The Change of Seasons

I want you to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is to see, doing all there is to do. Don’t be distracted by future concerns. Leave them to Me! Each day of life is a glorious gift, but so few people know how to live within the confines of today. Much of their energy for abundant living spills over the time line into tomorrow’s worries or past regrets. Their remaining energy is sufficient only for limping through the day, not for living it to the full. I am training you to keep your focus on My Presence in the present. This is how to receive abundant Life, which flows freely from My throne of grace.

Sarah Young, Jesus Calling

Sarah Young is a missionary who wrote a small daily devotional based on her own personal prayer journal. Basically, she spent a lot of time listening in prayer. Then, she wrote her thoughts down as if spoken to by Jesus Himself. The style may not be for everyone, but to me her words have a powerful impact. Thanks to Emily for telling me about her.


Somewhere else today, I read "Today, a thousand times again today, I will: preach the truth to this soul prone to wander. I will seek the affirming smile of Father."




Today, I feel heavy and hopeful with the change of the seasons. My daily in-and-out has been overwhelming. My mind whirls with what-if's. worries. things that drag me down. unproductive pondering.

Also today, God is showing me a glimpse....if only I am listening enough to hear the pieces tacked together. In the snippets of thoughts written by others' hearts.

I haven't been living my days abundantly. Which translates into possibly wasted weeks. Monotonous months. Strung along...August, September... For what?

Lord, help me to see Your Presence in the present. I can only do that with Your help. My meager attempts come up empty.

In this new, fresh season, I ask that you make it a new, fresh start in my everyday.

Pondering home...

This is a commencement speech given by Laura from 10 Million Miles. Read this excerpt for yourself:


"Despite these trends, I bring you a message of hope: God intends for us to love, He intends for us to be in the mess of relationships, He intends for us to stay and to make peace when things get tough. He intends for us to build homes and to love our families. It is possible to sacrifice some achievements and some experiences in order to build a home. It is possible to look back on your losses without regret. It is possible...

As you build your home you, too, must surrender pride, whimsy, and selfishness.Perhaps the most significant thing you will sacrifice is the spirit of independence which is destroying women. There is no room for the independent spirit in a woman’s life: we simply cannot love a man, children, or others well if we are entangled in this popular mentality that we are the center of the universe and we should have everything our way and we should be able to accomplish everything we desire and we shouldn’t have to answer to anyone but ourselves.If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, learn to be the servant of all.In the world’s eyes, you will be sacrificing so much, but in God’s eyes, you will be the lifeblood of His next generation, a generation who will praise His name."


You can read the whole amazing commencement speech here.


I hope everyone has a wonderful, relaxing Memorial Day Weekend!

Lilac

In the dooryard fronting an old farm-house near the white-wash'd palings,
Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
with many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love,
With every leaf a miracle - and from this bush in the dooryard,
With delicate-color'd blossoms and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
A sprig with its flower I break.

~Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, 1865

toward the cross....

Jesus is on his way toward the Cross. His disciples have fled and he is alone, alone with our suffering and our pain. Alone to face the wrath of the Roman Empire and the fury of the crowd. Alone and feeling abandoned by God. Yet not alone for all of humanity walks with him. We stumble and fall as he did. We are abused and spat upon. We feel despised and rejected - by ourselves, by others, by our world. God have mercy. Free us from our prisons and bring us new life

God who created us suffers because of us

God who died upon the cross suffers for us

God who dwells with us suffers with us

And in God’s suffering we find hope

God, your suffering brings us salvation

Without you the horrors of human suffering would be unbearable

Your story of life, death and resurrection gives life meaning

Your suffering frees us from our prisons

Because of your suffering a new world is breaking into ours

May we live this day in the knowledge of your pain

May we live this day in the assurance of your love

May we live this day in the hope of the resurrection.

Today

by Christine Sine

He makes all things new

Hello family and friends!

Thanks for your prayers as I was on our HC mission trip to Iowa last week. We did so much physical labor! The floods that swept through Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this past June really left their mark. Homes that are fortunate enough to not have their foundations crumbled away under the waters are JUST now starting to be reconstructed. Many homes are stripped down to studs…but only up to 5 feet high-the water line. Then they must sit, dry out, be treated with a Baking Soda Blast, dry out…etc. We got to know the owner of one of the homes...and his animals....as well as building some team-relationships that weren't there before.

Cedar Rapids struggling 9 months after flood - USA Today Article

We were under the direction of a Methodist church in Iowa that has been organizing teams of volunteers, has trailers parked around the city with donated construction supplies, and coordinates supply drop offs to the homes. This is a huge endeavor, and they are welcoming teams of any size to come and volunteer. (They think this effort will take years to get back to where they were…so keep it in mind if you’re considering a mission trip.)

While we were so busy with the physical labor…..we noticed too late that our spiritual labor had been lacking. I think that opened the door wide for spiritual warfare…which was definitely rampant on this trip. And effects are still reeling in our HC, which we are working through. (Prayers are appreciated!)

On a personal note, I feel this trip was freeing for me. Since coming back from the trip I've felt rejuvenated. More at peace with God. With more of a desire to know Him than I have had in a year. For the past 6 months I haven't spent much time in the Word. As a result, my countenance had slipped, my mindset had suffered, my outlook was not of the Lord. I am sure some of you had noticed that I wasn’t the same old Kristi…but weren’t sure if you could put your finger on it. It’s a snowballing effect, really. I apologize for anyone I may have affected. And want to thank my dear hubby and sister for putting up with me =o)

If you can pray that my countenance doesn't slip again. That this refreshed desire for Him...this new inner peace...doesn't give way to the enemy.
Thinking on Micah 6:8… ”He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your god.”

Barbie Bride back

Barbie Bride Cake, originally uploaded by kristibrooke.

Barbie Bride Cake

Barbie Bride Cake, originally uploaded by kristibrooke.

My first doll cake....and it turned out nothing like I had in mind when I started. But I absolutely LOVE the final result =o)

Soil

This week ushers in spring. This week my hubby and I found ourselves out in the yard, trimming back remains of last season and exposing soil. We were reminded how much joy we get from joining forces and tackling the yard. We both love the beauty that results and are excited to enjoy it on our new patio this summer.

As I peruse many blogs, I was directed to Stephen Bartlett in Louisville Kentucky. He has a passion to help people discover not just the joy of gardening, but also the wonderful lessons that we have to learn about our awesome God in the midst of the garden.

"Soil is miraculous,” he says. “The amount of thriving life and myriad interactions between the life in just one handful of soil is beyond the human capacity to understand." Read the entire article here

Do you have a green thumb? Wish you did? What plans do you have for your yard this spring?

Deeper Conversations

Thanks to ...in a whiz for helping me find this beautiful song....

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the power

I've been praying my whole life. When I was little, I'd fold my hands politely at the table (trying to squeeze my eyes shut) until I chimed in with a joyful 'Amen!'. I was led in prayer by my Dad when I realized I was a sinner, and needed a Saviour. I cried out in prayer when life as a high-schooler seemed so cruel. I asked for guidance in prayer as I decided to live with my other parent. I joyfully prayed every time I saw someone else accept their eternity with Christ, every time I saw a prayer answered, every time it was answered my way.

But what about those times when it wasn't? What about when I seemed to glimpse NO answer? Silence.

Those are sometimes the hardest. When you are left wondering if you were heard. If you had the wrong 'agenda' in the first place. If you and God were even on the same page.

But lately....I've noticed something. Prayer isn't about the answer. Hardly!It's about so much more! It's act of communication with the Almighty...knowing He is just a word away. Acknowledging my need to include Him in my every breath. Every moment. It's the concept of total trust...despite seeing a positive (or not-positive) result.

It's about the peace.

That is what I am learning. Recently, a few friends have been/are going through some trying situations. And I've noticed them tell me how much peace they have....despite the way things are going. ...without knowing how things will turn out. ....this peace, it passes all understanding. And what do they attribute it to? Prayer. That they can feel people praying. That they know people are, because it's not natural to have this sort of peace in this type of circumstance.

The power of prayer is not necessarily power to change the outcome. But it's definitely power to change the hearts of those involved.

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. - Colossians 4:2

One Twig At A Time....

Inspiration. Challenge. Sometimes comes from completely unexpected places. From scenarios that have nothing to do with MY little world, but somehow parallel perfectly. Today, I found inspiration here:

Sometimes life throws us surprises. For us, March has certainly come in like a lion, and not a friendly one either. We have had every kind of problem you can imagine, horse problems, cow problems, weather problems, heating problems, truck problems, scheduling problems, Internet problems, and so on and so on. And that was just last week. But I learned a sweet lesson from God using a little bird.

There is a small bird building a nest in the bird feeder that hangs on my front porch. Right after this massive snowstorm that completely blanketed us, I saw little bird food prints on my front porch.

It didn't phase her at all. She wasn't whining or complaining. She wasn't fretting or worrying. She simply just did the next thing. She had to peck and dig a little to find her twigs, and there didn't seem to be hay sitting around for her to use, but she seemed to find it anyway without any bother. What a lesson. She is so focused on her God given purpose that she didn't even notice that the flowers were blooming and the calendar says it is March, and that this storm was a little un-nerving. She knows her job and even though she is a very small creature she wasn't at all bothered by a blizzard. I love the way God uses birds in His illustrations in His Word.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Matthew 6:26-27

I encourage you sisters to take a look at the tasks in front of you as building a nest. Continue with a twig here and a twig there. Make your home a nice cozy nest for your family. Don't let the pressures of this world weigh you down. Don't really give them any notice. Pray and know that He knows what is going on and trust that He will care for us. We may face troubles ahead, in fact we most likely will experience some storms, but just keep on, one twig at a time.

Do I really believe my life is as valuable as my Saviour says it is?

How much smoother would my life go, if I just kept on...one.twig.at.a.time?

no fretting..

no worry....

...not even a blizzard could throw me off track....

asking God to help me on to the next twig

"Unfortunately, Kristi..."

Let's start our day off with a smile today. I hope this does the trick!

I had seen this on quite a few blogs and got such a kick out of it, I had to try it. I was cracking up at what I found. First, do a Google search for "unfortunately (Your name here)". You will be surprised at all the lines you get with your name in it. Some of these are hilarious.

Here a just a few of the ones that came up for my name. My wise cracks are in (___) behind the quotes.

1. Unfortunately Kristi Yamaguchi won instead of Jason Taylor!(I've always liked her)
2. Unfortunately, Kristi recently passed away on october 29, 2007. (so sad!)
3. Unfortunately, Kristi was not able to join him in Germany until almost the middle of March, 2006. (I've been to Germany??)
4. Unfortunately, Kristi has been injured and will no longer be able to finish the hike. (bummer, I love to hike...)
5. Unfortunately, Kristi, you’re further away than just zipping through the Eurotunnel. (Yes, yes I am...)
6. Unfortunately, Kristi had to leave, so the rest of us blew up this boat that Scott brought. (Sorry, Scott...would have loved to partake...)
7. Unfortunately, Kristi sustained a severe hamstring injury. (Ouch!)
8. Unfortunately Kristi, that is easier said than done, but I will give it a shot. (good for you!)
9. Unfortunately, Kristi also performed the dance dressed like a chicken, which may have been distracting to the viewers/judges. (a chicken? Distracting for me, as well!)
10. Unfortunately, Kristi has not been too successful with her own site as she is ranked with a 0 out of 10. (Aww...I know I need to post more, but really?!?)

Aren't those funny? Did it make you smile? If you feel like playing along just type your name after the word unfortunately in quotations and see what you come up with. Oh and let me know that you did so I can some check it out!

I've become a follower...

Lately, I have stumbled upon many blogs that I find encouraging...so my online time has been spent reading, instead of writing. One of the blogs I follow is starting a series over the next several days (or however long it takes) we are going to journey together, if you're willing, on a path toward breaking free from our core lies.

Would you like to join me?

S.W.A.K

The human heart...

Referring to Bible reading and prayer, John Piper says:
“I earnestly recommend that it be in the early morning, unless there are some extenuating circumstances. Entering the day without a serious meeting with God, over his Word and in prayer, is like entering the battle without tending to your weapons. The human heart does not replenish itself with sleep. The body does, but not the heart. We replenish our hearts not with sleep, but with the Word of God and prayer.”

Yep. This is something my mind, and my heart have been mulling over lately. I think I've been winning the battle, but I pray that God helps me to continue. And boy, what a difference it does make.

MORE than conquerers...

Do you ever just read something and it hits you? Hear lyrics that make your eyes misty? All of these things hit a chord, something the Lord wanted you to hear, to touch your heart. It may not be an exact situation, it may not be in the way the writer meant, but somehow God is using the words and speaking them to your heart.

Today, I read this from Amber’s blog:

I can feel my eyes mist up even now as I recall a conversation with one friend... Her husband left when her youngest was barely five. She has six kids. And over the past seven years he's come back in and out of their lives - raising hopes, only to dash them again. I asked her how she kept going. How she kept forgiving. And I can see her calm, peaceful expression as she looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Amber, I learned long ago it's not flesh and blood we're fighting against...."

And I must admit as I stood on the other side of the kitchen from my husband Tuesday morning. Thinking of how inconsiderate he had been. How misunderstood I felt. How right I knew I was :) I heard Robin's words breeze through among all those selfish. self pitying. prideful thoughts.

If we haven't realized it by now, it's time we do. We HAVE an enemy!!! And it's not the man in the white house. Or the terrorist. Or the people in our church. Or our extended family. And for crying out loud it's most certainly not our husband!! It is Satan. And he is a master at what he does - Trying to distract us from the truth found in Jesus Christ. Trying to make us feel defeated and destroyed. I read this recently, "Listen carefully: if you belong to God, Satan cannot destroy you. The best he can do is to convince you that you're destroyed." How many of us are walking around convinced we have lives. homes. marriages relationships. already destroyed and beyond repair, so why bother? Why fight?

But we are being blinded by the lies of Satan. We read Scriptures that tell us, "we are MORE than conquerers..." yet somehow don't/can't believe they are meant for us. For our problems. For our situation.

BUT THEY ARE.

I don't always feel like a conquerer. But it does not change the truth. My Christianity is not based upon my feelings, but the facts of God's Word!! And even when I don't feel like a conquerer, or have the will to want to fight so that I can be ~ it's how I felt standing in my kitchen the other day. Defeated before I even began. Wondering what the point was.... yet knowing all at the same time exactly what the point was - Marriage, like no other relationship, cannot afford to lose it's tenacity to fight!

Even when I don't want to and don't feel like it, and think there is not an ounce of desire to muster up within me to be a conquerer... HERE'S where the truth of God's Word kicks in, and my feelings get kicked out. Because that verse goes on to tell me the only way I can fight and win - in whatever it is I'm facing - is through Him who loved me and gave Himself for me. Through Jesus Christ my Lord!

And when I call out for His power, He gives it. The channels of grace run down and fill me and before I even realize what is happening I find that I'm (through Him) conquering....

I hope that this also encouraged you today. Encouraged you to FIGHT whatever battle/struggle you are facing today.

Merry Christmas!

There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries. ~W.J. Cameron



Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836



Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder




The earth has grown old with its burden of care, But at Christmas it always is young.
~Phillips Brooks

One of my all-time favorites....

O, Holy Night

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels' voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Behold your King.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.

Children of Christmas

Children of Christmas
by Erma Bombeck

There is nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.

Not to feel the cold on your bare feet as you rush to the Christmas tree in the living room. Not to have your eyes sparkle at the wonderment of discovery. Not to rip the ribbons off the shiny boxes with such abandon.

What happened?

When did the cold, bare feet give way to reason and a pair of sensible bedroom slippers? When did the sparkle and the wonderment give way to depression of a long day? When did a box with a shiny ribbon mean an item on the "charge?" A child of Christmas doesn't have to be a toddler or a teen. A child of Christmas is anyone who believes that Kings have birthdays.

The Christmases you loved so well are gone. What happened? Maybe they diminished the year you decided to have your Christmas cards printed to send to 1,500 of your "closest friends and dearest obligations." You got too busy to sign your own name. Maybe it was the year you discovered the traditional Christmas tree was a fire hazard and the needles had to be vacuumed every three hours and you traded its holiday aroma for a silver one that revolved, changed colors, played "Silent Night" and snowed on itself.

Or the year it got to be too much trouble to sit around the table and put popcorn and cranberries on a string. Possibly you lost your childhood the year you solved your gift problems neatly and coldly with a checkbook.

Think about it. It might have been the year you were too rushed to bake and resorted to slice-and-bake with no nonsense. Who needs a bowl to clean -- or lick?

Most likely it was the year you were so efficient in paying back all your party obligations. A wonderful little caterer did it for you for $3 per person.

Children of Christmas are givers. That's what the day is for. They give thanks, love, gratitude, joy and themselves to one another. It doesn't necessarily mean you have to have children around a tree. It's rather like lighting a candle you've been saving, caroling when your feet are cold, building a fire in a clean grate, grinding tinsel deep into the rug, licking frosting off a beater, giving something you made yourself. It's laughter, being with people you like, and at some time falling to your knees and saying, "Thank You for coming to my birthday party."

How sad indeed to awake on Christmas and not be a child. Time, self-pity, apathy, bitterness and exhaustion can take the Christmas out of the child, but you cannot take the child out of Christmas.

Little Arwen...

Congrats to the Helms on the birth of their first daughter! Such a precious name...Arwen Nicole Helm. And this quote came to mind...which I quickly sent to the new parents...

"Young she was and yet not so.The braids of her dark hair were touched by no frost; her white arms and clear face were flawless and smooth, and the light of stars was in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night; yet queenly she looked, and thought and knowledge were in her glance, as of one who has known many things that the years bring." LOTR