Mortar

 

Psalm 107:8-9

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

One thing this week... has kept me. As the busy moments, hours and days swept by. Lunches made, schedules organized, appointments made,  and off to work hoping I grabed two black shoes that match. Running home to prepare dinner for the hungry crew and finally ahhhhhhh my jammies.
As it is for mom's across the globe. One thing cements, reinforces, solidfys, stabilizes, strengthens and unifies my week.
It is my Mortar and it is His WORD!!!

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Phillipians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Continuing on with my adventure, I set out to look for Him in the unexpected this week.

I sang out in worship
as the elderly man next to me stood silent. As we went to our last song The familar melody rang out. "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me... "

From the first note he sang out loud and confident on every word. I occupied my space quietly.  Smiled and took in the strength and conviction in his voice.

Were not I surveying for the quaint, I would have missed such. Thank You!

#130-135
I am thankful that out of His good pleasure alone, God chose to save a vile wretch like me.

For the salvation of my family.

For God's vocabulary spoken throughout history and His Glory that is embeded in every created thing.

Sundays..."For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son" and "Amazing Grace how sweet the sound"

Warm embraces

Hope

Giving Up Chocolate?

Funny Friday


I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless woman who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner.


I took out my wallet, got out ten dollars and asked, 'If I give you this money, will you buy chocolate with it instead of dinner?'


'No, I had to stop eating chocolate years ago', the homeless woman told me.


'Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food?' I asked.


'No, I don't waste time shopping,' the homeless woman said. 'I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive.'


'Will you spend this on a beauty salon instead of food?' I asked.


'Are you NUTS!' replied the homeless woman. I haven't had my hair done in 20 years!'


'Well, I said, 'I'm not going to give you the money.. Instead, I'm going to take you out for dinner with my husband and me tonight.'


The homeless Woman was shocked. 'Won't your husband be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty, and I probably smell pretty disgusting.'


I said, 'That's okay. It's important for him to see what a woman looks like after she has given up shopping, hair appointments, and chocolate.'

1,000 WORD THURSDAY

Think on such things

Wednesday's Word



A light from within

Tuesday's Quotes

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

♥

In the unexpected

    "Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old. "- Franz Kafka
 

There is a moment. A moment after the final lilting note. A pause as the note fades and lingers into almost silence, then applause. It's in THAT moment, in the quiet, that I find so much delicacy so much potency and blessing.

 I love beauty. Yes the typical things of beauty but more so the unexpected ones.

"You cannot perceive beauty but with a serene mind."

-Henry David Thoreau




Perseverance

 

Unexpected beauty lies in plain sight to a watchful eyes. For those with eyes to see, traces of God can be found in the most unexpected places. He is the Tour guide for those willing to look beyond the obvious, pointing out glimpses of the eternal, where few might think to look.

I want to continue this journey onto thankful worship.

Careful not to become mundane.

To be purposeful and look for what take me by surprise, find me unaware, or startles my space. 

I have to suspend myself into a certain state of willingness, of trust. Somewhat like hanging a part of my mind in a hammock with sunbleached canvas ropes.

As baffling as it is when we come face to face with it, TRUE GRATITUDE, we see the world

differently.

We always will. It opens our eyes with a clarity that without we see through a glass darkly.

Courtesy of Getty Images

walking a narrow, bumpy uphill road together



Loyal and unwavering


This weeks unexpected beauty, in the rush of a busy day, trying to charge through a crowd of people I paused. Frustrated I could not get by... my eyes opened. A grandma walking slowly away from me, hand in hand with her precious grandson. He toppled every other step. She walked patiently. A sigh! Thank You!


#124 Diffuse light coming in from a shuttered window.

#125 Aroma of zested lemon.

#126 Taking in the words my children have penned.

#127 The proud, strong and lone tree in a field of grass.

#128 First sting of hot water from a shower after a long day.

#129 The crisp outline of a full white moon against a black sky.


A HEART IN LOVE

Today's echo, last weeks pain.

Our hearts say goodbye... over time.

"Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll--are they not in your record?"

Psalm 56:8

My heart is still in mourning and heavy as I attempt to reckon my friend Karen...her passing...into Jesus' arms. As I sat in her service this week, surrounded by hundreds of people (her precious children front and center) with like understanding I was struck by the chord of unity in that understanding. Sorrowful but not without hope.
Even in our deepest sorrow, God cares! Jesus reminds us of how much God understands us--He knows even the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30).
Often we waver between faith and fear. God knows every problem and sees every tear.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of compassions and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When God comforts us, should our troubles dissolve like snowflakes on warm ground? If this were so, wouldn't we turn to Him only out of a desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for Him?

His comfort...
receiving strength to walk through...
encouragement to endure...
and hope to strive and withstand.

The 'WHAT' we endure will help us comfort others who are suffering similarly.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

 

This week as I join Ann Voskamp and many other women counting our thanksgivings as an act of worship, I again have but one.

 

#123

A heart that beats IN LOVE with my Heavenly Father.

 

Light from the heart Nebula

 

Tschüss und Bis Bald

 


I write pensive.
Reflective, Aware, Torn, Melancholy, weeping deep inside where no one can see but my Maker.
My troubled soul twists so that it threatens to suffocate.


No pretty packaged answers. My understanding is caught up with thoughts of a  fleeting life that we clutch like a vise.


I know, I've learned, I've studied and read. His intimacy is familiar. I recognize His whisper...we are in relationship.
He sustains me and I trust........
Some things only Eternity will reveal.


I hang my head, the grief threatens my next breath. The thought of her leaving this world leaves me mournful, crestfallen and joyful all in this moment. A dear friend says... "This is the sadness we feel for those she leaves behind and the joy we know she is experiencing!! It's compassion"


I want to tear this cloak of despair... I see her children. Children saying goodbye to their mom all too soon.


In reality she is being promoted. Odd to say, and strange to write, apart from a Creator.
She walked into His arms. Cured, whole, pain free and reunited with her earthly love who only a year ago left. Oh what a reunion that is. I know her, she will dance.


Why clutch onto today?
Our tomorrows are with Him.



Some things uttered in her last breaths shared by her best friend..

"YOU are the joy set before Him"

Psalm 73:26 - My health may fail, and my spirit  may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.

"God the Father gave me the breath of life, Jesus my savior takes my breath away."

Isaiah 55:8,9 (HCSB) *For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

"I love Your ways."


"Our lives, our existence is because of Him and an offering to Him"

You friend will be greatly missed. We grieve, not without hope. Rebecca's first loss...She will hold your daughter and we will stand at attention to fill any and every void that we are able. You most certainly are filling your unquenchable thirst for travel now. Not bound by an earthly body.


As I move forward in making my life as much about worship as I possibly can and counting 1,000 gifts...today I give one.

 #122

Elani and Karen our ♥

Tschüss und Bis Bald Karen