tune in

it's a new day, a new week.

i got the kids off to school safely - everyone in these parts seem to still be getting used to the new snow...myself included!

i sit here with my coffee near by, as usual, wondering what to do with the day.  i'm looking at the week wondering how it will all turn out.

i feel pretty refreshed (now that i've some of said coffee) and fairly energized, but i feel compelled to sit still for a few moments.

"coincidentally," i came across this beautiful rendition of Come Thou Fount:


Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love


Lord, at the start of this new day, this new week, would You tune my heart to Your grace - how I need it!  As a musician tightens loose strings to tune their instrument, would You have Your way with my heart strings, even if it stretches me.  May I be an instrument of Your grace.  You are the never ending fountain of blessing in my life, let me be on the hunt for all the ways You love me.  Give me the strength to stand firm on You, the solid foundation that will never be shaken.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

A day doesn't go by, Lord, that I don't find a new way to need Your grace, it seems.  Bind my heart to Yours, beat by beat.  Help me to catch myself each time I feel like I'm about to wander; Remind me who You are.  Take my heart, give me the courage to be the woman You are calling me to be this day.  I love You and give You all praise and glory.

"And the LORD replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" Exodus 33:14

no greater love

every day i check my email.

i'm sure you do, too.

whether sitting with coffee at my home desktop computer, at the church office with my laptop or on the go with my smart phone - i stay connected as best i can.  i check my email.

many people have talked about the drawbacks of technology.  it's a time drain, or it's impersonal, or whatever.  i say, 'it works for me!'

sure it can be annoying when you open your email account ("you've got mail!") and it's full of ads and spam.  but tucked into the ads, there are stories.  pictures of a far-away friend's new baby.  a note from someone encouraging you.  updates and reminders that you rely upon.  and within those daily emails there are often requests for prayer & proclamations of praise.

today as i sifted through the junk mail (on one of those good days where my coffee is near by), i came across more of the same, but there was something that stood out as different.  prayer chain requests for healing and hope sandwiched around an ad from a website i like to frequent.  the subject line said:

"no greater love than Jesus"

it linked me through to dayspring.com (LOVE dayspring!) where they were previewing a new line of Christmas product, but that subject line stood out to me as though it were a bigger, bolder font than all the rest...

"no greater love than Jesus"

so many people hurting and broken and needing answers to their deepest needs.  walking through deep waters of confusion, grief, and disappointment.  asking for prayer and asking for hope....

"no greater love than Jesus"

even for me - as i struggle through a trial i didn't expect or ask for, wishing it would just go away...

"no greater love than Jesus"

i was reminded by a friend speaking at a women's retreat i went to this past weekend, that everything we need and hope for was already met in this:

"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

~God do you see me? Do you see what's happening down here?

"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

~God can you hear me? Are my prayers stopping at the ceiling?  

"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

~God do you love me?  Do you care?

"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Christ died and rose again.  There is hope.  God loved me even before i loved Him.  There is peace.

There is no greater love than Jesus.

He is everything we need.

(so technology can't be all bad, am i right?)

slow

this summer has been anything but slow for our family.

we have had 5 weddings,

(with more to come)

some of which we were part of...

3 weeks at camp,

(with more come)

serving in a variety of ways...

a 3 day get-away,

so needed for the family to reconnect...

{as well as our on-going regular responsibilities at church

(a.k.a. our "jobs")...}

mixed in with 

Gramma's Camp,

the wading pool,

pre-marriage counselling,

sleep-overs,

entertaining new friends and old,

birthdays and family times,

and 

all the prep that goes along with 

coming and going,

coming and going,

coming and going...

today is a slow day.

nothing on the agenda.

my heart was craving worship as i thought about the seasons

getting ready to change again.

reading in Psalm 104 reminded me 

Who is in control of the seasons,

Who is the One who breathes life into all things.

today i will be slow.

and breathe deep.

and be renewed.

"When you give them your breath

[when you send your Spirit],

life is created,

and you renew the face of the earth."

ps 104:30

life

when did this become my life?

...a question i've asked myself a time or two.

usually it's at a time where the kids are fighting,

a toilet is overflowing,

the stresses are mounting...

but today i asked myself this question out of delight,

pleasure,

joy.

i actually got up early for QT this morning.  

i wish i were a little more regular with that, 

but nevertheless

TODAY

i got up and enjoyed the sunshine and the Word.

via

after the kids left for school

(and G for the church),

i set about the weekly house cleaning.

everything spic-and-span makes me feel at peace.

i even vacuumed the entire carpet of the boy's room without sucking up a single piece of lego!

who knew that was even possible?

a shower, a light lunch and an episode of sarah 101.

a bike ride to the fabric store to buy burlap.

(a pinner i follow has been posting so many things you can make with burlap!)

did you know it only costs $1.99?

i didn't - happy surprise!

home again, coffee's on, grab my book and head out to the sunshine.

as i stepped toward the shed to put away my bike

two lovely butterflies chased each other around my head.

i actually questioned out loud,

"seriously?"

and as i looked around to see if anyone had heard me talking to myself, i marveled at this day.

when did this become my life?

{thank You Lord for a good day of refreshment.

thank You for all the days You've prepared for me -

i'll thank You now, just in case i don't have the strength 

at the time.}

"when times are good, be happy; 

when times are bad, consider this:

God has made the one as well as the other."

ecclesiates 7:14

36 things

This past Sunday was Mother's Day.  As the mom of three (wonderful) children, I've grown accoustomed to being showered with love, affection and acts of service on that special day.  The kids gave me their hand-made wonders and I received my favourite thing - fill in the blank "I love mom because...." gifts from two of them.

I love this picture of my mom and my son because he is not
a huggy-kissy kind of guy, but my mom will grab him and
show him all the affection he doesn't think he needs! 

I also had the privilege of hosting the celebratory brunch for my mom, and as I prepared for that, I got to thinking about all the things I've learned from her over the 36 Mother's Days we've had together.  It was a wonderful excercise to consider how much of who I am is because of her.  So here they are (in no specific order):

on housekeeping:
1. Clean weekly, so the mess never builds up to an all-day job.
2. Even on a lazy day where I want to watch tv all day, if I do some small job during every commercial, I'll get alot done.
3. If your kitchen, bathroom and main living space are tolerable, you'll never be horrified by a drop-by visitor.
4.  Dust first, then vacuum.
5. An organized home is a peaceful home.
6.  If you have too much stuff to keep track of - PURGE!
7.  If you can't find things or buy multiples of the same item because you forgot you had it - PURGE!
8.  Pretty containers make organizing more fun and inspiring.

on hospitality:
9.  Do as much as you can in advance, so you can enjoy your guests when the arrive.
10.  Put the food away and leave the rest of the clean up for after your guests leave.
11. Be present!
12.  Make a list of the things you intended to serve - then you won't open the fridge after your guests leave and realize you forgot to serve the salad!
13.  Have some interesting and funny things prepared for when conversation lulls.
14.  A home that is comfortable, tidy and inviting will help put people at ease, and a warm greeting helps even more!
15.  China is not just for major holidays.  If you"ve got "good dishes," who are you saving them for? 
16.  Be light and entertaining, inviting and open with your guests and at social functions.
17.  A meal doesn't have to be gourmet to be guest-worthy.

on faith and service:
18.  Scripture memory never stops being important.
19.  Read your bible cover to cover as often as you can.
20.  Stay in group bible study, lead as you're lead.
21.  Journalling is a good way to keep track of how God is at work in your life.
22.  Pray for an obedient heart
23.  Speak the truth
24.  Be peaceable (but not at any price)
25.  Serve women and be ready to share your story

on marriage and family:
26.  Be responsible for who you are and what you do - in your marriage, as a parent, as the daughter of aging parents
27.  Let your husband show love by leading
28.  Freshen up before he comes home from work
29.  Teach your children to honour their dad
30.  Speak to the uniqueness of each child and find a place to connect from there
 
on personal growth:
31.  There is no benefit to pretending to be someone you are not
32.  "Be sure your sins will find you out"
33.  "Let the grace of God dwell in you richly"
34.   Have a "ready" laugh - this will bless people more than you can imagine
35.  REST as your body and soul requires it, try not to wait until it's past due!

and lastly, this one is a lesson i learned just today through a phone conversation with her....
36.  When you plan on parking yourself on the couch with your coffee and tv remote: don't forget to bring the cordless phone with you! (thanks, Mom!)

Not to brag (oh that should be on the list too, "don't brag")  but my mom is great!  If you know her, you know that already.  She is a testimony to all the God is doing in her life and the fact that at her stage of living, she is still growing in Him.  What more could any of us hope for?

Thanks, Mom!

nostalgia

source

for whatever reason, this morning i woke up feeling very nostalgic.  (maybe it was the fact that i had an awesome sleep, and the kids didn't get up until almost 10am! thankyouverymuch spring break...)

as i (finally) got ready to come into the church to work, i put on the necklace Gavin gave me for our first anniversary and i remembered that first year of marriage.  it wasn't easy, but there was so much fun!  i remembered how happy he was to give it to me and how he actually ended up putting it on my neck a full 2 months before our special day, just because he wanted me to have it.

as i carefully untangled it (no, my jewelery is not super-organized) i remember how as a little girl, i always took my tangled necklaces to my dad and he always was able to make them straight.  there's a tiny knot in the chain i'm wearing today, perhaps i should take it to him....  i always used to marvel at his thick, rough fingers were able to do such delicate work.

as i looked through a friend's facebook photos of their experience taking young adults to Passion Vancouver, i started to feel all excited inside as i remembered all the fun we had in Atlanta and the awesome experience of worshipping with so many people.  i think of it every time i listen to the new album that was recorded during the conference.  i jokingly tell people that i can totally hear my voice on a few of the songs....

even more, as i looked on the faces of these friends, i remember how we met them very early in our time in Durham, NC.  i thought about how the Lord brought us to that state and how He brought us to that little church where He introduced us to this sweet family from our home town - only the Lord!  and for all the 'trouble' with facebook (the potential for time-sucking and the depressive feelings that can occur) this is one of those times where the Lord can really use it.  what an amazing blessing to know how He's continuing to use and move in the lives of people.  what a beautiful gift to see people I know, even if just for a little while, use their talents for His kingdom.  

my heart feels so mushy today....but this is exactly what i needed for this day.

i prayed and asked the Lord for inspiration this morning as i'm sitting down to get (hopefully) most of my prep done for the Easter weekend.  this nostalgic is the answer to that prayer, i'm certain.  soft feelings of recollection are exactly where i need to begin as i reflect on the days leading up to the Lord's last time around the table with His friends.  a tender heart is what i need to take me to a place of vivid imagination as i consider the day my Lord was hung on the cross.  and this buzzing of excitement is just what i want to feel as i think about the day His friends found the empty tomb - when the light began to dawn on them, when they saw a glimpse of what this meant...

look back, my friends - it can give you what you need today to look forward.

unexpected blessing

As I poured my second cup of coffee, I stepped in front of my kitchen window and noticed my full bird feeder.  We loaded up the feeder a couple of days ago, and I have yet see a bird there, I thought to myself.

At that very moment a bluejay flew into view.

A small gasp escaped my lips, followed by a smile and a prayer of thanks.  I thought of our dear friends, for whom a bluejay is a special symbol of God's love at the most difficult times.  I thought of how it's just like our loving Heavenly Father to send a reminder of His presence when I'm not even looking for it.

An unexpected blessing.

I remembered how many times I've received an unexpected blessing-from a friend, from a stranger.  I wondered how many times I've overlooked something that the Lord intended to bless me.

I must remember to keep my eyes open, I thought to myself.

And then another thought:

How 'bout delivering that unexpected blessing?

An email, a note delivered by snail-mail, a phone call, a kind word, a small gift, a hand on a shoulder.... what about keeping my eyes open for the ways I can give -be- an unexpected blessing to someone else -a friend or a stranger.

I must remember to keep my open, I thought again to myself.

¹⁰ Unfailing love and truth have met together. 

      Righteousness and peace have kissed!  

¹¹ Truth springs up from the earth,       

and righteousness smiles down from heaven.  

¹² Yes, the LORD pours down his blessings. 

PSALM 84

I WILL remember to keep my eyes open.