Limited Power

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 195: Today, I am grateful for limited power.

There is a popular song by Leanna Crawford that says "write scripture on your heart for when you need it." The same song states, "'cause anxiety hates Psalm 23. So just say it to yourself till  you believe it." It is a great song (Still Waters) and one of my current favorites. 

How often do I forget that my powers are limited, and thank God they are! I have tunnel vision too many times. My decisions have future impact on today, tomorrow, this week, and at times... eternity. I am grateful our God is not limited by these things. 

 "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”-Jeremiah 29:11-14

This is a great scripture far beyond the popular verse 11. It defines the power in the relationship... when you pray and search wholeheartedly." How do we define "wholeheartedly?" In our imperfect choices, He is still faithful and seeking to restore our bodies, minds, and spirits. 

I love this quote from Lisa Bevere: "If you think you've blown God's plan for your life, rest in this; You my friend, are not that powerful." It makes me pause and it makes me smile. Look what he did with Rahab, Moses, Jonah, Matthew, Paul, a Roman Centurion, Ruth, and Naomi. 

There is a beauty in His redeeming love... and our own limited power. So often we choose flight over a humble return to seek forgiveness, a new heart, and a new beginning. 

Today, I am grateful for limited power.

Celebrations

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 194: Today, I am grateful for celebrations.

This week has been full of celebrations... some happy and some hard. We have had two birthdays, an anniversary, and mourning the death of a father with treasured neighbors. Celebrations matter. 

As I pondered the gratitude for today, I was reminded of one of my favorite verses. My dear sister in Christ, Donna Roth, and I grabbed on to it over the course of a Sunday School study we shared. 

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." -Romans 12:15

Do this... and you almost always "get it right." It is part of making our lives a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1) because it shows how we spend our time. 

Savor the birthdays, anniversaries, life celebrations, and even a perfect temperature (like 75 degrees). Love the sick, hurting, dying, grieving, and broken. 

Live is about living and loving... one day at a time. 

Today, I am grateful for celebrations.

The Telltale Mirror

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 193: Today, I am grateful for the telltale mirror.

My one little word for this year is "reflect." It is perfect for this quote:

"This month, or more likely, this very day, we have failed to practice ourselves the kind of behavior we expect from other people." -C.S. Lewis

The mirror was well chosen for the scripture. Mirrors reflect. Sometimes we are pleased with what we see. Other times, we recognize a need for change. 

We are not perfect. We miss the mark sometimes... even when we are trying hard. The important thing is to not give up. Keep trying. 

"As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person." -Proverbs 27:19

The real person... what does that mean? 

It is who we are in the dark. It is what we do when no one is watching. It is honesty, integrity, and so much more. How often do we fail to practice the kind of behavior we expect from others around us? Ouch! Right? 

Sometimes, before my feet hit the floor, the enemy whispers thoughts and tries to interrupt the new day. His goal is to destroy our relationship with God and with others. We were meant to live in love. We are told to love our neighbors... all of them. We are told to care for widows and orphans... do we do it? 

The mirror can let us know if we are reflecting the world... or the One. 

Today, I am grateful for the telltale mirror.

Redeeming Love

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 192: Today, I am grateful for redeeming love.

I think God gave us marriage to teach us the depth and breadth of real love. It isn't perfect, but it is good. 

Randy surprised me with this pink and orange pumpkin this morning. We both enjoy blown glass pumpkins, but pink and orange would not be his first choice. It, also, reflects our love of blown glass. 

As I was thinking about this post, I cannot help but reflect on the analogy that can be drawn to the art of blowing glass. 

Blown glass without a mold is hot, wild, and unexpected. They can both be that way. They both experience high heat and cool downs as part of the process and the experience. 

Both are stronger than they look, but can be shattered. Like blown glass, there are times you start over with persistence and hope. It can be more beautiful after the broken places are restored. There is prayer over both when things are growing, shaping, and evolving. Both are beautiful. 

I may ponder this analogy more, but I need to get the day started. Our first date was August 28, 1985, seems so long ago... and then again, it seems like yesterday. Marriage in 1987, two kids, four dogs, two houses, and so many perfect and imperfect moments. 

One thing I know for sure... love is sweeter as it ages if it is well tended. Holding hands and morning coffee (or cacao) are the best way to start the day. 

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." -1Corinthians 4-7

I hope you find love in your day... in the perfect and the imperfect. 

Today, I am grateful for redeeming love and my Randy.

Let The Master Take Your Burden

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 191: Today, I am grateful we can let the Master take our burden. 

"As a camel kneels before his master to have him remove his burden at the end of the day, so kneel each night and let the Master take your burden." -Corrie ten Boom

What a great image and quote. I do not think I have seen this one and I love collecting wisdom from Corrie ten Boom. 

Camels are quite fascinating to me. They are so big, yet they can be so gentle, too. They have endured centuries in partnership with humans. They seem to build relationships with their masters. I imagine things go smoother when they work together. 

Well cared for animals, respect and care about their masters. We joke about who is in charge in our house. It might be Daisy Mae... the dog. 

Imagine a weary camel at the end of the day kneeling to have the day's burden removed. It must be a sweet relief. It makes me think of this passage"

"Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28

What rest do you long for today? What makes you weary?

Today, I am grateful we can let the Master take our burden.

Calm Spirits

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 190: Today, I am grateful for the calm spirits that accompany wisdom. 

There are so many times we feel surrounded and overwhelmed. Social media makes it worse. Listening to someone is more impactful and helpful than talking. In grief, someone's presence is more comforting than their words. I love words, but a calm presence is a gift. 

"A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered." -Proverbs 17:27

The phrase "with wisdom comes understanding" is familiar. I like the second part that indicates a by-product is an even-temper. Wise people tend to be calm. 

Today, my heart continues to break for the families in Texas who have lost family members, especially the children who kissed their children good-bye for a great week at camp. Each one replays the last conversations over and over. The last "I love you. See you soon." was only meant to be for a week.

Out of the stories come the efforts of camp counselors, parents, and first responders who literally "laid down their lives" to save and rescue the lost. When you hear them speak, many possess humility and a calm spirit.

Calm spirits can change outcomes. Calm spirits prevail in difficult times. Calm spirits lead, search, and rescue. Calm spirits sit quietly with broken hearts. Calm spirits look for solutions. Calm spirits are best fed by Godly wisdom. 

It is a good day to give thanks for calm spirits. They are often the world changers. 

Today, I am grateful for the calm spirits that accompany wisdom. 

Emma

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 189: Today, I am grateful for our Emma.

She changed our world with her birth. She has always been a light in our world. Her observations and views of the world... even as a child... were often witty and wise beyond her years at times. 

Emma was always on my "short list" of girls I would love to have as daughters. She loves books even more than I do. Her vocabulary is huge and always growing. She has her own unique sparkle. And as I always say... I held her first as I was about 4 weeks from delivering Chase when I held her for the first time. She was less than 24 hours old. What a miracle she was... and still is. 

Donna and I were trying to figure out babies at their first Pumpkin Festival. Donna had a whole month more of experience. We had Jill... the expert... to coach us, as Ryan was approaching his first birthday. How have thirty-four years gone by so quickly? 

She loves being a children's librarian. She lights up a room when she reads to the children. She loves adventures with our Chase and fills his days with a sweet partnership. I really could go on all day. One of my favorite years at VBS, she (and her sister, Leah) helped lead the worship and drama. Donna was in charge that year and the time together was so much fun. (Actually, I have quite a few pictures of Chase and Emma during VBS weeks with siblings Walker and Leah, too. I need to try and find them all. It would be a fun collage of images.) 

Not every Mother-in-Love gets the privilege of watching their Daughter-in-Love grow up. We will not take it for granted. To see this amazing woman in every season of her life has been a gift. We laugh when she laughs and we hurt when she hurts. Today, we are are blessed to celebrate her birth. We thank God for the gift of Emma and knowing her for all of her birthdays is such a bonus. 

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." -Psalm 127:3

I am grateful for the daughter Jeff and Donna raised for our son. They raised her in faith, light, truth, and love. They raised her on a farm to love the land. They showed her love for dogs, to appreciate nature, to seek Jesus, and of course... a passion for books. We had very similar childhoods in those aspects. Her roots have given her wings. 

Happy Birthday, Emma. 

Today, I am grateful for Emma.