Sunny Spaces

It’s summer, I have been sitting in a sunny space.  Some days the sunny space is a place of work…

Others it is a place to play…

Or perhaps, and hardest of all, it is a place to reflect…

 

I sit among the tall grass, rarely understanding where God is leading.  My emotions are jumbled all up inside me and I can’t seem to get a handle on them.  They swing from highs to lows too quickly for even me to keep up.  Thoughts ramble in my head and I can’t seem to remember all the things I should be doing.  I just want to sit and stare into the sun. 

"None who follow reason can walk the spiritual pathway, because it is beyond and above human reasoning.”  Watchman Nee

For now I will stop trying to make everything line up an orderly way in my life.  I’ve had enough so I will follow the prescription…

Reflect
what are you doing
Who are you following
Remember
Hear the Word of the Lord
in a quiet place of
Rest-Receiving-Realization-Restoration-Reflection

While I wait in the sunny space, a quiet place, gazing at The Son, posting will be extremely sporadic.  In the midst of your summer sunny space may the presence of the Lord nourish your spirit.  May The Lord fill your days with the proper amounts of work, play, and ponderings.  May the Spirit open your eyes and mine…

“O Lord our governor, we beseech Thee of Thy mercy,
That we may have the heavenly vision,
And behold things as they seem unto Thee…”  George Dawson

Scripture Only Sunday

“My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.”  Psalm 119:112

When You’ve Had Enough

When you have had enough…

“Elijah went a day’s journey into the desert.  He came to a broom tree, sad down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord…”he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.”  1 Kings 19:4-5

Rest
give your body
relief from
living, serving

“The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him…” 
1 Kings 19:7a

Receive
allow the healing of
touch and service to
bring comfort

“Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”  1 Kings 19:7b

Realize
the truth, the journey
is too much to bear
apart from the Lord

“So he got up and ate and drank.  Strengthened by that food he traveled 40 days and 40 nights until he reached Mount Horeb, the mountain of God.” 
1 Kings 19:8

Restore
take the nourishment
God provides, let it
strengthen

“After the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his head and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.  The Lord said to him, “What are you doing here…?”  1 Kings 19:9b,12, 13b

Reflect
what are you doing
Who are you following
Remember
Hear the Word of the Lord
in a quiet place of
Rest-Receiving-Realization-Restoration-Reflection

“So Elijah went from there and found Elisha…”  1 Kings 19:19

Renewed
walk in obedience
share God’s grace
pass the mantle

Scripture Only Sunday

 

Father’s Arms

Dad’s the man
always there
Ever standing ready
showing care
Quick to guide
dependable hand
Child’s foundation
steadfast land

Life’s large challenge
letting go
Steps moving back
offspring’s show
Through each season
learning silence
Feet forward plod
growing distance

Awaken the dawn
era gone
Journey has ceased
passed on
Close the eyes
mind sees
Father’s arms outstretched
bended knees

--Nancy Kourmoulis

_____________________________________________

Poem in honor of the dad’s in my life.  My grandfather (entered heaven-1985), father (entered heaven-2008), Precious husband

Happy Father’s Day!

Photos starting at top left going clockwise:  Precious husband with grandson-2012 (darling daughter’s son), me with my grandfather-1964, Precious husband with darling daughter-1990, me-my father&youngest brother-1973, Precious husband with Sensitive son and pastor-2001

Thailand Update

Darling daughter spotted this precious little one while they were riding on public transportation in Bangkok, she is one of many babies and small children encountered on their journey. What is hard to get heads and hearts around though, is that this beautiful child and many more in Southern Thailand, will likely never hear the name of Jesus. They will never enter into the loving relationship with their creator that can be enjoyed everyday.

In Hatyai they traveled up a high hill that overlooked the city in a public park.  There overlooking the whole city, which is about the same size as Birmingham, was a giant statue of Buddha and a complex of temples and shrines.  Here men, women, and children were bowing down before idols made by men.  The Muslim call to prayer was heard several times in Narathiwat and Pattani. Men, women, and children are living every day without the hope of Jesus all over the world.

The most joyous task there can possibly be has been given to God’s children - the task of introducing Jesus to new friends in the unreached world.  Please continue to pray as Dear son-in-love is home and tending to Little One while Darling daughter is still in Thailand. 

Scripture Only Sunday

“Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven
above or on earth below – you who keep your covenant
of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly
in your way.” 1 Kings 8:23

Joy Dare 2012

I can’t start counting in the new month until I finish reflecting on the old.  The days slide by but God’s mercies are new every morning. 

May Joy Dare 2012
Counting Gifts from #1711-1801

1.  3 gifts tasted…
orange, pretzels & hummus, raw oatmeal granola

2.  3 gifts flat…
pizza boxes, a gift – check from a friend, Skype on iPod

3.  3 gifts found in difficult people…
teaching me to be more Christ like, rubbing off my rough edges, learning repentance and humility

4.  3 gifts before 9 am…
Precious husband calls from station, multi-grain granola pancakes with Gold-hearted mom, coffee &  cream

5.  A gift in a sign, a smile, a snack…
encouragement, dear friend M’s smile, Rotel cheese dip and chips

6.  3 gifts found in Christ…
Peace – John 14:27,
Joy – Nehemiah 8:10,
Hope – Romans 5:2

7.  3 gifts about your home…
pasture and woods to wander, gurgling stream, family

8.  3 gifts inside a closet…
comfy flip-flops, while building-sharing space with Precious husband and Princess daughter, place of prayer

9.  3 gifts found in dark…
sweet sleep, shining stars, source of strength

10.  a gift outside, inside, upside-down…
Sensitive son playing baseball, shelter from rain, Princess daughter hanging in hammock – reading

11.  3 gifts about your parents…
faithful-to one another, consistent-loving support of their children, servant hearts-ready to help others

12.  3 gifts held in hand today…
crochet needles, sea shells, fresh peaches

13.  3 gifts found in your mother…
adventurous attitude, listening ear, heart of gold

14.  a gift picked up, put away, put back…
kayaks picked up for beach trip, worries put away for vacation, deck floor replaced at rental house

15.  3 gifts around you…
ocean, family, sky

16.  3 gifts found in His word…
Imagine – Ephesians 5:20, Hope – Joel 2:25, Believe – Isaiah 58:11

17.  a gift in a box, a bag, a book…
snorkel camera mask, beach towels, Yada-Yada Prayer Group series

18.  3 gifts unexpected…
enjoying kayaking so much, dolphin sightings, kids snorkeling – finding a huge shell and seeing a shark

19.  3 gifts from your childhood…
faithful parents, stable family (parents and grandparents – each married over 40 years), innocence

20.  a gift sweet, sour, salty…
multi-grain granola pancakes with bananas & honey (I’m hooked on these), lemons (Precious husband loves them), ocean waves

21.  3 gifts found in little people…
hugs & kisses always ready, energy, creativity

22.  3 gifts that made you laugh…
Little One’s squeals, Jenna & Lady being together, Little One saying turtle

23.  3 gifts found in community…
praying together, giving hearts (Darling daughter and Dear son-in-love raising total support for Thailand mission), friend to pull weeds with in garden

24.  a gift in a plate, a pot, a package…
Mother’s Day French toast, taco soup, books

25.  3 gifts hard giving thanks for…
”ladies days”, having blood drawn, struggling with low energy

26.  a gift worn, white, whispered…
new shirt, lacy-white skirt, “you’re a good wife” gently spoken in my ear

27.  3 gifts found in church…
worship, hugs, truth

28.  3 gifts in today’s work…
clean clothes, BBQ sandwiches from crockpot, moving furniture

29.  a gift at 8am, 12pm, 8pm…
coffee, sliced ham sandwiches, brownie square

30.  3 gifts you gave today…
payment for goat care while on vacation, time for prayer (which becomes a gift for me), time to be together

You are Awesome!

Darling daughter and Dear son-in-love have been in Thailand about 8 days.  As their day ends and ours begins we chat, giving them the opportunity to see Little One (who needs a new moniker as he is not so little anymore). 

It is exciting to hear how God has guided them during the day.  The Father places people in their path willing to open their hearts.  There are many days ahead and prayer requests for those days.

“*Pray for people of peace to introduce us into the community!
*Pray for us as we meet a group of students tonight. Pray we can introduce them to Christ and learn more about life here.
*Pray for endurance and strength for our team, the heat is wearing Darling daughter down!
*Pray for the team that comes behind us, that they would be effective as well.
*Pray that in all we do we would be Christ's light in this place.”

I have been praying Psalm 76…

“God is known” – be known in Thailand
”His name is great” – may your name be great in each province
”His dwelling place” – to each seeking heart bring peace
”His habitation” – the praises of saved souls

“You are ablaze with light,
mightier than the mountains that give food.”  - Jesus be the light in dark places, food that nourishes forever.

“You! You are awesome!”

Scripture Only Sunday

“Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel…”

“I am the Good Shepherd…”

“Restore us, O God, make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.”

“You brought a vine out of Egypt…”

“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener…I am the vine; you are the branches;”

“Why have you broken down the walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes?”

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…”

“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root…”

“…Creating in Himself one new man out of the two, and thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”

“Return to us, O God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!

Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself.”

“Since, then, we have been raised with Christ, set your mind on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”

________________________
Excerpts from Psalm 80:1, 3-7-19, 8, 12, 14-15 and John 10:11,14 and John 15:1, 5 and Ephesians 2:14 and Romans 11:17 and Ephesians 2:15-16 and Colossians 3:1