His Light in My Darkness

Those voices in the dark seem to scream the loudest in the silence just before dawn.

I awoke before my alarm clock this morning already feeling beaten and overwhelmed. All the stuff that needs my attention.  All the fears and concerns, the negative jabs!  All the tasks begun and waiting to be finished. All the work and effort involved in removing the “weeds” from my life. They ALL came tumbling down, one by exhausting one!

I tried to shake it all away, tried to remember my little motto: “go to prayer – don’t go to worry,” but it’s not easy when it’s just you, wide-eyed in the dark and in the quiet.

Anyone who is among the living has hope.

(Ecclesiastes 9:4)

But it’s not just me there in the dark.

The Lord is there – even in the silence patiently watching and waiting, bearing the weight of my burdens until I realize they aren’t mine to carry.  

I rose with a heavy sigh feeling defeated, deflated and spent.

Oh, the enemy takes advantage of our sleepy state, doesn’t he? He’s a coward who invades our thoughts and pounces on our faith when we least expect it.

I pray you will have the strength to stand up to him in the dark and silent places, my friend. Please remember that God’s presence is the bright spot in that darkness.

It’s His Word that stands tall and strong even when we can’t, and it’s

His Word that will cast out the darkness and bathe you in the light

of His love!

May Blessings,

Debbie

You're Still Standing (Remix)

You walk along the beach in the sand and in the sun.

You head up that dirt trail and the climb stretches you and makes you stronger.

Turn around

What do you see? It’s the path you’ve made to get to where you are. Look at the footprints along the way made in the sand or along that dirt trail…despite the stones and the twigs, through the elements that threatened to slow you down or hinder your progress, your footprints continued on.

And you’re still standing

The rocks in your path were necessary, strategically placed by the One whose hands move mountains. Though the rocks, they caused you to step to the left or to the right, they did not deter you. You pressed on. 

All the things of your past have brought you to right now – this place. The people of your world, their words and actions and their impact on you…give shape to your here and now. But how they shape the rest of your journey is up to you.

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11) NIV

Coffee Break with Deb (6/13)

I’m so glad you could join me out here on the patio. I wanted to come out and clip a few roses to bring indoors, but the garden’s abuzz with bees and butterflies at the moment, and I’d rather not disturb them. Besides, I’m enjoying this little break in the day with an afternoon coffee and the cool, gentle breeze that called me out to my favorite comfy spot.

You know, I’ve been thinking of something lately…imagine that! As I reflect on this past year, in particular, I realize just how close God has been to me. How much I’ve relied on His strength and guidance in every situation. He’s such an awesome God and I just have to praise Him!

He’s taught me something very valuable, and I’d like to share it with you:

If you want God to reign OVER everything,

you have to put Him ABOVE everything!

Makes sense, doesn't it?

Rain doesn't begin falling at eye level and if we keep God only at eye level, we limit our thinking in what He can accomplish in us and through us. Look up, my friend. Up to the mountains, to the clouds that pass overhead and absolutely know that our God is bigger and greater than all we can fathom. He is to be the most valued King of kings and Lord of lords.

So, let me ask you this:

Where Do You Place God in Your Life?

Is He locked away in that dusty Bible? Do you only pull Him out when you want something and you decide to “pray real hard” until He gives you what you want?

Is He your “seasonal” God?

The One you run to on your terms, not His?

Is He the voice you try to silence behind your busy life? The one you put off until Sunday rolls around?

OR is He first in line ahead of every joy, every dilemma, every fear and worry?

I pray you trust in Him today, my friend. Draw near to Him. Listen for His voice and rest in the comfort of His embrace. His blessings and mercies never cease.

“…one God and Father of all, who is over all and

through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:6

Happy SONday!

Let the glorious light of Jesus shine through you today!

Hiding Behind the Gate

The

 garden isn’t quite what I want it be just yet, but there’s potential just beyond the gate. All it needs is nurturing, time, water, sunlight…that special touch from the Creator.

Much like the blessings of a garden not yet awake, there are many gifts locked away in all of us just waiting to bloom and bring glory to God… but it takes effort, doesn’t it? It takes a stepping away from ourselves to step out in faith. Sometimes, we just don’t feel like putting forth the work it takes to “bloom,” to BE more, to DO more than what life already demands. So our gifts and our talents and our blessings to others remain locked away behind that gate. Their colors never seen or appreciated.

God’s glory never given.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV)

I encourage you to step out today, my friend. God has designed you to bloom. Be firmly rooted in His presence, His Word and His power that they may be the support you need to grow and produce blessings abundant.

“All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded.” Exodus 35:10 (NIV)

You weren’t created to be unproductive and left to whither on the vine. Don't keep your potential locked away behind the gate - allow God to nurture His gifts in you and bloom today!

Wishing you 

Many Blessings,

Debbie

Regular Deadheading

It’s been such an emotional couple of days for the folks in the path of the deadly Oklahoma tornado. The images and the stories are almost too much to comprehend.

Reluctantly, I pulled myself away from the television this afternoon and with a heavy heart, I ventured out to the back garden to water and to collect my thoughts. I opened the gate giving thanks for the very luxury of doing so; of going out to check on my special space with hose in hand and not knowing the kind of fear some of the poor parents are suffering tonight as search and rescue crews switch focus to recovery efforts instead. I shook my head once again and whispered another prayer.

I reached for the clippers off my potting bench and snipped a few roses and zinnias with blooms now past their prime. Also among them are lavender, foxgloves, viburnum, more roses, vines and anything else that “spoke” to me at my favorite nursery (smiles). I’ve planted pretty much all I can plant in my little garden – now and throughout the summer, it will be a constant game of watering, weeding, waiting, clipping, watering, weeding, waiting, clipping, etc. But I don’t mind. Tending my garden is what keeps me sparking on all 8 cylinders (LOL). It’s where the Lord meets me. It’s where my own thoughts rise above the chaos of the day to somehow make sense. I garden with sea gulls overhead and a little fat lizard that’s taken up residence beneath my erysimum shrub. It’s where little finches and sparrows dart in and out through the lavatera while blue jays and robins drink from my fountain and splash in the bird bath.

Perspective is gained in the simplest of moments, don’t you think?

This deadheading – the cutting away of that which is spent and of no value to the garden sort of mirrors how I hope to live my life. A rose that has turned brown and lost its petals is no longer God glorifying. That’s why we clip it off to allow the new buds to form. As gardeners, we don’t want to see a plant continue to give energy to branches full of dead flowers – we clip them off to promote new God-glorifying growth.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (John 15:2 NIV)

Do you have some deadheading to do in your life? Are there “things,” relationships, activities, choices or attitudes that are far from God glorifying?

Yes, there is much to learn in the garden.

Be blessed, my friend,

Debbie

Moved to Pray

It’s another situation,

Yet another conversation,

The need too great to handle alone,

And I’m moved to pray.

It’s one more soul,

Lost and desperately searching

But the struggle will always be,

And I’m moved to pray.

Another young life helpless,

Walking a tight rope between life and death,

Fighting for the very air I breathe so freely,

And I’m moved to pray.

Pray without ceasing ~ 1 Thess. 5:17

If I’m “moved” to pray, that insinuates that I’m not already doing so; that I’m someplace other than within hearing distance of my Jesus. It implies that I’ve moved out of range and that I need to return to what should come very naturally if we’re to reap the blessings God has in store for us all.

We’re to pray without ceasing, that life should be a continuing conversation with God, a constant giving of thanks and praise and falling at His feet.

Yes, life at the very feet of Him.

Life spent in His will.

Life with Him.

Life to the full.

Be blessed sweet friend,

Debbie