My Heart is in the Rock

Photo attribution:  Klearchos Kapoutisis on Flickr


Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:6-8

Thinking About the Heart of Things

Heart Thoughts Small Journal
photo from personal files

It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end. So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil.

Deuteronomy 11:12-14

God speaks to us throughout the Bible of His continual care.  We do have conditions, however, if we are to receive it.  Our whole being is to be absorbed in Him.  He is to be our Heart Thought.

I'm grateful to God for another year of life.  He has been my sword and shield this year, the ever-present source of help and comfort.  I've needed Him so much and look forward to another year to serve Him.

With All My Heart

The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

I thought I'd start February 2013, my birthday month, with photos of hearts and a reminder of who is to be our first love.

It snowed in West Tennessee last night!  I searched for a photo of a heart drawn in the snow on flickr but couldn't find one so I just drew one myself on our back deck.  Here's the proof we actually have snow at times.  It's so strange because just two days ago it was 70 degrees and now it's 20. I love surprises.  Thank you, Lord. 

Being Sustained

We didn't have time to pull the lights off this little tree after Christmas before the snows came.
Jan. 4, 2011--Peoria, IL

I needed a photo today but it has nothing to do with my post.  I just liked it.  

I want to share a little of how God sustained me during the remodeling of our house last summer.  These scriptures kept my head above water when I was so tired.

My zeal wears me out.  Psalm 119:139
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.  Psalm 119:147
Let me live that I may praise you and may your laws sustain me.  Psalm 119:175

I craved God's word and looked forward to His speaking every morning before we headed off for the house or I headed to school and then the house.  God did provide for me through His Word, as he always has if I just open it and read and expect Him to speak.

Winter in Tennessee

 The tempest comes out from its chamber,

    the cold from the driving winds.

¹⁰ 

 the breath of God produces ice,

and the broad waters become frozen.

He loads the clouds with moisture;

he scatters his lightning through them.

Job 37:9-11

Winter is intermittent here--seventy degrees one day and forty the next.  One wears summer clothes one day and winter clothes the next.  Tired of winter?  Not yet.  We haven't had enough.      We've had a little snow and a little ice--just enough to please my love of winter and...it hasn't disturbed our daily walk but a couple of times.  The photos show a few places along the lovely wooded road that we're privileged to travel.  The weather is changing as I write and the change usually brings winds.  I expected to be awake all night but prayed that God, the producer of weather, would see us through.  He did and I slept like a baby.  Good morning to another day without disaster.  Thank you, God.

Just Dust

As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

Photo attribution here

The life of mortals is like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children--

with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

Psalm 103:13-18

I used to look at these verses differently than I do today--a fatalist's viewpoint.  I didn't want to think how short my life was.  I see more than that now.  I see a mission for today and a hope for the future.  I see a Father's love and mercy on fallen mankind and a provisional agreement for that mercy.  Things look different when one gets older.  It's ok to be "dust" today.

Pure

Photo attribution:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/pat_mcconahay/8400082285/

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

Pure as a trout stream? bottled water? the driven snow? a pure heart?

Now, we're getting there.  If you look up the word "pure" you'll find a myriad of definitions, most of which indicate being untainted.  It disturbs me to think that I'm never pure.  How can God accept me and my impure heart?  Maybe I need to contain my thoughts, curb my actions and concentrate on looking only at pure things--turning my head and heart away from impurities.  

That may last about an hour on any given day.  I'm doomed.  

Wait. 

 Because of Christ's death for me and my confession to Him of my impurities,

 I'm accepted as pure in God's eyes--

a mystery... 

and a relief.

Firm in the Heavens

Red Sky At Night Fabric Art by Sally L. Smith from personal files
yarn, tulle, muslin, thread

Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.Psalm 119:89

I've been missing my art days.  Next week I start accompanying again at Union and that means much of my time is spent in learning music.  This is definitely a ministry because the pay does not compensate for the hours, days, I spend at the piano.  There is also the element of stress that comes with performance.  I'm hopeful this semester goes a little more smoothly than last, however, God was always with me and helped me when I asked.  Over and again His word spoke to me and calmed my fears.  Great are you, Lord, and greatly to be praised.

Deer

Photo attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zapthedingbat/3676174435/

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:19

Sometimes our walks are uneventful but not yesterday.  I was bundled up, as usual, for my winter morning walk.  Bill was having breakfast with a friend so I walked alone.  We many times see wildlife on our walks and today was no exception.  As I turned a curve I decided to look across the clearing.  We’ve only seen deer there a few times but today I was stopped dead in my tracks as one, two. . . . . . seven, eight deer crossed my path only 100 yards in front of me.  They hadn’t seen or heard me so I stood still, in wonder, observing their movements and crossings, their unawareness.  Tears coursed down my cheeks and contained laughter bubbled up from my heart as I thanked God for this precious morning gift.  They were set to eat breakfast and I was set to finish my walk so I slowly moved forward to see what they would do.  I expected them to move ahead in the direction they were going but as they saw me,  

Photo attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zapthedingbat/3676990334/

looking straight at me, they turned around and one by one lithely ran and leaped across the path—one, two. . . . . . .eight, NINE!  I had miscounted!  Tears welled again.   Into the trees they disappeared as only deer can do.  I did finish my walk and was given new energy to do so.  Of course, I didn’t see them on my return down the path but I’ll never forget that beautiful moment.  I'm actually looking forward to exercising today.  Who would have thought?

Angels or Demons

Photo attribution:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/ambigel/324912564/

Photo attribution:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncanh1/7363265722/

 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,

(like

good income or no income

sleep or no sleep

children or no children

sickness or health

friends or no friends

family or no family

car or no car

house or no house

education or no education

food or no food

sanity or insanity

or

whatever has happened in our lives)

will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

Our Spacious Place

He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

2 Samuel 22:20

This photo was taken the day after Christmas last year.  Eight of my fourteen grandchildren were either inside, tromping around in the woods in the back or making snow angels. One of them took this picture.  "Spacious?"---not according to some but to us it is and it was God-sent.

A month and a half before we were to move, we were floored by news from the bank that we could not get a loan for the house we had wanted.  We didn't qualify because neither Bill nor I would  have a steady income and we wouldn't be living on our retirement, believe me, we wouldn't!  Neither of us even had part-time employment at that time (but we do now.)  A year and a half before, we had purchased and rented this home to a couple who already lived in it and were facing foreclosure because their payments had risen to more than they could handle.  We did nothing to the house and just left it as is which allowed them to stay there without changing their lifestyle--a good thing since the man had Alzheimer's and his wife was caring for him.  A week after hearing from the bank about no loan, we got a call from them stating that they would have to move because he needed more care than she could give and they had to move in with her family to help....We now had a house!  Yes, we had to work hard to get it livable but we had a house.  The verse above was a word of reminder and encouragement to me this last summer as we started another long day of work on the house.  This house is definitely spacious enough to contain 22 people--our crowd of family we entertained at Christmastime.  Thank you, Lord, for your generous provision.

Sowing

Photo: no known copyright restrictions
Attributed to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/3549666222/

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Galatians 6:7-8

It used to take a long time to plant a field with two horses and a two-row planter.   Look at the small containers for seed.  He must have had to refill every other pass.  How did he keep the rows even?  Didn't the horses get tired?  Wasn't the sun hot?  What about water and food for him and his animals?  Look how far he has to go before he's done.  What if the seed didn't grow?  What if the farmer planted the wrong seed, for whatever reason?  Farmers have to trust that the weather will be good with enough rain and sun, that their equipment will work (horses count here), that the seed will germinate, that the weeds won't overtake the young plants, that the harvest will be plenty, that the prices for the product produced will pay the rent.  Farming is not for the weak. But when the planting and harvesting is over, the celebration begins.   We have a lot to learn from the farmers. 

Are we fair-weather Christians?  How have we been equipped for our task to serve?  Are we afraid to testify for Christ because we think our words will not be accepted?  Do we not trust the power of Christ to change hearts?  Do we not share Christ because we think our witness will be ineffective?  Do we not anticipate a harvest?  Christianity is not for the weak.   But we still have a job to do and when our life is over, the celebration begins.

Faithful

Photo credited to Sean MacEntee on Flickr

Great is His faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:23

Stars

Photo used under the condition of Attribution
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
from robin_24 on flickr

Philippians 2:14-16

New International Version (NIV)

 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,  so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

This scripture speaks loudly to me.  First, I grumble and argue. I am not blameless and pure.  I'm like the children of God who disobeyed Him and I live in a "warped and crooked generation," as described in Moses' song in Deuteronomy 32.  I'm not too shiny either--not like a star at all...more like a rain cloud.  I do trust God's word and I believe He means what He says... but do I show that I do?  Hmmm, I don't think so, not all the time.  Paul taught the Philippian Christians through this letter and his words are still valid today. Now, if I'll just be a doer of the word and not a hearer only (James 1:22)

Clothed in Christ

Photo: no know copyright reistrictions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/6007529359/

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26-28
If you had to pick the one "clothed in Christ," which person would you pick?  Yep, me too.  However,  all of these may be Christ's children.  How does one know?
Maybe this can be a starter:
 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
 Throughout the Bible, God and his scribes have given us definite rules on Christian behavior.  They've even posted First Century dress codes.  This nun and others like her have vowed their allegiance to Christ and are not ashamed to make a "habit" of it.  How do the rest of us Christians make habits of Christ?