Tag: hope

Do You Know Him?

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He’s so dreamy.  I mean that if I close my eyes it’s like I can imagine soft blue eyes looking lovingly at me, telling me He knows me just as I am, He loves me just as I am, and He will always be the love of my life.

He’s so tall as well.  He towers over me and it is good as He protects me, carries me when I collapse, lifts me up when I am weak, and draws me up close to His warm embrace.  Somehow I feel taller and stand straighter when He is near.

He’s so strong.  It’s as if I can feel the strength of His arms, His words, His promises to me and all good things whether or not He is actually present.   Makes me stronger too.  I can face this or that, good or bad, when His strength goes before me.   Always.

He’s so smart.  He knows what I am thinking even before I say it or I might raise an eyebrow or lower a tear!  Wow.  That goes beyond intuition, friendship, or our times together getting to know one another.     He crafts many special times for me that may look questionable at the time, yet if I but trust Him, it all works out o.k. over time.   It’s like He’s always known me and knows what is best for me.

He’s so encouraging.  He brings me to the window to see the bluebirds back at the bluebird house this Spring before the little cutie flies away and would otherwise be missed.  What a wonderful encouragement on a day that starts in the afternoon!  Oh and His words are filled with hope and promise of a better day in addition to the reminders of our sweet times together in the past too.  Thank you for helping me to remember.

He’s so thoughtful.  He reminds me of the blessings of many days gone by when my stinking thinking has gone to a place of darkness.  He also places in my path the loving arms of my hubby when my Stevers would normally be at work already and not able to calm the shaking of my tender frame.  He allows him to become like Him with skin on.

He does want the best for me.  Like a perfect father, like a perfect grandparent, like a best friend, he will be with me now and forever, leading me on to be the best woman I can be if I but follow Him.  He’ll let me know what I need to know if I but wait at His feet with an open heart, an open mind.  What an adventure we have together!

Yes, this person is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He is real.  He is in my heart now and forevermore.

Do you know Him too?

The Old Makes Way for the New

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Phillipians 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

A broken vessel could be a metaphor for my life these 1 1/2 years.  Then again, I could just start from today, praise the Lord for His enduring Spirit, mercy and grace, then move on!  Since today is a new day, I’ll choose the latter.

Besides, if you look closer, you’ll see the buds on the branches of the lilac bush emerging from the broken vase below.  Can you see them?  They are the signs of new life that can come with each new day.  Noting that I cut these branches to increase the flower production on the plant adds additional meaning:  sometimes our lives must be pruned to free us for the blessings to come either in this life or the next.

For those in Christ Jesus, we know that he will work all things together for good (Romans 8:28).  We can trust him in the times of new growth, the times of pruning, the times of brokenness and the times of loss all the same.  Wow.  So glad I learned this when my life totally changed 10 years ago. Well I mean that it took 10 years to understand the transforming power of the gospel, working in the lives of His friends, His children, His people.  The Lord’s love and care is working in me too.

My hubby says that I should use a plastic vase instead of a glass one outside.  Yeah, he’s right.  Glad this episode of brokenness  is an easy one to fix!  I’ll let go of the vase, fill another with the waters of life and embrace the newness that is growing all around me.  (Reference:  see the second picture please!)

Hmmmmmm, I think there’s something growing inside me too.  Little by little, the illness I have is transforming as well.  Praise the Lord!  :J

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‘Twas the Night Before Moving

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Sung in my heart this night to the tune of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Don Williams

‘Twas the night before moving

And all through the hotel room,

Not a creature was stirring

The dog smelling rank, for lack of da groom.

The clothing all packed

By the door with other stuff,

In hopes that the cleaning

At home would soon be enough!

The couple will nestle at last

All safe in their own bed

While visions of dollar signs

Will forever dance in their heads.

And the contractor is gone

Who took care of the rug

He can finally settle down

For a long Spring evening’s, er, nap.

When out in the lawn

Tomorrow shall bring such a clatter

As Julie drags in boxes-n-bags

To create an end to the matter.

Away to the window

No longer cracked to air out the mold

We’ll put back together the place

Steve and Julie once again will call home.

The moon on the breast
Of the new fallen snow
Gave the lustre
Of midday
To object below.

(Just love the imagery of the original poem as the snow melts one last time this season.)

When what to my wandering eyes

Should unexpectedly appear

A check from USAA

To cover some of the new gear!

Away to the window

I’ll fly like a flash,

To see my Spring bulbs a popping

Alas not the hotel staff, smoking their midday stash.

With a little tear of happy

So lively and quick

I’ll know in a moment

No longer in my home will I be quite as sick.

More rapid than eagles

My heart begins to swell for my Lord

As I whistle and shout,

“Praise be to the Lord!”

Now Dashing Stevers,

Dancing Christine

Prancing Sonny,

On Comet Dale J.,

Cupid Stevers (again of course)

On Donder Stay Inn staff

An blitzen bloggies out there:

To the top
Of the porch
To the top
Of the wall
Now dash-away
Dash-away
Dash-away all.

****

Let us spring a new song
To His sleigh, to His throne,
Give worry a whistle to go away
The Lord’s sleighdom flies for you & me alone.

“But wait,” I hear Him exclaim
As He lifts me to my next place,
“Happy Wednesday to all
And to all a goodnight.”

Do we love the Lord a little?

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Little-Girl-Dreaming-of-the-World--56003This article is from Dave McCarrell and the February 13th issue of PGM News, a non-copyrighted newsletter of Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, Illinois

“Little by little, some Christians are growing a “Little” careless.  On Sunday mornings they sleep a Little late, and come to church a Little tardy.  Some doze a Little, listen a Little to the sermon and give a Little in the offering.  After dismissal, they argue a Little, gossip a Little, and go home and forget what Little they heard, and act a Little as if they care Little for the greatest, grandest, holiest, and most precious privilege on the earth — that of worshiping and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

I may have exaggerated a Little, but very Little, and in some things I may have omitted a Little, “O ye of Little faith” (Matt. 6:30, 8:26, and 16:8).  ” . . . thou has been faithful in a very Little . . .” (Luke 19:17).  “Yet a Little while and that shall come, will come and will not tarry” (Heb. 10:37).

Little-by-Little, we can improve a Little by putting forth a Little effort in seeking to overcome a Little evil.  Little evils do not remain Little.  So a Little thought given to Little things may produce a Little improvement in a Little time.”

After reading the above by an unnamed author, I was challenged by the thougt of the many Little things I let distract me from the important things God has for me.  I am sure all of you, if honest would say the same thing.  Then I was challenged by the ultimate question that our Lord asked Peter, and the question we as believers all must respond to:  “Peter do you love me more than these things?”  (See John 21)15-17)

Instead of these things, in our case, I believe God is asking us:  “Do you love Me more than the Little things you have brought into your life?  Examples could be sports, TV, movies, material possessions, homes, cars, questionable friends, etc.  What a great opportunity to examin what Little things are keeping us from experiencing God’s best for us.

“JUST JULIE’S” ADDENDUM:  Thank you Lord for this reminder that You are not only Lord over all things big and little, You care about all of the things in our lives, big and little.  I can trust You with every detail of my life.  Yup, every one.  I lay my cares at the foot of Your throne of grace for your tender care.  You know what they are and in that fact, I rest this day.  Love,  Julie

A Pause in the Middle of the Storm

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Best ceremony photo

I am grateful to report that I received my Advanced Master Gardener designation from the Cooperative Extension Office of Purdue University, Fort Wayne yesterday. God is good.

To become a Master Gardener in a University-affiliated program in the United States, a person takes a three-month course, six hours per week, successfully completes all class assignments and projects, takes a comprehensive exam, and completes 48 hours of related volunteer work.  Each additional rank of recognition, requires additonal volunteer hours and educational classes.  For me, the volunteer work and training was accomplished while undergoing treatment and complications of Lyme Disease!  How does that work?  By the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ alone!

Sometimes I would stop at the Extension Office to water the Vegetable Garden in the cold or extreme heat because it needed me to do so as one of the members of the Vegetable Garden team.  Sometimes I went to an educational class a “shred-over-nauseous” in the evening just to get out of the house and be around people.  And the Lord allowed me to sit at my computer last Winter and research a beautification project for my housing association . . . to help me get out of bed!  I remain grateful for this opportunity to accomplish something meaningful to me and even more grateful for the love and support of my husband, Steve.

Steve encouraged me to cut back on my work schedule and take the Master Gardener class before illness first struck in October of 2011.  After that it was the friendship of our special project group within the class that kept me going as viral hepatitis set in:  Jim Battin, James Poiry, Sue Hauck, Cindy Trygg, and Beth Fiato.  Sue Hauck is in the picture above, to my left (I’m the gal in black) and Cindy Trygg is in the audience:  two sweet gardeners extraordinaire that took an interest in me and kept the friendly connections going after the class ended.  When I began treatment for Lyme Disease in January of 2012, Fran and Karen Yorio and Bill Diedrich joined what was to become the Willow Run Community Association Beautification Project and kept it all going with great support and feedback when the going got tough for me.  Later in the year, Cindy, Jim Neuhouser and Jo Ellen Smith allowed me to work at my own pace and sometimes alone late in the day to hang in there this past summer with the Veggie Garden team.   These crazy hours of volunteering and ongoing training, with the support of kindred spirited Master Gardeners and Interns, helped me earn this designation.  Thank you!  You da best!  I could not, would not have been able to do anything without your friendship.

Last night was a pause, a moment to reflect, despite the ongoing chaos that is in our home right now.  We ate banquet food and listened to a presentation on prairie management from Blue Heron Ministries, Inc.  Just that we were out for a special night then returned to the hotel room to crash while our home begins the mold restoration process.  Throughout this past 1 1/2 year, I am grateful to know that gardening, one of my favorite passions (with Steve being number one, of course!) will be there when the dust settles (and goes away!) in our home.  Maybe this Spring I’ll plant a commemorative specimen to represent this amazing journey of discovery, of healing.

Hmmmmm . . . Any ideas what that should be?  :J