...only ever dreamed...

Oh the places we go and people we meet...

I never would have imagined on the first day of college 14 years ago

when that tall, blonde hair, blue eyed, goalie caught my eye

he would come back into my life in such a profound way.

It's what I had only ever dreamed about.

Words of encouragement, support, challenge and love.

Honesty in the midst of apprehension and fear.

Forgiveness, acceptance, assurance, faith...

for, with, of, in...

Hope and Love.

The Hurt of Those You Love

When the people we love the most are hurting it's hard not to hurt with them. The desire to fix and renew and restore can be overwhelming. Yet we know that we can not make things better by our own actions. We can not remove pain or be the healing agent that they are in need of. Instead life must take it's course as you sit by and watch. I can't sit by and watch! Jesus, be palpably and intimately present. Bring your healing. Restore and renew. Redeem it all! Please!

This Advent remember Joy!!!

I pray this blesses you as it did me:

My soul magnifies you, Lord.

My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

You have seen me and you have acted in my life.

You know me and claim me as your own.

What greater blessing could there be?

You are at work in my life, in ways I can see and in many, many ways I can’t see.

You are strong, you are giving, you are holy, you are just.

You are God –

in my life as in the lives of all who have followed you throughout the ages.

Hear my song of joy today, Lord.

You are magnificent!

Amen.

Tears of Joy

I never believed it would happen like this.

I have had ideas in my head and in my heart for

years about what my mate would be like.

I have dreamed about the exact qualities and

characteristics that would make me the happiest.

I like it much better the way God does it.

I find myself falling in love with a man that I would

not have chosen for myself.

I couldn't imagine anything more perfect.

Oh Lord Jesus, be honored and glorified for all

that you do, have done, and have yet to do!

What Window covering do you use?

Here's a thought (thank you Anna)...

When are you most transparent?

What window treatments do you have allowing people

or preventing people from seeing who you really are?

Thoughts?

Do you have tinted windows?

Drapes on the side, on the top half?

Are there blinds drawn and tightly sealed?

Or are your windows wide open?

Foolish Pride Be Gone!

All to Jesus I surrender;

all to him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust him,

in his presence daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender;

humbly at his feet I bow,

worldly pleasures all forsaken;

take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender;

make me, Savior, wholly thine;

fill me with thy love and power;

truly know that thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Lord, I give myself to thee;

fill me with thy love and power;

let thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender;

now I feel the sacred flame.

O the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory, to his name!

I surrender all, I surrender all,

all to thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

~ J.W. Van Deventer

Gentleness

Is it you?

Would you describe yourself as being

Gentle?

I don't think I would.

When I'm around children the answer is yes!

Any other time...

"He will teach the gentle his ways," ~Psalm 25:9

Moses was called, "very gentle, above all men" ~Numbers 12:3

Jesus said, "Learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart:

and you will find rest for your souls" ~Matthew 11:29

In my new favorite book (The Philokalia) I read, "He who has mastery over his incensive power has mastery also over the demons. ... There is scarcely any other virtue which the demons fear as much as gentleness. ...show the greatest gentleness toward all men."

I read that this morning.

Gentleness has been with me all day.

The thought of it, at least.

How often do I get incensed with things, people?

Does gentleness ever win out?

I don't think I've ever really thought of it as gentleness before.

Jesus, help me to be gentle to all.

"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near" ~Philippians 4:5