Category: coffee

Joy: Well-Being

 . . . fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
 (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV)

 

As the bride enters the room, all rise and turn to her, but her eyes are fixed on her prize, her longed after groom.  This last, sacred week of Lent, I remember that I chose to take this journey as a bride, not a penitent.  At the start of the day, I felt forced and false. I was not looking forward to recounting the death of my Savior. I wanted to shake this grave feeling, but I needed someone to help me, like Lazarus needed unwrapping after four days in the tomb.

I ran to the Living One, who is no longer in the grave, begging for a week of celebration, rather than despair. I desired more time to linger over our honeymoon journey. I did not want to spend the entire week reeling under false guilt and recounting lost causes in my life.

And then I remembered these words: For the joy set before Him!

The cross was a joy, even though the pain was excruciating. The journey was a delight, in spite of the scourging and being spat upon and the jeering that Jesus endured. And He offered Himself to the cross, to be humiliated before all. He willingly went to that hill, because He knew that the stone would be rolled away, that His sacrifice would make possible a miracle. His love would melt our hearts of stone and bestow on us hearts that rejoice. He believed that mercy is new every morning! He had us in mind as He endured the oppression, and our faces eased His pain. For the joy set before Him!

Today, when I was tempted to give into false Lenten misery, I called my hobo (homeward bound) friend, Carol Ann, the one who invited me to see this journey as a honeymoon with the Beloved. She was feeling the heaviness, too.

But the Beloved had something else in mind for us. He was beckoning us both to experience joy. He invited us to embrace the snow laden, spring day.  I packed us some fresh bagels and coffee.  We drove past the railroad tracks to an abandoned neighborhood. We trekked to a picnic shelter, poured coffee into our mugs, dunking the bagels in our coffee for some quick nourishment. Then we packed up the picnic, bundled up in our mittens and scarves to stroll through the wintry landscape. Large snowflakes bathed us and eased us into other worldly calm, immersing us into the beauty of the Beloved.
 
 
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Leaning, Leaning, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

The eye is the lamp of the body.
If your eyes are good,
your whole body will be full of light.
(Matthew 6:22 NIV)


I had a little scare this morning. My vision was impaired. I felt like darkness was closing in on me. I told my husband, and thought we might end up in urgent care before the morning was over. In a panic I called my sister, who is a nurse, and she suggested I eat something. In minutes, my vision was restored.

But in those moments, when I was losing my sight (that’s how it felt) I was quite terrified, and cried out to the Beloved to heal me. And He did. Apparently, darkening vision is a effect of low blood sugar. After breakfast, I decided to curl up on the couch, watching the snow softly fall, and asked my Beloved:

What kind of honeymoon is this? I thought we were going to go explore the town and write and have a grand adventure.

My expectations and reality don’t always merge the way I might like.

So here, the Beloved, once again encouraged me to be still. To spend the day at home with Him, just listening, watching and capturing moments. So after I regained my strength, I nested.

Here are some captured moments from my camera this morning. I think with the vision scare, I wanted to use my eyes.

These snapshots are my way of saying “Thank You” to Jesus for good eyes. Oh, how He loves you and me!

 
“Joy is always a promise.”
(Madeline L’Engle)

 

 
Quiet Listening Music.

 

 
Our cat who insists on stealing MY thinking chair.

 

 
A pile of library books to dream about
the St. Louis adventures ahead. 

 

 
“His love is as gentle
as freshly fallen snow,
His joy is lovely as winter’s glow,
His peace is the quiet place
our hearts can go.”
 
(quote on the pillow given to me by a dear friend,
who knows I often languish during the winter 🙂

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The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me
solitude like a partridge in a pear tree.

Often this time of year, I am looking for something new. Like a new devotional or a new Bible that will inspire me to read it everyday. Sometimes I want a new journal or some new music to serenade me into the new year.

I started this day with two lovely coffee dates. One to catch up with a friend from town and the other to visit with a friend here from out of town. Little did they know that they fulfilled my desire for something new.

One gave me a Josh Wilson CD in a sweet little gift bag, with these words:

 
The other gave me a journal with a card wishing me JOY!
 
 
This evening, I shopped my bookshelves for a devotional for 2013. A couple years ago, I bought The One Year Coffee with God devotional by Sarah Arthur. In it, she mentions a prayer guide that follows the liturgical year called A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants. I came across it in my book hunt in the basement. The readings for this week were under the title: All Things New. Oh, how I love a theme.
 
All things new, this is the cry of my heart, especially the day after the feast of Christmas. What’s next? How will I occupy myself for the next twelve days? In the morning I made a lofty goal of reading twelve books, one a day. Ha! Instead, I’m just going to read, whatever the Spirit leads. I did read Psalm 65 today. Yum! Nourishing words of hope and joy!
 
The psalmist observes: “You crown the year with  your bounty . . .” (Psalm 65:11 ESV), a great summary of this year and hope for the next. Year after year Jehovah provides. I will make my plans, goals and resolutions, only to waver after a burst of enthusiasm. I have been here before, and yet again God will crown my feeble efforts with His grace.
 
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Serendipity: The Finding of Valuable Things Not Sought For

Tuesday’s Pic

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
3 John 2 NIV

 
 
 
Friday was Mom’s birthday, and over breakfast she mentioned that she would like to find a special mug for her morning coffee. On Saturday, I was at women’s conference and this mug caught my attention. Instead of a card, I decided to gift her with this reminder that I would be praying for her each morning as she sips her coffee.
 



  
On Sunday, I brought it over to Mom for the family gathering honoring her birth. I pulled out the mug, and she started crying. Little did I know the impact a coffee mug would produce.
 
Through the tears, she remembered getting a card with this same exact prayer from her own mother years ago. Grandma has gone on to be with Jesus, for many years now, but her prayers linger behind.
 

I Said A Prayer For You Today

by Frank J. Zamboni

I said a prayer for you today
And know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart
Although He spoke no word!

I didn’t ask for wealth or fame
(I knew you wouldn’t mind).
I asked him to send treasures
Of a far more lasting kind!

I asked that He be near you
At the start of each new day;
To grant you health and blessings
And friends to share your way!

I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small.
But it was for His loving care
I prayed the most of all!

 



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Focus: Directed Attention

 
 
Some mornings I find it difficult to focus. I have routines, but they are ever in flux. I get up and want coffee. But then I think maybe I should go run. I have been thinking of setting office hours, so I can be more focused on writing. I have been blogging five days a week now for three weeks. It is nice to have a rhythm going.

I have been running to get ready for a race that a friend invited me to run with her. It actually includes biking as well, so they call it a biathalon. Talk about needing focus. But I’m not sure if that’s really what I have been after these past few weeks. Sure I have a goal to get ready. So I run or bike every other day, challenging myself to push a little further each time. But the focus is not on the race, as much it is on plodding along and conditioning my body to be ready for the race.

I need both the goal of the race, and the focus of the moment. It’s a strange mix, but it does keep me going.
 
 
 
 

Picture

 
 
 
Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win.  All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches.   I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.

1 Corinthians  9:24-27 NLT

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