The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
– The Bible
Month: February 2015
the joy of the Lord.
Happiness is not your strength.
The joy of the Lord is your strength.
Many things make us happy. But in a happy moment, have you ever felt a haunting sadness that tries to steal your happiness?
When you have joy, that doesn’t happen. That’s because you know that God is holding your sorrow and he can be trusted with the things that hurt.
When we’re on top of our game, we’re happy. But happiness is threatened when life gets difficult.
Joy is not threatened.
Joy is a warm glow that grows stronger and brighter through difficult times. It’s all in how we want to look at it.
How do you get joy? When you learn to trust God. With everything. And sometimes that means accepting what you do not understand.
This is very healing to our soul.
It doesn’t mean you will be smiling all of the time.
It means you have survived.
And happiness will be all the more richer.
Photo credit: AlicePopkorn / Foter / CC BY-ND
winter beauty.
The fierce, bitter winds of winter howl throughout the night, painting a glistening, white canvas with invisible brush strokes.
Despite it’s threatening presence …
morning reveals a masterpiece.
Sometimes our lives are threatened with storms, leaving us feeling empty and cold.
Yet, there is beauty to be found when healing scatters its warmth upon our heartache.
Is there always beauty to be found after raw pain?
Or is it that we never noticed it before?
Both.
friday’s quote.
Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
– Marcel Proust
take God’s hand.
It will be alright.
I promise.
Don’t rush.
God is on your timetable.
If you have a day when you find yourself running, he will run with you.
If you have a day when you can barely take a step, he waits.
Some people are watching you from a distance.
Some, you just don’t see them anymore.
Some are ahead of you, telling you to trust, get moving, have faith!
God puts up his hand up and silences them.
And he stands by your side.
For as long as it takes.
Photo credit: andrew and hobbes / Foter / CC BY-ND
scripture friday.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.
~~~
Photo credit: Life of David / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
snowflakes.
Humanity has accomplished some amazing feats.
We can think we’re pretty amazing. And really, we are.
But keep perspective. Because we are also very fragile.
Yes, we are a small fish in a big universe pond. We don’t always think about our world being suspended on nothing in a big black space. We can get pretty uppity about some things, can’t we?
I’m glad God didn’t create us to always be thinking about how small we are in relationship to the universe or I am quite sure we would be very anxious and fearful.
But it’s always good to be reminded from time to time.
Sometimes, we stop and get breathless at creation. It’s supposed to work that way. It’s really God’s way of tapping us on the shoulder.
When life’s not going so good, an unexpected treasure can put things into perspective.
A local photographer took the picture below. Amazing. Absolutely amazing.
Study it. See it’s fine detail? Design?
If God is that involved in just snowflake, you better believe his involved with you, no matter how distant you might feel from him.
Even a fragile snowflake has been carefully designed. God could have not given it that much attention.
But he did. Why?
Because when we look at creation, we see God.
All around us are wonderful expressions of God’s presence. We cannot possibly understand all of the “whys” of life.
We are too small.
Will you trust? You don’t have to. But it is so much better when you do.
~~~
photo credit: chris chapin
at just the right time.
While snowshoeing on our property about 2 weeks ago, I caught a glimpse of a bald eagle flying out of the woods.
I have always wanted to see one! And it came at the perfect time.
I watched it fly effortlessly, like no other bird. It rode the air currents in a way the hawks do not. I was certain if a strong gust of wind came, the eagle would handle it with grace.
Then I remembered this scripture:
… those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Immediately, I felt something that I hadn’t felt in a long time. My heart was warmed. You know that feeling? When peace radiates from deep inside and throughout your body? And the promise of hope is real?
There are moments when you don’t think you can take one more thing.
And at just the right time, God speaks, reminding us of his presence in our lives.
~~~
Photo credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northeast Region / Foter / CC BY
scripture friday.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven,
where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
– The Bible
~~~
Photo credit: Daniel Pascoal / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
I wonder.
Death separates.
Heaven connects.
If our loved ones could speak to us, would they say, “Don’t cry for me! I want you to live and be happy. One day we will see each other again!”
I wonder.
We need to feel the loss.
But we have to decide where our thoughts will dwell.
Every day it’s on Heaven.
Every day it must be Heaven.
~~~
Photo credit: Pathos Photos / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
when it hurts 