Thrilling Guest Thursday: Jeanie Kelley

Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.
(John 15:13 NIV)
 

 

 

Welcome once again, our friend, Jeanie Kelley. Today, she ponders the topic of friendship:
 

What I would love to see is the church to welcome sinners into the church. Welcome them in a way to truly get to know them personally. While I was growing up, I did not have many friends or just one special friend. If I had walked into a church, I would have gotten scowling looks from people who thought I should not be there.


 
(2103 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Jeanie Kelley.)
 
 
Click here to read more from Jeanie about friendship.

 

Communion: Intimate Fellowship and Rapport

 
 
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
(Psalm 133:1 NIV)
 
 
 
 
I am still unpacking from the weekend, not my suitcase, but the gifts of love and encouragement that were shared between sisters and brothers, who grasp God and want others to experience His love in rich and deep and wide reaching ways.
 
I want to tell you all about it. How wonderful the retreat center was that offered us the best. The hospitality of the Jumping Tandem retreat coordinators and dreamers and courage speakers, who dreamed for and with us. Each one graciously demonstrating dependence on the biggest Dreamer of all.
 
How the love of Christ flowed over us moment by moment with each encounter . . .  in the worship sessions, in the workshops, in the wandering around the wide open spaces surrounding the conference center.
 
But most of all  love poured out through the intimate conversations around the table, in the foyer, with my roommate (my sister, Gillian) and fellow travelling companions (Kelly and Lynni) and the other dreamers in Christ, who have similiar, yet different stories that point to the redeeming love and safe haven, we each find in knowing God and loving God.
 
I leave you with a poem, as it still is National Poetry Month. And some photo highlights of the weekend.
 
Jesus
Undergirding with love
Many
Precious sisters and brothers
In
Nebraska.
Growing us . . .
 
Teaching us . . .
Affirming our dreams . . .
Nudging us closer to the BIGGEST
Dream of all:
Entering His
Marvelous presence,
 
Together . . .
Hearts
Embracing
 
Redemption.
Every moment
Trusting and
Recalling and
Enjoying and
Awakening
True love.
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Linking up with:

 

The Biggest Smile This Week: The Love of Christ

 
 
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
 
(Ephesians 3:17b-19 NIV)
 
 
Found this huge snowman in a nearby neighborhood!

Marvelous, matchless love!

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 🙂

Mercy There Was Great

 
 
 
Answer me, Lord,
out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.
(Psalm 69:16 NIV)
 
 
 
A bittersweet thought crossed my mind this morning as I pondered the above image: How would I spend this Lenten “honeymoon” with my Beloved, if I knew that He was facing certain death 26 days from today?
 
 
As we journey toward Calvary, how will I bear what Jesus was going through those last days on earth? Will I accompany Him to the cross, clinging to His side, hanging on His every word, pouring out my adoration and even mourning with tears at His feet?

 
 

Linking with: