Pouring it on.

3 GIFTS IN JARS...

Water  filling...those empty jars being filled... clean life-giving water for the thirsty

Son is watching as I fill each jar... ever thinking, he's done it since small.
He watches as I adjust lighting and get camera ready... take photos of water jars in a row.

"Those jars are like us, Mum. 'Full' is like someone who spends a lot of time with God and His Word, ...' half-full', even 'quarter-filled'...doesn't matter how much water is in them there is always someone that our water can bless.
It's really all about grace - His grace. It just overflows from our jar and spills over into their's,... even if their's is fuller than our's."

"May I use your wise words?"
"Sure, Mum." Smile quietly peeking ... "There's no copyright yet."

I enjoy a laugh with my thoughtful son.

I ponder his words of wisdom...his jar emptied into me "...even a quarter-filled jar can overflow grace and blessing for someone."

"Might I have a small amount of water for someone, Lord?"

Phone call ... a heart heavy with the burdens of life. They share some of their story, and I feel for them.

I have no magic answers. No "Thus, saith the Lord..." No, this is how to make it right". I wish I did, so I could ease it for them.

Instead, I find myself asking them if they can see the gift in their situation. Find the blessing that God is gift-wrapping for them in their mess. Revel in His great love for them. Give Him grateful thanks.

This is the water He has been graciously pouring into my jar... received that I might give.

~~~~~

"1000 Gifts"...


#147 Washing drying in strong breeze
#148 Phone calls that keep in touch
#149 laughing with my darling
#150 hearing his day
#151 the opportunity to pour it on
#152 fresh apple
#153 the soft taste of filtered water
#154 excitement to read yesterday's psalms again now that I have more context...makes so much more sense!

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 :)

Victorious through RHYTHM, RHYME & REASON

Intertwined gifts ~

The RHYTHM of the home-schooling drum started beating again today. Third term commences...
19 years and it's still makes my insides hurt ... like a heavy bass in a confined space.

But the gift of RHYTHM has brought another gift...DISCIPLINE
(no wonder my insides hurt...who likes that word?!)

When we started home educating, discipline was not a quality I had very much of. But as I submit to the RHYTHM, I find DISCIPLINE tags along like an uninvited, but not unwanted, friend. The steady RHYTHM of home educating and I, may still not be BFFs (I prefer, by nature, a freer rhythm), but we sure do get along betterer and betterer the more time we spend together.

When I look in envy at my darling's disciplined nature, he tells me the secret is in 'not giving one-self a choice'. Do not ask yourself what you feel like. If you go down that path you'll only get trouble. Instead, just go with the RHYTHM...the RHYTHM of the alarm clock, the RHYTHM of the day's requirements...the RHYTHM of life.

 I try...I fail...I try again...I do a little better

The RHYME of home educating has changed over the years. It's also been a gift.
It used to have verses of games, crafts and fun-based learning. The next stanza - projects, groups and integrated learning. Now in senior years it is much more memorization, studying and text-book learning. But what a lot I've learned as we've gone through it with each one.

The poetry of it all as a whole, etched in the overflowing minds of my children.

But have I done this labour of love for the beauty of the RHYME, or the discipline of the RHYTHM? A resounding 'NO'! There is a REASON!

A REASON...a hope...a dream that we work towards. The REASON makes us keep going when the RHYTHM is hard. The REASON makes us search out new RHYMES to help us through. The REASON makes us able to stand strong and weather the tough times.

RHYTHMs  and RHYMEs help REASON to cross the finish line ...victorious!

~~~~~

"1000 gifts"...

#128  An early morning 'goodbye' cuddle 

#129  Nice memories of yesterday

#130  More fb birthday wishes

#131  Photography tip from creative daughter

#132  The familiar rhythm of school

#133  Daughter's piano chords emerging into a song

#134  Being reminded of the reason we home educate

#135  Easy dinners

#136  Phone call to my darling

#137  Smoothie from kind son

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

Awkward Feet

A gift of CHALLENGE, CONFLICT, CHANGE ~

CONFLICT has been reigning in my soul for a long time over this issue. I've seen His hand leading and I've tried to follow but the path has been so unclear.

I've tripped - stubbed my tender toes, scuffed my emotional knees, cried some, called out for some guidelines please...

Silence

Instead, more leading into upsidedown - the steady path I'd always walked cracking, swaying, disappearing, as the ground on which it was built was shaken.

I tried earlier to step off the path, but quickly returned to the familiar. But, yesterday, I took that determined step off the old path - unsure of what to do, where to go, or how to move ahead. Tired enough of all the internal jostling to make the CHANGE and put up with awkward feet.

Then today He spoke

Pointing me in the new direction. Opening up the path immediately in front.

New foundations to be laid while at His feet - time in His presence.

I accept the CHALLENGE.