BUT LOVE...

3 GIFTS IN WEAKNESS...

It had always been that way... dark ... lonely blackness ... painful ugliness. That is all I knew. I had heard the happy people say it should be different, but, since the day of my entry to this world, this was all I knew... my reality.

BUT LOVE...God was always close...a gift

I got married.
My darling wanted to come into my world. He wanted to be close. He was optimistic... positive.

I didn't feel understood... retreated further into the darkness.

BUT LOVE... My darling chose to love me...a gift
He loved me for twelve years without saying a word, before I came to see that I was not well. I had a weakness.

Ten further years my darling loved me before I knew I was free of the darkness.

I had been made weak by the lies fed to me by the enemy of my soul. I chose to believe them... formed beliefs around these lies...convinced by the evidence I saw.

BUT LOVE...God reached out and slowly unraveled the chains that bind.  His strength... a gift

He taught me... I learned... slowly... 2 steps forward, 1 step back... this opportunity to learn, a gift.

He led me... still leads me... my Shepherd.

BUT LOVE...

This freedom is humbling... bends my knee in worship...Forever grateful.

~~~~~

"1000 Gifts"...

#138  A walk in the rain

#139  Opportunity to bless daughter with a ride to the bus stop in the heavy rain

#140  Son company in the supermarket

#141  Conversation with family Bible readings

#142  Finding the missing invoice

#143  Sun peeking through at day's end

#144  Quiet family time

#145  Remembering His goodness

#146  Sick son's goodnight request to not wake him in the morning unless he's dead :)

water running over skin...

3 gifts WATER...

plip      plip plip         plip            plip plip plip

unexpected gentle rhythm
clouds low to hills
rain on broad tropical plant leaves


lying in bed listening
absorbing the gentle sounds
soothing
refreshing

It's been a day filled with laughter, noise and hugs
birthday singing and party games
feeling loved and honoured
but even the good takes out of your emotional reservoirs

I go for a warm shower
enjoy the water running over skin
still my soul

opening my Bible, I wash with the water of His word to me
quiet my mind
drink in the life
hydration

water still falling
nature's percussion
eyes shut
listening

plip plip plip         plip     plip plip        plip

~~~~~

"1000 gifts"...

#118  Bird sucking sweet nectar

#119  Family love

#120  Laughter

#121  Thoughts & effort in expressions of love

#122  Cherries

#123  No hurry day

#124  So much party food I won't have to cook for a week!

#125  Warm shower to end a day

#126  His Word 

#127  Gentle rain to fall asleep to

"I have learned to kiss the wave..."

A gift FAITH, FAMILY, & FREEDOM...


"I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages" - Spurgeon

My attention grabbed, this thought has played over in my mind as I've gone about the day's activities. At first, my soul cries out "Yes!"
Then I chew it some more and wonder "Do I really kiss the wave?" "Do I embrace it with affection? This hard thing that tosses me about?"
Some hard waves have taught me truths about Him. I have embraced those truths. Is embracing the truth kissing the wave?

I meet my darling for lunch. I share this thought I've been savouring. In the busy food court tears run down. We share food... physically and spiritually.

Why did I embrace the truth? I ponder motives... Was it to make my life better? Was I trying to eliminate the hard thing? Moving away from pain rather than towards reward?

Continuing to move through the list of jobs, I pick up working son. We share about our days and then share spiritual. We savour together.

The Rock of Ages...the safe place...the solid place in times of difficulty. Do I go there to meet my need or because I am so overwhelmed with the love of God? "God loves everybody, therefore God loves me"...is this my belief? Or is it "As a person who finds their treasure in God I am overcome with the depth and richness of His love for me. A love that involves every part of my life and who I am"? More chewing...

Family together at day's end...laughter, talking, eating, enjoying. The food being digested all day is shared and broken down some more. Each taking what they need. Physical rest and spiritual growth as night comes.

A clear night ...cool wind. I enjoy the bejeweled sky. Such brilliance...sparkling at me. I am awed. A moment just Him and I. I feel His invitation to abandon myself to His love...to throw myself willingly against the Rock of Ages. He has my heart.

~~~~~

"1000 GIFTS"...

#117  The love of an awesome God - FAITH

#118  A family that shares openly - FAMILY

#119  The freedom to share - FREEDOM

#120  Birds singing all kinds of songs this morning

#121  Warmth of the sun

#122  Physical exertion in the garden

#123  Phone calls to loved ones

#124  Beautiful colours in flowers

HE Loves me, HE loves me more,...

3 GIFTS LOVED...

My darling is the first gift loved that comes to mind.
Second is definitely my children.
Third?...
I hear Him say gently, "You."
"Me?"
"Absolutely! I love you." 
"OK, but this is a list of things I am thankful to YOU for...gifts that YOU have given me."
"Who gave you life?  ... Are you thankful that I created you? ...I sent My Son so that you & I could have a relationship."
I've already had hard lessons here. I am now thankful that He created me. "Yes, Lord. You love me and I am thankful."
"Does your darling love you?" 
More hard lessons are brought to mind. "Yes, Father. He loves me and I am thankful."
"Do the children I gave you love you?"
"Yes, those children love me."
"So, are you not a gift I have given that is loved? 
I smile... "Yes, Father. I am a gift loved."

I am grateful.

Do you see yourself as a gift loved?

with grateful thanks Loma Photography©

3 GIFTS FOUND AROUND A TABLE

My table...
meals, birthdays, schoolwork, crafts, ...
sharing, discussions, expanding ideas, ...
laughter, tears, acceptance, belonging, ...

Nurture happens around the table. Nurture of the body, mind, soul and spirit. My table...One of the greatest tools I have.

Jesus used the table. When He called them, all of His disciples were 'once-born-only' rather than 'palingenesia' - spiritually reborn from above. For a period of three years they came and went from His table. He cooked them a fish breakfast. He fed them on the mountain with miracle bread and fish from heaven. He shared a final meal with them around a table. For three years He fed their minds with new ideas of a kingdom. He demonstrated the Father to them. And they ate...

with grateful thanks Loma Photography©

What happened when He left?
One rejected and betrayed Him.
One vowed to follow but quickly ran into his own limitations.
One ran away naked not even stopping for clothes.
The rest just disappeared and hid.


Time happens...

The one who vowed to follow made those Jesus'-values His own and was the first to take the gospel to the Gentiles.
One by one the others all came back ... revelations in their hearts ... committed to their martyrdom.
His values now their's to live and pass on.

Discipled at His table.

Who is at my table?...

A GIFT BENT, BEAUTIFUL, LOVED

This morning I had a new massage client who asked me why I chose this profession. As I began to tell her my story I realised that I was today's gift.
In answer to her question, I got into massage because I was physically BENT out of shape and full of pain. I was able to be a gift to my client as I released her BENT.

I was also BENT on the inside. As I looked at me, I did not see someone BEAUTIFUL. But He, by His grace, has patiently changed me until I now see BEAUTIFUL. As my client and I were talking I was able to give her a gift by sharing some of my inside-story with her, hopefully helping her on her own BEAUTIFUL journey.

And LOVED?

Oh, yes, I know I am LOVED! I used to question it...didn't feel LOVED... but the more He has unBENT my bends, the more secure I have become in His love.  And the more secure I am in His love, the more I can accept (and feel) the love of others...the more I can be a gift of love to them.

I ( by His grace) am a gift

  BENT,

 BEAUTIFUL,

 LOVED.

How do you view yourself?

3 GIFTS FROM MY HEAVENLY FATHER

"... for GOD is LOVE!" 1 John 4:8

To experience love has been a continual need that I have had throughout my life. I don't think I am that unusual in this need. In fact, I think it's pretty common to everyone. We are not islands created for solitude, but rather designed in His image for relationship. We crave it, seek it, go to all kinds of lengths to get it, yet fail miserably in the finding. That's because we go everywhere but to love itself. This has definitely been my experience.

Throughout my journey, I have found that LOVE was graciously calling to me. I have answered, ... sometimes tentatively, sometimes more openly. At times it has been a struggle to even see/hear/feel Love. The call seemed to have been drowned out by the pain and hurt ringing loudly in my ears. The concrete bunker erected around my heart impenetrable.

But God...

But God in all His patient never-ending love, has thrown my struggling soul some lifelines.

#1 In the Bible, He has given me a Word picture of LOVE
#2 In Jesus, He has shown me a Perfect demonstration of LOVE
#3 In my Darling, He has given me a physical demonstration of LOVE



All are reflections of Himself...LOVE...the one I crave!