"Happy Birthday to You!"

A gift of Life, Growth, Decline...

Birthday thoughts swirling... again... 50 times over.

with grateful thanks Loma Photography©

I ponder where I am going in this life-gift He's given to me.

Youth thought it was forever...new depths of realization dawning as to the proximity of my 'use-by-date'. What might that be? Do I have 20...30...40 'good' years left?
If more than, or at least half, of my time is over, what have I accomplished? What do I count for?

with grateful thanks Loma Photography©

I talk to others older... further along.
I listen to experience and wisdom...

They tell me tales of oak trees that spend 50 yrs on only growth... growth slow and sure... roots deep, branches wide. Only after 50 yrs of preparation does the time of fruit come. What the oak tree was created for...

I hear of some with great lists of accomplishments, tell me it all means nothing...it's the lessons they have learned in showing love to someone close that they consider their greatest work.

with grateful thanks Loma Photography©

Drawing it around themselves like a heavy cloak, I watch people slowly put on old age. Bodies frail and failing... pace slowing, but with prayer becoming their constant companion. Warriors of heaven... champions of those still coming.


It would seem as if these human bodies we are gifted with, are the cocoon for the emerging butterfly of our spirit.


Becoming a friend of God... forged in this life... growth nurtured through years of relating to Him... Decline of the body heralding the greatest work of all... two becoming one.

~~~~~

"1000 Gifts"...

#155  Girl talks with our son

#156  Impromptu photo sessions

#157  Blue eyes twinkling

#158  Dog indulging in warmth of the sun

#159  Giggles with daughter

#160  Coffee date set

#161  Running tongue around clean teeth

#162  "Aha!" moments with new ideas

#163  Friends who send 'spot-on' youtube clips... thanks for listening to His nudge

#164  Strawberries & vanilla ice-cream

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 FOUND TODAY IN SOMEONE OLDER THAN YOU

Today was Mum's opportunity for a massage.

It's a special time for us. Just the two of us for an hour and a half, while I relax and lengthen, effleurage and stretch...

And we talk unhurried... about all the deeper things. We listen... with caring ears. We take our time and wander from one subject to another, completing each before moving on. A mother and her daughter - two women each with a family intertwined - two hearts committed to each other.

As we talk we share ideas, thoughts, plans. Once she taught me how to walk - now two separate paths with the same destination. She's further down her path than I am. Wisdom is one of the garments she wears gracefully. She shares it with me often. I am grateful.

I continue to work systematically up her body and over...exploring, finding, working, releasing...
As a grand finale I apply a hot towel for a facial massage... a little bit of heaven... and that's where we go. Time stands still as we pray for us and our's. She goes here often for me and mine, but today is special.  Together time.

Gift #1 -  A friend

Gift #2 -  Wisdom

Gift #3 -  Prayer support.

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 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?...

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!