Searching for Jack

I'm not sure, but I think Jack, of "beanstalk fame" has been lurking around our neighborhood:



I have taken to walking with my camera in my pocket. If I spot him, I will certainly take his picture. In the meantime, I am going to continue to keep on eye on this plant. Did you ever?

I have discovered that this is a Century Plant. According to the picture, bigger and better things are yet to come!

Blessings,
Linda

A Gift

A package!!! In this age of amazing technology, there is still something uniquely pleasant about getting a package in the mail.

Mine was from a precious young woman I met through that amazing technology several months ago. I read one post on her blog and was immediately drawn to her - this one young enough to be my little daughter. Her wisdom and love for the Lord, her breath-taking talent as writer, painter, and musician, and most of all her beautiful heart make her very special indeed.

She asked me what my favorite flower was and then painted this for me.




Such a gift - made with so much love. I don't have words to say how much she has touched my heart.

If you have never met Emily, please stop by for a little visit. You will want to stay a while.

Thank you so much Em. The Father has woven you, Trent and sweet baby Aiden into my heart for always.

Blessings,
Linda

Tuesdays Unwrapped - Hope

"My soul wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him."
Psalm 62: 5

It was one of those days. There was nothing really terrible happening - there just wasn't anything happening. I am in a waiting season - waiting for those huge prayers to be answered - wondering if they ever will.

I stepped out onto the front porch to sweep away the petals the wind had shaken loose from the Impatience plant and was stopped dead in my tracks. Suspended just above the flowers was the biggest butterfly I had ever seen.

I ran back inside to get my camera, fully convinced it would be gone before I could back outside. When I opened the screen door, it was still there. I quietly made my way as close as I dared and took a picture - and then another and another. That beautiful creature just let me get as close as I wanted.

I felt something stir in my heart as I watched. It was as though "hope" rode on those delicate wings - a gentle reminder that the Father is there even when I think He hasn't heard my voice.

"I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and supplications, because He has inclined His ear to me. Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live."
Psalm 116: 1,2

For more glimpses of things small things hiding in secret places, please visit Emily's blog, Chatting At the Sky.

Blessings,
Linda

Adding a Stone

"In prayer we own Thee, Father, at our side,
Not always feel or taste Thee; and, 't is well,
So hour by hour, courageous faith is tried,
So, gladlier will the morn all mists dispel."
John Keble


"Sometimes we are disturbed because we have no devout feelings; but what we want is a devout will. We cannot always control the imagination, but we can always do that which is our duty carefully and patiently, with a view to pleasing God, and proving our love to Him. We may feel cold and mechanical, but we cannot fulfill our appointed duty without an exercise of the will, and therefore all duties diligently performed testify a desire to love, and prove our love."
H.L. Sidney Lear

A little while ago I wrote this post. Then the Father, with love that touches the deepest places of my heart, slipped this devotional into my morning. Over and over he faithfully, lovingly answers the questions of this doubting heart and draws me to Himself.

On this diamond of a sabbath day, I give thanks and place another stone in remembrance of His faithfulness.

Blessings,
Linda

picture: We took the short walk to the grocery store this beautiful morning and bought the "usual" - the newspaper and a my Sunday bouquet.

One Done

Way back in February I wrote this post about all the unfinished projects I discovered packed away in boxes. I have been diligently working on the first one and finished it the other night. All that remains is to get a frame for it.

I won't bore you with all the frustrating mistakes I made on this first ever cross stitch project (I mean, really, who manages to get indelible ORANGE marker on their fabric?). Suffice it to say, it is not perfect. But I am happy with it, and enjoyed it enough to begin another one.

I find I have to sneak a little knitting in here and there. It just calls to me sometimes.

So without further ado - project number one:



Blessings,
Linda

A Sweet Fragrance

I have written about her before, this humble little rose bush who preaches me a sermon every time I walk past her. She was one of the first flowers I planted when we moved into this home twenty-eight years ago. In my gardening ignorance, I chose a spot that is not very conducive to rose bushes. Consequently, she has never grown into the beautiful rose bush I had in mind when I planted her.



Every spring I cut off the branches that have died, and she gets more and more fragile. She really doesn't look like much, and I sometimes think I should just dig her up and throw her away.



But then the first rose appears, and I am drawn to bury my face in the delicate petals and inhale the sweet aroma. It is amazing that such a spindly looking plant can produce such a beautifully fragrant flower. We cannot walk by her without stopping - to look and smell - and wonder.

Every spring she speaks to me about the humble vessel that I am and the potential the Father has placed within me. When I look at my life, it pales in comparison with others around me - those I admire and would so like to emulate. I have not done great things for the kingdom.

Sweetly she reminds me that the important thing is to bloom where I am planted, to put down deep roots, and to be a sweet fragrance to the world around me. The Father does not look at me with worldly eyes, He looks for the beauty within. He does not measure greatness as the world measures greatness. He asks only that I live my life in such a way that I am the beautiful aroma of Christ to those around me. He will do the rest.


"But thanks be to God who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;"
II Cor. 2: 14,15

This is my contribution to Ann's "Cultivating the Live God Desires."



Blessings,
Linda

Thank You

"I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Thy wonders. I will be glad and exult in Thee; I will sing praise to Thy name, O Most High."
Psalm 9: 1-2

Heavenly Father,

My heart overflows with thanksgiving. You are a faithful Father whose love and promises never fail. No matter where I go; no matter what my circumstances; no matter what my feelings tell me - You never leave me or forsake me. You meet my needs with abundant provision. You fill my life with purpose and blessing.

Thank You for the way You answer prayer in my life - with such love and perfect wisdom. You are a Holy and Righteous God, and all Your ways are just.

I am humbled when I see the way You take the time to patiently answer the questions of this doubting heart. With such tender mercy, You show me the way - over and over again - until I am on sure footing.

Thank You for a patient love that waits, for Your Holy Spirit who draws me, for the peace of Your presence, for freedom in Jesus, and grace that forgives the unforgivable.

Thank You for the immeasurable blessing of this weekend - for allowing me to be a tiny part of recording worship music that will minister to so many. Thank You for Dennis Jernigan's amazing testimony and for the gift You have given him. It was so wonderful Father.

Thank You for setting us free and for the priceless gift of salvation.

I have not words to adequately thank You. You are more wonderful than words can express.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

The Gratitude Community has left their offerings of thanks here:

Drought (my sonnet)

This is my very humble contribution to the (In)Courage April Creative Challenge. The challenge is to write a sonnet about spring.





Drought

For lack of rain the earth grew cracked and dry
The grasses withered, all the flowers died
The sun shone brilliant in a brassy sky
And all creation looked to heaven and cried.

The weeks went by with unrelenting sun
The rivers and the lakes receded, dry.
It seemed the rain was never going to come
That everything would fade away and die.

But spring-time came with open, out-stretched hand
Abundant rain poured from a slate gray sky
The rivers flowed and flowers filled the land
And all creation breathed a grateful sigh.

The landscape of my soul cried out for rain
And faithfully, with Living Water, He came.

I cannot seem to get over the wonder of the way the Father answered our prayer for rain. After that terrible drought, this is the most abundant, beautiful spring I have ever seen.

Blessings,
Linda

One Step At A Time

I am a Grandmother. One would think that, having reached this season in life, I would have great stores of wisdom to dispense to everyone around me. The truth is, I often find myself both praying for wisdom and looking to others to share with me what they know to be wise counsel. I am blessed to still be able to count my eighty-six year old mother as one of those counselors.

About a month ago she fell and broke her hip. Once we knew that she would be all right, my thoughts centered on my ninety year old father. He has had numerous health problems over the past couple of years and is now in dialysis three days a week. I spent many sleepless nights worrying about how we were going to take care of him and my mom.

For some reason, I find it difficult to rest and pray when circumstances are overwhelming. I offer up hurried little fragments and then proceed to try to walk under the weight of the burden. It doesn’t work very well....

This devotional will be on the Laced With Grace website on friday. Join me there?

Blessings,
Linda

I have been decidedly absent these past several days. When we aren't busy physically (with my Mom and Dad), I've been a bit too mentally weary to write. I hope to do much better this coming week. My Mom is home from the rehab center and we are trying to get everything in order for her at their house. Working through lots of things - praying for grace, strength and wisdom for them. Thank you so much for your prayers and comforting words. You bless my heart in ways I cannot put into words. You are precious.

His Child

We sing songs with words that make me want to run and hide. Do I really "give my life to worship You"? Do I "surrender all"? Does my soul really thirst after Him as the deer pants for the water? There are times I don't say the words for fear that I will be speaking a lie.

I lie in bed in the early morning hours praying for mercy, grace, strength, cleansing and filling - and before I have walked ten minutes into the day I fail.

I see others around me moved to tears when my eyes remain dry and my heart numb. I know all the right words for every situation (after all, I have grown up on them) and find myself, all too often, doubting them.

And so I begin to question whose child I really am, for I feel like an impostor. I don't look like everyone else. I don't feel as though I measure up to what I know I ought to be.

Then He gently reminds me of a moment that we have both marked, but I have forgotten. It was a time when I prayed as I had never prayed before - desperate to have this deep need met in the only way I thought possible. For such a long, long time heaven was silent.

One day, as I swept the kitchen floor, the oft-repeated prayer echoing through the empty house, I "heard" Him whisper into my heart: "Do you want my will, or do you want Me to give you what you have been asking for?" In that moment I knew the answer. "I want Your will Lord. I want it whatever the cost, because I know You. I know that Your love will only do what is best. I trust in You."

In that moment, I knew beyond question whose child I was. I know it now. When I fail to measure up, when I don't experience the same emotions as others, when I am filled with doubt, when I get my priorities totally out of order, when I desire other things more than Him, when I don't look like everyone else - even then, I am His child.

He sees my heart and, in spite of the cracks and flaws, claims me as His own. I see myself with human eyes and feel discouraged. He sees me through the prism of His Son and finds me righteous.

for more stories of the holy visit Ann:



Blessings,
Linda

Multitude Monday

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Melodie Beattie

I am late. It's been a long day. There have been quite a few long days recently, but all is well and we are filled with gratitude.

Grateful for:

Easter - this day of days that gives us such hope and joy

Mom - diligently doing her physical therapy exercises and making improvement

Family - as long as we are together it doesn't really matter where we celebrate Easter. A cozy spot in the nursing home will do as well as anywhere else.


A beautiful daughter who is so thoughtful and loving to all of us - especially her grandparents just now when they long to see loved ones.



my husband - who is just one of the kids; the little ones think he is such fun! He has been an absolute rock during all of these health crises with my parents. He has a pure servant's heart.


my son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters - precious gifts from the hand of a loving Father


this beautiful spring - I have never seen such a grand show of wild flowers. Everywhere we look the fields look as though they are covered with colorful scatter rugs - blue, pink, white, yellow, purple - the sides of the roads are covered with flowers, our yards have all burst into bloom. It is like a sweet benediction after three years of drought.



having a small part in our church's Easter services - watching as the words and music, giving voice to the Gospel message, were used by the Spirit to draw so many to the Savior

For more gratitude posts visit Ann's blog.

Blessings,
Linda

New Life

I was working in the flower garden this morning, gathering up the dead leaves and twigs, filling my bucket with the detritus of winter. I have a place where year after year I dump the current crop of old vegetation onto the decaying pile of past years.

As I walked, I looked down and saw two little eggs cradled under the cedar trees. I stooped to pick them up, and they were so fragile I could feel them begin to crumble under the gentle pressure of my fingers. I held them lightly in the palm of my hand and on this day before Resurrection Sunday thought of new life - the precious miracle of new life.

The egg shells are a picture of our earthly bodies, fragile and sometimes broken. One day they will fall to the ground and new life will begin - life that never ends. Jesus suffered the unimaginable so that we could have this precious gift. He died so that we might live with Him forever.

He stands with open arms, offering the gift to any who will receive it. It is only a whisper away.

Wishing you the joy and peace and hope that Easter brings,
Linda

At the Cross

"At the Cross" is one of the songs we are singing for our Easter Program this year. We had our first service tonight. They flooded the aisles when our Pastor gave the invitation. Amazing grace; amazing love.

"You tore the veil. You made a way, when You said that it is done."

Oh Lord Jesus, thank You for making a way.

Blessings,
Linda