Psalm 130: 5-7

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption...

I was reading Psalm 130 for my coffee and cozy time with God today. Afterward, I was meditating on the verses about waiting for the Lord, especially my soul, and how the psalmist compared his own waiting to how a watchmen waits for the morning. I started researching 'watchmen' (or 'sentries' as some versions read) and found a post that provided a wonderful reminder to me. Blogger Jeremy Norton wrote,

"It’s so interesting to me that the Psalmist chooses to liken a watchmen to his waiting on the Lord.  The watchman holds huge responsibility that when everyone sleeps, he is in charge of reporting dangers that may be approaching.  Whether thieves, storms or invading enemies; he must be steadfast in his watch.  Then at dawn, as the sun breaks the horizon, the watchman breathes a sigh of relief as his time of rest has arrived."

After reading that I remembered a morning last week when the sky was gray and suddenly a huge hole of sunlight came bursting through. I thought, "Wow, could Jesus be coming back today?" and peaceful excitement flooded me as I continued on my way to work.

Why? Because I'm waiting on Jesus, the true Dawn of the morning. I'm eagerly awaiting his return! I'm like the watchman anxious for the dawn and ready for the rest. The thought of seeing Jesus brings a sigh to my heart and yet I'm totally holding my breath in anticipation to see my Lord with my own eyes!

Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what [she] has done." Rev. 22:12

And I say, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." Rev. 22:20b-21

Your Inner Light

If it looks as though I'm communicating to someone behind the camera, I am. I'm talking to ME! I'm expressing private truths to myself about my inner light through these photos which maybe only I understand.

I was challenged in the "inner EXCAVATION" book I'm reading to take self portraits. The photos are not meant to be focused on your look, being stylish or taking the perfect picture by having everything "in place." The focus is about expressing your inner light.

The book challenged me so now I challenge you to a quick self portrait session in which you try to express your inner light! Please remember, it's not about perfect pictures. When I look at my hair in these shots or my gentle rolls I kind of cringe, but I'm trying to be courageous because I want to remember and remind those great women around me...in you shines a light and in Jesus you are enough!

Now go speak some truths to yourself through your camera :)

Do Not Fret

Kidnapping. Corruption. Car Bombs. Abuse. These are just a few topics in articles I saw from the online news today. I don't often read the news and rarely watch it. Why? It really stresses me out! After a long day at work, the last thing I need is to go home and eat my dinner watching depressing stories.

I was thinking about these things when I read Psalm: 37 for my "Coffee & Cozy" time with God this morning. Sometimes I forget...as strange as this might sound...to take God at his word. After reading the psalm, I went back and read it again. This time I took to heart the truth it was expressing, especially about wickedness. Reading the second time, a wonderful peace surrounded me. So if the wickedness of the world bothers your righteous heart too...may we NEVER forget these direct quotes from God's words on the matter in Psalm 37:

• Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 
• Do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 
• For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
• A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
• The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. (I found this incredibly powerful)
• For the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.
• But the wicked will perish: Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke
• Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish
• I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. 
• There will be no future for the wicked.

We are flooded with negative everyday yet we have no need to fret. God is a God of mercy and yet he is also a God of justice. We can trust him...he sees what's going on.

“Remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS.” ~ Gandhi

God's way...the way of truth and love...has ALWAYS WON. Beautiful!

The Journey

I receive a newsletter at least weekly from a blog called Solo Traveler. Janice's blog has inspired me in many ways since I'm also a woman who has wanderlust and has traveled solo on many occasions. Recently, she had a post called "The Journey" and share a poem written by David Whyte.

WOW!

To try to "explain" this poem is worthless...you must listen for yourself. Click here to watch a video of him providing his background in writing it and to hear him recite this poem.

photo from Solo Traveler's blog

Moments in Time

Matthew 3:16
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

Matthew 9:22
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.

Matthew 27:50-52 

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.  The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

Luke 2:38
Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

John 18:27
Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
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These are some of many unique moments in the bible. I am reading a new book by Liz Lamoreux called "inner EXCAVATION" and its focus is exploring "your self through photography, poetry and mixed media." The first exercise I completed was focused on taking a series of pictures.

The purpose? Its designed to help you live in the moment; the ones that make up your ordinary day. So I took pictures of part of my evening. This evening's 'moments' aren't as ground shaking as those verses above but they are the moments God gave me that night. I want to take notice more of how God is working in both the large and small moments of my life.

So what did I find as I was 'excavating' through my evening? God revealed to me that I'm pretty sad right now. He showed me there's been a lot of change in my life recently and that I need to put my head on his shoulder a bit more and cling to him. I'm grateful he reveals what's happening inside my heart and mind in these little moments.

Here are some of the photos below. None of them are 'amazing' but that's not the point of the exercise. You will notice many are taken portrait style instead of landscape and that the others are taken at ground level. These are cool prompts to try when taking pictures to help be a bit more creative :)

  

Soul - The Inner Garden

Traveling inside myself down a winding dirt road,

In the soil, that is my soul, a flower bed grows.

 
This is the beginning of a poem I wrote many years ago. I tend to picture my soul as a garden. Growing up on a farm, of sorts, and having farmers in my family, I have seen the work it takes to keep a garden beautiful and bearing. In some ways, both a physical garden and the inner garden of my soul need to be cared for in the same ways. Let me explain:  

• Mulch. Mulch is applied as a covering to prevent excessive evaporation or erosion, enrich the soil, and inhibit weed growth. What am I covering my soul with? A focus on Jesus! By mulching my soul with Jesus I prevent excessive burnout and faith deterioration. It also helps me to repress some weed growth of the soul (temptations & sin).
• Sunlight & Fertilizing. Healthy plants are more disease resistant. A person with a strong immune system can combat diseases as well. Thinking of sunlight to my soul reminds me that I need to take care of my body, exercise and eat well. It would be silly to think that the outside doesn't affect the inside. Also, I need to fertilize my garden soul with worship, encouragement, and peacefulness to keep it strong and healthy.
• Pesticide. Pesticides are intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest. Helping to prevent 'pests' or getting rid of them in my inner garden consists of confessing and repenting. Sins literally eat away at my soul so I have to be sure to be open and willing to keep changing.
• Water. The best time to water a garden is during the morning. Just the same, when I'm spending lots of time with God in the mornings I am more refreshed. Reading my bible and praying are the perfect activities to give my soul more vibrancy.
• Thin the garden. Thinning a garden provides more room for the surviving plants to mature into healthy, vigorous crops. In a similar way, I must go in and evaluate my schedule, activities, and plans to make sure I'm still on the path God wants me to be for my life and maybe 'thin' something out so that I can grow the way God desires.

Isaiah 58:11 "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

Ultimately, I truly value the gardening of my soul. I want to grow in taking care of it and also grow to have more patience and kindness towards myself as my soul blooms. I desire this and believe I can have a sense of anticipation for the fruit I will bear internally and with others as I take care of my inner garden. :)

Last Minute Gift Idea for Mom

Even though Mom and I are celebrating Mother's Day with a mother/daughter day the weekend after the holiday, I still wanted to send both my mom and grandma flowers on the actual day. Yet even with all my planning ahead, I received a call yesterday that the flowers I purchased to encourage them could not be delivered. (they live too far in the boonies - ha) So, I've been hustling to find another gift. Sometime between 1-3AM last night an idea hit me.

Today I bought blue antique Mason jars, a whole bunch of antique buttons, and a candle to create a sentimental (and country tailored) gift for them. I filled the jars with buttons and wedged a sweet smelling candle in each. It will be easy for them to replace the candle when this one is done. I'm going to include the lid because it adds a stronger antique look. Also, I printed a picture of the flower arrangements I wanted to send each of them and on the back printed a poem I wrote to explain why this gift was symbolic.

Below are some photos and the poem.

  

The poem I wrote, reads:

"Buttons fasten things together

and a candle lights the way.

They each symbolize

my thoughts of you on Mother's Day.

Buttons to represent the moments

you've kept our family entwined

and a candle signifies the light

which you continually shine."

You could fill a container with anything around the candle. I've seen wine corks or you could use pebbles, silk flowers to line the inside, shells, funky fabric pieces...whatever. I was super stressed yesterday when I had to cancel the flower order but I'm happy that a cute & creative gift came to life because of the time crunch. Anyway, just a little idea I thought I'd share. I'm hoping this will bring them happy thoughts each time they look at it or light the candle. Oh, and I had enough left over to make a little one for myself. Bonus! :)