Give me words

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:9

There’s nothing like looking out over the ocean to make you feel so small and to bring life back into perspective. That He would create this vast expanse of water, one that ebbs and flows each day like clockwork is simply mind boggling.It is a great reminder to me that all the little things that tend to weigh me down really are so insignificant in the light of eternity.

I have been consumed by the “little things” lately, and I have allowed fears to set in. He woke me up again early this morning and began giving me a “pep-talk”.  

I am afraid of simple things- like not having the right words to say, being misunderstood, and not being bold enough.  He reminded me of Moses and just how inadequate he felt for his task.  As I read Exodus 3 this morning, I saw just how patient and understanding our Lord is. Moses asked God but what if… and over and over- He reassures him. 

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute?Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4

It is when I feel at my weakest that I see Him working the greatest. Even more than the simple fear of inadequacy lies the fear of being disobedient- of not doing what He asks of me.  

There is nothing as wonderful as having my Father wake me up to encourage me. And as He directed me to read these words in Exodus this morning, it was as if He spoke them directly to me- 

Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let me take a selfie

Sunrise at OBX

 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.  

Psalm 113:3

As I pulled out my phone and turned on the camera, one of my daughters says, “Mom, they all look the same…”  

“Yeah, they kinda do,” another informs me.  

*sigh*

That got me to thinking about why I take these “same” pictures of the sky scape.  

I guess these pictures look alike because God is unchanging, yet he’s always revealing different aspects of Himself to us.  So in each picture I see a subtle new facet of God’s awesomeness, things we can only notice because of the Holy Spirit that He places inside each one of us.  

And as I look up to heaven, I converse with Him. Pictures are one dimensional and fail to capture the “heart” or the feeling of His presence as I pray, confess, listen…worship, and yes- gaze with wonder at His magnificent creation.  Each picture I take while I’m on a walk is like a God-selfie.  They might all look the same to some, but I can remember the heart to heart I had with Him in each of these moments… 

Sunrise at OBX

And let’s face it, (pun intended) when we take all these “selfies” of ourselves, don’t we always look like the same person?  Picture after picture, we may make subtle changes in our appearance, but our true self doesn’t change.  

And while the colors light up the sky, I wait in the quiet to hear Him, and to see Him.  

As a musician, my heart longs for instruments and voices in perfect harmony- but the silence is just as beautiful.  The sky is like His orchestra- clouds and light colliding and forming perfect symphonic pictures…leaving me silenced-

Sunset at OBX

 and listening for His voice… and standing in awe- that He would meet me here. Each and every time. Taking these photos is like capturing a glimpse of Him.   

Sunset at OBX

They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs;

You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. – Psalm 65:8 

#ScarecrowSwag

I think you may find

I’m one of a kind-

a scarecrow with swagger  

and style

I don’t point to be rude

So don’t mind my ‘tude-

Just keepin’ the mischief

away for awhile

 I went on a retreat this past weekend and found this awesome scarecrow. I have yet to meet a scarecrow with such style… he brought a smile to my face!