Fire for HIM

                                             " By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days." (Hebrews 11:30 KJV)  Giving up can be a huge temptation.  I often feel that little tap on my shoulder, so to speak, to just throw in the towel when something is very difficult and my energies are expended.  My mind wants to say, "Oh, well."   I feel like I have done all that I can do.  But something beautiful can come out of that.  I can allow Him to give me strength to do more - to reach the goal at hand. A sweet friend gave me Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers for my birthday.  I have been so encouraged by the elaborated stories of the women within the lineage of Christ.  Seeing them in t...

Yesterday, my three year old daughter was walking behind me on a sidewalk at a school.  I knew she was following me, but I wanted her closer to me.  I wanted to touch her.  I put my hand behind me and continued to walk forward.  When she did not grab my hand right away, I looked back at her to see if she saw me reaching for her.  When I realized that she was looking around and not at my hand, I turned around and gently took her hand and we walked together. Immediately, I was reminded of how the Heavenly Father does that for us.  He is ALWAYS walking ahead of us, aware of us, and desiring that we follow Him into GOOD things.  He longs to hold our hand and have us walk with Him, in ALL circumstances. My prayer for this week is that I not wait on Him to find me.  I want to run to catch up to Him, grab Him around the waist, hold His hand and walk with Him in JOY.  " But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lo...

I wanted to jump off the end of the pier... I picked up a Kleenex box and gazed at the picture on the side.  It was of a long wooden pier out over shimmering, blue water, with gorgeous mountains far in the distance.  I had the sudden urge to run down the length of the pier and into the water.  My senses longed to feel the joy of the bubbling water surround me.  I wanted to swim and swim, reach the other side and run toward the mountains.  Hesitancy and planning are the usual behaviors for me, so this impromptu longing was far from my practiced nature.  However, God is taking me to a new season.  A season of moving forward, at a marathon pace, is what my heart has been conforming to desire.  As I thought about this, I reflected on how He prepares us and plants desires within us for the place He wants to take us.  "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. "...

What shape will others see when I am gone?  I keep seeing all the wonderful tree sculptures all about.   Just as the buds blanket the branches of the world around them, these statues of wood that have served their seasons become obvious.  Each one tells a different story.  My eyes are drawn to the shape of their growth or struggle for survival.  The green spreads through the branches around them, life growing and preparing to make seeds and fruit.  Those too old to grow anymore are left barren, their shape pointing upwards to their Maker.  Reaching outward, outward and twisting in all directions...each tree taking a different shape.  Its skin showing, bark no more, the gray tower speaks of the life it lived.    What shape will others see when I am gone?  The twists, turns, and stature  Will I look balanced, or will I show that weather and man has pruned me with no thought of the intended sha...

Beautiful Day  Soft and Chilly Morning Green Mist in the Afternoon Roaring Fire View Across the Meadow Warms the Soul Sweet Rain of Love Fun in the Puddles Wheels Splash Waterworks on Car Girls' Laughter All Around Sun Breaks Through Blue Sky Background Grey Clouds Painted Gold About Evening Draws Nigh Silver Silhouette of Nature Budding Branches Reach High

Today is a cloudy day.  It has been a cloudy day in more ways than one.  Clouds seem to block the sun, but they always have a potential of rain. You see, I did something I try never to do.  I went to sleep last night, without releasing the weights of the day.  This is never good for me.  It forms clouds blocking my heart.  Yuck! Yesterday, before I allowed junk to roll in and rest in my back yard, a song was pouring up from my heart.  This morning, the lyrics of that song kept tumbling in my mind.  My heart was stirred at their meaning. My eyes down Heart heavy with the world Weary, tired, and longing for nothing... Then I saw the Lilly turn I looked up The branches swayed with the wind I looked at the clouds And saw the sun break through I felt your love - I felt your love I saw the light I heard Your truth I saw Your love break through You are amazing Speaking to me Sayinw you made me lovely You said, "My uniqueness is from You" "My p...

Yesterday, I was walking in an older district of our town.  The homes have well groomed yards and are often grandiose in scale and architectural detail.  It is quite a sight-seeing experience, especially with trees already blooming for the spring. The wind was blowing.  Suddenly, in the midst of all the beauty, something caught my eye.  It was not a swing, a gate, a dog, or a beautiful bay window.  Caught in the branches of a tree, was a red Mylar balloon.  It was difficult not to just stop and stare at this unusual sight.  It was not what my senses were expecting.  I continued to desire to look at the image, and  I longed to know more about it.  How long had it been there?  What kind of balloon was it.  Who did it belong to?  All of these questions reminded of another experience and thought that had been mulling around in my head for the last couple of days.  We had a red visitor at our house on Saturda...