On to the next place!

There is something exciting about turning the pages of a calendar.  It's wonderful to see a fresh open slate.  But I love what Josh said today at church; that a new year is not about starting over,  it's about starting whats next.  As I begin to look into the new year, there's a bit of grieving that takes place.  Realizing that I wasn't able to finish things I started.  Didn't accomplish much of anything really.  Had many failed attempts at trying to be better.  Stopped and started a few times to write but never felt a surge of energy or any real insight.  But whatever that all means, I'm ready to turn the pages of my calendar.  Looking forward to the next year.  Allowing God to take me to the next place He has for me.  The journey of brokenness and blessing continues.  Finding God faithful even when it seemed he was silent.  Being ok as I let go of some things and hanging on to other things.  Asking God to continue to remind me to have a grateful heart.  Remember to be thankful for the blessings of 2013.

Father God, I pray that you will be glorified in our lives this year.  I pray for new direction in 2014.  Grow us in compassion and knowledge of you.  Show us a deeper conviction and strengthen our desires to serve where you place us.  Show us Lord your next place.

Ezekiel 11:19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God

34: 25 -“‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety. 26 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing.[a] I will send down showers in season;there will be showers of blessing. 27 The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.

Choose joy and magnify the Lord !

Christmas this year, has been a time of great joy for me.   I know it seems that joy often eludes us this time of year.  With all the hustle and bustle, it's easy to forget about the gift.   This gift is amazing.  I don't want to miss the blessings of a joyful heart.  When I allow myself the time to reflect and lean into a joyful heart, I sense God at work.  I'm thankful for the moments of reflection.  I was reading in Luke 1 this morning and I just fell in love with the words that Mary speaks....My soul magnifies the Lord.  How I desire a heart that magnifies the Lord.

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
 and my spirit rejoices in Christ my Savior.
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

I love Mary's words, My soul magnifies the Lord.  I cannot imagine how Mary must have felt when she realized she was chosen to carry the Christ child.   What beautiful words she prayed back to her Father.  The word magnify means - "to speak or act for the glory or honor (of someone or something )  In the greek - it says to esteem highly, to extol, laud and celebrate. to get glory and praise. 

Let our hearts magnify the Lord this Christmas season.  Teach me Lord how to magnify your name as I celebrate your birthday.  

Some of my Norwegian favorites!  

Brooklyn's love song !

When I was young, probably around 10 years old or so, I remember my Mom memorizing 1 Corinthians 13.   I remember her walking around the house repeating the words over and over.  I think, as far as I can remember she finally did memorize it.  I don't remember how long it took, but she accomplished it.   She never made a fuss about it or complained how hard it was to memorize.  She was determined to do it.  This past week in my Bible Study, we studied 1 Corinthians 13.  As I was reading, my first mind picture was of my Mom, memorizing this chapter.   It prompted a desire in me to memorize it as well.   I'm not sure how long it will take, but I'm going to commit to it during this Christmas season.  

God's love humbled me as I studied this chapter.   I have had many moments where God reminded me through unique and precious ways of His love.   I love how He uses my beautiful grand babies to teach me about love.  It's often through them that I learn lessons.
They greet me and shout "AMA."   They say it with  joy.  What says love better than that!   Our sweet Brooklyn (Beeba), she says love so beautifully through her smile and the sweetest songs you have ever heard.   Brooklyn can sing an amazing amount of songs.  She loves to stand on the table and sings loud and with the biggest smile on her face.  Brooklyn just loves to sing!  One of her favorites is ~ 

"Oh the Lords been good to me 

and so I thank the Lord

 for giving me the things I need, 

the sun and the rain and the apple seed, 

the Lords been good to me. 

 Amen Amen Amen Amen, Amen 

Aaaaaamen." 

 I'm touched by those words when they're sung by this precious little girl.   She may not understand the words of that song, but I understand them and those words create a precious reminder of His love and goodness.  I'm always amazed how God uses her life to pour love into my own.  Our hearts were broken 4 years ago when she and her brother Jayden were diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome.  But now He uses their story and their lives to pour His powerful love back into mine and to many others.   I can't understand it, nor will I ever, probably.  But God teaches me, changes me and moves me through their lives.  I'm so glad that God doesn't give up on us, but continues to provide and offer us His love in such unique ways.  Those blessings are new every day.   I'm glad He reminds us.   Chapter 13 says that no matter what I say or how I speak, without love I am a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have gifts of knowledge and faith, but have not love, I am nothing.  It doesn't matter what I do or how much I give away, without love I gain nothing.   I'm so blessed that a little girl whom God brought into my life, reminds me of the amazing love of God.  I'm blessed to have had a mom who loved me enough to share His word and love of memorizing.   Its His way to remind me of the greatest gift of all.  And now these three remain:  faith hope and love.   But the greatest of these is love.  His love never fails.  Thank you Jesus for reminding me!  Now lets give it away!  

          

1 Corinthians 13

New International Version (NIV)

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

He leads me......

Psalm 23

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.

 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

3 
4 

My dad

dad

Today would have been my dads 88th birthday.  He's been in his heavenly home for almost 4 years now.   Dad was a kind, sweet, gentle prayer warrior.  A simple, loving, humble man.   He was something of a contradiction because he was cheap and generous, but that was our dad.  He gave away more than he kept.   Although he had little wealth on this side of heaven, he was rich.  He was happiest when he had something to give away.  Whether it was vegetables from his garden or a dinner, a cup of coffee or a hearty laugh, his tithe or his time, he simply and lovingly gave it away.   I'm blessed to have been his daughter, and I will always be grateful. I grew to love my dad all the more as I watched him age, he was someone I deeply admired.  I saw a humility in him that I still desire to apply in my own life.  I'm sure  he had no idea that I would allow his last few years to reshape my own life and perspective.  He probably never knew how much he taught his family about prayer and humility, but that left a huge impact on us.  When I reflect on my dad, I see him humbly kneeling beside his chair, deep in prayer.  I  realize now that he was handing me a gift. Thanks for the gift Dad.  I miss our coffee breaks we had together, along with your hearty laugh.  Today I celebrate your life with a cup of coffee because we know that's what you would be asking for. :)  Thank you dad.  You lived well.  

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God

Clumsiness!

As I allow my thoughts to ebb and flow....I wonder how God somehow can bring wisdom out of the clumsiness of my life. I often feel like a toddler because I stumble and fall a lot.  As I stumble and trip into the grace of God, I let the grace flow over me like a cool fresh breeze.  God's grace is an amazing gift...when we allow it to seep into our mind and then into our hearts.  I'm thankful today for my clumsiness, as I stumble into the arms of grace.    I find in grace that God is already there.....waiting to hug me and remind me that He's been waiting.  Grace is amazing especially when we think we're so far from it. That's what I love about my journey of brokenness and blessing.   I was in line at Starbucks earlier and I was behind quite a few cars. I kind of wanted to get out of line, but it was too late.  I was locked in and so I figured I would quickly look at my phone and check my emails etc.  So when I finally arrived at the window, I was not at all anxious, I was just happy it was finally my turn.  The young man at the window asked me how I was, I said I was doing great.  He looked at me and said I feel bad you had to wait so long and as he handed me my coffee, he said "this cup is free."  I was greatly surprised by his generosity and I guess because it was so unexpected that I kind of felt tears welling up in my eyes (for just a minute tho)!  My reaction was just "thank you so much....I really don't deserve it."  As I sat there and let that sink in.....I wondered isn't that exactly what God desires for us all the time.   Isn't it wonderful when we recognize what we don't deserve but still joyfully receive it in sometimes unexpected packages.  Sometimes grace is wrapped in a free cup of starbucks coffee.   So I thank you Lord for the clumsiness of my faith as I stumble and fall into the arms of grace!

2 Timothy 1:9  He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

Fall beauty!

Fall is such a wonderful time to celebrate the beauty of the earth.  Here's just a few pictures that I've taken!  The blessings are abundant......if we just take a moment to notice.

  

Isaiah 61:3 - he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. 

  

The trees are clapping their hands.

I've been noticing the scenery around me.  I have to admit I don't ordinarily look at trees or landscape.  But this fall, I have noticed scenery in a brand new way, and often through the lens of my camera.  I'm not a great photographer by any means but I am seeing landscape in a wonderful new way.  I can't seem to get enough of beautiful trees.  The scenery has made me fall in love with Jesus again.  When I see the gorgeous colors I can't help but be reminded of God's blessings.  I can only imagine what heaven will look like.  What an amazing imagination our God has.   I know the colors will soon change and slowly autumns beauty will fade to another season.  But today, God breaks into my heart and I feel a fresh breeze blowing into my soul.  My heart and soul are fed through the landscape of God's beauty.  The struggles in this life tend to lighten when looked through the lens of God's imagination.  I love this verse in Isaiah.....

You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field    will clap their hands.

I do believe the trees are clapping their hands.....I guess I kind of want to think that maybe they're clapping for me, for each of us.  Some days I just need applause, but it doesn't always come.  Maybe they are clapping and singing to remind us that joy is in the simple fact that we are surrounded by beauty, whether we notice it or not. I love that God reminds me, that he desires a heart that sees..... the beauty of trees.  I do believe I hear them singing.  Thank you Jesus for the beauty of the earth.  Remind me everyday when I see a tree or a mountain, that they are clapping and singing.  Wow....I love that.  Joy and peace seep down into my soul in a fresh way.     

What to say!

What to say!


I haven't really felt I've had much to share lately. So I've avoided blogging. But at the same time, I have a need to share my thoughts from time to time. Mostly my thoughts are of a spiritual nature, because I love Jesus. I am blessed to have met Jesus as a really young girl. I am blessed each day to wake up and feel such a peace in my life. My life isn't exciting or full of lots of adventure. It's actually quite boring maybe to most people. I stay home and help take care of my grandbabies mostly. I have found in sacrificing my life and heart for something bigger than myself is where I have found tremendous peace. Living and looking beyond myself hasn't come easy. I thought very differently 3 1/2 years ago. But after Jayden and Brooklyn's diagnosis, life changed, my perspective changed. Their lives have taught me so much about living today living in each moment of the day. I thought life as a believer was about getting it right. Doing and striving to please Jesus. Working and living up to what I thought people wanted from me. That way of living is an empty and hollow hole and it left me with a constant need for acceptance and applause. But I'm learning and I'm so thankful that Jesus is already pleased with me. I matter to God the way I am, the one who gave His life for me wants me to know it's not about being right, getting it right, but truly loving Him and resting in that love. So I'm blessed even when life is hard. Even when I'm doing the most mundane things. He is there and I matter and so do you.


Jeremiah 6:16

This is what the Lord says:  “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.