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Thursday, November 23, 2017

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)

Monday, November 20, 2017

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)

Friday, November 17, 2017

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)

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

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)