Quieting My Heart: Give Thanks

“Give thanks

to Him alone

who does mighty miracles.

His faithful love

endures forever.”

(Psalm 136:4)

A day does not hold

enough moments

to look back

and to look around

at all the gifts of love

and all the miracles

that God showers

on His children -

on you, and on me.

So each day of the year

can be a counting,

and a treasuring

of His gifts and miracles.

Each day can be 

filled with thanks-giving ...

recorded in our journals,

spoken to Him as we

live, work, and play -

and shared through

our words and our joy

to those around us.

There is no end 

to our thanks-giving,

for we will have

a forever eternity

to give our thanks … 

His Greatest 

Gift of Love.

(free photo from pixabay)

Quieting My Heart: Thanksgiving Week

Today,

at the start of

Thanksgiving week

and all the year through ...

This is true -

“you were created

on purpose, and

for a purpose.”

(Ruth Chou Simons, in Gracelaced)

There’s only one of me

and only one of you -

created by God,

to be loved deeply,

to love Him completely,

and to reflect His love,

for His great purposes.

“For everything

comes from Him

and exists for His power

and is intended for His glory.

All glory to Him forever.”

(Romans 11:36)

May we beautifully

and completely,

rest in His love

and live from His love -

this week of Thanksgiving

and each day of the year.

(free photo from pixabay)

Quieting My Heart: The Key to Loving

We hear it often,

and we know it in our hearts -

but exactly what does it mean?

Sometimes it comes easy,

and other times, 

it comes harder, and we grow weary;

for loving others and

sacrificing for others

can leave us worn down, used up,

completely undone.

But if we pause, catch our breath,

rest, and listen …

Just maybe

we will find that our focus

has so easily become distorted.

Do we focus on the loving,

or do we focus first of all,

above all else,

on being loved?

“And continue to walk

surrendered to the

extravagant love of Christ …”

(Ephesians 5:2a The Passion)

Extravagant love for us -

offered on the Cross;

unending, faithful, present love,

today, this moment, now -

always with us, close.

How can we help

but let this love overflow

through our words,

our actions?

“Live a life filled with love,

following the example of Christ.

He loved us, and offered Himself

as a sacrifice for us,

a pleasing aroma to God.”

(Ephesians 5:2 NLT)

(Photo from Colorado 2015)

Quieting My Heart: In the Unseen

What is

most important today?

The things that we see,

or the things that are hidden.

“Martha, my beloved Martha.

Why are you upset and troubled,

pulled away by all

these many distractions?

Are they really that important?

Mary has discovered the

one thing most important

by choosing to sit

at My feet.”

(Luke 10: 41-42 The Passion)

“Squandering time with God 

in the hidden place 

was turning me into one

who would do anything

to bring Him glory

on the earth.”

(Sara Hagerty)

In the hustle and busy

of this month,

in this coming holiday season -

may I freely offer up

precious time to

nurture my soul and heart

in the quiet, in His presence,

in the unseen.

“We live for what is

right in front of us,

while God is ever so gently

calling us to the unseen.”

(Sara Hagerty)