"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

A GIFT IN WATER, IN WORDS, IN WHITE

Fiery red/orange, boiling, steaming. My heart...an angry cauldron. I slammed the lid shut not wanting to see any more. I had been reading about anger and felt sure it was not my problem, so, feeling confident, asked the Lord to reveal to me if I had any issues in this department. My ability to deceive myself had been impressive! I was shocked by the strength of the emotion I saw inside myself... but I knew straight away to whom my anger was directed.

Graciously, God never reveals bondage without also revealing the path to freedom. Forgiveness, challenging mindsets, being vulnerable... I am grateful.

That was 15 years ago.
Today I relish my relationship with that person.


A gift in water...water is life. The river of life flows from God. He invited me to  go deeper... and still does.
A gift in words... His words of truth to my heart. Words between two people... words of forgiveness...words of growth.
A gift in white... The colour of my heart, no longer fiery red/orange, but washed whiter than snow.
... eternally grateful

                                                                                              with grateful thanks Loma Photography©

3 GIFTS IN HIS WORD

Lately, I've been challenged about my deliberate goings to the Word. Not the accidentals, like reading a book with scripture scattered through it, nor the scripture put to music that I'm listening to in the background, nor even the Sunday sermon. These are all wonderful...I'm not knocking these wonderful sources of washing my soul.
But it's the times I go with purpose and deliberateness. Determined to eat. The three square meals I have in the day. All the other is snacking between meals and doesn't help one's spiritual blood sugar levels. Three times a day coming to Him and eating from His Word feeds my spirit and helps me grow strong and sure. Three square meals allows me to assimilate the food well, absorbing all the nutrients my soul needs.
Daniel was the great man he was because "...in his upper room, with his window open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days." Daniel 6:10
As a child I remember  the 'prickles up your spine' feeling when I walked past my Grandma's room and saw her on her knees 'as was her custom since early days', and heard my name mentioned to the King of Kings.She was there every morning on her knees at the end of her bed. Every evening as she prepared for sleep, she undid the hundreds of little hooks and eyes on her corset with such amazing speed and dexterity, then knelt again to talk to her Lord. Habitual. As a child I was impressed and awed by her discipline and devotion. (Not to mention fascinated by how she could do that corset without even looking at them!)

with grateful thanks to Loma Photography ©

I think that habitual coming before our God is something our generation has sadly lost. We are too busy rushing here and there and fitting one more thing into our schedule. We've lost the depth to our relationship with Him. So, I am beginning the process of developing my habit of prayer and feasting on His Word. I'd like my grandchildren to say of me "...as was her custom".

3 GIFTS PAINTED

What an exciting day I've had...I am buzzing!

3 gifts FROM HIM that are painted...

... there are SO many! It's true, HE doesn't use paints like we do, but then, what are paints...? Pigments and dyes from plants and soils HE made I believe we are the copy-cats! I mean, HE can throw a few billion stars together and come up with a galaxy or three. My finite mind cannot conceive of such creative abilities. Each night HE sends me a goodnight kiss in the form of a sunset to make me adore HIM again. There are times, I confess, that I don't lift my head from the busyness of life to even notice these, so HE gives me a flower. A thousand reasons to adore HIM,... if I care to notice.

So, today I got out my paints and began to copy the MASTER...

with grateful thanks to Loma Photography ©




Words are another way HE paints. God 'painted' in Genesis 1 as HE called forth our world. And HE has continued to paint through those who penned the Bible for us. Knowing our finiteness and propensity for interpreting things inaccurately, HE graciously gave us a living demonstration in Jesus to help us 'get it'. Jesus is the Word.
John 1: 1-4 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God..."


...the one into who's image I am being changed...


















Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to HIS purpose.
For whom HE foreknew, HE also predestined to be conformed to the image of HIS Son, that HE might be the firstborn among many brethren."




with grateful thanks to Loma Photography ©


...So, in my being conformed into HIS image, I realise that  I am a painting of HIM. Every painting is different depending on which medium is used. Sometimes we go from the lights to the darks...sometimes from the darks to the lights. But a painting always needs both...contrast. Unfortunately -that's how I often feel-, I am no exception. However, knowing HE's a MASTER craftsman... I trust HIM and keep going back to HIS feet to be transformed some more. And every now and then I am given a glimpse of how the 'painting ' is changing. It's so encouraging to see how far I have come.

with grateful thanks to Loma Photography ©






#1000gifts#joydare