Ready to Move

Standing

Watching

Waiting

Pondering

Uncertain

At Peace

Heart pacing

Like a new father in a waiting room

Mind rushing

Like the anchor of a 300 sprint relay

Still I wait

"Peace that surpasses all understanding" *

As I wait on Him

Positioned for action

Anticipating to move

Still I wait

Knowing I would take off

Like a Cheetah on the hunt

Focused

Determined

Striving my utmost

He whispers "wait"

To run too far ahead

Lost, I will be

For the Light would be behind me

So I wait

Then...

amidst the gentle, quiet thunder

"Move"

(*Phillipians 4:7a NIV Study Bible)

Beauty in Pain

there is beauty in times of pain

when we step back and see what is gained.

never forgetting the lessons learned

a heart that has been hurt yet still has passion to yearn.

taking a moment to assess the risk

leaves you still waiting on that perfect bliss

there is never a good time to take the leap

the fact that there is yearning means the pain may cut deep.

one must not fret, for you are not alone.

there is a healing touch that will ease the scars you own.

they will not fade as if to not exist

they are meant to remind you how to truly feel a simple sweet kiss

for without pain how do we know joy

and without that knowledge... life would be a ploy

offering nothing more than the mundane

with no adventure and nothing to gain.

so do not fret if a tear you shed
seek out the hidden treasures instead

they are there and not always easy to see

once you've learned to look, it will be more than it seemed

back in the day when all you saw was darkness

making such discovery will bring out the brightness.

it is never easy to take that step

allowing your heart out there once and again

yet watch as a child gets hurt in a day

a few minutes later they invite to play.

so simple and sweet a gesture...bringing adults to their knees

remembering what it was to have such innocent peace

they don't have to remind themselves "tomorrow's a new day"

they simply let it all fall away

let's make an effort to have that child like care

and use the wisdom of age to leave selfishness there

in the wake of yest er year.

Regarding Comments and Pictures

I thought it would be good to have a short moment to explain ...

by me :)

Pictures:

I will always do my best to give credit where credit is due. I do not lable my pictures that I have taken personally. Most of the pictures on my blog are ones that I have taken (most with my phone. :) ). For those that are not mine I try to find the author of it. If I have not given credit on a picture it is usually because I have no idea where it came from and will post a little disclaimer. I don't want it to be confused with stealing.

Comments:

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for taking the precious time to comment on my writing. I am not sure how I should respond except to go to the persons site and then leave a comment there. I'm not really clear on proper blogger etiquet. So please let me know if there are unspoken rules that I have yet to learn. I am still figuring all of this out since I do not do this every day. (Although lately it has been more often.)

So, with all that said I am saying thank you again.... THANK YOU!!!! to all of those that share their perspective through word and photo. :) Thank you! Have a day full of blessings you found! :)

Moments by a Large Window

I sit at a window everyday.

I work and watch the passerby saunter.

Cars zoom past and every once and a while 2-3 police cars fly by with sirens about to start.

It's not incredibly fascinating or even beautiful ( across the street is a community parking lot that has been patched often and the back of buildings that show their faces to our quaint down town.), yet I watch.

This window reminds me how moment pass by. Always moving, these moments never take time to stop like the blue jay who perches out side my window waiting for some treats. How many moments do we not grab because they seem mundane and insignificant?

That question is something that I have been asking myself lately. Also, how many moments do I let pass me because I am to afraid to take hold? I must admit it was triggered by a book I'm reading Chasing Daylight by McManus. Think about those questions and others often even before the reading of this book (which I just started I might add).

Missed opportunities, the "little" moments that can be easily overlooked, sweet gifts of daily living.... all of them coursing through my thoughts and getting to the core of my own character. Do I capture every moment like a snap shot missing the pieces all around in the "stop frame"? ... or ... Do I run with it and make every effort count because moments are moving through time? I'm not looking for any answers. I simply thought I would throw the questions out into this void we lovingly call the blogging community. Maybe we all ask those same questions.

**photo by asmundur from Flickr (http://flickr.com/photos/asmundur/)

When two combine with music and rhyme

Rise & Shine

Where have the days gone

When people pass you by

They'd look into your eyes

And they'd actually say "hi"

Where have the days gone

When people would be kind

Without reason or a why

They just woke to rise and shine

<<Chorus>>

The people make me cry

Because they've lost their light

So it's our job to show why

Our reason to rise and shine

There's only one

yeah.. There's only one

hey hey hey ... There's only one

One reason to rise and shine

So you share a simple smile

As you pass them by

Take another moment and

Look into their eyes

Ask them how they're doin'

And show you want to know

'Cause you're showin' them our Lord

And how he loves them so-o-o

<<Chorus>>

<<Bridge>>

No He didn't simply die

On Calvary that night

He's risen alive on High

To bring us our new life.

There's only one

yeah... there's only one

hey hey hey there's only one

He's our reason to rise and shine

**Music: Acoustic Guitar Aaron Mayhew

**Lyrics: Jeanette Mayhew ((December 2006))

Isn't it a wonder.

This morning I was in the office doing what I do every morning... checking my morning messages. Every morning I receive a "FamilyLife" devotional. Pandora.com is playing a mix of praise musicin the background. I begin to read.

September 17
One Home at a Time
"A smoldering wick He will not put out, until He leads justice to victory. "
Matthew 12:20

The story goes on to talk about this general ... the screaming eagles of 1944 WWII ... and though the efforts of the squad weren't seen on mass scale (it was a tactical disaster) yet lives were save and touched. Then it goes into marriage and family.

General Dees's story reminded me that each home is important in the battle for the family. Your small courageous choices--to stand for truth, to remain committed to one another and to raise a family that honors Jesus Christ--will yield a victory of some kind. Don't give up. Just like that little Dutch girl and her dad, the next generation is at stake.

Discuss:Even if your efforts to strengthen your marriage and family haven't visibly made a difference lately, what little victories is God enabling you to win?

This was a beautiful reminder. As many of you know Aaron and I have been together for 13 years. We've been married for 10. The road has not been easy but I believe it has been beautiful. Beautiful?? Yes. God's grace paints a beauty over suffering and heartache replacing it with hope and joyful memories. Moments of laughter and simple touches are amplified... standing firm like a mountain range.... always point up to the sweet Provider. It's a hope that enriches and strengthens us. I do not give up nor do I see divorce as an option. There's no "opt. out" clause in our covenant.

I often wonder ... who in our generation understands that through the struggles we grow stronger in our marriage if we put our selfishness and bitterness aside?

The other day I was shopping with my friend Judi (jlomowriter of zany life + crazy faith ...here in blogger world ) and she made a statement... the generations today don't know what a covenant is. Marriage is seen as a "contract" not a "covenant". They do mean pretty much the same thing however.... when you enter into a covenantal vow with someone you are willing to sacrifice** yourself for you are creating a "treaty, a pact" {dictionary.com}.

**(that means you are not laying out your expectations of them you are telling them what they can expect from you... and nobody does it perfectly. It takes two to enter in ...only one hard heart to exit.)

When things aren't working I look at myself first because pointing fingers only gets my fingers bent. When it comes to him... well, honestly... I pray. God created him so I ask him for the wisdom and understanding. I also seek council from his parents becuase his dad and him have similar traits. His mom gives me a different perspective.

Anyone who knows me knows that my love for my husband is white hot passion. They also know I believe it is a matter of choice to be in that kind of love. My marriage has taught me selflessness, compassion to another degree, sacrifice... with it we have received blessings, submission ... no it's not a bad word... it's the willingness to concede so that God can handle the rest, dependence on the Lord and resting in him.... most of all how to live my life full on... out front and real in the light of saving grace. I have more victories than I can count usually and for that I am so very greatful.

"Take this life and make it yours. Here I am Lord what are we upto today." That is my constant prayer.

I encourage each of you to see what quiet victories are being won today. Thank you for taking the time to read my journey. :)

Change... Rambling rants of a "mad" young woman

Fall is finally coming...

I say finally like it has been such a long summer but it really hasn't here in the Pacific Northwest. I simply am stating that I love the change. Funny how that aspect alone has grown as I have. I used to not like change at all. Now I look forward to it. I should probably add that I enjoy the timely changes... not chaos changes that are brought on by a restless spirit. I do have a sense of a some restlessness right now though. My heart is not at peace and I have not been able to put my finger on it.

Let's see... do I have a home to live in? Check..do I have food to eat?Check..am I in good health?Check..do I have all limbs working in the way they were intended?Check..am I in love with my husband?Madly..do i have a job?Check..is my husband sober still?Check..do i have good family?Absolutely..Fantastic friends?Most deffinately.... THEN WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH ME?? I feel a bit out of sorts... disconcerted, if you will. I have nothing to complain about or any reason to be sad and yet I feel that I am, at this moment being a whiney spoiled brat. Lord forgive me and my ungreatful ramblings. You, Lord, know my innermost being so you know that this is not a long standing place of my heart or mind however something has it in a ruckus and I have no idea what. For that, and that alone, I seek your wisdom and peace, since at this moment I feel I have none.

"I feel" ... that could be it right there. Feelings are fleeting and have no substantial foundation except for what you give them. so.... I shall choose to "feel" joyful and at peace because the Lord has been more than gracious to me and has provided my every need. (see >>feeling: joyful & at peace... foundation: God's grace and providence). In this very moment a smile is slowly creeping along the very lips that God created and warmth is filling my being because I know those things are SO TRUE!

Paul reminds me that "his grace is sufficient" and it is. More than sufficient it over whelms me. His mercy... more than I can humanly comprehend. Grace and mercy... given so freely that I cannot even think to be in dismay because I know that his promises are true and he never changes.Change... funny weren't we just talking about that. I like change only because I know that the Alpha and Omega Never Changes. He is my solid rock foundation in the sea of constant, and at times, "untimely" Change.

So... maybe this is what I needed... to simply sort it out and take a moment to sit on my Solid Rock so that he can remind me he is steadfast and his promises never change... he doesn't say "oops... well that didn't work out quiet the way I expected. Let's try something else." The change occurs with us. So, Lord, let the CHANGE begin in me.