So glad its the weekend, for many reasons but the main one is that my man is coming home from a week out of the country. I have been the single parent of two kids and a puppy, my car broke down, and final exams at school all this while completing a "while your were out" surprise for my husband. His plans lands at 5:25pm. Woo Hoo!!!!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Diane and Joy, you both will be in my thoughts. Stay strong because He is. Chanan, PTL for your good report.
8 Comments:
Whoa...Wendy, and I thought I had a busy week! What a fun homecoming for your husband! Enjoy...
For me this was the fastest week ever! It's Sat. already!!!
I loved Proverb 13:12 -
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life." To 'deferred' is 'to put off.' Hope...a longing..to look forward to...to believe...to trust! It revives us and strengthens us when we need it!
Lord, I put my hope in you today.
Praying sweet sister's that you each have a blessed weekend!
Lori - AZ
I'm in for a quick lunch and then it's back out to the field to pick more rock. As I ride up and down in the field on the hay rack, I look at all the little corn plants that have burst through the dirt and are reaching for the sunlight and hoping for the rains to come; and I realize how much hope and faith a farmer has got to have, to plant a tiny seed (many of them) into the ground and know that from that labor of love they will reap a harvest of bounty.
Seeing hope and faith with my (dirt filled) eyes today!
Morgen - MN
Thanks for your continued prayers Wendy. I spent my day with Dad. Too much to write, but your prayers are soooo appreciated.
My verse today was, "If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!" Proverbs 11:27
One of my favourite old Disney movies is "Pollyanna" with Haley Mills. As I read the above verse this morning, I was reminded of the quote found inside the locket Pollyanna wore, the locket given to her by her father.
"When you look for the bad in mankind, expecting to find it, you surely will." Abraham Lincoln.
In the past many weeks as my journey has been difficult at best, I have found the opposite to be just as true as well. If I search for the good, expecting to find it, I surely will. Often the search is longer and harder as the treasure is buried, but it's there, and it's so precious for the finding.
Did I come to this perspective easily? No! I have a friend who is daily encouraging me to focus on the positive. To look for the good and keep looking until I find it. I'm discovering that so much of the 'bad' is speculation, possibility and appearance, but not truth.
The benefit of being a scout for the favourable is that it focuses my mind on the agreeable and pleasing. For example, today, sitting by my Dad's bedside in the hospital as he enjoyed an afternoon nap, I tuned my ears to good. This is the good my heart heard:
...a patient trying to sing Happy Birthday...a Dr. who is checking Dad for infection and providing a cream...the sweet nurse Kim who seems so caring...the nurse playing "Crazy 8's" with another patient (a fitting game for this ward...oops...sorry..couldn't help myself..)...an encouraging word as the nurse praised another patient who almost found her room by herself...the sound of laughter...an invitation extended to Dad's room-mate to go watch TV...an orderly who offered directions to an outdoor patio if we wanted to take Dad outside...the nurse who voluntarily told us about chapel services...the nurse who was putting the kettle on to refresh a weary soul...
The sound of 'good'.
What good did you hear today? Keep seeking!
Enjoy your Sabbath rest friends,
Joy
Morning Ladies!
Joy, I loved what you wrote this morning! ~"I'm discovering that so much of the 'bad' is speculation, possibility and appearance, but not truth." This is really something to let sink in! It also applies to worrying. So much of what we daily tend to worry or fret about - never, never even comes close to happening.
So many good proverbs today. I loved: "A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit."
When our hearts are joyful, our faces show this happiness; but, when we are sorrowful and brokenhearted, our spirits are crushed. How we react to the situations that come about is a choice we make. It's easy to be happy when we're glad, but more difficult to reflect deep joy when we are hurting. Yet all of us experience hurt, and grief in our lives at one time or another.
Lord, help me to reflect an attitude of strength and faith in you, refusing to let my circumstances crush my spirit. Daily I want to put my trust in You. You're my rock and fortress through times of difficulty. May my face reflect my love for and faith in you, regardless of my circumstances, so that I may model Your light to those around me.
Hope you all have a peaceful and restful day! I love Sundays!
Lori - AZ
Evening Reading Friends,
Hope you all have had a wonderful weekend. Ours has been pretty packed. The reading this weekend has been so good. Lori, I just love what you wrote today and the prayer!
I wanted to let you all know that I will still be reading with you through the month of June but might not be posting too much. I am starting a book with my son called "I am a Christian Now." We are going to spend 30 minutes together every morning for the whole month going through this book together so he can learn more about the decision he made the end of March. It goes through salvation, baptism and the purpose of the church and how God has a plan for his life and in His body of believers. I learned at "She Speaks" last year from Melanie Chitwood that every time you add something on you need to take something away so you don't get out of balance. I feel God leading me to read her book called "What a Husband Needs From His Wife" along with the other things I have on my plate. Our church is starting a 4 week devotional as well called "Come to the Table." It prepares us to take communion. We are beginning that next week. I feel God leading me to take a Facebook hiatus so I am not going to be on FB any the month of June. I am going to focus on building my faith and that of my son. You can read all about what God is doing right now in my life on my blog. It explains all this in more detail. I will be reading, but probably not posting too much for now.
Wendy, hope your husband made it back home safe and sound and your surprise turned out great!
You all have a blessed week!
In His Love Sisters,
Brandee, TN
Brandee, I applaud your decision and committment. May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in these new areas and may your relationship with Him deepen.
Today my heart resonated with this verse: "Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains." Proverbs 14:13
There are all types of laughter. Belly laugh. Chuckle. Giggle. Side-splitting. Nervous. A few days ago I wrote about a wonderful afternoon of laughter. It was real, sincere and healing. Yet, laughter can so easily be a tool of protection providing a mask, to blanket feelings. It's colourful and amusing, but it also provides a hiding place. Behind the joyful sound of delight is a heart of despair. The music of laughter conceals the misery of a mournful song silenced, and when it's melody is over, grief remains.
Lately the song being orchestrated across my life is one that plays itself out after the laughter is gone. When words can't be found and all the tears have been cried, music expresses the language of my heart. Feelings that can't be shared with anyone else flow and dampen the ivories as pain finds expression. Anger, frustration, confusion and heartache are unlocked. Unspoken words find an avenue of speech. My soul is exposed. Truth is uncovered. The smile is a facade.
Fearing my pain will be discovered, not by you, but me, laughter is helping me live above my now. It's my weapon of defense, shielding my mind from reality, preventing my emotions from dictating my living and sheltering my heart from the sneers of the evil one.
If I truly let my mind hold the accuracy of my current, depression would control. Laughter is but a momentary liberation. It provides a break in the monotony. I'm so thankful to those who find a way inside. They have a gift. Even if the laughter isn't lasting, it's relief and release brings healing.
Yes, grief remains, but for a few minutes I've forgotten it's pain,
Joy
Wow ladies, I believe I am in the company of angels today, as I read your words. Joy, thank you for being an example of strength in Jesus, yet willing to share your weaknesses with all of us. Lori, thank you for being the ever-encourager, willing to step over the shallow waters and dive deep into the real issues of life.
Morgen, thank you for all your transparency and realness in a world that can sometimes feel fake. Brandee, thank you for being a devotee of the most High God, following His lead even while your own may sound better. Diane, Karen, Chanan, Nancy, Debbie, Susan, Jan, and everyone else, thank you for showing us all how to continue on this journey of God-filled living even while sometimes feeling so empty. And Wendy, thank you for leading us as we explore the depths of God and the friendships only He could have created here.
Like Lori, I loved Proverbs 13:12 from this weekend's reading. I thank God that we have true hope that we may hold onto. Sometimes this is all we have.
I also found some humor in Proverbs 14:4, "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest."
Sorry ladies, but when I read this I could only think of the oxen as my spouse and kids. Yes, without them, my life and house would be much cleaner. Yet, isn't it the strength of family that produces a large harvest of blessings in our lives? :0)
Happy June tomorrow. My son has his last day of school. Summer, here we come!
Hey Girls,
It's fun to check in for "Open Blog Weekend". I don't often write but I am always checking in.
Brandee, I will really miss your thoughts and will keep you and your family in prayer. It sounds like you are all growing spiritually...I am always excited to hear how your husband in growing in his faith (an answer to your prayers).
Lori,it is always a pleasure to read what is going on in your neck of the woods. Your input is always something I enjoy reading.
Joy, my heart still goes out to you and your family. I understand your need to bring on the laughter rather than cry with the situation. At the same time, I would like to encouage you to take the time to cry...cry to our Father...He's always there.
Today was interesting. God is continually showing me what His purpose is for me in my current job situation. The pastor brought up the subject of prayer and the armour of God...telling us that God didn't give us armour so we could run but rather so we could defend. I really understand a "Fight or Flight" theory yet it is wonderful we don't need to do either one. The armour of God doesn't include weapons...the battle is His...and the purpose isn't to run (it'd be hard to do,anyway..running with armour on).
After church, I went to a Bluegrass and Barbque fund raiser. Some of our local talent shared the beauty of bluegrass and the love of God. The music brings out the tears from within and rests our burdens with God. I can still hear them sing, "Go Rest High Up On That Mountain". One day...our work on this earth will be done. It is my hope, He will look at me and say, "Well done".
Diane, I think of you often.
Love you, girls.
Nancy
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