Passages

My earliest years are filled with awe & wonder from my grandmothers' adventures to other lands. It fascinated me that one could step off of a plane & be in another culture...another world. As far back as I can remember I dreamed of living in England. To a little girl, that's where all the castles & princes & knights on white steeds are.The yearning intensified in my teens as I read & reread the works of Tolkien. My parents sent me to spend more than a semester in a little village outside of Oxford. The months before I left were a jumble of emotion. I would be thousands of miles from all that I knew. On the eve of my departure I was nearly bursting with excitement & terrified, too. I found my beloved kitty curled up in my suitcase & I clung to all that I held dear....It was a life-changing adventure! My life in England was all that I expected & so much more! I felt like I was finally "home".
Some years ago, I spent 2 long, weeks awaiting a diagnosis which would have given me but months to live. Reality hit me full force & to this day, my initial reaction still shocks me. "I get to go home?!?!!It's really over?! I get to meet my Lord !!!?!" I could almost see the gemstone rainbows, the emerald sea, the Light & the Love from my Heavenly Father...Excitement & anticipation overwhelmed me. Once again, I would journey alone to a home far away. At the same time, I was filled with a deep sadness for my husband, young son, family & friends...& for people I would never be able to reach out to...Was I ready for this? Had I done all that I could? How would I stand before my God & King?
In recent months, I have found myself continually drained of energy. I have written about my struggles with sleep disorders. It turns out that my heart is just too full. My pressure is up & my system is wearing down. In time, all of this will be controlled with doctor's care, but I am reminded of glimmer of Light that awaits me when my work is finished.

The Testing of Faith

There have been times in my life where I have felt like a target, attacked from every angle. Things that were going great one day feel utterly in ruins the next. Ways of life I have enjoyed seem to suddenly dissolve. People I have always counted on, temporarily fade away into their own concerns.I find myself inwardly asking, "Why am I being targeted?"


Immediately, the answer settles over my entire spirit: it is because I have asked Jesus to be Lord of my life, to guide my steps and direct my paths. I have asked for His help and that makes me a target.


In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote, "...we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now, hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us...God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were yet sinners [imperfect], Christ died for us." (Romans 5:3b-5&8)


James wrote, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (endurance). Let patience have it's perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4)

Trust in Times of Need

Wherever HAS the time gone? As I grow older, it seems to pass so quickly, I find that makes it easier to ride out the tougher times...

In my experience, those who live on the economic edge, in faith, have the closest relationship with Christ. Hardships can bring deeper faith and closer relationship with our Lord. The more we need to trust in God, and do so, the more His presence and actions are manifest in our lives. Those of faith in Christ who have the greatest hardships, often have the greatest peace in their lives. How can this be? When our back is to the wall, or we are at our rock-bottom, it is easier to admit our need for salvation. Being in relationship with Christ, gives rise to greater trust, richer hope and yes, deeper peace.

So many people are losing their jobs these days. Several dear friends I know are wondering how they will survive. Knowing they strive to be like Christ, I tell them, "Watch out! You are in for some miracles!" We are often brought right up to the very place of panic...keep trusting....once, we received a check from an unclaimed life insurance policy the day before our mortgage was due. A friend told her children there would be no Christmas. Unknowingly, another friend asked if "they" could provide Christmas for that very family....The tales are endless and all demonstrate God's amazing love for His kids! Just as we can trust in the faithful change of seasons, we can trust in His caring for us in our time of need.

As I look behind my home, I see constant miracles. The words Jesus' spoke on how our Heavenly Father cares for us come to mind:
" Now, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is gone, will He not much more clothe you...?
"Therefore do not worry...For your Heavenly Father knows you have need of these things.
"But seek first, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things, sufficient for the day is it's own trouble" [NKJV)] (See Matt 6: 5-34)

Light From Within

I love how God lit these tulips from above and within! He does that for me, as well. A favorite quote of mine is, "He knows our needs even before we ask". This morning, I was thinking (not praying) about finding the perfect quotation...I love quotes, so choosing only one is quite a challenge. I picked up a devotional and headed outside. My eyes fell on a quote that I underlined a month ago: "Today, follow the Lord's will for your life and be ready to be surprised by His presence". (Lee A. Morris). How perfect !...and God brought it to my attention twice: a month ago, when I underlined it and this morning, when I picked up an old issue.
Prayer (or requests not yet made) don't always come that quickly. We usually have to be much more patient. "His time is not ours". When I was a child, I started regularly praying for patience. Many, many years later, when I taught preschool, parents would comment on how patient I was....It took me that long to realize how God had answered those prayers. Now that I am in middle school, patience is definitely required...and often. Patience IS something we can practice...in traffic, the grocery store....waiting for the perfect shot....It is to our benefit to learn patience. Not only is it a fruit of the Spirit, life becomes easier when we practice patience regularly.

To get these shots required a lot of patience.
This was an extremely windy, cumulus cloud-filled gorgeous morning. These elements made for amazing lighting, but it came in momentary glimpses. I stood for ages in my neighbor's front yard and took shot after shot. Truthfully, I wasn't really pleased with the end products, but I love the notion, symbolism and not to mention, I had invested quite a bit of time in the attempt to catch a suitable image. It was like shooting wildlife, lens to eye, finger on shutter and wait for the second the image comes in. Hard to capture the precise composition, particularly zoomed in this close and in a thrashing wind.