Saturday Sketches

Thankful Thursday

My mind returns to Julia’s words…

“Writing our list of fifty happiness's causes us to see how simple some forms of joy are, how we can make ourselves happy in simple ways.” (Julia Cameron, The Right to Write)

Every Monday I click over to A Holy Experience and rejoice with others giving voice to the blessings of God.  With encouragement from Ann I find it difficult to stop counting the happiness’s. 

God’s abiding grace makes it impossible to stop counting.

I find His Presence makes the simple things extraordinary.

Father – because of your gracious presence I give thanks…rejoicing in the extraordinary simple of every day!

651.  Artwork week 3 - completed

652.  Hearing expected grandchild’s heartbeat for the first time

653.  Holding a sweet smelling baby during a teaching on mothering

654.  New journal, place to hold prayers and ponderings

655.  Gift of song given to worship leader and his enthusiasm sharing it with Christ’s body and the beauty of the gift for all

I want to run to the River and drink with the Saints
The ones that have been rescued
I want to be like those who cannot help but DREAM

Our mouths be filled with laughter
Our tongues with joyful praise
Our hearts be overflowing

Until we cannot hold it in…

And I’ll dance and dance and celebrate
Tears have sown this joy
I will not trade it for the past
I’ll hold my heads up high and
I will sing and shout and elevate
My God who never hesitates
To take me as I am

                       -- Matt Jackson

656.  Seeing, hugging, Precious husband’s 84 year old mother – traveling from New Mexico with his sister

657.  Ladies topics all completed this week – the amazing women who shared the passion God has placed in them

658.  A good start to a new school year – 5th graders enthusiasm

659.  I’ve always been a fan of Michael Card’s music, but his teaching here on Lament as Worship rang so true with me

660.  Sitting here in the silence after a long day, relaxing to this guy’s piano playing

Welcome to…

A new week, a new school year. 

We start school here in the middle of the summer because it is too hot to do anything outside.  I’ve been pulling out books, arranging bookshelves, printing off and filling in plan book pages for the last week.  Today we get down to the business of learning for another year. 

“Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.”  Proverbs 9:9

God, teach us to be wise.  Help us be teachable and to take instruction well.  Increase our desire to learn. 

Scripture Only Sunday

And Jesus is the head of the body, the church;

he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead,

so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

and through him to reconcile to himself all things,

whether things on earth or things in heaven,

by making peace through his blood,

shed on the cross. 

Colossians 1:18-20

Saturday Sketches

Thankful Thursday

“Pray often; for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for satan.”  John Bunyan

It was a rough afternoon.  I was feeling tired and weak.  Everything went wrong.  Mainly because my attitude was wrong.  I just wanted a short nap.  But the knocks on my door and the phone ringing would not stop.  Patience was no where to be found.  Instead of stopping to pray – I rush frustration with my mouth. 

Oh Father – forgive me!  Teach me to lay down my agenda and listen for yours.  Teach me to let my words be few when I am struggling with fatigue and frustration.  Teach me to pray first.  Father, thank you for…

643.  Privilege of prayer – conversation with the Father
644.  Freedom to pray – in public, on the sidewalk
645.  Women of God who stand firm and pray boldly
646.  Men of God, fasting and praying for their families and the body of Christ
647.  Children’s voices lifted before God’s throne
648.  Healing and restoration that comes from confession
649.  Answered prayers
650.  Unanswered prayers
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Check out Ann’s blog anytime to be blessed, but especially on Monday’s to have your heart refreshed through the sharing of community giving thanks to God for his new mercies every day. To check out what the Gratitude Community is all about click the link below.

How an Introvert Blooms

Today is the day…it is my privilege to share how God has used the practice of journaling in my life with a group of ladies in the body of Christ.  To pour the words out onto the page comes more naturally to me.  Hearing my own voice speak the words – well, I am nervous. 

My journey with journaling began as a teenager (16-17 years old). I was not consistent, what teenager is? But there were pages here and there. They were the beginning of a story, my story. In my early 20’s, after Precious husband and I were married, I would journal Scriptures, prayers, teachings that ministered to me (I still do this). Somewhere, packed in a box in my mother’s basement, is a journal with the story of how Precious husband and I met and our early dating years. There is a journal that contains when God revealed it was time to start having children after a time of study on Hannah. Actually there is a box full of journals that hold the journey of my life, written to God.

Some may ask why bother with a journal? It began as a way for me to stay focused in my prayer and Bible study times. It kept me from becoming distracted. My journal became an outlet of my joys and frustrations. I wonder if David wrote his Psalms - doubtful since they did not have pen and paper handy, but his Psalms read like one penning his heart to God. Now my journals are a tapestry of my walk with the Lord. They show how He has woven the days of my life together thus far. The pages are filled with writing - searching, praising, struggling, art, poetry, learning from the Heavenly Father.

These words are how I begin to bloom.  It is the start God has for me.  A place to open the heart and share – out loud and very visibly.  Strange how writing the words here seems safe but sharing them with people I know, other than a few close to me, feels so exposing.   Yet this growing and stretching Father God is taking me through is good.

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Oops…

I was multi-tasking – talking on the phone, trying to finish writing my blog post for today, and finishing up some typing for Precious husband.  I hit the publish button too early - oops.  So my final book club thoughts posted Saturday instead of this morning.   If you want, you can read it here along with the links to others insights as we wrap up Julia Cameron’s The Right to Write.

Last week was an extremely busy week!  The two youngest were at day camp with the children from our church.  It was quite a bit of driving for me.  I can honestly say it was wonderful though.  I spent the mornings either at the library or Panera Bread with books and my journal.  Oh yes and coffee.  My children spent that time learning to worship with the word, learning how to unpack Scripture.  It was truly an amazing teaching.

They were taught to ARK God’s Word as they read.

         Agree – agreeing with what the word says

Revelation – asking God to reveal what He is saying about Himself

Keeping the truth – by responding to what God has spoken

They were taught to look at Scripture and find out who God is (one of His attributes) and how they were to respond to who He is.  To see how their amazing teacher does this check out her blog.  I have been filled up reading her wisdom.

I think we will all be looking a little more deeply as we read Scripture – unpacking the treasure of who God is as revealed in His Words to us.

Scripture Only Sunday

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.   Colossians 1:15-17

Choices and Voices

“Taking the time to write something down grounds us.  Taking the time to write how we feel helps us to know how we feel.”  Julia states in her chapter “The Right to Write”.

Writing keeps me in touch with my Father and myself.  I journal, writing love notes to Jesus (or as L.L. writes, Love Notes to Yahweh).  On the page I pour out the joys and disappointments of life.  It is here I make the choice to stand firm during all seasons.  For it is on the page I also hear the voice of my Beloved …

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 91:14-16

I read His words as love notes written to carry me through the journey.  The Father’s words ground me, giving me a firm foundation to express, in words, all the emotions of living.  Writing brings me freedom.  Freedom to take the next step into my life by giving voice to joy and sorrow, to success and defeat, to the glory that is my life in Christ.

“I want us to remember we have choices and voices.”  Julia says.

I agree, I want to remember there are choices and voices.  Writing keeps me grounded – there are choices.  It also gives me freedom to fly – giving voice to living.
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HCS Book Club Post

Laura’s Follow Your Bliss

Glynn’s Looking for that Toy Radio

L. L.’s What I Should Be Writing

Cassandra’s High Stakes

Lyla’s Inside Out

Saturday Sketches

Thankful Thursday

Our thanks are due to God for all temporal blessings; they are more than we deserve. But our thanks ought to go to God in thunders of hallelujahs for spiritual blessings. A new heart is better than a new coat. To feed on Christ is better than to have the best earthly food. To be an heir of God is better than being the heir of the greatest nobleman. To have God for our portion is blessed, infinitely more blessed than to own broad acres of land. God hath blessed us with spiritual blessings. These are the rarest, the richest, the most enduring of all blessings; they are priceless in value.
-- Charles Spurgeon

Father – thank you for spiritual, eternal, blessings!

631.  Hearing God’s voice in the midst of a crowd

632.  Sunday morning worship celebration with a local body of Christ

633.  Church youth camp for two of the boys

634.  Church day camp for two youngest

www – worship with the word

Father – thank you for all the temporal blessings as well!

635.  Precious husband needed a day off.  We all needed a fun day.  So we packed into the car, just the four of us, for a day trip.  It was loads of fun – I think Sensitive son road every coaster in the park.  

636.  Silly dog fun

637.  Strawberries with whipped cream

638.  Cold watermelon

639.  Fresh baked zucchini bread made with zucchini from our garden

640.  Afternoon naps

641.  Artwork – week 2 – still laying in background colors

642.  A better job for Dear son-in-love

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Check out Ann’s blog anytime to be blessed, but especially on Monday’s to have your heart refreshed through the sharing of community giving thanks to God for his new mercies every day. To check out what the Gratitude Community is all about click the link below.

Hearing God at Six Flags

Last week Precious husband took the two youngest and I to Six Flags.  Straight through the gate and they were ready to tackle the largest roller coaster in the park – Goliath.

The courage of our 9 and 10 year old children astounds me.  As long as dad will do it, they will follow.  I heard God ask, Will you follow me?

It was a stifling hot day with barely any breeze.  After several hours we headed to the biggest water ride.  The line for this ride was surrounded by bamboo and other trees giving shade and an occasional wisp of wind. Blessed relief.  Forget the hairdo because by the time we were off this ride we were all soaked to the skin.  Cool, wet relief felt so good.  I heard God ask, When it is hot and dry will you stand in the waterfall of my grace and find relief no matter how it makes you look?

(Precious husband looks the same, I am the wet rat in the photo)

The next to last ride of the day was the Batman coaster.  Princess daughter and I were too worn out from all the days fun by this time so we chose to wait in the cool of the souvenir shop.    It was fun to watch as the riders exited the ride through the shop.  There was a fan blowing cool air at the ride exit (aka the store entrance).  Almost every person who came through the door stopped and let the air blow over them and basked in refreshment.  I heard God ask, Will you let me blow my refreshing Spirit on you?

In my mind I say a hearty Yes! to God in answer to all three questions.  Yet in my heart they give me pause and I honestly ponder the questions.  Will I follow when I don’t understand where the path leads, when it doesn’t make sense, when it is gut-wrenching difficult?  Will I stand and let God fill me no matter how it makes me look –fanatical, intolerant? (Just posting the photo of me looking much less than my okay self is embarrassing.)   The last question is similar to the second yet adds another dimension – if I allow God to blow his Spirit on me it will require radical obedience.  

Father – Help me to be honest and true.  Let my head and my heart match up.  I believe, help my unbelief!  I want to be radically obedient for your glory!

ESP?

To be honest, I reached Julia’s chapter on ESP and rolled my eyes.  Really?  I’ve been determined lately though to look for the good, the helpful, in the midst of life.  So I muddle through her chapter.

As I read, I wonder…Why do I find it so hard to be bold?  Here I am being bold – just saying it – there is a God and he speaks.  Am I listening?

I have been reading Julia’s book alongside a book by John Ortburg The Life You’ve Always Wanted.  Several of their thoughts mirror one another.   Julia wrote in her chapter titled Dailiness, “Take pen in hand and gently review your day…” In John’s book he encourages to review the day with God.  I read these chapters the same week.  I heard God speak.

This week Julia writes, “posing the question, listening, I often “heard” answers that seemed to come from a source different from my normal consciousness.”  I read Mr. Ortburg’s words from Chapter 9 – The Guided Life – Receiving Guidance from the Holy Spirit, “If I am to have a relationship with God that is in any sense personal, I must be open to the possibility that sometimes God does speak directly to me.”  I heard God speak.

So I guess I do believe in ESP.  Only my version breaks down like this…Extra (Holy) Spirit Perception.

My heart cries, Spirit of Almighty God, “speak for your servant is listening.”

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HCB Book Club

Glynn’s I Don’t Believe in ESP, But…

L.L.’s On the Table Where I Write

Scripture Only Sunday

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:13-14

 

Saturday Sketches

Photograph by Vonne McDonald McAnnally – a friend from high school

Thankful Thursday

A friend posted this on her Facebook status earlier this week…

"A grateful heart is one that finds the countless blessings of God in the seemingly mundane everyday life."

Life here is pretty mundane.  We spend our days working, cooking, cleaning, washing dishes and clothes, just the normal everyday things most everyone does.  Yet when I look more deeply my heart swells with gratitude for the blessings that just keep adding up.  Nothing is as it seems, from God’s hand it is all glory.

Father – this week I am so thankful for…

621.  Fireworks

622.  Cooking out on the grill

623.  Picking blueberries and eating them straight from the vine

624.  Sitting on the deck in a rocking chair enjoying low humidity on a July day with a friend watching our children swim

625.  Sharing lunch with two friends and two well behaved children

626.  A son who is thoughtful even when no one is looking

(but this mom noticed)

627.  Listening to the stories,

seeing how God works in the lives of His children

628.  Enthusiastic teachers sharing their wisdom

629.  A cool shady spot to paint

630.  Starting new artwork

Just a Spoonful

L.L.’s playful title for the most recent High Calling Blogs Random Acts of Poetry caught my attention - A Tablespoon of Summer.   So I offer my spoonful.

katydid

katydid high in trees
serenade of summer
piercing wide terrain
raucous sunset greeting
seasons daily finale

---Nancy Kourmoulis

Music Everywhere

In The Right to Write Julia states, “We talk about music in writing but we seldom focus on the music all around us.  … Our lives have sound tracks.”

I stop in the flow of reading and listen to...

The Music Around Me

Washing machine swishes
Stool scraps wood floor
Doors slam shut
Children laugh and splash
Garage door hums, rising
Dog food pings into aluminum bowl
Teenagers feet flop on vinyl
Cars whiz by outside window
Truck roars up street grinding gears
Washing machine gurgles draining tub
Slowly gaining speed it spins
Children now argue in vexed voices
Marbles tinkle, drop into glass jar
Water from hose plops on concrete
Muffles as it fills plastic dog bowl
Washing machine clicks changing cycle again

                Nancy Kourmoulis

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HCB Book Club Post

Laura's I Eat with My Eyes

L.L.’s  Driving to Words and Dancing on Spec

Cassandra’s Sound

Marilyn’s The Real Reason for Highway Rest Stops

 

Glynn’s Writing, Music and Airplanes to San Fransisco

Scripture Only Sunday

“Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works.

We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.

We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives.

It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.” 

Colossians 1:9-12 (The Message)

Saturday Sketches

HAPPY JULY 4TH

Thankful Thursday

Father –  

611.  I’m thankful for a challenging week…

612.  To spend with women in your body…

613.  To learn from them…

614.  To fellowship with them…

615.  To worship together…

616.  To enjoy a meal together…

617.  To open my heart…

618.  To take a risk…

619.  To receive a blessing…

620.  To share life in your Presence…

Stretching and reaching

            out of my comfort zone

                      Timid and shy

                              Giving new things a try

Praying and believing that you, Father, will be glorified and honored.  Jesus, teach this quiet, introvert how to open up. 

The ladies where I fellowship with believers in Christ have had a full week.  Saturday evening four different groups met in homes or restaurants to share a meal and just hang out.   Tuesday morning we began a series of topics with a goal of learning from one another.  Learning from one another's life experiences.  This stretches me as I am helping to organize these topics.   I am also one of the upcoming speakers – this is way out of my comfort zone.  I much prefer putting my thoughts in writing! 

Father – I am grateful for your stretching, even though it feels uncomfortable, fill up those places with more of your Spirit.