Change the title?

I want to sort of change the title to the poem below. Walkin' in the Spirit doesn't quite fit because it's not necessarily true that by walking in the Spirit we will have a good-everything-fall-into-place day.  So many times walking in the Spirit, or attempting to, means lots of opposition and problems and heartache, down here.
The words were more about a good day, when God granted a restful day, full of peace and content, like a gift. Yeah, of course we wish every day was like that. But it just can't be that way it seems, this side of heaven.
But maybe our days can have more tastes of that within them. Maybe there is more peace and content to be experienced in all the mundane and all the to-do's and all the obstacles and problems. I think so. Only by abiding in him can I find that restful place in my soul, no matter what is going on. It seems tricky sometimes as my feelings pull at me, as do my moods and certain circumstances and even people. But I so long to keep my eyes on Him and seek him in all things.
That is my prayer always, that He alone would be my strength and stay.
I have to set time aside to spend with him and just ponder him, enjoy him (and tarry there, see hymn below). And from there I can go and face what I need to. It's not an easy road, we shouldn't fool ourselves. But we can have strength and joy in measure, like it says in the hymns. The old hymns are so good for meditating on. They have so much wisdom.... Their uplifting songwords can help us fly to a more secure place and remind us who that place is.
Just reading them like poems can be encouraging...
 Here's a good one about all this-

IN THE GARDEN
I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear,
Falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.

And he walks with me
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am his own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

I'd stay in the garden with Him,
Tho' the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go;
Thro' the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

``````````````
So I'm unofficially changing the title from Walkin' in the Spirit to - A Gift of a Day

Walkin' in the Spirit

The night doesn't last forever. Trials come and go. Though they pile up, the light does break through.
There is so much grace... In the darkness it can't always be sensed.

God delivers. We have been redeemed. Truly welcomed through his great sacrifice.
When it hurts, we can so easily forget. When we sleep, we get blinded.
   We need him.

We can walk in the Spirit. We can trust amidst all the unknowns. We can leave it uncertain, it's alright. We can trust the hand that holds. We can move and let him lead.
   We can let go

Sometimes it all falls into place. The light breaks powerfully through.
Is it just a taste?
Will it last forever?
Someday it will

Soul fishers

(Some things I have been pondering, mostly for myself! I work a lot of things out through writing.
I realize there are different callings and giftings for each of God's children and how we participate in winning souls may be different. But we are all called into this through whatever means we have, by God's grace.)

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Those of us who are sons ( which is sons and daughters) of God are and must be soul fishers. Deep down we feel that desire and don't want to be distracted from this.
We see people and we love them. We want to tell them how God loves them and died for them. But we also want to show them this by our love, Christ's love in our hearts.
Life can get crazy and we can get so easily distracted from this with "practical" stuff that we need to do. I am guilty of this...

We forget to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. There seems to be not enough time. And sadly we are too busy trying to make ourselves feel better from the voids we feel, not realizing our very food is to win souls for God's eternal kingdom or help others in doing so. Jesus said “my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work" (John 4: 33)
We forget that the kingdom of this earth is temporary. We live as though it is everything. We can't say we are loving if we are not winning people into eternal life. This goes beyond just our immediate families.
Maybe we are spinning our wheels because we work too hard on being comfortable and care free... values of the kingdom of this world (not the kingdom of heaven).

We may be disillusioned with church as we know it culturally. But lets not equate Christ's love and body with the cultural manifestations of " church". We can invite lost people to church so they can hear the message, if we feel so led, but it is up to us to love the lost into the kingdom, regardless of the church's lacks or gaping holes.

If we know and love Christ and have a few people with us at least, we have all it takes to win souls and be a church, we don't need any "professionals" for this. Jesus and the disciples were unlearned men in the eyes of the culture but they had a straight connection with their Father and creator and they are the examples we must follow. We have the same access! Jesus made a way!
Jesus and his disciples didn't seek any money for themselves or reward from men for this. They didn't sell any books and try to make a profit. They didn't ask for tithes or membership fees. Their motivation was not to earn a living by doing so, they trusted God for that ( I'm not saying that I'm against selling books, etc. I'm just saying that I think it's about motivation. Do we value people more than material comforts). Jesus layed down his very life, even completely at the very end when the time had come... We must ask God for wisdom and strength in laying down our lives for others. The desire is there in all of God's sons/ daughtes, it's just in conflict with our sinful nature which in Scripture is also called our earthly nature. Again, a battle between the earthly and the heavently...

Lets not forget also the women who followed and stayed with Jesus, one of which was the first to see him when he rose from the dead... Women were equally valuable and gifted in Jesus' eyes and therefore also in God's eyes! (but that's a whole 'nother post!).

Maybe I'm called to preach through my writing. It seems weird saying that as it is not something I would chose... I feel funny doing it . But I feel this calling, and want to make more time for it! Pray for me. Pray for God's will to be done in me so I can win more souls for his beautiful ETERNAL kingdom and help others to so as well. Souls won are souls fulfilled, loved and loving! It is never about competing to see how many people one has "saved'!!

PS- I also recently learned from a  truth-preacher that a preacher is not a perfect person, just someone who proclaims truth with a sincere heart of faith and love. It is a gift...
Can women be preachers too? Why not?!
I have always been afraid of being a "professional" Christian. That is why I dropped out of Bible college. But i have always felt this calling in my life to live and work mainly for the Kingdom of God. I pray any obstacles are removed so I can be more fruitful. Jesus is certainly worth it!



Your kingdom come, your will be done ...

Laundry beast

 

 Sometimes the laundry piles up from here to the moon... and I need to be satisfied with just chipping away at it, once I can get out from under it. That's not really me in the picture, but metaphorically it definitely is.
It's a mountain that can only be climbed a little at a time.
The good thing about having to go to the laundry mat is that I can do many loads at one time. But I don't like to do more than three, plus it feels like I'm hogging the laundry mat if I do more than that!
Today, it's definitely laundry day- no escaping it. The beast has taken over. Why oh why do I put it off so....? It's always last on my priority list.
I've also noticed I go shopping more because it seems like there's no clothes (because they're all dirty!) Geez. Truth is, I don't like going to the laundry mat. I do covet having my own washer and dryer again... But I'm not sure I was any better when I did...  My husband has been doing his own laundry for quite some time. I'm really not the best house-wife, truth be told. Health problems have been part of the issue; having limited time where I was well enough to do things. But still, I always think there's better things to do with my time, until my daughter has no clean underwear.

I prefer to sit here and write about laundry than go and actually do it. Well, I rather write than do a great many things....

God give me the grace to fight this beast and WIN!
Can I accept that house work never ceases? (I always think it will magically cease one day, and often act as though it has, when all evidence is quite to the contrary) 


Okay, putting on my mama-cape, here I go!
Well, after breakfast! Can't do laundry without any protein!

Thanksgiving

Hope you had a good day.

Our daughter learned this poem, which I got from a friend, and said it as our prayer for the meal. She also dressed up as a little pilgrim : ) We made this cool turkey craft you can see on pic. We had fun creating the feathers. We got the idea at http://familyfun.go.com    

Blessings, Manuela

"Give thanks to God for God is good.
Give thanks to God for all Creation.
Give thanks to God for family and friends.
Give thanks to God for food to share.
Give thanks to God for sending Jesus.
God's love lasts Forever."

AMEN

Tribute

Wow, I can't believe I wrote the last post a month ago. How time flies.
I was sick for two whole weeks between then and now, and honestly I didn't know if I would ever get better, despite what the last post said...( I have been better for several days now, PRAISE GOD) I am AMAZED at how sickness can blurr perspective, how it does mine at times. But at the same time I'm seeing, once again, how grace from our friends can get us through. I know an amazing group of ladies through an online support group who pick me up, everytime. And so I see God's deliverance and overcoming come also through those who earnestly pray for us. These wonderful ladies have struggled with chronic illness ( as I have) and some have a few decades over me and their love astounds me, because they pray passionately and with love. So this is just a short tribute to them.
I tell some of them they are my "slightly" older sisters, not that age is that important...But years (and years of suffering) can teach many things. So I honor them for the lovely giving spirit they have. We have never met face to face, but I feel we know each other and are cut from the same cloth. What a blessing!

EXCITED

I'm excited- Excited that with God I can overcome anything, ANYTHING! The cheer I have comes from him.
I take my spoon (and ears and eyes and all of it) and feed on him, slowly, and he fills me and satisfies me, yes he does ( I need my daily bread). Nothing else can.
All props are removed so I can feast on the source of real life. Yes, I am excited! Who knew...!

"... be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" John 16:33