Unexpected

We took a roadtrip from Florida to Virginia, stopping in the Carolinas along the way. It is beautiful this time of year, with still plenty of fall color to delight the eyes.

Arriving in Virginia late last night, we were greeted by lots of smiling little faces as cousins reconnected and we all exclaimed how much everyone had grown. My sister and family live close to D.C., so the plan was to do plenty of sightseeing during our holiday week.

But things took an unexpected turn this morning when I fell down the stairs. (Yeah, me, a grown woman, falling down the stairs!!) As I lay moaning and groaning at the bottom in a heap, the first thought running through my head was, "But I wanted to see the White House!" My sister reassured me as she held my swelling ankle that I still would get to see it even if she has to push me around in a wheelchair. We'll be heading out soon to the doctor, but I want to take a moment and give thanks. It could have been a lot worse.

Giving thanks for these gifts:

• warm winter coats
• helpful little hands waiting on my every need
• a sense of humor
• crutches
• good times with family
• laughter and more laughter
• medical care readily available
• safety and protection on the road
• brisk fall weather
• being still with God

Not sure what the Lord has in mind for me this week. But I think I'll have more time than usual to listen.

"Be still and know that I am God." (somewhere in the Psalms)

Portion

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25,26


Praising Him for these things. . .

• roses blooming lavishly outside my door
• tickle time and group hugs
• watching Atlantis speed across the sky
  
• hearing my daughter pray for the astronauts
• quiet whispers from my Beloved throughout the day
• unexpected laughter
• hot dogs and baby carrots
• encouraging news from good friends
• the excitement of anticipation
• freedom from fear

Free

My mom called with an update on Ana Maria, the 11-year-old Colombian Cinderella.

There's good news. Ana Maria was able to escape from her cruel step-mother and neglectful father and ran away to one of her schoolteachers. The teacher, fearing kidnapping charges, would not let her stay. However, she took Ana Maria to the Colombian child services agency where she has been placed in temporary foster care and her situation is being reviewed.

Thank you all for praying for this little girl. God is watching over her. My mom asked for continued prayer that the judge would rule to keep Ana Maria away from her abusive family and placed in a loving home.

"I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth."
Psalm 57:2,3,11

After the Rain

Stepping out with my camera after the rain. . .

Sometimes words aren't necessary.

Multitude Monday

God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame
- Elizabeth Barret Browning






Seeing the beauty of God in these gifts:

• solitary walks in tree-lined neighborhoods
• sandhill cranes stepping with quiet dignity
• box turtle meandering across my path
• clean laundry piled high
• refrigerator stocked with fresh vegetables and fruit
• the scent of my girl's freshly washed hair
• snuggles, snuggles and more snuggles
• smile from a friendly stranger
• new rosebud peeking open
• comfortable silence

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits -- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:2-5

Ask

I've begun writing down desires.

For me, letting myself want something has been a stretch. My habit of years was simply to accept my lot in life and not dream for more.
But our lavish God was not content to let me live in my gray world.

Many times in the gospels, people came to Jesus for help and He would first ask them, "What do you want?" Being God, He already knew. Yet He wanted to hear them say it.

As He began to ask me, "What do you want?" I found it hard to respond. There is something about answering His question that makes you own what your heart truly longs for in vulnerable honesty.

But when I allowed myself to desire and to tell the Lord these secret hopes, He began to give me what I asked. Even more than what I asked. And each time He does that, I am undone. I don't know what to do with this grace. He cares about my heart, and I am trusting deeper.

"The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.
Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you." Psalm 116:5-7

Perfect gifts

"Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing."
James 1:17

Thanking the Father for these perfect gifts:

• waking up to the sound of birds singing their hearts out in praise
  
• sharing laughter with good friends
• double chocolate chip peanut butter cookies
• kindred spirits
• receiving an answer to a prayer I had forgotten I prayed
• a kindhearted librarian
  
• encouraging words from "sisters" I've never met
• watching Three Stooges with my boy who is home sick from school
  
• raisinberry lipstick (yeah, God gives lipstick too)
• a quirky sense of humor that kicks in at odd moments -- but just in time

May our Father surprise you today with some of His perfect gifts.

Meditations

This was a quiet day, a day of rest in many ways.

Sharing a few treasures God brought to my attention...

Because of the LORD's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.
It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Lam. 3:22-26

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:3,4


"When God delays in fulfilling our little thoughts, it is to have Himself room to work out His great ones." - I. Lilias Trotter