Choose joy this weekend…

 

This weekend…reflect on this:

“You are a special and sacred word-of-God-made-flesh.  He loves you as you are.  He spoke your name and created you as a unique person.  So be who you are as created by God.  In prayer say your own word, sing your own song and be true to it.”

(A Traveler Toward the Dawn by John Eagan)

This weekend…

 

Joys…

#680 my sister-in-law…who chooses joy and put this sign up in their kitchen. 

#681  growing in gratitude

#682  growing because of grace

#683  being with older people makes my heart swell. 

#684  the promise of eternal joy

#685  We can choose to live the life God created us to…when we choose joy…and dwell in possibility.

Just Jesus

I woke up early as I usually do each morning to take our dog for a walk.  It’s my morning routine.

This morning I looked out the window and it was raining. 

The thought of crawling back into bed sounded so good, but I also heard the invitation to stay up and listen.  I go to my sacred space…the time on the porch.

The rain falls steady.  No too hard.  Not just a sprinkle.  But it’s steady with hundreds of drips in harmony that whispers rest…that whispers peace…that whispers refuge.

There’s also the steady cry from a mourning dove.

Is it a cry from God I hear?

Does He mourn because His people have abandoned Him?  Is His heart broken because of the many idols we worship instead of Himself?

He created us to worship Him – just Him. 

But my idol is self…myself. 

The root of all sin.  What I want.  What I need.  It’s instinct.

I know He is a sovereign God and doesn’t need us. But he desires us.  He created people…His children… to love, to father, to be a close friend…a best friend.  To stroll with in the dawn and middle of and dusk of the day.  To linger.  To dwell.

He planted in the core of our hearts our deep desire to be loved…so we will depend on Him for all we need. 

God wants…He desire…..to bless us.

It’s still so hard to understand why He chose to bless me…with the comforts of a family who loves, a safe home, provisions beyond measure… and so easy to take for granted. And it’s not just me…it’s all of us who are blessed.  (Just for example, everyone reading this has a computer, iPad or other electronic device to read this blog!)

As I listened to the rain and sat silent, little did I know that later this day I would be the one who had water dripping down my face that whispered brokenness, whispered heart ache, whispered a mourning cry.

I read Ann Voskamp’s blog posted later today.  She and her son are in Haiti this week with Compassion International.  (Our family supports and loves a girl who lives in Mexico so I especially took an interest in this post.)

It’s a story about Jonathan.  (I recommend reading Jonathan’s story).

“It hit me in the gut”, too.

But the same God who loves Jonathan, loves you and loves me. 

Jonathan’s stomach may be empty and his home a shack, but his heart is full of God’s love and truly has what it means to have hope through Christ.   That’s really all he has.

I have much…much materialism, many people who love me…many comforts.  But it’s so easy to fill my heart and mind with those things…not filling my heart with just Jesus.

Just Jesus.

Jonathan’s favorite story in the Bible is about Noah. 

It reminds me of the dove that brought Noah the branch to show him there is life.

Not a mourning dove…but a dove of hope…a dove of promise.

 

More blessings…

#672  the open ears and hearts our family had about Jonathan’s story

#673  where I am weak, God is strong

#674  the much needed rain

#675  being still and silent except for the sound of rain listening for His Voice.

#676  lollipops in jar at bank

#677  mayonnaise jar which holds the mayo to put on my first fresh-from-the-garden tomato sandwich

#678  jar of popcorn kernels to pour in the pot filled with sizzling oil

#679  two hours family game night

Rhyme and Reason

Our daughter surprisingly burst out saying this as she splashed on the seashore this spring,

“When the waves come near I steer!”

But when they come closer I do not fear!”

Have you ever been to the beach and feel the sun warming your entire self…inside and out? 

There’s sand in-between your toes and stuck all over your legs, hands and arms.  There’s even grains of sand in the crevice of the book you’re reading.  And after a few hours, your hand kind of sticks to your leg because you’ve gotten uncomfortable hot and a little sticky.  That means it’s time to get in the water to cool off and ride a few waves!

I remember when I was young how our family went to the beach every summer for a week.  I’d get on a blow-up rectangular raft that was as long as I was long.  I’d just lie on the raft and slowly rock when a small wave rippled underneath. 

But it was usually in the late afternoon the waves would get higher and stronger as the tide rose.   The under tow would tug a little stronger.   I remember times when I’d be lying on that raft and see a wave coming and I think it’s just about to crest but it just keeps building higher and higher…growing bigger and bigger. 

I’m thinking…I’m praying…"Please don’t let this take me under!”

But then, right when the wave begins crashing at my feet, my fear is gone because I know….I know…  it’s going to be the best ride!

I ride all the way to the shore laughing, squealing and grinning ear to ear….a wild rush of joy!

There’s the anticipation of the unknown…bringing fear…and excitement.  It can become a joy rush that keeps growing.

#669  daughter’s wave rhyme

#670  rhythm of daily communion with Jesus

#671  it’s a gift for God to have a reason for everything

#671  our salvation is a reason to rejoice!

Assignments that creep or leap…and a fun summer baseball game

The hunt assignment is to look for gifts of challenge, conflict and change.

Whoa…when I’m in the middle of those things, it’s hard for me to consider those as gifts.

Conflict and change and even challenge are challenging.  So much to the point, a few years ago there was a time when all those things were going on in my life and I got shingles from it.  (You know I like to put photos on my posts, but I’ll spare you the one of my face and eye where the shingles were.  My husband said…with love of course…that I looked like a Klingon from Star Trek).  Studies say stress is one of the main causes of shingles.

I admit I get stressed when those “c” words creep… or even leap… into my life.

A few years ago there were several challenges and changes and even some conflicts going on in my life all at the same time.  All I could do was hang on.  Or better yet, maybe it was just the opportunity of having to let go of all of those challenges and let God make me, shape me and mold me more the way He wants me to be.

But that still doesn’t make it easy.  And I can be stubborn sometimes.

But God was patient with me (thankfully I was patient enough), and I quietly learned a lesson from this challenge as I recovered from shingles (which took several months).  It was a time for me to relinquish my worries and doubts and have a better understanding of what “trust in the Lord with all your heart” means. 

And God was right.   But I knew… He always is… but it’s hard to swallow that sometimes.  He can give us “assignments” to teach us.  We just need to try to do our best…because God does not give us any assignments… we can not handle. 

“God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13

And the temptation was allowing challenge, conflict and change to be bigger than God. 

Recently I heard the teacher say at the church I attend… “God is bigger than every giant in our lives.”

So…yes, conflict and change are gifts.  They will always be a challenge but being able to see how God has used them in the past can help trust Him with the more to come.

Challenge, conflict and change…

#652  …gives the opportunity to let go and let God.

#653   …gives the opportunity to thank God for the conflict…and sometimes God wants us to practice that so we’ll get better at dealing with it!

#654  the gift of change, (of which I’m sometimes stubborn to accept), gives the opportunity to practice yielding…surrendering…relinquishing and giving in to my selfishness.

#655  the gift of unwanted change really can be really good.

#656  All of those gifts are opportunities for a divine appointment with the One who has an assignment for me.     (also what our teacher said at church)

#657  An assignment for me to desperately depend on Him, for me to trust Him more, for me to allow my “self” to become more “selfless”.

Divine assignments are gifts.

 

Still counting…

#658  celebrating my daughter’s last single-digit birthday

#659  celebrating my sister’s birthday

#660  trying out a new ice cream shop

#661  spending afternoon with my sister and her family

#662  the little rain shower we got after a 2 week drought with 100* heat

#663  a new sprinkler

#664  water to drink in the syrupy and sticky heat and sweat.

#665  a baseball game with church family and SM:FX (St. Marks Family Experience)

#666  daughter being bold…in front of a camera and in front of a stadium.

#667  little pink house of hope ministry

#668  our fearless SM:FX leaders!

(thanks for the photos from the game Laura Williams and Laurie Mundy!)

What makes you persevere?

What are you persistent with? What gives you the motivation to stay persistent…not give up…stay on course?

I’ve been hunting for gifts of persistence.

# 645  The first gift I thought of was this JoyDare!   (and I have a friend who always encourages me to keep it up whenever I see her!…thank friend!)  This experience has been one I do not regret…or ever will.  I want to be persistent about it.  It brings hope…

 

I was at one of my most-visited restaurants not too long ago.  One of the reasons I go there is because of the personal service they give their customers.  I guess if you’ve been there enough times they begin to know who you are and what you like!

That being said, I had been in contact with one of the employees who worked specifically in public relations because I requested the restaurant’s “mascot” to come to my daughter’s school for an end of year celebration as an extra bonus.  So, I knew her as an acquaintance.

A few days after the event, I went to the restaurant to get a drink and “ran into” the gal I had been communicating with earlier.  I had brought my computer there and was writing a post for my blog. 

She asked me what I was doing.

God placing an opportunity in my lap.

I told her I was writing a post for my blog.

Then she asked me about it.

So, I told her I had set a goal to find 1,000 gifts God has given me this year.  I went on to explain that I had decided to create a blog to hold myself accountable for keeping up with this challenge. 

She raised her eyebrows and said, “Wow!  I don’t know if I could ever do that.  Although I do remember the one and only time I posted pictures and a story about a softball game I played in.  It was an exciting game.  I included pictures of all the bruises, cuts and scrapes I got from that good game!  I play softball as often as I can.  I really enjoy it.”

She sounded like she was persistent with her love of softball…she wasn’t fearful or ashamed of showing the hard work she put into it…even if it included bruises, cuts and scrapes!  I was impressed with her determination and persistence.

I asked myself, “What am I persistent about?”

Perseverance produces character (Romans 5:3)

The one thing I have been persistent of this year has been the Joy Dare challenge.  I’ve surprised myself of this determination I’ve had. 

Why is that?

I could easily think of things that I am not persistent with but know I should be.

But the Word is true and at least the one thing I’ve persevered, even if it’s just been for a few months, is keeping up and not giving up with the count of blessings.  And by doing this, I pray it’s helping build my character to be one who finds joy in ALL things… even including the bruises, cuts and scrapes.

I once read something Helen Keller wrote…a thought to persistently remind myself.

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do- Helen Keller

…and that thing I can do can only be done through Christ. 

I am one…a child of God; I can do something…by the gifts and grace from God; I will try not to refuse to do something God wants me to and knows I can do.

Yes, try.  I know I am not always perfect (actually never because only God is) and not everything will go my way, the way I want it to be. 

I pray though that I will know what to let go and what to persevere.  I desire… we need to desire…to “run with perseverance the race (God has) marked out for us”

More thankfuls… 

#646  the vision of a leader who doesn’t give up the perseverance of finding other leaders to pour into the lives and hearts of children to increase God’s kingdom!

#647  a most comfortable, perfect pillow to lie  head on when exhausted from a day in the heat.

#648  praying with friend

#649  special day for daughter, mom and gran.

#650  birthday lunch for daughter with grandparents

#651  God’s not giving up on me…

Gifts of freedom

 

#632 Freedom through Christ from the weight of my sin to keep those chains unlocked…

…but being the broken human I am, I can keep that chain close by. When memories of things I’d rather forget surface, it can be easy to take hold of and grip that lock and latch it again. But I thank God that He can grip my hands even tighter and keep me from locking that guilt of sin again around me. He gently takes that chain and lock away from me and I can take a deep breath of freedom again.

#633  freedom in our country

#634  One nation, under God…

#635  front porch flowers red, white, and blue

#636  strawberry and blueberry dessert

#637  wheelbarrow races

#638  kids faces lit up in front of sparklers

#639  red, white and blue

#640  fireworks with church family

#641  love cold lemonade on a hot summer day

#642  love hearing husband lead dinner table devotion

#643  love seeing my daughter carrying so many books she can hardly see over them

#644  “God’s purposes are not for me to understand His plans: His plan is for me to understand Who He is.” (Ann Voskamp)

 

Free

by Sandra Marie Mc Cracken, Derek Walsh Webb, Danielle Young

Around my neck is a beautiful stone

I made it from the good that I've done

It is close to my heart with a meter of its own.

But the weight it bears on me

From the good I wanna be

It cuts me in half

A blade, a sword, a golden calf

Now I'm sinking under the load

I see it was only fool's gold

And it falls on me brings me low

Around his neck he carries the stone

He takes my burden makes it his own

And it takes him down

The bread, the wine, the golden crown

Free free

Free free

A rose shoots up from the ground

Sky cracks open sun through the clouds.

The old has changed the earth

The bride, the family name.

Broken down and shot through

All the good I mean to do

Prison shakes the man goes free

I am him and he is me

Free free

Free free

In progress…

 

I’m in progress.  I’m in progress of many things in my life that I’m not going to elaborate on now, but the main thing I’m in progress of is becoming who Jesus wants me to be.

One thing I am in progress of though, is creating my blog.  It’s slow…but I think sure?

So here’s my “About Me” description I’ll be adding to my blog…

OK, (deep breath and silent prayer)…here it goes…

Welcome to my blog! What?! Beth has a blog?!

Never in my dreams would I have ever imagined being a blogger. I have a husband whom I know loves me and knows my heart’s desires even though I’m often too stubborn to embrace them. (And he’s the one who encouraged me to do this blog!)

I’m blessed to stay home with our tween son and almost tween daughter and love every minute of it. I love to take pictures of joys and each photo tells a story.

I love to listen.

I love to hear others’ stories, especially stories from people with white hair and wrinkles, and I even make books for them about their life and faith stories.

I love to throw my head back and laugh loud and hard, love to commune with others, but it may surprise some that I’m more an introvert and need the time to go the holy ground or sacred space (usually in our sunroom or porch) each day to refresh and refocus.

I’m a reflector who loves words…especially words that re-new and I’m in the habit of hunting every day to find and count gifts of gratitude to God. That gives me resounding hope.

I know I’ve been guilty of idolizing the normalcy of routine and busyness, which the world throws at me every day. I desire to see daily revelations of God moments in my ordinary days…and write about them. That is my prayer…

On this journey, I’m learning how I’m somewhere in between…and that is a gift. I’m in between letting go and letting God, between old familiarity and the new and unknown, between my control and desperate dependence on Jesus. This space in between scares me to death and unimaginably excites me.

“Change” and “risk” are NOT my favorite things. Yet, the opposites of those words, “remain” and “refuge”, are some of my favorite words. They give me courage and strength. I know Christ “remains” in me each moment of each day (huge gratitude) and I have “refuge” in that promise.

I’ve felt a nudge to write more over the past couple of years… I’ve journaled for years and kept my thoughts just between God and me. Literally. I freeze up when I’m asked to share my thoughts or my story. I don’t like the thought of risking myself…remember that’s not my favorite word. And because I don’t like it, I didn’t do it.

Yet, I feel comfort in writing and it has been my refuge.

So, if Christ is my refuge, how can I allow the fear of risk to keep me from risking the joy of sharing what I write ?

So, I have this blog to hold me accountable for giving glory to God and I hope my words will bring joy to my One Audience…

…and if God willing, I hope my reflections of God’s goodness and God’s story will help revive your soul.

 

Weekend joys…

#620   gave daughter birthday party

#621  cupcakes!

#622  being creative with candy and icing

#623  licking sweet and sticky fingers

#624  gave girls gift of manicures at salon…what a special treat!

#625  dinner with a college friend

#626  family safe from bad storm

#627  made zucchini bread (mom’s recipe) with our first fresh zucchini from our garden

#628  singing Amazing Grace

#629  daddy – daughter date

#630  lazy weekend

#631  son safe and fun camping trip with friends