How To Find Joy The Day After.

     It kind of hit me out of nowhere, this empty feeling. Like all of the joy and excitement had drained away like a tub of water. I expect it the day after Christmas. When December 26 rolls around, there has been such a building up of weeks of anticipation. The world looks different everywhere your eyes fall. Not just at home, but in the city, the lights are brighter, there is extra bustling, bells are ringing and holiday music plays softly in the background. In the country, dark winding roads are lit, with red and green lights strung on a lonely evergreen and dark soil has been draped in white blankets. So in the aftermath of crumpled paper, remains of food, and a tired looking tree I expect that sinking, somewhat weary, feeling.  

    But, it's November 25th. We are just now embracing every part of this joyful time of year and yet, there it was. Staring me in the face. That feeling of my heart being deflated. I think sometimes we mentally prepare ourselves for something and that coupled with people covering us in prayer carries us through the obvious difficult times that may lie before us. But, there is always the day after. No matter what it is. The day after a holiday. The day after a special memory. The day after a family event. The day after some sort of climax in life. If we are not aware beloved, this is when the enemy loves to come calling. He loves to catch us unaware and breathe despair upon our hearts. Maybe this isn't you. Maybe you have never experienced this "day after feeling". If not then may you be aware that for so many people for so many different reasons, the " day after" can be just as hard as the "day of".

"Be alert and of sober mind, your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him standing firm in the faith."  1 Peter 5:8,9

"Stay alert with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don't forget to pray for us. " Col. 4;2,3

     How are we to handle this? What do we do when despair comes knocking or our spirits start to sink? We remember. We remember who are enemy is. Not the people that he uses to come against us, but the enemy himself. We stand firm in our faith. We remember who the God we serve is.

He is the Lion of Judah.
He is the Great I Am.
He is the beginning and the end.
He is the faithful one.
He is the light of the world.
and so much more...

     We keep our eyes wide open in gratitude continuing to give thanks day by day, even moment by moment for all the ways he loves us.

     We pray.

     He continues to remind me that when all around me seems dark all he wants, is for me to take his hand and let him lead me gently forward. Won't you take his hand beloved?

Cultivating A Heart of Thanksgiving.

     Every November the landscape changes just a bit. I'm not talking about how the trees start to shed their glorious leaves but rather the fabric of our thoughts and conversations start to alter. We begin to share the things we are thankful for on social media. We talk about abundance of food, family and good times. We anticipate the joy of the holiday season heading our way. This may be one of the reasons it's my favorite time of year. I love the contagious joy and intentional thoughts of goodness and appreciation. 

     This morning as I was reflecting on all those things I was reminded of what a journey the Lord has taken me on, cultivating a heart of thanksgiving in me. Not just in November but all year long. It's been a process for sure and there are times that my heart forgets some of God's goodness in the shadows of life's hard, or things that make me anxious. However when I look back, it's a gift I will never stop giving thanks for, that gift of perspective. Part discipline (Ann Voscamp, teaching me how to count my gifts) and actually making myself do that, and part revelation.
     When life gets hard and ,the way we envisioned it would always be, ceases to even exist we have two choices. We can become bitter or we can press into the Father. We can hop back up on that potter's wheel and say, "Fashion me into the vessel you want for your glory." It's a choice we make, not one time but again and again. 

   The season of hard we began walking through started almost 3 years ago, but as the Lord has promised us, He went before me teaching me the discipline of noticing the year before that one. I read the book One Thousand Gifts,by Ann Voscamp and took up the joyful task of giving thanks for even the smallest of things that might have gone unseen before. The light glinting off a cardinals wing, the laughter of my children, the smell of coffee brewing all caused my heart to sing with renewed joy. The practice of noticing and giving thanks shifted my focus from the little things that used to rob me of my peace to all the tiny drops of grace the Lord was showering my days with. 
     I began to pray more for him to reveal to my heart how great His love is. 

" I pray that the perception of your mind my be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the glorious riches of his inheritance and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength." Eph.1:18-23

     Life got even harder. When life gets hard, your world becomes smaller. It takes all that you have to take care of body and soul for you and your family and the way you invest in others has to be in the form of prayer rather than constant physical interaction. This too can be a lonely time or a time when you press into the Father once again. He shows you beautiful things, the heart of a man sitting alone in a cancer waiting room and He gives you His words to drop into that man's spirit. He shows you ways that He alone is ministering to your spirit; Impromptu prayers of strangers over you in hospital corridors on a day you just want to be in church, selfless love radiating from your surgeon and the many nurses. Friends who prepare a room for you to stay in during treatment, a home away from home.
     When you begin practicing the presence of God, it opens up a whole new world of sight. It is this perspective, this seeing with new eyes that allows you to walk by faith. What once was impossible is now the only way. The only way to move forward in joy is to give thanks with each step. When the big things are taken out of your hands it's easier to let the little things go. So you do.

     Cultivating the ground is a  process. It's breaking the hard outer shell of earth, it's stirring up the soil adding pockets of air to the earth to make it moveable more suitable for planting. The ground is better prepared for the seed, that becomes the plant, that bears the fruit for the harvest. 
     Cultivating a heart of thanksgiving is a process, but we have a good gardener and the harvest is so worth it.  I pray that the perception of our hearts are enlightened during this season of "giving thanks"and after..Ask the Lord to help you notice some things today you may have formerly passed by, and give thanks for them. Share in the comments below. 

What Does Courage Look Like?

     The trees on my morning walk are changing. The last of the bright red leaves are bravely clinging to their branches, while the ground is covered in every autumn hue. With each gust of wind they rain down, a fresh blanket for my feet to crush in the passing.

     As the days grow shorter and the sun starts to shine not as warm, we are faced with the eminent passing of yet another season. While I anticipate the beauty of the next one, my heart's not quite ready to bid fall good-bye. My flesh wants to hang on to every drop of today not sure of what tomorrow could bring, and I breath a prayer, "Make me strong, Lord, make me strong in you."

       Courage seems to be so much more than standing firm. It's advancing into the unknown in spite of fears that try to shake you. This word " courage" is synonymous in my mind with the story of Joshua and Caleb. When the Israelites were ready to take hold of the land that God had promised them they sent spies into the land ahead of time so that they would know what they were up against. While most of the spies came back shaking in their boots because of how strong their enemy appeared before them, Joshua and Caleb had a different response. Even though there were giants in the land, ( it says they felt like grasshoppers in comparison) Caleb said, "We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it." How was it possible for him to have such confidence in the face of such overwhelming opposition? Not only were the voices around him speaking doom and gloom but his own eyes testified of the great mountain of difficulty that lay before them. Truly the odds were more than stacked against them  and yet...

     Sometimes courage looks like when we are afraid we put our trust in God anyway;

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you, in God whose word I praise." Psalm 56:3,4 

     It is possible beloved to move forward with the words of our mouths praising Him for all that He is and all that He has done for us in the past. Then we can pave the way for our future with more words of praise; of trust in His ability to remove, redeem, restore, rescue and work all things for our good. Sometimes courage looks like waiting.

"Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14 

     Often times life can be difficult and we desperately want to skip over the pain of present circumstances. However, there are gifts to be had in the waiting beloved. When we are required to sit and wait in the hallways of life, he is with us in the waiting and he is producing good things while we wait.

       We are just like a little seed that is buried in the dark earth. Little do we know, that while we wait for the glorious green shoot to appear on the other side of the darkness in the bright light of the sun, there is life unfurling from within. Long before that shoot can be seen, bursting from its grave, a small tendril of life has already broken through its hard outer shell and is working its way up through the dirt. What might God be producing in you in the wait?

   Sometimes courage looks like moving forward.

"Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will go with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 

     While sometimes we are required to wait, other times the Lord calls us forward and like Abraham we may not know much beyond the next step to lay our foot. But rest assured dear ones, that when he calls us out he does not require us to go it alone, and though you may leave all that you know you take with you the one who knows all. 

     His promises are true and He is Truth! When the way he has called you seems dark or lonely press into Him and let him be your light.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear." Psalm 27:1

      The bottom line is that when we put our trust in Christ we do not walk alone.

"He will never leave you or forsake you." Deut. 31

"For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

    Yes, the way may seem long and at times not smooth but because His word is true, we walk in His strength and power. We are then able to rejoice in our weaknesses, knowing that in them His power is made perfect in us.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."( Eph. 6)

     The more we walk this broken path the more we see that it's all about a shift in our perspective. A different position to view this traveler's road from. Where are our eyes focused? Are they on me, or are they on my God? 

"Haven't I commanded you: Be Strong and Courageous?" 

Joshua 1:9

How To Find Peace During the Holidays, Or Any Day.

Sitting on a chaise lounge wrapped in the fluffiest robe you can imagine, sipping on hot tea and gazing out the window at beautiful evergreen trees. Their spiny tips crammed full of clusters of pine cones. I drag in a deep shaky breath and let out a huge sigh. 

    Immediately my thoughts start to scold me. "How in the world are you capable of feeling stress at a time like this? You are in the lap of luxury! A sweet gift of time away in a beautiful place from a kind friend."
     I answer myself."I don't deserve this. It's too good for me."
     Before my mind can form the next words I feel the Father's loving words drip down on my mind. "But, I love you beloved. You are mine! My daughter, that I desire to shower with gifts, just a reminder that I am here and you are loved." 
Just a few weeks before I almost didn't accept this sweet gift. The prospect of going away by myself to a quiet spot seemed more daunting than relief. I remember a time when my children were small, that I would have jumped at the chance for this kind of get away. But, life is different, not at all what I expected, and while my kids aren't completely grown they are older and their presence brings comfort and their needs a distraction from the feelings and emptiness that flood my heart.

     Still I felt the Spirit wooing me to come away with Him, to trust Him... I almost couldn't beloved, for the enemy was quick to tell me that being alone wasn't good for me. In fact the memories and pain would overwhelm me and undo me.  Thankfully the Lord spoke louder to my heart.

" For I know the plans I have for you (daughter) to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future."
"I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind." 
"I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.

Is it possible to fear the very thing that will bring life? An awakening of sorts from the pain that dulls your senses and makes you immune to the beauty of God's grace around you and in you. Remember the garden? The enemy of our souls was quick to whisper in Adam and Eve's ear that God did not have their best interests at heart. In fact it was the opposite and they would do well to listen to him instead. 
    Live as people of the light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. (Eph.5:9) When you choose to follow Jesus you become a person of the light. We must then live as people of the light,thinking on whatever is good and lovely and pure,receiving in ourselves all that the presence of His Spirit brings. For, our bodies are His very temple the place in which He dwells.

     How often do you sit in pure silence, when your mind is free from distractions and you are free to dwell only on the Father's goodness? When was the last time you said, " Speak Lord your servant is listening? "This is not a scary thing dear ones. This is a sweet thing. A time when the Lord can remind you of all the ways He has been faithful and all the ways He will be. It can be a time of reflection, conviction, repentance, healing and moving towards the plans that God has for you. But, if we are not careful, the enemy of our soul will keep us from it. We will be too busy, too stressed, too worried, too distracted and too tired to hear His voice. 
     In Mark 6:31, Jesus says, " Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest awhile." 
     He invites us beloved. I'm so glad that fear and weariness didn't keep me from Him this time and I want to go again. 
The holidays are right around the corner and we might just blink into a new year. We make lists of who is coming, what to cook, what to buy. We clean and we scour, we freshen beds and fill the fridge. But, have we filled our heart? He beckons us to come away with Him to quiet place and rest awhile.  Will you come? 

Come Away With Me On A Walk To Remember

     As Anne of Green Gables would say, "I've come to invite you on one of our old time rambles." I wanted to invite you, dear readers, into the walk I took in the mountains today. How appropriate that the Lord would take me away to the mountains to be with him. Alan's place.
  I love the mountains but Alan loved them!  I finally found the chapel that was a short walk from the resort where I was staying and when I sat down on the back row, not sure why I was here exactly, I started with thank you!

    Thank you Father for calling me away. Thank you for the beauty that surrounds me and that you are present, with me. Thank you for this stone building, alongside a babbling brook, that serves as a place to "be still" and draw near to you.
     It's not the place that makes Him draw near dear ones but the space that is birthed in our hearts when we slow down and are mindful of Him.
     Of all the memories that would flood my mind when I sat , He brought Alan's hand stroking mine. The solid, strong hand that made me feel safe and protected, cherished and taken care of. And, I felt the "be strong" shell around my heart crumble into tears.
Then, He reminded me of the lyrics of a new song Adam just wrote a few days ago that had really ministered to my heart and it all came clear.
I wondered why the words "steady handed" would make me weep. This is why, they are the Lord's hands and He reminded me in this small stone chapel in the mountains so many miles from home that the very part of Alan that made my heart feel at rest was just a reflection of my Father's hands. Sure and steadfast. 
"I cling to you; your right hand holds me securely." Psalm 63:8

     They are strong enough to hold me. They are strong enough to hold you, no matter the situation you are in. He is able and in Him, you are too. Not because you have it all together and can handle anything that comes your way but because you don't and you can't but He can and He will. Rest in Him, Trust in Him. Let the Lord fight for you, you need only be still.

What Is Your Why?

     Have you ever asked yourself why you are doing what you're doing? Is it your passion? Is it something you fell into and chose by default? Did someone choose it for you?
     I'm just starting to let myself dream. I feel a bit guilty even typing that word, "Dream". It feels selfish  and indulgent and like, I surely could be spending my time a better more productive way.
But, I am being challenged lately to reconsider that thought. Emily P. Freeman says it this way, "Pursuing desire is only toxic when we demand our desires be satisfied on our terms and in our timing. As recipients of the new heart of the Spirit, our deepest desire, when honestly realized, will always lead us to God. It takes courage to honestly consider desire in the presence of Jesus."

     And so this morning as the Spirit drew me back to Philippians 2, I sat in the first view verses once again. Only this time I couldn't just move on.

"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if an affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose."

I found my "Why" in one verse. This is my desire, Lord! It is why I put pen to paper and string words together on this laptop. My "desire" is one with His desire! I pray that the words that I tap out bring encouragement. It is my desire that you, dear reader, would feel me sitting with you, with  deep affection and compassion for whatever circumstance you might find yourself in. I desire that  the Holy Spirit would join our hearts by the words that He gives, bringing fellowship and consolation. May we walk away from this place where we meet with hearts no longer broken, but rather just a bit bruised. May we be reminded when we revisit those memories or hard places, when our fingers seek out that tender spot, that the hard places were holy places. For even in the unwanted circumstances that life may bring us we find the presence of God. He gathers us in even deeper to His heart, sings words of love over us, sets us back on our feet and sends us out once again intent on one purpose. Living to bring glory to the King!

     This is why I write beloved! What desires lie deep within in your heart,that may be leading you deeper into the Father's heart, so that you might step out and share them with a hurting world? What is your Why?  

He Restores My Soul.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
There  is no good thing that I lack. His provision is enough in life, in my circumstances, in my heart, and no matter how weary my soul may feel. He is more than enough!
I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
Like a sheep in a field with his shepherd,  He leads me to a place where I can rest. I am safe there from the enemy of my soul, for I have a good shepherd and He bids me rest. 
He makes me lie down. 

He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. 
Sometimes you just have to speak amazing truth over your own soul. Remember His word does not return empty. So this morning as I took my morning walk. I past a stream that wasn't moving and into my mind and then out of my mouth poured. 
"He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He restores my soul! Thank you Jesus that your are restoring my soul!"

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake. 
When I listen to His voice, that paths He leads me down will be righteous. No matter how steep, how treacherous they appear or even feel beloved, it is all for HIS name sake. It's for His glory! 
He leads me in paths of righteousness.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me! 
Valleys often feel like you are walking in the shadows. It's almost like the real life happening around you can't quite touch you. The grief and or hardship has removed you from fully engaging with those around you. But, the good news dear ones is that we can walk through it without being afraid! Do you hear me soul? ( as I speak to myself...) I don't have to fear any evil! He is with me! And no weapon formed against me shall prosper! 
I fear no evil walking through the valley for you are with me!

Your rod and your staff they comfort me.
Shepherds used rods to count, guide, rescue and protect their sheep, while the staff was used for support. 
We serve an Almighty God who is not far removed from us beloved. Rather He is right there in the midst of our mess. He is our body guard so to speak hemming us in, guiding us. He is our rescue and in all these ways our hearts are comforted rather than shaken. 
Your rod and staff they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil. 
Because He loves us and rescues and protects us we are so dear to Him beloved that He feeds us. He honors us with anointing oil and He does this in the middle of our enemies and trials! We don't have to fear remember. He isn't afraid, He has got this and we can even eat partaking of His goodness. 
You prepare a table before me.

My cup overflows! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever! 
Not only will He meet your needs and rescue us but He will bless us so abundantly that our cup truly does overflow, into the lives of others. Remember, it's all for His names sake. We can count on this amazing care for all of our days until He leads us home. To our forever home! 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever! 

I encourage you to read the 23rd Psalm out loud and make it personal. The Lord is my shepherd! 
There is such life and truth, promises and HOPE! I have enjoyed going on this Quest for Hope with you beloved. I look forward to anymore days ahead that the Lord would have us gather in this place. This hallowed ground, this holy place because He is present with us, this place becomes holy. His Spirit somehow changes us and my prayer is that  we would  go out once again with our eyes refastened on Him and His goodness and faithfulness, That we would seize joy and share it with others as the tender gift that it is. Goodnight my readers. 

Why It's Okay to Feel Sadness In the Midst of Hope.

     I have been feeling something coming on. You know that feeling you have when you feel like your about to get a cold. Well, I had that this week but it wasn't physical. I felt it deep in my spirit, in my heart. (This isn't fun beloved. However I told you that I wanted to be transparent for myself and for you.)
      This morning I woke up and sure enough the feeling I had deep in my heart broke loose. My heart was physically aching. This was not the constant "I miss my husband feeling", but I am pressing on anyway today feeling. This was a "I miss my husband and it is not okay!" feeling.  I know that I am going to miss him today, tomorrow, next month and next year. All the days of missing him stretched out before me. I missed him with a deep aching inside that seemed to leave no room for air or breathing. 

     This beautiful time of autumn was always our favorite! We loved walks in our woods, fires in the fireplace, hot beverages, cuddling on the couch and it was the time of year we went away to our Bed and Breakfast. We went to the same one for the last 16 years, at least once or twice a year. It wasn't until I had given birth to our fourth child that we decided that it was past time for us to actually leave them overnight and spend a weekend focusing on just us. I remember praying and asking the Lord to lead us to the place He wanted us to go. When we found this place it was perfect for us and had recently opened for business. We went at least once a year.  We visited there for the last time 1.5 yrs. ago in the middle of Alan's battle with brain cancer. We took our whole family then and by this time had become old friends with the owners. It was a special weekend including the engagement of Abbey and Adam.

As I began to examine my heart, I asked myself:

"Isn't your hope in the Lord, Tara?"
Yes, it is!
"Don't you know that He is faithful?"
Yes, I do! He is my faithful God! 

     Why then this incredible sadness and aching? I think beloved that our Hope can still be anchored in Jesus, while we feel the feelings! He created us to have so many feelings; joy, delight, excitement, surprise, anguish, sorrow, anger, peace. We are not robots but rather people created in His image. The capacity He gave us to be able to love others also leaves us open to pain. That is what makes our relationships so meaningful! They are real and genuine
. 
     But this is what I also know. I know that I serve a compassionate God.

" Shout for joy O heavens! And rejoice O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted." Isaiah 49:13

" The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease! For His compassions they never fail. " Lam.3:22

I know that He has promised to be with me in it. He doesn't want me to sink into a pit of despair but rather He gently takes me by the hand and sometimes, even carries me leading me through it. 

" Fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

" The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with His love; He will exult over you with loud singing!' Zeph. 3:17

" Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me: Your rod and your staff they comfort me. Ps. 23:4

     I may be walking through the valley of the shadow of my dear husbands death but my God is with me! Ever lifting my chin, to gaze up into His merciful and loving eyes. I'm still here beloved, I've got you! I'm going before you. I'm holding you together. I am faithful! 

     So now it's my turn, to say to myself, " Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil with me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation."  Ps. 42:5

" The Lord is my portion says my soul, therefore I will hope in him." Lam. 3:24

     Won't you join me dear readers? I don't know what your trial, burden or circumstances may be. But, won't you join me in lifting your eyes to the one who  promised to never leave us and kept that promise! He is the Great I am! And, He truly is all that we need. Renew your mind with his truth and let Him take you by the hand and walk you through it. He is able. 

The Work of Our Hands.

     I passed by a little print in my bathroom this morning that I had propped up on a "vintage shelf" I got recently.  As I read the words once again I marveled at how dear they were to me. 

When life has been chaotic, and if feels like not only has your apple cart been upset but rather your whole world has been shaken and turned upside down, it feels like the sweetest of instructions to receive from your Father. Live a quiet life.... and work with your hands. It's similar to another verse I love.
     "May the Favor of our God rest upon us and establish the work of our hands. Yes, establish the work of our hands." Ps. 90:17
     The word establish means so many things and goes perfectly with what hands do. It means to start, create or form something, it is to make permanent. 

     As a writer I think about the ways I use my hands, writing, typing, rewriting. As a mom I use my hands to wash, pour, wipe, clean, caress, hug, and lift.
      As I cared for Alan during his last days I became even more aware of hands and what they do. They washed and brushed, balanced, administered medicine, applied lotion, changed bedding and cared for all of his needs. Alan was always very particular with his personal care, not a hair out of place while I am somewhat haphazard. So I intentionally took great care to make sure, if he was aware, he would feel comfortable and like himself. But, my favorite was just holding his hand. Long after He could no longer communicate he would still grip our hands and sometimes even stroke us. The sweetest thing! 

     Gen.1:27 says, " So God created mankind in His own image." God created us with His own hands. He is the potter and we are the clay. He is constantly shaping and pruning and caring for us. He is lifting, us. Molding us into the people He has intended for us to be. So, when I think of living a quiet life and working with my hands it feels right and good. That is what we are supposed to be about. We work with our hands and we trust God to establish the work we are doing, for His glory.  
It is not our job to try and figure out how He will do it or when He will do it but to trust He will do it. He will accomplish His purpose for you and for me! Why? Because we are the work of His hands!
"The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.
 Lord your love is eternal;
 do not abandon the work of your hands." Psalm 138:8

An Open Letter to My Readers.

Dear Readers,
     I needed to write you a short note and let you know how very dear you have become to my heart! Some of you have shared your story with me and commented on the words the Lord has given me to share. Some of you have just showed up to read them, this too is a gift to me and I hope has been a gift to you. A sharing of the heart if you will.  Either way, as we approach the end of these "31 Days of Writing", my heart is tender for you. 
     My desire has always been to be transparent with you. By sharing my walk, the mountain tops, the dry deserts, the low valleys and the peaceful pastures, I hope you have seen that I am weak, but He makes me strong. I am sorrowful but He is my joy. I am ever so thankful for everything He sprinkles this journey with. Life does not always look the way we expected it to, but it is good even in the hard. 
     As I was prayerfully considering what to share today this verse jumped out at me. 

"Be ready to give an account to everyone who asks for the hope that is in you, with gentleness and reverence. "  1 Peter 3:15 

The hope that is in you beloved! It is my prayer that in the days to come, though they may be less frequent, the words the Lord gives me will continue to encourage you in your walk. But, more than anything that you will see that He holds all the answers. He is our Hope! I pray that He will reveal more of who He is to you and you will be able to find the words to share with other's the hope you have found in Jesus. 

"May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

I pray that you would crave the bread of life, that you would not feast merely on physical bread but on the very words that proceed from the mouth of God. 

"Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good." 1 Peter 2:2

Because dear ones, when you seek the Lord, you find Him! 

"At that time Jesus said,' I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to infants.... because this was your good pleasure." 

We don't have to be spiritual giants for the Lord to speak to us and reveal himself to us. We only need to be hungry! 

There are a couple more days in October for me to share on a "daily" basis with you friends and I am cherishing every one of them. If you would like to share a topic you would like for me to write on in the future please share the in the comments. I would love to hear your hearts. Enjoy your weekend, may it be full of sipping the sweetness out of every moment. 
                                         Your friend,
                                                     Tara

Hide Me Away O Lord!

"The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 
Those who know your name trust in you,
 For you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you."
 Psalm 9:9

     This is one of those verses beloved that I just want to soak in.  There is so much goodness to renew your mind with! Did you know when you renew your mind, you're actually exchanging the old thoughts  of fear, doubt, anxiety and stress with truth. 
     You may have situations and people coming against you that cause you to actually feel oppressed! He Is Your Shelter! You are safe. 
You may be experiencing one hard thing after another and you wonder, " How much Lord? How much more?" He Is Your Refuge! Hide in Him. 
     This passage reminds us that when we know His name we trust in Him. That means we haven't just heard about Jesus but we know, know Him. We know that He is who He says He is. We know what his name means and all that it entails.  
He is El Shaddai- God Almighty
He is Yahweh- Lord.
He is  Yahweh Jireh- The Lord Provides, 
He is Yahweh Shalom- The God of Peace. 
He is Yahweh Rapha- The Lord who heals.
He is Yahweh Nissi - The Lord our Banner.
He is Yahweh M'kaddish - The Lord who Sanctifies, and much much more.
 It is the  last line to me that seals the deal! You don't abandon us when we are searching for you! He is with us beloved! He is with us! We are not alone in these trials. Spend some time renewing your mind with these truths that remind you that no matter the situation, our God is faithful! Then open His love letter and seek him dear ones, and He will be found by you!   

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. ( James 4:8) 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. ( Jer. 29:13)

O taste and see that the Lord is good how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. (Ps. 34:8)

For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle: In the secret place of His tent. He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. (Ps.27:4,5)

The Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save. (Isaiah 59:1)

Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. (Ps 105:3) 

Letting Go: A Verse About the Changing Season.

As seasons change, the leaves they turn. 

A cold wind blows, the leaves let go.

Back to the earth from whence they came. 

First a seed, then a shoot, fully bloomed and then turning. 

For us life has seasons, they too come and go. 

We start out small unsure of who we are.

We grow and we flourish and plan our days.

But the days they don't listen they have a mind of their own.

Still,we press on, though the future be unknown. 

We persevere under trials, and we overcome them.  

We weather the storms, the wind and the rain. 

Our branches may be bent, our leaves they may shake, 

But our roots hold us firm, they are deep and stable

Rooted in the only one who makes us able.

He is the First and the Last. 

He goes before and behind us.

When we can't keep going, He holds us up. 

When we are coming undone, He is the glue that binds us.

So rest my friend and let the seasons change.

There is beauty in the turning, and freedom in the letting go. 

There is rest in the waiting for the spring to return,

Which gives hope for the days to come!

And HOPE does not disappoint us! 

What To Do When You Feel Stuck.

     Have you ever longed for life to be something more than what it is? Day in and day out, the same old, same old. Not only the same daily routine but the same challenges, the same lack. You aren't sure what it is that is lacking. Maybe it's because of your job, maybe it's because of where you live. Or could it be that your life doesn't look exactly like you thought it would? This is definitely not what you signed up for! Your life was supposed to look so different than it does. You feel empty and stuck! 

     Without a doubt we go through seasons in our lives where we feel like things are going our way and we can coast and just love life. Then there are seasons where we feel like we are in the desert. The heat of our circumstances is oppressive and our hearts may feel parched and weary. 

I heard a story the other day about a man named, Joseph Merrick. You may know him as the " Elephant Man". He was a real person. A man born in 1862. He lived a fairly normal life until age 2 when tumors began growing all over his body. He eventually lost his mother at the age of 11 and endured much difficulty and heartache throughout his lifetime which ended at the young age of 27 due to complications of his deformities. However, the physician who worked with him later in his life said that he was a gentle, kind man with no words of bitterness or resentment despite the cruelties he endured. In fact Merrick told Treves that he was happy every hour of the day!  

     Wow! That leaves me speechless. How beloved? How can we position our hearts in such a way that we don't focus on the lack but on the gift? 

     I'm asking this of myself too. It's been a journey I have been on for the last 3 yrs. A way to be intentional wherever the Lord has me that day to wage war against the enemy of our soul who would have us believe that life is overwhelming. But our God says, He won't give us more than we can handle. In fact He says I have already given you EVERYTHING you need for life and godliness.(2 Peter1;3) 

Just like we wouldn't normally go a day without feeding our bodies, our spirits need that sustaneous. Jesus tells us that He is the bread of life. 

Also...Man shall not live by bread alone BUT by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.(Matt.4:4)

     Perhaps beloved if we are feeling stuck, or empty or weary we should check our eating habits. Just like people keep a food diary to make them aware of the foods they are actually consuming that may be affecting their physical health; perhaps we should check our spirit food diary. Are we feeding daily on the Word of God so that we are full to overflowing? Or, are we just running to the Word to grab a scripture of comfort when things are really bad? When we are dry and empty and overwhelmed maybe it is a symptom of the lack we have spiritually. We have forgotten that the Father has left us treasures untold in His Word. They are powerful enough to remake us!

     For myself whenever I feel an antsy unrest in my soul. I have discovered that it is a call from my Father. He is calling me to His side, to rest and refresh myself in His word. He wants to renew my mind and remind me of what He says about me. His desire is to fill my heart and mind with His Word so that I recognize everything that is not in line with it and I am not deceived or overwhelmed. He is equipping just like He promised, with everything for life and godliness!

     But I have to do something. He is not going to force feed me. I must come to him! I must open His word and partake. I must seek Him. 

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13)

You Will Be Called Oaks of Righteousness.

A few days ago I posted " What are you Wearing?". In it I shared with you about the wardrobe we wear when we are in Christ. How we are dressed in righteousness and how when we are walking through a broken time of mourning the Lord says He will give us a crown of beauty instead of the ashes, that mourners wear. and garments of praise.  

     The Lord has been speaking to me a lot about what we as women wear. The jobs we do, tend to become who we think we are rather than who Christ says we are. How we feel about that can change on any given day. If it is a good day we can feel rather proud. I'm not doing so bad! If it isn't a good day we may feel awful! 

     Some of us wear the garments of sin and shame. We are no longer walking in sin but even though we have experienced genuine repentance and turned away from that sin we wear it. While others wear the garments of broken dreams, failures, disappointments and rejection. These garments are heavy and ill fitting! Do you know why they don't fit? Because the Father fashioned garments tailor made to fit just you. He paid for those garments with His Son's blood. He gave them to you! And yet we walk around insisting on clinging to the old ones. They may not fit well or look good but they are comfortable in that odd sort of way that old tennis shoes are. They may be rubbing a blister on our feet because they are literally worn out but we don't know for sure what these new shoes will actually feel like. So we cling to the old. Plus we have an enemy that continues to tell us we don't have a claim to those new garments. 

     This is where we begin dear ones, each day we draw breath is a gift from our Father. The enemy would steal it from us if we let him. However,we fight him by renewing our minds to the truth of God's word. 
     " I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels" Isaiah 61:10
     "To all who grieve in Zion, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."
     You are not defeated, broken, hopeless, or in despair. When you choose Jesus as your Savior, you are called " Oaks of Righteousness"  and your are planted ( set firmly) for His Glory! Renew your minds to His truth beloved,the truth of His word!

     

I Will Never Leave You.

He himself has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you. 
Therefore we can boldly say : The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. 
What can man do to me?"
Sometimes beloved it is good to just sit with a small morsel of truth and rest in it. This is one of those verses. In order for a truth to sink deep down into your spirit you may have to think on it. Read it over several times. Say it aloud. Hold it up to all the circumstances in your life that may seem otherwise. I think one of the evil one's biggest cards he plays against us is to speak to our hearts, that God has forgotten us. That He has left us alone in this situation and it is all up to us. 

     But the truth is far different my friend. He is at work whether we see it with our physical eyes or not. He promises that He will never leave. Never! So we need not fear circumstances, or what man tries to do. Because we have the Lord as our helper we will not be moved. 
Rest in that dear ones and I will too! If you have some extra time today go back and read: 
"Father of My Heart" or "Water In Their Face and Pharaoh at Their Back", these posts will continue to remind you of our great God and His power at work in our circumstances.