To Trust in the Lord

Familiar words.

Words needed

for our every days.

For the big things

and the little things.

For our fears

and our wonderings.

When we feel strong

and when we feel weak.

When our days are full

and when we are at rest.

The key -

to trust

in the LORD.

Reminders ... and prayers, as we live our days. 

And as we are in need, always, of Him.

Words from Him this morning,

as my heart is occupied with prayers  and concerns,

and as I prepare for five days

filled with family guests

from the east coast and the west.

And as part of my heart is in TX with a daughter

recovering from surgery.

Reminders ... to trust in the Lord

with all my heart.

Thankful for Our Veggie Garden

So many things that give us joy in life ... and one of our summer joys is our veggie garden! We fixed up this 10x30 foot garden space two years ago, with the help of our youngest son (now 24!). 

It is amazing how much joy this little plot of garden gives us ... so fun to watch the various stages of growth. We love the produce, and we also love the beauty. Beauty that feeds our souls.

It helps, of course, to have a hubby with an amazing "green thumb"! Our garden is flourishing, thanks to God's good rain and sun, and the great care my hubby gives to it. So far, we are enjoying cucumbers, and green beans. The picking of green beans today was enough that I blanched and froze 8 small bags for the coming fall season. 

(Digital Scrapbook credits: Page Template: Jessica Sprague LW-Life Templates Set 12; Paper: Digital Scrapper July 2014 Premier - Mommyish-Liberty for All.)

Power in Weakness

Why do we strive for perfection, when weak is the best place to be? Why do we sometimes put on our masks, trying to cover up our faults and our weaknesses? I know that I am guilty of doing so, many times. Why do we cover up our needs, hesitating to even ask for help, and for prayer, from family and friends?

And why do we hide from our past, and seek to live out our lives separated from who we really are? Hiding our times of pain, our times of regret.

When all along, it is our weaknesses and imperfections that Jesus wants access to. Not to belittle us, or to cause us pain. But to give us rest. With His power. His Love.

Rest comes from awakening our hearts

to fully open up in our relationship with Jesus.

(Bonnie Gray, Finding Spiritual Whitespace)

Opening up everything to Jesus - our weaknesses, our pains from childhood, our present day tears and struggles. Everything. All the things that we try to hide. "The world calls us to hide our stressed-out selves. But Jesus calls us to a radical new rest: Draw near. As is." (Bonnie Gray)

My grace is sufficient for you,

for My power is made perfect in weakness.

Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,

so that the power of God may rest upon me.

(II Cor. 12:9)

Click here for more posts:

HELD SECURE: His Love in Times of Trial

For Our Everyday

Life-giving words from His Word ... for the days when we are filled with tasks and responsibilities. When we are burdened down with "to do" lists. For when we are so busy that we forget to look up and see the sun, or the beautiful, fragrant flowers. For when we fall back into patterns of looking for approval and worth from others, or from what we do and accomplish. For when we find ourselves weary, and in need of Him. For our everyday ... our every single day.

Come to Me. 

Get away with Me, and you'll recover your life.

I'll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with Me and work with Me -

watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with Me,

and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
(Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)

Thanking Him for His grace, mercy, and love ... for our everydays. 

For me - for this week, and for today.  And for you.

Click here for more posts  ...

FIRST LOVE: What We Are Made For

His Words, Each Day

At the start of a new week, the start of a new day ...

" ... learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately.

Worship and serve Him 
with your whole heart and a willing mind ...

If you seek Him, you will find Him ... "

(From I Chron. 28:9 NLT)

A matter of the heart, and of the mind - not a checklist to mark off. At the start of the day, throughout the day ... a pursuing, a seeking - with the whole heart, with a willing and eager mind, desiring to learn, longing for intimacy. A sharing of hearts. And a finding of what we long for, of Life, of Him.

Click here for more posts  ...
FIRST LOVE: What We Are Made For

Taste and See

It is true, that we need to taste in order to experience. A beautifully laden table, full of the choicest of foods is pleasing to the eye, but it calls for us to pick up and taste in order to experience, and to be filled. If we don't partake of the life-giving food, we miss out. We miss the deliciousness, and we miss out on the strength and energy it can give to us. We also miss the joy of sharing together with those we love around the table, talking and enjoying life as we enjoy a special and beautiful meal together.

In the same way - how often do we admire God, and view all His goodness from a distance, and yet, somehow, miss out on really experiencing it? Experiencing it ourselves, for real. We miss out on sensing His Love in the deepest parts of our hearts and souls. It is as if we are looking at the table of delicious food, yet, neglecting to enjoy it's sweetness.

As I look at my life, I discover that the path to actually tasting the goodness of God's love has come through a different route than I would have expected. Yes, it is true that the sun-filled days fill me up with Him - the days where I can hardly contain all the beauty and love that I see, all gifts from Him. The days that I am completely blown away by how He can love us so much.

But I also see a very different picture, as well. I see that often the times that I most deeply sense His love and His goodness come as the result of pain - from walking through trials and hard times. 

For when we are most in need, is when we experience His love in deeper ways than ever before. At the times when we are most needy, most desperate - these are the times when we run to Him more than ever before. We have no where else to go. We are in need. We are desperately hungry.

And so we open ourselves up to His love, open ourselves up for His help - instead of trying to do things on our own. And we find that He is always there, ready with His bountiful table full of love, grace, mercy, and strength. In our great neediness, these things taste exquisitely sweet, and they fill us up in our very deepest places of hunger. 

We taste of His goodness. 

And we are blessed as we take refuge in Him.

Click here to read more posts on this topic:
Held Secure: His Love in Times of Trial

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