Summertime!

Time to read, relax, refresh.

A stack of new books waiting to be cracked open and savored.

Music drifts out of earbuds snug.

Ponder, consider, breathe.

Walks in the park with my sister-friend.

Drawings, novels, earrings, cookies, Lego flowers, clay figures.

Creative juices flowing all around.

Glimpses of the future shining through the fog.

Sandy toes, sunburn on my nose.

Flip flops, beach towels, soggy suits.

Bees buzzing in the fence hugging blossoms.

Sun bringing life and light. 

Summertime and the livin' is easy.

Relax

Source: vintagerosegarden.tumblr.com via Christa on Pinterest

What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, 

to not be so preoccupied with getting,

 so you can respond to God's giving.

Steep your life in God-reality, 

God-initiative, God-provisions. 

Don't worry about missing out. 

You'll find all your everyday 

human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention 

to what God is doing right now, 

and don't get worked up 

about what may or may not happen tomorrow. 

God will help you deal with whatever 

hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:31, 33-34

Always There

Look to the Lord

and His strength;

seek His face always.

Psalm 105:4

•

As I look around,

ahead,

back,

it can all just crash over me.

I feel a little lost 

in the whirlwind.

I can't keep up. 

I need peace.

I want clarity.

I've been so serious,

uptight.

I want to lighten up,

relax,

enjoy.

Even as I speak 

what is on my heart,

You respond.

•

What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, 

to not be so preoccupied with getting,

 so you can respond to God's giving.

Steep your life in God-reality, 

God-initiative, God-provisions. 

Don't worry about missing out. 

You'll find all your everyday 

human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention 

to what God is doing right now, 

and don't get worked up 

about what may or may not happen tomorrow. 

God will help you deal with whatever 

hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:31, 33-34

Thank You, Father!

Once again You show me 

that You are Sovereign — 

that You go before me,

that you know what is in my heart

even before I do.

Thank You Jesus 

for being my 

Strength and my Shield,

my Rock!

My Vital Need

You have said, Seek My face 

[inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. 

My heart says to You, 

Your face (Your presence), Lord, 

will I seek, inquire for, and require 

[of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].

Psalm 27:8 

Your Presence is my vital need.

How quickly I forget

and get distracted

or start thinking some

thing

is my vital need.

Inquire for --

ask.

Require --

need.

My heart knows

Who it needs. 

My heart cries out to You.

My mind takes a while to catch up.

[What, what would have become of me] 

had I not believed that I would see 

the Lord's goodness in the land of the living!

Wait and hope for and 

expect the Lord; 

be brave and of good courage 

and let your heart be stout and enduring. 

Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Psalm 27:13-14

He is here.

Because He is here

and because I can expect Him

I can be brave

and courageous

my heart can be strong

and I can endure.

I will wait.

I will hope.

I will expect.

I will inquire.

I will require.

For He is my Vital Need.

Choosing Joy

Always be joyful. 

Never stop praying. 

Be thankful in all circumstances,

 for this is God’s will for you 

who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Always joy?

Always pray?

Thankful always?

How is that possible?

Christ in me.

Pure and simple.

He alone is adequate

to face every situation. 

He is alive in me. 

My joy comes when I remember that.

As I rely on Him

and seek to be available to Him

I am talking to Him more.

Praying more.

He is enough.

That's where the thankfulness comes from.

Thankful that He is able.

I don't have to be.

Lord, please help me walk in this truth,

because this is where 

joy, prayer and thanksgiving come from - 

faith in You.

•

"God is limited only by the measure of our 

availability to all that He makes available

to us for in Him dwells 

all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 

and you are complete in Him

(Colossians 2:9-10)."

-- The Indwelling Life of Christ

by Major W. Ian Thomas

Let Be and Be Still

Let be and be still, 

and know (recognize and understand)

 that I am God.

 I will be exalted among the nations! 

I will be exalted in the earth!

The Lord of hosts is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our Refuge

 (our High Tower and Stronghold). 

Selah 

[pause, and calmly think of that]!

Psalm 46:10-11

This is what the Sovereign LORD, 

the Holy One of Israel, says: 

“Only in returning to me 

and resting in me will you be saved. 

In quietness and confidence is your strength. 

But you would have none of it.

Isaiah 30:15

Shhhh, be still.

I know that it is hard. 

I know you don't understand. 

Quiet now.

Remember what I have told you.

I have not left you on your own.

I am right here with you.

I will never leave you.

Come to Me.

Tell Me what is on your heart.

Lay your burden down at My feet. 

I hear you when you call to Me.

I am at work. 

Remember to thank Me.

Your thanks shows Me that you trust Me.

Thanksgiving keeps your focus on Me,

on what I am doing,

what I am going to do.

I hold your future.

I know the plans I have for you.

You only need to be still

and know

that I am God. 

Moving out of the shadows.

So letting your sinful nature 

control your mind

leads to death.

But letting the Spirit

control your mind 

leads to life and peace.

Romans 8:6

I can get so bogged down in my thoughts.

I can see only my inadequacies,

how unable I am.

I start comparing myself to others,

believing that if I try harder,

I can be like them.

•

"Instead of letting difficulties draw you into worrying, 

(or fretting or comparing or feeling inadequate)*

try to view them as setting the scene

for My glorious intervention. 

Keep your eyes and your mind open 

to all that I am doing in your life."

-- from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

*my addition

•

Listening to my sinful nature,

the thoughts that come that are not from You,

drags me down, holds me under,

leads to death.

Your voice is Truth.

Your voice is Light.

Your voice is Life and Peace.

You are my strength.

You are all I need.

It is not about me and what I cannot do.

It is all about You and what You can do.

•

Now all glory to God, 

Who is able, through His mighty power

at work within us,

to accomplish infinitely more 

than we might ask or think.

Ephesians 3:20