Seasons of Change

I have enjoyed looking out the window lately.  The sunlight looks so golden.  A warm, soft, golden glow.  I love it.  It reminds me of how the Lord is always with us, and He invites us into His glory. 

The season is changing, we are entering into Fall. The days are warm with chilly mornings and crisp nights.  Yesterday I was walking around the park enjoying the weather.  There were so many people out enjoying the weather too. 

The Lord prepares his animals, birds, the ground, and the trees for the next season.  He also prepares each of us too. I look forward to the next season of change with the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.

Beautiful

Today I met and took care of my first client in their home.  I walked into an amazing beautiful site....a husband taking care of his wife.  They have been together for 59 years.  You could tell that he cherishes his wife dearly as he cares for her in her time of need.  It was simply beautiful.  What I witness today has tugged at my heart and has made a permanent impression on me.

I have to believe

1Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them.  People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Gentleness (a willingness to decrease our lectures and increase our tender expressions of love) is a key to martial growth.  Tenderness acts like like a firebreak to an advancing, angry forest fire.

So between the Restoration and not judging and gentleness I got out of it that:

 God will restore joy in this situation, and for me to not look or read so much into what isn't being said or expressed by Micah and let God work in his heart and know that he is, and to be gentle and loving in my actions and not express myself so much verbally right now.

Restoration

This morning during my quite time I felt lead to read Psalm 126. 

In one of many emailed devotionals: 1Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them.  People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

On my way back up from my walk after leaving Sara at school I saw that the garage door was open and Micah was getting ready to go to work.  Yes, work. I was happy to see him dressed for work and actually going to work.  I hope the rain holds out so he can get a good day in.

I asked how he was and he asked me back too.  He asked me how work was going and if I had heard anything back from the food stamp office.  Then there was a brief moment of silence and he got into his truck and I made a comment "wow you really are that distant from me" he looked puzzled and I said "not even a hug".  He smiled and said "I didn't think you wanted one."  I replied "I always need a hug".  He got out of his truck and we hugged closely.  It was a nice hug, not a short run off type of hug.  It felt so nice to be hugged, his arms around me and close to his warm body.  I closed my eyes during the hug taking it all in.

I went next door and he drove off to get started on his day.  I came in the house and closed the door and then the tears came.

This was also in my email:
Gentleness (a willingness to decrease our lectures and increase our tender expressions of love) is a key to martial growth.  Tenderness acts like like a firebreak to an advancing, angry forest fire.

So between the Restoration and not judging and gentleness I got out of it that:

 God will restore joy in this situation, and for me to not look or read so much into what isn't being said or expressed by Micah and let God work in his heart and know that he is, and to be gentle and loving in my actions and not express myself so much verbally right now.

The Center of My Life

Dear Lord,

Please be the center of my life

Be the place I fix my eyes on

Be at the center of my life.

 

You hold everything together,

you hold me together.

I lift my eyes to you in heaven

And I wrap my life around you

Be the center of my life Lord.

Amen

Gifts of Encouragement

Word travels fast when bad news arises.  At times I find myself not really realizing how many people might know of what is going on around me.  Its not like I walk around with a huge sign over me with an arrow pointing right at me saying "she has a problem and is need of some encouragement".

Thankfully God knows how show us encouragement.  It could be through His word or a thought that he places in your head.  A sweet moment might happen that brings you back to thinking forward like you should.  A person can be placed in your path at just the right time.  God is the one responsible for that and that is such a wonderful thing that he does for us.

I went into Walmart the other day and was just going along my way picking up a few things when a mutual friend of mine and my husbands walks up to me.  She asked me how I was doing, but it was with that look and tone that I knew that she knew what was going on in my life.  She asked if I had a few minutes and pulled me off to the side and asked if she could pray for me.  So we stood there together and she prayed for me and then she gave me a little pep talk (coming from the Lord through her) and hugged me and off I went about my way.

It was wonderful and I was truly blessed that I had that moment with my friend.  I was feeling down and just walking through the store on auto pilot just existing.  Thank you God for placing her in my path.  My chin was lifted heavenward again.

Just this morning I dropped my bible on the floor and all my little papers fell out.  I picked everything up and before shoving it all back in, I sat down to look at these little papers.  I found the following note from a friend and after I read it I looked upward and said thank you Lord.

Katrina,

I love you and I am so sorry you are in such a difficult time right now.  I hope I can be an ear when you need one, and a friend as I should be.  I am hurting with you and will be praying for you.

Laura

P.S. Let the Lord be your strength; comfort and pray for His wisdom and discernment  

He Reminds Me

This morning I woke up feeling a little better than yesterday.  For starters I think I've been suffering from a cold and then there is the emotional roller coaster that I've been riding for the last few days.  Never the less I was determined to focus on the Lord in my quite time and ask him to put me back on track and help me with the way I've been feeling.

I closed my eyes and began to pray, in the middle of it I heard the words play in my head over and over....Psalm 25.  I finished my prayer and then I knew what I had to do.  I opened my bible that was sitting in my lap to Psalm 25 and smiled instantly when I saw the heading "Dependence on the Lord".  Before I even started to read it I said thank you Lord, he knew what I needed all I had to do was obey and read.

I read the psalm and was gently reminded of where I need to continue to turn and whose ways I needed to follow no matter what my mind doesn't understand.  To trust Him.

I looked on the page and found that I had written a prayer to the Lord on January 25, 2012 in my bible.

Dear Lord

Impress upon me your ways, show me your ways, lead me in your truth, teach me.  Guide me along your path Lord.  You are the God of my salvation.  I will wait for you always.  Turn my eyes heavenward and move my feet to walk in step with you, oh Lord.  Your ways are the only ways to faithful love and everlasting truth.  Amen

It is so wonderful how my Heavenly Father knows how to gently remind me or re-direct me.  He knows just the right words to put before me.  I'm truly blessed to have such loving Father.  Thank you.