Hiking In Grace & Capturing My View

Courage

02.25.11

How often do we take risks and not consider the risk until we are already committed?

I wanted a shot of the birds.

Zooming in from way back there did not quite get what I was looking for.

I slowly took a few steps.

Surely it is wide enough, at least 3 to 4 feet.

I edged out a little closer, taking slow steps,

not wanting to scare the birds off,

not wanting to trip either.

Once I got a shot I thought I would like,

I realized the risk of where I was.

All of a sudden, the thought of tripping, or loosing my balance,

or having my foot slip on the loose pebbles,

stopped me in my tracks.

I look back now, and I see I took a risk.

Just to let you know that I am not as brave as it may look…

I did not walk back…

I crawled back.

On hands and knees,

so that I would be more stable.

Because deep down inside…

I. was. petrified.

: :

Why do I forget that I can choose courage?

God has equipped me to be courageous, why do I forget that?

Courage takes effort on our part.

It is not automatic, it is not our default.

If it were, then why does God urge in His Word to

“BE OF GOOD COURAGE”?

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

~Psalm 31:24

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

~Joshua 1:9

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

~Deut. 31:6

Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work…

~1 Chronicles 28:20

Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.

~Ezra 10:4

A few definitions:

COURAGE, n. [L., the heart.] Bravery; intrepidity; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. It is a constituent part of fortitude; but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering.

COURAGEOUS, a. Brave; bold; daring; intrepid; hardy to encounter difficulties and dangers; adventurous; enterprising.

Is there anything that God is calling you to?

That just may take a bit of courage?

Gratitude: Magnifing Him With Thanksgiving

02.23.11

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. ~Psalm 69:30

Thank you, God, for:

474. bird nests in trees without leaves
475. old stone houses
476. cream of crab soup from O’Brien’s
477. a quiet stroll around the Annapolis City Dock
478. vertical lines

479. the old church at the top of Main Street

480. our star spangled banner

481. prayer letter received
482. hawk riding the wind
483. the moonlight coming through the window
484. strawberry smoothies
485. sunlight
486. Daddy’s sense of humor
487. Brown outs (power outages) that cause children to recite poetry…
   ~ “Hiawatha’s Childhood” by Longfellow
   ~ “My Heart’s in the Highlands” by Robert Burns
   ~ “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae
488. she’s thankful for a “silly” mom
489. long distance phone calls that warm the heart, encourage, and bring hearts closer together
490. two daughters sharing smiles over breakfast bowls,
   blinking at each other trying to incite the other to laugh
491. a visit from Victoria, long ago she taught me to sew
492. and Crystal, who is clear
493. time spent laughing and drinking java
494. “hostile-er”
495. for a heart that honors God by choosing to live in the wisdom that is from above,
   “without partiality and without hypocrisy” James 3:17,
   not willing to take part in a double-standard,
   making the hard choice to step back from a twenty-five year ministry,
   to stand before God unashamed,
   for she has rightly divided the word of Truth
   and is standing on it firmly, even though it is difficult …
   Father, abundantly bless her for it. Amen.
496. a quiet early morning wander

497. the crunch of snow underfoot
498. corn field stubble covered in snow

499. rows of unchosen Christmas trees laden with snow

500. pine branch hands with palms offering white

501. an abandoned bird’s nest piled high with a mound of fresh snow

502. “Don’t I look pretty?”
503. “Yes, you DO.”
504. conversation between to sisters even though the littlest who asked has
hair unbrushed, and wrinkled clothes…
the oldest knows it is the inside that makes the outside pretty
505. their love for each other

Gratitude: Little Miss Independent

02.14.11

451. Miss Independent standing on a stool singing Jesus Loves Me, while I fry chicken for dinner

452. She has taken to playing the bagpipes…

Now pay attention… look closely and then use your imagination as you read the next few gifts…

453. She looses her balance and grabs the freezer door to steady herself
454. The freezer door swings open with Miss Independent still hanging on, an impromptu “ride”
455. The look of surprise (or is it shock?) on her face as she swings- wide-eyed…
not sure if it is fun or scary.

456. Morning sunrise reflecting off the church…

moments later the sun had risen up into low hovering clouds and it was in shadow again

457. Tropical Dog ponders the cold weather she so dislikes.

458. Ecclesiastes 4:11 “…if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?”

459. a Sweet Pea Tea fellowship

460. Miss Independent doesn’t want help

461. the look of concentration

462. the look of satisfaction, mission accomplished

463. the strand of gold falling across her face

464. older daughter’s job well done

465. time spent drinking sweet tea with neighbors
466. children asking to “do art”, begging to paint
467. children infected with the “sillies”
468. the sound of their uncontrollable laughter
469. the smiles stretched wide across their faces
470. popcorn
471. children making Valentines for each other
472. older siblings spelling long words for younger ones
473. My Valentine… so thankful that God’s will is… us… together… until death do us part

Won’t you join us over at Ann’s?

Gratitude: The List Continues

02.08.11

Thank you for reading…

As I continue to count the gifts handed down by my Heavenly Father…

433. Sweet Beth’s email from the other side of the earth, filled with such encouragement and blessing
434. Carmel seeking me out to sit beside me for a scratch on the head
435. a familiar face in an unexpected place
436. Jesus *hugs* through the arms of a sister in Christ
437. the look of deep concentration as he traces his six year old hand
438. a day of fog so thick and heavy
   it obscures the trees
   standing silent watch
   along the edge of the yard.
439. ice-glass encasing dogwood tree
440. sweet time of fellowship entwined with scripture and sisters
441. a gift delivered, arriving safely, unbroken, having now traveled 3/4 of the way around our spinning ball of dirt to its latest resting place
442. that it has plans to be filled with true English tea as His Light is studied, shared, and devoured
443. being asked to take part and give thanks
444. sweet notes of encouragement from Canadian sisters
445. God’s abstract art, oil slick in puddle, so beautifully swirled
446. the message that reminds me every day…

447. for mailing overseas and gifting a few closer by

448. my bookplate now has a home

449. a gift to myself, cause I need to be reminded: it is “by grace alone”

450. a quiet place

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp is a gift of grace, a great “trail guide” for hiking to joy, through giving thanks and gratitude. (I only recommend that which I have read.) I am on my second read through and know already that I will read it many more times in the future, because I tend to forget and I need to be reminded. Need your own copy?

Won’t you begin your own list and join us in the gratitude community hosted by Ann Voskamp?

I am a DaySpring Affiliate and an Independent Consultant for Blessings Unlimited.

imperfect prose: The Value of Me

02.02.11

hot tear streams flowing upon waking,
flowing before the eyes ever open to the morning light
overwhelmed by the long list that tries to convince me I have no value
strong arms that embrace, wrapping love warm
his quiet whispers, reminding that my Savior values… me
whispering of the cross
where He laid down on wood
and let them carve my name in his hands

stepping in the door for morning worship
in a sea of faces, one steps forward
one who knows from whence I came
one who loves and offers support, unconditional
another set of arms sent from God to wrap me in love
and help me know He cares, He loves, He values… me
hot tear streams now flowing in thanks

listening to message preached from a heart so full of love
for his Savior
for those who’ve come to hear, with open hearts
for a wife, battle-scarred and weary
preaching encouragement to look unto Him
the Author of ME,
He who shapes, forms, loves and gives life abundant,
He who values… me
to run with patience
lest I become so weary I faint in my mind,
for that is the battle ground
that is where I need strength to not give up
hot tear streams continuing to flow in gratitude
for His unfailing love
for those willing to be His arms
for those willing to whisper reminders of His love
whispering reminders of how much He values… Me
again
   and again
   and again
   and…

“Jesus laid down on wood and let them carve your name in his hands.”
~Ann Voskamp

Linked up over at Emily’s today.Please take a moment to click over and read some more “imperfect prose.”