Cherished

frost

It’s Friday–iIt’s time to let our hair down a little and let loose a few pent up words. Around here, on Fridays, we write for just five brief minutes. That’s it. No more than that. Skip the red-pen editing, and let the words be as the are. Then, take that brave step and share them over HERE, with other word weavers. Lisa-Jo is our hostess, she chooses the prompt. Will you join us?

Today, it’s Cherished.


He smiles as he walks in the door, I can see that he’s tired but he puts a good face on for us, this wild rambunctious band of boisterous souls. I’m at the stove and the kids are everywhere. He steps over the dog and the clothes and the Christmas decorations still out–waiting to be stashed away.

He acts as if he doesn’t see any of the mess, while I wring my hands about all the things I didn’t get done today.
I wonder how he can act as if he doesn’t see. I see everything and can’t hush about my failed accomplishments of the last 12 hours, while he just sits and smiles.

I can feel his warmth and the living evidence of his adoration that all clamor for his attention. We’ve managed with so much grace, to build this family, this life–all by God’s merciful and good hand and very little of our own doing.

He provides and we curl into each other on the couch, tired, full–cherished by each other.
He’s home and whatever the day has become, the edges start to blur when he is finally here. My other half, my better half. 

By the time the dinner is done and the children have been tucked, it’s just us. Just for a bit. We’re bone-tired and we laugh a little about how early the morning comes, and I wonder out loud to him, how we ever survived those short baby-waking nights not too long ago.

He reminds me that it was all grace and he’s right. All of this is. It’s not by our own hands, but rather we live the life of children cherished by a God so big, who steadily teaches us daily how to love each other well.

I fold into bed, the morning will come so quickly. The wilds of the next day come with the sunrise. He’s beside me, and together we face this cherished life.

 

When You Dream That Your Dying

praise

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.Hebrews 11:6

I woke the other morning just as the wings clipped a pole and sheered clean off of the plane I rode on.

An unknown, yet familiar voice from overhead speakers assures me not to worry, it will be fine. My hands clenched the arm rests and I felt the blood drain from my face.

How will it be fine, I think, we are free-falling.

And that was it. I woke up. 

I don’t know anyone who has ever actually died in their dreams. I have come close a few times, this recent plane-crash dream being one of them-

I dream a lot. God speaks to me in dreams visions, most of the time in sleep, though occasionally, when I am awake. And I do love a good discussion about dreams and their symbolism. There were plenty of dreamers in the bible, so I feel I am in good company. And me being me, I had to analyze this dream a bit too, asking God always, if there is anything I should glean from it, or was it just the result of an overactive psyche- an entirely possible explanation. 

I sit and I wait. I hear there words faith, and trust. Words I have been using frequently these days, as if they might vanish forever.

What is faith other than blind trust in something we cannot see?

Trust, being my one word for this year, has already  whomped me good over the head a few times, as the lessons come steady- day after day, minute after minute, hour after hour-

Our faith makes us not unlike passengers on a plane, gypsies on a journey into foreign lands. We live daily, somewhat at the mercy of things outside of our control. We are not the pilot. We exist merely as passengers. We simply follow the One who is greater, the One who leads us blindly, yet willingly, if we are faithful, into the vast unknown.

We live the free-fall of life, not knowing where or when we will land, but trusting that it is good, becauseHe is good.

I don’t know what happens when my plane hits the ground.  But His voice says “don’t worry, it will be fine”.

What can I do but trust? Why would I worry at that point-what good would come of it?

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:6-7

I know that a plane needs wings to fly, just as I know that I cannot live without faith.

“Faith is what makes life barable, with all it’s tradgedies and ambiguities and sudden startling joys.” Madeline L’Engle

For now I take from this dream the idea that no matter what, in the scariest of potential circumstances, I need only to trust. Minutes and days are not to be frittered away, choking on the fears and worries that steal joy.
Life is meant to be lived with arms raised, hands open, wings of faith spread wide with anticipation for whatever may come. 

I keep counting my gifts, because in doing so, my focus shifts from the wings that have been sheered off, to the joy of knowing, the relief of trusting, that whatever happens, His outstretched arms will always catch me.

1011. The outrageous community of women I have found who pray for me daily. I cannot believe how blessed I am.
1012.  Fighting through the desire to quit.
1013.  Children fighting with each other and then offering apologies and forgiveness without my prompting.
1014.  The hard job of mothering. It never ends, there are no scheduled breaks, and the clean-up of various bodily fluids is a constant.
1015.  Family
1016. This friend.
1017. And this One
1018.  And these women.
1019. Boys who love to do math (Proof God does have a sense of humor, for a woman who lives in fear of numbers)
1020. Little girls singing princess songs and dancing wild to Mat Kearny’s “Hey Mama” (I dare you to listen to that song and not dance!)

Joining the community of friends and Ann in giving thanks for all things. Won’t you join in the praise?

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Delight

delight

He will take great delight in you;

in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephania 3:17

I’ve been thinking a lot these days about this scripture. When I saw the prompt today, Delight, this is the first thing that came to mind. This scripture followed by the words of Psalm 1, …”but His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on this law he meditates day and night-”

I think I live in a place in between the dessert and the meadows. I sojourn over hills and through forests of life forgetting that I should delight in the Lord, and even more I forget that He delights in me.

I don’t often feel worthy of being delighted over. I know the stuff that swirls ugly in my heart and I am slayed again and again by the words in Zephania. And I have to challenge myself daily to let those words sink in. He rejoices over me. He rejoices over you. He loves to love us. When I think about this, I cannot help but delight in Him, because He is abundantly good and giving, always. 

This morning, I’m afraid I ramble. the words Coming slow and thick and jumbled. I take away one thing in this moment and if you have stopped here today, I pray this is your take-away as well, the Father rejoices over you. He delights in you, even when you feel unworthy of His grace, He loves anyway. Delight in His words, and meditate on them, and be like the tree that does not wither. Watch how He prospers you because you believe in His goodness above all else.

Stop.

 

Joining Lisa-Jo and fabulous others today for Five Minute Friday where we write unedited for five brief minutes and share it with each other. Encouragement is the name of the game, so leave some comment love behind on the pages you visit. Wanna play?

PS: Ashlie, You won the $50 DaySpring {Giveaway}. Woohoo, girlfriend. Happy Shopping! Have you seen their new Redeemed Collection? Ohmygoodness it’s awesome.

 Want to keep up with me? Subscribe to Always Alleluia by Email to get my posts delivered right to your inbox. You can also find me on Facebook and twitter
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