Seeking God

Time with God . . . time to walk and talk with Him. Time to let Him minister and speak to us, to remind us of how very much He loves us! Time to LISTEN!!

I go for "power walks" every day that I'm not working my 12 hour shifts and am able to walk in an area near my house where it's out in nature, not interrupted by traffic and such. I see deer, elk, foxes, coyotes, ducks, geese, signs that a bear has just been by, porcupine . . . and skunks!

But it is my favorite time for prayer, time to focus on talking, walking, crying . . . or listening with my Lord!

This is from Chuck Swindoll's "Insight for Living" from earlier this week.

"Start Seeking God"

by Charles R. Swindoll

Lamentations 3:25

"Lord, I'm back and I diligently seek you." How many times have we said this? This time stop talking and sit silently. Wait patiently, seek diligently, sit silently. That means you need to pour out your heart and then deliberately be quiet. Spend a full day in quietness.

Meditation is a lost art in this modern, hurry-up world. I suggest you revive it. Not by endlessly repeating some mantra to get into some other frame of mind. Not that. Simply and silently wait before your faithful God. Read a passage of Scripture, perhaps a psalm, and let it speak. Say nothing. Just sit silently. Let Him talk. Let Him reassure you that you are fully and completely foriven and that your shame is gone. Feel His arms around you. Understand the cleansing that He's bringing. Feel again the freshness and relief of His presence.

God will give you a fresh start if you'll stop figiting. It works. I know. I've been there. Just submit to Him and accept His grace.

God will keep His promise to forgive and welcome you home.

His mercies are new ever morning.

(end excerpt)

BLESSINGS!!

We were blessed with one daughter, Robin and one son, Jeremy. Robin is now all grown up with her own family, is a 2nd grade teacher at a charter school in Phoenix, Arizona. She is also my best friend and pal. We have been able to enjoy a wonderful friendship!!! I thank the Lord daily for this blessing, for the friendship He has given Robin and me and the kindred spirit in the things we enjoy and do together.

As we are separated by about 400 miles we don't spend a lot of time together, but our communication is almost daily!!! And our hearts are bound by the ties of love that is part of a mother/daughter relationship, a deep friendship and our mutual desire to honor and serve the Lord!!!

Girlfriends . . and Broken Dishes

Further reading in "QUILTS FROM HEAVEN" this past week brought to me some information on the "Sunbonnet Sue" quilt pattern. Basically it was born out of the ladies quilting circles in the times where that was just about the only time a women had opportunity to talk with other ladies . . to share, to cry, to build peer relationships. It was about "girlfriends" and friendships. These REAL, TRUSTING relationships are kind of rare and so priceless. . . a true treasure.

Another pattern is that of "Broken Dishes" and the lesson here is how to make something beautiful out of broken pieces . . shattered dreams . . things in life we didn't want . . or plan.
Some of us have had to pick up the pieces from things that seem shattered beyond hope or repair. It is only by the incredible grace of God and His love . . .love we can never begin to describe, fathom or understand . . that we can draw on His strength, power and healing. If we can let His hand guide our hands and His heart beat through ours as we pick up the "broken dishes" we will see what beauty His Healing can create!!!

PSALM 93

Daily, moment by moment . . . each time I see the glorious sunrise and spectacular sunset . . . I know that I am NOT alone and that I DO have the hope of eternity and God's promises. What freedom!!!

"The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. They throne is established from of old; thou art from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their pounding waves.
More than the sounds of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea. The Lord on high is mighty.
Thy testimonies are fully confirmed; holiness befits Thy house O Lord, forevermore." Psalm 93

Thoughts on QUILTS

I was recently given the gift of the book "Quilts from Heaven" by Lucinda Secrest McDowell. It is a wonderful book on the "parables from the patchwork of life". This is an excerpt.

" Pieces of My Quilt"

If quilts could talk

I'd like to think I'd hear just what they'd say,

"I'll hold you close within my folds and wipe

your tears away. I'll keep you warm and give you strength to face another day,"

If quilts could talk . . .

If quilts would sing

I'd like to think I'd recognize each tune,

The lullaby or funeral dirge or wedding march in June.

Both sweet and haunting melodies I'd listen to them croon.

If quilts could sing . . .

If quilts could write

I'd like to think I'd read the words they'd pen

Of life and love and motherhood, of mystery without end.

And, oh, the drama they could share of everywhere they'd been.

If quilts could write . . .

If quilts could pray

I'd like to think I'd feel each heartfelt prayer

of thankfulness or grea concern for those within their care;

petitions to a loving God - the One who's always there.

If quilts could pray . . .

The quilt of my own life

Finds voice to talk, sing, write, and pray

As it weaves a hundred stories in its own eclectic way.

And with each stitch of grace and hope my legacy is built;

All fragments finally made a whole . . .

the pieces of my quilt."

The quilts in the picture are those that I now have, all gifts after our house fire in July 1994. Two of them came from the womens auxiliary units of two different local volunteer fire departments.

The others are from different rural community farmwives groups. I knew many of the ladies who hands had a part in making them . . . and they were work-worn, loving hands. I love these quilts and the ladies who made them!!!!!

SPRING in Colorado!!

We have a lot of chubby robins hopping around our yard these days. These little visitors were all fluffed up and hunkered down this past Thursday morning after one of our spring snows. There were more in that group that didn't get their sweet little faces in the picture.

With the coming of spring in Colorado, there is always a lot of uncertainty in the weather. We can have sunshine, snow, rain, sleet, wind . . and more all just a few hours. And, then it can repeat it all over again more than once in the day.

But, spring brings incredible reminders of hope and new life. We see the green grass starting to break through the soil. There are flowers poking their heads up towards the sun and sometimes through the latest little snowfall.

Driving through the farm country provides endless scenes of new lambs and calves frolicking around in the fields. And we are reminded that life goes on and it is precious!!!

I'm thankful for the reminders of new life and hope . . . and I'm thankful for the new life and hope that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ! The Easter season and Resurrection week celebrations are amazing reminders of the fact that we serve a RISEN and LIVING CHRIST!!!
HALLELUJAH!!!!

NEW HOPE in a NEW YEAR

It would seem that when January of a new year rolls around we tend to say we're going to do certain things, make changes in our lives, etc. We have good intentions and sometimes can carry it off for a while. Depending on what the "thing" is determines how well and/or how long we can carry it off.
I don't really make "resolutions" but I try to look at the new year with renewed hope and anticipation of things to come, of the things that God is going to do in my life, in my family and in the world around me. In 2009 I started, and completed, a year-long plan for reading through the entire Bible . . . what a rewarding and enriching experience. I started the plan all over again because there is SO MUCH in the Bible that I will NEVER "get" it all and I hope to grow even more by reading through it again. I do the same with the "My Utmost for His Highest" devotional collection written by Oswald Chambers. I have read that each year through and through for many years. I have dog-eared the pages that really impacted me the first time through . . . they still impact me. I still gain insights through those devotional writings.
I look forward to continued work on all the creative projects that I enjoy. I look forward to more time in our mountains this summer; to the commitment that I have with my daughter, Robin, to the breast cancer awareness events that we do every year; to time with my husband, Bill, as we continue to work on our creative projects, do Farmers Market, raise a garden, hang out toether and generally annoy each other as we have lovingly done for 41 years; to time with our son Jeremy and watching him embrace life and people around him as only he can.
I will continue to walk my long power walks . . . I call them "wogs" because they sometimes including some jogging. I will continue to play the piano, to sing, to enjoy my canine companion and friend, Bramble and the comfort of the cozy little house that the Lord has graciously provided us with. I will continue to mow the lawn and let the fragrance of cut grass envelope me; to plant a garden and enjoy the scent of good, ole garden dirt and derive pleasure of having dirt under my fingernails and on my bare feet as I work in my garden and flower beds . . . and then sit on our deck in the evening and relish the clean air, the cool Colorado climate and the gorgeous view of "our" mountains!!!
I will continue to love my Farmgirl Connection farmgirl friends and cherish those friendships . . . and pray for them. I will continue to care for my sister . . . and pray that the Lord will continue to give us the hope that only He can give.
I will continue to find myself on my knees before my Creator, my Shepherd, my Healer, my Comforter, my Provider . . . my Saviour, Lord and King . . . thanking Him!!! Praising Him!!! Loving Him!!!