Just As I Am

a little child will lead them....

I can't lie; it's been a very difficult year [couple of..well maybe few years] for me.  My spiritual life has been dry.  I've found myself going, many times, to the well of His Word and walking away thirsty.  I've been lonely, battling depression, lying old hurts at Jesus feet, but not seeming to get total healing.

But I've gotten help, because I've shared my needs.  People are praying for me. And I am seeing results in tangible ways. 

God sometimes has to completely strip us to get us to a place where we are willing to hear Him in even the "smallest" of places.

As I've cried out to know Him more... to sense His love for me...He has been revealing, not Only Who He is,  but His great love for me as well...for God is love.

He recently brought a book to my attention, and somehow, I just knew I needed to buy it.....to read to my grandsons.  Little did I know He wanted to use it to minister to me.

So what am I loving to read in my middle year days to remind me of just how much God loves me?

 

My new favorite book is...no kidding....The Jesus Storybook Bible. I am sure that many of you with young children have this book in your home library.  Personally, I think everyone should own, or at least read, this wonderful book.  ALOUD.  Sally Lloyd-Jones has managed to communicate the Gospel story in a way that everyone can understand.  I agree with Dr. Tim Keller who says that he "would urge not just families with young children to get this book, but every Christian."

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"Now some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn't do.  The Bible certainly does have some rules in it.  They show you how life works best.  But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing.  It's about God and what he has done."

and

"There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story.  The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them."

and

" So the three Wise Men... followed the star through the streets of Bethlehem, out of the nice part of town, through the not-so-nice part of town, into the really-not-so-nice part of town, down a little dirt track, until it stopped right over ...a little house.  But wait.  It wasn't a palace.  And there weren't any guards. Or servants. Or flags. Or red carpets. Or trumpets. Or anything. Did they get it wrong?  Or was this what God meant? Sure enough, in that little house ---there, sitting on his mother's knee ---they found him.  The baby King."

It's true that Lloyd-Jones uses her own words and adds a dose of her sense of humor to the mix;  this is a storybook Bible not a study Bible.  It's the spirit of her words and the way she shows how "every story whispers His name" that captures the serendipity of the Gospel message.

And it ends as every great TRUE story should:

"TO BE CONTINUED..."

I can hardly wait to find out what happens next :)

Drop Me a Note

the question

where are you going right now
or
where are you going after work
or
where are you going with that conversation
or
where are you going on vacation
or
where are you going to school
or
where are you going for dinner
or
where are you going tomorrow
or
where are you going with your life
or
where are you going after death
?

Any or all of the above...tell me...where you are going?
How do you know?

Simon Peter asked, "Master, just where are you going"

Jesus answered, "You can't now follow me where I'm going. You will follow later."

~John 13:36~

more gratitude

Adding more to my list of 1000 gifts my heavenly Father has given to me.

171.  This yummy perfume given to me by my beautiful sister who came for a few days visit  recently.
172.  The opportunity to travel to see two of my daughters next month.
173.  A daughter who left Scripture notes all throughout the house to encourage me before she left to return to college.
174.  This wonderful book that is helping me to think once again.
175.  A friend who meets me for coffee and sharing on a weekly basis.
176.  Reconnecting with old friends via Facebook.
177.  Sunny days and cool, crisp nights.
178.  Hydrangeas and tulips from the grocery store placed in my little white pitcher. 
179.  Grandsons who come for a visit with their mommy almost every Friday.
180.  This little table that now graces the space beside my sofa.
181.  Fresh green smoothies or green lemonade for breakfast every morning...yum.
182.  Online friends who give me the opportunity to use my gifts when they ask for help.
183.  A new haircut that I actually like :)
184.  The light that streams in through the French door in my bedroom...so soft and pretty.
185.  My patio swing and the huge oak tree it sits under.
186.  My recent introduction to the poet Rainer Rilke.
187.  The ritual of eating Butterscotch pudding that I share with my mom and dad when I visit them.
188.  This little book that reminds me to do just what I'm doing here that my mom and dad's friend, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, wrote.
189.  A new favorite place to visit on the web.
190.  This  ribbon box that my mom bought for me when she visited me.
191.  The cutest ornament that my very talented sister made for our Christmas tree.