Unfailing

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "Do not fear; I will help you."
Isaiah 41:13

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
Psalm 13:5,6


Seeing His unfailing love in these gifts

175. blowing bubbles with my kids
176. gifts of chocolate in various delectable forms
177. words of truth and life sinking down deep, taking root
178. birthday wishes from friends and family around the world
179. dinner and a movie
180. watching my son interact with Jesus
181. listening to the radio with my girl
182. peace and wisdom for big decisions
183. music in my heart
184. knowing my Father is taking my hand and helping me

Quiet

 

This week has been a whirl of activity and emotions.

Changes are happening.  I think they are good.  God is answering some long-prayed-for requests.  In particular, my kids' father has agreed to move to Florida.  It's been a tough 2 years for them, living so far away from their dad.  All the logical and valid reasons in the world don't make up for the reality that they have spent day after day without a father around.  

I'm glad he's moving here.  I'm deeply grateful to God for answering this prayer.  And I'm quite honestly struggling with this coming change.  It will be wonderful for my kids; it will be hard for me. 

The other night I pounded out my mixed emotions on the piano.  Afterwards, when my kids were tucked in bed, I sat down with God and we talked.  Mostly I talked, and He listened.  Then taking my hand in His, He reminded me that He can be trusted with all this.  That it's okay that I don't know what to do or how to feel. He asked me to trust Him with today and leave tomorrow to Him.

I sighed and leaned in close to Him.  My heart grew still and quiet, trusting.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 62:5

Grace in the ordinary

Jesus is in the common, ordinary, everyday. . .

He graces simple earth with His presence.

Seeing Him in these gifts

165.  answers to silly prayers

166.  getting stuck in traffic, giving me time to listen

167.  solitude

168.  words of encouragement 

169.  helpful strangers

170.  even more helpful friends

171.  glimpsing His smile throughout my day

172.  beauty in unexpected places

173.  hearing my kids say, "I love you, Mom"

174.  tiny green life peeking up in my garden

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

Psalm 68:19

Love Poem

 

Alone and frozen,

Heart broken and afraid

Soul dying

Eyes shuttered

hiding in pain and shame

Arms wrapped around myself

protecting the little girl inside

from the harsh, cruel world.

Unseen

Unknown

Unwanted

Untouched

Light and warmth,

Fragrance of rain,

Tender voice

speaking my name,

Scarred hand reaching out

taking mine.

Seen

Known

Wanted

Held

Flowers and sunshine

Little girl dancing

Heart trusting, unafraid

Soul alive

Eyes laughing with delight

Joy filling all of me

Arms holding You tight.

This is what Your love has done for me.

(Photo courtesy of www.forestwander.com)

Living

"I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all, I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a great thing."

- Agatha Christie

Enjoying His Life in these gifts

155.  Cuddling on the couch with my kids and a good story

156.  Laughter shared with old friends

157.  Homemade tacos and ice tea

158.  The beauty of a soul transparent

159.  Being weird and crazy just for fun

160.  The comfortable silence of companionship

161.  Orange juice and chicken soup

162.  Flowers on the kitchen table

163.  Catching glimpses of Him in the people around me

164.  Joy that comes in the morning.

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.  Psalm 16:11

Living loved,

(photo courtesy of www.forestwander.com)

His

Being His,

Promises

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 10:23

Remembering His promises

145. He is always with me.

146. He gives wisdom freely when I ask.

147. He takes great delight in me.

148. He loves me with an everlasting love.

149. He will never abandon or forsake me.

150. He will give me chocolate when I need some. (Okay, so maybe it doesn't exactly say that.  But it says He will supply all my needs!  I'm sure that includes chocolate too!)

151.  He gives beauty for ashes.

152.  He watches over me.

153.  He carries me.

154.  He teaches me and directs me in the way I should go.

In hope,