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.”