"Be Still..."

HE speaks my name. He bids me come. He whispers over my soul. He tells me to STOP. To just BE in His presence. "BE STILL"...He says. "CEASE STRIVING"... My heart is overwhelmed...He tells me it doesn't have to be.

So, I lay down my plans. I stop "doing" and I come. He offers peace. I am silent. I am quiet in His presence and my spirit is awakened. For NOW, my focus is on the Father. All this time, my attention and my worry has been on people, circumstance, problems. But now, in this moment, it is all on my Lord. And when my heart is steadfast on HIM, everything else grows dim in comparison. Just simple adoration. Simple gaze. He wants me fixed on HIM. The world will carry on in all her busyness and demands. People will continue to fail me and hurt me and disappoint. But when I loose sight of the prize and place that sight on the obstacles, discouragement will become paramount and this girlish, human heart will slip and fall.

So He asks me to be silent. He asks me to listen. To stop talking. To stop trying. He asks me to just be His daughter. Just be loved. Be a mirror of His glory. Be a vessel. Allow Him to pour HIS goodness through me.

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God. " Hebrews 12:1-2

It's ALL About Him!

He bids me come. And I come. He strengthens me and lifts me up. I fall. Again. And He lifts me up. Again. He is enough. When I am done...when I can't place one foot in front of the other...when my "giver" is just plumb "given out"...He fills me so full that joy and happiness seep out of every pore in my being! And I laugh! I twirl like a little girl dancing for all the world to see! I leap and I dance and I skip for joy for my God has supplied my ALL! I am full of Him and there is nothing wanting. Yes, my eye-lids are heavy. Yes, my body feels weary. And yes, my brain is fried! But my spirit is renewed within me! I can press on...why? B/c it isn't me anymore! "I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but it is CHRIST WHO LIVES WITHIN ME! And the life I now live, I live by the grace of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me!" Galatians 2:20

All glory and honor are His! Any good that is done in this life is b/c of Him. He supplies the strength, but He also supplies the good! He allows us to "do" in His name to 1.) Bring glory to Him...and 2.) to experience joy inexpressible! I am there this night. The joy inexpressible part...my heart can barely contain all WHO GOD IS! He is working miracles in the hearts and lives around me...I see Him transforming...molding...shaping...creating beauty that this world can not conjure up! Real, true beauty and my heart rejoices!

I love this life God has written out for me to live! The people He is bringing into my life...the excitement they have for the Lord...the growth and desire to see Him high and lifted up encourage me like nothing else! I am blessed! I am so happy!

A Summer of Thankful...

A Summer of Thankful...

Great-Grandmothers...our Mamaw!

Standing at water's edge, peering in with amazement at God's creation.

Squeals of excitement...butterfly perched on shoulder

Fishing...

First Ice-cream cone...Toddler Delight

Throwing rocks in shallow river

A perfect summer's evening...fly-fishing alone in riverbank....

Bright yellow among a sea of green

Freedom flying proud

Lunch beside river's bend...sunshine beckoning life lived hard

Thankful pouring out of heart giddy with happy! I am one blessed girl!

A Summer's Prayer

Deep exhale. After a long list of long days, I exhale hard. A lot. Good stuff, horrible stuff, convicting, mind-altering stuff, and then just stuff. Summer has been full already and it is only the first week of June. I do love Summer. I love the green grass, the full life of the trees, the blue blue sky, the clouds stretched as far as my eye can see. I love the color of the wild rose bush, the swarms of brilliant butterflies, even the yellow dotting the landscapes of dandelions! Even a weed can bring color and life to a cold, white world. Summer! I love the endless days (literally here in Fairbanks! Land of the midnight sun), no real schedule, friends over, barbecues, birthdays, lunches on the river, long walks, bike rides, camping, fishing, throwing rocks by the waters edge. I love how tired doesn't deter me from living life to the fullest! In the Summer! Sunshine beckoning me to live...deep exhales are a sign of joy and peace after a long list of long days.

And so I breathe in...breathe out. I enjoy the smell of summer...the sound of laughter floating in my window from children playing hard. Deep, content breaths of peace and happiness. Thankfuls all around. Creation singing out God's glory in the grandest form!

And on this summer's night...after a full day of loving my Savior, loving on His people, and giving til the end of me is near...I lift my heart in full, adoring praise that I am His chosen! I am His daughter! His blood covers me. And my prayer this night, as I bask in His goodness and grace, is that my life would be a reflection of HOLY displayed through flesh and bone. May HIS glory shine so bright...HIS beauty be mirrored from my face, my heart. My prayer is that this girl becomes LOST in the picture of SAVIOR AND KING!