JoyJoyJoy

Here we are again, just jumping in a different place.

I guess I am a "lamenter", thanks be to God for that. It is the lamenting that has brought me closer to Him. I have the joy always, no matter what the circumstances, but today a bonus of being in my "happy place". Flowers, orangescicle sunsets, breezes through pines, that's all it takes.

"Lament is not a path to worship, but the path of worship. "
Michael Card

There is a time to weep
Ecclesiastes 3:4

Revealing Healing

How do we heal? Uncovering the source of our hurts and confusion is the first step.

I want God to reveal the purpose.
I want to know what the next step is, and the one after that.
And then I want a full explanation of why it all had to be and what is supposed to come of it!
No, it won't be that way. But I trust Him. I will just continue to follow, blindly, knowing He is in control.
All will be revealed in His time, not mine.

God, I say this earnestly wanting to follow blindly, but do I? God, help me with my unbelief. Help me to truly trust you, not to worry about tomorrow.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet you

heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:26-34

Gifts of the day

New mercies every morning, thank God for that.

We are under His protection, I thanked Him for that.

I thanked Him for our brokenness.

I thanked Him for reminding me that there are watchful, innocent eyes on me.

I praised Him for his majesty.


God please drive out the enemy here and protect us all. Make this place our sanctuary. Thank you for another day.

The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,
and your strength will equal your days. "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
who rides on the heavens to help you
and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemy before you,
saying, 'Destroy him!'

Deuteronomy 33:25-27

Simply messy

A simple Christmas. The tree, stockings, and a few lights outside - that's it. Advent scripture together at night. Teaching my daughter about the baby Jesus. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at church. There are still boxes to be unpacked, rooms to be finished, pictures to be hung. But we don't care. We are home. Our house is a mess, our life is a mess. It doesn't matter. God sent Jesus to take care of all that messiness, I'll leave it up to Him.
What a gift, I am amazed.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:17-20

Where to go now

Sometimes we get stripped of so many things that we think are important that we have nowhere to turn it seems. I have found recently that I turn to this place over and over...

I have begun to ask questions again, but not "why?". "Where? Where do I go now?" I get the same answer again and again, which is stunning... "to me".

God thank you for always keeping things simple for me. I usually have the deer in the headlights look when I realize that nothing changes when it comes to you. You're always the same, always there, no matter where I think I need to go for answers.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Hello old friend

Oh how I miss taking the time to reflect on my day and how God has has his way with me! These months have given me the gift of truly living a day at a time though, for the first time in my life. I have strength for nothing more. The brokenness and rebuilding continue. Satan continues to show all of his names to us.
But so does God....
Gaol - Redeemer, Magen - Shield, Zur - Our Rock, Prince of Peace.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, ^a]">[a] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

God you will continue to have your way with me, I wouldn't want it to be any other.

The provision of relationships.

From low lying lake land to high desert mountains. The air is super clear and a little thin, dry, smells of sage, pine, and possible snow.

For me, familiar land. For most of my family, unfamiliar. On the trail this morning I thought of Ruth and Naomi and their journey. The blessings I receive in a house or job doesn't matter so much. What does matter is how I'm blessed through my relationships that are held together by my kinsman redeemer.

Thank you God for the relationships you've given me that provide hope, security, strength, and love. And thank you for sending my kinsman redeemer, your son.

But Ruth replied, "Don't try to make me leave you and go back. Where you go I'll go. Where you stay I'll stay. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God. Where you die I'll die. And there my body will be buried. I won't let anything except death separate you from me. If I do, may the Lord punish me greatly."

Ruth 1:16-17