Restore

He leads me beside quiet waters.  He restores my soul.
Psalm 23:2, 3


Some days are crazy, hectic, full of activity and pouring out.  It's easy to get overwhelmed with the list of things to do, and every thing seems urgent.  Before long, I am running on empty, stressed out, spent.


God intervenes in His quiet way, drawing my attention to Him with a random word, a glimpse of beauty or through the restless longing of my heart desperate for peace.


There, in the deep places of my spirit, our eyes meet and I know.  


I know that I am loved.  
I know that I can trust Him.
I know that He is taking care of me.
I know that He is for me.
My heart relaxes and begins to rest in His.

 
He restores my soul.




In peace,

Awesome giveaway

To celebrate her one year blog anniversary, my friend, Karen, over at Green Onions, is giving away a beautiful apron by Scarlet Threads, an organization "that works to transform the lives of Asian women through dignified and safe employment opportunities."  

You have until midnight, April 25th to enter.  So hurry on over to Green Onions and enter the contest.  Check out Scarlet Threads while you're at it.    

Faithful

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them -- the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

Psalm 146:5,6

Seeing His faithfulness in these gifts

225.  The hill behind my house turning from drab brown to vivid green

226.  A hidden bird singing her heart out this morning

227.  Studying His word with good friends

228.  Knowing that He is here with me in the messiness of my life

229.  A new rosebud blooming on my favorite bush

230.  Listening to my daughter share her heart

231.  Hearing my son share his dreams

232.  Receiving His provision for a secret need

233.  The quiet confidence of resting in His love

234.  Being encouraged and inspired by a friend

photo courtesy of www.forestwander.com

Counting. . .

Considering His gifts. . .

215.  A peaceful day of soul renewing

216.  Hugs and bedtime snuggles with my kids

217.  Flowers on my kitchen table

218.  Turning a problem over to Him and seeing Him work it out

219.  Shared laughter

220.  Sunday lunch with a friend

221.  Grace when I didn't expect it

222.  Scent of springtime and orange blossoms

223.  Dreams unfolding quietly

224.  Finding my lost pair of sunglasses =)

Let all that I am praise the LORD; 

with my whole heart I will praise his holy name.

Let all that I am praise the LORD; 

may I never forget the good things he has done for me.

Psalm 103:1,2






photo courtesy of www.forestwander.com

Easter morning

O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants, you have ordained praise.
Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
For with you is the fountain of life; and in your light, we see light.

Spring

It's spring!

The roses and azaleas are blooming. 

Tiny lizards have come out of hiding to play tag on my front patio.

Green is showing up everywhere.  

I love it!

Thanking God for these gifts. . .

205.  Waking up to the sound of rain

206.  Planting a garden with my girl

207.  Spoken words that make me think

208.  Coming home from the library with lots of books

209.  Warm cinnamon rolls for breakfast

210.  His whispered reminders that I can trust Him

211.  Listening to my boy tell stories of his weekend adventures

212.  Spring break and slow unhurried mornings

213.  His peace

214.  Knowing He is my dearest friend

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!  I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Psalm 73:28

Atmosphere

This morning, my pastor used a phrase that captured my attention.
He said we live in "an atmosphere of grace."  

Atmosphere of Grace

This is more than just a cool phrase.

What does this mean?

What does it look like?

How does it feel?

Quite honestly, I'm still trying to understand this concept.  

But I know it's true.  This is something God has been impressing on me for a while. 

This is reality:  I live in grace.

After spending years in performance-based religion, an atmosphere of grace sounds so inviting.  Like you can lean back, relax, let go of fear and just be yourself.  

It's safe.  No one is going to get mad at you and reject you for failing.  Your immaturities and imperfections are noticed, but not magnified.  You are loved through them. You are seen wearing His righteousness.

You are trusted.  You are believed in.  Your life matters.  

"In Him we live and move and have our being."  Acts 17:28

Living in an atmosphere of grace is really just living in Jesus, because He is grace.  

But the "living in" part is what I'm slowly discovering.  Not mere words or abstract ideas, but what it truly means in the daily reality of my life.  I want to understand what it looks like, how it works.  I want to see and touch it, to experience this fully.

If you have experienced this, then I invite you to share your stories of what living in an atmosphere of grace looks like to you and how it's affecting your life.