our prayers have been frequently requesting direction for a future that was becoming increasingly unclear. My husband prayed, "Lord, I'm not as bright as I might be. Send me a neon sign if it is time for me to move on."
The Lord answered that prayer the day he was called into the office and notified that his position was "being eliminated". Ok. Moving on it is. The next questions immediately take center stage. Where? How? What now?
I found breathing to become increasingly difficult as the last days of work, and paychecks, came closer. Yes, I believe the Lord has a plan and will not leave us alone. He has promised to meet our needs. Yet, there is much in this situation that takes me back to the past. A past that hurts. A past of financial burden. A past of loss.
Please Lord, don't let us go back to the past. It hurts too much. The burden of being unable to pay our bills is too much. Please, Lord.
The thought comes quickly that maybe I must revisit the past once again, that there are times when we are given the opportunity to go back and do it again. With more experience, more maturity and more trust....a chance to go back in order to move forward.
My task in this as a wife and mother is in some ways easy....trusting. Trusting my Lord, and trusting the man he gave me. But in so many ways, this is the most difficult task of all. There really is very little I can do to affect the outcome. My task simply affects the day to day.
I must continue to be the symbol of life within my home. Each one must eat. the house must be cleaned. Recently emptied boxes must again be packed with the tidbits of our life. Children must be taught....and loved. My husband needs my love and support. These are the things I can do, and must. Most of all I am needed to be the face of security and love to my children.
The future is unclear. I do not know what we will face, but I pray that my focus will remain on the only One Who holds tomorrow. That my faith will be stronger tomorrow than it is today. That I will continue to hope, and that I will pass that hope onto the children God has given us. That my children will learn faith through the work God is doing in our lives today.
"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." Matthew 6:31, 32
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:11
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Gift of Hope
I was challenged today to look at the practice of hope.
This challenge could not have been timed more perfectly. For life feels a confusing mix of hope and hopelessness. These days when one stage of life is ending, and, yes, another beginning, but....we in our short-sightedness cannot see the picture of the new life. For us it is simply an unknown.
Life is looking very much like a series of heart-wrenching disappointments. For just when we begin to breathe normally again, another comes and takes our breath away.
Indecision, uncertainty....they weigh heavy. I feel my age, and more.
In the midst of this, I find a germ of truth buried within my soul. Hope.
It is this that allows me to wake up each day and move forward. It is this that keeps me from shutting down. As badly as I want to pull the covers over my head and shut out the pressures, there is a tiny bit of hope within that causes me to think that maybe this is the beginning of something better.
Hope is like that. A beautiful gift given to us by our Heavenly Father Who must take us through the trials, but Who never leaves us without this gift meant for us to unwrap.
No matter how hard it becomes, you will always have hope, for you are His.
Look forward, Child. If you could see, there would be no need of hope.
Continue to hope.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
This challenge could not have been timed more perfectly. For life feels a confusing mix of hope and hopelessness. These days when one stage of life is ending, and, yes, another beginning, but....we in our short-sightedness cannot see the picture of the new life. For us it is simply an unknown.
Life is looking very much like a series of heart-wrenching disappointments. For just when we begin to breathe normally again, another comes and takes our breath away.
Indecision, uncertainty....they weigh heavy. I feel my age, and more.
In the midst of this, I find a germ of truth buried within my soul. Hope.
It is this that allows me to wake up each day and move forward. It is this that keeps me from shutting down. As badly as I want to pull the covers over my head and shut out the pressures, there is a tiny bit of hope within that causes me to think that maybe this is the beginning of something better.
Hope is like that. A beautiful gift given to us by our Heavenly Father Who must take us through the trials, but Who never leaves us without this gift meant for us to unwrap.
No matter how hard it becomes, you will always have hope, for you are His.
Look forward, Child. If you could see, there would be no need of hope.
Continue to hope.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Introduction To Gratitude (Ann Voskamp)
For those who have followed me into this quiet place for any amount of time, you will know that I do not generally use this space as advertisement. Today, however, I need to share an opportunity with you and felt it deserved a post of its own.
We all have people and situations that inspire us in our own lives. Ann Voskamp is such a person for me. Her writing touches my heart every time I take the moments to visit. Her purpose speaks to my soul....Finding beauty in the every day through a heart of gratitude.
A farmer's wife, a homeschooling mother, a sinner saved by grace and a writer with the heart of an artist. Ann is the person I would most like to meet and visit over a steaming cup of coffee.
Her book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are, is her story of gratitude. CBD has listed this book as their special deal of the day. It is an unbelievable price of $8.49...Today Only!
I believe this author is worth investing in. Her gifts of expression point me to the face of my Saviour each and every time I visit her writing.
Take the time to check it out and take advantage of this deal. Who doesn't like a deal?
We all have people and situations that inspire us in our own lives. Ann Voskamp is such a person for me. Her writing touches my heart every time I take the moments to visit. Her purpose speaks to my soul....Finding beauty in the every day through a heart of gratitude.
A farmer's wife, a homeschooling mother, a sinner saved by grace and a writer with the heart of an artist. Ann is the person I would most like to meet and visit over a steaming cup of coffee.
Her book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are, is her story of gratitude. CBD has listed this book as their special deal of the day. It is an unbelievable price of $8.49...Today Only!
I believe this author is worth investing in. Her gifts of expression point me to the face of my Saviour each and every time I visit her writing.
Take the time to check it out and take advantage of this deal. Who doesn't like a deal?
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