It IS Well With Our Souls…

May 16, 2015 Thoughts and Reflections on LifeLeave a comment

Uncertainty… fear… worry… pending crisis… facing the unknown.

We all struggle with these. Some seasons feel more intense than others. Where do you go when we are living in these uncertain times? Whom do you call? Do you face them alone?

This morning I awoke with some uncertain fears and worries on my mind. I immediately found myself on the patio with a warm blanket and coffee… ready to spend some time praying and processing those things weighing heavy on my heart. As I opened my ipad to head to Jesus Calling, a message popped up from a very dear friend. She was on her knees crying out to Jesus with her own pending crisis… facing the unknown. She was crying out to Jesus and asking me to join her in prayer.

Suddenly, my struggles were not my focus and I began to encourage her and intercede in prayer on her behalf. The weight of my struggles lessened as did the weight of hers.

Why?

Because we both brought our needs to the Father and in that moment we shared the load. We cut the burden in half – each taking a part. It might be a silly analogy, but it works. If your load is heavy and you give someone half… your load becomes lighter.

I went to the throne room on behalf of my friend and was able to leave some of my stuff there with hers! My early morning quiet time was interrupted by what seemed a greater need. Now, I’m not saying one need is greater than the other… what’s ours is ours. We can’t compare. But I was able to re-adjust my focus and get to the place of surrender without letting it overwhelm me or letting the enemy in. When we reach up and out, we push satan away and he has no room in our lives. He has lost.

We think that when we go to God with our “stuff” that we are trying to win the battle. Truth be told, the battle has already been won. When there is a battle, the king sits on the throne, they don’t pace or run around fighting. It’s the same for our King. The battle has already been won and now Jesus sits at the right hand of His Father. He has won the battle for us by dying on the cross. Now we can know that peace… even amidst our battles.

By the end of our time together (via the ipad) this morning, my friend and I both felt more peaceful about our situations. We joined together and brought them to the Father, and He, from His throne of grace, came down and comforted us both. What a gift!

It is difficult, at times, to reach out when you are hurting. My encouragement to you is just do it. My friend and I have learned that we are always there and willing to share the burden of the other. God always meets us and walks us through our valleys and gives us courage to endure what the rest of the day brings. We come away knowing that no matter what… It IS well with our souls.

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Solitude…

April 18, 2015 Thoughts and Reflections on Life1 Comment

I am one who “needs” to be around others. Alone time for me has always been difficult. The first time I lived alone I was a mess. Growing up in a large family, there were always people around. For the past 28 years I’ve been in a profession where I am around 200+ people every day. Being alone has never been easy.

Going out in public alone used to terrify me. I was older than I’d like to admit when I finally went to the mall alone. I’ve only eaten in a restaurant alone a few times and it was fast food. Never would I go to a sit-down place alone. I have never been to a movie alone. That is on my bucket list!

Today I found myself home alone unexpectedly. Normally I’d lose myself in a book or movie… or maybe be productive and do some household chore. The weather today is absolutely gorgeous and I knew I had to get outside. Yard work did not appeal to me… although it would have been a good choice!

I decided to hop in my car and head to a local winery to scope out a photo shoot location for tomorrow. I headed to Arbor Crest with my camera in hand. It is very strange to be at a place and not know or talk to anyone. It was an hour of solitude and beauty. I wandered and shot and wandered and shot. I did run into my niece and her fiancé, but our visit was short and sweet. I continued on my way, relishing the quiet beauty and sunshine. There were several other people their alone with a glass of wine and a book. Hmmm… I might have to try that! That is very out of my comfort zone, but worth a try!

I’m learning that I need to be okay being alone. God has me in a season and I’m not sure what he is preparing me for, but I’m open to try new things and find another side of myself that I’ve not met yet. I felt great peace and solitude wandering in a beautiful place with my camera in my hand. Photography is becoming quite theraputic for me and I’m grateful for the opportunities I am afforded.

Here is a glimpse of what I saw from behind my camera lens…

Grace · Hope · Prayers · Seasons

Changing Seasons…

November 15, 2014November 15, 2014 Thoughts and Reflections on LifeLeave a comment

The temperature and the leaves have fallen. The trees are bare. The ground is frozen and covered with the last of the leaves. Most of them are not even ours. They have blown from across the way… from the oak trees. Today is the day to get the last of them up and gone. The end of the autumn season.

With a season change comes the time to put away things that you no longer need. Rakes, flower pots, wheel barrows. All tucked away for the winter. Some things you have to throw away, for they are not reusable when spring comes. The two flower pots on my patio that have bloomed beautifully all fall, are now frozen in time. They still look alive and well, but if you touch them they are brittle. It’s tough to have to throw them away for they have been a source of life on my patio for many months.

This change of season should feel a bit like cleaning out… simplifying. There should be a feeling of excitement for winter and all that it will bring. Clean yard, neatly stacked wood for the winter fires, snow shovels out, ice scrapers by the back door, scarves and mittens down out of the closet, hot chocolate ready to be made.

I wish it were that easy. This season change feels more challenging than others have been in the past. Life has gotten very complicated with all of the things we battle day in and day out – relationships, finances, responsibilities, memories of things lost and hopes for things to come.

Just when I think it’s more than I can handle, God steps in. Like the first evening of November when I walked outside into a glorious sunset. All the worry that was heavy on my heart washed away for a moment as He revealed that it’s not about me… He’s with me in this change of seasons.

Of course, I took all the worry back and continued on, waking early in the morning with anxiety and fear. Wishing, hoping, wondering. Then He steps in again and lands a letter in my mailbox from a dear friend struggling with breast cancer. Her words were that of encouragement and love. Once again, God reminded me of His grace and goodness. My sweet friend’s words encouraged me to find the blessings throughout the day… to take my mind off the things that are weighing me down.

I’ve let myself get bogged down by all of the leaves falling on me at once. What I need to do is take one leaf at a time! Find the blessing and beauty, and do what needs to be done in each moment, covered in His grace and new mercies every day. The seasons change whether I’m ready or not.

How are you embracing the season change in your life? Be encouraged and open to all that the new season will bring.

“For I know the plans I have for you, ” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

Healing · Hope · Lessons Learned · life happens... · Questions to Ponder · Struggles · The Journey

Beautiful…

July 25, 2014 Thoughts and Reflections on LifeLeave a comment

What defines beauty?

What qualities deem one beautiful?

Recently on FB, there is a game (for lack of a better term) going around. If you are tagged, you are asked to post five photo’s of yourself in which you feel beautiful. I have only seen a few people take on the challenge. Is that because it is new and not challenged many women yet? Or is it because women don’t feel deserving of posting photo’s in which they feel beautiful?

What makes a person beautiful? Money? Status? Fame? Hair color? Character? Size?

I posed a question to my FB friends recently. What do you think of when you hear the word beautiful in regards to a person? What is your definition of beautiful? Be honest! Go!

I received many replies, and for that I am grateful. I wish I could post them all. Here are a few of what people shared…

Fruits of the Spirit, love, joy , peace, patience, gentleness, self-control, all wrapped in a package of thankfulness. A beautiful person is born from times of trial that forge and season their hearts.

It radiates from the inside out. Someone who is beautiful, smiles and makes you smile, just because you are inspired through them. You can feel their beauty, not just see it.

I believe a beautiful person has all these qualities, but doesn’t “know” it; humble and selfless, gives to others even when they don’t have anything to give but a smile and their love.

Balanced in care for others and self. Gentle in spirit.

Someone, who even in the midst of ugliness and pain, manages to shine!

Someone who has joy in their life. It shows from the inside out!

I noticed as I read each person’s reply, that no one really made it about physical appearance. It was about character and heart and attitude. Yet, our society has made it all about appearance.

Our poor teens don’t stand a chance. I have two stunningly beautiful step daughters… absolutely gorgeous. Both of them struggle with being pretty enough. They embody physical beauty associated with appearance. Our world has made it very difficult. Beauty is about size, shape, hair color, skin tone, clothing, money/status… must I go on? This breaks my heart. We have a generation growing up that has missed the part about “beauty forged from times of trial.” Or “balanced in care for others and self.” This generation does not think of others. They’ve been trained to look out for number one! And being beautiful is on the top of the list.

I know in my head that beauty is not about physical appearance. Yes, there are people out there that are truly “beautiful” in a physical sense. Our eyes are drawn to them. We often compare ourselves to them, whether we know it or not.

While I KNOW that beauty goes beyond physical, I don’t always believe it for myself. For others, absolutely! I can see beauty in each one of you! I can convince you that you are THE MOST beautiful person out there! But when I turn the tables and see myself in that mirror, all that I know about what truly makes one beautiful goes out the window!

Am I going to be chosen for a cover spot on a magazine? NO! Do I turn heads as I walk down the street! Oh gracious no! Will I make the list for the most beautiful people? Mum, NO! Thank goodness!

I KNOW that my beauty comes from deep within and it was given to me and is nurtured by my heavenly Father. I am infinitely precious to Him. How very much He loves me. He is with me. He has cried tears and rejoiced with me. I am worth it to Him. I am beautiful.

Now to get my head and my heart to agree on this issue! I am going to find five photo’s that I feel beautiful in. I don’t plan on sharing them, but it is a challenge I want to take on. I’ve got layer upon layer of issues in my life that coupled with the word beautiful, cause great agony and heartache. I’ve got a long way to go.

My beloved spoke and said to me, arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. (Song of Solomon 2:10)