Tag: heart

Remember to… Stand Up

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Life Foundations

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Boy!  Are you feeling the waves of life hitting you today?  I have to say, I sure am feeling it.  So when these kinds of things happen for me, I seek out the things that will bring my heart back into alignment.  What do I do?

  • I start with a mocha in the morning.  img_6696
  • I don’t just drink it from the cup.
    •        I ENJOY the taste of it, enjoy the cup I use, and the place where I am drinking it.  The whole thing becomes an experience.
  • I dial down.
  • I listen for the birds talking.
  • I ask God to give me the perspective I need for my situation.
  • I and The Captain are taking a drive,  which is always a treat in my car!
  • The Captain and I are driving to the ocean today, and that is one place where I can FEEL my rhythm come back.
  • I begin to put hearts in my Gratitude Jar to remember what God HAS done.
  • I ask God to give me the love in my heart that only He can give.
  • I stay in the Word and study on a regular basis.  That in itself, gives me more knowledge and it reminds of how God wants me to live.
  • When I am in the Word, it also keeps my focus in the right place, and on the right things.

img_6687This was challenged this week as it become very apparent that my sweet vintage range is not going to be something that I can keep.  (I am going to sell it though, if anyone is interested.)  So begins our search for a range.  We have looked at so many, trying to find information and make a decision about what would be best for my kind of cooking.  It can be overwhelming.  Of course, money is an issue also.  I’m trying to be gracious about what I get and the money that is spent.  I am also having to get a fridge and so in order to do both, I may have to spend less on my range.  I could feel my attitude tanking a bit after going around to see so many different ranges that I would love to have.  My attitude surfaces: “I mean, how many times do I have to compromise?”  And THEN… the Holy Spirit taps my shoulder and reminds me of what He HAS done:

  • my ongoing faith journey with God
  • the car I drive
  • the car my hubby drives
  • the house I have
  • the extra for some of the work in the house
  • the remodeling I have been able to do
  • the back yard paradise

Aren’t we funny creatures?  We have the waves of life hit us, and we let them come and pull us under.  But really, all we have to do is stand up!  When we do, the waves aren’t nearly as high.  I know many of you are dealing with waves way worse than a decision about a range.  But the premise is the same.  We have to allow God to work.  We can’t sit in the waves, wonder why they are so rough, and why they won’t stop. They won’t.  They may become less ominous, but they won’t go away.  There will be another one.  It is best that we learn how we can stand up against them and move forward, and even away from the big ones.  Let the waves wash away the ugly and take it with.  What comes back is fresh and new.

Getting back to my revelation about what I had been given, there many.  Too many to count.  Then… I have to ask for forgiveness.  Yep. I silently ask God to forgive me, and give me what He thinks would be best for our kitchen.  And as I have done before, I lay it down and ask Him to give me joy; joy that I can even GET a new range and fridge.

ocean-for-two-3I once again heard a song this last week called, “Leave It There”.  Boy!   That is so fitting for me this week.  Take all my burdens to the Lord and leave it there.  So, once again, God knows what the desires of my heart are… He cares… and He will do what is best for me.

And maybe, just maybe, our TV will quit working.

Walking the journey with you…

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Do You Live With A Locked Door?

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Uncategorized

I was posting some of the photos from a recent beach trip with my grandson and ran across this picture that I had taken. Often I will take pictures and it seems God tells me I want you to write about that later. I was drawn to take this picture as soon as I saw the lock. It is one of my favorites.

It makes me think of our bodies being the temple of the Lord. He says He lives inside of us. Wow! What does my temple look like? Do I let His Word keep my temple clean? How does my temple/body behave? What might others learn or think of the way my temple appears? And most importantly, do I allow God into ALL parts of my temple or do I have some locked doors where I don’t go, let alone, let God enter into.

He wants to shed light into our dark places. He wants you to trust Him with all of your rooms; even the dark places. I want to throw the doors wide open to His forgiveness, His faithfulness, and His sacrifice for me that I might have the Light that will so shine among men/women, that they will see His glory.

Do you have a place where you keep your secrets, hurts or feelings hidden and no one gets in? God wants to open that locked door and enter in. I pray you will trust Him and allow it. It’s up to you. He knocks. You have to unlock the door. Part of a hymn just came to mind that I used to sing as a solo and it fits here: “You must open the door, You must open the door. When Jesus comes in, He will save you from sin, but you must open the door.”