Italy, Sicily, Agrigento, Valley of the Temples, Temple of Juno Lacinia photo by Berthold Werner

Good morning, beloved,

Last night, two of our bunch were out at Superbowl parties. The rest of us might have cared if, say, Phineas and Ferb were hosting the SB. However, since this was not in the plans, we chose to watch Fractured Fairy Tales.  Surprisingly, we ALL agreed they were fun. What caught my attention was how uncomfortable I became as they twisted and remade these well-known tales. We know Cinderella, Rapunzel and we know how they should begin and end. I waited for the right ending and the credits popped up instead. I began thinking about other books that are made into movies and it occurs to me I don’t like many of those either. I have a picture in my mind of how the set should be, how the characters should look and what parts of the book should come alive.

I read parts of the Bible, I pray in certain ways, I hope God to move this way or that…I get a picture in my mind of how His help should come. Keepin’ it real. I don’t even realize how often I do this, until I sit and look at decisions I have made in this past week. My husband asked me yesterday, what if God wants to bless you in this way? Nope, I don’t think He would do that. REALLY? Who made me the Author of salvation? Freedom, for me, I pray, is that I welcome what He is doing, His will be done. Not mine. NO matter how much I moan and complain. May His will be done.

I am really struggling with this concept. No matter how my circumstances seem, seriously, I want to follow. I don’t want to keep telling God, hey let’s try it this way. (Now, you know I don’t say that, but my heart, my attitudes, my actions…) When has GOD ever made a wrong turn or decision? Why can’t I trust Him fully? What is stopping me?

¹⁶ But I will sing about your strength.
In the morning I will sing about your ·love [loyalty].
You are my ·defender [refuge],
my place of safety in ·times of trouble [^Lthe day of distress].
¹⁷ God, my strength, I will sing ·praises [a psalm] to you.
God, my ·defender [refuge], you are the God who ·loves [is loyal to] me. Psalm 59 EXB

So join me in singing. Reminding ourselves…

He is our strength… Remembering His strength carried the cross..

Jerusalem, Via Dolorosa, Station IX – Crosses left after walking the Stations of the Cross by Berthold Werner

He is our love…. He is here. He is watching. He is…

Shepherd and Sheep by Anton Mauve

He is our defender…our place of safety…

The walls of Chlemoutsi Castle, built by Geoffrey Villehardouin in 1223 AD, overlooks the port of Kylini, from where ferries run to Zakynthos and Kefalonia. by Robert Wallace

I am full of earth
You are heaven’s worth
I am stained with dirt, prone to depravity
You are everything that is bright and clean
The antonym for me
You are divinity
But a certain sign of grace is this
From the broken earth flowers come up
Pushing through the dirt

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/d/david_crowder_band/

You know what else I need to keep reminding myself? His Word. Using it, wielding it, holding on to it in the midst of the chaos and storms of life. It isn’t just for nice words, it is for use in my battles all day long.

Today is busy. This week is..busy. I have the opportunity to start right here.

I love you, Lord. You are my strength.
² The Lord is my rock, my ·protection [^Lfortress], my ·Savior [rescuer; ^Tdeliverer].
My God is my rock.
·I can run to him for safety [^L…in whom I find protection/take refuge].
He is my shield and ·my saving strength [^Lthe horn of my salvation; ^Csymbolizing strength based on an animal lifting its head triumphantly], my ·defender [stronghold]. Psalm 18 EXB

Thank you for praying for my family. Heat is almost installed and we will be ensconced in warmth by tomorrow…hopefully. We have heat upstairs in the two bedrooms and the loft is warmish. My boy is back home and we will be working hard to re-establish  routines and boundaries. My next round of injections is Thursday. No migraine since my last round. Grateful. 🙂

My thankfuls:

Ann Voskamp, Joy Dare

Three gifts found in writing:

163. Watching my kids write letters to friends.

164. Finding letters from loved ones.

165. Paul’s letters 🙂

Three gifts found when bent down:

166. The blessing found in kneeling to pray..

167. The intricate patterns of a single snowflake…

168. A snowball!

Pray on. Pray on.