The Fire of His Heart and Soul

Summer is almost over! Can you believe it? This has been a very full and fun summer for me and my family. My kids and I have read a couple  of very large books together, we've enjoyed swimming, camping, biking, trips, friends, barbecue's, ice cream, and grandchildren. My kids are not excited about school starting, they want summer to last forever.

My husband and I gave our poodle a hair cut today. We decided to call it the Hit and Miss haircut. He is a standard poodle and he has a lot of hair, we got some and we didn't! Thankfully, he doesn't care. He is the happiest dog on earth, I've never seen him sad.

Throughout my life I have had many sad and long days, but now is not one of them. In fact, they are far and few between right now, and for this I am praising God. It's not because we are trial free, believe me there are still several of those stacking against us. But, it's because of what I believe and know about them. God has placed me to win, and I'm going to believe in His miraculous work in my life to follow through with that. 

I experienced some amazing breakthroughs this summer. One was the ability to get in the pool and the lake and actually swim. For years, I have felt a block when it comes to swimming. I didn't want to be cold, or I just couldn't make myself get in the water. Now, that has come to an end, I'm swimming a lot and enjoying it. I give credit to God's healing power through an Art Sozo training that I was involved in.

Also, due to that training, my paints have come alive again. I use to paint, draw, etc, but it was left by wayside several years ago. Now, I am enjoying that gift again, finding it to be very healing and fun.

So, what is happening in your life that God wants to heal? What are some of the lies you are believing about yourself that keeps you from living life to the fullest? What is the truth? How do you want to ask God to revive your heart today?

Are you growing in the fire of His soul and heart, or does life feel stagnant?

This is my desire this September, to continue to grow in the fire of His heart and soul. 

Say That Again and march on! 

Time Runner

So many times I hear people say there isn't enough time.  Life is spent running against an unseen clock, hoping to catch an hour, a minute, or a second of time.  I use to feel this way at times; it was very challenging for me to go throughout the day without my watch on, I had to know the time.

But, I've discovered that with or without it, time passes by at the same pace. Many people spend most of their life living in the same cycle, as if each cycle were the first time. The same issues, same obstacles, same everything.

It takes courage to STOP.

Time races by, and we choose each day how to respond. You can lean into each moment and with strength choose to savor the life given you, or you can run.

I've done both.

To savor we accept responsibility for our own lives. We stop poking the person next to us and expecting them to change first. We set boundaries that bring life to ourselves and our family. We seek truth and sometimes boldly speak the hard truth.

To savor is to stand still long enough to recognize the blessings all around us. To stop talking and listen. To savor, one cannot manipulate, twist, and control.

What is happening in your life today that recycles year after year? What are  your options? Are you thriving in the blessings God has given you, or pushing them away?  Are you grasping at past mistakes and pulling them into your present? Do you feel entitled? Are you running from the given time of this moment?

Many times in the day I need to pause and just ask Jesus for help. He knows every situation, every heart and thought. I don't have the answers, but I can choose to have the faith that He does. It is up to me to stop running against the time I've been granted, and let it all go to Him.

Jesus, Say That Again to me, You created time, you hold my heart, and You've got it all under control today.

Quirky Life

This has been a good week. I've spent a lot of time with people that I love, and we've had fun together.  My two youngest kids and I went for a long drive and listened to a favorite book, Three Weeks with my Brother, by Nicholas Sparks. (see my review for this book on www.rootedinmercy.com) We went swimming at a little beach, and we ate ice cream.  I also spent an evening walking with a close friend, and more time walking with my daughter in-law and grandson.  Again, I praise God for the people He has put in my life and the journey He walks with me. Each day is a new adventure and there is joy.

There have been a lot of adjustments, growing pains, and moments of searching. Life is continually richer for me as I recognize God's handiwork.

What brings a richness to your life? How has God taken the growing pains in your life and turned them into joy? Who do you have in your life that enriches you? Where is your purpose on this earth, and how is that purpose bringing light to the world? When you are in the midst of pain, how does that brokenness shine with the light of God?

God causes all things to work together for good to those that love Him. And, even though life is not always fair, God is. He is fair and just, and everything He does is out of love towards us. He is good. When I started to believe this and see this, life changed for me on many levels.

I know that life is not fair. I have current situations that do not feel fair, but God continues to give me a heart of compassion for those situations and a faith that He will bring joy from the pain. There is strength in being able to recognize the pain, trust others with your pain, and then walk in faith that God has it handled.

I'm thanking God for this day. Even in the midst of a world that can be unfair, there is so much good. Treasures, really.

And, I'm listening to God Say That Again as we journey together.