Hiking In Grace & Capturing My View

Gratitude: When God Is In Control

03.21.11

There is a peace that comes from trusting God and knowing He is in control.

#611. makes me think of how my Heavenly Father holds my hand. I know He will never let go of my hand. As I walk, He holds my hand fast so that He can hold me up if I lose my footing momentarily.

He keeps me from falling over the edge.

His holding of my hand helps me to have courage, helps me to be brave, helps me to trust Him more, which builds my faith.

There is a joy that comes from thanking God for all the gifts He gives…

586. Blog finally moved

587. John the Tentblogger

588. handmade birthday cards from the kids

589. birthday breakfast prepared by Mom…

590. it included delicious Krispy Kremes

591. Twelve year old offering to give four year old a bath, at 3 AM, while Daddy and Mommy cleaned up carpet, bed, and toys

592. she is so patient with her, even at 3 AM

593. warmth of sun

594. strolling through boutiques…

595. his hand in mine

596. the choir singing “Happy Birthday” in harmony, it was beautiful

597. handmade cards from Wednesday night kids class

598. Susie’s card… so perfect for me

599. “us”

600. sitting together on the same side of the table… out alone for lunch

601. J. Jill

602. softness of linen

603. warmer weather

604. 28 gates open, a spectacular sight

605. the quietness

606. their delight in a new playhouse

607. time out with Mom

608. blog friends willing to share my space and their writing talents

609. quotes from Pastor Ron Fenwick written in my Bible

610. little fingers and toes

611. she is brave

612. the cleft of the ROCK

613. they have fun together

614. being told to leave the house, so my laptop and I went to Starbucks for a coffee

615. a gloriously beautiful sunny day

616. cloudless blue sky

617. seeing the Holy Spirit at work, connecting it all together

Don’t you enjoy sitting in Sunday Morning church service and seeing God’s hand? When the Sunday School lesson and the music, planned out by other people, fall right inline with what the Pastor preaches about. Totally unrelated things come together with the same message. Knowing that the Holy Spirit is putting it all together, working through separate individuals for a common purpose. What comfort and peace that brings. What confidence it builds in your faith, so that you can confidently trust Him more and more. Knowing God is in control and He works things all together for His purposes.

618. Krispy Kremes piled high like a mountain, instead of a birthday cake

619. celebrating with old friends and family

620. a yellow mango, a gift from a sweet thoughtful heart

621. Four year old voice wondering out loud, talking to herself, brings a satisfied happy smile

622. Spring rain and the quiet rumble of distant thunder

Won’t you join up today and begin counting the gifts of God’s grace in your life? Click on over to Ann Voskamp’s A Holy Experience where the gratitude community links up each Monday.

Guest Post: Hyacynth from Undercover Mother

03.18.11

There are sheets of rain blanketing the windshield, as we’re speeding down a stretch of road I feel like I could drive with my eyes closed, blindfolded.

I know these curves, the bends, the bumps — they are etched into the memory of the hands holding the wheel and the foot pressing the gas pedal.

The rain pounds louder, harder, faster.

I check my speed and consider slowing down.

As I ease off the gas, decelerate, I find myself relieved by the choice as the car heaves through deeper-than-expected water.

I think, movie-stream in my mind — about all the things that could have happened before I settle on being grateful for what did and simultaneously didn’t happen.

****

We’ve been going through the Gospel of Luke as part of the reading for a class we’re taking at church.

Before we dove into the reading, I’d been feeling like I knew that book — the stories, the messages, the application — like I know the soft space in my bed my body falls into every night.

And I thought, since I’d just read Luke in December, perhaps, I could speed through its familiar streets, press the gas pedal and power through.

But someone in the group posed that we read Luke through the lens of community, with the focus on Jesus’ life in relation to community.

I pressed the brake in my reading, taking into account the new conditions of the road — the change of the situation.

And I find myself humbled and thankful at the decision to slow down because I’m seeing Jesus through new eyes while trying to understand his life in the context of community, which is {totally UN} coincidentally what’s been heavy on my heart.

I’m taking note of the numbers of people He poured His life into — His three closest friends, the 12 disciples, the 77 followers, His Heavenly Father– and how He interacted with each personally in such a personal, unique way.

As I ease off the gas, decelerate, I find myself relieved by the choice as the mind heaves through deeper-than-expected water. And I settle on being grateful for the slowing because of what I surely would have missed.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12

I’d like to thank Hyacynth for joining me in celebrating my new space by being a guest poster for today. Hyacynth writes at Undercover Mother. She is also Co-founder of Bigger Picture Blogs. Click on over to read more of my sweet friends beautiful words.

Guest Post: Dawn from Beyond Grace

03.17.11

Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. Job 37:14

How often do you simply stop and breathe His wonder into your soul?

The answers in my house would certainly vary… from hardly ever to at least eight times a day. You probably know without me even saying… that I would the be the eight. I can’t help myself. It begins in the darkest hour, as I head out for my walk. The stars are shining down, giving one last twinkle before the sun rises, and I cannot help but stop at the end of the road and just look up and marvel at their light. And if it is the right time of year, when I step out for that same walk, I am enveloped in Jesus air… the sweet heady scent of orange blossoms that I cannot describe as anything but His breath. My friend laughs as I drink it in and let it wrap around my senses. She knows how much it moves me. I couldn’t escape its fullness if I tried.

Not too many nights ago, I simply stood in trail of the setting sun. The light skipped across the gentle waves and made a path across the sea. The water swished around my ankles and there was nothing in my mind except awe and wonder. I stood there… and worshipped the the One who painted the sky, the One who taught the birds to fly, the One who showers my life with beauty.

But it is not just in nature that I find the wonder… it is in the long lashes that scoop out from his (no longer) little boy eyes. I find it in the sound of her laughter. I experience it when he leans down and kisses my lips. And I stop… and quickly catalog the fleeting moment, filing it away with millions of other lovely breaths.

I don’t know why He fills the earth with such glory. I can’t imagine how much more heaven will be if this is what He lays before us now. But I know to savor these brief treasures… to take the time to be still and thank Him for the beauty.

The others around me… they may scoff at my delight and they might sigh and speak under their breath that she can’t look at the sky once without exclaiming. But I cannot stop my eyes from connecting with my heart. I cannot let the lovely pass me by. And so I add to the list of who I am… beauty seeker, one who sets her eyes on gifts from above.

Maybe today, or tomorrow… or the week after next… stand still in His presence.

Marvel at something beautiful, even if it is only beautiful to you… and let it sink into your soul.

Dawn blogs at Beyond Grace. Please stop over and visit her blog!

Thank you to Dawn for being my first guest in my new space.

Welcome! Welcome! Come On In!!

03.15.11

So glad to have you in my new home!

In celebrating my blog’s 2nd Blogiversary and my 40th birthday I decided to treat myself to a new space. So I have left blogspot behind, bought my own URL, and moved up to a self-hosted wordpress blog.

Just like moving into a new house, it may take awhile to get things decorated and hung on the walls. I am enjoying setting things up and tweeking my new template. It is completely customizable and I am having fun with it. Just like when you own a house you can paint a room at whim… well, I get to do that here… If I feel like it. One never knows!

One reason I chose to move is to do a bit more photographically, like cool slideshows as seen in the new header.

You can follow on facebook or twitter located on the sliding drawer labeled “connect”.

I owe a huge debt to John the Tentblogger. Who held my hand through the process and helped me when it seemed I was in over my head. He is a BLOG GURU. Go subscribe to his site!!

I praise God that he had John step up and help me out.

Gratitude: Prayer

03.14.11

God never ceases to amaze me. Specifically, through answered prayer.*

I was having a discussion with some ladies recently. A woman who has been a Christian for a long time was asking questions about prayer. She asked about praying for specific things and followed it with how she always just prays for “God’s will to be done” and “giving thanks at meal times”.

She had never prayed for anything specific.

She deemed it to be materialistic. It could be … depending on your motive.

But my heart broke for her. It made me think of how much she is missing out on.

Of how she has missed out on having her faith strengthened. She has spent a lifetime missing out on knowing God had answered prayer in ways only He can. It builds our faith and confidence in God when we ask for specific things and then watch Him answer the seemingly impossible.

Ask. Seek. Knock. It is what Jesus tells us to do! Matthew 7:7-11

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

He wants to bless His children just as we want to bless our children. As a parent I want to provide for my children. But there is an extra special joy brought when we are able to bless them with something they desire and watch them delight in it. Our Heavenly Father is the same way. He cares about every detail of our lives. So why would we not pray in specific detail?

When God blesses and answers our prayers… we must be sure to praise God and delight in Him more than the gift he has bestowed.

We must not forget to be grateful and give thanks to the Provider.

571. blue heron flying
572. fingers laced together, as she and I wandered the mall waiting for new glasses to be made
573. she loves her new glasses … and so do I

574. cheshire-grin of the moon
575. over-heard from my sickbed: “this painting is for mommy to help her feel better”
576. she likes George Winston’s Linus and Lucy
577. her gift list has this: “abstract painting brother”
578. his gift list says, “haircuts”
579. gift listing children
580. day-light savings time has begun
581. another relationship, thought to be beyond repair, reconciled and regained*
582. My God is an Awesome God
583. children sharing secrets between themselves…
584. my 40th is approaching quickly… it is Wednesday…
585. I have now known my best friend, love of my life, handsome hubby, father of our four beautiful children, photographic adventurer, hiking companion, my encourager, my rescuer… for half of my life