A Little Break

Taking a little break for a few days. Back soon.

Blessings,
Linda

Sunday

Ecclesiastes 3:1
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven"

Joining Deidra for Sunday



Blessings,
Linda

Spring on a Still Saturday

"Never yet was a springtime, when the buds forgot to bloom."

—Margaret Elizabeth Sangster




Joining Sandy for Still Saturday.

Blessings,
Linda

The Mountain Laurel is blooming here at the apartment complex. Beautiful!!!

Whiter Than Snow

Time for Five-Minute Friday. Lisa-Jo's. word this week is:

Grit

start:

I confess that I stumbled a bit over this word - grit. In fact, I closed up the lap top and walked away thinking I might just take a pass today.

I got out the cleaning stuff - the dust cloth, mop, broom, cleaners - and proceeded to give our little apartment a thorough cleaning. I am always amazed at how much dust and dirt can collect in such a short time and in such a small space.

I was determined to get the floors really clean this week. First I swept; then I went over them with the dry cleaning cloth and finished up with the wet one. I felt quite pleased with my efforts until I bend down, with my glasses on, to examine a spot on the living room floor.

Unbelievable! Not just one little spot, but all sorts of dirty things I had somehow missed in my exuberant cleaning. I truly believed I had achieved a spotless floor.

Then that little voice piped up - the one that nudges my heart. "Think how different it is when the Father cleans your heart Linda. He doesn't miss even the tiniest of sins. All is made clean by the blood of Jesus - all. No closer examination will reveal one little tiny piece of grit left behind."

What a feeling of peace and joy - to know that I am perfectly clean.

stop

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let’s settle this,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.


If you would like to take up the challenge of writing on this one little word for five minutes, please join us at Lisa-Jo's

Blessings,
Linda

Coming to His Table

I come to His table.
Fear and awe
accompany me in my latter years;
awareness of His sacrifice
and my depravity
etched into face
and heart.
Gratitude and love
are companions
that bend the knee
and cause the tears
to fall.

For this season,
season of remembering,
I long to give a token
of my gratitude
and understanding.
My best offering
is so small;
His so great.
He bends down
to lift me up,
and I reach out
and give Him my gift.

I am learning slowly about Lent, longing to give my love and gratitude in some tangible way.

linking to Deb's TALK AT THE TABLE today (thursday)

Blessings,
Linda

Unchangeable

On those days
when nothing seems
the same,
When everything
is turned
upside-down,
And life
is fraught with
worry and care.

On those days
when you feel
uncomfortable in your
own skin;
When the things
you love to do
seem empty
And time sits
heavy on
your heart.

On those days,
He offers Himself,
as a refuge;
a place of acceptance
and comfort.
He is there
unchanged and
unchangeable
asking nothing in return
for a love
that never
keeps score.

Blessings,
Linda

Waiting and Soaring

"But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind."
Isaiah 40:30 The Message

joining Deidra for Sunday



Blessings,
Linda

He Will Take Delight in You

This week Lisa-Jo has chosen delight as our Five-Minute Friday word.

start:

When I think of the word delight, my heart feels all "dancey" inside my chest. It is more than happiness. It is a sort of bubbling up of joy.

One of my Bible memory verses last year was Zephaniah 3:17. It says, "He will take delight in you with gladness." The words brought me up short. God - the Holy, Awesome, Perfect God - takes delight in me?

The me with all the flaws and failures? The me with the past littered with the detritus of my sin? The me who gave my heart to Him when I was just a little girl and then proceeded to trample all over His? The me who daily does the things I don't want to do and fails to do the things I want to do?

The answer is yes. He delights in me - in you - just the way we are. There are no qualifications; no exceptions. When you belong to Him, He delights in You. You make His heart bubble over with joy. The last part of the verse says:
"He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

I imagine Him looking at me and singing over me - this daughter who is the least of His children - and dancing with delight. What love.

stop:

Please join us today at Lisa-Jo's. Take this sweet word and write your heart for just five minutes. We delight in you.

I also have a post at Laced With Grace today. If you have a minute, I'll meet you there.

Blessings dear friends,
Linda

Worship

I have heard the word hundreds of times. I have done a study on the word. I take it for granted that I know its meaning. Yet, I woke up this morning and there it was - and I wondered what it really meant. Somehow I had lost it in the familiar.

I don't often get to listen to his radio program, but I was alone at just the right time this morning. He is not just a gifted preacher. He is a "word master." Pastor Chuck Swindoll has a way with words that often brings me to tears. This morning he was speaking on Worship - my word.

It came like an audible answer from the Father. "You asked, Linda. I heard. Now listen."

I listened as Pastor Swindoll spoke on a subject so dear to his heart. His words resonated in mine:

"In worship we connect with the living God.
Worship is a human response to divine revelation.
In worship: my God is magnified
my horizon is enlarged
my perspective is changed
In worship there is nothing separating me from His touch."

There is no set formula to worship. It may be a lifting of the hands, singing songs of praise, a quiet bending of the knee, dancing in joy. It may be doing the laundry, ministering to an aging parent, reaching out to those in need. When our hearts are connected to His it is all worship.

Psalm 95
1-2 Come, let's shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!
Let's march into his presence singing praises,
lifting the rafters with our hymns!
3-5 And why? Because God is the best,
High King over all the gods.
In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns,
in the other hand grasps the high mountains.
He made Ocean—he owns it!
His hands sculpted Earth!
6-7 So come, let us worship: bow before him,
on your knees before God, who made us!
Oh yes, he's our God,
and we're the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.
The Message

Linking to Jennifer's blog today.



I am also linking to Deb's today (friday). This beautiful, gifted lady has created a place for us to gather at the table and share what is on our hearts. I hope you'll come visit.

Blessings,
Linda

The One Who Matters

Perhaps it is something placed in the heart of each of us - planted with purpose and love. A tiny seed meant to grow and flourish - to blossom into something beautiful. It is hard to give it a name. How do you name something so insubstantial and at the same time so weighty? What do we call this thing that makes us yearn for the acceptance of others - that causes us to look to them for validation?

Surely it was planted with the best of intentions - with a purpose that goes much deeper than the number of followers on a blog or the final tally of comments on a post. It is a potent shoot whose roots go deep. It demands attention and foils our best attempts to pull it out. It seems it will not be denied.

Suppose its purpose has nothing to do with the opinion of others. Is it possible it is drawing us to One who values us more than we can possibly imagine? What a sad irony to think that the most powerful, loving, wise, gracious, glorious, holy Person in all of creation is simply waiting for us to show up, while we are off somewhere desperately trying to be noticed.

We don't have to do one single thing to earn His approval. He loves us just the way we are. It is so easy to write those words, but it is impossible to measure their value. We have only to whisper His name, and we have His undivided attention. We bring our humble offerings, and He delights in them. This One - whose creation sings with beauty unrivaled by anything man can create. This One - whose power is limitless and whose mercy knows no end.

He is yours; He is mine. It came at great cost - this beloved relationship. Hold tight to it. Let the little plant flourish and draw you to the One who sees your heart and loves you no matter what. He will take care of all the rest

"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."
Zephaniah 3:17

Linking to Laura and Michelle today.










Blessings,
Linda

Painting: Henryk Semiradsky,

My Help

"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth."
Psalm 121: 1,2

Joining Deidra on this wintry Sunday:



Blessings,
Linda

Still Saturday

The little corner of my world where I come to still my heart - to listen for His voice.

Joining Sandy for Still Saturday:



Wishing you a blessed weekend,
Linda

Five Minute Friday - Trust

Friday is slowing dissolving into Saturday, but Lisa-Jo's word for this Five Minute Friday is one that makes my heart race. We have done battle this word and I:

Trust

start:I trusted You Lord - have trusted You all of my life. When I failed and acted as though I didn't know You, You drew me back with mercy and grace and a love I couldn't outrun. When I thought I could do quite well on my own, thank you very much, You waited patiently until I ran out of me.

I trusted You even when it sometimes seemed You didn't hear. I believed You would always do what is best for us - even when it didn't go my way.

When the worst day of my life loomed like a nightmare coming true, I lay with face to the floor and tears flowing into the carpet and believed You would make it all go away. You didn't and trust fell at my feet, and I couldn't even whisper Your name.

Anger and disappointment dogged my days. I decided it had all been for naught. How could this be good? Days dragged by - dark and heavy. You were silent - waiting, always waiting.

One day I looked into Your face and knew I had nowhere else to go. "Who have I in heaven but You?" I slowly walked back into Your outstretched arms and You wrapped me in such love. The nightmare didn't go away - it was simply wrapped in grace. And I put my trust in You.

stop

Join us at Lisa-Jo's. So many have gathered to share words and hearts.

Blessing,
Linda

Sixty-Six Years

Bedtime was strictly enforced when I was a little girl. By early evening my little sister and I were tucked in for the night. She fell asleep quickly, but for me it was only the beginning of the night watch.

It was a time when I dreamed dreams and pretended I was the latest heroine in my little world. Sometimes I was Pollyanna; others a princess living in a magical land; Shirley Temple captured my imagination for a long time and when the Mouseketeers made their debut, I longed to be just like Annette.

There were other, darker things that sometimes kept me company in my night watches. Stories of kidnapped children, stolen from their beds in the middle of the night somehow made their way into my consciousness. Ever the cautious one, I would take a flying leap into bed, lean over the edge and then fearfully lift the edge of my bedspread to make sure all was well.

I often managed to stay awake until my parents turned off the television and made their way to their bedroom. It was right next to ours. I waited until they turned off the lights and then snuggled deep under the covers. I knew what was coming next - the one thing that dispelled all the fears and worries. The gentle murmur of voices.

I never could make out the words, but I didn't really want to. I just wanted to know they were there - together. I imagined them in the big double bed talking about grown-up Mom and Dad things. My world felt warm and safe, and I slept.

They celebrated sixty-six years of shared conversation and deep abiding love this past January. That love has comforted and blessed our family in ways that cannot be measured. I still, all these years later, find such warmth and safety in the sound of their voices.

linking to the High Calling series on marriage at Jennifer's blog.

Blessings,
Linda

Ride With Me Lord

Hop in Lord,
I want you to ride with me today.
You can ride shot-gun,
if you don't mind;
I feel better when
I'm in control.
Feel free to give me directions
if You'd like.
I'm always open to
whatever You'd like to do.

Traffic's kind of heavy
today Lord.
I really don't like driving
with all those big trucks whizzing by.
Do you think it's going to rain?
The clouds look awfully dark.
Winds picking up too,
hard to keep the car
headed in a straight line.
Here comes the rain;
I really hate it when
it pours so hard you can
hardly see the road.
I think I'll pull over
for a minute - just to,
you know, be safe.

Would you mind doing
the driving Lord?
I'd be happy to sit
in the back seat.
Thanks.

This is better somehow Lord.
Look, the rain has stopped
and the clouds are beginning to part.
I see blue sky.
I think I'll roll down the window
and let the wind blow
in my face.
It feels good to just sit back
and let You do the driving Lord.
I feel safe and secure
even in the storm.

Blessings,
Linda

Thanks to God

I have been away from my little corner of the blogging universe for a while now. I cannot seem to find words these days and have found contentment in being quiet. Such contentment, in fact, that I begin to wonder if this is what I am meant to do.

This morning I heard this beautiful hymn on the radio and knew I had to put it down for remembrance. It is, after all, the day we gather at Ann's to give thanks.

Thanks to God

"Thanks to God for my Redeemer, Thanks for all Thous dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a mem'ry, Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant balmy springtime, Thanks for dark and dreary fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten, Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered, Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure, Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure, Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the way-side, Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fire-side, Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, Thanks for heav'nly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow, Thanks thro' all eternity!"



Blessings,
Linda