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

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

Can we be this kind of friend?

And do we need friends like this? ... I don't find myself agnostic at this moment but in my lowest points I have surely felt the ways described in the post below. I think most of us have at one point or other, if we are honest. Are we afraid to admit it because we feel that not even God can tolerate our deep doubts?
And when we have been there, have we found disapproval and rejection from others, ...or have we dished that out? 

Daily Meditation for Thursday 25th of August 2011 by Dale and Juanita Ryan

A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
Job 6:14

At some point during the recovery process we re-examine our most fundamental beliefs. A long process of sorting, examining and questioning takes place. And, in that process, our relationship with God is challenged. It is possible that our relationship with God will deepen and strengthen in the process. But it is also possible that we will find ourselves pulling away from God. We may find ourselves angry with God, or afraid of God, or unable to believe in God at all. This can be a frightening experience. It can feel like the very foundations of life are being shaken.

In times like this, we need many things. But at the top of the list is our need for friends who will accept us even if we turn away from God. We need friends who will not minimize our struggle or discount our feelings. We need people who will not be shocked when we are full of rage at God. We need friends who are able to hear the deep pain behind our words and who know that this, too, is part of our healing. We need people who can see beyond the immediate pain to the healing that can come.
Even when we forsake the fear of God, we need friends who understand, who are committed to us for the long haul, and who plead with God on our behalf.
Sometimes I feel agnostic, Lord,
I just don't know anymore.
Sometimes I want nothing to do with you.
Where were you when I needed you the most?
Sometimes I despair, Lord.
Sometimes I can't seem to hope.
I need friends who will not abandon me, Lord.
I need friends who will be patient and grace-full with my anger and fear.
I need friends who will stay with me as we wait for you to show yourself once again.
I need friends, Lord, who will give me courage to hope again in you.
Send help, Lord.
Amen.

Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan http://www.nacronline.com/nacr-daily-meditation