Opportunities

You have an opportunity today my precious friend...
To share His love with others.  Even when you don't feel like it, even if it's hard, even to the people you might not necessarily feel all warm and fuzzy towards...
                       Especially those who have hurt you.
Speak life.
Why?  Because you have the power to speak life and death with the power of your words and let me tell you something real...when you speak death: negative, critical, biting, humiliating, ugly words into another persons life...
                        It goes back into you.  Your words may wound them,  but they will poison you.
Loving others means doing it when they don't deserve it, when they hurt you over and over again, when it seems like they aren't answering to anyone, much less God.  Love them anyways.  Love them through tears, love them through prayers you aren't sure you can speak. 
So today, especially when its hard...love others and speak life into every situation.  I can tell you first hand it will not be easy.  But I can also tell you that it will change you in a way you never imagined.

Galatians 6:7-8

The Voice (VOICE)

⁷ Make no mistake: God can’t be mocked. What you give is what you get. What you sow, you harvest. ⁸ Those who sow seeds into their flesh will only harvest destruction from their sinful nature. But those who sow seeds into the Spirit shall harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

For Aubrey....

Came across a precious blog this morning  (thanks Jennifer!!) and she shared a link to an amazing song.  This is for you today my love...just hold on.....

Tuesday's God Size Dream

It's Tuesday.  And Each Tuesday Holly Gerth has a God Size Dream assignment.  Here is mine for today:

Write a letter of encouragement to another dreamer in your life. Share your letter by including it in a post.

Hi Sweet Friend,

You have been on my heart this week.  I know the challenges that you face, they are much like my own.  We can walk through completely different circumstances, yet also deal with emotions that are quite similar.  When? Why? HOW? WHAT?!?!?! Yikes....seems like all those have come crashing around both of us lately.  But what God seems to be reminding me of is that first, He loves us.  He does.  And even though this seems like we have been been in the time out corner WAY longer than even seems fair....the fact is, He does want His best for us.  Even on the hard days, even when it hurts. 

The most important thing I believe, for you and I right now, is that God wants to remind us that HE IS GOD.  GOD.  OF EVERYTHING.  Not somethings, not only things that end in Y, but ALL things.  And this journey has made us weary and there are times that we feel like we are walking alone and we tend to forget as the days drag on, that He is in control.  And He can do in a second what we could never accomplish in a lifetime.  And He wants to show us that.  But we just have to hold on.  HOLD ON.  KEEP GOING.  And I see you rolling your eyes....but YES YOU CAN.  And so can I.  And so we will.  Together.  Love you so much. Here's my hand....let's go....  :)

Monday Morning

² Of one thing I am certain: my soul has become calm, quiet, and contented in You.
Like a weaned child resting upon his mother, I am quiet.
My soul is like this weaned child.  Psalm 131:2

It's Monday....and I did successfully manage to get up just a bit earlier today, so much I have ahead of me, but still....as I go to make my coffee, my thoughts begin to swirl, pressures begin weighing heavy on me....how, I can't, there's no way, seriously Lord still?......and so yet again, I sit, trying to unwind what is beginning to be so very tightly wound....and He reminds me that so a man thinks in his heart, he is......so what do I think in my heart? What is it that I am going to choose to believe this morning? 

Psalm 131 came to mind......I have no answers for all these questions about me.  Not one.  A child doesn't worry how it will be clothed, fed, cleaned, cared for....we as parents continually asses the needs of our children.  We guide them, care for them, get them through the day, always giving direction.  We just do it.  They just trust that we will do it.  Minute by minute....day after day.....they are always on our minds.  As we are always on His mind.....

And so today as I read that, what He whispered in my ear so early this morning, I let Him quiet me.  He's got this....He is my parent, I am His child.  All that I have belongs to Him and therefore, all that I need, I have.

Sunday Scripture

 

Lamentations 3:26 It is good to wait quietly for the Eternal to make things right again.

God has brought me to this passage many times over the past few weeks. As I was given it yet again this morning, I let the words sink in. Because its what He is pressing on me. This picture reminds me of myself sometimes :) Oh how we fight the times of quiet of times when it feels like we are surely alone and the devil has won and we are just out of luck....but wait. Wait on Him. Him who is our Rescuer, our Redeemer, our Comforter, our Strong Tower. He who is coming WILL come and will not delay.

Snapshot

 

This week has been about community for me. The people we spend our time with, surround ourselves with, depend on and form bonds with.  This for me is family.  These people that become an ingrained part of our lives.  Whether we befriend them, marry into them, adopt them, whatever God uses to bring them across our paths, some are forever.  Some just in our hearts, but some become a part of who we are to be.  They are used to mold and shape us into the way God intended.  Sandpaper....velvet...tidal waves....streams...fire....ice....each used as God creates His masterpiece in us. 

 

I am reminded yet again that not all of your family will come by birth.  Some bonds forged will become much stronger, deeper, as we go along.  Today I'll be patient, hopeful, expectant of what God is doing and how He is moving in my life and grateful for the beautiful family, however they came to me, I have been blessed with.

5 Minute Friday



 

 

So today is 5 Minute Friday

 



 

Write about Friendship for 5 minutes.... Go...

 

 

As we walked together yesterday, one sharing her long awaited answer to prayer, the rest of us listening, silently praying...I saw that we are bound.  Bound in this love of Him, love of each other, bearing one anothers burdens.  We can do this with a look, with a touch, with a sigh.  That is friendship from God alone.

 

I began this journey with only one standing beside me and as I walked across the field last night, I realized that although this has not been an easy path, I've picked up quite a few passengers along the way.  Sharing my journey with me and I with them.  And we are all headed in the same direction :) We will never walk alone and our numbers slowly increase as I pause to look around.  Thankful.  Grateful.  Beautiful.  These sisters I love.  God given friendships.  Eternal. 

 

Stop...