Wonderful Works

Psalm 139:14(NIV)


Beauty in the mountains!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Nothing like a good nature walk to remind me of the creativity of the Creator!  His works are incomparable to anything that we could come up with on our own, that is for sure.  Strolling through the woods and marshes this past week allowed me to take it all in.  The smells, sounds, the feel of the warm gentle breeze, and sights were a real treat to experience.  

I'm going to keep my eyes open this week for more of His works.  I will be traveling to Joplin tomorrow to work in the clean up effort there.  The goal is to prayerfully deliver hope through action to those who most certainly must feel overwhelmed and exhausted.  I know that it will be challenging to see the destruction and loss that these people are experiencing, but I believe that through the power of Christ and the perseverance of each one of us doing what we can to help, they will overcome!

Praying for the people of Joplin and once again praising God for the miracles that have taken place there.  

The Clever Creator

Psalm 139:13(NIV)

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

Sweet Mommy and her baby.

Awe....this is one of the verses that I most cherish in all of scripture!  It is so beautiful and speaks volumes to the sanctity of life and God's divine touch on each of us.  There are absolutely no mistakes from our God.  He creates each of us according to His good pleasure and purposes. 

I choose to hold tight to this verse during those challenging seasons of my life.  With the Word of God planted firmly in my hands, I can move forward.  Statements like this one supply the courage and confidence to know that I do make a difference and so do you!  We are each an individual life, uniquely created to accomplish His kingdom goals.  Psalm 139:13 is a fire starting verse for sure!

The richness of His word provides such energy to the mission.  Take yesterday for example.  As I was reading the Bible, it became like a conversation to me....as though I truly was sitting on the living room floor mesmerized by a ridiculously loving Father.  (This is the only way I know how to describe it, given my human constraints.) 

Here is some of what He told me...and I have to pass it on to you, because it's hard to contain such amazing grace...plus it's for you too!   

Isaiah 40:28-31(MSG) "...God doesn't come and go, God lasts.  He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.  He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.  And he knows everything, inside and out.  He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.  For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall.  But those who wait upon God get fresh strength..."

"He energizes those that get tired out!"  Yeap....pretty incredible God!  

Thanking God today for His strength.  Also acknowledging and applying  the scripture verse Phillipians 4:13 (NIV)~"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." 

Immersed in His Light

Psalm 139:11(MSG)
Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark!  At night I'm immersed in the light!"



Light reflecting off the lake water.


It's hard to completely describe my strong and rather amazing husband.  He really exemplifies the love of Christ in our home and has become a strong tower that I have grown to trust and lean on in all situations.  Today marks our twenty third year of marriage!  Those years have been filled with much love and a few trials.  There has been a lot of laughter and a few tears.  We have shared mountain top experiences and a hand full of deep valley travels.  Through it all, we have persevered and clung to our faith in God and His goodness in all things.  

My husband has a consistent saying that he will utilize when things get a little bit rough for us.....whatever that happens to be at the time varies, but it usually is a situation that is not turning out the way we had intended for it to.  Ironically, I got to hear it today.  You see, yesterday we scooped up the kids and took them to the lake for some fresh air, a little diving, swimming and a good old fashioned camp fire.  (It's good for the soul....gettin' out in nature....have I mentioned I LOVE the outdoors?)  Anyway, we were all together and that is exactly the way we wanted to spend our anniversary....together...the four of us.  It was awesome. 

We enjoyed the evening relaxing by the fire and throwing a marshmallow over the flame.  We got up this morning and splashed right into the lake for a full day of sun and fun.  By evening, it was a quick pack up and out the door for the drive home.  That's when it happened.  Yeap....craziest thing.....I'm backing out to head back home and bang~crash....!!  Someone put a tree right in the middle of the road....and I slammed right into it!  We all jumped out to see that I single handily smashed an entire section of the car!  Oh bother....I really hate it when that happens.  (No...the tree wasn't in the middle of the road...I guess I backed up crooked and sort of ran right into it......good grief!)

Now, is when my compassionate man decided to use his "consistent saying".  Are you ready to hear it?  He says, "Ah...that's ok Babe....'In the light of eternity~what does this really matter?  This isn't that big of a deal!'"  He proceeds to give me a huge hug and usher me right back into the car.  Who does that???  Seriously?!  Could I be anymore blessed?  Nope...I didn't think so. 

I am immersed in His light tonight....and thankful for a husband who stands in His light as well. 

He's Holding Us Fast

Psalm 139:10(NIV)
even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.



Kayaking in the mountains.



Simply amazing the comfort that is mine (and yours) when I hear those words.  No matter where I go.....His hand is holding me fast....so tightly is He holding me that I cannot break free!  I don't want to break free either.... 

Resting in this promise makes most of my cares and concerns melt away.  It gives me the confidence to pursue those God callings that I know I have been given.....some big assignments and some small....but all callings that seem to require a gargantuan leap of faith!  It is the type of trust that calls for a releasing from my own security.   Candidly....that's tough for me to find but, after I soak up this verse.....the Holy Spirit empowers me to get a move on!!

Thank you Lord, for giving me this verse and assuring me that You are there for me to follow and You are holding me tight!

Revelations

Psalm 139:9(NIV)
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

Well, I'm home from the mountains and what a wonderful time my daughter and I had!!  It is always such a treat to get to stay with my "Northern Sister" and her gentlemanly husband.  They are so good at teaching us about the nature that they adore and allowing us to experience some of God's most beautiful country with them.   

So here are a few revelations from my respite: (some of them are new...others are gentle reminders to me)

 #1.  My children will only be able to go where I lead them.  If I don't answer the Lord's
         calling...neither will they.  If I am complacent....they will be quite happy to do nothing
         right along with me.  (I am still pondering this one.)

#2.  Courage is not the absence of fear, but the resistance to fear or mastery of it.  It's being
       afraid, but managing to do what I know I have to do despite the "feeling" of fear.  (I got
       this one from the amazing book I am reading~The Final Summit by Andy
       Andrews....review post coming soon, by the way.)

#3.  It's very healthy to laugh.....and laughter usually follows the choosing of "joy"....which is a
        choice I frequently forget to make...in my complaining mind.

#4.  I am blessed....very blessed.

#5.  I want to live my faith....not just talk about it.....or write about it.

I am certain there are more things that I learned during my journey, but for the sake of time, that will be all for now.  Today's verse inspires me to be more aware of His Kingdom purposes~where ever I go...because His plans for my life (and your life too) are far greater than my loveliest dreams could ever imagine!  

Thanking Him today....in all things.