Pondering a couple things over last couple weeks while laying on a pool chair!

The last couple of weeks have been amazing.  We were away with our besties in a place that can easily be called paradise!  Let's face it, swaying palm trees, beautiful blue water, soft sand are all recipes for rest and relaxation.  For me, it is also the place I hear God speak.  Don't get me wrong, I hear him speak in my house too, and in the hot tub, and in the car as I drive BUT there is something about walking alongside the ocean and just being with God.  Or at least, that is what I experience.

We had the joy of getting away to the Dominican Republic.  Back to Punta Cana which we had been before when we did a mission trip combined with a second week at a resort to debrief.  The DR is beautiful!  People are happy and so friendly.  Food is amazing.  And the sand, palm trees and ocean .. well you know.

While I was away, and in the last two days since coming home, I have decided to take some action to one thing that God has made clear to me.  That besides Sunday, which USED to be considered the Sabbath when I was growing up, I believe God is calling me to take a Sabbath once a week.  Sunday has become more than what it used to be - with having my husband working shift work for so many years, and then for the past ten years almost, I have had to work on Sundays often SO Sunday is not really my sabbath any more.  And if you are reading this, and honest - I would venture to say you are not experiencing sabbath the same way either.

Years ago, a book was highly recommended to me by a young friend who is like a peer mentor to me, Karen.  She encouraged me to read The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Cormer.  So I have purchased it, read it, marked it up a lot!  Shared it with others.  And now have been reading it again.  John talks about the importance of Sabbath.  And how he has done it.  This book spoke to my friend Karen and she has also begun taking sabbath years ago, and has encouraged me to do the same.  

I find it rather embarrassing to say that she encouraged me to do that YEARS ago, and now I am finally making the intentional plan to do so.  I have picked the day.  Put it into the calendar with a no ending repeat ...    I am working on some details and Lord Willing will begin next week.  I am excited in a weird way!  Maybe a little anxiety.  The thing I do NOT want it to become ever, is a legalistic discipline!    I also realize with ministry, there may be some give and take about day of the week and having to change it the odd time.  We will see.  But yes, excited!!

My friend & spiritual Director (Cathy)  has encouraged me to put self-care into my calendar as well - times where I can attend to me, my whole being.  She has encouraged me to think of it as daily/weekly/monthly/ quarterly and yearly.  I am still working on some of that decision making, but I am getting there.  

She also challenged me on how I say I really want to get up early for my Quiet Time with the LORD and asked what I was doing about that ...  (I want to say that there is more behind this question, but we can talk over coffee if you really want to know lol it was a bit embarassing to say lol )  So, the LORD and I have been meeting in the morning - often quite early for our time together, with more spilling out during the day.  (Ask the LORD to wake you, and he will!)

The other thing I have been talking to the LORD about is the word He gave me for this year.  The word is TIME.  I actually ordered a ring from @LisaLeonardDesigns with the word "time" stamped on it.  I have been doing rings for years - not sure they will be good for anyone when I am gone, but it is good for me to have it so upfront and close to see to remind me.  The word "time" may mean many things - so that is what I am asking the LORD to unpack for me.  I have a feeling HE will in his time!!

So needless to say, life is never dull.  It is a time of learning and growing.  A time of being still and listening.  A time of talking and writing.  A time of transition for this almost 65 year old gal!  

I have a feeling this year has many things in store!  It has already been pretty great with some travel with our kids and grandkids in January and now lately our travel to the D.R with our besties Al and Janet.  BUT I believe this year holds many things.  That idea could paralyze a person.  I remember one other year that I began by writing in my journal that I knew God held whatever he had between Jan 1 of 2008 till December 31st, 2008.  If you have been a friend, you know our hearts were shattered into a million pieces that year with the loss of our Grandson Jay Benjamin Klassen.  So whenever I write things like "I have a feeling this year has many things in store", I will be honest, there is this weird sense "Joy, you have no clue what may be in store" and thing is ... that is true.  

However my LORD has it all under his watchful eye, and his mighty care and He knows about my whole year.  So, #GodsGotThis !!    Till then, I am going to follow him on the things he is telling me - to begin to observe a sabbath for myself weekly, and to continue to put things in my calendar that help me with soul care and self care in a way pleasing to the LORD.  And to keep asking him to clarify my word "time" for 2023.  

Ask me about it sometime - let's pour a cup of coffee or meet somewhere and chat.  Hey it could even be on my Sabbath day, as it will be a time to rest and to worship. 

Thanks for listening to my rambling thoughts!  Feel free to comment, would love to hear from you.

with love,

J

Reflections on our reading today (as Kilcona has encouraged us to do)

On the eve of the 2nd day of this new year - I sit in the corner of my great room, in my favourite chair, with my "comfort" pad lol (heating pad) and there are many thoughts swirling in this brain of mine!  Normally they say to page dump first thing in the morning - but here I am about to page dump because otherwise I will no doubt crawl into bed with the same thought swirling, and that never serves me well!

So here I go.  Many of the thoughts come from the combination of my reading for today (Thanks Kilcona for encouraging this) and for the thoughts that came out while I was walking (yep, I began again so I am again #barefootinblundstones)

We are going through the Bible from Genesis, and include 1 Psalm, but most of my thoughts are from the stories in the first Book of the Bible.  Today the focused reading was Genesis 4-7

Here is what I noted:

Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd and God loved Abel's offering.  I don't think this is about meat vs grain.  But I believe it was about giving God our offering off the top!  

Cain killed his brother!  WHAT?  How does blood do that to blood?  Later as I read it says that Lamech who is like the great great great grandson of Cain - also murdered a man.   Is this the first we see of generational sin?  

Cain killing his brother was about jealousy!  It was around here that the verse came into reading about "sin  is crouching at the door eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master."  Okay, this got me to thinking about some of my struggle with weight and specifically with food.   This was not what God was talking to Cain about (food) but I can not help but think of how this verse would/could apply to me today.  My struggle with weight, and with eating too much is not a new revelation to anyone who knows me. And this verse sort of made me think about food.  I do not believe that eating or that any food in itself is sinful.  However I believe that when I make food my idol, and/or run to food to fill a need in my life, then I think that is wrong, and definitely not helpful.  This is a much bigger conversation that I may or may not every have with people but suffice to say, I think that the enemy longs to use whatever he can to cause me to give in, to make something my "go-to" instead of God and I think that is where the problem lies, and where sin can be crouching at my door!!    It made me think of when we lived in Anola and we had barn cats.  There was one in particular that would crouch by the door, and take every opportunity to run in when the door opened a crack.  I think this is what the Scripture is saying ...  sin is there crouching, waiting for the smallest crack.  Scripture says "sin is eager to control you" but you have a part of play in this!  The enemy is not the victor!

Cain killed Abel but then God "marked" Cain so that no one would kill him.  Today I wondered - what did the mark look like.  It was obviously visible.  What are your thoughts?  The mark was enough for people to leave him alone.  

Have you ever wondered if the seal of the Holy Spirit upon you, is visible to others?  

I loved hearing about Enoch and how he walked with God and then God took him.  He didn't die.  he just walked with God and then he was gone!  Imagine if God did that today - what would YOUR family think? Would people look for you?  Or would people just know - here today and then gone with God!  What a thought!

Noah - oh boy - how incredible to be him.  He was blameless and loved the LORD GOD enough to do exactly as God told him.  OKAY remember that it had not ever rained like that before.  Noah had no clue what would happen other than what God told him.  And then the skies opened and the rain fell - and fell and fell and fell and fell ....' And inside the floating barn - what did that sound like?  smell like?   Can you imagine?  We plug our noses when we pass a farmer spreading manure on his property ...  what did that floating ark smell like?  

If there was an ark to be built today - who would God find to build it.  How did Noah have the courage to just jump right in and do what God asked.  Noah - build an ark.  Okay God

At one point, God decreases the number of years for people to live, to 120.  Interesting.  But even more so that Noah was 500 years old when he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.  I. could. not. even. imagine!  I am tired enough at 64, without giving birth to children.  But 500 years old?   With years like that - when would someone say they were having a mid life crisis!! lol ...

NOW - chapter 6 and the word "giant Nephrites" and that they lived on earth and fathered children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times" ... I think I need to do some more reading on this verse!!  HOWEVER the verse a couple verses later that talks about the LORD being sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth and that it broke his heart!!  WOW ...  and then came the flood!

There are so many questions - or so many ways that I can imagine when I read Scripture.  There are places to drop into the story and imagine ourselves and perhaps try to imagine our response.  Let's face it, most of us like to know what is ahead, and like to have the plan.  Too bad life just isn't so predictable.

This is day 2 of the reading plan and these stories although very familiar, continue to bring out a new thought or question or inspiration.  So, looking forward to tomorrow's reading.

Just a few thoughts on Genesis 4-7.   Are YOU reading through a plan?  Maybe you want to join.  It is always more fun when you can talk about the Scripture portion, and joining the group gives you the chance to do just that!!  Thanks Alexis Tjart for administrating the group!!

Stepping into 2023

 

I am at the tail end of the first day of 2023.  What will this year hold?  This morning while in church, we were asked to share if there were any verses that God gave to us, and to read them out loud from where we were standing.  And God gave me this verse:  

Isaiah 43:19  NIV

"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.

I also love it in the New Living Translation

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Is this verse for Kilcona?  Is this verse for me?  Is this verse for both?  As I have thought of it, I believe it is for both our church, and for me personally.  And in some ways I was not surprised that God gave this to me again this morning as this is a verse He has brought to mind a few times since June.  I believe it is a verse of incredible hope for the time ahead!  Something new!  But also the words that He has already been at this, at the "new" that He making!  For me, this is so exciting.

Yesterday I spent some time writing in the last pages of 2022.  There could have been more I am sure.  In fact the last couple months have been sparse when it comes to journalled pages. But as I wrote yesterday, God brought to mind a conversation that I had with my friend Cathy while I was in Abbotsford for the 3 day silent retreat for women. Cathy asked me if I had built in times of rest and refreshing.  And in the way only Cathy can, with such quiet love and grace, she encouraged me to look at my day timer or calendar, and plan weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly times where I step out and rest, renew and refresh.

(SO I have begun to consider what those appointments look like, but I know it is important for me to put these times in)

Today in church, while my kids Josh and Leah spoke, Leah talked and asked about whether any of us were carrying on with resolutions or goals that we had made last year.  And she shared how they had some goals that were simple and straightforward.  It reminded me of something I had done for a full year and a half and then I accidentally missed the day, and that blew me out of the water as I stopped vs just getting up and carrying on with 1 missed day!  (WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?  you may ask?  Well November 1 of 2020 I had decided to begin to walk outside - minimum 3-5 times a week, for minimum 10 minutes.  And in that first year and a half, I walked through rain, shine, snow, freezing temps, ice and some drivers who passed so close to me that my hair blew in the wind of the vehicle!  But then I went to a wedding, got home late, went to bed, woke up in the middle of the night with the awful realization that I had MISSED walking ... and that was that.  I did not just dust myself off and carry on.  No sir eeee ... instead it gave me this weird permission to just be okay to NOT walk daily.  *UGH I hate that I succumbed to my crazy all or nothing attitude once again!  SO today, I began walking again.  Just 10 minutes barefoot in my blundstones.  But it was 10 minutes and it will just get better I believe!

Today was a day where many of my emotions were visible.  My heart beat with love as I scanned the congregation and looked at each one of my kids and grandkids.  We worship in the same place, members of the same congregation.  Today I watched as my kids Josh and Leah also spoke, giving their last sermon in their official role as interim pastors.  What joy to sit under the leadership and teaching of my children!  My heart is so thankful LORD.  You have been faithful to us, and so good.  

I took my flags to church today as I knew I needed to begin the year flagging in the time of worship.  LORD what do you want me to do with the flags?  You have spoken through someone to me with the words "there will be healing when you flag" although the person who spoke those words to me did not know if the healing was mine, or someone who say the flags being used.  You have also impressed on me a couple months ago, the same thing.  LORD give me courage, and opportunity, and may your healing come to those who you are talking about.

I wept during worship.  I wept while I prayed for some friends.  I wept while I shared prayer time at the end of the service.   God you know all about this weeping.  One of my old pastors, said he thought it was perhaps a spiritual language ... you know LORD that there are many tears that have rolled during prayer.  

I hugged and received hugs.  I was aware of oh so much love this morning.  My soul was full.

I sang.  I raised my hands.  I prayed.  I listened.  I also talked with God.

And I was so aware that this is the beginning of the year.  The start of 2023.  And while as per normal, I do not know what the year holds - I do know the ONE who holds it.

There feels like so much to unwrap, to talk with the LORD about. - the rhythms of rest that I have to built back into my day, and into my calendar.  I need to sit with the LORD and let him speak to me about so many things, I can hardly contain the excitement that is within me knowing that God has such incredible things in store for not just me, but for each one of us!!  LORD GOD - I give you this year ahead.  Help me to trust fully in you, and to experience more of you Holy Spirit - in me, in my family, in my life, in our church.  MORE.

I also need to talk with the LORD about the word he has given me for this year.  He actually spoke the word to me a couple weeks ago.  Was it the word?  I wondered.  And then he brought it back to me again the other day.  LORD would you unpack that word, and show me what it is you wish for me!

And the verse LORD, can you please also open up that verse to show me something that you have specifically.  While I only read vs 19, I am not sure why - because the first part is so important.

FORGET THE FORMER THINGS.  DO NOT DWELL ON THE PAST!

O LORD help me to keep my eyes on you.  You are first and last.  You are with me and will never let me go.  You know everything about me.  You know!!  So help me to trust you with the unpacking of this verse, and the WORD for 2023, and with everything you want to make clear at the beginning of this year.

I give you the glory - the thanksgiving in advance for all you have done - are doing and will do.

Help me to remember and to recall.  To live with a grateful heart!  O JESUS I love you.  Holy Spirit do you work in this girl!! Do your work.

Amen

Just doing what my Father told me

Unless I am outside, I always take my shoes off when I flag.  
It feels like "holy ground" and this girl doesn't want to be worshipping with dusty boots!

I am 64 and it has been the last likely 32 years that I have truly felt like my relationship with the LORD has grown - and surprised me so much.  I think it was learning about how much HE longs to have relationship with me, and that HE has a voice which I began hearing ...  

The more I heard Him speak - the more I wanted to hear Him.  And that means I needed to slow down long enough to sit, to wait on Him and to hear Him speak.  This is a much longer conversation and I know that people do not necessarily like it when someone says "God told me ..." but friends, I don't know how else to put it because in my life, most of what I have done in the past 22 years is ONLY because God told me!  It has been wild and crazy.  Its been a "fasten your seatbelt you are in for a ride" last 22 years! 

I went through a time where I wondered "God was that you, or my imagination?"  I went through times when I was brought to tears as I realized I could never have dreamt that up.  Seriously even the ministry we have been called to - was because God said!

SO I know without a doubt that God speaks/strongly impresses on me in so many ways!  Direct conversation that I hear.  Through just sitting and being and listening.  Through Scripture and through the voice of others that He sends. And I know without a doubt that I don't always want to listen, and oh my LORD is so patient with this gal!  

ANYHOW I guess it was sometime early summer God made it very clear to me that I needed to go and flag at our church. And not just at but I knew it was IN the sanctuary!  We are a church going through a transition as our Senior Pastor retired.  And so God laid this on my heart and He would not let go of it!  Several times I was close to going, and continued to put it off for next week.  But on this past Thursday I knew I needed to go and flag in the sanctuary and made plans to go yesterday (Friday) for a little bit.  

I took my flags (actually had them in my car since last Sunday) and headed to the church.  Spent time talking with my friend Lorrie, and then went into the sanctuary!  My phone I had forgotten to charge but I figured I had enough time on it for about an hour of worship music.  And to be honest, I have some rotator cuff issues and I was not sure how long I would be able to flag anyhow.  I was still unclear why exactly I needed to do that.

Maybe it is time to say that I do NOT like drawing any attention to myself.  Yes I know, some people say then how can you preach, or how were you a pastor?  Oh I hope it was always giving God the glory!

Flagging seems like it is pretty "out there" if you know what I mean.  Originally when I knew I needed to flag, I purchased the flags from CALLED TO FLAG which is in Abbotsford, BC.  I love her vision for her business and love that she prays over her flags as they are made.  I have watched her videos on YouTube and oh my goodness, would LOVE to move like her BUT I am 64 with some mobility limitations lol.

I ordered flags and began to flag in my own personal time with the LORD.  Then one day I invited a new friend who flags, to come and spend some time with me flagging.  I was so worried that I just didn't know how.  I remember when I took tambourine in worship classes - it was about patterns.  And Carol from Called to Flag also does patterns.  Anyhow that morning Lois told me that God had given her something to tell me and it was "healing will come when you flag".  Hmm.  I asked - my healing?  or the healing of those who see me flagging?  What is this about?  Lois did not know that answer, but I tucked it away in my heart and memory.  

So when I went into the sanctuary - I also sat and prayed - and asked the LORD what is it we need, or what I need to hear.  He has impressed some things on my heart - but those I am keeping close.  While I worshiped with flags to music on my iPhone, I also spent some time walking/flagging in between rows and sections - around the music teams space and the tech/sound space.  I felt like the flags were welcoming a blessing over those who sat in the chairs.  I also felt like the flagging was about spiritual warfare, and about anything that comes in to the space with people during the week and especially on a Sunday morning.  Let's face it, we are messy people and I think the enemy likes nothing more than to get a toehold in our lives, and to seek where he can steal and destroy.

SO in the cold temp of the sanctuary I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as I worshiped with the flags.  The Holy Spirit and I on behalf of the family of God that meets at Kilcona.  Oh loved ones - you are so loved by Him.   I plugged in the cross, as I felt it was such a reminder of his great love for us!  

I am not sure what Lois meant by "healing will come when you flag" but I do know that I am changed during the time in worship.  This week I also heard from someone who told me how she was overcome with JOY when she sees me flag.  And I hope others are blessed too.  My audience, even though it is so public - is my LORD and KING Jesus!!  

An hour later - I rolled up the flags, put my shoes back on, and carried on for the day!  I did what my  Father told me to do and I had a feeling He was smiling .   Years ago I used the phrase "Dance like no one's watching" and somehow I feel that I did just that! 

Worship with abandon,

j

I love the colours, the shimmer and shine of the flags she makes

check out her website and YouTube

Ready for their ride home - they are about to go back into their bag 
which was specially made for me by Pat Hayes (Leah's mom) 

Veiled no more ...

When I was born, I was born with not just 1 but 2 "omens of good luck" as my Mom's doctor had told her upon my birth.  Being that they were really hoping for a boy (yes, I know that) I figure that the doctor was pulling out all the stops.  As I read in a card that my parents once gave me - the doctor said that "I do not have a boy but you have a baby girl who was born with pixie ears and a veil over her face which are both omens of good luck" .  Now I did not live feeling like my birth was a disappointment being a girl lol .. but I was often intrigued by the omens of good luck part.  I would prefer to think that none of that was "good luck" but instead part of the Creator's design for this gal!!  I love Psalm 139 that talks about being fearfully and wonderfully made and how God knew about me before I was created in the secret place of the womb!  ANYHOW back to the veil and pixie ears.  I am thankful my ears changed shape and are no longer Spock like.    I have also talked with someone who asked me to pray for their niece's baby who was born with a Caul ... to which I assured her that this was NOT a bad thing.  (However apparently what I was born with IS very rare ..  but then so is my blood type, and my enneagram type and also my Myers briggs type so I will take the rareness!!)

Okay onto the main reason why I wanted to write this post . LOL

Today in my quiet time I was taken to a few different places in Scripture - but I have just finished with 2 Corinthians 3:18.  This verse says:  2 Corinthians 3:18. New International Version

18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I wrote it out in my journal and then pondered it for a while.  Transformation is always my hearts desire as a believer and follower of Jesus.  Reading the story of how Moses "shone" after being up on the mountain with Jesus - has always intrigued me.  O LORD I want to shine too!

I have also lately been living in a posture of "receiving the gaze of LOVE (God)" in times of sitting and communing with Him.  (feel free to ask me more)

ANYHOW out of the time spent meditating on this verse, and reflecting ... came these words.

May they bless you in some way too as you also realize that the veil has come off - and we can see our mirror like reflections of the Almighty!!

Unveiled

Drawing near to you

    and nearer still

My heart cries out for more of YOU

    and as the veil is removed ~ I SEE YOU

I

See

YOU

Your glory brings me to my knees

The shine around you envelopes me

Your gaze ...

I am quieted by your gaze of love

Drawn in by it

And I feel the stirring within me

LOVE's gaze toward me

Your eyes are so full of love

I see it

I feel it

I am filled with it

    with YOU

The veil removed allows us to be face to face

The Creator with the created

The Almighty One with the child

And when I look at you

I see your reflection in me!

And I realize you are transforming me

    into your likeness

And I come undone ...

I experience this love like none other

the gaze that penetrates to the deepest place within me

and 

is

changing

ME

from the inside out

The veil is on the ground

    shed

    no longer needed

Because you speak to me now - face to face

    as to a friend

You are transforming me

And my heart stands in awe

That YOU O GOD, 

    love me so much!

The veil is removed

The gaze of your love envelopes me

And you are changing me to reflect your glory.

Be blessed friends,

J

Just one of those altar stone-placing days ...

This is a picture of part of the altar I built at Anola
 I know that I need to build one here as a testimony to what God has done and is doing
Somehow it just seemed easier to find the rocks in our acreage in Anola than here  
But it will happen

Today is one of those altar stone-placing days.  I hold it precious to my heart.  I woke up with a sense that something was stirring… 

Well to be honest, maybe it didn’t feel like stirring as much as I wrote in my journal - I just feel “meh” …

I began to listen/watch to a youtube on a gospel story where the woman said she knew that if she could just touch Jesus she would be healed. And my tears began to run down my cheeks.

And in that place that has become my place to meet God - He and I talked.  Well, He talked mostly.  And I wept. 

  

And in those minutes - likely a good part of an hour,  I experienced his love - He gave me the picture of me as a child being held tightly in his embrace - head upon his chest - HELD.

He spoke to me about healing - and areas of my life that He was going to continue to do His work in.  (Seriously I did not need to spell out anything - He knows my heart - my needs - areas that I long for healing in)

Areas of healing that are not just physical.  But He also affirmed again to me that while He doesn’t need me to tell him - his desire in me telling him, is that it brings me into the quiet and secret place with Him.  

Tears continued to roll.  He continued to speak. And then I knew that there was a very first step I needed to take.  I felt something coming.  I love that about my time with God - I hear Him but I also have a strong sense of things.  

And He called me stop and He told me to kneel before him.  I have to admit I was pondering in that minute if He actually meant for me to literally kneel or to take that instead as a heart position.  

And I have to smile thinking of this - God knew my thought at that moment and said “You can do that now Joy”  (I knew He meant yep, get down on those knees)

Which I did.

You have to know that this 64 year old does not kneel often - let’s face it, it is a hard position on old knees.  (I felt it was quite alright to get a pillow to kneel on for this occasion). 

And in those moments - I did what He had asked me to do - I spoke out loud and gave him my most precious possessions. 

One at a time.  You see He had said loud and clear - asked me - do you trust me Joy?  Do you trust me with your most precious possessions?   And I knew that even amidst any pain in the past, through any trouble, through all the joy, in my life, in my marriage, in our family - I knew that HE could be trusted with it all.  Even if there were some times in the past I asked Him if He was even there!

So there - in front of the big chair where HE and I often meet - 

I knelt - wept - talked - listened - and laid down my precious possession and then got up knowing that we had met again, and that the work that He needs to do in this 64 year old woman/wife/mom/granny/sister/friend/aunt will be His to do, and that it had begun anew today.  In that time.  His transformation in me - with me.  I knew that the work He has begun will not be complete till I see Him but in the meantime the sound of his voice calling me “Beloved Daughter” resonates and I can go from here knowing His love and His promise that He is at work in me!!

Oh friends - He so greatly desires you to walk in relationship with Him 

Falling more in love with Him first.

Seek Him - Sit with Him - Desire Him

May you experience that today - 

And if He calls you to kneel before him …

Know that it is okay to use a cushion.

With love,

J

PS:  

Back in January I spoke at our old church - and tomorrow I speak at our home church.

I am using the same sermon with some changes - but the story is the same powerful story.

I believe God continues to use that story for ME and love how HIS Word never changes.

Upon finishing my time with the LORD, this song came to mind - so I listened to it.

It is one that blesses me so much - and I hope it blesses you as well!!  

Journal entry on July 27th

So many thoughts

Tumbling, stuck, overflowing

Some held tightly to my heart

Some written in black ink on lined pages

While others flow freely if there happens to be an ear around to hear

So many masks

And perhaps no one even knows

That the mask IS a mask

And under it is a tender heart

That has been washed with tears and put out to dry

So many moments

Past, Present and future

The Good, the bad and the ugly

Its no wonder one wears a mask

Somehow it just seems safer that way.

So many opportunities

Some taken

Many missed

And some waiting to be grasped

By hands that are upturned, opened and and yet not sure if they really want more.

So many people

All around but busy within their own thoughts

Behind their own masks

Mulling over their own moments 

And letting opportunities slip through their fingers

Like grains of sand in the hour glass

Never to be touched again

Only to be turned over to mark the next passage of time

So many thought

Some held close to the heart

Not wanting a single thought to be wasted

Or thrown like pearls to the swine.

And many more being captured by the ink that flows from the pen

And one day, may be read by a different generation

In a different time

And place

And it will only make sense to the writer

Unless the reader knows her well enough to read between the lines.

Written by Joy