Removing the Weeds of the Day

Today I’m a caged bird needing to spread her wings.

The sun and shifting clouds keep trading places and I watch the clock eager to escape these confining walls toward the big open.

It’s the sweet golden finches & hummingbirds, the trickle of my fountain, my passion and love for creating in the dirt and flowers that calls me out today. It’s breathing in the scent of fresh earth and chickens and drifts of jasmine and coaxing the roses to their full glory…as if they need my help.

It’s how I re-set my soul and where everything makes sense; a visual result of my efforts.

There’s something so healing about the clipping away of what has flourished and spent. Removing the weeds of the day always begins on the knees, don’t you think? It’s the easiest way to pull up the whole root, not just the part you can see because there’s always so much more that lies beneath.

There’s always so much more lying deep within us all.

Yet it’s the dropping to our knees, either there in the dirt or there in the heart…where freedom truly lies. The roots can run long and deep and those rose thorns cut sharp when you least expect, yet I crave being part of the process.

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown  of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:3)

Yes…removing the weeds of the day always begins on the knees.

Be Happy Tip for 5/8/14

Set your minds on things above...

It took a morning of frustrations, of doing little jobs meant for others, of venting and heavy sighing to those with authority and ability to right these wrongs and return my heart rate to normal…to open the door to God’s gentle correction.

He spoke there in the quiet.

After I’d hung up the phone.

After my words spilled out a bit restrained but direct.

And He brought me to this:

“Whoever is patient has great understanding,
but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” (Proverbs 14:29)

And there in the quiet I thought about how small my frustrations were in the whole grand scheme of things. With all that’s taking place in our world today; the evil, the destruction, the turning of eyes away from our Creator, the suffering and immeasurable loss and pain.

I had to let it go.

Let go and stop the thinking and the justifying and the dwelling on what was really insignificant in comparison.

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

(Colossians 3:2)

There’s a scale to each day. The distribution of weight is determined by what fills our thoughts, how we react to not-so-pleasant situations…Whose words we allow to sink the deepest in our hearts.

The enemy loves when we allow ourselves to get caught up in the small stuff because it diverts our eyes from the indescribable peace of knowing Jesus. I pray you will keep your eyes on things far above your frustrations today and every day.

Many Blessings,

Debbie

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      just sharing my article in today's paper:

http://www.thecamarilloacorn.com/news/2014-04-25/Faith/

Get Your Faith On!

 

Confession time - I’m guilty.

I opened the door to negativity and it walked right in and sat down!

Been moping around for a few days discouraged, disappointed in myself and questioning my dreams again. Feeling like I’m not “doing life” right.

You know the story…walking and kicking up dust in that same rut down a road that leads to nowhere fast.

I kept looking in that tiny rear-view mirror with all my past mistakes smoldering behind me instead of the big, broad view ahead that shines of God’s goodness, blessing and favor.

“Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19

So, what’s an encourager to do when she could use a bit of encouragement herself?

She has a pity party.

But I have found that a pit party’s an ugly place to be. I don’t wear “sad” well and tears are my contacts’ worst enemy. 

But this time, just before the tears came…God showed up in a big way, picked me up off that dirty, dusty road to nowhere and set me back on the solid ground of His Word.

I just love how He works.

He sends little sparks…little jewels that serve as reminders of His constant presence.

When we’re down, we can only focus on the closed doors; opportunities lost and second chances just out of our reach. We don’t see the OTHER doors God is opening just around the corner…and He definitely is!

Why do I question His greatness or his ability to work things out when my dreams and ambitions have been woven into the very fabric of who I am by His capable hands?

If you’ve been spending too much time looking in your rear-view mirror lately and giving your days over to regret and on things better left in the past, I invite you to join me today in kicking negativity to the curb and putting on the full armor of God! 

It’s a “one size fits all” kind of thing.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)

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A Word of Encouragement for Your Week

Good morning, friend.

I hope your week is off to a great start.

I spent part of my weekend enjoying the activity in the garden from my front-row seat on the patio. The finches and sparrows put on quite a show.

I noticed how each one had its own purpose, it’s own agenda.

I watched as they freely flit in and out beneath the arbor pausing only to flutter in the bird bath or sit and preen themselves on the fence. Their sweet song brought smiles from the inside out.

I admire their freedom; not a care or worry in the world. It’s almost as if they know and understand how our amazing God cares and provides for their every need.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. (Matthew 6:26)

As you go through this week; perhaps a mix of challenges and joys, blessings and heavy-hearted sighs… or if you’re sputtering along with an empty spiritual tank…resolve right now to make it a great week. One. Day. At. A. Time.

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. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Sometimes it’s not easy to pick up the pieces of our yesterdays and begin fresh and new each morning with a smile, but with Jesus, we certainly can. His compassions NEVER fail. He is ALWAYS with us.

He alone is our true hope.

With all my heart, I want to encourage you today. Whatever leaps of faith you’re contemplating. Whatever dreams you’ve decided to pursue. God can and will replace your uncertainty and doubt with strength and reassurance.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life (Matthew 6:26-27)

Be Happy tip for 4/17/14