22 Words

Abraham's post today answered
a unspoken question........read it now!!!

Weary and Limping

Yesterday, at church, the sermon really blessed me. ( Honestly, church is often one of the hardest places for me to go. I feel pressured to be everything that I am not.....

you know, happy and thriving,

instead of battleweary and bruised.)

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The passage:

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

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The command for encouragement and perserverance assumes a NEED.

That means that believers can be

(and are often)

discouraged and weary.....

if it was an easy road,

an easy race,

this verse would be superfluous....

I have faith,

confidence in the Lord alone,

that his power will bring me safely to the finishline.

But it will not be the finish of the graceful runner

in perfect shape

who crosses triumphantly,

but the injured,

sick and nearly out of their mind

with exhuastion

runner who collaspes

the instant the line reached.

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But it will be reached,

and then,

in His presence I will know:

true bliss,

true rest and comfort,

unbroken.

Romans 15: 4

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus......

A Rare Jewel

I can in all states cast my care upon God,

cast my burden upon God,

I can commit my way to God in peace:

faith can do this.

Therefore, when reason can go no higher,

let faith get on the shoulders of reason and say,

‘I see land though reason cannot see it,

I see good that will come out of all this evil.’

Exercise faith by often resigning yourself to God,

by giving yourself up to God and his ways.

The more you in a believing way

surrender up yourself to God,

the more quiet and peace you will have.

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The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment,

by Jeremiah Burroughs

Easter Sunday

All of these handsome boys make me smile!

Contentment

Striving and pushing and aching

for contentment and rest.

Life's a Contradiction.

Rejoice!

On Easter Sunday, our whole family gathered again....

it has been months since Jason and Tasha

were able to come to our get-togethers.

First bedrest, then NICU, then isolation.

Now, spring is here and we celebrate new life!

Especially theirs! My niece and nephews!

from left: Blake, Madison and Cameron!

We love you!

Made Alive

1 Corinthians 15:20-22
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead,

the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

For as by a man came death,

by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die,

so also in Christ

shall all be made alive.

When I grow up.....

.....I want to be a little boy.

Joseph Heller

Little Things

like a bucket of branches on my back step......

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Living has been hard, in fact I'm not sure that this could even be called life. I lift my head to find that days, weeks and even a whole month has gone by in a fog, where has the time gone? I wrestle with my vices, the constant temptation to try to escape. There are so many lies in my head: they tell me everything would be better, if only I could be better (somehow). Everything is so hard, and yet looking back, I feel ashamed of what looks like only half-efforts.

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This grieving has shown me my sinful nature more than anything ever has. The Cross of my Lord is so valuable to me now....because everyday I am faced (with theatre lighting and surround sound) with my shortcomings.

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Easter was especially hard....a friend was suffering through a miscarriage as we went to the Good Friday service. Her pain and loss brought mine back, like vinegar in a wound that hasn't healed.

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Weeping may last for the night, but joy is in the morning.

I am ready for the morning. Come, Lord Jesus!

Spring in the Works

A cute cottage for our chicks....

I'm picturing white, with old windows,

and flower boxes.....
Early blooms found on the south side of our flowering quince....

Braden's view of my summer hat, the sky and still leafless trees.

It is good to know that spring is almost here!

Flock

After some fatalities early on,

we are now on our way to a real flock....

23 hens to keep us company this summer.