Quiet Yourself & Listen to Your Heart

It was early January and a cold snowy day -- not much different than what we'd been experiencing for the past few months. My winter blues were turned on "HIGH" that year. My desire for warm sun & hidden beaches was intense. Through a few years of experience, I'd finally figured out that those desires could be fed when I was out in nature observing the wonders of God. The dusk light on a snow covered pond brought peace to my restless soul. The sound of the snow crunching under my feet as I wondered through a nearby woods lifted my spirits. Even as I shivered from the cold air, I felt

Doing Nothing & Then Resting

"How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterwards." 

Don't you just LOVE that Spanish proverb. There are just those days or seasons in our lives when we need to do nothing... and then rest.  

This morning felt like that to me. I am growing weary of all the snow, ice & sub-zero temperatures here in "stuckinindiana" land. We have lived in this state for over 24 years & never seen a winter like this. I'm fortunate, as I don't have a traditional job which requires me to leave early each morning for a full day away. But, my loved ones do. And, I hate for them to have to drive in this dangerous mess. Although I don't have a "real job", I have responsibilities which require me to be out & about throughout the week. This crazy (cray cray, as the kids say) weather does not work with my little yellow car with racing tires either! There are times when I can't even make it out of the drive over the SMALL snow drifts (6-12 inches) or up the little hill to the main road. Yesterday afternoon one of my car doors froze shut in the sleet as I was at an appointment. It's a gamble to go out for me & that little yellow car!

I'm missing the beaches of south Florida that were my back yard for about 15 years. I miss walking barefoot at water's edge as the sun comes up. I miss the roar of the ocean on a windy night. I miss finding secluded places on the beach to relax & read... and to listen to God. I can't go to my beaches physically at this point in my life. So, I'm a mental traveler most days -- especially today! 

I'm only resting for a bit today. But, I'm letting God renew me through the moments as I rest in Him & reflect upon his faithfulness & love!

Take time... MAKE TIME to rest & be renewed!

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength." Isaiah 30:15

 

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today...

Twenty-One Degrees Sounded Warm

What a winter for those of us stuckinindiana! We got a little snow in November & then MISSED a White Christmas... only to be hit with SNOW, SNOW, SNOW from that point on. My nesting mode is in high gear. The ice & snow has prevented my little yellow car from getting out on the road. My walk down the drive to the mail box could make a good clip for "families' funniest videos" -- forget about actually walking out on the country roads for exercise. Days where I've showered at 6pm to merely change into a fresh pair of pajamas have been the norm instead of a rarity. 

A tinge of pinkish-orange reflecting off the snow outside and onto my bedroom wall caught my attention. I'd been in jammies (my name for pajamas) ALL day. The morning & early afternoon had been spent caring for my favorite little baby-girl. The remainder of the afternoon had been spent telling myself that I really ought to get busy & do a few things around the house. At 5:50pm, I saw that color I love... and, I knew it was time for a little winter walkabout.

The outside temperatures have been horrid lately so, I checked the thermometer. It was a 21 degrees. That sounded SO warm after the sub-zero temps of days before. The jammies were exchanged for Cuddle Duds, sweats, etc... and I was out the back door to take a look at "My Father's World"...

The winds had swept a clean area along the side of our barn
and built up a tall snow bank
preventing me from walking directly to the field.

Frozen ruts now replaced the tracks made through soft snow by our
farmer neighbor when taking his grand-babies on sled rides last weekend.

Patches of ice reflected the colors that only God can paint.

A rainbow of colors decorated the eastern horizon
and distant farms were bathed in the colors of sunset.

The sun was almost gone... the colors would linger for a bit longer.

The cold began to take its toll on me.
I snapped another picture & turned toward the house.

Twenty-one degrees sounded warm... turns out it wasn't that night. In 20 minutes the sun had almost disappeared from the western horizon and, I was back inside my warm home eager to see what the lens had captured. The camera never gets the full impact of God's beauty. But, the photos I captured in this winter walkabout will always serve to remind me that this is my Father's world!

"The world is Mine, and all that is within it." Psalm 50:12

Loved this hymn as a little girl... love it still... 

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening earsAll nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thoughtOf rocks and trees, of skies and seas;His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forgetThat though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,And earth and Heav’n be one.

This is my Father’s world, dreaming, I see His face.I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,The Beloved One, His Only Son,Came—a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roamWhate’er my lot, it matters not,My heart is still at home.

This is My Father's World Words: Malt­bie D. Bab­cock, 1901, alt. While a pas­tor in Lock­port, New York, Bab­cock liked to hike in an ar­ea called “the es­carp­ment,” an an­cient up­thrust ledge near Lock­port. It has a mar­vel­ous view of farms, or­chards, and Lake On­tar­io, about 15 miles dis­tant. It is said those walks in the woods in­spired these lyr­ics. The ti­tle re­calls an ex­press­ion Bab­cock used when start­ing a walk: “I’m go­ing out to see my Fa­ther’s world.”Music: Terra Beata, tra­di­tion­al Eng­lish mel­o­dy, ar­ranged by Frank­lin L. Shep­pard in his Al­le­lu­ia, 1915 (MI­DI,score).

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today...

Whether this Weather... or something like that!

Whether this weather affects our attitude or not, we can't change it :/ A few weeks ago I was commenting on our spring-like weather for the middle of February. Now I am tempted to complain about the winter storm which is laying a blanket of white on everything, as I write this note, on the 5th of March. Doesn't March mean spring?? 

I work part time for NorthKids and, as the parents came in to pick up their children today, the number one topic was WEATHER! Both of Madison Park Church's child care facilities (NorthKids & Kids Learning Center) announce any delays or closures via the radio on WQME 98.7 and via television onWISH-TV Channel 8. I'm kind of hoping for a closure tomorrow. The snow is coating everything & my drive-time home tonight was more than doubled due to slippery roads!

I'm about DONE with snow... but, snow might not be done with me quite yet. Often the only way for me to make it through a "bad" situation is to change my attitude. Voltaire said, 

"Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her; but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game."

I believe that I can "win the game" only when I turn things over to God... whether or not things are going just as I think they should go! As His Word says,

"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve." Joshua 24:15a

No matter what you are experiencing, stay warm & safe. Put your complete trust in Him!!