Break in the Storm

It has been raining all week and the forecast is for more rain this coming week.  We are experiencing storms that can’t decide if they want to stay in the valley or go elsewhere.

This morning started out with more rain.  We have had so much that our ground is so soggy the water is making little ponds everywhere. 

Rain, rain, and what…more rain.    

When I walked outside and saw that we have some blue skies and sunshine where there was rain clouds a few minutes ago.  Such peace came over me and flooded me so that I am now overflowing in peace.  Thank You Jesus for Your peace!

Isn't that how life is?  One minute you are in the midst of a storm and the next your skies are sunny, clear blue with fluffy white clouds!

I love storms where nature just cuts loose and has its way with the world.  I also love it when it is sunny and 70°.   It is those in-between days that seem to go unappreciated with me.  You know, foggy or overcast days (or worse the opposite – Summer 100°) - I just don't appreciate them.  

However, if it weren't for the in-between days, I would not appreciate the storms nor the sunny 70° days as much as I do.  This break in the storm is just filled with such hope and peace.

Funny, a little earlier a friend sent me a song, "Get Your Hopes Up" by Josh Baldwin on the War is Over album.  And the discussion on hope began.

Some of us were raised to not get our hopes up.  We were to keep our expectations low as to keep from being disappointed or crushed.  We end up building up such serious walls, always expecting the worst.  Expect people to let you down, that way when things went well and people came through, it is a happy surprise!

What an awful way to live.  We are told in Ecclesiastes 9:3-5, where there is life, there's hope.  If you are breathing air there is still hope!  

I love that song by the Newboys, "Live Abandon".  I want to live abandoned for God and I want to live abandoned in life.

I want to give my all, in all areas of my life.   If I have walls built up so you don't hurt me, I am not giving you all of me.  

Hope is not a bad word, it is a good word.  The archaic definition (which I love) is a trust, reliance.  The verb...(the action word), is cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or to be true.  

Hebrews 11:1 tells us "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and all assurance about what we do not see."  

Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the Power of the Holy Spirit."

He is the God of Hope and fills us with hope...if He is the God of hope, then hope is of God, so hope is not a bad thing.  Hope is awesome.  

I pray that during your storms you don't lose your hope, the break in the storm is coming.  Get with God, He will fill you will all joy and peace. 

Below is the link to the song, "Get Your Hopes Up" that will remind you.

Until Next Time, God Bless!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6FZzIy6VjA&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1rAoeq24MzmM9mI0sLJkTAAtY3AUnqgEaNUgQGSbSUihormH_2ypJbRWA

Finding Focus through Patience

I am in the process of un-quilting my current art quilt.  This is not quick nor fun.  I am working from the back of the piece so that I don't mess up the layers of fabric on the front.  Even though from the back everything looks fine, my fingers are feeling all the pucker problems that are taking place on the front.

As I am taking out the stitches, I hear in my spirit that this quilt is going to have to be done differently that my previous pieces due to the size and the different issues that are going on with it.  I hear that I am going to have to focus on an area of the image at a time instead of working on the piece as a whole.  As the guiding words are being said the picture of what to do is going through my head.  

This scene was more than guiding me through my art piece.  God has been trying to teach me patience.  Not a fun thing when you are an over-achieving-get-it-done-now type of person.  Actually, patience is easier said than done.  At least for me.

Believe it or not I always thought I was patient, as least until I thought I have waited long enough then I am done with it.  I have been known to wait 7 months for my husband to do something before I’d pay someone to do it for me.   That was being patient, right?  

I found out that was not what God was referring to.  My over-achieving mentality has me pushing myself to get things done in timelines that I have set for myself.  I am mad at me, that my body is not letting me to things at the pace that I want to go. 

I want to be productive on my days off.  I want to get things done as my projects are stacking up.  I don't want to waste a minute for doing nothing, watching tv or taking naps.  I have things to do.  I have things I want to accomplish.  Monday comes too quickly and then I won't have time to work on what I want to work on.  Time is precious and I don't want to waste it on doing nothing.  I hate doing nothing.  Nothing is boring.  Nothing means to sit still, I am a fidgeter I don't know how to sit still.  My mind doesn't know what to do when I am to do nothing.  It goes faster than my body can keep up with when I am 100% and you want me to do nothing!?!?

After I had pled my case, I sat there defeated.  God let me run out of wind as I had this argument with Him.  Papa God tells me, "I don't want you to do nothing, I want you to have focus.  Have patience and focus.  Yes, you want to do it all, be patience and focus on the moment.  Focus on what you can do.  You need to be patient with you.  Your goals are good goals, but your timelines need work.  By trying to get it all done now, you are not enjoying the process.  Your focus is on the finish line.  Your focus needs to be on the moment.  Slow down.  Patience isn't about doing nothing, patience is about taking it a step at a time.  Enjoy the steps.  Enjoy the process."

That is the problem with the instant gratification of this life.  We want everything now.  We don't want to wait.  These last couple years, I have taken instant gratification into overdrive in several areas of my life.  Each area needs to be addressed and worked on.  It will be a slow process…I guess that is the point though, right?

Okay, breathe and let's take this in.  Today, I will focus on patience with me.  I will not get mad when I can't do everything that I want to accomplish.  Breathe and enjoy the process.  Enjoy the day.

What it is that you need to focus on?  What is it that you need to have patience on?  What process do you need to enjoy?

Life is a journey.  Journeys are meant to be enjoyed.  I pray that we all find our patience.  I pray that we all focus on the moment and that we enjoy it every step of the way. 

Until Next Time, God Bless!