In the Midst of Storms

                     








                                                                                 

          In the midst of rainstorms today the sun shone brightly, so I quickly ran out to snap this picture of amazing beauty against the dark sky.  The colors of fall are vibrant and striking in themselves but especially so when the sun shines through the clouds.  God's seasonal colors are truly awesome, just coming down from His throne as gifts to us.  "Splendor" is a word that captures the scene for me.  These fluorescent colors against the dark sky pull my heart to lessons the Lord Jesus is trying to teach me about His love for me.  Today just happened to be one of those days He spoke.

          You do know words of love may come in different forms, right?  It did today for me in the form of that flash of sunlight through the storm clouds.  The last 5 years have held some difficult trials for our family, and the Lord has walked with us closely through these years.  Skies looked pretty stormy and dark, yet God was our strength and upheld us.  What I find now though, is that I am almost holding my breath waiting for the next trial.  With all our children grown and married, I don't see them everyday.  So when I do see them I breathe a sigh of relief.  When my husband comes home I breathe a sigh of relief.  That flash of sunlight today spoke;  you are walking by sight.  Seeing my loved ones brought rest.  That's not faith.  Oh, Lord, I repent, I hear what You are saying!  The sight of brilliant light exposed the colors of the trees, and it also exposed my heart.

          Jesus' lovingkindness worked deeply in our hearts during the trials so why am I dreading another dark day?  His lovingkindness will also keep on working and holding us up no matter what comes.  Faith is seeing with the eyes of Jesus all He will do and resting there.  Psalm 116:7 says, "Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you."  The definition of rest there is, "a time or place of security; rest for the soul because of the Lord's mercies and blessings; it points to a location where something  settles down and remains there or cessation of work in order to refresh oneself."  God wants my faith to settle down and rest in Jesus, not on what I see with my eyes.  It is refreshing my soul in Him.  And leaving the rest to Him.  His Sonlight will shine on me then, creating His colors in my heart and life.                                                                   K.C.                                                                                                                

 

Hammock Heart

          This lovely hammock taught me a few lessons this past summer.  After spending massive energy all summer on a long list of items, I was over-ready for vacation.  Aren't we all?  Our idea of vacation though, is not to go, go, go, see, see, see.  Our idea of vacation is to screech to a complete halt!  It is to have hours upon hours of quiet, solitude, peaceful surroundings with a view of nature that God has created with utmost detail and care.  It is to have endless hours to read and chew on God's Word.  It is to admire our most Beautiful Jesus Christ and His lovingkindness, mercy, and grace.  But, normal life is not made of such hours, so we end up having to return home.  

          Back to the hammock.  Nothing accomplished, nothing checked off my list, nothing cleaned, ironed, cooked, weeded, studied, written, read, or fixed.  Seems like a waste doesn't it?  Hammock time with no expectations.  What a refueler, refresher, rewinder!  Not even expecting any extraordinary word from the Lord is  is a breath of heavenly air!   In our daily times with the Lord we have lists and expectations of what we want to receive or express to Him.  But extra special time with Jesus is when I can just be with Him.  Period.  You know how it is when someone just wants to be with you without needing anything from you.  It is so refreshing!  That's how it is for me in the hammock with Jesus.  Filling up with His presence.  Experiencing the peaceful joy of His love.  This is what I wanted to take home with me.  

          So, coming home from vacation,  I purposed to set aside more time in the hammock -  to grow a hammock-heart.  When times get overly busy, I can get overwhelmed with lists and tasks.  Or I can purposely slow down, simplify, and get un-busy.  Why am I trying to accomplish so much in such a short time?  What is the purpose of my long list?  Who am I trying to please?  Who will it help?  Where will it end?  No.  It will not end, unless I choose to stop.  I desire to spend more time in the Lord's presence - with no agenda other than enjoying Him.  What a goal!  What a joy!              K.C.

Toothless

       

     On the lookout for some tasty bird, our old Musket poses for me on the birdbath.  He gets a closer view of the seed platform above his head, and remembers the old days of bird hunting.  He is really like an old dog more than a cat, but the birds don't know that.  It has been many a day since he caught a bird.  For one thing, the birds don't know that he has just a couple of teeth left.  He still looks like a cat to them.  And Gary has a soft spot in his heart so that he buys soft food for Musket.  Don't tell the other guys though, since they would laugh at him.  We will be sad to see him go to "cat heaven".

     On a different "tooth" level, I was thinking about the enemy of our souls this morning, and all he tries to do to derail and harm us, as well as eat us alive.  A friend recently has been wrestling with all the destructive thoughts the enemy plants.  But, as evil and destructive as he is, he is now "toothless" and has lost his power over believer's lives.  Jesus Christ has "wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us....And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."  (Colossians 2:14 - 15)  The enemy may still scare us and try to hurt us, but he is "toothless" and has been disarmed.  As my friend came to the Word, it shouted to her, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"  (Philippians 4:13) 

     Yes, our protection and safe refuge is in God's Word to us.  It sounds too simple.  It sounds too naive.  It sounds too easy.  But God does not ask us to do anything other than trust Jesus Christ and all His work at the cross, to trust His Word.  Psalm 119:114 tells us, "You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word."  Jesus Christ will strengthen me each time I go to His Word.  I will be camping there.  How about you?                                                                              K.C.