Come away with ME for a while

JESUS Calling

Come away with Me for a while.

 The world, with its nonstop demands, can be put on hold.

 Most people put Me on hold, 

rationalizing that someday they will find time to focus on Me.

 But the longer people push Me into the background of their lives, 

the harder it is for them to find Me.

 Put your time with Me first.

 You live among people who glorify busyness; 

they have made time a tyrant that controls their lives.

 Even those who know Me as Savior 

tend to march to the tempo of the world.

 They have bought into the illusion that more is always better: 

more meetings, more programs, more activity.

I have called you to follow Me on a solitary path, 

making time alone with Me your highest priority and deepest Joy.

 It is a pathway largely unappreciated and often despised.

 However, 

you have chosen the better thing, 

which will never be taken away from you.

 Moreover, as you walk close to Me, 

I can bless others through you.

 When you choose to come away with Me, 

you will be blessed with My Love, 

My Peace, 

and My Presence.

taken from Jesus Calling and Jesus Calling for Kids 

July 17 +: )

Ash Wednesday

An Ash Wednesday prayer

Henri J. M. Nouwen

How often have I lived through these weeks without paying much attention to penance, fasting, and prayer? How often have I missed the spiritual fruits of the season without even being aware of it? But how can I ever really celebrate Easter without observing Lent? How can I rejoice fully in your Resurrection when I have avoided participating in your death?

Yes, Lord, I have to die--with you, through you, and in you--and thus become ready to recognize you when you appear to me in your Resurrection. There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed and anger, impatience and stinginess.... I see clearly now how little I have died with you, really gone your way and been faithful to it. O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen. (A Cry for Mercy: Prayers from the Genesee, Orbis)

Nouwen (1932--96) was a Dutch priest, writer, lecturer, spiritual guide, and leader at the L'Arche Daybreak Community for people with mental and physical disabilities.

We will never forget this day

A tribute to 9.11.2001

Sharing with you a beautiful poem written by Diana

click Nana Diana's blog

Stay calm and head to the beach...

~with Michelle, Nathan, and Megan~

De-clutter your mind of plans,

schedules,

and "to do" lists.

Instead,

 look out upon the waves,

wiggle your toes in the sand,

absorb the sights, smells, and sounds,

and enjoy the moment for what it is-

not what it means,

not what lies ahead,

not how you arrived here.

There will be another time for that.

For now,

just be present with Him.

From Devotions for the Beach

by Miriam Drennan

Stepping Into The New Year

It's Jan 5th and I haven't thought about resolutions for this new year. What should I do different? What should I add to my life? What should I discard?

My mind races to the usual.... get back to exercising, lose weight, plan meals, eat healthy, clean the closets, unclutter, blah blah blah.

Grow, learn, embrace, have faith. Inward changes versus outward changes.

Have faith.

These thoughts remind me of this morning's reading in "Jesus Calling". I pick up my book again and read Jesus words one more time...

"Come to Me with an open mind and heart, invite me to plant My desires within you. I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach."

Do something that is beyond my reach? I don't know if I like that. So He continues...

"You know that in yourself you cannot achieve such a goal."

Very true Jesus.

"Thus begins your journey of profound reliance on Me. It is a faithwalk, taken one step at a time, leaning on Me as much as you need."

That's it. My new years resolutions...

~Listen~Have Faith~Trust God~ 

I can faithwalk. I can take one step at a time, leaning on Him. I flip back the pages to the January 1st reading and I listen and I have faith and I trust as Jesus speaks...

"Come to Me with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed.

A close walk with Me is a life of continued newness.

Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year.

Instead, seek My Face with an open mind,

knowing that your journey with Me involves being

transformed by the renewing of your mind.

As you focus your thoughts on Me,

be aware that I am fully attentive to you.

I see you with a steady eye because My attention span is infinite.

I know and understand you completely;

My thoughts embrace you in everlasting Love.

I also know the plans I have for you:

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Give yourself fully to this adventure of increasing attentiveness

to My Presence."

I think I know it's going to be a good year! +: )

In one month...

we had a wang dang doodle of a party

a new grandbaby born

celebrated thanksgiving

spent 3 weeks at Michelle's

got through her surgery

finished christmas shopping (thanks to online shopping)

celebrated birthdays

and decorated for a very important birthday...

and I haven't blogged about any of it. Downloading pictures, cropping them, getting them on blogland, writing, it all takes time. I will have to backtrack because this is my journal and I need to document it all, eventually I will get it done. But not today, today I am wrapping gifts and getting laundry done. Tomorrow I have grandkids coming over and we will bake.

Joy and laughter mixed with sorrow and pain.

It is what life is made of.

Amidst sorrow and pain there is joy and laughter.

"God didn't promise days without pain,

laughter without sorrow,

sun without rain,

but He did promise strength for the day,

comfort for the tears,

and light for the way."

anonymous



It takes loads of faith to endure the sorrow and pain...

To watch my daughter fight cancer. To see her endure months and months of chemo; the pain through the mastectomy surgery and then the reconstructive surgery; and the sorrow to not be able to do for her kids the way she wants to, the way she is used to.  It takes loads of faith.

But through it all there is joy and laughter sprinkled in between...

Michelle's house is a happy house, because that's what she is made of.

She is so close to being done with her year of treatment, but it's not over. There are a dozen nodules showing in her lungs, so there are more dr appts, more mri's, more cat scans, more blood work, more pain, more sorrow. So again we lean on God, we lean on our faith and we hope. Hope and pray.

2011 has been a year of joy and laughter and sorrow and pain.

For me, when the fear starts creeping in I repeat...

Let your faith be stronger than your fears.

Let your faith be stronger than your fears.

Let your faith be stronger than your fears.

Sharing Faith At School

Protecting what we have

Reclaiming what we've lost

Shaping how we become

These are notebooks and folders being sold at Walmart stores. It is encouraging to see the country's largest retailer stocking school supplies with openly religious messages. It is encouraging to see christian messages being promoted.

As we see Christianity removed from our schools, isn't it teaching children that christian values and faith are something to hide and be embarrased about?

Many times teachers have the mistaken impression that anything religious is not allowed in school, and they make on-the-spot decisions that religious items need to go. They are wrong.

Some school boards have adopted official policies that inhibit student-initiated religious expression. But these policies also are inconsistent with what the relevant laws actually say.

Such messages are perfectly legal and they conform with court rulings that give wide latitude to students who want to express religious views in public schools.

Given the precedents established by court decisions, parents who stand up for the religious rights of their children to voluntarily express their beliefs in a way that doesn't disrupt instruction will usually win, if they have informed legal counsel.

This is information provided by Attorney David Cortman of the Alliance Defense Fund. View an interview with him by clicking here.

He advises students to first obey school authority if they are told to keep religious messages out of sight, but then parents ought to step in. The ADF provides a "Students Rights Handbook" here

Isn't it time to bring God back into our schools?

"God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son" John 3:16

This message is illegal in 53 countries.

Restricted nations: 40

Hostile areas: 13

Jesus Calling

Jesus Calling- Devotional Book by Sarah Young

I received this book from my sister (in-law) Linda when she invited me to her bible study group. Both her invitation and the book came at the most appropriate time for me...about a week before Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I wasn't able to attend each week's study but attended when I was in town.

Each morning I read the day's devotion and it is always right on.

Thank you Jesus for always looking out for me and providing me exactly what I need when I need it. And thank you Linda for being His messenger.

So after our girl's weekend, each of us has a copy and I hope you are all reading it each morning. Jesus' words fit every single morning no matter what we are going through. Just like this morning. Here is what Jesus said to me:

"Rest With Me A While. You have journeyed up a steep, rugged path in recent days. The way ahead is shrouded in uncertainty. Look neither behind you nor before you. Instead, focus your attention on Me, your constant Companion. Trust that I will equip you fully for whatever awaits you on your journey.

I designed time to be a protection for you. You couldn't bear to see all your life at once. Though I am unlimited by time, it is in the present moment that I meet you. Refresh yourself in My company, breathing deep draughts of My Presence. The highest level of trust is to enjoy Me moment by moment. I am with you, watching over you wherever you go. Psalm 143:8; Genesis 28:15

Psalm 143:8 - "At dawn let me hear of your kindness, for in you I trust. Show me the path I should walk, for to you I entrust my life."

Genesis 28:15 - "Know that I am with you; and will watch over you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you."

P*e*r*f*e*c*t
Does it apply to you as well?