A Word Fitly Spoken...

A bit of needlework stitched long ago...

The day could have been marred by contention

by strife and conflict

by division

But these simple words were spoken again and again

washing over the hearers

"...what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice

to love kindness 

and to walk humbly with your God?"

Micah 6:8

These words

from ancient days

rang true in this time

bringing peace

uniting hearts.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Proverbs 25:11

Gifts...

And this day, I begin my own journey of gratitude.  Offering thanks for...

1.  warm woolen socks on a cold January morning

2.  beans simmering in the crockpot

3.  white linen tablecloths in the midst of Winter's darkness

4.  creativity given by a creative God

5.  angels in leather, arriving unexpectedly

6.  rest

7.  a moment of illumination while mining in the Word

8.  Scarlett curling her furry self beside me

9.  Tom's arm around my waist, singing hymns of praise in worship together

10.  the regretted words that sent me back to the true Word, searching, seeking

2011: the year of . . .

Welcome to the year 2011!  The year of . . .  what?

Many of the bloggers I follow have adopted words for this new year:  the year of HOPE, the year of HERE, the year of PATIENCE, the year of JOY, and so on. 

As I thought about what word I might like to live out this year, so many came to mind:

The year of ORDER (where is the thing I'm looking for right now and where do I put the thing I've just stumbled upon that I was looking for last week?)

The year of JOY (mine seems to come in spurts these days, like mustard from an almost-empty squeeze bottle)

The year of LOVE (I have not loved as I should, or as I would want to be, or as He has loved me)

The year of PEACE (3 jobs among the two of us in jeopardy in 2010, 2 new careers begun, ill health and dis-ease in our family, the urgent overtaking the important at every turn... I want peace)

But instead I chose to go to the Source, not the symptoms.  This year will be the year of PRAYER.  Of course, I pray.  When I think to.  When I have time to.  When I need to.  But were I truly honest with myself, I have a critically anemic prayer life.  Through prayer (conversation and relationship) with the Master of Order, the Joy-giver, the Lord of Love, the Prince of Peace, all these things will be added to my daily walk.

Pray with me, won't you?  May the path to our prayer closets or prayer corners or prayer chairs be well worn this year!

Snow!

Scarlett is very perplexed... don't we live at the beach?  What's this stuff?

 

It is such a rare treat that snow comes like this to our area.  It's been a warm and quiet day inside after Christmas, time to reflect, time to relax, time to prepare my heart for the coming of a new year.

Merry Christmas!

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given; 

And the government will be upon His shoulder. 

And His name will be called 

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, 

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

A Christmas filled with

wonder, peace, and joy

to you and yours

from Flannel Jammies Farm! 

 

Coming out of the dark...

This can be a hard season.   We are surrounded by gleeful (or quite Grinchy) shoppers, jangling carols, and images of perfection from television chefs and decorators and gift consultants.  Our calendars are packed full... I have visions of mine exploding into tiny shreds and falling from the refrigerator door to the kitchen floor.  Work demands increase and frustrate us as the days left to complete tasks decrease.  The memories of Christmases Past can be so painful when there is an empty chair and a stocking that won't be filled.  My own pain is so great this year, missing Daddy more and more as time goes by (not less and less as my well-meaning comforters have told me).

But in the midst of this chaos is The Miracle.  The Lord who came as a babe to save us.  The Lord who lived simply and sinlessly.  The Lord who died willingly.  The Lord who rose and lives to intercede for us.  The Lord who prepares a place for us.

My eyes have fallen from this miracle in recent days.  Today's morning devotion brought the cure for my wallowing ways:

Dear brothers and sisters,

honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work.

They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 

Show them great respect and wholehearted love

because of their work.

And live peacefully with each other.

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy.

Encourage those who are timid.

Take tender care of those who are weak.

Be patient with everyone.

See that no one pays back evil for evil,

but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

Always be joyful. 

Never stop praying. 

Be thankful in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 

Do not scoff at prophecies, 

but test everything that is said.

Hold on to what is good.

Stay away from every kind of evil.

1Thessalonians 5:12-22

During this sometimes difficult season, never stop praying, no matter how long the list.  Always be joyful in His grace; bring the sadness and pain to God for healing.  Show patience and tender mercy to even the Grinchiest Grinch; it may be the only love of Christ they see this day.  Live in peace; take a step away from the chaos for a cup of cocoa with a marshmallow (thank you, my sweet Trista).  Listen for that small, leading voice of the Spirit.  Hold on to what is good.  Seek Him. 

This is my lesson today... I pray for the strength and will to learn it well.

Pondering the Path...

Been doin' alot of this lately... pondering the path I'm on. 

Been humbled and challenged and discouraged over the last few weeks.

Been thankful that I feel well enough to do lots of things and go lots of places.

Been wantin' to go on adventures I'd thought were gone forever.

So I'm pondering...

Show me the right path, O Lord;

point out the road for me to follow.

Psalm 25:4