Category: Tuesday’s pic

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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Prayer for a Winter Day

 
 
As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
(Psalm 42:1-2 ESV)
 
 
Lord of life and love, help us to worship thee in the holiness of beauty, that some beauty of holiness appear in us. Quiet our souls in thy presence with the stillness of a wise trust. Lift us above dark moods, and the shadow of sin, that we may find thy will for our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(From the Book of Worship)



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Follow: To Engage in A Way of Life

 
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him,
“Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”
(Luke 9:57 NKJV)
 
 
 
 
 
One of my Scripture readings for today included Luke 9:57-62. In response, I wrote a paraphrased dialogue that I imagined between Jesus and myself.
 
Me: I will go wherever You go.
 
Jesus: I am going, but I’m not staying. I will always be on the go. I have no roots.
 
Me: I  really want to follow you, but . . .I don’t want to miss out on anything this world offers. I’m pretty rooted to this existence. What if someone I love dies and I’m not there to say good-bye or to give them a proper burial. Aren’t these rituals important?
 
Jesus: My ways are not like yours. You don’t get it. Everyone dies. I’m interested in the living. Life has its roots in eternity. Be concerned with eternal life and living. That’s why I say, “Go and proclaim the kingdom of God,” my kingdom is about living.
 
Me: Ok, I guess I can let the dead bury the dead, but what about my loved ones. The ones I live with, wouldn’t it be nice for me to say farewell, let them know I’ll be gone. That I’m picking up my roots and moving on.
 
Jesus: You don’t understand. I’m not asking you to plow under your roots. I’m just saying your focus is on temporal things. One who plows looks forward, making sure the rows are straight. Looking back doesn’t accomplish my purposes. If you look back, you can’t really follow me. I’m moving ahead. I not concerned about establishing roots. I am the Root; everything grows and flourishes because of Me. Attach yourself to Me, and live. Then the kingdom of God will be your way of life.
 

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Ennui: A Feeling of Weariness




Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

(Matthew 11:28-30 The Message)
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One Little Word

May your unfailing love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;
then I will answer the one who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
(Psalm 119:41-42 NIV)
 

What if one word could change the direction of your life? Or at least give you a more positive outlook on your current situation?

Laurie Beth Jones in her book, The Path, shares this insight from author, Robert Fritz:

“. . .the very moment you realize you are unhappy or frustrated with a situation is your “point of power,” for now you have a clear picture of how you don’t want things to be. Imagine the exact opposite of the frustrating situation, and there you have the makings of your vision.”

Last week, my friend and life coach, Tracy Flori was having a conversation with her husband. He told her that he felt “stuck” at work. She asked him, if he could replace “stuck” with a different word, a word that would give him a more positive perspective, what would he choose? In seconds, he told her, “between.” She asked him to tell her what it was about that word that would help him. He answered, “If I’m between, then it’s not my fault. And if I’m between then, there is something to look forward to, right?”

When she shared the results of their conversation, I was motivated myself. This time of year brings weariness like no other season. Instead of thinking myself stuck in winter, I can remind myself that I am between seasons. I have spring and summer ahead.

Between has a hopeful ring to it. As I kept mulling over this one little word, the hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God, filled my heart. And the phrase “one little word shall fell him,” took on new meaning. I have often wondered what that word could be. The obvious answer is the name of Jesus, which is the most powerful conclusion. However, I have found the word replacement exercise a practical way to apply the power of God’s hope in my life.

What situation is getting you down? What word do you think God wants you to replace it with to move forward into hope today?
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