Little Girl/Young Girl/ Daddy's Girl

She comes -
when the burdens of wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, friend
cause shoulders to hunch up around my ears,
lines etch more deeply into my face-
with bouncing curls,dancing feet, trusting smile
dreams fresh and new.

She taps my shoulder;
I long to be absorbed into the younger self-
to ride in the backseat
window wide open, curls wild, care-free,
simple trust that we are safe.


He comes -
looks beyond the hunched shoulders and lined face,
pats His knee, extends His arms.
Little girl, I climb into His lap,
enfold myself in Him
and rest.



She comes-
with awkward step, skinny legs, unruly hair-
on days when all is wrong,
when words have hurt, when dreams are shattered,
when friends disappoint.

She taps my shoulder-
I try to brush her off,
but she draws me in-
to awkward shyness, yearning to belong,
fear and insecurity.

I crumble at His feet-
head pressed against His knee, tears flowing.
His hand caresses my head;
In the security of that touch
I am reminded of
unconditional love, absolute acceptance,
faithfulness and perfect plans.

I am Daddy's girl.

Blessings,
Linda

Remember

There was a time I rather looked down my nose at those incredibly foolish Children of Israel. Their repeated failure to be thankful, obedient or even a little trusting just made me shake my head in superior disbelief. The older I get, however, the more grace I am willing to extend to these people who I increasingly realize were just like me.

I thought about them just the other day. Do you remember the beginning of the story, when they were living as slaves in Egypt and crying out to the Lord for deliverance? It seemed that their prayers had gone unanswered but God was working on a plan. One day, in the hot,dusty desert, He revealed that plan to Moses:

"And the Lord said, 'I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a land flowing with milk and honey..."
Exodus 3:7,8

The Lord kept that promise. Miracle after miracle so great the human mind can hardly fathom them unfolded before their eyes. They were delivered from slavery and brought to the Promised Land.

They stood on the brink of all they had prayed for and so much more, and this was their response:

"And all the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, 'Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! And why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt.'"
Exodus 14:2,3

WHAT??!! Better to return to Egypt? Did they expect the Egyptians to welcome them back with open arms? Did they remember what their lives had been like in Egypt?

We can't be blamed for shaking our heads over that one. However, as I was walking the other day a little glimmer of understanding broke through. It was a cold, cloudy day - threatening rain. It had been rainy for several days, and I was missing the sunshine. It was on the tip of my tongue to complain about the weather when my mind raced back to the summer.

We lived through a record breaking drought this past summer. Everything was brown and dry; the lakes and rivers were shrinking daily. Every morning we woke to a cloudless sky and brilliant sunshine. I prayed fervently for rain. It was almost a physical ache. At the time I vowed that I would never, ever complain about rain again. How could I have forgotten so quickly?

I want to learn the lessons it seemed to take the Children of Israel forever to learn. I want to remember all that the Father has done for me and to be thankful. I want to remember that He has a good plan for my life and to trust Him. I want to remember how much He loves me - that He hears and answers prayer even when it seems that heaven is silent. I want to remember what it was like without Him and the priceless gifts He has poured into my life.

I want to remember, always.

For more posts please visit Ann.



Blessings,
Linda

Multitude Monday

I Thess. 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

My heart fills with gratitude:

- Todd and Sarah safely home from Sri Lanka

- time of shared sorrows and joys - hearts joined in prayer - with my Bible Study group

- daily updates from Scott and Susan as they vacation in Colorado - precious family time for them

- encouraging words - tears of gratitude

- tiny wild flowers beginning to poke their dainty heads up through the ground

- life-changing truth

- a husband whose giving, compassionate heart just fills me with wonder

- great writing that builds up, brings a smile, convicts with truth (thank you friends).

- the gentle correction of the Spirit, molding and shaping

- a visit from a cousin and his son (the photographer) I haven't seen in fourteen years - we had such a wonderful visit catching up and remembering all the childhood adventures. Mom and Dad were so happy to see him.




Other gratitude posts are here - at Ann's



Blessings,
Linda

You Are Holy

"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, IS THE LORD OF HOSTS;
THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY.'
Isaiah 6:3

Blessings,
Linda

Forgiven

The enormity of forgiveness sometimes overwhelms me. I hear the Father say:
"...for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
(Jeremiah 31:34),
and I weep with my own remembering. Tears of gratitude race down my cheeks and I long to do something worthy of such love.

And so I come, dressed in my best robes fashioned from the very best I can do for Him. I stand before Him and look down at what I have created and understand the truth:
"...And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment..." (Isaiah 64:6)


He, however, doesn't seem to notice the filth and tatters. His face is filled with love and tenderness as Grace Himself steps in front of me and transforms my rags to a garment of righteousness.




With unfathomable love, He puts His robe around me, and I am perfect in the Father's eyes. It is a gift beyond measure, and it takes my breath away.





More thoughts on forgiveness at Ann's.

Blessings,
Linda

Daybook

Outside my window:
Blue skies and sunshine today - "beautimus!" (as my husband says)

I am listening to:
We're flipping back and forth between the Daytona 500 (him) and the Olympics (me).

I am wearing:
gray sweatpants, green shirt, bulky socks (my feet are always cold).

I am thankful for:
the sweet time we have had celebrating Valentine's Day; for family; for rains that have replenished the lakes, creeks and ponds; for friends; for answered prayer

I am pondering:
blogging; still talking the whole thing over with the Lord wanting to get it right this time

I am reading:
finishing up "Little Women" - new books waiting on the book shelf

From the kitchen:
We had our Valentine Dinner out last night (lobster tails, shrimp, scrumptious) so we'll have steak and salad tonight

I am thinking:
about getting balance in my life - sorting out the various things and prioritizing

I am creating:
granny square afghan - planning to work on it this evening

I am hoping and praying:
for safe travels home from Sri Lanka for our kids; protection for our daughter while she is in Paris; pleasant days for my parents

In the garden:
The only green leaves right now are the irises - they seem to be able to weather anything! Soon it will be time to prune and clean it all up.

Around the house:
we're thinking about new bookshelves (never can have enough)

One of my favorite things:
dark chocolate (from my Valentine)

A few plans for the week:
walks, start Pilates (again!), some shopping, Bible Study, choir, some writing

A picture (or two or three) thought I'm sharing:
Grandchildren overjoyed with their very first snow!










Happy Valentine's Day Everyone,
Linda

Unfinished Projects

I just finished a knitting project. As is always the case, I am eager to get started on something else. Rather than run to the knitting store to buy wool and a pattern, I decided to try to learn something new. Years ago I wanted to learn to do counted cross stitch. Never one to do things by half measure, I bought several beautiful kits. I am also one who tends to get a bit ahead of herself. When I looked at the complexity of the patterns, I got a bit discouraged and thought I would wait on the cross stitching for a little while.

Since my Mom is living nearby now, it seemed like a good time to dig them out and have her teach me how to get started. I found the box where I had packed away all my crafty things and was overwhelmed by what I found. To my utter shame, there were all sorts of half finished projects forlornly staring up at me. I had absolutely forgotten I even had some of them.

There was the little embroidered quilt. I got tired of it when I got to all the out-lining and set it aside for "a while."


This is the little granny square afghan I started crocheting more years ago than I care to remember.


There are quite a few squares waiting to be sewn together.


I don't even remember which baby this little embroidered picture was intended for. It only needs the name and date (the part I always find difficult).


Here are all the counted cross stitch kits.



I thought I would like to learn to do needle point and bought this beautiful pillow - not even started.



These are two crewel projects that I bought when my grown sons were little. I think they were just more than I cared to tackle after having done lots and lots of smaller crewel pictures.


These are two of the smaller crewel pictures (and yet another cross stitch one) I have yet to do.


There you have it - confessions of a world class procrastinator. As I think and pray about what to do with getting my blogging in some sort of proper perspective, I must consider all of this. They are, after all, things I have always loved doing (along with my writing). Time to get busy.

Blessings,
Linda

Loving Like Jesus

She hadn't driven in a long time, but when his health began to fail she steeled herself and slowly made her way back to the busy streets - not wanting to depend on others to do the driving. The little car made its way to appointment after appointment. Then it traveled the short distance to the hospital. Only heavy rain or the setting sun (her eyes are sensitive to the light) saw one of us behind the wheel.

She sat for hours in his hospital room, spending the night when he just couldn't bear to have her leave. Her's was the only voice he would listen to when he wanted to simply go home and leave tests and needles and pain behind. When she wasn't with him, she held him in her prayers.

When dialysis became a part of their lives, she encouraged, watched his diet, monitored his medications and prayed some more. Home remained as it always had been, warm, welcoming and filled with a sweet spirit.

He called one day. "I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of your Mother." The voice was weak from hours spent in dialysis, but it was filled with love. "Yes Dad. She is amazing. She loves you very much." "I love her too." he whispered.

"...walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."
Ephesians 5:2

To read more about loving like Jesus go here.



Blessings,
Linda

His Love Letter

I am here today - at Laced With Grace - letting Him do the writing this time.

Blessings,
Linda

A little P.S. - Thank you so much for all of your thoughtful, caring and wise comments on my last post. You are all so special to me. I'm giving it much thought and prayer will write about it soon. I so want to get it right this time.

A Little Advice Please?

I apologize to those of you who will feel as though you have read this post several times already. The truth is I have written it several times, which speaks volumes about my tendency to take one step forward and two steps back.

My word for this year is "new." One of the things that definitely needed to be changed in a big way was the time I spend blogging. In the spirit of "newness" I wrote about my intention to set boundaries. I managed for a while to keep my fidgety self contained within those perimeters, but little by little I began to stick my toes over the line. Before I knew it I was not only right back where I started but I was going way overboard.

Rather than cutting back, I added things. Facebook, Twitter, friends, fans - I was clicking away and spreading myself very thin. Instead of reading and commenting less, I added to my bloglines and couldn't seem to stop trying to visit everyone - reading and leaving comments.

I confess that I love all of it - the writing, the sharing, the posts, keeping up with family and friends. But it has grown too big - yet again.

I have been trying to come up with a plan that will fit blogging into its proper place in my life. In thinking about it, I found myself wondering how others manage. Perhaps you wouldn't mind sharing with me how much time you spend blogging and how you fit it into your schedule. Could we just talk about it a little? I'd like that.

Blessings,
Linda

"Because of Jesus" (Connie Witter)

I want to share a few nuggets from the gold mine of this new Bible Study in the hope that it will bless you as it had me (and with the purpose of sealing them in my heart:

- "The moment you put your trust in Jesus, He exchanged identities with you. He became your sin and He gave you His righteousness as a gift of His grace."

- "God wants you to exchange trying to be virtuous, with trusting in Jesus and believing that you are a virtuous woman because of Him."

- "...if you base your self-worth and self-esteem on your relationship with God and what He thinks and feels about you, your life will be filled with joy and peace. Regardless of how well you perform, God's love for you and the value He places on your life will never change. When you are secure in His love and acceptance, you don't have to worry about pleasing others and living up to their expectations because that need is met through your relationship with God. You are His precious daughter, and He thinks you're wonderful."

"The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17

Powerful, life-changing truths. I don't know about you, but I am weary of trying in my own strength. Weary of the discouragement and the lies the enemy whispers into my ear. I am ready to trust Jesus to produce good fruit in my life. I want to get down into my heart the truth that I am already that virtuous women because of what He did for me in His death on the cross.

Blessings,
Linda

Sunlight

During the long season of drought, I promised myself that I would never, ever complain about rain again, and I meant it. I have kept that promise, but I will admit that a string of dark, dreary days can make me feel a little down.

We had had a particularly gloomy day - slate gray sky, cold wind, and rain. It was so dark we needed the lights on in the middle of the day. It was hard not to long for the sun to shine.

During the night the wind picked up, blowing away the clouds and moisture leaving blue skies and sunshine in their place. I was going about the usual morning routine, walking from the counter to the little table my husband had made many years ago with napkins and silverware when I was brought up short.

The smell of brewing coffee filled the air, the heater hummed making the kitchen warm and cozy, and a shaft of sunlight fell across the table. It was as though that gentle stream of light went straight to my heart warming it with the goodness of a Father who loves us so well.

The storms will come, but He is there. He promises to walk with us and to bring us through to greater blessing. There is always grace in the storm and sunlight on the other side.

Please visit Chatting at the Sky for more glimpses of the Father's touch.


Blessings,
Linda
Linda

Multitude Monday

"The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust Him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."
Psalm 28:7 (NLT)

- for the gentle heart that opens this quiet place where we can come and share what the Lord has done in and for us

- for cold, raw days with skies like slate because...

- they open my eyes to the joy of a shaft of sunlight across the kitchen table, my nose to the scent of coffee brewing, and my heart to the warmth and comfort of my home

- a promotion for my son

- answered prayer - it takes me by surprise - not because He isn't able, but rather because I am so undeserving of such love

- a brother slowly making his way back to faith

- a note in the mailbox from a darling granddaughter

- the way worship music cuts across every line and draws us closer to one another and to Jesus

- a new Bible Study - Proverbs 31 in the Light of Jesus - "Because of Jesus" by Connie Witter
"Realize you're already a virtuous woman in Christ"
As always - it is exactly what I need

- the unmatched creativity of the Father




- celebrating my Dad's 90th birthday












For these things and so much more, thank You Father. You fill my life with the joy and peace that can only come from knowing You.

Please visit Ann's and the others who are sharing their thanks.

Blessings,
Linda