*A JOYful thought~ If we *LOOK* for the good in our circumstances... we can find it :) If we *CHOOSE* to enJOY our life... our life will be enJOYable ;) And if we cultivate *JOY* in our heart... it will grow! *BE BLESSED*
This morning as I was hanging out my laundry, the weather was a little cool and the breeze brought a fresh fragrance... partly from my clean-smelling laundry, and partly just from the fresh clean air! And as I was enjoying the moment (complete with birds singing:) it occured to me how BLESSED I am. Blessed to be able to be alive and healthy, blessed to see and hear, blessed to live around trees and birds and flowers, blessed to live in a "free" country... on and on and on!!! (Could we EVER list all our blessings??) But I feel an extra sense of thankfulness for the "small" things today... like being able to be at home with my family and hang out my laundry :) I *so* enjoy hanging out laundry :) It's a silly simple pleasure I enjoy... like cleaning house with the windows open and the curtains fluttering in the breeze :) Or spending the day working in the yard mowing, weeding, and "fixing up". Things that aren't considered "fun" but, yet, bring enjoyment or pleasure. I'm especially thankful for those things today :) { Thank You, YHWH!!<3 }
*A JOYful thought~ If we *LOOK* for the good in our circumstances... we can find it :) If we *CHOOSE* to enJOY our life... our life will be enJOYable ;) And if we cultivate *JOY* in our heart... it will grow! *BE BLESSED*
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A beautiful peaceful *Sabbath* cookout at the Mammoth Cave National Park, last week...Dogwood Trees...Redbud Trees...And Deer!UP CLOSE!!! :)*There were SIX altogether*Yum... burgers and beef hotdogs :)Kaylin & GarrettKaylinMe & CameronJamesBrentonBrentonJames & GarrettGarrett & MeJames & MeKaylin & GarrettMe & BrentonKaylinMe & KaylinMe & CameronGarrettJames & Me*Me*~We stayed until after dark :)
:) As I was praying to YHWH today, I was able to pray~and sing~the ponderings of my heart... to release my inner desires and yearnings for HIM. This is somewhat personal, but what a sweet sweet time <3 A time I won't likely forget. I feel like I have come to an understanding of HIS Sabbath, that I've overlooked until now. It holds an even greater signifigance to me, now :) As I shared on my last post ("Shabbat Shalom??"), I have been gaining a deeper appreciation for His Sabbath over the past several months-- but it has really moved upon my heart to an even greater extent today <3
I feel like as we clear the clutter and chaos of our busy minds and lives, we are putting ourselves in the quiet place that we need to be... to BEHOLD HIM. Even if we feel like we have an organized and productive mind and life, free of clamour and chaos-- we STILL need to position ourselves in the restful quiet place He offers us to effectively Behold Him. It is HIS Sabbath, and He desires that we take part in it... probably for many many reasons, but I feel like one of the very important reasons is so that He has us "still and quiet" enough that we can actually "behold Him" --as He reveals Himself to us more and more throughout the years and years of our lives that He grants to us. "To Behold HIM"... what does that mean? I'm sure I don't know the full extent of what has been impressed in my heart by this 'thought', but I know it has to do with More than just "looking" at Him or in His direction. It has to do with examining closely-- with great awe and wonderment. To "behold" (take note of, take care of, investigate slowly and thoroughly) HIM-- to gain a clearer perspective and understanding of Him. Then, to guard those things He reveals to you, and keep them close... walking in them and living in them... making them a part of you. For me, it would be similar to studying the stars and constellations each night-- as I try to learn them and define them and track them through the night and seasons. To move beyond just being familiar with them, but knowing them. I've spent hours beholding their beauty and watching them closely... trying to learn them. They have a glorious beauty! But how easy is it for us to merely glance at them from time to time, and keep going about our own "thing" not really spending Time 'beholding' them? We admire them and rely on knowing they will always be there, and may even spend a few moments captured by their beauty from time to time... but I would say that Most of us just take them for granted most of the time. We're just used to them. Are we the same way with YHWH? I don't want to be. I want to slow down and purposely focus my attention on Him. I want to *BEHOLD HIM*, in all His wonderous beauty and glory!! I want to be filled up and 'made fat' by Him as He did the land and skies in His creation of all things :) I want to know Him and love Him and all of His ways, just as the writer expressed over and over in Psalm 119. We learn Him by His word, His Torah. A beautiful part of the Sabbath. His way is the way of life and I want to walk in it :) In the quietness of His peace, we can Behold Him <3 *Sar Shalom (Ruler of Peace)~ 'that we may Behold You'* Sar Shalom, bring Your quiet love in this place and relieve the stress of our ways~ that we may Behold You. Sar Shalom, bring the peace of Your quietness and the beauty of Your holiness~ that we may Behold You. O YaHWeH, we seek Your way, to behold Your face and not turn away~ we extol You, may we Behold You, O YaHWeH. * "Shabbat Shalom"... words I have recently become very familiar with. At first they were "fun new words", then they became words that "connected" our little "group" together (that we meet with on a regular basis)--because we began to greet one another freely using those words on the Sabbath (Shabbat), and now they have become "personal" words that hold very special meaning to me. 'Shabbat Shalom'... Hebrew words for "Peaceful Sabbath". I am learning the Hebrew language, and it is so exciting to become even more connected to these words and the language they come from!! But, it is more than that. It is "what" the Sabbath--and the peace of the Sabbath-- has come to mean to me. More than a ritual, more than a tradition, and more than a list of "don'ts"... but truly a special "set apart" time from the rest of the week. A time I have come to anticipate and look forward to. A time I have got into the routine of planning for and preparing for. A time I have come to LOVE. Without realizing it, I can see that it has brought a Peace to me and my life. I cherish it. It has become one of my greatest pleasures, one of my *favorite gifts* from YHWH :) And it comes EVERY WEEK!! :)
"Shalom" is Peace, but also More than {only} peace. It IS lack of confusion and lack of chaos and lack of deveastation and despair... but More than all of these. It is wellness, completeness, wholeness... nothing missing, nothing broken, and nothing lacking. It is the presence of YHWH, which is secure and safe and at rest from worry or fear or anger--or any thing that would cause disturbance. PEACE. What a Treasure! Can one put a price on genuine peace? It is beyond money or power or prestige... and it is freely given to all those that fear YHWH and keep HIS commands. What a gift!!! I truly appreciate this gift, and I cherish it with my whole heart. <3 But I don't have to wait until Shabbat to experience Shalom... it is in HIM :) And as I sit quietly in my little home, listening to the clock tick and the keyboard keys click, I can experience Shalom/Peace :) And I *Am*... I hope you are to :) Shabbat Shalom, my friends~ This morning I awoke with immediate *joy* :) I thought about it for awhile and determined that it was probably because I had listened to two different "teachings" before I went to bed last night... teachings in some areas that I had already been studying on my own. I feel like I am gaining some clarity in some areas that I've been pondering. The more I explore and research and think and pray and listen and learn... the more "alive" I feel! The more meaning and purpose I see. The more excitement there is in life and living :) {and in this case, I'm learning more and more about YHWH... which brings me closer and closer to HIM <3 THAT I LOVE!}
The other night my daughter came downstairs and saw me with my Bible, pen, and notebook and said (with a grin) "It figures"... meaning she had already expected to find me doing what I was doing and it didn't surprise her or seem abnormal. I hope that's a good thing! :) My children ask me questions, and I pull out the Bible... "*sigh*..."here we go again! ;) " they tease me. We can barely "stay on track" with our daily Scripture reading/discusion time, because there is always SO MUCH I want to share with them... and the more they ask... the more there is to share with them and try to show them. I have a "love" for learning... I guess that's why I love homeschooling and teaching my children. It seems I always have a pile of books, papers, notebooks, etc. piled around me-- either preparing school lessons and plans, or studying the Scriptures. There is nothing like the thrill of learning! I'm not speaking of "head knowledge of facts" for the sake of "prestige" or "self pride", but genuinely learning new things and exploring the world around you... whether it be the physical world surrounding you (science), the way we became "who" we are in this world (history), or even the world of language-- the way we speak and how/why it works. This world and creation that YHWH has made is an AMAZING thing!! And it is THRILLING to LEARN about it * :) * It is this "love of learning" that I hope to instill in my children. It is why I do what I do for them. I want them to really learn, not just memorize facts for a test about things they have no interest in or for. I want them to learn and enjoy learning. And I want them to KEEP learning for their entire lives. This is my hope for them. But in all their learning, I hope they learn YHWH and HIS ways... NOTHING else matters in comparison. So, YES, *sigh* "here we go again!"... and "Again"... and "Again!" :) I want them to "GET IT" and I mean REALLY get it. I want them to read and study and ponder and search out TRUTH for themselves. I don't want them to get in the habit of settling for "quick answers"... even if those "answers" are from me. I want them to spend some time Thinking and Finding Out about it. It takes time and effort. I want them to see the importance of taking that time and spending that effort... on what really matters. I'm thankful for the gift of learning and the ability and resources available to make it as beneficial as possible. It is my prayer that I can pass it on to my precious children! Snow? WHAT'S that?? We've had such an unusually warm "spring-like" winter, that I've almost forgotten what snow and winter is :) I know that's a good thing for most people, but I'VE missed having -at least- some resemblance of the season. My evergreen garland and pinecones, cardinals and snowmen scattered throughout the house seem so out of place... and seem to bring less enjoyment than usual. The warmer darker colors, cozy quilts, and *wintertime* decorations and candles just don't seem to fit :( Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for another ice storm to hit- or to be buried in snow 12 ft. deep for 3 months! No, I don't enjoy driving on snow and ice and worrying about loved ones, I don't like high heating bills and hoping the electricity stays on, and I don't like getting out when it's so cold it hurts-just to go to the grocery!!! However, I DO enjoy the snowy wintery atmoshere -within reason- and I feel a little disappointed that there hasn't been any snow sleding, snow-angel making, snowman-building, snow cream making weather this season! :(
Yesterday we had a few flurries and a small little non-accumilating snow, turning in to rain and ice last night... but it was hardly worth counting. I was hoping to put on a big pot of chili (which I did) and snuggle up and drink some hot chocolate or hot tea while I *practice* a little more on my newly-learned knitting skills :) But it didn't really feel the same :( By this morning, the sun was shining brightly (which is beautiful!) and the birds were singing sweetly (which is lovely!) and there was not a trace of "yesterday's winter" left :( Oh well, I guess knitting coziness will have to wait for "next year" ... because I already have a yard full of Robins every day, a sure sign of *spring* Not all is lost-- I can look forward to seeing if my newly planted flowers will come back up that I planted last year :) Snow? WHAT'S that?? ;) It seems that everyone notices the "spiritual side" of our exsistance a lot more in times of adversity, calamity, and devestation... and even more so when it's on a grand scale (community, state, or nation wide). We 'know' what the Scripture foretells, but we fail to really grasp it "as truth" until something shakes us; or is it that we don't think it's within OUR lifetime... until something makes us consider "the signs of the times"? With all the earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes in recent months, it does give one reason to wonder... with the talk of the death of Bin Laden, the Wars, and the "gas prices"/oil crisis, it does give one reason to wonder... when things occur like the pipe that burst in the ocean and no one knew 'if' or 'when' it would be able to be fixed, it does give one reason to wonder... BUT WHY DO WE WONDER?? Do we not realize we are NOT in the PERFECT DAY (yet)? Whether we are in the "last days", the "last of the last days", or the "very last day"... it makes no difference. Worrying ourselves to death or spreading fear and hopelessness does NOT change or help anything. I may sound a bit critical and harsh, but that is not my intent. The printed page does not give justice to the heart it is written in. My intent is to draw us back to what our focus should be on, not on the devestation that may surround us. We are not as those who have no hope, and we have His promise of a greater day! :)
In the midst of our hard times, we have YHWH's grace, strength, and comfort... we have His peace. I read something several years ago that YaHWeH used to really impact my "way of thinking". It was in a "Homeschool" book written by Robin Sampson. She explained the differences between the way the Hebrews thought (and lived), and the way the Greeks thought (and lived)--in total opposition to one another. I want to share with you one of her examples: " A quick example of the differences between Greek and Hebrew thought is the word peace. In Greek thought peace is a lack of confusion or commotion, or lack of war. In Hebrew thought, shaloam or peace is wholeness or completeness. Notice that in the Greek way of thinking, peace is what remains when there is an absence of something, but in the Hebrew, peace is the presence of something. When a person is fully submitted to God he is at peace." -The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach by Robin Sampson pg.120 I realized my thinking on most Everything was GREEK!! It is our culture, it is our lifestyle... and without even realizing it, it forms our mindset---and it's in total opposition of our Elohiym/GOD. Peace is not the absence of anything... it is the Prensence of 'something' / of someONE... the presence of YHWH! THAT is worth keeping our attention and focus on! THAT is worth counting on! Shalom Peace... As I was recently sharing with a friend, I heard someone teach about 13-15 years ago on Psalm 37. In verses 1, 7-8 David said "fret not thyself" three times. The lady gave a picture of a nice beautiful calm lake... how on a bright sunny day, you can see a very clear reflection of the sky, clouds, trees, and everything that is surrounding the lake. But when you take a rock and "skip" it across the water, you "fret" the water... and the picture then becomes distorted. It is no longer a clear view or reflection of what is surrounding the lake. The same with us, when WE begin to FRET ourselves... our vision becomes distorted and we cannot clearly see the truth. We need not "fret ourselves" when trouble comes... we need only to focus on the truth... and Keep Going :) May you find great comfort, joy, and strength as you live in Peace! As I think about the different people that exsist around me, and the different cultures around the world (and diversity that exsists even within the different cultures)-- it's mind-boggeling! I could never even begin to count all the various types of cultures around the world! Isn't it a beautiful picture of the diversity of our Creator? He not only created trees and flowers-- He created a variety of different kinds of trees and flowers :) There are different kinds of animals, differences within the ocean ( the Pacific different than the Atlantic, the Atlantic different than the Indian, etc.--although, looking at a globe, you can see it's all one connected piece of water). He made a difference in the seasons and even in the stars...all the way down to dirt and grass, you can find a variety of different kinds. Everything He created, He created a variety within. BEAUTIFUL! How amazing is His creation! 'And it is good'... when our Creator looked at all He had created, He must have been pleased, because the Scripture tells us "And GOD saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good..." (Gen.1:31).
Now most of us would think of ourselves as being pretty accepting of the differences surrounding us. And maybe some of us are... but do we realize the depth of that acceptance? Yes, we can accept someone of a "different gender" or of a "different nationality"... maybe even a "different denomination"... some may even go so far as to accept someone of a "different religion". We all have a different degree of acceptance, a different measuring stick that we use to 'judge' others, so we can accurately put them in the "appropriate group" [or box] that we deem as "right". Sometimes we tend to judge quite harshly--casting out every one that is different than us. This world is made up of so many DIFFERENT kinds of people: different personalities, different gifts and talents, different opinions, different interests, different 'ways of looking at things' , and the list goes on... If we could see these differences 'as good', if we could see these differences as another variety of YHWH's creation-- then maybe we could more easily embrace others, in genuine love and acceptance, and release the brightness of the light of YHWH into the world... what a glory to our Father! The words to a song I have posted on my "Journey" page come to mind (all the words are worth listening to, but I will use the second verse), it says: "When we have loosened all the heavy chains that bind us, When we can leave behind the hatred and the strife, When we rejoice in all the differences among us... Then we shall truly know the beauty of this life" ('One Beautiful Day' ~ Front Range) *May we truly know the beauty of this life! Monday, March 14, 2011
Thankful for Simplicity~ I am so thankful for the simplicity that is in our GOD...to know Him is to LOVE Him...to love Him is to OBEY Him...to obey Him is to dwell in PEACE and REST! :) There is safety within the bounds of our Father. He provides what we need to live and love and abound in every good work...because I can TOTALLY TRUST Him, I can live in faith-not fear; in wonderment-not worry; in great joy-not despair!! HalluYAH! :) I'm so very very thankful. I am blessed beyond measure to be able to live such a fulfuilled life, because HE has given me LIFE! :) Now do not misunderstand, in our culture we tend to immediately assosiate 'fulfillment', 'success', and 'blessings' with financial/material gain or possession-- NONE of which I'm implying....No, HIS LIFE is so much MORE than THAT. Treasures that cannot be offered by anyone or anything other than our Father. As we draw near unto Him and embrace Him...we are filled to overflowing...as if He cannot contain Himself in His delight for us :) What a joyous place to live! When we draw near unto YaHWeH and behold 'WHO' He is...we are faced with a choice: to embrace Him or to resist Him. To embrace Him is to embrace ALL that 'is' Him...every opinion and judgement that He holds...every command of His will and heart...every 'thing' that "makes Him" WHO He IS. To resist Him, is to be as the children Israel...they beheld Him at the mount and told Moses to face Him FOR them-they themselves resisted...they also resisted Him as their King, desiring an earthly king (as all the other nations around them-seeking to be as 'the world' instead of receiving GOD's desire for them). And couldn't we go on and on about the many many times Israel resisted our Father instead of embracing Him with their whole heart? And can't we go on and on about our own choices...resisting Who GOD "IS" instead of embracing Him whole-heartedly? But I'm thankful that He has chosen to show us Who He is. I'm thankful He has chosen to extend His grace and mercy to us and He makes them new every morning...Great is His faithfulness!! Choosing to live within our GOD and to embrace the life He has chosen for His creation...and then experiencing All that He desires for us....isn't it THAT SIMPLE? :) * A JOYFUL THOUGHT~ "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." Psalm 34:8 Sunday, February 27, 2011
Just some thoughts... Life~ What is life? What is living? Is it merely exsisting? Aren't these questions the very same questions that have been pondered for generations? Why do we feel we must know? Why do we feel there must be a meaningful reason for exsistance? Could it be that "we" have 'eaten from the tree of knowledge' , and in our quest to "be as God" -as the serpant beguiled Eve- we, too, have fallen into the same discontent... and, therefore, our 'pride of life' is never satisfied? We are not content with "just living", it leaves us feeling insignificant and unimportant- we must feel that we matter, we must 'make a difference', we must 'leave something behind' so extraordinary that it will ensure that we are never forgotten. At some point in time, to some degree or another, it seems we all face the same feelings of 'needing' to 'know' the 'true' MEANING OF LIFE... and therefore the true meaning of our 'own' life-- from the innocent questions of the youngest child to the 'deeper questions' of the (so-called) great philosophers... we all want to know: WHAT is all this about?? Hmmm... maybe-just maybe-it's not for us to know. Maybe it's for us to simply live... to live the life our Creator has given us-and living it the way He has instructed us, to please Him and to bring Him pleasure. Maybe it's enough to live and love and just "be", until He decides it's time for eternity. He placed Adam in the garden He had planted and simply told him to "keep it"... it is that simple. Our lives are to be obedient to the One who created us. Our life is a gift and we should be mindful that we are the created, and HE is the Creator; that we see in a glass darkly... our eyes only see the threads of His tapestry: only He sees the full picture. Can we not be content in that? Can we not "just live"-- for Him? "Just be" what He has created us to be... human beings with the capacity to communicate and love and live in this earth He created us to live in; having communion with Him and one another; doing good and being good; loving and being loved? That's enough. "We" need not matter: He matters. "We" ARE insignificant: He is Supernal. "We" are but dust: HE IS ALL IN ALL... and I'm so glad He is!!! *A Joyful Thought* And YaHWeH Elohiym formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL. (Gen.2:7) HallaluYAH! |
*A JOYful Thought!**above picture is from Stone Gable http://www.stonegableblog.com/
Speaking...
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