Hanging Down...

3 Gifts HANGING DOWN...

Tears hanging down...
Heart hanging down...
Dreams hanging down...

Pete Wilson said,
It's those unexpected shattered dreams that provide us with twists and turns in life where we meet God. Rarely do we surrender when we feel strong and in control. But when a dream is shattered, when life takes an unexpected turn and veers out of control, that's when we fall to our knees. That's when a new dream can grow. http://www.incourage.me/2012/07/i-will.html

Pride hanging down...
Control hanging down...

John 5:19 "Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."
What does He mean when He says, "The Son can do nothing of Himself"? Is Christ helpless? Without the Father's help, can He do no more than any other man?

v30 : "By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgement is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me."
He seeks the will of the Father. He is saying, "I cannot act independently of the Father." He limits Himself to do only those things that the Father desires Him to do. He can do nothing that the Father does not want Him to do.    *"The Life of Christ" by Frank Hamrick

Will hanging down...

If we want something that is not the same as the Father, then we are CHOOSING our sinful nature with our will.

Choices hanging down...

Sometimes we have already chosen & don't realise it... wrong dreams...dreams that have become idols taking the adoration and focus that belongs to our Father.

Just as Christ's works witness to His deity, so mine witness to what I am...

Shame hanging down...

I bow my heart down...

My Saviour reaches down...


And lifts me up... I am forever grateful!


                                 ~~~~~

"1000 Gifts"...

#197  HIS heart of love

#198  Begonia hanging down

#199 PawPaw hanging down

#200  Clouds hanging down

 with grateful thanks Loma Photography©

3 gifts of Stone in the Earthquake

3 Gifts IN STONE...

It came from nowhere...suddenly my world was shaking.
I've had them before...know these tremors well...but this one was unexpected.

An earthquake in my heart.

The element of surprise adds to the shock...I thought I had done things so that this quake wouldn't hit me again...prepared myself. This one was deeper.

My attempts at repairing the damage from previous quakes fell in piles of rubble. I see it strewn all around me. Useless fumbling attempts at making it right...it's not.

Automatically I try to defend myself against the force that I perceive is threatening to engulf me... each time these tremors have come I've done it... defended myself... protected myself by pushing away. This time it was different.

I still feel it's force...raw...deep...strong
There is no defense to protect me this time.

Stunned, I survey the wreckage. Too dazed to comprehend it fully, yet trying to grasp the magnitude. So much waste...so many broken pieces.

I do the only thing I know... I call out to HIM, the cornerstone of my heart...

...the only thing left standing true
.

~~~~~

"1000 Gifts"...

#192  Jesus, the cornerstone of my heart

#193  Mortar & Pestle - a gift from my darling - making foccaccia bread tonight

#194  A friend's first rose-bud

#195  Motivation and energy to clean the bathroom of all the mould - Yuk!

 #196  A winsome statue reminding me to pray for gorgeous daughter

"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

3 GIFTS THAT ARE DIFFICULT

We awoke to yet another blue cloudless sky in the winter tropics... one of the perks of living in this corner of the world. My darling and the older kids had gone to work. The younger kids had started their school work. A loaf of bread was baking. Morning routine was busy, but normal. Soon my parents, who are up visiting, would be arriving probably armed with a delicious assortment of iced buns and sweet treats. Time to get the kettle on...we don't see them often and I wanted to enjoy every minute of our precious time together.
Ring! Ring! ... a referred client in great pain. " Sure, I'll be right there".
Not too much later I'm in the car driving to her home, when I became aware of that 'overwhelmed' feeling beginning to rise within me. I love my job, but this morning I really wanted to enjoy time with family.
And then I heard Him speak from the deep place..."Do you trust me?"
I knew the answer. Many years have passed of continuous lessons in this class. His patient hand has brought me far  on this journey. "Yes, Lord. I trust you."
"Then dance with Me."

Oh, yes, I want that! I know instinctively that more lessons are ensuing, but I want it.

I choose to trust. I stop thinking of what I am missing and tell myself to give myself 100% to my new client. Soon I am absorbed in relieving her pain. I am grateful.

On completion I make my way home. A beautiful blue hue is still overhead. Family happily wiles away the afternoon until everyone is laughing and telling tales around the dinner table. Thinking we'd finished I am surprised when everyone starts bustling about. What's going on? Big lavish cake, presents...

"Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you..."

It's not quite my birthday yet, but they'd organised it as a surprise in my absence this morning. More laughing. Photos. Time with the family I love.

Is this what dancing feels like?



3 Gifts difficult...? I look back on the day and muse on how things I once found difficult are no longer such an obstacle when I choose to trust His lead.


with grateful thanks Loma Photography©