The Perfect Day

So today was just a great day.

This morning I woke up and took an exam for my online class.  I am getting way more layed back about these exams.  100%.  yea!  I stepped outside to feel the weather and knew that I wanted to take advantage of the great weather while it was here so I again went for a walk/run along the trail.  Pretty awesome.

Got home and decided to get some yard work done before I showered.  Pulled some dead plants, raked some leaves and started a bonfire to burn up alot of shrubs and branches that my husband has cleaned up.  (He was at work.)  As I walked back and forth between the bonfire and the pile that needed to be burned I would get this feeling - let me try to explain it.  The sky was blue, crisp, clean and the air was perfect.  The kind of temperature where you just need a thin long sleeve shirt.  No chill in the air, just a freshness.  I would breathe in the air into my lungs taking in the beauty around me.  I had the feeling of the perfect day. 

You see, my life has been in such transition for the past six months I can hardly put it all in to words and feelings.  I just got a job yesterday as a Nursing Assistant at an Assisted Living facility about 10 min. from my house.  Pretty awesome.  My husband just finished a week long training on Rescue.  (Don't ask me to explain his training, it's alot. :)  God is moving in our life and I love it.  Some days I am still left "wondering" but don't we all?  I cannot imagine being in this day without the presence of Jesus in my life.  He is all I need - he is my guide - and he does know all the plans that he has for my life.

He knows you too.

So today, I just breathed in his freshness in my perfect day!
As I was working this is the song that I was singing and it made me smile.  I hope you smile too.

This walk we call life!

This morning when I went out to get the mail I knew that today was the day for an outdoor workout.  It is beautiful.  So off I went for a good long walk with a little running along the way.  I love walking the trail along the river that flows across the street from our house.  It started out as just a good walk, enjoying walking in short sleeves and breathing in the fresh air.  As I started to pray I ended up being blessed by the most amazing prayer walk I have ever experienced and ended up walking way longer than I ususally do.  I have always loved nature and today God was using the nature all around me to speak to me.  I love that about God, that he will always meet with you.  All you have to do is come.  So simple, but we make it so hard sometimes.

Two things stand out to me.  This first picture speaks to the first one.  God made this.

 

He made the blue sky, he made the colors on the leaves, he made the beautiful fall smell in the air.  As I looked up and saw this I was so overwhelmed by the majesty of God.  I was reminded that I cannot do this.  I cannot put such a soft blue color in the sky.  I cannot make the leaves change colors and gently fall to the ground and crinkle under my feet.  I am in awe. 

The second was this image.  The barren tree with the blue sky.  Just cool.  Just because the tree is barren does not mean there is no beauty.  I use the word "cool" for this image. 

Both of these were reminders that in this walk we call life we will see many things along the way.  Take in the beauty that is around.  And do not look down, keep your eyes up.  I observed how easy it is to look down when your walking.  But also noticed what I see if I am just looking down.  The cement or the gravel, but when my eyes look up I can see all the beauty around me.  I can see others walking past me, I can see the river flowing and would have missed out on the beauty that was all around me.  I am so glad that God reminded me of this.  When the path seems scary, different or unknown just keep looking up for when you look down you miss out on what is all around you.

A few days ago I read this verse in Proverbs 15:13 and I just fell in love with this.  "A happy heart makes a cheerful face..." 

As I came around another turn in the trail I noticed two hawks soaring above me and felt like God was saying "just soar with me, enjoy the ride, follow me, I know where we are going to land."  As I came to last leg on my walk the words to this song popped into my head.  As I say this I speak it as a reminder to me and to you.  ENJOY THE RIDE!

Thorns

The other day I went for a much needed walk.  After spending the morning studying and preparing to take an online exam I just needed some good fresh air before the exam.  I love walking here because just down the road from our house is the river with a running/walking/biking trail that goes for 8 miles.  It's pretty in all seasons.  As I was coming near to were the trail begins I was struck by this tree on the side of the road.  I stopped and just looked at it.  (You can click on the image to enlarge it.)

I thought about Jesus - the crown of thorns that was put on his head.  I have never seen a tree with such big thorns.  Jesus endured this crown made out of thorns for me - for you.  Matthew 27:29 "and then twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on his head...they mocked him saying, "Hail, King of the Jews."

I cannot comprehend his love for me.  I cannot comprehend that he thought of me as he endured the suffering.  I cannot comprehend that he took all of my sin on himself.  I can only imagine the pain of just one of those thorns in my head.  Because of what Jesus did the following verse tells us what we receive.  Wow!

Isaiah 61:10  "I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

Lets live today claiming the truth - that we are forgiven and free. 

Fight - Fight

Have you ever been concerned about money/finances?  Have you ever been at a point in life when you didn't know how you were going to pay your next bill?  Have you ever been or are you at a point in life where finances are not a concern?  I've been on both ends.  I bring this topic up because I was reading in 1 Timothy this morning.  Paul is writing "Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils." 

I found myself thinking that I don't desire to be rich so I'm ok.  NOT!  I felt convicted that even spending too much time focussing on money, even the basic needs and wondering where it will come from is harmful.  It can take my focus off what's important.  The next verse says that "many have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."  Wouldn't that make sense that the more you give money much of your attention it often becomes a distraction and begins to become more of a challenge?  The definition of pang is 'a sudden feeling of mental or emotional distress or longing.'  One thought can lead to the next and pretty soon it has become monumental.

Here is where our attention should be.  A few verses later: "But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.  Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.  Fight the good fight of faith."  Those in battle do not shrink back.  I want to fight the good fight of faith. 

Due to copyright I couldn't post this clip, only the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUFJ30_Y0EM

You have a friend

I feel honored that my daughters call me their friend.  What greater gift could a mother receive.  I feel honored that they want to talk on the phone with me (even though I am not a fan of talking on the phone. :)) and that they want to hang out with me.  This past week I have been able to do this more as we have had both of our cars in Michigan for some much needed car repairs.  Our son in law works for a tire/car company and the discount is worth the drive.  Thanks Eric! 

My grandson is 2 1/2 and has discovered make believe play.  It's fun to play with him or just watch and listen to him in the next room.  He is happy to play with little characters and have conversations with them.  If one of them falls on the floor he quickly picks it up followed by "he's ok."  When we were getting ready to come home last night my husband picked up his shoes and began to untie the knots in the laces.  He looked at  him and said "no tie shoes."  He didn't want him to leave.  Why would he really - grandpa had time to sit on the sofa and play make believe with him.  They are buddies and it's the cutest thing ever.

 

Me and my grandson watching a duck.

As we spent time hanging out with our grandchildren (others to be featured in future blogs) and grown children, I was remined this morning of our friendship with Jesus.  I was reading John 15 this morning. "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I call you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me but I chose you..."  I am humbled that Jesus would call me his friend.  And I am even more humbled to know that Jesus has told us what he heard from God the Father.  Think about that.  All that Jesus heard from his Father he has told us.  WOW! 

I love that he is my friend.  He is yours too.

Empty handed but Alive!

Do you ever feel empty handed? 

Today I am winding down from my first day of clinicals yesterday at a skilled long term care facility.  This is completely a new work experience for me.  Completely new!!  A few things stick out in my mind from ladies in their 80's and 90's - "I'm sorry that you had to clean me up, I am so sorry; thank you so much, thank you so much." - "I like you." - "I have 5 children but 4 of them have died - why did that happen to me?" - "When you are 94 years old you just can't do things anymore." - "I use to tell my son what to do, now he tells me what to do."

Needless to say it took me a while to fall asleep last night.  I am processing the path that God has me on.  Not in a bad way, just processing.  I don't know if I will work in this type of facility or a hospital, but wherever it is God is definitely shaping me. 

I see God working in the life on my youngest daughter, now a freshman in college.  I see how much she is growing and learning.  Kinda blowing me away actually.  She is awesome.  I love hearing her tell me this morning how she was talking with another friend and telling him how thankful she is that we moved to Ohio.  She can see God's hand at work.

And I have to add my husband here.  He has been working at an inner city ministry and growing and experiencing ministry in a way that he never has.  Praying with men, teaching them how to communicate with others, talking about Jesus with them, talking men down from fighting...etc.  He is pretty beat when he gets home. 

The three of us living in this house are definitely facing some new ventures in life.  Change can create tension, tears and even fears.  But change creates joys, growth and new life.  Think about the changes in your life.  Can't you see how without that change you may never have reached the point in life you are at?

I love being in worship to Jesus through music.  I love just opening up my hands and being completely open and vulnerable before him.  Holding nothing back.  As I was blogging I was listening to a Pandora station and the following song came on.  Take a moment to just worship your creator.  He loves you and he is calling you to him.  If you have felt far off from God lately, remember he is right there, hands outstretched for you, hands reaching to take hold of yours.  Close your eyes, open your hands, open your heart and worship him.

The definition of Majesty is supreme greatness of authority; sovereignty.

"Empty handed but alive in your hands!"

Do you understand?

It's been a long time since I have blogged.  Why?  I went back to school and have been non-stop for the last 5 weeks.  This morning I sit in the living room listening to a worship song and am just blown away as I think about what he has done in my life.

I had a long talk with my sister last night.  It was awesome to catch up and share life with each other.  After I got off the phone tears filled my eyes as I came to this realization of how God has been moving in my life.

I begin with the huge gift of my new friends that I have met through The Daughter Project.  It started out with becoming involved in this non-profit organization that is building a recovery home for girls that have been rescured from sex tafficking.  It turned in to more than that.  It turned out that I would meet some of the most amazing women.  Some of the most vulnerable women - broken - freed - redeemed - and I love them all so much.  Then a few months ago I began to pray about going back to school and become certified as a STNA (State Tested Nursing Assistant).  I had two options - a 2 week intensive course, full time OR a 5 week class twice a week at Owens Community College.  I didn't know which course to take but I wanted to take the class that God wanted me to take.  So Tim began to pray and asked God to shine a light on where I should go.  As soon as he finished praying I happened to look over the bookshelf that was filled with Tim's books and saw the words on these books.  4 times!  Not only that but notice to the left the "student" bible.  I had my answer.

I have completed my couse, besides my clinicals and my state exam.  I don't know where or what kind of facility I will work in but I will pray and ask God to show me.  I am also completing another online class that will run the full semester. 

Sometimes God confuses me, sometimes I wonder what he is doing, sometimes I am just blown away how he takes my confusion and shows me the next step, shines a light so to speak and takes away my confusion.  Then the next unknown place in life comes along and we become stronger, sure we will still "wonder" and may even begin to doubt again, but if we take the time to stop and look back at how God has taken care of things we can know that he has a plan for our next step.

I was reading in John 13 when Jesus washed the disciples feet.  "He poured water in a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and wipe them with the towel.  He came to Simon Peter who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?"  Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand."   Something is going on in life and we are wondering why it's happening, what God has in mind - let's remember Jesus words here. "Afterward you will understand!"  God has had me in many circumstances where he wants me to just trust him when I don't understand.  How comforting that he says to me that afterward I will understand.  The definition of an aha moment is "a moment of clarity."  I think God does that with us.  We all of a sudden have that moment when we get it.

Thank Jesus today.  Run to him.