a child of god
this is the way, run in it
![]() I have to think that God must be so amused at me. Here He and I are, having come home from an amazing week in Greece with some of His people, and I'm wondering what to do now. I'm struggling with feeling down and out because of hurting my knee and being marooned - not easy to walk far, can't drive for a while - and this time is actually not a difficulty but an opportunity. To rest, to spend time at home, with God and with Ian, to recoup, refuel. And I have to think that God must be amused at me as I struggle to surrender to this time. A friend of mine once prayed for me that I would always have a Learner plate on with God - always be willing to learn from Him and grow. The verse I associate with that prayer is in Isaiah, chapter 50, verses 4-5. "The LORD God has given me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple. The LORD God has opened my ear; and I was not disobedient, nor did I turn back." So I say, Yes, Lord! I will listen, I will obey, I will enjoy this time with you and I'm looking and waiting to see what You want to teach me through it. May I be quick to obey, quick to hear, quick to respond to You with all that I am, no matter my physical state. Please Lord, move in my heart and remove the frustration, the responses that prevent me from enjoying this time with you. Consecrate my heart again to You, Lord. I love You and I love this life You live with me. Let's laugh together, today, and tomorrow.
0 Comments
![]() I asked God for something this summer. Well, I've asked Him for more than one thing, but a special request was could I please see my roses bloom before I went to Samos, Greece, in mid June, with Richmond Holidays. The significance lies in the timing. June is rose month. That is their first and best blooming month, although some roses bloom repeatedly throughout the summer, and some have a second flush in August, usually, others really only bloom once. And my jaunt with Richmond is from the 14th - 21st, right smack in the middle of rose season, or the beginning if they are late. I love my roses. I'm all about English roses. So I asked God for that. And guess what?! They are in full, glorious bloom this past week and a bit, and I have loved every minute of it. Thank you, God! I have 12 rose bushes at home, and two out at the allotment. Most are from David Austin Roses as his have the most amazing scents. My rose bushes for the most part have a literary theme (no surprise there!) with Jude the Obscure (named after a Thomas Hardy novel) - here's a pic of him - and Tess of the d'Urbervilles (again, Thomas Hardy character) - here's a pic of her, a part bush part climbing rose ![]() and I am hoping to acquire a Desdemona bush this summer - named after the character in Shakespeare's Play Othello. There is something so extraordinarily gorgeous about roses. Their design is so intricate, so obviously God created, and they perfume the air and grace any room they are in. My husband, Ian, doesn't care for roses because he says they are boring when they are not in bloom. Ha! I just love waiting for the rose season, and I count myself happy when I have smelled my first Jude the Obscure rose. For all his "I don't like roses" stance, Ian bought me a rose for our 5th wedding anniversary. Here it is this year, A Shropshire Lad, pictured above. Thank you, Lord, for the early blooming season this year - thank You for Ian's love and for Your's too. I love clarity. I like to see - to see what is going on and what God is doing. It is often a morning prayer that I pray - Lord, please give me clarity today, help me to have clarity of mind and clarity of spirit today, to see what You see, and to hear what You are saying about it. And then to join you in it. So yes, I pray that again today, to You, Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen.
A pastor named Paul Miller once said to a group of us, the enemy hates you to see. Because once something is seen, it can't be unseen, and then you have to do something about it - take it to God. The enemy would prefer that we remain blind and trapped in sin and sin patterns. So bring your light, Jesus - shine it in our hearts and in our lives! May the eyes of our hearts be clear, clean conduits for You to shine through. Purify our hearts today, make us clean, washed in Your precious blood shed for the sake of the world. May Your word shine its light in our minds and remind us what it means to be Your children, and may Your word make clear the direction our feet should go in. May Your Spirit of life and peace and freedom fill us to overflowing today so that when people meet us they meet You - and so we can dance with You today, love You back. Thank You for today, Lord. Thank You for You. |
Franci Ballwatching and working for the kingdom of God in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham - UK Archives
January 2019
Categories |