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Finding Love in a Storm

I sit, watching the storm blow in, and I can’t help but remember my childhood at the lake.

Sitting on the oversized, padded porch swing tucked under my grandparents’ cottage, my cousins and I would swing and laugh and plan the next excursion of our summer vacation. We’d gather there in storms just like the one today, feeling oh, so safe amidst the pounding rain and the thundering bellow of the clouds.

And I realize something.

There is nothing so wonderful, or calming, and as peaceful as feeling safe — of knowing we are loved.

Those days at the cottage were my favorite memories of childhood. I often wonder why.

I imagine it’s because we gathered as families, loved by parents and grandparents who cared about giving us simple gifts like this — our yearly family vacation.

Possibly it was in this lovely space away from home, we had no cares in the world. Both adults and children left the hustle of work and chores to get away and breathe.

But one thing remains. A sense of peace. Of security. Of love.

God Give the Gift of a Storm

The quiet of the rain softly pattering on the roof. The mist brushes our cheeks as we swing on the porch. The slow rumble of the thunder echoes its way across the sky.

And we have peace. Peace amidst the storm.

I pause and ponder for the first time in what feels like months. And I realize how very important it is to give one another that sense of peace and love. That feeling of being wrapped in a parent’s arms in the storm, knowing we are safe. And loved.

Seek out your children or grandchildren today. Let them know they are loved and safe with you. Let them know you will be by their side. No. Matter. What.

Of course, remember this doesn’t limit us only to children needing safety and love. Our spouses need that same affirmation. And friends. Even enemies.

If that makes you nervous, go to God, the source of all Love and Peace. Ask Him how to love while seeking nothing in return.

He’s the expert! His love never fails.

Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8

Finding Quiet In A Noisy World

By livingabovethenoise

I awoke this morning to my usual world, one where I don’t know where I’ll be living in a year, with ceilings that look like I’m in a doctor’s office, and adjustments all around to life in my fifties. That’s when I again realized the necessity of quiet time in this crazy, noisy, chaotic world.

Now, if I were writing this post from the mountains of Tennessee or on the beach in California or any of my “perfect” places, I might not feel the chaos of the times. But for most of us, calm days are few and far between, and we enter our days running.

I’m in my quiet corner of the world right now, yet, there is noise. There are a hundred things shouting my name, calling me to come hither, that they might steal my joy, my peace.

Get Ready For Battle

And so we must fight. We must wage war on this culture which seeks to steal our peace. We must plan an attack early in our day, lest we get caught in the onslaught of the wave of “hurry” and the avalanche of to-dos.

But how do we do this? What does it look like for a busy woman? Where will we find space away from the crowd or the tumult?

This is where need and self-control come in. Once you discover the much-needed commodity, quiet for the soul, there will be little that can stop you from creating space in your day to get it. Once you realize your need was there all along, you’ll know the minute it rears its little head begging for more. You will have to make it happen, not much different from when you feel hunger or thirst. You will realize your cells are running dry when you feel distant from God, or when you snap too quickly, or when discouragement is draining your energy. But you must find the time.

Is God An “Add-On” Item To Your Day?

My husband and I went to a “Christian” marriage counselor/psychologist years ago. I questioned the depth of his faith because in his counseling— God was an “add-on” (like in Amazon’s cart when you want free shipping but the product is low cost, so it must be “added on” to a larger item). He treated God as if He was an “add-on” to his therapy, someOne to give a little power to the message. Let’s not do that with God! Let’s give Him the pre-eminence He deserves.

We can only do this by giving Him our personal time. Offer Him a tithe of the first fruits of your day. Let Him fill you with His wisdom, strength, counsel, and love before you begin in this crazy life we each must live. You may have children who need you from sun-up to sun-down, husbands who need to talk. You have work to do, meals to make, and clothes to wash. You have birthday cards to write, houses to clean, and lessons to teach. And that is why quiet time with your Lord is so very critical.

You need Him and He desires for you to place Him where he belongs in your life. Center front, first love, ever present, constant in your minute-by-minute life.

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God….Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:6-8, 10

Make Space For God

You will have to figure out how to keep God center-front, but do figure it out!

Steal fifteen minutes while you’re nursing a baby.
Grab five minutes after your shower.
Hold onto those precious moments when your husband has the kids busy.
Even one verse to meditate on while you shower is time with your Father.
Simply pray for wisdom and listen to His voice while you wash the dishes or brush your teeth.

Create space in your day (preferably your morning) to make a quiet, purposeful, listening time with your God. No doubt it will make your day run smoother, brighten your outlook, give calm to the hurry, and deliver you from fear of the unknown. But do take time. Time to listen. Time to think. Time that gives God space to speak to you, time for you to listen.

God wants us dependent on His grace, love, wisdom, strength, and so much more!

Find His Truth for any lie. Feel the comfort in His arms.

Discover rest.

I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving.

And it will please the LORD better than an ox or a young bull with horns and hoofs.

The humble have seen it and are glad; you who seek God, let your heart revive.

For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise His who are prisoners.

Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.

Psalm 69:30-34

Adapt – My Word For The New Year

By livingabovethenoise

I’m in a group of bloggers and we’re writing about our “Word for the Year.” I’ve been wondering what to write as I venture into this new year, so this got me thinking. Hang in there as I explain how a simple movie changed my perspective and gave me my word.

Lesson Learned From “Pete’s Christmas”

We watched a *”really good” movie at Christmas-time called, “Pete’s Christmas”. Yes, it was silly at times, but overall, the writer/producer got to the heart of human nature and our need to be cared about. The storyline deals with Pete, who “messes up” Christmas but then is given numerous chances to re-live the day until he gets it right. *caveat: “really good” means one thing to one person and another to the next, so excuse me if we differ! :o)

Pete tries and tries, from his own perspective, to “do Christmas right” only to mess up again. But slowly, as the story moves on, he learns to see through the eyes of his friends and family, thus learning to make Christmas perfect by loving them right where they need to be loved. Ah…such a great message….and one I keep pondering as the days pass by.

How to Live “Perfectly”

You want to know the real lesson I got from “Pete’s Christmas”? Every one of us gets to re-live a day, to make it “perfect” every day when we wake up. God gives us a new day, a new week, or month or year in which to live “perfectly” by loving those around us with the everlasting love the Father had for us. That Love that wrapped His arms around a tree and gave up His freedom to love us perfectly!

ADAPT – My Word For This Year.

Why did I choose this word? Because in ALL my searching for the perfect life, I’ve missed the main point of the Gospel. That the only “perfect” is found in Christ. I’ve struggled and worked, wondered and hoped, fought and cried when things haven’t gone my way. But God….only He could bring me to the place of adapting to His story for my life.

I must let go of my story, just the way I thought it would go, and adapt to His plan, His ways, His method of loving me. He loves me enough to NOT let me get everything I want, or have relationships be the way I want, or have my story look the way I thought was perfect! Now, that is true, tough, unending love. Love from the ONE who knows me more than I know myself. He knows just what I need to learn to lean on Him, to depend on Him, to die to myself so I can love others in the same way He loved me!

And so I adapt. I’m learning what this all-encompassing word means every day. Praise God for His good lessons. May we kneel together as we seek to find His will for our lives!

Love to each of you & Happy New Year!

1 Corinthians 2 – And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (vs. 1-5)

…but just as it is written,“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” (vs. 9)

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that He will instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (vs. 14-16)

Anticipating Christ’s Return…This Christmas!

By livingabovethenoise

The Holy season of Christmas gives me much time to ponder the things of old. Think about that time when men hungered and anticipated the birth of the long-awaited and promised Messiah. How they must have looked forward to that wonderful day, a day above all days when the world would see God’s power revealed! A day when He would claim the earth as His own. A day that had been foretold for centuries.

Now, after many more centuries, the question is begged of us, “What if we anticipated the return of Christ with such expectancy as those believers of old?” It is promised to be a time when Jesus will again show the world His power and claim His reign as King of ALL Kings!

I must admit that I have missed this. What it is to anxiously await the coming Messiah? Yes, He has already entered our world, but He has promised He will come again. We must live in that expectation! Imagine what it would look like to the watching world if we lived with that promise in mind? What excitement it would elicit. How it would change our decisions and plans and actions!

Something as simple as a Babe in a manger. Something as profound as a King coming to reign. All the anticipation of a needy people awaiting their Messiah. All this wrapped together in one beautiful package!

Won’t you join me as we await and long for His return?

Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year!

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelations 19:11-16