No Providing

My internet service provider had a bad day and didn't do any "providing" until late tonight. Tomorrow is my day with my Mom - so I will try to catch up with everyone just as soon as I can. And I had such big plans....

Blessings,
Linda

One of the Children

"Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? Didn't we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt...It's better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!"
Exodus 14:11-12

After 450 years of waiting - of fervent, unceasing prayers for deliverance from the cruel bondage in Egypt  - they joyously marched their way to freedom. Of all the answers to prayer, surely this was the greatest they had known. And yet, just days into their journey to the Promised Land the complaining began.

In recent days, I humbly admit, I have stood in their number. Whining and complaining and wishing I could just "go back to Egypt." Yesterday was a particularly trying day, and I was in top form. It was all I could do to pick up my Bible and read where I had left off days ago.

Seated in my little flowered armchair, I was transported to that moment in time when the Children of Israel started what seemed like a perpetual whining about their circumstances. God has a way of getting to the heart of a matter.

We have just come through a season of remarkable blessing - of long awaited answers to prayer that were beyond anything we could have imagined. It was all joy.

It didn't take long, however, for unanticipated problems to surface - and for anxiety to crowd out joy. My focus shifted from Him to the circumstances, and I whined and complained.

He "spoke" to me as I sat surrounded by my worries and fears and reminded me that I had much to be thankful for. There was never a moment when the Children of Israel were separated from His love and protection. They simply had a hard time remembering who He was when what seemed like insurmountable problems stood in their way.

When I walk through days like these, I have a tendency to become immobile. Everything is just too much effort. I make foolish decisions based on my feelings. Yesterday I decided I would shut down the blog...I didn't have anything worthwhile to share.....and if I did, I wouldn't write it well anyway....and on and on.

Today I read...
"After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses,'Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder..."
Exodus 17:14

Clearly the Father reminded me of the reason this all began in the first place. I wanted a place to write for Him; a place to pile the stones of remembrance as an altar to His faithfulness.

And so I write.

Blessings,
Linda

Heavy

For some reason, unknown even to my silly self, I have been running from writing this post for the past couple of days. It isn't anything profound or new; it has all been said by others with much greater skill. But the little voice persists.

Heavy

It is all so heavy Lord,
so many needs that
weigh the heart down.
Sickness that has no cure
holding the future of precious lives hostage.
Waiting and hoping that
all we can do will be enough.

And I pray
because You have said "All things are possible."
I wrestle the burden off our shoulders
and lay it at Your feet.
You slip the yoke around my neck
and begin to walk beside me.

You take each need, each cherished soul,
and hold them to Your heart.
You sing softly,
fill bottles with tears
whisper words of love.
You tuck each one safely under Your wings
and gently number the strands;
with Your love You calm all their fears.

And the spirit flies free and weightless
on wings of promise.

linking to Em's imperfect prose:



Blessings,
Linda

His Values

I come to the computer screen eager to read their posts. I am excited for them, thankful for them, praying for them - but, I confess, a part of my heart longs to be part of them. To go somewhere far from all that is familiar and comfortable and do something BIG in His name.

My mind understands that we are not all called to the same thing - of course it does. It understands that prayer is powerful and miraculous and a high calling. It understands that circumstances, those things that truly do come to us through His hands, don't permit all of us to go to those faraway places. It knows that the Father uses both big and small things to accomplish His greater purposes. But still there is this longing heart.

And into this heart He whispers words of love. He tells me of the plan He has for my life and assures me that it is good. He asks that I be content and grateful. He has given more than I can possibly hold in my hands. In my longing to give Him more, I must be careful to calculate it according to His scale. When I give Him all that I am, no matter how insignificant it looks in my eyes, He counts it as priceless. I give Him the gift of my heart, and He asks me to trust that He will use it well.

With contentment and gratitude:

- time spent with a precious daughter

- cool, clear days

- walks

- good books

- discovering a new library

- filling music folders for choir practice

- an evening with the kids and grand-kids

- granddaughter hugs

- the joy in my son's face

- a husband who gives selflessly

- answered prayer

- praying for family and friends

- a "v" of ducks flying overhead

- abundant provision

Linking to Ann's Gratitude Community today

Blessings,
Linda

Five Minute Friday - "We Will Remember"

Today's word is:

Remember

(If you only have five minutes today, please scroll down and listen to the words of Tommy Walker's song rather than reading mine. They are words that will minister to you in a profound way. I'm sure of it.)

We sang it again in choir rehearsal this past wednesday night. It is my favorite Tommy Walker song. It gives me goose-bumps and I can hardly make it through to the end without the tears flowing. It is called "We Will Remember."

As we sing our way through the verses, my mind goes back - back through the years to the time I first met Him - a little girl who wanted so desperately to be sure she raised her skinny little arm every time the invitation to accept Jesus as Savior was given.

Back to a time when, even though I knew Him, I chose to walk the path of my own choosing. A time when I hurt Him with my selfish rebellion and childish anger. Back to a time when He forgave me for even that.

Back to a time when I thought He had finally turned His back and allowed the very worst of my nightmares to come true - to that time when I thought I might walk away for good. I remember how patient He was - how He listened to my angry accusations and bitter complaints against Him - how He loved me anyway. I remember the way He patiently waited and drew me back with love.

stop:



Blessings,
Linda

Don't Quarrel

,

The Old Testament stories are so familiar to so many of us. We have heard them told and retold since we were old enough to sit on those little wooden Sunday School chairs. However, the truth is, no matter how familiar a passage of scripture may have become, if we listen closely the Spirit will whisper something new.

The story of Joseph is one of those familiar ones. I reread it the other day and found a few words I had never noticed before. They were tucked into Genesis 45, the moving scene where Joseph finally reveals his identity to his brothers. He has given them ample provisions for the journey back to Canaan - back to a father who doesn't know that the son he thought dead for so many years is still alive.

As he watches them go, Joseph gives them these parting instructions:

"Don't quarrel about this along the way!"
Genesis 45:24

They had just experienced grace and mercy beyond anything they could have imagined. Thinking they would be dealt with in the severest of ways, they found instead love and forgiveness. This brother, whom they had sold into slavery, had not only forgiven them he had saved their lives and the lives of everyone in their families.
Was it possible they would quarrel about it?

I have learned not to judge the lives of others too harshly. The minute I do, I am reminded of my own failures and failings. All too often they are precisely the ones I find so distasteful in others.

How often have I received grace when I deserved condemnation only to turn right around and begin to grumble and complain about something else? Or the times I have been forgiven only to try to justify my part or blame the whole thing on someone else? Or, having received forgiveness, continue to rehash the past with "if onlys."

Surely there were things the brothers could have quarreled about. Joseph knew that it would do no good to argue about past wrongs. It was a time for new beginnings. He had given them that - a full measure of grace and forgiveness.

Blessings,
Linda

Thanks In the In-between

My eyes have learned to focus
on the blessings
those that stand in stark relief
against the ordinary every day
and those easily overlooked
the ones that hide in the shadows.

My eyes have learned to see
through tears and shattered dreams
to find the blessing hidden
under the heavy pile of
hurts and disappointments
of fear and doubt
of loneliness and despair.

But what of those moments
when the little annoyances
the petty grievances
the little stings of envy
the perceived injustices
cloud my vision?
Can I see through anger and
hurt feelings to the blessings within?

It is true
I have learned to give thanks
in the little and the big.
Help me, Lord,
to have eyes to see the blessing
in the in-between moments
those moments I choose to
look away and see only self
those moments when
my feelings blur my vision
and I cannot see You.

linking to Em's imperfect prose today



Blessings,
Linda