Peace - tuesdays unwrapped

Jesus promised peace:
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."
John 14:27

I understand that the peace He speaks of comes to us through His Spirit. It is not a tangible thing, not something I can hold in my hands and unwrap. But there are some things that do give a substance to that sense of peace. For me it is the country - the simple, quiet comfort of fields, trees, water and open sky. It soothes my soul and brings refreshment.

We celebrated Memorial Day with a ride - exploring country roads we have never traveled and a few that we know well.




It is peach season in the Hill Country. We couldn't resist.










Then we drove past Wildseed Farms. The flowers were simply breathtaking.








and then we followed the road home.



Please join us at Emily's blog for more glimpses of tuesdays unwrapped.

Blessings,

• Linda

Drink Deeply

I can see our hummingbird feeder from my bed. First thing in the morning, I roll over and look out our bedroom window to the porch. I watch them come - thirsty little "rockets" - wings a blur against the morning sky.

Most of them simply hover for a brief moment - dipping in quickly and then darting off. But on occasion one will perch on the little ring, fold its tiny wings and drink deeply of the sweet refreshment.

They are the ones who remind me that I need to slow down the frantic pace, quiet my heart and drink deeply of the One who waits patiently for me to come; this One who is Living Water for my thirsty soul.

I pray that your weekend will be filled with His richest blessings and that you will have moments to rest in His presence and drink deeply.

"And He said to me, 'It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost."
Rev. 21:6

Happy Memorial Day Weekend,
Linda

Finish Well

I love our walk. I have walked these little country road for more years than I care to remember. When my daughter was little, she rode her bike as I walked (she wasn't crazy about the hills, but I wasn't about to leave her home alone). I traveled the length of the road alone when she started school and years later was joined by a friend, newly arrived in the neighborhood. These days I share the walk with my husband.

We like it because the hills challenge us, because it is peaceful and quiet (for the most part), and simply because it is ours. We begin with this little uphill stretch, getting us warmed up right from the start.



Then it levels out a bit just before the first big hill. I don't walk as rapidly as I once did, but I push myself hard - not allowing my pace to slow when the pavement slopes upward. For three miles I work hard.

It is tempting when I reach that level stretch that leads down the hill to home, to slow my steps. I think about taking it slow and enjoying the sights and sounds of the countryside. It is then that I whisper to myself, "Finish well Linda." I push myself through the last stretch.

As I whispered those words the other day, they took on new meaning. I thought of the verse that says:

"The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." [Psalms 90:10]

If that were to be literally true in my life, I would have only seven years left - seventeen at the most. I confess to feeling a little frightened at the thought.

The years slip by so quickly. There is still so much I want to do and see. More importantly, had I lived the previous ones well and would I do all that the Father had planned for me in the time left?

I want to finish well - to live each day to the fullest. I want to see with His eyes and walk in the path He has chosen for me. I don't know what those days will hold, or how many of them the Lord has allotted to me; not one of us does. I do know that He has written my story, and I want to live it well.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing."
II Timothy 4: 7,8

Blessings,
Linda

Thankful in the Valley

We had our Choir Appreciation dinner last Wednesday. It is always rather bitter-sweet to me. There is delicious food, great fellowship and an awesome time of praise and worship, but I am sad that we won't have choir again until August. Having said that, our choir director always has someone special come to lead us in worship. This year it was Michael Neale. It was incredible.

He wrote "Your Great Name." We recorded that song this past year. It is such a powerful song - absolutely God given. He sang it Wednesday night at the end of the program, and oh how it ministered.

There was one other song though, one I had never heard, that just pierced my heart. It spoke to the place where my spirit is living right now:

"On Mountains High"

"On mountains high
I'll praise Your name.
In valleys low
I'll do the same.
And as the river runs to find the ocean blue
My heart will always run to find You."

I am learning, as Ann says, to find the beauty in the ugly; to praise Him even when I'm in the midst of the storm or when things don't go my way. There is no raging storm right now; nothing terrible happening. It is just one of those times when all the small difficulties gather themselves together into a cumbersome bundle...

I thank you for the dark clouds Father, that somehow seem to hide Your face. These days they have a different consistency - a hard, thick surface that would keep my prayers from reaching You and hold back Your voice.


"But I, O Lord, have cried out to Thee for help, and in the morning my prayer comes before Thee. O Lord, why dost Thou reject my soul? Why dost Thou hide Thy face from me?"
Palm 88: 13,14

I am thankful that no matter how dark things seem or how silent heaven appears - He never forgets me.


"Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him.
The help of my countenance, and my God."
Psalm 42: 11

I am so thankful for His promises:
"In the morning, O Lord, Thou wilt hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to Thee
and eagerly watch."
Psalm 5: 3

He is faithful, I know that He is. The beautiful blue sky has not disappeared. It is merely obscured from my view for a little while. The heavy clouds will drive me to Him, if I will allow it, and all will be well even in the midst of the darkness.

The gratitude community gathers each Monday to give thanks. Won't you join us?



Blessings,
Linda

Life Is Like A Crossword Puzzle

On Wednesday, I will be writing here, at Laced With Grace. Let's talk about crossword puzzles.

Blessings,
Linda

Stephanie

The Lord has blessed us with such a precious family. We are like any other family - with our faults and failures - but we are unique, because the Father has made us so. There is no other family just exactly like ours. We have our own "language" and our own family jokes that would make sense to no one else. We have shared memories and lived through times that have ultimately drawn us closer together. Our numbers have grown and with it so has our joy - multiplied blessings.

I am more thankful than I can ever say for the way the Father has knitted us together. They are my favorite people in all the world.



She graduated on Saturday - this beautiful young woman who ushered us into the glorious world of "Grand-parenthood". Eighteen years slipped through my fingers like silky sand, and suddenly the cherubic baby was standing there in her cap and gown.




The little table held the memories of past and present accomplishments. She is gifted in so many ways. Musical, artistic, bright and so lovely. You can see all of those things in the picture. What you cannot see is the absolute beauty of her heart. It is a gentle, tender, compassionate heart. It is a giving heart. It is a heart that loves the Lord.






We love her dearly and cannot begin to thank God enough for the blessing she has been in all of our lives. We know He has great and wonderful plans for her life.


Visit Ann's for more gratitude posts.

Blessings,
Linda

Doing What He Wants

"Let each look to himself and see what God wants of him and attend to this leaving all else alone."
Henry Suso

It is one of those brief seasons where there are more things to do than hours in my day; more weighing on my mind than moments to just be still and give them to the Father.

I am going to take a week away from blogging. I find myself drawn to the computer when I get overwhelmed rather than doing what I know really needs to be done. I must do what He has given me to do because I know it is always for my good.

I will see you soon.

Blessings,
Linda

Happy Mother's Day

Our Pastor used a verse for his Mother's Day sermon given to him by a young mother of preschoolers. He said he had never before used it for this particular celebration, but he thought it was perfect. I thought so too.

"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don't give up."
Galatians 6:9

At this lovely season of life, I am enjoying a "harvest" of seven of the most amazing grandchildren in the world. As I look back over the years, I see so many blessings all along the way. Every season has its own special joys - and difficulties. The amazing thing is - even some of those difficulties, when seen in retrospect, became a part of the harvest of blessings.

Wishing each of you a blessed and joyous Mother's Day.
Linda

picture: a Mother's Day gift

Why Lord?

Far too often I find my mind is a battle field - faith and doubt warring in my heart. One of my memory verses is Psalm 32:7:
"For You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory."

I sometimes say it as I walk, trying to keep the verses I've memorized alive in my little brain. It brings me comfort...until that dart from the enemy finds its mark and I begin the inevitable round of questions.

"If that is true Father, why is there so much suffering? Why do those who love You so dearly and serve You so well have such trouble come into their lives? Why do little children suffer pain and sorrow? Why do evil people do such terrible things?......"

I fight back with the truth I know - that He loves us and will do nothing to harm us. Sometimes the questions persist.

I read something today in my little devotional, "Joy and Strength" that answered the question in a way that could only be the gentle voice of the Spirit:

"Just as soon as we turn toward Him with loving confidence, and say, 'Thy will be done,' whatever chills or cripples or enslaves our spirits, clogs their powers, or hinders their development, melts away in the sunshine of His sympathy. He does not free us from the pain, but from its power to dull the sensibilities; not from poverty and care, but from their tendency to narrow and harden; not from calumny, but from the maddening poison in its sting, not from disappointment, but from the hopelessness and bitterness of thought which it so often engenders. We attain unto this perfect liberty when we rise superior to untoward circumstances, triumph over the pain and weakness of disease, over unjust criticism, the wreck of earthly hopes, over promptings to envy , every sordid and selfish desire, every unhallowed longing, every doubt of God's wisdom and love and kindly care, when we rise into an atmosphere of undaunted moral courage, of restful content, of child-like trust, of holy, all-conquering calm."
William W. Kinsley (b.1837)

In my humanity, I want to think that nothing bad will happen to His children, or if it does, He will miraculously intervene. In truth, He will. It just may not look the way I want it to look.

Where I pray for healing or deliverance from trouble, He may have something else in mind. It doesn't mean He has withheld His love or turned His back. It means He is doing something I cannot see - something of eternal value. He has promised that He would. He asks me to trust Him.

There is the crux of the matter - trust. I have been dragged kicking and screaming into trust. I have wanted my way because I couldn't imagine the circumstances we were walking through could possibly be good or right. He has patiently waited for me to look into His face, listen to His heart, and surrender to a love that knows no bounds.

He is not obligated to answer my questions. His wisdom is so far above mine and His power limitless. He is perfect and holy. He has never failed to keep His word and has loved me unconditionally. Who am I, this broken, unworthy vessel, to question Him? Yet He tenderly draws me to Himself and listens. Often He answers; sometimes He doesn't. Always He is all that He has promised to be. If I will simply trust Him, that is more than enough.

Blessings,
Linda

This is one of those times I am writing to and for myself. I am laying down another stone. I don't want to forget the words He spoke to my heart today.

Simple Pleasures

"But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve Him. Think of all the wonderful things He has done for you."
I Samuel 12: 24

There are so many wonderful things He has done for me. My life overflows with His blessings - some so great I can scarce take them in.
Today my heart is focused on the simple things with which He surrounds me - little gifts I can so easily overlook in the busyness of life:

- time to sit and stitch; to make something to warm our home

-flowers from my own little antique rose bush; it has so many little roses this year I felt it would be all right to cut a few and bring them inside to brighten the bookcase.

-a sweet little white pitcher (I just love little pitchers!)




- a place to sit outside, listening to the birds sing and the wind whisper through the trees, and to have an occasional visitor.



- windows wide open, fresh breezes and billowing curtains

- morning walks

- butterflies

- a bowl of chocolate nut ice cream

- talking to a little granddaughter on the phone

- browsing through the book store

- playing the piano

- listening to good music

- the smell of laundry fresh from the dryer

- an old movie

- wild flowers

- a beautiful full moon pouring light through the bedroom windows

- the fresh green color of new leaves

- rainy days

- a bubble bath

- sweetly scented soap

- a new candle

Please visit Ann to be part of the Gratitude Community.

Blessings,
Linda

A PRAYER IN SPRING

A Prayer in Spring

Robert Frost (1915)

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day; And give us not to think so far away As the uncertain harvest; keep us here All simply in the springing of the year. Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white, Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night; And make us happy in the happy bees, The swarm dilating round the perfect trees. And make us happy in the darting bird That suddenly above the bees is heard, The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill, And off a blossom in mid air stands still. For this is love and nothing else is love, The which it is reserved for God above To sanctify to what far ends He will, But which it only needs that we fulfil.

Blessings,
Linda

pictures: Wine Cups growing along the roadside; my antique rose bush - blooming her sweet little heart out; a hummingbird at our feeder (it took me FOREVER to get this picture!); Evening Primrose growing beside our sidewalk