Simple Delights

In the midst of the hard of this world, there are simple delights...simple joys. Today, i need to share some of those simple joys. some of the simple delights.

~ Brian's hand to hold and arm around my shoulder when the going gets tough.
~ walking through the neighborhood at dusk with Brian.

Daisies in our garden

~ warm coffee early in the morning.
~ a room that faces the sunrise, to be alone with God in the early morning.
~ holding a book in my hand. especially my Bible.
~ butterflies flitting through our gardens.
~ roses and daisies.
~ Bluebirds and Goldfinches.
~ Cardinals and Barn Swallows.
~ Dragonflies and Hummingbirds.
~ our children's laughter filling the halls.
~ nerf wars on the staircase.
~ music. hymns. worship.
~ a small gathering on Wednesday night to sing incredible truths and hear God's Word preached.
~ friendship.
~ dishes in the sink, which means we have food on the table, which means we have a table and a home to have that table in.
~ dinners around that table. communion.
~ the beauty of the wind through the tall trees.

There are times when we just need to remember all of the seemingly simple gifts we have been given. Yet, if we really think about it, none of these gifts are simple! They move to the profound, when we look to the One who is the Creator and the Giver of each of these things. We are so undeserving, yet our gracious Lord showers us with grace and mercy every.single.day.

THAT, my friends, is truly amazing.

What is in there?

a question i am asking myself. What is in there? Well, where, exactly, you may be wondering?

each of these rocks has been collected over the years

answer:

my heart.

honestly, i don't like what i am seeing.

first, let me say that i love the Lord Jesus. He has redeemed my life from the pit. HE has purchased me with His own blood, that i might be made righteous. Amazing grace has truly saved a wretch like me. Because of the high price that was paid for me, i see even the smallest of offences as equal to the most heinous of sins. Sin. black, disgusting sin. Sin that my Saviour died for. My sin, that caused my Saviour to drink the cup of the wrath of God on my behalf, so that I might have HIS righteousness imputed to me. Incomprehensible. Humbling.

on a day to day basis, within the walls of my home, so much of what is in my heart comes out: a snappy reply, an exasperated sigh, a grumpy greeting, a "don't talk to me right now, or else" look. ouch.  When i am with others, i can kick in to my "self-preservation" mode pretty quickly: fear of what others think of me, fear that i may offend in some way, fear of not being "enough" for others... really just a bunch of self-centeredness! double-ouch. 

my own selfishness disgusts me. my husband works hard all day, and comes home to me not having even given much any thought to dinner. I claim i was too busy, too tired, too ______. Hmmm. he is tired too. he is busy too. he has had to fight battles all day at work, yet i claim i am too tired to make dinner. Lord, have mercy on me... a sinner. Yes, i have battles during the day. Homeschooling 3 of our kids definitely brings about some battles. But if i am completely honest, i do have time to make dinner. i do have time to get the house tidy, with the kids' help.  i DO have time. i obviously have time, since i am sitting here composing this post!!

i am not hopeless though. Our faithful God uses the challenges of my day to work His sanctification in me. I am seeing that i am in need. i am seeing that time in the Word is not something that can be compromised in my day, so that i can do other things. I am seeing that i am ever in need of grace.

if you are seeing an area in your own heart that needs cleansing, don't delay! Forgiveness awaits in the bountiful arms of our Great God, through our great Saviour, Jesus Christ!

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, 

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured, 

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, God's grace, 

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, 

Threaten the soul with infinite loss;

Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,

Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Grace, grace, God's grace, 

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?

Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,

Brighter than snow you may be today.

Grace, grace, God's grace, 

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

You that are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God's grace, 

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

~Julia H. Johnston

for today...

i am compelled to say YOU are precious to our Father! You are cherished in the Beloved. His desire is for you to know how special you are! He LOVES you, and not just loves you, but LOVES YOU! It is not based on what you do, have done, or will do. He just LOVES you...

Sweet one, know and rest in that today. You are His!

Throughout the weekend, say a few times a day "You love me"...this was suggested by Susie Larson at the Restore Conf. i was at, and it has been my "thing" since. If i start feeling worthless..."You love me." If i am feeling neglected..."You love me." If i am feeling lonely..."YOU love me, and all my need is met in YOU alone!" There is NO room for the enemy of my soul once i confess that and worship Him for His perfect love for me.

Precious one, HIS grace IS sufficient for every minute of every day. His love is strong enough to carry you through the storm, and keep you in the quiet moments.
   

"The LORD your God in your midst,
      The Mighty One, will save;
      He will rejoice over you with gladness,
      He will quiet you with His love,
      He will rejoice over you with singing.”  ~Zephaniah 3:17

Say it aloud......... YOU LOVE ME!!!  Thank you Lord Jesus!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifeJRC5lvhs  take a moment to listen and worship..

As always, i love to hear your beautiful thoughts.

Who's Grace??

"My grace is sufficient for thee."  2 Corinthians 12:9

I absolutely love this story from C. H. Spurgeon:

'The other evening I was riding home after a heavy day's work. I felt very wearied, and sore depressed, when swiftly, and suddenly as a lightning flash, that text came to me, "My grace is sufficient for thee." I reached home and looked it up in the original, and at last it came to me in this way, "MY grace is sufficient for thee"; and I said, "I should think it is, Lord," and burst out laughing.

 I never fully understood what the holy laughter of Abraham was until then. It seemed to make unbelief so absurd. It was as though some little fish, being very thirsty, was troubled about drinking the river dry, and Father Thames said, "Drink away, little fish, my stream is sufficient for thee." 
Or it seemed after the seven years of plenty, a mouse feared it might die of famine; and Joseph might say,'Cheer up, little mouse, my granaries are sufficient for thee."

Again, I imagined a man away up yonder, in a lofty mountain, saying to himself, "I breathe so many cubic feet of air every year, I fear I shall exhaust the oxygen in the atmosphere," but the earth might say, "Breathe away, O man, and fill the lungs ever, my atmosphere is sufficient for thee."

Oh, brethren, be great believers! Little faith will bring your souls to Heaven, but great faith will bring Heaven to your souls.'

For now, my comments will be null...This story speaks volumes! What are your thoughts? Have you struggled with believing that His grace IS sufficient?