Walking with His Letters of Love and Grace

Wednesday's Gift of Scripture
#134

Romans 5

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2through whom we have gained access by faith
into this grace in which we now stand.
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his love into our hearts
by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

God teaches us through nature...

I see so much in nature that is teaching me...
I want to be like Mary, at my Lord's feet following Him into his stories...

...telling the Martha in me to set my priorities ...
...and choose 'the better part.'

I often think of the day this robin (that nested in one of our trees) endured 3 thunder storms
as she protected her precious eggs.
You can see the nest in the bottom right corner.

...Life is stronger than Death...
another lesson, another love letter from God.
Humbly Grateful
~All is Gift ...... All is Blessing

I always knew, that God blesses us... but how aware of the steady flow of these blessings was I? As I count them ~ my awareness rises and they 'count' more than I ever could guess.
Thank you, Ann Voskamp at Holy Experience, for raising the sails!
My ship has left the harbor!
Ps. Ann, ever since your post on "Power Source," (one of the first of yours we read as newcomers to blogland) Chris and I have kept your farm in our prayers...Keeping you in prayer now with the aphids.

One Thousand Gifts *126 - 133*

At Sunday Service our pastor continued his series

"Inside Out" part 9 - Deciding What is Most Important"
This scripture (Matt 6:21) was discussed:
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

...When thinking of my dearest treasures...

126. My walk in God's presence...
127. Jesus leading me on.

128. Many others are walking along side of me...family ~ friends ~ this body of Christ.

129. My husband, Chris, so close, we are one as we walk.

130. Children, now adults, they are friends and fellow travelers.

131. My sister ~ closer every step of this walk together. I am so grateful she is in my life.


132. My father, almost 85, at his kitchen window with day's first prayer, and on his knees at bedside before sleep. He walked with me for my first steps ~ and continues along side me in this journey.


133. Brothers and families ... walking together.

We, with God in us, are treasure to one another.
trésor ~ tesoro ~ treasure

~All is Gift ...... All is Blessing

A prayer today for sisters

Wednesday's Gift: Walking with Him to the Well "How I Eat This Book"

"Give us this day Our Daily Bread"Sometimes when we reach for something to eat, what our body really needs is water.
---I'll pick up snack---
...a mini-devotional here, a psalm or proverb there, turn the calendar page to a new inspirational...

When my children were younger,
my most cherished devotional time came early in the morning .
Somehow, with little sleep, but body younger, I rose early to pray, read...ponder...
watch sunrises with God.
My eyes tear as I write this, I miss those days deeply.
* * *
I teach middle school.
Children stretching and growing in every way possible.
About seven years ago, I went from a part time to a full time teaching day.
...leaving the house at 7:00 am ... not back until 4 or 5:00... leaves little personal time.

Over time, I have decided to use my planning period (luckily first in the day) to prepare my lessons ~ heart and soul first ~ then subject area.
A table pulled close to my desk...Set with cozy comforts of home...

Coffee cup, a simple wooden angel, photos of loved ones... perpetual calendar with scripture... a copy of "Our Daily Bread" a pocket size New Testament.
(I bring these home for the summer :o)
I take what I can from this gift of scheduled time.
I wish for no interruptions, but sometimes they come...

I need this heart & soul-prep time at school.
It is a sip from the well. A little snack.

I thirst for more...Hunger for more.
...a long drink from the well for this parched soul...
who misses awakening with Him at dawn.

Perhaps He is now calling me at sunset.

~To Dine with An Old Friend~

~Filled with coffee stains, notes and prayers to read~
~Special cards & very old letters of the special people in my life~
some passed on
a sister ~ close then / best friend now~Old songs from a church that closed, but I still "sing" them~

Gift from God ... gifted to me by my husband over 30 yrs. ago.

~All is Gift ...... All is Blessing
Ann Voskamp ~ What a Blessing!

One Thousand Gifts *51-55

Gifts 51 - 55
Every morning, after my homeroom students leave, I spend a few minutes preparing my heart for the day. I read a passage or two and I turn the page of my desk calendar to take in the little devotional quote.
Thursday was such a busy day at school, I was never able to read the quote for June 18.
That evening, while relaxing after work, I visited a fellow blog writer, Cathy, from Tales of the TCKK Family.
She posted about her favorite praise songs. It started me thinking of my fav's. I even Googled song titles so that I could really remember as many as possible. One of the websites I found had 6 special songs and an all time favorite of mine: All Things Bright and Beautiful. I shared my favorite title in Cathy's comments.
Here is Hayley Westenra singing it:


Today, Friday, I had another very full day... proctoring finals, grading more papers, posting grades... and because it was fairly cool in my second floor classroom...I took advantage and cleaned until 5pm. I locked up, and was about to grab all my bags... when I saw my daily calendar.
I went over and reread June 17 and flipped to 18. Tears and laughter spontaneously flowed ~ as it was a verse to All Things Bright and Beautiful!
God, you are so cute! That was just cute and sweet.
I am Humbled by your personalized greeting today!

52. Making it to Macy's and back this afternoon during my lunch to buy a special birthday gift that was on sale (big time) and I got the last one available!
53. A tender walk with my husband, Chris, tonight.
54. My second try for a homemade chocolate cake (for a Father's Day celebration tomorrow) actually came out ok!

55. It's almost 1am and I'm still awake, with work to do... but I am so grateful that I don't have to rush out first thing in the morning!
I can have my second cup in my jammies
~All is Gift ...... All is Blessing ~

Maria