Thankful Thursday - prayer

Sometimes it's just nice to know that I can share my joys and burdens with the Creator.  And sometimes, there is amazing comfort and peace in knowing that I am being brought before the Father by fellow believers. 

I am thankful that among the countless wonders of this world, I have a pathway to approach my Mighty God.  It's truly awesome and humbling.  Also, comforting and heartwarming...

Peace and love to you today.

Lessons from the garden... tomatoes

We started a winter garden last year.  Well, okay, Shawn started the garden, but I did take some pics!  heehee.  It gave us some fantastic veggies... snow peas, lettuce, purple beans, carrots, silver beet, beetroot, to name a few (the ones I remember).  Then Shawn replanted for summer and we had some delicious tomatoes and capsicum (aka green peppers).

At first we were very good at keeping it watered and weeded.  I visited it every morning to give it a pep-talk and watch the baby lizards scurry away at my foot steps.  But after a while other things got in the way.
(and that's a totally different point...)

If you were to look at our garden this week, you'd actually ask... "What garden?!?"  It's quite overrun and jungle-like.  It doesn't resemble much of what it was created for.  There's grass and weeds overtaking the area.

 But here's the beautiful thing... I went out the other day and discovered some tomatoes growing.  Even amidst the neglect and garden sadness, there was something able to grow and fulfill it's purpose.  Some plants produced a bowlful of fruit.  :-)  Plump and round and red. 

I like that.  It gives me hope.
Sometimes life gets messy, or isn't orderly the way we'd anticipated.  But, in the middle of that, something can still grow and thrive.

Thanks, tomatoes.

Wordless Wednesday

Uncontainable Joy...

So, what about.... mercy, new birth (good to think about in a new year), times of suffering mean being refined, God's love, salvation...  those are all things to ponder in this section.  Without a doubt.  and there's so much more as well... layers and layers...  (at least to me, but truly, i'm no Biblical scholar)

Here's what struck me...  a sandwiching of praise, rejoicing, and joy.  These verses begin with "praise", you find "rejoice" in the middle, and at the ending there's "joy". 

And all I could think was, "Where's mine?" 
What happened to my desire to praise?  Why am I not rejoicing more?  And joy? I don't feel full of joy, let alone the "enexpressible and glorious joy".   Why not??

Now, those might seem odd to focus on.  We all know that life does not bring constant joy.  Heck, life's not even fair, so how could i think there should be joy?  But I have been there, I have felt that way.  So, what's happened with me?

When I looked closer, I found that I'm missing something... I haven't been making the choice... here's what i'd been forgetting... praise for God's great mercy... rejoice in an inheritance that never fades... filled with an inexperssible and glorious joy because I love him and receive the goal of my faith... 

I didn't misplace my joy... I simply lost focus. 
If I focus on God's mercy, my inheritance, and love... I know I will find joy beyond measure. 

Where's mine?  
... i guess it's always been here, I've just been looking in the wrong direction.
That's what I found in 1 Peter 1:3-9...  what about you?
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Is it cloudy in here?

Do you ever have a moment where you feel like you can see again?  but maybe you didn't even know things were cloudy?  And in that moment you think, "oh yeah, I knew that"... so it's kinda like an epiphany, but not new...

Yesterday I had one... during our team worship, we were looking at 1 Peter 1:3-9.  (Thanks, Corey) It's neat to me that although we all read/heard the same section, there were several different views.  And not oddly, what struck me was different than what others brought up.

That is, until Shawn mentioned the idea... in contrast to how i was viewing it.  (and again, that's not odd.  I like that we have different views)

So, how 'bout you...  what strikes you in those verses?  I'd love to hear.
(and I'll share in my thoughts in my next post, but I don't want to make this one too long)

Thankful Thursday

It often amazes me how people can say or do something very meaningful to me when they think what they've done is ordinary.  You know, one of those moments when someone unexpectedly lifts you up when you're down, or gives you encouragement when you're feeling unsure.  I believe that God's hand is guiding, or perhaps prompting that moment.  But no matter how it happens, it makes me quite thankful for those moments and those friends.

Although we no longer live close to many of friends and family, I still get those unexpected, just-at-the-right-time encouragments.  But instead of a smile, a hug, or a kind word, they come in the form of a facebook post, an email, or a bit of mail. 

God has been good to me, by the friends and family I'm blessed with and their kind and caring hearts.  Thank you, God.  And, thank you, dear, sweet friends... each and every one of you. 

Overflowing....

The past year has been a time of waiting. But more importantly, it has been a time of growing. God in his infinite wisdom placed us in a loving community of fellow believers who would encourage, listen, teach and direct us in reflecting Jesus and his love in our lives. The year we spent among the Skyline family has helped me to grow in so many ways. And for that I am thankful. Deeply thankful.

Some special friends, Jeff and Ashley, who were a great help and comfort to me.

Some of the folks at our send-off party. Thanks for your support!

Love, kind words, and hugs after the elders' prayer for us on our last Sunday.

Gathering outside the host home just after putting suitcases in the car.

(i didn't have to carry one outside! wow!)

Getting in some last minute love and hugs from our loving Skyline family.

Our cups were filled and overflowing.



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God has blessed us with amazing support and love. I am humbled by his provisions. God is good.

a moment

this morning i woke up a little sad and discouraged. I knew it was going to be a rough day ahead. So, during a little chat w/ God, i told him that i was gunna need some love today. As i prayed, my thought was a little child sitting w/ me during our preschool chapel.

well, i continued to get ready for my day without much thought of my silly request. Before i even reached the door to leave, i had a little blessing.

as we were getting the twos ready for chapel (it's very low-key), we had several children come in. I ended up w/ two boys who needed some snuggles. And by the time i started to sit down (on the floor), there was a sweet little girl wanting my lap.

I knew i needed one snuggle to get through the day... God sent me three.
Thanks, God.

may you see God in your lives today.