Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016

Women Connect – short posts where life and faith connect

 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel, Will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper;  The LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in  From this time forth and forever.  Psalm 121:1-8

So  January has slipped quietly into February and without any of the fuss or froth that it came in on. The shine well and truly worn off the loftiest of our New Year ideals and resolute thinking.   And here we are we left staring at life from the pointy end.

But I think we should all be congratulating ourselves – we’ve gone and  made it in tact through the Christmas and New Year season because lets face it, which ever way you look at it –  it’s down right exhausting.  Close quarters with family, close quarters with the mall and kids revved up on chocolate and not enough sleep. But what counts is that  Jesus is sung and talked about at the shops and in the streets so worth it every bit. I hope you holidayed some and enjoyed a little quiet with your feet up.  January’s reprieve. Now February sees us returning to the regular routines and rhythms and responsibilities of life – the rise and fall of them a comfort in their familiarity,  but some days  – – – – they take all that we’ve got.

Yet it’s where the real  living is done. Where our faith sees the daylight. Where we kiss our children and cook dinner and wash clothes.  Where we buy groceries and juggle schedules. Where we hope for the best and love as big as we can.  Where we drop off and pick up, run errands and make plans.  Where we look to find balance and purpose but don’t always win.

February reminds us that this life has a way of getting crazy busy and we can simply get lost in the fray.

And there is no easy answer – except the Jesus answer. The grace laced answer.

Jesus  the calm in this storm, our keeper, our helper.

“These are busy years. We have so many people who need us to love them well. We can’t put off our soul-healing restoration for a day when we have more time. We must find time to be in the unrushed presence of Jesus, even if it is only a few moments here and there.”  ~ Stacey Thacker 

See He is the start and the finish. He is  above all and over all and in all and we can go to no other place than to Him to find our feet and gain our pace.

The Jesus who knows us by name, who knows the landscape of our hearts, the tucked away dreams and the bandaged up wounds.  Who counts our tears and delights in our joy.  Who’s plans for us are good and made by hand. Jesus our help, our provider, our companion and comfort.

Time with Jesus – it isn’t one more thing to do – it’s  the only thing to do that really counts.

Our bread and wine – our sustenance, our only real chance at the peace and fulfilment we all crave.  This hour, this day, this year.  Time with Him – wherever we can find it  – early morning, late at night, ten minutes in the car, on the beach, at the sink, at the clothes line, in our office or in the ladies – I don’t think He minds.

But what if we embraced that wings may be for fairy tales but flying like the wings of an eagle and running without weariness might not be a dream?  Alia Joy  

Jesus our rest and our refreshment, the light to our path so were not chasing our tails.

Because we don’t want to break or run dry or fall down – except at His feet.

But Jesus often withdrew into lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16

We need to too.

This year we all have  things that we wish and hope and dream for. Only you and He knows the shape and texture of them.

So this year my prayer for all of us is more.

More of Jesus.

More of His presence, more of His rest, more of His ways, more of His truth, more of His grace and we pray more of His beauty and creativity flowing out of our lives.

(Because) Even in dreams, we can’t deny that getting to live is holy ground. Ann Voskamp

Wishing you a beautiful day today

Tracey xx

And for a little extra – – –

I really enjoyed these posts over the break  – thought you might too. I’ve included a snippet from each.

A Blessing in the New Year  – Emily P Freeman In the turning of the year, no one is left behind. And so we begin another year-long journey, bags packed whether we realise it or not. If we don’t pay attention, those self-packing bags tend to fill up heavy with burdens we don’t need.Today, take a peek into your bag. – – –

 Non Goals – Design for Mankind I think there is inherent worth in change, and I think there is inherent worth in the decision not to change. I think there is a certain beauty in taking stock of yourself, in peering into your own green eyes, in surveying the wrinkles and the greys and your innermost imperfections and saying to you and you alone: You know, NOT BAD.

Why You Should Waste Some Time Today –  Shauna Niequist It’s that for all sorts of reasons, I default to hustle mode all too often. Hustle is the opposite of heart.

 

Linking up today with Coffee For Your Heart,  Three Word Wednesday and Tell His Story