Flowers, Children and Promises
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In a season of winter, our hearts crave hope–hope that a new season is just around the corner. That though weeping may last for a night, JOY will come in the morning. Signs of spring.
Here are a few things that God is using to remind me to hope….
Flowers…the seemingly impossible task of a shoot making it’s way through winter-hardened ground to grow and bloom–seemingly hopeless ground brings forth life….
Children…there’s something about a child that brings joy and hope that not all is as dark as it may seem…that faith is possible…
“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matt: 18:3
Promises…God’s promises make “spring” a surety. Here are just a few that have spoken to me recently:
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.” Psalm 84:5-7
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him.’” Lamentations 3:21-24
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
The resurrection…Honestly, the best promise of spring we will ever have is that our Jesus who died on a Friday ROSE from the dead on a Sunday.
Spring came with His resurrected life, and it purchased for us a promise of a “spring” to come that will never, ever end. The new season will be one where “He will wipe every tear from [our] eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4) because “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:5.
Now that is SPRING!!
The “lost coin” and love…
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When someone knows those “little things” about me–little habits, details, or concerns that matter to me alone–I realize that I am known and LOVED.
I had something happen recently that reminded me once again that no one engages in the details of my life and cares more than Jesus does….
In March I was having a wonderful week in Indiana as I spent time with dear friends and family in different venues while hosting someone who was visiting from out of town. During the course of the week, one evening I was wearing a favorite pair of earrings which I bought in India. (I love to pick up unique jewelry in the different countries where I am traveling as it is both fun and small–important when I have to haul luggage all over the world!)
As I was dropping my visitor off on my way home, I reached up to touch my ear and realized that one of my earrings was missing. Ugh!! One of my favorite earrings! I was a little sick about it, knowing that those earrings could never be replaced without a flight to India. I called the three places that I had been that evening. Nothing….
Since Jesus and I talk about everything, I started telling him about my earring and how sad I was about it (as if He didn’t already know! :-), and I asked Him for a miracle in finding it, knowing that we had already looked in all the logical places where it could possibly be.
Over a week later, I moved a case in my closet and would you believe, THERE was my earring. I have absolutely no idea how it came to be in that spot, as it was missing long before I even returned to my room/closet the night I lost it. Personally I wonder if the Lord sent an angel on a special mission of search and rescue, telling him where to drop it off. Regardless of how He did it, it was there, and I started doing a little worship dance right there in my closet.
It wasn’t as much about my earring at that point as it was about my God who loves me, hears me and knew how important a silly little earring from India was to one little girl from Indiana. I was like the woman with the lost coin…I wanted to call all of my friends and throw a party.
My party had a theme: “My God knows me and loves me intimately.”
Experience Italy 2013…a week feasting at His table
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Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of leading a wonderful and unique group of 15 business/ministry leaders and spouses to Experience Italy 2013!!
The richness of that time–with the cultural sights and smells of Italy, the new relationships formed, the amazing Bible teaching on marriage,the time spent as couples, the specialty experiences and the wonderful meals eaten together is hard to capture in words. I would just say that our Father invited us to a feast at His table and we ATE ABUNDANTLY.
How grateful I am for the kingdom hearts of these dear people and the way that the Lord is using them in their different spheres of influence. I know, in comments from many of them, that there hearts were refreshed and renewed in different ways, and I pray that fruit from our time together will roll out 30,60 and 100 fold where they serve the King.
Rather than write alot about our time, I am going to let the pictures speak for themselves. Rejoice with me over our God’s faithfulness in our time together! Looking forward to the next one!
