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©

"The King was in his counting house, counting out his money...

3 GIFTS READ...

Talking to my 21 yr-old daughter about her day, to discover we'd both been working with accounts. She in her government job working with electronic records for company finances... and me at home paying the phone bill, etc.

Honestly, I don't much care for this job! My enthusiasm was apparently showing...

"Mother, do you remember when I was little and was starting to read. The whole page was filled with gobbledygook. But with some help, and patience on your part, I began to recognise one word and then another until the whole page came alive. From the day I can remember you had us reading everything...even "Robinson Crusoe" at age 11, which I hated! You told me I had to understand it, even if I didn't like it or make a life career with it.
Well, it's the same with accounts. Some people never put in the discipline to understand money and so they are always in money-trouble. Others love it so much they make career choices and become accountants & financial planners. You may not have made a career choice for accounts, Mother, but you are empowered by the understanding you have.
...You know where you've been.
...You know where you are going.
...You know where you are right now.
And with that knowledge you can start micro businesses in Africa with a little money, sponsor children, or become a world famous architect and do something much greater for the African children.
Oh dear!...I think all the dreams of my heart just tumbled out!"

My heart swells... love that girl!
She standing on the threshold of making those dreams a reality
Me smiling as I listen to myself falling out of her mouth, ...bills all paid.

Grateful that I will not receive any automated calls saying I forgot to pay... a gift to myself!

~~~~~

"1000 Gifts"...

#109  A phone call from my darling at lunchtime
#110 A florist walking up to my door
#111  Help from a kind daughter with my IT issues
#112 Kids dropping by the supermarket for me
#113  New slippers just in time for this cold snap
#114  My '1000 gifts' list on the fridge reminding me
#115  The Chronological Bible Reading Programme we've joined
#116  A new more-positive approach to the accounts :)

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 FRAMED BY A FRAME

Dusting... not always my favourite job :( But in today's 3 gifts I realised it could become a whole lot more positive if I change my focus.
What means a lot to me? RELATIONSHIPS! And I have photo frames everywhere to prove it... of parents, grand parents and great... of my precious babies, into cute toddlers, into fun-loving mischief and beyond... As I dust I can savour these relationships, name my gratitude for them, pray for them.

On my walls are lots of art works... oils by friends... watercolour... graphite sketches of my kids. CREATIVITY in a frame. As I dust I can name my gratitude... thank the God that I am inspired by... ponder new creations.

But it is my darling's 'framed by a frame' gift that I have been most inspired by today. He has often said over the years that "he is the frame supporting me-the picture"... He is my gift.  I have always loved it, but, today I am dusting it off...unpacking it some more...

His explanation...
 "He supports. He is her cover. He creates the environment for her to flourish. He works with her for her direction and purpose. He totally gives himself for her. He is her frame."

And what about my friends who do not have a husband-frame?

"God's heart is totally for the widows and the fatherless...those without a husband or father.  Jesus, in being the ultimate bridegroom, does all these things for everyone of us. Right now we are all being prepared to partner Him, to the glory of God the Father. The Holy Spirit, brush stroke by brush stroke, is completing the work. And the Father looks on and smiles with pride."

I like that.

Done and dusted!

3 GIFTS IN FABRIC

Unhurried  shopping with three generations ... enjoying the beauty of pretty things ... visiting shops for each other that we might not normally venture into ... chatting about this and that as we meander ... admiring creativity in each other ... delighting in bargains found ...

Home again, we interrupted the 'boys' afternoon with delighted cries of "Look what I found".  They all stopped to listen as we each showed off what we'd purchased. They admired... pleased that their girls had had fun ... pleased that we were happy with our finds ... quietly pleased that they had been able to stay home.

Cutting off labels...

I rubbed my hands over my new blanket... 100% cotton. I have lots of woolen blankets in the linen closet, but I now live in the tropics. Woolen blankets are way too warm, yet in the evening I often want to keep the cooler night air away. God knows... and cares. It had been a bargain at less than half price and exactly the colour I was after. I laid it over the arm of the couch ready for the evening.

Wriggling my toes, I savoured the fluffy slippers. Cotton again, rather than the wool I had grown up with. Perfect for here. I'd been disappointed that the slipper sale had not had much left in my size. I'd wondered about settling for a pair I didn't really like... tried to convince myself that they are only slippers, but, instead had decided to wait until I found something I really liked. As I'd walked away I felt Him tell me to look in the children's section. I've learnt to recognise His voice, but can't say I was convinced. Shame on me for not having more faith in His desire to bless me, for right in the front of the little kid's slippers was a large pair ... just my size ... and I liked them. God knows... and cares.

       
Finally, I folded away a new bra. Ahhhh, the joys of middle age... the changes of each new season. He knows exactly what I need TODAY. He knows just how to support me.

Changing countries, changing climates, changing seasons...
3 gifts in fabric
God knows... and cares!


I am grateful.