I was awake at 4:15A, after 7.5 hours of good restorative sleep. I usually lay there for a few hours to pray for an hour and I've started using resistance bands laying on my back exercising arms and legs before getting up. The Hired Hand usually switches beds sometime during the night...he's my night crawler...he has been for gosh...20+ years. He never sleeps through the night and switches bedrooms so he doesn't disturb me cause he knows how much I treasure sleep. And then kindness in return, I lay there in the morning so I don't wake up the monster....Ozzie. He's a whiner and if he knows I'm awake he'll start making a bunch of noise....so I laid there for 2 hours and couldn't take it any longer and got up to face Mr Whiner. He was actually pretty good this morning and we kept quiet so The Hired Hand could sleep another hour.
As we age....it's just a dance!!!
This morning in my quiet time with The Good Shepherd, He gently guided me to a passage that caused me to be utterly broken with JOY.
As we age....it's just a dance!!!
This morning in my quiet time with The Good Shepherd, He gently guided me to a passage that caused me to be utterly broken with JOY.
I wrote about the desert I've been walking in for the past 3 years, trying desperately to find my JOY restored. Sometimes in the desert, just like the Israelites, we walk in circles hot, tired and thirsty.
We cry out....God where are you?
Why have you forsaken me?
Why did you lead me here?
We cry out....God where are you?
Why have you forsaken me?
Why did you lead me here?
This morning, I was reading some of my life verses in Isaiah; chapters 61 and 58. But God wanted me in Chapter 55....I started at verse 12.
"For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you shall
breaks forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall
clap their hands."
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you shall
breaks forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall
clap their hands."
I stopped there. I already had some worship music on and began worshipping. Because if we fail to worship the rocks will cry out. I let go of some heavy burdens and just wept and sang.
Then I heard the Holy Spirit tell me to not stop. READ verse 13!
Then I heard the Holy Spirit tell me to not stop. READ verse 13!
"Instead of the thorns shall grow the pine tree;
Instead of the briers shall grow the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
Instead of the briers shall grow the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
It took me several times reading verse 13 before I heard the message God had for me.
You see, we bought a pine tree farm and not only does it have pines, it has waxed myrtles.
Do you see?
You see, we bought a pine tree farm and not only does it have pines, it has waxed myrtles.
Do you see?
He has already told me on countless occasions that He has me right where He wants me. But in my desert place I have not see His hand. I've fallen on my knees countless times as I've walked the 2/10 of a mile in our forest to the mailbox....just fallen right there on the gravel crying...."why have you brought me here to just leave me? WHY? WHY would you do this? I don't think I can take much more of this place of great sadness."
Doesn't that sound like the Israelites?
Doesn't that sound like the Israelites?
But you know as I do, that He never left me. He has been here all this time. Waiting.
Trying to find our place here in RURAL East Texas has just taken 3 years.
We came back to the little church where I attended for 3 months before The Hired Hand arrived in Texas. I think as a couple we had to attend several other congregations before we could find the place God has for us both. And let's face it, I'm the one who has struggled so greatly with this sadness....being married to a melancholy left brain aspie, he's just as happy as a clam being alone...but I'm not....so really, I'm the The Who counts. Just kidding....but The Hired Hands knows, I need to find a place where my heart is filled with love, kindness and service.
Trying to find our place here in RURAL East Texas has just taken 3 years.
We came back to the little church where I attended for 3 months before The Hired Hand arrived in Texas. I think as a couple we had to attend several other congregations before we could find the place God has for us both. And let's face it, I'm the one who has struggled so greatly with this sadness....being married to a melancholy left brain aspie, he's just as happy as a clam being alone...but I'm not....so really, I'm the The Who counts. Just kidding....but The Hired Hands knows, I need to find a place where my heart is filled with love, kindness and service.
This desert experience has been so I would really press into Him.
"For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their SHEPHERD,
and He will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 7:17
and He will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 7:17
Isn't that just like Him? He's a gentleman. He will never force us into anything. He will gently guide us to the living water!!!
Sometimes all we need to do is get into worship and He'll speak to us. He'll show us just what He has for us...and He'll show us just where He wants us.
