In the Morning Mercies

The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes were the colors streaking over the trees. The painted sky shows through the branches. Just last week the amber leaves fell, opening the confines of our yard and stretching out the view into the surrounding mountains.

I shifted toward the french doors to soak in the beauty of a new day. Mindful not to wake my husband I took in the moment of quiet thoughts letting them settle into my soul. This life, this simple life that I lead is just a series of little lives stacked up day on day on day. Some accomplishments are in the series, some are in the moments.

A sunrise is a moment. It's so easy to think that there will always be another sunrise but none will ever be the same. Even in the few short moments it took for me to grab my camera, the sun had shifted through different clouds changing the lights, the colors and brush strokes in the masterpiece.

As a writer, I find myself trying to formulate my moments into thoughts. I wait for those who will be awake with me to see the wonder of a new day. It's a challenge but some times the moment is my own. It is meant to be captured in my own heart, in my own mind as God whispers into my soul. He says, "Today is a new day all its own. Drink it up. Be refreshed, cleansed and renewed in my love".

Then He spoke this, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22,23 ESV)

We don't have to go looking for His mercies. He brings compassion every day. He is faithful to carry us through every difficult, painful as well as unspeakable circumstance we will ever face. His love never ceases to bring grace into our lives.

My prayer is that I'll remember to quietly wake to see it and thank Him daily.

Always,

Hope

In The Garden of Grace

Garden Lettuce

I just came in from working in my little garden.

I pulled weeds, picked tomatoes, left a zucchini to grow a little more and I pondered.

I pondered a lot. 

These are my lessons from my garden today.

Very early on I should have spent more time in my young garden. As the new sprouts emerged, a daily visit or two to my raised beds would have allowed me to know my plants. To know where they were growing, their unique characteristics, if they needed more water or how healthy they were or if bugs were causing destruction. I could discover disease or decide if deer netting was needed. Paying attention to them as if in a relationship, I would know when things change, when growth is taking place and when I need to intervene. 

Recognizing weeds would be so much easier.

Weeds needs to be pulled often. The more we neglect them the more insidious they become. They wrap themselves around other plants, choking them of life and robbing them of producing good food. Instead of putting off a little bit every day or so, waiting had consequences. It isn't impossible, it just ends up feeling like it is. It becomes easy to give up when you can't tell the difference between a plant and a weed. 

When I rip the weeds from the ground I have to use a balanced hand that is both gentle yet firm. If I pull too hard I pull out the sweet food I'm growing or worse destroy an entire plant. The weeds I have are like little vines that make their way up the stock. It seems impossible to differentiate between the plant and the weed. If I'm not firm enough the root stays in, growing back with a vengeance.

This was such a beautiful picture of why I am passionate about community. When we sit face to face with one another we begin to see those things that need attention. We notice our own weeds and growth and fruit and pests and the places that need protection. We can gently speak to each other through relationship because we know where to apply the water of the Word. We understand that some days we need to gently pull with a steady firmness so the weeds growing in the hearts of those we love can be unearthed for removal. Just like I would never leave the weeds to take over my garden, it would be unloving for me to leave a friend in the place where things have entered their heart that are squeezing the life from their lives.

This week I found this lovely quote and it resonated with me.

"Grace: having a relationship with someone's heart, not their behavior." -Bianca Olthoff

It struck a nerve because I have been saved by grace. The gentle hands of love in my life are those that have helped me recognize those things that the Word of God have seeded in my heart. Those hurts that have become grudges, those offenses that have trapped me into places I have not been called to be.

It has been the gentle but firm hand of grace and truth that has led me safely to a place of growth. A fruitful garden, planted by my Creator that can grow because of the water, because it gets weeded through the reading of His Word and the relationships of other Saints who shine a light in the those places.

Another thing my garden thrives on is the light of the sun. The garden of my heart thrives in the beauty of His Son. When I spend time communing with Him, in relationship with Him because I'm drawn by His grace and love and mercy. That's when I really grow, even when no one is watching.


Always,



Hope

Thankfulness Journal - Day 14 - A Daily Savior

As a follower of Christ I firmly believe He came to give me salvation. I have no doubt about my eternal security and I am so very grateful.

Jesus said "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Mark 10:10

That is what I am thankful for today. The full life He gives me daily. The intimacy in His Word that carries me when I doubt my worth. The joy in abiding in His love is made even richer when I remember what He has freed me from. The personal prison I once lived in is torn down and I am released to live a full life. He created me for a relationship with Him and when I seek that fully, I am content and my life is truly abundant. He saves me every day.

Always,


Hope

Thankfulness Journal - Day 4 - Boring Stuff and In Betweens

Sitting on the couch last night, I leaned over and squeezed my beloved's hand. As he glanced my way I told him, "I like the in betweens." He smiled back "The in betweens?" he asked. "Yes, the times when we aren't doing anything but being with each other. The times where we aren't busy or doing something exciting...the in betweens."

It is so easy to get caught up in the doing of life that we forget the being. Our calendars are filled with events, meetings, school plays, sports, weddings, birthday parties and church. So often we wait until we are too tired to do anything else before taking the time to let God speak to our soul. Life gets so loud that we no longer hear the heart whispers of our Creator or those we love. We cram our lives so full that there is very little time for the "in betweens".

In the Disney movie UP! Mr. Fredrickson and Russell are in the rain forest after riding in a house lifted by thousands of colorful balloons. Listing the simple things the young boy had done with his father before he left, Russell says:

"That might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff

is the stuff I remember the most."

Me too Russell, me too.

Always,

Hope

What Will Rest Look Like?

There are times when I feel so very tired. This week was one of those. I wasn't physically tired until my emotional weariness started settling in to my soul. It made me restless and I fought sleep. I was mentally exhausted, spiritually drained even. I was not completely spent like I have found myself in the past but I could feel myself heading that way. Digging deep and reaching out, I am finding strength.
Today I found a jewel at SheLove Magazine by Helen Burns. You can read it here. Such wisdom for all of us about taking on too much. I love this (okay, I loved it all but this stuck out): 
"Be a branch. Jesus is the Vine and I am simply a branch. Apart from Him, I can produce nothing. It serves the purpose of my life well to disconnect from everything else but never from Him who is my life. This demands being intentional about rest, recovery, restoration, replenishment, refueling which, in turn, will produce a personal revival."
Our home is located in a valley with beautiful vineyards in all directions. I don't have to look far to find vines loaded with beautiful grapes. As you walk up and down the rows there are two things thing that are true about each vine:
The grapes only grow off of the branches that are attached.
The branches aren't working at making fruit. The fruit is a natural outcome of abiding on the vine.
Those of us who consider ourselves part of the church must remember that we are called to rest in Him. If who have answered the call to follow Christ, you must be careful to abide. The fruit will come naturally. It is not our job to produce the fruit. Even in ministry, we need to be reminded to draw in before giving out.
Helen issued this invitation: "I want to invite you, also, to be intentional about finding rest and peace for your soul–to embrace Sabbath rest into your life."

Psalms 62:1 I wait quietly before God,

    for my victory comes from him.

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,

    my fortress where I will never be shaken.

There is a challenge to take a 24 hour sabbatical from the internet to seek rest in Him. The assignment is to write and share about it after. I decided that this would be my before picture and when I am done, you can be sure I will share my after.
Read more about this challenge at SheLoves Magazine. I hope you'll join me!
Always,


Hope