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. 

A love letter to set you free.

      A not uncommon quote is , " The truth will set you free." But did you know beloved that there is life in the verse right before it that explains that quote? Jesus was talking to the Jews who had already believed him. They had stepped out on a limb and decided to believe that He was the long awaited Messiah. Can you imagine all the doubts that might have assailed their hearts? 

We have been waiting forever, why would he choose now to come? 

Who am I to think He would come in my lifetime?

Isn't this man from Nazareth? 

I heard someone say his mother was pregnant before she married Joseph, I know the virgin birth was prophesied but do you think it's true?

     And scriptures tell us that Jesus said to these brave Jews who had believed Him, " If you continue in My word, you really are My disciple. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 

If you continue in My word, you are my disciple and you will know the truth! 

Before we can be set free we must know his word. I am not saying that you need a doctoral degree or a bachelors degree. For we know that Peter, and John were ordinary and unschooled men. (Acts 4:13) I am talking about the word "know". We know that the greek word for "know" in the NT was influenced by the Hebrew word used for "know" in the OT. It was the word yada. It encompassed so much more than our English word for know or knowledge of something. When the scriptures in Gen. 4 discuss Adam knowing Eve it is describing their  intimacy with each other which produces a child. When we know the truth, we are not just reading it as knowledge and information. Rather we are accepting it as truth, acting on it as truth and responding to it as truth. We serve a God who desires intimacy with us. He desires to know and be known by you. ( Gal. 4:9) When we know God's truth something beautiful is produced. 

     I love this whole passage in John 17, but I will just share a small portion because it feels a bit like a love letter when you read it. However, it is actually one of the last things Jesus said before He went into the garden and was betrayed and led to the cross.  Jesus was praying to His Father and in that prayer He says this,

" I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you and they believed you sent me.... Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word....Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world I am sending them into the world. I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

     He was praying for us dear ones, for us! He wanted us to know the truth of His word, not to spout back in the form of correct answers on a pop quiz but to know deep down in our very spirit the truth. He wanted us to be full of joy so that we could go out into the world and share that truth and joy with others. He knew that this would not be easy, that life would not be easy but by knowing Him and His word He would make us holy so that even in the crushing circumstances we would only release the aroma of Christ. I love a quote by Amy Carmichael I read one time.

"A cup brimful of sweet water, cannot spill even one  drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted." 

     We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world and I don't get this right near enough but it is my desire to be so full of the truth of His word that when I am jolted that is what spills out.

His word is eternal. 

It is for yesterday and today and tomorrow. 

It is for you and for me and for all of creation. 

His word brings life and it is the only truth that can truly set us free!

What Are You Wearing?

     I have been thinking a lot about how we view ourselves. This week my youngest daughter got a job at a clothing store. She loves all things fashion but she loves people even more. We have had several discussions about what a huge privilege it is to be able to work the dressing room area. Because she has the opportunity when people are feeling the most critical about themselves to speak life, encouragement and blessing over them. 

     Isn't it interesting how we may be having a bad day and when someone takes the time to complement or build us up no matter how trivial the matter we seem to get a bounce in our step or a smile on our face? Sometimes beloved we need to remember who we are and what we are dressed in. It truly can change everything! 
"I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God. For he has dressed me with the garments of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness."
"To all who mourn He will give a crown of beauty for ashes and garments of praise instead of a spirit of despair. " (Isaiah 61)

     If I could dear ones I would love to invite you over for coffee or tea. There is one stipulation though. When you enter you must leave what you're wearing at the door. 
Leave your;
I'm not good enough, tall enough, thin enough, smart enough. I'm not outgoing enough, I'm too outgoing, I'm just not....
     Because beloved when you put your hope in Jesus, when you make Him your Lord there is no lack! He has already given you everything you need for life and godliness! (2 Peter 1:3) He has dressed you in garments of salvation and draped you in a robe of righteousness! You are royalty! 

     For those of you who feel broken, He has given you a crown of beauty in place of those ashes of broken dreams, broken hearts and broken bodies. No longer need you feel despair! He has placed new garments of praise on you. This clothing is not restricted to the church building beloved.You don't leave them there when you walk out the door. No you wear them everywhere. This is a feeling you can take with you when you go home Sunday. Because it is more than a feeling, it is TRUTH. I don't know of anyone who would turn down a  free wardrobe. That dear ones is what you have been given. He paid for it, all of it and we somehow have forgotten. Oh, how we forget. But He is so patient, and He would have you remember! You are beautiful, his masterpiece, his work of art, his beloved, his bride. He has adorned you as a bride. (Isaiah 61) So lift your head, and remember what you are wearing and I will too.

Water in their face and Pharaoh at their back... But God.

     I woke up this morning and my heart was so heavy, I felt a bit like the children of Israel standing at the brink of the Red Sea. The waves ahead  seemed so high and yet they were right smack dab in the middle of the rescue. I wonder when they were facing the waves and feeling the spray of water on their faces if they thought back to the morning that they were packing up their belongings, unleavened bread and all. Were they remembering what an incredulous feeling it was to actually be leaving Egypt? They didn't just leave with the clothes on their back, in fact scripture tells us they plundered Egypt. The Lord had given them favor in the eyes of the Egyptians so that when the Israelites requested it they gave them gold, silver and clothing. It must have felt a bit incredulous and now it really did seem to good to be true. There really was no alternative for them. They would either die at the hand of Pharaoh or at the hand of the sea. But God....

    The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart so he would chase them and he would be honored through Pharaoh and his army. So they would know that He was the Lord. When Pharaoh drew near it says the Israelites became very frightened and cried out to the Lord. But God...
     Moses responded to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today;for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent." (Ex. 14)
      I love this verse! In Exodus 14:19 it says," The angel of God , who had been going before the camp of Israel , moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. The Lord changed the position of the angel from one of guidance to one of protection. He knew He was making a way forward for them and would need to become their rear guard to protect them from the evil advancing behind them. He was making a way where there was no way! To the Israelites it may have still appeared to be frightening but God had it well in hand.

      Today as I wrestled in prayer for situations very close to my heart, the Lord reminded me that there are all kinds of suffering and all kinds of lack. We live in a broken world that seems to be growing more broken by the day. But God... I went to my morning Bible Study at church and came away with so many good and timely words but the one outstanding that I must not forget is this, He will never leave me! So, afterward I drove home and the Lord took me here, " Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, he will never leave you or forsake you." (Deut. 31:6)

 
 That truth undid me and I wept for all the things that were not right yet in my world and the ones I hold dear. I wept for the hearts of the women around me and for those who read this blog and for those across this globe I don't know by name. For we all have a story from the youngest to the oldest but what we forget is that He is right there in the midst of it all!

"Though the fig tree should not blossom
 And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food.
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet, I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds feet,
And makes me walk on my high places." (Hab.3:17)

"Yet" is a stop me in my tracks word kind of like "But God". It doesn't matter what is going on in my life or yours. We may be experiencing gail force winds but they are no match for our God. And, in the midst of it all, He doesn't leave us, in fact He becomes our rear guard! On top of that even though our knees may be knocking and we feel crazy weak, He makes our feet stand firm. When you have done all else beloved, stand!

Drink From the Well

Now the day is over. 
Night is drawing nigh. 
Shadows of the evening, steal across the sky.

These are the words that came to my mind as I saw the night sky above me on a walk last night. It produced such a longing in my heart for that calm sweet feeling that comes when you sing this hymn written by( Sabine Gould in the 1800's)that I wanted more. Here is a bit more....

Jesus give the weary,
Calm and sweet repose,
With thy tenderest blessing
May my eyelids close

Comfort every sufferer 
Watching late in pain
Those who plan some evil 
From their sin restrain

When the morning wakens
Then may I arise
Pure and Fresh and sinless
In thy holy eyes.

It reminded me of the Spirit dear ones! Did you know that the Spirit is our deposit guaranteeing what is to come? We carry the very hope of Heaven within us when we say Yes to Jesus choosing us! 
He is Our Counselor ( John 16) 
He our Teacher and Reminder of all that Jesus taught us. ( John 14:26)
He is our Guide into all Truth. (John 16)
He is our Helper when we are weak. (Rom. 8) 
He intercedes for us with groanings even words cannot express.  (Rom.8)
He is our Hope and helps us abound in Hope!(Rom.15)

When Jesus returned to the Father, He left us the sweetest gift, His Spirit. The embodiment of Hope and He lives in us as believers. It is my prayer that I would walk in this. " It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Matt. 10:20 
May we spend so much time with him that our hearts are filled up with Him. For out of the overflow of our hearts our mouths speak. And may the very living waters that he promised us continue to flow out of our full hearts onto hearts that are thirsty ground. Sometimes beloved my heart is full and I feel it overflowing and other times I forget what the Lord has given me in His Spirit and He is faithful to remind me or use another believer to spill their abundance onto me. May we be faithful to continue to drink from the well that doesn't grow dry and share that life giving water with others. 

Come to Me Beloved, Come to Me.

Come to me...
So it's the middle of October and I can imagine that the fall days that seemed to stretch ahead of you are filling up. You're beginning to think about all the things that simply must get done before the holidays and you are still carrying in your heart those burdens and concerns that tug at you when you have a quiet moment. And, He calls to out to you, " Come to me!"

All Who are Weary....
Alarm goes off
Wake Up
Thank the Lord, Quiet time
Exercise
Get coffee, must have coffee
To Do List- Laundry, Groceries,Pay bills, Return calls and emails, Plan meals, Paint the hutch,
Work, Plan for work,  Write, Pray
Teach the children, Train the children, Listen to the children, Help the children make good choices.
Talk to the husband, Pray with the husband, Listen to the Husband.
Check on the friend, Take kids to practices, Get gas, Pick kids up from practices.
We are WEARY! 
And Jesus says," Come to me all who are weary."

And Heavy Burdened....
That thing, you know, that thing that happened so long ago that you just can't seem to make  peace with? 
That thing, you know that thing, that is going on right now that seems to be always stealing your joy. You can't wrap your brain around how the Lord is going to take care of it and make all things new.
That thing, you know that thing, that you worry about that might happen in the future if you aren't on top of it thinking about it , mulling it over and reworking it over and over in you mind. 
We are heavy burdened! 
And Jesus says, " Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened."

And I will Give You Rest....
Rest.... What is that ? What does it even look like. In the society we live in I wonder if we even know how to do this. It certainly doesn't come naturally. How can we have hope when we can't even be still and rest? The position our minds and hearts are in feels like one of constant motion,advancing,working,striving. And yet, He calls out to us, " Come to me, all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest." I think it starts with coming to Him beloved. Will you join me? Rest sounds good right about now. 

Father of My Heart

     We live in a broken world. This is no surprise to us but as I get older I see more and more often that as we long for things to be as they were intended to be ,we often carry with us hurt, disappointment and bitterness. 

     Our Father in Heaven had a plan for this. He saw the brokenness and separation that sin caused in this world and He made the greatest sacrifice to bring things to rights. He gave us Jesus! It was the sweetest, most generous thing He could do, to allow His Son, to stand in our place and take our sins so that by receiving Him as our Savior and our Lord we could have eternal life. 

     I believe He also makes provision for us on this earth as we all wait to see things made new! It has been a lifetime for me to begin to see my Heavenly Father as the good Father that He truly is. For many of us because of man’s “free choice” or circumstances beyond our control  we have not seen the faithful love of a Father in our home. 

      I myself did not have my earthly father living with me but looking back I can see so many ways my good Father in Heaven provided for me. He blessed me with an amazing Papa, who loved me well. While we lived miles apart, he chose to love me intentionally, constantly, and tangibly. I watched him love me sacrificially, spending his very short weekends of rest from his job to drive across the country to watch me run track, act in a play or just do yard work, buy us winter shoes and hold us tight before returning to work. We talked on the phone weekly, and he made holidays especially memorable, knowing the way they spoke to my heart. He chose me again and again, just like my Heavenly Father did. He was just a man with imperfections but He did this well… He chose to love in spirit and in truth. 

     I have been in a unique position to watch my darling granddaughter Ava at the tender age of 2 recognize what true love looks like. Adam became her Daddy when she was 1 1/2 years old but he was already loving her well long before that. She already knows that “My Daddy” as she says loves her the way love is meant to be.

     He loves her sacrificially putting her own needs above his own. He loves her constantly when she is happy and fussy,hemming her in with tender guidance when her little heart wants her own way. He loves her protectively, providing for her arms to run into and covering her in prayer. He loves her best by loving her Mama (my Abbey) faithfully, washing her in the Word of God , and being the godly leader they need.

Ava has so many mannerisms of Adam because she watches him so closely and wants to be like him. Just last night we were eating at a restaurant and Ava refused her rice and chicken. She insisted on eating noodles off her Daddy’s plate and a fork wouldn’t do because her Daddy was eating with chopsticks.

 

    Every time I see something like this I want to say, “ I hear you Father, I hear you.” This is how you want us to be isn’t it? Secure in your love no matter our initial experience in this fallen world. Our eyes fixed on you, ever watching to see your next move, desiring to be right by your side walking with you on this journey. Doing things the way you would do them. Loving the way you love, the way you gave up yourself in the biggest way, by giving us your son. You see Adam is Ava’s Daddy, the Daddy of her heart. 

    I don’t know your journey beloved. I don’t know the pieces that were or are missing in your life that have kept you from experiencing fully the love God has for you. But I do know the Daddy of your heart.

Know this dear ones. He loves you. He chose you! He is there to make all things new for you! There were many times when my Papa couldn’t be present physically and I was lonely for a visual example of that “true love” being lived out. The Father taught me to see it in others and while I wasn’t always on the receiving end of it to rejoice that is was there. He wanted me to know that I had the power to choose where my thoughts went and that even in the loneliness He was with me and guiding me so that I could be that tangible expression of God’s love to others. You have a choice, you are not a victim of your circumstances. 

“ And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him.”(Rom. 8:28)

“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you to give you HOPE and a future.” (Jer.29:11)

     He speaks this over you dear ones, of course He does. He is the Father of your Heart. 

The Lord is my strength and my song!

"Finally be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength."

     Today I just want to proclaim this blessing over you from Ephesians 6. Be strengthened by the Lord! I share a lot about finding something in black and white for you to hang your hat on when things get hard. So, today I wanted you to have something simple enough for you to commit to memory. "Be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength." 
     In Nehemiah 8:10 We are told that ,"The joy of the Lord is our strength." So as you meditate on this blessing of being strengthened in the Lord I encourage you to spend some time, writing, speaking or singing out loud the good things He has already done for you. Let your own heart hear you declare the Lord's faithfulness over your situation. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength and remember His strength is vast!

The Gate

While strolling down a twisted lane
With clapboard shops stacked high and low 
I round the bend just one time more 
And I must stay my steps they slow. 

I spy a gate before my eyes
Weathered and marked by wind and time
But to me there is beauty in crack and crevice. It's age adds value and does not diminish. 

It welcomes those that pass it by 
Beckoning them enter and rest awhile. 
I pause and consider why joy I feel.
And soon in remembering my heart comes unspun. 
It's a gentle reminder of something that's been done. 

I know of one who claims He's a door whereby those who enter have Eternity in store. 
He has the answers to questions that rise.
He is the giver of Hope when we can't see why. 

So calm thy heart friend, slow your pace and enter. 
He is waiting to greet you and bids you come hither. 
His love is for real it is firm and lasting. 
The peace that He promises is not just in passing. To enter the gate is truly a choice and in taking that step all of Heaven rejoices. 

*The Lord did a new thing in my heart a few weeks ago. As I was out walking in a little coastal town , I stumbled upon this lovely old gate. He generally speaks to me in stories but never verse. He stopped me in my tracks and started pouring into my heart.This is a piece of what he began speaking to me that day and I felt like his beloved child in a way I never had before. It was a sweet communion that I am blessed to share with you because it's "His Gift". And because I want you to taste a bit of that communion with me. May you see and hear him today dear ones! Keep looking up!