Times of Refreshing...

The spring weather has been soo refreshing the last several days and today was just BEAUTIFUL! We walked over 10,000 steps this morning on our walk! I think this was somewhere in the vicinity of over 3 miles roundtrip! I was so shocked/thrilled! We've been trying to be faithful to walk each morning and we have just completed today.... six days in a row! We had been fitting more walks in here and there before this, but I am so glad we have started making these habits daily! Since I have had the goal of memorizing two scriptures per month (starting in January of this year) that I really NEED (not just something random... but something the Lord has revealed that I really really NEED), I have been using part of this walking time to review my spiral 3X5 notebook cards and it's been so much fun!

These past weeks have been really difficult.... I'm not even sure if I am ready to actually put onto paper what some of it has felt like, because I'm not even sure I can... it's been hard to process it alone, much less with my very godly and supportive husband, so I'm not even sure how I can do this yet in such a public forum... Except, of course it seems this is something I need... to share with whoever might benefit... In time, I think... in time...

There is just so much grief and loss to go through... and I think we have to be honest and just continue to go through it. Being honest with the Lord that THIS is where we are... and not trying to think we have anything figured out! Because we certainly don't... We can only depend on Him for strength to press forward in the midst of our pain... and share our hearts as openly as possible with one another and Him.

Lord, I am so greatful that you chose me to be yours! Long before I was born and long before I knew how desperately I needed you... you chose me! Thank you Jesus, for the indescribable joy in the midst of sorrow and great pain. I am so glad that you are my strong tower and fortress. My soul does find rest in you!

Psalm 18:30-33 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. (From memory... so I hope this was mostly correct!!) NIV ** I had to check... just to be sure and I only had to change one word... I had put "makes my way straight" and it was "makes my way perfect".... )

I pray for anyone who reads this that you might find rest in God. Times of refreshing can be found in Him... as I seek Him, even in the midst of great sorrow, I can truly say that I find rest in Him.

Reflections between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday

Psalm 18:3 I call the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies... Ps. 18:19b He...rescued me because he delighted in me.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways highter than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 John 4:4 Greater is He who is within me than he who is in the world

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (NKJV)

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing

Habakkuk 3:19 Amplified version " The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army. He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering or responsibility]! For the Chief Musician, with my stringed instruments"

This may seem somewhat all "unrelated"... however, the reality that we have an enemy and that he is out for our isolation and destruction is true. Those of us who belong to Christ cannot be snatched away, but the enemy will do his best to crush/distract/derail... whatever method will work best. He has NO heart and will not hesitate to hit us again when we are down and so all the more we need to be on our guard and alert.

The best defense is a good offense. When we know the things that are TRUE.... when we take God AT HIS WORD and build our life on solid ground (HIM), we can withstand whatever evil might come or landslide toward us. God is greater than the evil that is in the world. HE HAS OVERCOME and this weekend is all about that. If Jesus had not died, we would still be dead in our sin and the enemy would not be defeated... but Satan IS already defeated. His time is short.

OH JESUS, thank you and praise you that you sacrificed your life by death on a cross that we might live. Thank you that we can live in the abundance of life now and later. Thank you for coming to set us free from the power of sin and death. Thank you for drawing us to relationship with you. We can never repay the debt we owe and so we offer our lives up that you might live your full life through us. Please be glorified in me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Soul Finds Rest in God Alone

I'm not sure where this blog will go or where it will lead, but I the one thing I know today is this: My soul finds rest in God alone, my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress- I will never be shaken. (From Psalm 62)


I think I need this blog for the outlet to write... yet right now I am too numb to even put down "sensible" words. So I will just go with this.... My soul does find rest in God... and in him alone... He IS my HOPE. He is my ROCK. He is my SALVATION. He IS my FORTRESS. Dear Jesus, I pray that I will never be shaken. I pray that I will cling to you and to your word. I love you with everything that I am. Take my life and let it be totally consecrated for THEE. Take my moments and my days, truly let them flow with ceaseless praise. May I delight in you no matter what goes on around me, may I take delight in you my King.