Seeing God in everything

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

—Ecclesiastes 3:11—

I read this devo from a WOF email by Sheila Walsh. It was just so good I wanted to read over and over.

"Nineteenth-century theologian Charles Finney said, “A state of mind that sees God in everything is evidence of growth in grace and a thankful heart.” When I came across that statement, I wrote it in my notebook, and it became a daily challenge for me. Like me, do you also acknowledge that God is in everything but struggle to see God’s hand in everything that is happening right now, in your daily life?

This is exactly why I have become devoted to express worship weekly by keeping a list of gratitudes. Through that discipline I've truly learned to see God in even the smallest of things like a dewy leaf in a parking lot.

What are you dealing with right now that you don’t remember signing up for? I think of those waiting for medical test results—for themselves or a loved one, maybe even a child—that may well determine the path their lives will follow. I think of a female soldier during the war in Iraq who wrote to say that listening to Women of Faith audiotapes was sometimes the only thing that kept her sane when she saw friends die.

This year has been somewhat of a harsh reality for our family. Filled with healths ups and downs...admittedly more downs.


Harsh realities that intrude into our lives can make it hard to recognize the fact that our God is always present. But some of the greatest surprises to me on this spiritual journey are those moments when it becomes clear that God has been faithfully cultivating my heart—those times when things don’t go as planned but I do see God is in control.


These moments don't have to be extreme, life-and-death situations. Often it’s in the little things that we see God's work. That is grace, and it is a gift."

~Sheila Walsh~

40 sextillion stars

Wednesday's Word

Milky over Ontario by Kerry-Ann Lecky Hepburn

Milky-Way Nasa.gov

Isaiah 40:26

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.

Our solar system has approximately 40,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars. In other words 40 sextillion stars. H O L Y!!!
Not only did He create them...each one, but He knows them each by name!
If that doesn't put things in perspective then nothing will.
He knows our names, our needs, our desires, our struggles, our fears, our longings, our humor and funny bone, our dreams and aspirations, our motivations, our goals, our physiology and so on and so forth.

I don't know about anyone else but i will say this, I am stilled, paused, in awe and in Love with God Almighty the Creator of a vast universe who flung the stars into the heavenlies and knows me, my inward parts and my name.
Praise be to Him...I love you Dad!

His feathers

Wednesday's Word

Eyes heavy and sleepy from a restless night of tossing and turning.
Worries for this and worries for that. Shuffling through the dark I reached for my phone to see new text messages and twitter posts.
Through the tired slits I read verses, encouragement and exhortation.

 
@robinannl The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still. Exodus 14:14

@ robinannl Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today."

@ robinannl praying for you today beautiful friend


God gives us friends and those friends become sisters... Thank you Tracy


"God, you're my refuge."

Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon.


"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me.


Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"

How do we love in the difficult places

Wednesday's Word
♥
With Valentines day behind  I find myself still beset with thoughts of
 

  Love... Twu Wuv

As I wrote abstractly to what true love birthed in maturity looks like here...

 "A gritty and grainy kind of love" 

...This is more of a "HOW TO"  through the grit and grain that rubs our relationship raw like sandpaper on weathered lumber. (which if you think on it is a good thing as the wood becomes fresh and like new)

When our flesh is weary, our patience spent, and our creativity exhausted. When illness draws out, when the "grass seems greener", when temptation threatens to take over. When we allow disregard, routine or boredom open us to flattery outside our marriage. When diapers pile and bathtubs are grey and work calls out. When angry words that grip our memory cause our flesh to recoil at his touch and our heart to chill. When the paycheck doesn't meet the bills and when in laws get in the way. When we can't agree on how to parent and discipline...

These "whens" pile up like unfolded laundry.

Often it's not even in storms but a calm harbor and sunny skies where we find ourselves distracted and vulnerable. In fact I believe with all my heart that it's in the daily life of the mundane and oftentimes seemingly unrewarding tasks, that tempt us to lose perspective of who we now are in Christ as a woman and as a couple.

How do we love in the difficult places?

For me,  it all comes under the heading of this one simple phrase:

Crucify"Self"
Galations 2:20

In other words...deny myself.

It's a simple awareness and admission of my "self" tendencies. Carry this discernment into a life like a finely etched mirror. For each of us the list will vary but overall we are fairly similar. If we glance now and again into this mirror of discernment we can see where we might need some momentum.

These that fall under the Heading of Cruicfy, for me!

• Patient tounge
• Responding with I'm sorry first
• Saying thank you
• Flirt with him when all I want to do is slop in sweats and unshaven legs
• Following his leadership when every cell in my body screams to BE IN CHARGE
• Not inviting or entertaining flattery from any other man than my husband. This grows ego...ego chokes out areas where God does His deepest work. Denying ungodly and worldly desires!
• Forgiving even when not asked for or deserved
• Putting his needs first when all I prefer in the moment is me Me ME!
• Paying attention to my motives and not manipulating for my own personal gain.
• Humility (I struggle with this one) I am a pround independant woman. I'm constantly asking the Lord to crucify this area.
• Making love with Him even though I risk falling asleep, because He needs me.
• Building him up even when I may be thinking...you have got to be kidding me.
• Being his help mate, not bully factor . Words come quick and sharp. I can cut him to shreds before he blinks. (I also loathe this seed in me and thankfully with age this has mellowed.)
• Spontaneity
• Grace
• Grace
• Grace!!!

These are but a few of my "how toos" I embrace...(work at). I surely haven't arrived.
 Anticipating a mature gritty and eternal love with my best friend and husband!

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

~photo via pintrest~

Day is Dimming

Wednesday's Word

 

 

 

 

 

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”

Psalm 8:3-4

 

 

"The more the years swell by and pass."

I was just having that very conversation with a friend today over tea. How important it is to capture every moment with our loved ones as we are but a blink in time.

Ultimately however, our place is not here. We are but temporary passengers bound on a train for Glory.

My friend Laurie sent the above video sometime back and I listen...over and over.

"Where you are...I wanna be, It's Your love that has changed me.

I'd give the world and all it's charms

For a moment in Your arms

Better is one day with You than a thousand elsewhere."

~ Brooke Fraser~

 

Gifts from an Orchard

Wednesday's Word

   

Galatians 5:22-23

But what happens when we live God's way?
He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.
We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

^{Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.}

You is kind. You is smart. You is important

Wednesday's Word

• "You are forgiven"
• "I love you"
• "I DO!"
• "It's a girl"
• "It's a boy"
• "I'm sorry you lost your baby"

The above words are just some of the most potent words that have reverberated in my lifetime.

- I did not grow in a family of generous words.

- I walked into adulthood with a bankrupt Word Bank.
- The realization of the power of words tilts my universe a little. Just one can topple a grown man.
- Of recent, a few more words were caught in my net 

'You is smart. You is kind. You is important.'

The above scene clip is one of the most powerful moments for me in the movie "THE HELP"
WHY?

The power of words.

I've not read the book 'THE HELP' (based on the novel by author Kathryn Stockett) but did watch the movie over the Christmas break. The story, as most know, is set in Jackson Mississippi during the 1960s segregation era.
The story focuses on three distinct women – two Black, one white – and their intertwining lives around the ideas of race, class, gender and power.

A simple, poor and trodden down woman, giving the best gift she has...her kind life giving words.

(That's what stuck to me like a post-it!)

Continuously propelling us through life. The life they can birth in a beautiful ripple effect AND the life they can extinguish in a single syllable.

"Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me." 

I remember saying those words when young to try and convince myself of its truth in the face of painful words thrown my way.
Unfortunately, it is far from true. They not only wound but without due diligence and prayer, can play over and over in the battlefield of our mind, sucking the joy right out of our very existence... like He never intended.

We can't always count on our loved ones or others to speak life into our day to day. So then what?

When we are dry and thirsty where do we go?

God’s desire is this – that we may come to Him and drink as the fountain of living waters!

 Go to the source of life! Go to Him and drink. Allow Him to fill you to overflowing. When we drink of Him,  – there are rivers of water flowing in us and spilling out on those around

I can remember vividly the last kind words spoken to me...can't you?

• The words of the reckless pierce like swords,  but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

• With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

One of my favorite characters in the story Celia Foote.

To be a little more Celia and a little less Hilly Holbrook!

Now that we are full let us spill out words of life onto others and fill their word bank!

Welcome to Holland @aaronshust

Wednesday's Word

– raising a child with a disability –

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip – to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum, the Michelangelo David, the gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives.
You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."




"Holland?!" you say. "What do you mean, Holland?" I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy.

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to some horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.


So you must go out and buy a new guidebook. And you must learn a whole new language.

And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.






It's just a different place. It's slower paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around, and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills, Holland has tulips, Holland even has Rembrandts.



But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

The pain of that will never, ever, go away, because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss.

But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.

Written by Emily Perl Kingsley

Kiss from Heaven

A tweet from a friend:
PRAYING!! RT @aaronshust: Michael Aaron, Our Special Angel. tinyurl.com/MichaelAaronSh… ...and the story we find ourselves in.

Led me to Aaron Shust tweet:

aaronshustAaron Shust

Michael Aaron, Our Special Angel. http://tinyurl.com/MichaelAaronShust...and the story we find ourselves in.

 

Which led me to his blog and his story. I cried...then I prayed.

I've never had a special needs child, but from the heart of a mother my soul is pricked.

I saw the above poem 'Welcome to Holland' as a response to his story.

I requested he allow me to share his story, his words for all were "If it gives God the glory, please do"

All I can say is

He GIVES BEAUTY FOR ASHES AND STRENGTH FOR FEAR





 Pop over to Shustlog and read his story.

It happens in a B L I N K

Wednesday's Word

"Teach me to number my days".

That's one of my favorite lines from Revives single, Blink. So poignant and so true these words!

I was driving home today from running a few errands, the sun was out and there was a crisp winters chill in the air. Summer is by far my favorite season, however not much beats a clear, cold, crisp and sunny winters day.

Blink is one of my favorite songs right now but not until today did the words paint on a fresh canvas for me.

With the loss of three dear people I loved this last year (gone in a blink), children that have grown up way too fast (try to hold on tight), new fine lines mapping my face (happened in a flash) and a high school graduation just beyond the bend (it happened in the time it took to look back)

I continue to find myself quite reminiscent.

What am I going to do with the time I've been given?

Oh Lord help me to slow. Help me to not let one drop of this life not breathe and pulse to give you Glory!

 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Hospitality, a matter of the heart not the architecture.

Wednesday's Word

I 've read a lot of awesome posts this year. Really I have. Many times I've found myself gasping and looking around the room for someone to read the words aloud to.

I found myself doing that this very morning, glad my Becca was handy so the words could be freed from the screen to the surrounding. It was perfect and my favorite thus far this year. Even she said, "Mom those are good words for you."
Thank you Lisa-Jo

It touched a nerve!

An ongoing goal for me: To be as comfortable sharing my home as I am myself.

Three years ago when we opened our home to care for our in-laws I experienced immediate anxiety regarding ENTERTAINING.

You see my mother in law has always played that role.

She had the fine china, REAL silverware that lived in a velvet lined box. Fantastic food from scratch and made with love. Her home was clean and finely decorated. Her table long and elegant seating for many much like an episode of The Walton's.

We live in a mobile home, small and... I'm not fancy. As I've said before I liken myself to a Proverbs 32 1/2 kind of woman. 




I do love to decorate but outside of that I have an eclectic set of dishes and glasses because I can't make up my mind what I like. I buy them individually at Ross or Goodwill. I love fancy coctail glasses and we enjoy having milk out of martini glasses.
It depends on my mood for the day.

My silverware go from picnics to the table. My dishes are chipped and cooking is always an adventure. If something doesn't seem to be working right this southern girl just adds butter because butter can fix anything.

Just ask Paula Deen.



Anyhoo moving my in laws in to provide care meant that I (the unlikeliest of hostesses) would become the hostess to the entire family that lives all over the country and descends in droves on holidays...hungry and expectant.

Arrrghh

Here I sit three years later, even as I type, this little mobile home is full. Twenty people come to pay respects to their fathers first Christmas in Heaven and fellowship.
Oh I create some things, my son has become an amazing chef and saves the day as others donate their favorite yummies. It's a group effort.
We have found a rhythm for the most part and when I need a moment to breathe and be still I find my way to my bathroom and just sit on my toilet to hear the rolling of dice in the "near" adjoining room.

So as I said up there at the top =) Read it, read her blog and I'm sure if this too rings true to you, you will be blessed.
Click the link to travel to her blog as her photos add so much, or be content in this space below.

Your House is Only as Big as Your Hospitality

Thanks Lisa-Jo
"I am a reluctant renter.

The size of your house, my friends, is entirely in your own hands."

Behind the scenes

Wednesday's Word

 

Im a sucker for a good quote. 

Below is just one of thousands that I bump into, then can't wait to paint a canvas with.

I oft think on the masterful flesh and bones behind the exciting equation of words. Comedians, political figures, actors, writers, bloggers..

The Bible, Movies, books, ...

                                                     

Today my eyes fell on this ...

The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.

Steven Furtick

Immediately an Amen spilled from my lips.


Is this not so incredibly true?!?
I recently read somewhere online that upwards of  95% of people in this country suffer from a strong sense of insecurity.



Hello world, it's me Robin...is this true?






Anxiety, despair, doubts, lack of trust seemingly leaves no one immune, even amongst us Christians.

The Bible is chalked full of awesome people who dealt with this. First to come to mind is poor Elijah. In spite of his triumph over the prophets of Baal, Elijah fell into deep despair.



Hmmm. Where does this leave us, especially as Christians? One could most certainly write a thesis on this. I don't fancy myself much of  a writer and can barely spell the word but I will say this...

OPEN HIS WORD! GO TO HIM! CAST YOUR CARES TO HIM!

There is no man or woman alive that can fill your cup like He, the Lover of your very soul. He yearns for YOU! He formed you and knitted you so perfectly. Just how it gave Him pleasure.

~picture via pintrest~

OPEN HIS WORD! GO TO HIM! CAST YOUR CARES TO HIM!

   

The Scriptures, especially the Psalms are resplendent with words of courage, strength, resiliency, faith and the means to prevail over our fears, our feelings of inadequacy.

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” 

David's words whilst being relentlessly pursued by Saul.

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation”

The key to triumph over  fears and insecurities?

 Fervent trust in God.

Let's quit grabbing hold of our "behind the scenes" while holding it high next to others "highlight reel" and push to FERVENTLY trust in our Big God who doesn't' make mistakes!

Do I hear an Amen in the house =)

Christian Culture snob

Wednesday's Word

I came across this quote in my Internet perusings, "Christian Culture Snob"

"A Christian culture snob is a Christian that makes fun of people and things that are deemed Christian.”

As I read the article I understood this blogger attempting to make restitution for mocking Christianity and it's culture. And believe me I see this type of predjudice on a daily basis as do you, I'm sure.

But that's not what I want to write about... (though I could write a book). I want to talk here about the COUNTER kind of snobbery. Christian arrogance and entitlement.

You know, the kind... "I am on the church board, have been a part of the congregation for 20+ years, I have built this church, I have played at this piano for a generation" and so on and so forth, kind of Christian vanity.

Yes I said it, We Christians can be right down stuck up in routines and traditions. So caught up we lose sight of our First Love! We lose sight of our dirt while pointing to the next pew over.

"Oh, how horrible our sins look when they are committed by someone else"

Chuck Smith

I can take this tone because I myself have been guilty. The moment God revealed this root of pretentiousness in my heart was the moment I made a promise to myself.

That promise was to never forget whence I came.

I pray the Lord summons my memory as oft as He see fit to keep fresh the recollection of the muck and mire He pulled me from.
To not forget the importance of regularly acknowledging my roots as a Christian. To flee from judgement and his brother  pride.

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love,And don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.

I pray Lord you will keep fresh bare in my minds eye that Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future!
Your mercies are new EVERY morning.

The Power of our Faith

Wednesday's Word

Just prior to these words David was feeling
Alone, Forgotten, Ignored and Weak. Almost defeated. Constantly hassled by his enemies.

He was crying out:

LORD DID YOU FORGET ME? HOW LONG MUST I STRUGGLE?

I love how vulnerable and transparent he is before his Daddy.

Even those not new to their faith in the One True God

experience attacks from all sides, and it seems that trouble and her sister distress are around every corner.

In verse 4, David is dreading how his enemies will gloat and rejoice over his defeat.

I too struggle with this at times and find myself crying out to Him to make it all RIGHT!

To turn on a radio, tv or sit to the internet, is to be overtaken with fear and trepidation in all that swirls about, not only in our country but our world.

 In verse 5 David's tone changes. He looks above his fears and throws himself into the arms of the Lord.

We must do the same. When we sink low into the despair and hopelessness of what seems certain defeat, we must look up to the Lord and say:

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to YOU Lord because YOU are good to me.

That's the power of our faith. That's a test of our faith. That's what can happen when we draw near to God. If we bring it all to Him and leave it there, through His grace and mercy He will enable us to sing again. He will rescue us.

My prayer this week as I struggle with finding emotional strength for my family and my ailing father in law is simply this:

• Help me to trust
• Help my heart to rejoice
• Help keep the song alive in my heart

The Shelter of the Most High

Wednesday's Word

To be nowhere but under the Shadow of the Almighty!

A Secret Place in God provides:

A shadow that covers us, Psalm 91:1

A refuge that provides security, Psalm 91:2
A rescue from being trapped, Psalm 91:3
An impenetrable shield, Psalm 91:4

A Secret Place in God means…

We are not to fear nightmares, Psalm 91:5a
We are not to fear serious accidents, Psalm 91:5b
We are not to fear mysterious disease, Psalm 91:6a
We are not to fear visible disaster, Psalm 91:6b
We are not to fear what happens to others, Psalm 91:7
We are not to fear what happens to the wicked, Psalm 91:8

A Secret Place in God is a place…

Where we are with the Most High God, Psalm 91:9
Where we are free from damage, Psalm 91:10
Where we are guarded by angels, Psalm 91:11
Where we are carried by angels, Psalm 91:12
Where we are able to stop anything harmful, Psalm 91:13
Where we love God, and God delivers us, Psalm 91:14
Where we call God and God answers us, Psalm 91:15
Where we see God’s salvation and experience real life, Psalm 91:16

Wednesday's Word

2 Corinthians 3:18 (The Message)

Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

Refreshment

Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)

I will refresh the weary and satisy the faint.

Heavy laden

Matthew 11:28-29

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."