Category: Comfort

In the Quiet Moments, He is There

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Life giving has come to me through the quiet moments I’m able to enjoy God’s creation–alone, yet not by myself. Christ meets me there to speak to me, call me, comfort me & hold me. His joy is ever present–in the breeze, the warm sun, the wet rain, the color of the leaves, the stillness of the afternoon. Those moments He captures your undivided attention to remind you that He is. That He’s been there all along–He sees you and knows you, loves you and rejoices over you.God is digging in my heart, finding the pain, frustration and sadness that is longing to be healed. “Soon,” He says “soon you will be free.” But when? Can I take my pain away? “No, but you can give it over, into the Hands that take hold of your life. The Ones that molded you, formed you & direct you. You’ll make it someday! Just trust in Me–I’ll take you down the road. I’ll show you where to go.” I don’t know how long it’ll take, but with God I’ll make it.

“Til Kingdom Come”
(Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jSisMP2_F4
Steal my heart and hold my tongue.
I feel my time, my time has come.
Let me in, unlock the door.
I’ve never felt this way before.

The wheels just keep on turning,
The drummer begins to drum,
I don’t know which way I’m going,
I don’t know which way I’ve come.

Hold my head inside your hands,
I need someone who understands.
I need someone, someone who hears,
For you, I’ve waited all these years.

For you, I’d wait ’til kingdom come.
Until my day, my day is done.
And say you’ll come, and set me free,
Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me.

In your tears and in your blood,
In your fire and in your flood,
I hear you laugh, I heard you sing,
“I wouldn’t change a single thing.”

The wheels just keep on turning,
The drummers begin to drum,
I don’t know which way I’m going,
I don’t know what I’ve become.

For you, I’d wait ’til kingdom come,
Until my days, my days are done.
Say you’ll come and set me free,
Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me.
Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me.
Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me.—Coldplay

Frustrations & Faith

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I can’t speak, so I will let the thoughts in my head come out through the only truth I can grasp at this point. “Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say.”–Job 23 (excerpts)I’m doing this today….feeling like “God, what is going on here?” You know me, and you know I’m a fixer, a thinker, an analyzing maniac …..what am I supposed to be learning through this? There is hope, I know that…I don’t feel it right now, but I know there is….but where? What am I supposed to think, feel, grasp, say, etc.? “Lord, you have searched me and you know me….you perceive my thoughts from afar….you hem me in–behind and before; Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”–Psalm 139:1-10 (excerpts) This gives me hope in knowing that no matter how frustrating or far I feel that I’ve gone, how deep my despair, He is still with me…..if I don’t have words or emotions to express the way I feel or the things I’m thinking, He knows them & it’s okay. When I don’t even comprehend the thoughts & feelings flooding my eyes, He sees clearer than I ever will & understands.”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” –Romans 12:21Remembering the goodness of Christ, the grace He has given, gives me hope for tomorrow and peace for today. Despite the storms that rage against me, He alone is my rock & my salvation. With Him, what can come against me? Though I may stumble & fall, He will lift me up with his righteous right hand & guide me in the paths of righteousness. He will provide for me & comfort me. Say what you need to say

The Craziest Thing

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It’s a funny thing when people or situations around you just happen to turn out funny. It’s nothing you can plan on or hope for….but somewhere deep down you always do! You can’t plan on those things like choking on falafel cause you’re laughing so hard and at that exact moment a Jewish midget happens to walk past your window! Or like when you’re playing a game of Mexican Train with your grandpa who just had a stroke & as he’s moving the train forward he says “tweet tweet”! These moments are priceless….funny, hysterical and worth so much in memories. Then there are those moments where you’re laughing at this lady dancing her heart out to some crazy music and realize that she doesn’t have a care in the world right now and you would LOVE to be in her shoes. Or moments when people you’ve never met come to you with a message they believe is from God…and they speak into what you’d been praying about all day but hadn’t told a soul! But the craziest thing, is that tonight, after a day of secluding myself in silence (pretty much), I went home to watch the Bucket List. As I cried through the end of “The Bucket List,” all I wanted was some water & maybe something sweet. SO I went to my kitchen, got a big glass of water & reached into my “stash” to get a piece of Dove chocolate. As is my custom, I always fully unwrap the chocolate before looking at the phrase beneath. And what was the message I found? “Make a list of your dreams.” I laughed, I stared and then cried because somewhere deep inside I just needed to hear someone, something, anything encouraging at that moment. I just wanted to know someone was there & there He was….providing a little comfort & humor in the moment I needed it. A little reminder that God is in every moment of our lives….directing & navigating our path to His good will…and through His good sense of humor!

Be Still

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Getting on with life is hard to do if you keep yourself busy. This is something I am very good at…keeping busy. Sometimes it is an effect of too much caffeine. Sometimes it is the effect of being a perfectionist. Sometimes it is an effect of too much grief.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

But I can’t be still, I keep moving, keep turning, keep looking, keep mourning, keep doing WHATEVER it is that puts itself in front of me to do, so that I don’t have to look to my right or left & watch my life unfold before my eyes.

But I don’t want to be still, I don’t want to sit down, stop talking, quit moving, leave my work unfinished so that I can take time to ponder what is happening around me.

I am afraid to be still, to quiet myself before His feet & weep uncontrollably for the anguish I feel. It scares me to become vulnerable and open, letting my true heart unravel in His hands so that He can restore it in a new way, a whole way, a complete way, that is mended by Him alone. Brokenness is not something I desire, not something I always strive for, but something my heart is aching for.

Can I be still & know that He is God? Listen to the words of a precious hymn that has given me perspective in other difficult times. Maybe it will touch you also.

Speak Lord in the stillness, While I wait on Thee;
Hushed my heart to listen In expectancy.

Speak, O blessed Master, In this quiet hour;
Let me see Thy face, Lord, Feel Thy touch of power.

For the words Thou speakest, “They are life, indeed;
Living bread from heaven, Now my spirit feed.”

All to Thee is yielded, I am not my own;
Blissful, glad surrender- I am Thine alone.

The Craziest Thing

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It’s a funny thing when people or situations around you just happen to turn out funny. It’s nothing you can plan on or hope for….but somewhere deep down you always do! You can’t plan on those things like choking on falafel cause you’re laughing so hard and at that exact moment a Jewish midget happens to walk past your window! Or like when you’re playing a game of Mexican Train with your grandpa who just had a stroke & as he’s moving the train forward he says “tweet tweet”! These moments are priceless….funny, hysterical and worth so much in memories.

Then there are those moments where you’re laughing at this lady dancing her heart out to some crazy music and realize that she doesn’t have a care in the world right now and you would LOVE to be in her shoes. Or moments when people you’ve never met come to you with a message they believe is from God…and they speak into what you’d been praying about all day but hadn’t told a soul!

But the craziest thing, is that tonight, after a day of secluding myself in silence (pretty much), I went home to watch the Bucket List. As I cried through the end of “The Bucket List,” all I wanted was some water & maybe something sweet. SO I went to my kitchen, got a big glass of water & reached into my “stash” to get a piece of Dove chocolate. As is my custom, I always fully unwrap the chocolate before looking at the phrase beneath. And what was the message I found? “Make a list of your dreams.” I laughed, I stared and then cried because somewhere deep inside I just needed to hear someone, something, anything encouraging at that moment. I just wanted to know someone was there & there He was….providing a little comfort & humor in the moment I needed it. A little reminder that God is in every moment of our lives….directing & navigating our path to His good will…and through His good sense of humor!