Determinted to Rest

It's a quiet day at the house.  As the last week of Lent approaches, I'm determined to rest...sounds odd, doesn't it?   In all that I have left to do before we start school again, I'm faced with the choice of being frantic or resting in the Lord's presence.  Not that I wont get things done, I'll just do them while in the Lord's company, being mindful of Him.  That's the choice I want to make, no matter what the day holds.

Haleiwa sunset.

May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace

as you trust in him,

so that you may overflow with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 15:13 NIV

Here's a song that's been speaking to me this week.  (Don't forget to pause the player first.)  Enjoy!

Yes, I'm still here...

It's spring break at our house.  That means my usual schedule is out the window!  That's a good thing...except my blogging time has gone with it.

Last week was a great time with my oldest who was the only kid not at camp.  This week, I'm looking forward to more time with the other kids.  We've already been to the beach two days in a row.  I'm still praying about how to re-vamp our school schedule so that everyone gets their stuff done, and we still have time for fun!  I know, I know, school is supposed to be fun.  But there is only so much you can do with algebra...



I've been reading a great book.  It's called The God You Can Know, by Dan Dehaan.  So many great truths in it.  Here's a thought I'll share with you.  It is so appropriate during the Lenten season.

Jesus did not come to make bad men good, but to make dead men live.  The church should demand that men be alive in Christ, opposed to being simply good.  What is a Christian?  He is an ordinary person with an extraordinary love.  A love that consistently "lays ourselves down" for the sake of seeing God exaluted.  It is love that motivates us, that clings to nothing that God gives save Himself.  So many today have a "handle" on the ministry when the ministry should have a handle on them.

Are you in Christ?  Is there a definite divine motivation and confidence in your soul?  Are you really in love with the Lord Himself?  Can you honestly say that the experience you have had with Christ has made you alive and not just good?  If you cannot, I would ask that God would break your heart even now - that, first, you would see your sin; that, second, you would see the righteousness and the blood of the Lamb that can cleanse it all; and that, third, you would cast your sin and self on the cross of Christ.  Then your old nature will be curicified, and you will join those who have their confidence in Christ, not those who have only a knowledge of how to work for Him.  (p. 141)

So many years, I have lived with knowledge only.  Now I find myself longing for Christ, Himself.  Our God is a faithful God.  He is so willing and eager to reveal Himself.  If only I could take it all in. 

Ephesians 3:14-21 (New Living Translation)

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth

 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,  the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

May your journey to the heart of Christ be sweet this week.  Aloha!
 

Multitude Monday - Colossians 3:15

I've been reading in the book of Colossians for the past couple of weeks.  I just can't seem to get past it.  That's when I know the Lord wants me to stop and savor what's there.  It's not hard to do.  The book of Colossians is so rich.  This verse is speaking to me today:

 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. 

 Colossians 5:15-17 (The Message)

We've started spring break at our house this week.  The three youngest are off to camp, and the oldest will be spending more hours than usual at work.  This will leave me with a quiet house.  Wow.  I hardly know what to do with myself.  I plan on doing a lot of praying.  Things haven't been harmonious at our house, and I feel the need to pull back, regroup, and seek the Lord.  Letting the Word of Christ have run of the house... that's my goal.  I tend to put a strangle hold on schedule, time, and in turn, hearts....  I need to give the Word "plenty of room."

Cultivating thankfulness.  I know I'm on the road to recovery.   Here's this week's list:

(141 - 160)

good water pressure in a hot shower

music of wind chimes

alarm ringing for prayer, and I'm already praying

home made tortillas

finding another reason for home education

learning a new worship hula

a beautiful drive

endurance to finish

knowing your kids' friends are good ones

Saturday morning, sleeping in

courage to speak up and step out

a piece of driftwood

a grateful child, enjoying a gift

silence

my voice back...to sing praise

breathtaking sunset

clean clothes

a perfectly matched set of sea-shell treasures

when he thrills my heart with a smile

the first tomato on a struggling vine

keeping warm in a old-friend quilt

the privilege of being asked to pray


Read the gratitude of others at the link below:

The Invisible Woman

My friend Kathy brought this to my attention.  I knew I had to share it here. 

(Pause the player on the right before you watch this clip.)



Another friend of mine, Donnetta, wrote a beautiful piece on Beer-lahai-roi which means "Well of the Living One who sees me."  You'll find it here at My Quiet Corner.

God sees.  To some, that may not be good news.  But to those who are living their lives for Him, that is the best news yet. 

Here are some words from His Word:

Psalm 10:14

But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;

you consider it to take it in hand.

The victim commits himself to you;

you are the helper of the fatherless.

Psalm 33:13

From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind.

Psalm 121:2-4

 My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

Psalm 1:6

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Multitude Monday - Isaiah 29

Isaiah 29:23-24,

When they see among them their children,

the work of my hands,

they will keep my name holy;

they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob,

and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding;

those who complain will accept instruction."

Is I travel down this road of gratefulness, I see that my eyes have been blind to a great many things.  I'm just now starting to see the "work" of God's hands in my life previously ignored.  The Word of God is true.  Seeing God's work makes me revere Him more.  With a humbled heart, I endeavor to keep His name holy.  With eyes open to see God's grace in my life, I am much less likely to complain, and my wayward spirit of selfishness and pity are exchanged for understanding.  The fruit of this whole process is that I'm more grateful!  What a wonderful, upward spiral to be on!

I did better with my list this week.  I was able to add to it almost daily in small chunks.  I think it makes the list more meaningful.  Like I've said before, this is a process... and I'm seeing progress!

The 1000 Gifts list for this week:

(126-140)

morning sun through the steam of fresh tea

sisters painting each other's nails - in peace

Jimmy Stewart movie, old friend

late blooming poinsettia

the sound of gentle rain at bedtime

a choice parking space, just in time

acapella praise from the heart

a tail-gate lunch at the conference

my girls with me, seeking Jesus together

jumping up and down in a room of thousands, praising God with David Crowder Band

performance art filled with praise and worship

new inspiration to draw near to His heart

being silly

laughter as good medicine

connections made with fellow travelers on this journey of pressing in


One of the conference speakers, Nancy Beach, posed this question.

 "Who will notice the wonder of what God has placed for us to find?" 

Wonder is a call to worship.  I want to live in a state of wonder.

Read what others are discovering about this journey of gratefulness at the link below:

Full from feasting

Since Thursday evening, I have been attending a conference here in Honolulu.  It's an annual event that draws 4000 Christians, (1000 are young people), from all over to come together to worship and learn of our Lord.  It was great.  One of the highlights was an awesome concert by the David Crowder Band.  My soul is so full, I can hardly move.  It will take a little bit to digest all the goodies that I have consumed.  So, here's just a taste.  Something to ponder on Our Lord's Day...

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.

So many entries for the gratitude list on Monday!  See you then.

Hunger is a Gift

Hunger.  Hunger is usually something we try to avoid.  When we're hungry, we want to make it go away by eating our fill.  Hunger in the world is so extreme.  It is a mark of poverty.  How we work to avoid hunger.

“God blesses those who are poor

and realize their need for him,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."

Matthew 5:3

Last year, my father-in-law had a few months were he just wasn't hungry.  He slowly lost weight and we were all quite worried.  How do you force someone to eat who just doesn't want to.  If only we could get him to be hungry, he would reach for the food that would make him whole.  Thankfully, with the grace of God, he began to eat again and is at a better weight.

That's when I realized that hunger is a gift.  Without it, we wont reach for the nurishment we need.  Spiritual hunger is also a gift.  When we realize our need for Jesus, we will reach out to know him more.

One of the "desert fathers" (I think it was Julian of Norwich) was praying, asking God to help her pray for 5 hours every day.  She felt the Lord tell her to look at the little birds.  God doesn't tell them to eat.  They eat when they are hungry.  When you are hungry for God, then you will pray.

 I will praise you as long as I live,

lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

 You satisfy me more than the richest feast.

I will praise you with songs of joy.

Psalm 63:4-5

Lord, thank you for the gift of hunger. May I feast at the table of Your presence. Amen.


To read other's thoughts on Hunger, click on the lick below:

Multitude Monday - Psalm 29

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

1 Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings;

honor the Lord for his glory and strength.

2 Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.

The God of glory thunders.

The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.

4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is majestic.

5 The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars;

the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf;

he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord strikes

with bolts of lightning.

8 The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake;

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks

and strips the forests bare.

In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!”

10 The Lord rules over the floodwaters.

The Lord reigns as king forever.

11 The Lord gives his people strength.

The Lord blesses them with peace.

This week's entries in the 1000 Gifts list:

(111 - 125)

healthy kids on their birthdays

serving birthday breakfasts in bed

field trip to Iolani Palace

God's provision - yet again

getting my voice back

the blooming of a forgotten orchid

Sister-in-law's gift to me from Israel

God's hand on father-in-law, disorientation reversed

beautiful evening at the sandbar for Steph and her friends

time to reconnect with my true love

a heart hungry for God

a tsunami that was very small

the 90th birthday celebration of a dear saint

warm socks

taking time to enjoy a  ride on the backyard tree swing


Photos:  family fun at Ho'omaluhia and North Shore