Thinking so much…
and yet not enough lately…
about how so many things human draw me away from You, Lord…
insecurity, fear…and even heart thumping attraction…
the longing to be filled…and longing to be longed for.
It all draws my eyes from You.
And how those very same things…
if I see with better eyes…
pull me like gravity to You.
Thank You God
#879… that my confidence…
breakable egg shell of a thing that it is…is so much more resolute…
when I ask for Your will, want Your will, accept what happens as Your will.
#880… for those moments, fleeting as they are, when fear and insecurity…become…the eggshell.
And thinking…
how when I meet amazing, beautiful people…
who don’t believe crazy and completely in You…
I sometimes hide my faith just a little.
How can You be so forgiving…
with someone who conceals their faith…
…like an imperfection?
#881… that only if You are perfect Love could You be so forgiving…and You are perfect love.
#882… that You help me believe…
that there is more…
there is better…
and You are here…
now.
It really is better to be a fool for the Creator and Sustainer of all things then to be the most brilliant and wise person on the planet – wise only in the ways of this universe. Still, nobody likes to be called a fool.
#883… that they called You a fool…
So I know, that You know.
#884… that there will be a time…
when I’ll see true and clear and perfectly…
and all that is imperfect and wrong and sin…
I won’t want anything at all to do with.
#885… that just as when the birds sing continuously before dawn…
but then silence when they see the Sun rise above the horizon…
any doubt, all doubt, will one day hush itself when I. See. You.
#886… that for now we hope in faith, and in faith we find hope.
And I’ve been thinking lately…
of the ocean…and faith.
I heart looking at the ocean, and sailing on top of it.
I heart digging toes in sand and listening to the sea.
I even heart the part…
where wave meets shore…
and covers up to ankles…
and steals the sand from under your feet.
But I don’t heart so much diving in.
Faith … like … ocean.
#887… for the moments that You help me dive in…and just…believe.
linking today with Ann…
whose writing transformed mine…
and I guess that could be…
thank you #888
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
I appreciate these thoughts on faith. My faith is so imperfect, weak and little at time. But so were the disciples and Jesus was so gracious and patient with them. And He is with me too. Enjoyed reading your list today. Blessings to you!
Christina, what you wrote for yourself – I think you wrote for me too (you seem to often do that) “My faith is so imperfect, weak and little at times.” I think everybody’s faith is – I’ve been around long enough in Christian circles to know now that that we all throw around words like “believe” but … Well… You know. God bless you Christina – you DO have faith – human faith – my kind of faith – and God hearts that faith 【◔‿◔】
#882… that You help me believe…that there is more…there is better…and You are here…now.
Yes indeed! He is enough. And He is good. Great list today pointing straight to Him!
Kelly, I needed the pointing, and gratitude is really, really good for that. And #882 – without His help…without His help… I couldn’t believe it all. I really heart that He helps our faith. God bless and keep you Kelly!
Home from Ghana and enjoying sharing my thanks along with yours.
Oh, how you touched Ghana – and I KNOW that Ghana touched you! Glad you are home again though 【◔‿◔】 God bless you Elizabeth!!
Isn’t it something how when we look at those same things with eyes of gratitude, it pulls us to Him, changes us, changes the ones around us?
Stacy, I found this, written by Catherine of Siena , “What makes people patient, so that they can bear torments and assaults from the devil? Gratitude. Gratitude DOES change us – and then hopefully it’s contagious. I know how much GRUMBLY is contagious. I’ve caught it before! God bless!!!
There’s so much about “seeing” in your post today and I know that this is The Year of See for you so when I read Ann’s blog today all I could think about was you and your “seeing”. For instance, #884 and she spoke about #883 Jesus knows about our scars, He had them, too, but my all time favorite this week: (drum roll, please)
#885 Nature knows when to keep silent before Him. Nature knows just when something BIG is about to happen. I realized this in Belize when I was sleeping in a Maya hut. I had to put ear plugs in my ears at night because there were so many jungle sounds, but one night it was SO quiet, SO peaceful. I thought, “How strange, yet…how nice.” I went to sleep without my ear plugs in. In the morning a boa constrictor was dangling just above my mosquito netting. Hmmm, I guess all nature knew he was there, but me. I was outta there in a slowwww flash!
Dawn, the year of “see” is turning out a lot like the year of “connect” – first seeing too much – then too dark – then blazing light – then not looking hard enough – then too much – so much fine-tuning. After the Bible verse tournament is over (on the other deep) – I have to get back to the darker side of seeing – because it’s real – and I need to know more about it – realizing all the time that unless I have LIGHT behind me – I can’t see the shadows.
And your STORY!!!!! OH – your story – is that a post? and if it isn’t why NOT???!!!! If you don’t do it I’m gonna steal it for a love – love knows when to be silent – boa constrictor love ツ HEART THAT!!! God bless you Dawn – so so glad I know you!!
Ditto on the need for a boa story, Dawn!!!!!
I second the ditto, Dawn!
I am always amazed at how much ‘resolute confidence’ He gives when we are following His will……I’m thankful for that strength when I, pretty much a loner and introvert am called to teach the ladies in my church. And yes, as you can surmise, when I am unprepared and have not sought His guidance and bathed myself in the strengthening waters of prayer the confidence crumbles. Thanks for your words, Craig. I always enjoy your posts and find encouragement here.
Rebecca – first, thank you for your kind words – thank you. Second – our Lord DOES give courage – I guess we just forget to ask –but it’s even more – i.e. the wheels of courage had fallen off of my emotional car on Friday – I asked for help – and I know he gives perfect help – but we still have to receive it – we ask – he gives – we forget to take. Silly humans! And me – I’m an introvert too – except I’m all extrovert as well – just one of my many confusions ツ anyway, thank you again, and God bless and keep you!
Somehow….#879. Some days, many days…most days…I just want to curl up with Him, somewhere safe. I know He must have a lap. A safe one.
A. I forgot to tell you – there was at least one bunny in attendance – and more suspected. Oh those bunnies – they have never stopped – and everything is done under the surface. Sad. and they probably have me seeing bunnies sometimes where there really aren’t bunnies too. and I’m not sure how he does it – but I AM almost positive that the Father has a lap – we KNOW that Jesus has one ツ God bless you my friend!
Oh….bunnies. That is too sad. I wish they would stop. Once, I read an explanation of the thorn in the flesh, and it concluded that the thorn was a person or persons (I can’t remember which). The reasons were compelling, but who knows? I am sure a thorn could be a person, a condition, a situation, etc. I think you have two thorns at a minimum…sleep, bunnies, well-and even your childhood produced a person thorn, sadly.
well let’s see, bunnies – not a thorn, but imperfect real life, real people, real misunderstandings, real mistakes, lack of communication etc… but probably not a “thorn”
sleep – YES
abuse – no, just a broken world with broken people doing stupid things that hurt – but not a thorn.
I think you can’t forgive a thorn – could be wrong – just some random thoughts.
GOd bless!!
Craig
Faith ………………….to have that faith the grain of a mustard seed !!!
Knowing that one day these hands of mine will touch the hands of GOD !!!
Such a good thought, “Knowing that one day these hands of mine will touch the hands of GOD !!!” that is SO inspirational – all smiles here, all smiles. Thank you for that. To be where everything bad is gone, and everything good is better, and to touch hands with God – that’s a lot of inspiration. God bless you Glenna!
Oh, friend, what a gift to click on your link to Ann’s today. Your gifts are so heartfelt, so deep in their honesty, I’m humbled by mine that I listed today in my little journal beside my easy chair.
Thank you for the reminder to see deeper, see more, see inside.
My family is wounded by loss right now and I can hardly bear to look below the surface. So I need to be looking above. Thank you, thank you, and God Bless.
xoxo Heidi
Heidi, thank you – your words were a gift to me. And, by the way, I think that the right way to probably do a thank you list is not the way that I do it – I think Ann means simpler, more everyday graces – I tend to get ramble-ish. That’s just me. I heart the everyday little graces that I read in everybody’s thank you lists. I hope you don’t mind that I said a prayer for your family – I’m not sure what your loss is – but I understand loss – and God knows the details. Thank you Heidi, and God bless you and each and every one of yours!
i love reading your heart poured out on page, so beautiful, really. and this? “the longing to be filled…and longing to be longed for.” how i live here too, in my deep heart places. looking for the right kind of full.
Tara, truth be told, before this year of blogging I never really poured my heart out to anyone. Now it’s an open book – all honest – no masks – people who read me here know more about me than anyone ever has. I heart what happens on these pages – comments included. And I get what you say about our heart finding the “wrong” kind of full – that IS a tug – and I get it – and I pray that both you and I can find the right kind and get filled to overflowing. Although, somehow, it’s so much more easy to say that prayer just for YOU. You know? God bless you Tara, and thank you.
I read it all twice, but I kept going back to #880. I can’t even count how many times I’ve been sooo insecure and have concealed my faith. BIG TIME concealed — more like house paint than the fance make-up brush you showed in the picture. Remember the Velveteen Rabbit??? And that famous question, How do you know when you are real? Well, in this case, I found out when I was real —- when I was no longer shaking in my boots and ashamed of opening my mouth about my faith in Christ. And to know the forgiveness and to know that forgives time after time after time is beyond my ability to understand and to thank Him properly. My eggshell-thin courage turned to smashed egshell doubts so many, many times. This all just washed over me today, Craig. I needed to read this — big time!
Cora,
*HEART*
that is all 【ˆ◡ˆ】
“But I don’t heart so much diving in.” For the moments He helps us dive in. I like this. It’s all about trust, about going from peeking to looking, then to doing.
Ahhh, A. you said it so well – the journey of faith summed up in seven words (seven being a good number and all) “going from peeking to looking, to doing.” Profound my friend, I HEART that!!
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