The end is just the beginning Little Revelations Day 22

 

I feel joy-full because of the joy I’ve had as I’ve counted 1000 gifts.  I feel grace-full because of the blessings God has given.  I am prayer-full for HIS will.  I feel wonder-full because of HIS devotion and patience and holiness…I’m filled with the wonder of what comes next.  

 

I’m also getting my hand-full.  My hands cup and open-wide, holding hope, holding dreams, holding tight to HIS promises and HIS Story.   I hope that God can use some of my story to give HIM the glory…

So…I’m changing my blog name.  Now that I reached my original goal when I started recording my joys on this blog (counting 1000 joys), I have the feeling to continue…a new venture with a new name.

Simply Remind Me 

In a busy life as a mom and wife, I simply need constant reminders.  Reminders if it’s a to-do list or even more reminders of God’s promises.  And I pray if you read my posts, it will also simply remind you as well.

If you want to follow me over to my new blog, here’s the address:

www.simplyremindme.blogspot.com

You can like me on facebook or follow me on Twitter:  @simplyremindme

Thanking you and giving HIM the glory…

Beth

Laughter Little Revelations Day 20

 

My stomach hurts and the cheek bones on my face are sore.  I love it!  Those muscles were used for two solid hours tonight.

Isn’t when you decide to go back to exercising when you haven’t for a long time, you use muscles you haven’t in a while?  Then afterwards,  those muscles feel a little tight?

It must have been a long time then since I’ve laughed that hard for that long…out loud (pretty loud if you know me!) and tears rolling down my face, and no more make up on my eyes!

What a fun evening with dear friends celebrating our sons’ October birthdays at a Tim Hawkins show!  (and getting to meet him afterwards!)

Something real and sweet Little Revelations Day 19

There’s now another person I want to meet in heaven some day.  I understand his story and have much in common with him.  

The guy made it to the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11), even though his weakness was not totally trusting God (hmmm…sounds familiar).  It’s Gideon.  God had so much patience with Gideon’s need for confirmation and assurance before he went into battle.  He needed it over and over.

Don’t we all?  I do.

I’ve been especially feeling the need for assurance over the past couple of weeks…or maybe a lot longer.  This beginning of a new venture is getting closer and closer and I’m getting more nervous and more nervous!  I keep asking myself, “Should I really be doing this?  Why am I making a bigger deal about it in my mind than it probably really is?  I’m just going to listen to some great speakers and meet a few people…all by myself.  Why do I feel anxious?  Why do I have this feeling of anticipation (and yes, some excitement!) ?”  My heart starts beating quick whenever I think about it.  Why?  What will happen after next week? 

I just read that we learn through Gideon’s story  that “God may ask us to take risks on the way to assurance.  Going into the enemy camp is dangerous (thus the advice to take Purah with him to spy on the Midianites).  In the same way, we may find that we lack assurance of God’s presence with us because we never do anything bold”.

I’ve decided to be bold and take risks. 

I have to be desperately dependent on only HIM…not my expectations, not my needs, not my selfish wishes…in order to be bold and take risks….plus there are many loved ones in my life who are nudging me, praying for me and supporting me in this venture in order for it to happen.

So I have to be desperately dependent.

Tim Keller said when we read God’s and His people’s revelations in His Word and especially His promises, “we often find that the Holy Spirit comes and makes the promises both real and sweet to us.” (Rom. 8:16) 

How sweet it is.

 

Thank-full to God for…

1001 – “God wanted to assure Gideon (and Beth) one more time and fill him with confidence and joy”. (over and over)   - Tim Keller

1002-  The sun rising through the fog this morning…seeing magnificent sun beams shining through the fog and red and orange leaves

1003 - Seeing a group of bluebirds frolicking and playing on the children’s playground on my morning walk.

1004 – going to the theater to see the kids production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” with my daughter

1005 - my husband’s support (even technical) and love as he’s setting me off into the unknown…in a good way.

 

1000 Counted!

I really did it.

I reached a goal.   1000

Gifts opened this year that I never imagined on January 1, 2012

I’m being vulnerable to anybody…the polar opposite of who I’ve been. 

I’m writing and blogging…starting to live out a dream???  Looking ahead…what does God have planned?

Grateful for God’s grace and I’m being small.

 

Oh what a God Moment….  I was thinking of changing my music to George Winston but right before I was about the change my Pandora music feed, one of my absolute favorite songs, The Revelation Song by Phillip, Craig and Dean started playing.  It’s always been a powerful worship song to me so I didn’t change it.  I kept writing.  I counted.

#997, 998, 999… and the last verse (my favorite) of the song begins as I type in #1000.

“Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder 

At the mention of Your Name                                                                                 

Jesus, Your Name is power                                                                                        

Breath and Living Water                                                                                            

Such marvelous mystery.”  

I’m so awestruck.

I’m so filled.

Eyes filled with tears. Knees hit the ground.

On this cloudy afternoon all of a sudden the sun breaks through the clouds and shines through the window on me.

The Revelation Song playing…and I remember my “31 days of Little Revelations” challenge I’m in the middle of right now.

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty,

who Was and Is and Is To Come!

With all creation I sing,  ‘Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything and I will adore You.’” 

I’m speechless and so small.

Counting 1000 gifts…what a gift.

 

#997   I reached a goal. 1000.

#998   Gifts opened this year that I never imagined on January 1, 2012

#999   I’m writing and blogging…starting to live out a dream???

#1000   Counted 1000 gifts!!!!!!

 

 

  Day 18

The gift of chaperoning Little Reminders Day 17

I rode on a comfy bus today with about 70 boys and a few men.  I was the only female on that bus.  How I managed to do that, I don’t know.   We were on our way to a Renaissance festival a couple hours away.   I had the opportunity to chaperone eight seventh graders.

It was a beautiful day.  The weather couldn’t be more perfect.  What a beautiful ride seeing all the leaves changing color along the highway.

 

When we arrived, it was like stepping back in time to the 1400’s…the Renaissance era.  Back in the middle of no-where was a wooded area that was turned into live history.

There were people dressed in their historical attire, music made from harps, lyres, violins and little ukuleles.  There were booths of food (my son ate a HUGE turkey leg!), shops filled with hats, jewelry and glassware.  There were many different performances throughout the village.

We got to the area the kids were looking forward to the most…the jostling reenactment.

 

The horses walked out on the “stage” as the queen spoke to all of us explaining what was about to happen as if we were people back during that time. 

The two men came out on their horses dressed in their colorful and elaborate costumes.  They put on their helmets and held onto their jousts and charged towards each other.  Then they pulled out their swords after they got off their horses and went into battle.

Ephesians 6:13-17… ^{13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.}

I thought of that as I sat amongst hundreds of 12 and 13 year olds in such a awkward, testing and even scary time of life…which includes our son.  He will be in many battles, maybe not dressed in the rich costumes and culture from hundreds of years ago, but he’ll need to put on his armor.  I just whisper to God asking that our son will put on that armor every morning when he gets up.  I want him protected from the temptations the evil one as much as possible by keeping him in the Word and God’s promises.

Beautiful day and just.right.reminder of the Armor in the midst of the Renaissance.

 

Thankful for:

#994   Being a chaperone on my son’s field trip…and he didn’t mind it!

#995   Seeing colored leaves while on the highway

#996   Observing life during the Renaissance

 

Moment of tranquility on a busy day Little Revelations Day 16

I’m still thinking of the feeling of home…even though I’ve got so many other things racing through my mind that needs to be done today.

I’m remembering and wishing I could be back to a place where I felt so much in awe and wonder and being surrounded by Beauty and magnificence.

My husband and I went on a long needed trip just the two of us back in 2006.  Where has time gone?  It really didn’t seem that long ago.   We drove up the west coast from Los Angelo, CA to Seattle, WA.   It was one of our best trips.

One of our stops was in Portland, Oregon and we found our way to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, along the Historic Columbia River, right outside of Troutdale, Oregon.

I’ve always enjoyed going to National parks but wishing I could stay at them longer than a day.  Even though we were being more spontaneous (which for us Type A people that we are was not usual!)  and just driving until we got tired, we still had to be in Seattle by a certain day.

That day we chose to follow the trail that led to some of the waterfalls in the gorge. It looked as if the sky would open any minute with pouring rain but we took the risk and parked at our first stop and got out of our car praying it wouldn’t rain.

The first waterfall we stopped to see came with a little hike.  As we walked, I remember seeing different hues of green in the ivy, plants and mossy rocks. Even though the clouds were gray, those colors were radiant. I remember hearing the birds singing and the water babbling over and through the soft stones and rough rocks. Ferns and lush foliage surrounded us.

I heard in the distance a quiet rushing of water getting louder every step, giving me the anticipation of what I would see.  Through the branches we could begin to see the waterfall.  We hiked up a rather steep hill and some of the rocks were slippery due to the mist in the air coming from the waterfall and creek.   I was slipping into an artistry of God.

Then we turned the corner and there it was…turning the corner into the unknown with anticipation.

I stood looking at it in awe. It took my breath away.  A picture couldn’t do it justice.

The sound of the water cascading over the ledge of the gorge was exhilarating and tranquil at the same time.  Mist fell over me like a cloak of peace.  Breathe deep.  All I could think of was, “This is what it’s going to be like in heaven…at home”.

The waterfall was powerful. I was in radical amazement. I was in silent wonder as I felt tears well up like water drops from the cascade.   Something moving caught my eye.  It was a man walking through the foliage to experience what it was like under that waterfall.  From where we were standing he looked like the size of a bug beside it.   

He looked small. (see him in the photo above?) 

I felt small.  I felt so small in the Creator’s vast masterpiece.  I felt small with thankfulness for this gift to see.  I felt small because God’s grace is enormous…small because His love is immense.

I felt like I was on holy ground.  It felt like a glimpse of heaven revealed.

 

Thankful for:

#991  memories of revelations

#992  the feeling of anticipation but not quite sure why

#993  making chicken pie

 

Where is your home? Little Revelations Day 15

On this dreary, rainy day I’m thankful for the warmth of home. 

Home is where you wear your slippers, pull warm linens out of the dryer, hold a warm drink in your hands and snuggy under a fuzzy blanket with your daughter on the couch.

Home is where you can do your chores with your hair looking crazy after getting out of bed in the morning, where you show your true self…inside and out.

Home is comfort.  Home is a refuge.

Being at home today is made to be a place of rest, a place for restoration physically, emotionally and spiritually, and home is to be a refuge from being stretched in all directions.

That’s how God created us… needing that; needing a place, a home for retreat.

On earth, “home” to us can be different things to different people. For some, home is when you’re with your family recreating by playing games, travelling or eating dinner together. Some people find a feeling of home when hiking in God’s natural creation or spending time at the beach. Others feel home when they go to visit their aging parents in the home they grew up in most of their life.

The feeling of home can be when you are alone in your house curled up on the couch with the fireplace lit reading a book. One of my favorite feelings of home is when I’m on our screened-in porch, resting in the lounge chair, on a warm day, listening to the birds sing melodies, enjoying the greenness of leaves on the trees and just soaking in the warmth  as I journal to God.

Where do you feel most home?

The way we know home today is just a glimpse of what our true home will be in heaven.   Some day our bona fide home with be revealed.

Until then, I’m so thankful for our home of refuge.  And I’m OK that it’s filled with a thin layer of dust, a little bit of clutter, crumbs on the table, laughter, music, clanking of utensils on the dinner plates and stories. 

 

Gratitude…

#987  a place to call home

#988  the promise of Promised Land

#989  re-reading cards family and friends have given me

#990  re-reading God’s promises in His Word

 

Silent Little Revelations Day 14

 

The word

LISTEN

contains the same letters

as the word

SILENT

 

 

 

They got me! Little Revelations Day 13

 

I.was.so.surprised.

I.am.so.blessed.

(But that’s not really a new revelation this time…I know I am blessed…but there’s never too many reminders!)

Fighting hard to swallow those tears of surprise, joy, overwhelm-ness … gratitude.

My most thoughtful and well-planning and preparing husband who I know loves me, joined with my family and dear friends, and threw me a surprise 80’s theme 40th birthday party!

They got me good.  I had no clue!   Family and friends from both here and far were there.

I felt humbled and small, surrounded by a HUGE crowd of the life-support-encouraging-love givers in my life.

What a fun night!

Saying “thank you” could never be enough….

 

Surprising Joys

#979  gift small – the snail I saw crawling on the road on the morning walk

#980  gift smaller – crumbs on our kitchen table

#981  gift even smaller – getting ready to start a new adventure

#982  gift smallest – myself surrounded by a HUGE crowd of the life-support-encouraging-love givers in my life.

#983  my surprise 40th 80’s theme party

#984  the time and energy my husband put into putting it all together

#985  my family who helped prepare and contribute to it

#986  everyone who was there…from near and far

Just.Trust. Little Revelations Day 12

 

I almost didn’t sit down to open the Word this morning.  I thought… “I’m going to be on a field trip next week instead of bible study, so I’ll have some extra time later to work on the study.”  I had laundry to do, a house to clean spic and span because we have company this weekend (which could take a while to do!), having to make a trip to the grocery, and getting ready for a scrapbook workshop tonight.

But that old, saggy couch and the pillows that support my back beckoned me to come sit down. So I did.

Read about Gideon.  Gideon?  Really? 

Judges 6:11-24.

An angel, or the LORD himself, casually walks over to a poor, shy, reserved guy who lives on fear and all his life has been in hiding.  Hiding from his enemy, from death, from the unknown.

But the LORD tells Gideon, “I’m with you, mighty warrior.  Go and save the Israelites.”

Well, of course he blames God for the suffering he’s had to live with but had nothing left to loose.  He had nothing to loose. He remembers hearing about the previous Judges and prophets who saved the people from despair…Moses being one of them. 

But deep within, Gideon may have heard, “You are my Moses for this generation”.

The Lord said to him, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”  That is how God saw Gideon…as a warrior.   But being the shy and reserved human he was…(hmmm sounds familiar)…. Gideon didn’t see himself as a warrior.  He saw himself as the runt of the tribe.  The little, shy one who thinks if he can hide, he’ll be safe.  But God can only speak Truth.  So the truth was that, deep inside…in the core of who God created Gideon to be… was a warrior.  That is how God saw him.

We usually don’t see ourselves the way God sees us.  Instead we hide…at least I have and still do sometimes.  What would you say if…I mean when… the LORD says to you, “I’m with you, (fill in the blank with your name, job, or calling) .”    I’m guilty for being like Moses, Gideon and many others, saying, “Me, God?  No, no, no… I’m not the one for this plan of Yours…  I’m not a warrior.  I’m not a Proverbs 31 woman who balances life and does everything perfectly.  I’m not an evangelist.  I’m not a writer.   I’m not good enough.”

But God can only.speak.Truth. 

The LORD said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel…Am I not sending you???  I’ll cover the rest!”   God couldn’t call Gideon a warrior if he wasn’t one…or going to be one...because he could only speak Truth. 

Then the LORD revealed who HE IS when Gideon humbly offers him a sacrifice with true gratitude and awe.

I am not a warrior.  At least that I know of…and maybe I should be more like?  But I can relate well to Gideon and to Moses and the other people that God told to get out of their comfort zone and just.trust. 

It was an ordinary day, doing his job threshing wheat, when all of a sudden…bam!…God gave him a revelation. 

So, being a mom on an ordinary day…checking off my never-ending to-do list…bam!…God can give revelations today too…just being in His Presence on this saggy ‘ole couch and being simply reminded to just.trust. because God cannot lie.  He can only speak Truth. 

It was worth putting off my to-do list a little longer…

  

Pondering Daily Revelations Day 11

Pondering on this autumn day…

“Our ‘dwelling place’ may be physical – a room, apartment, or house.  It may also be a metaphor for mental and emotional (and spiritual) ‘space.’  We can invite others into our inner world of thoughts and feelings, sharing gifts of heart and mind.  Gracious inner space gives other room to play, question, and converse; room to be heard and understood; room to reveal themselves as they choose.

                                                                       Soul Feast by Marjorie J. Thompson

 

Where is your dwelling place…your home?  Ponder that… 

(more to come…)

 

Joy small

#977   the tiny snail slowly inching across the road

#978  a place and space to dwell