Skip to main content

Winter Warmth

Here we are already in the very middle of the first month of the year 2012.  I left last year with peace only to be ushered into unusual heat.  All around, it looks like winter.  Trees stand bare, the grass is patchy brown, and all the roses are pruned to thorny stems.  Yet, the air is warm and at times downright hot.  Only the night time brings a faint reminder of our season with colder winds.  Yep, even nature seems so "topsy turvey".  

Throughout these days of sorting out, peace still resides in my heart.  I have once again realized that there will always be things, circumstances, situations, that will challenge me for that peace.  Yes, there are chronic illnesses and conditions, moods and attitudes that often emerge in our lives.  I cannot fix them or make them go away.  I cannot always resolve the situation or the time.  I am recognizing my finiteness.  I am realizing my limits.  I have come to grips with my ability versus God's ability. . .

I had a great conversation with my son the other day, who made a profound statement regarding my thoughts without even realizing it.  He enjoys his work as a behavioral health specialist and has recognized that there comes a point when an individual who is emotionally unable to think or respond clearly must trust the ones who are--i.e. the staff who are there to keep them safe and bear their burden.  The same holds true for me, I must trust the One who gave me life, who brought me new life through Jesus Christ, and who will be faithful to see me through this life with any unforeseen, unplanned event or outcome. Wow, that is awesome to realize the Resource available for me!

It's like looking out my kitchen window last evening.  The sky was gray and cloudy, but the evening sun shone beautifully on the mountain peak.  It seemed to once again signify hope amidst a darkened world.  So, although I did recoil when hit with so much at the start of this year, I found the winter warmth of God's abiding peace and grace. . .  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Easter Production

Driving down the freeway, the large billboard caught my eye.  "Join us for our Easter Production,"  it beckoned with splashy brown and orange colors.  It made me think, yes, that's what the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been reduced to. . . a man made production.  Even this very day we celebrate, the headlines are all about the celebrities that attract the biggest Easter crowd.  E.G. "Tim Tebow draws thousands to Texas Easter service."  Once again, I had to think . . . who is Easter really about?  What happened to "Jesus draws a crowd?" I have grown tired of celebrity worship.  Yet, it seems in America that is what most Christians are interested in. We flock to mega churches, we drink in videos and studies all geared to keep us simple minded and complacent.  No longer is theology a priority to be taught.  No, it's better to read through the Bible in a year by reading only 5 minutes a day.  Never mind, contemplating or discuss...
Post a Comment
Read more

Close Encounters of the Spiritual Kind

   " Put yourself in the path that God will work." (Pastor Martin Smith, 1/2024)  On a crisp, clear Saturday morning, I started up the hill with Gypsy Rose eagerly leading the way.  I was more caught up in the fresh air feeling that was invigorating, than paying attention to the few cars that passed us by.  But there up ahead, a small red truck had slowed to the curb to flag me down.  "Could I help him find his son's house?" He was an older gentleman with his phone in hand.  He couldn't reach his son because the calls only went to voicemail, and he didn't have his address, only that it was somewhere here in Rancho.  I googled his son for him, but unfortunately, it only brought up an older address which was the current address now for this man.  There was no updated address for Rancho Cucamonga.  I told him the bad news, but he was so very gracious.  He did everything to show me that he was for real, pulling out  his driver lice...
Post a Comment
Read more

Awe

  The thunder resounded with a loud clap! Certainly, it came as an afternoon surprise.  The expected rain seemed less than what was forecasted, but with the thunder came a bucket of heavy raindrops splashing against my kitchen window.  I wanted to take it all in, the fresh aroma of falling rain and the beauty of water drops hitting the leaves of my nasturtium and petunia hanging baskets.  Unfortunately, the rain cloud quickly fled, running away into the eastern sky.  But then the sun made its way onto the scene, and I was drawn to a thick band of rainbow colors shining up at me.  The western sky was magnificently orange, completely bound up tight with that solo color scheme.  I went outside to catch it all before it would disappear.  Creation again was causing me to pause in awe and wonder. . . Awe is that reverential wonder, that even includes fear and respect.  It is only a 3 letter word, but it takes bigger and grander words to define it....
Post a Comment
Read more