The Season of Singing (Word-Filled Wednesday)

Rising Godward to enjoy the season of singing.

"Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me.

See!  The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves is heard in our land."

Song of Songs 2:10-12

Fill up with His beautiful Word. 



*To be blessed by more like-minded Word-Filled thoughts, visit Lori at All You Have to Give.*

The Season of Singing (Word-Filled Wednesday)

When Blessings Are Burdens

When protection feels like loss,
When the mess in your heart is worse than the mess in the kitchen,
When love feels like sacrifice,
When blessings have become burdens,

It's time to put your hand to the plow.

Till that hard heart soil.
Tear up those ugly weeds.
Air out the old grievances for good.

Breathe in the fresh clay.

Plant some new thoughts,

     some things useful, true and noble.

 
Begin again.  And don't look back.



* photos of my parents working hard preparing our shared garden*

When Blessings Are Burdens

Confession

I hold my breath as I write, for in here is confession.  In here is a need from my heart  pressing through to my fingers to pour out what is inside.  Fear is with me, for I feel vulnerable, but the confession grows stronger.  It needs release.

I am hungry.

I am hungry and searching.  Searching to figure out why I am hungry . . . but even as I write, the knowing comes.  If I admit it, the hunger is for the same things I have always craved.  Approval.  Admiration.  Appreciation.  Acceptance.   

And I am Esau.  I come hungry to the bowl.  The compliments smell good to me.  And I ask Jacob for some with my pen . . . with pretty clothes . . . with my perfectionism . . .with my service.  I fill myself with the praise of others, and it tastes good at the time. 

But eventually, I empty.  The feeling in the pit of my stomach is no longer hunger, but conviction.  I make excuses and accuse, "But I don't feel Your approval!  I don't hear Your admiration!  I don't experience Your delight in me!"

And then, the Whisper, "You did not sit still with Me long enough to hear.  You achieved acceptance at your Birth, but to know it, you must be still.  Be with Me."

And the tears fall from my eyes and the confession from my lips.  "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?  Or am I trying to please men?"  (Galatians 1:10)

And I know the answer. 

"Satisfy (me) in the morning with Your unfailing love, that (I) may sing for joy and be glad all (my) days."  (Psalm 90:14)

You satisfy me. 
You satisfy me. 
You. Satisfy. Me. 

Confession

A Reminder of Grace

I stepped on something sharp going down the stairs as I was helping Baby Girl maneuver the steps.  It hurt, and I looked down at the offending object so that I could target the person with a few choice words once I found him.  It was my husband's measuring tape. 

As quickly as my anger rose, it deflated.  The tape was there because of grace. 

I glanced up, remembering.

Grace

free unmerited love and favor

good will

blessing

mercy

pardon

reconciliation to God

Christ's righteousness applied to me
Webster's 1828 Dictionary

Grace.  I wanted this hanging in my home to remind me.  Remind me of what I've received.  Remind me of what I need to give.  And need to give more.  And more.

With grace, my husband picked up his tired body and measured and leveled and drilled.

I remember grace, pick up the measuring tape and tuck it away.

With grace, my husband secured a reminder on the wall for me. 

I remember grace and secure my tongue in my mouth.

"What once was hurt

What once was friction

What left a mark

No longer stings

Because Grace makes beauty

Out of ugly things."

U2 Song

A wounded foot becomes a reminder of beautiful grace.

A pierced side proves it.

With grace, God leads.

For grace, we follow.  

A Reminder of Grace

How Do You Step Closer? (Friendly Friday)

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to

head to a state park and hit the trails. 

We love the being-together in the big outdoors. 

We pack a picnic and spend the day

 enjoying the beauty and the fun of nature. 

Of course, these days, it's more of a leisurely stroll than a vigorous hike

since The Princess does not like her (very pricey) pack. 

But it's okay.  It forces us to slow down and enjoy the details that

the Creator has hidden quietly amid the trees.

And as we step away from the rush and step into the quiet of the trees,

we step nearer to each other's hearts. 

It's Friendly Friday.  I ask; you answer.

How do you step closer to your family? 

Please share.  I really want to know.

How Do You Step Closer? (Friendly Friday)

He Delights in You (WORD-Filled Wednesdays)

Leaning Godward today.  Delighting in God's love for us.

"The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with his love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17

Delight in His Word!

**Word-Filled Wednesday's hostess this week is PennyRaine.**

He Delights in You (WORD-Filled Wednesdays)

A Noteworthy Idea

Not long ago, Courtney at Women Living Well reviewed One Million Arrows, a book by Julie Ferwerda about purposefully raising our children to change the world.  I haven't read the book yet (though I plan to), but she shared an example from the book that I just couldn't wait to try.  She explains,  "One father purchased a wide-margin Bible for each of his children. Then he took two years, prayerfully reading the Bibles cover to cover. In the margin he wrote in notes, prayers, applications, and insights for his children."

This idea spoke straight to my heart, and I shared it with my hubby.  We immediately began browsing for Bibles that would allow both of us to participate.  We discovered the NoteWorthy Bible.  For each page of Scripture there is a beautifully blank page just waiting for thoughts and prayers. 

The Thinker is 10, and we have decided that his 13th birthday would be a great time to present him with this Bible.  We've given ourselves two and a half years to complete this journey.  Then we'll start all over again for our younger son (The Stinker).  We'll have lots more time, God willing, to complete one for The Princess.

I love the idea that my children can have God's thoughts and our thoughts for them dwelling side-by-side.  My prayer is that as they journey through God's Word, they will know how deep and wide and high is His love for them.  And as they walk with their eyes through our words, I pray they will also feel the love poured from our hearts to theirs.  His Word and our words.  A true treasure to cherish through the years.

A big thank you to Courtney for sharing something that would "spur (us) on toward love and good deeds."   

My hope is that it will do the same for some of you.
Parent with purpose.

A Noteworthy Idea