celebrations and introductions

so here am I, spewing more of me, letting you into my little world. 38, and growing ever closer to 39. I sit here sipping my coffee from this morning. Looking back on my past week and anticipating what is to come. I read from my book an author whose writings are raw and real, so much so, that sometimes I just want to pretend none of this could be real.  Her words are evasive yet draw you in all at the same time.  I think on myself, and my mind pen begins to translate thought.
Celebrating. For a good many years I have watched and partaken in a variety of celebrations.  People flood my memories of good times and hard.  All of them soul deep.  Among my favorites that I relive are birthdays.  It is best to always celebrate them, because they are a gift given. They represent a life filled with promise of Today, if we accept it. Not always what we want or expect, in fact sometimes just the opposite, but Today is given for our choosing of how it will unfold. Just Today is a hushed whisper of my everyday. And birthdays are strung about my everyday like a banner of Life.
The author I am reading speaks of the Now.  We are given only now.  A whole lot of nows.  What will you do with yours? This makes me think of a friend, but before I share more of her with you,
I must introduce the man I have lived with and loved for the past almost two decades.  In short, he is my antithesis.  Many years ago an evaluator at a conference said that we are such polar opposites that he couldn't believe that we had been married for any length of time! Well, that was it, I have spent everyday since then proving him wrong by showing he was right and that is exactly why the grace of our loving Father brought us together. Someday maybe I will get more into that, but for now.  I just have to say that I am grateful in every way for who he is.  He loves me imperfectly perfect.  He leads our Z-force gently and has won my heart over and over. He is a man of few words, but those words are aptly spoken. His heart is of a Shepherd.  Ryan fittingly is an administrator in a public school 15 minutes from here.  Everyday he binds up the broken and gives life to souls who are in need of a Savior.  He walks with them and teaches them what has been breathed into him.  And then Ryan comes home to our quaint little town, shuts the door to this warmth he calls home and does the same. It is who he is. A Giver.  Then, as if that is not enough, with keen ears, this man, both in silence and with words, as He listens to the heart of His Father, draws others into the presence of their Maker.  He    Keeps his flock close at the worship center, First Baptist of Elgin, and brings glory to the One for whom all glory is due.  In the time I have known him, process was written all over his life, and so when this shepherd man stands to speak, I am not surprised today to hear that word.  Process. Knowing Christ and Making Him known. It is lifelong and life changing.  If your hand is open, this is the Way for you.  His words come upon me as though God spoke.  Tears fall and I am silent. Just Today.  This is all I desire of my Today.  That, which my husband unabashedly proclaimed, that I might die so Christ could live and that Love could be remembered by the next generation of believers. Shall it be for me.  And in my now I will go tredding up a hill, sled in one hand, with my Love beside me. Pouring into our next generation.  And it will be well with my soul as I lay my head down to rest tonight, hopeful that I will wake tomorrow, to my Today of living life beside the one my soul longs for. My husband and my God.

The apple of his eye

The apple of his eye. Psalm17. David's prayer in verse eight is that the Lord would keep him as the apple of His eye, that he would be hidden in the shadow of His wings.  There is nothing selfish about that prayer. I for one share the same desire. Do you? Lately I found myself wanting. That is a true confession. I have  subjected myself to comparison and discontentment. Two evils that will never be satiated.  They always want more, don't they? Thankfully, the Holy Spirit prompts me to make another choice. To look toward heaven, and to be satisfied in the only life-giving sustenance there is.  So I feast on his word, and I am renewed. I am thankful. His many gifts leave me grateful.  His word fills me up to overflowing and  my cup does run over.  Who have I in heaven, but Him?The beauty of His presence makes me want to  turn my head, instead I bow before him. And in that place I am safe, secure, and no earthly thing can reach that recess of my soul. This is where I abide....

Find Me

This was the first song of our worship set yesterday....https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YVpBKjHmJ8U. It will draw you into the presence of God. I invite you to listen to it!

In Pursuit of His Presence

It's a new year! May it be joy-filled for you! This time of the year is always exciting for me.  A time to reflect, make goals, celebrate the life that was lived the last 365 days... A new year is full of both anticipation and hope, wonder and challenge.  Looking back, my days were filled with much of those.   I would like to dazzle you with those details down the road, but for now, I want to start over.
I am starting over, following a one year Bible reading plan, to immerse myself in the Truth. If my meet my goal, this will be my first experience reading the Bible in its entirety for two consecutive years.  I assure you this is not a bragging point! I say that only to preface  what I desire to accomplish as one of my goals again this year.  Having read the Bible in a year a handful of times in the past, I have found it enriching and comforting to dive into the depth of God's inspired Word daily and with purpose in mind. For many years I have described myself as a black or white person.  Though, this plan for reading appears to represent my personality well, I will readily admit that I am less disciplined than I would like to be sometimes.
 So for those of you who read the Christmas letter we sent out at church and have hence decided to commit to a year plan of reading the full Bible, I pray you find it a place of grace, not of legalism.  Please don't strive for perfection and then give up when you fail to read a day(s)' contents, or if you find yourself wanting to give up after a week even!  I encourage myself and you, here at this time, to just pick up reading the current reading for that day. Move on!
Accept that this is is meant as an exercise of discipline and faithfulness between you and God.  With that in mind, I do plan, as I said in the letter, to post occasionally as I reflect on God's treasured words.  As we endeavor to behold the Truth together, I pray our hearts and minds would be turned toward the Author and Perfector of our faith.
Please feel free to blog your own thoughts here, post a question or comment on what has been said....If you would permit me to share one more exhortation, it would be to pray!  Pray that the eyes of your heart would be open to new understanding, perspective and growth as you are daily inspired by God Himself!  To Him be the Glory as we take in His life giving Word and live full lives in His Presence in 2017!