I have nothing profound to say...nothing inspiring or witty to share. To be honest my heart is heavy tonight. I am tired and weary. As I was trying to come up with something to post I opened a book and came to this scripture...
When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of You... Fix my eyes on God- soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God. Psalms 42:6, 11 MSG
Those words were like music to my ears. Life can be exhausting. Trials come. It's hard to always have it together during those times. I can't find it in me to smile. I've excused myself from my family to let the tears fall. Some days are just hard. But I know if I turn my focus to Him the weight will lift. So that's my prayer.
"We need to let God be God, hour by hour, day by day, experience by experience, time after time...And we lie there, praying that the Lord won't let us waste what is going on in any way: 'Help me, Lord, to be what You want me to be in this, to learn what You want me to learn in this, to demonstrate what You want me to demonstrate in this...'" - Edith Schaeffer, Affliction
You know what? There is beauty all around us. I encourage you to look for it. If you are struggling...take a walk, open your Bible, close your eyes and say a little prayer. His joy will find you. I can already feel the clouds lifting...
Have a blessed day.
I so love your encouraging words...we all need to hear those...we are all only human and everyone suffers from those down days...hope your look towards the Lord had cheered you and your mood has lifted! xoxoxo Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteYou have a beautiful family - smile!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your entry on Murphy's Landing - I'm from Minnesota and had to search the whereabouts. Looks like a very interesting place to go - it would be a few hours for me but nice to know of its whereabouts.. I'm sure the kids enjoyed having you along especially Big Chick!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're not having such a good day, I'll say a prayer for you. We all have "those days" and that's okay, God understands & is right there to show us His love again right when we need it most! Thanks for sharing those verses, they really ministered to me as well, and the pictures, once again are just gorgeous! Thank you for sharing your heart :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you're in the dumps. I love that we have a redeemer that is there for us no matter what and wants nothing but the best for us. I am praying peace over your life tonight.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Nora
beauty does surround us...i saw one of the most breathtaking sunsets tonight and wondered if jesus was going to return that very minute!!
ReplyDeletewon't it be wonderful?!
have a blessed night~
chasity
I always find it interesting how bloggers I've never 'visited' previously so often frequent the same 'circle' of blogs that I do...in your side bar, I find so many of my own favorites...And I clicked here via Amy Thue...Just had to start with that...
ReplyDeleteAnd having said that, I've spent quite some time tonite reading through a number of your recent posts...and not knowing you or what you are specifically going through, I feel a connection to what you are learning about God right now. I believe that it is true that God tests certain extra special people in extraordinary ways - much like He did with Job. I also know that He turns the bad stuff to good for believers (Romans 8:28). And, finally, no matter how bad it gets, He wins (Revelation, generally speaking). I think sometimes He burns down the whole barn to allow one petunia to grow. And sometimes it's somebody else's mess He's working on, and we are just a part of the web He uses for good. His works are far more amazing and unfathomable than we can even imagine in our wildest dreams.
So, I don't know ya and have no idea your circumstances, but I do pray that He helps you see the works He has in motion - and if not, just that He provides you with peace of mind.
Many blessings
Karin
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMay God continue to bless you!
As an aside: I have a daily devotional book that I open randomly and for some strange reason... the devotion and thought for the day is ALWAYS ... exactly what I needed to hear!
You, my dear, are like a breath of fresh air.
ReplyDeleteGod's mercies are new every day!
ReplyDelete: )
Julie M.
Thank you SO much for this. It's been a rough few weeks for me, honestly, so I needed the uplifting.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you...may your skies brighten soon!
well and beautifully said.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Love to you.
Kelly
http://www.ivebecomemymother.com
I'm sorry honey...I'll pray that your burden is lifted!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this with all of us.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDang, Girl!
ReplyDeleteHow does it feel to be used by God?
We are so broke we can't even afford to pay attention right now and it's wearing on us.
But the thought just came to me the other day, if "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose" then what bigger, uglier, scarier calamities is he protecting us from right now?
Brrrr!
And if is the 'manure time', how glorious will the flowers be?
We'll just shout encouragements to each other from our foxholes, shall we?
Don't have to meet ya to love ya, Sister!
Under the shelter of His wings,
-Angelica
I love your blog and encouraging words! Also I love your barn painting! I am new to blogging just since Aug. You have struck a cord with me, because I think our temperments may be quite alike. I also like to paint. Watercolor mostly.
ReplyDeleteI will be visiting you often.
May blessings surround you,
Lee Ann
encouragement-is-contagious.blogspot.com/
That first photo with the reflection--so beautiful. I appreciate your honest words. I know that you know this, but I'll say it anyway: This too shall pass.
ReplyDeleteBig hugs to you,
Elle
Love this, it's so encouraging. I've been feeling the same way. I just don't know what I'd do without Jesus. :)
ReplyDeletexo
Sorry that your heart is heavy right now. Hope you get some time to yourself or with your family to read, paint, listen.....whatever your heart and soul needs to feel peaceful and encouraged. Meredith xo.
ReplyDeleteOnce again Becky you hit the nail on the head... I don't know about you but sometimes my heart is just sad and I'm not really sure why?? I have a very blessed life with a wonderful Hubby and 2 fantastic kiddo's but the sadness still finds me.. I hope to find the peace soon..
ReplyDeleteHave a Blessed day!!
((hugs))
ReplyDeleteI'm praying for you also, I pray that you will be fine again soon and all your worries will be gone.
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister. Amen!
ReplyDeleteThis is EXACTLY how I felt yesterday! Ugh! Sometimes we have days like this but realizing that God is God and that He will pull us through if we fix our eyes on Him means so much.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing. And don't you just love The Message. I love its wording...sometimes it just explains things perfectly.
So Beautifully said! A great reminder!! Wish I was there...we could lunch and paint! :) two things that always help "lift" my spirits!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Jill
We were given emotions for a reason...to feel:) Some days are really hard; I am sorry you are having one of those days. And still, you see the beauty around you & feel grateful...you've just given us inspiration!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful, the pictures and the words. I am trying hard to see the beauty that surrounds me on this cold and windy South Dakota day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post -- it is uplifting and I've needed some too lately. Take care.
ReplyDeletejanet
Becky! I stumbled on your blog over @ Lemonade Makin' Mama's! I love this post! I love how you acknowledge God's hand in everything! Thanks for the inspiration today!! :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE that verse. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMany will be blessed by this post. Sometimes when I feel the way you are describing I will finally come to the Lord....why do I take so long sometimes? Because I am always trying to figure things out myself. Sweet, sweet scripture.
ReplyDeleteFriend, this was a perfect post with gorgeous photos :) I hope you are feeling more encouraged as your day goes on!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteHope that you are feeling better, your words are beautiful and true! I love "spiritual dipping" letting your scripture fall open and see what jewel of wisdom it lands on. Keep your chin up!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog via Pstr. Ryan (This is Reverb). I am really enjoying your encouraging words and great photos. I love finding new blogs to follow.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
Rachel from A Cupcake for Moose :)
Amazing how even when you don't have anything hit you hard to post, you still have something beautiful to say.
ReplyDeleteprecious.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a hard road for me to understand God outside my emotions (He's God, period)and a wonderful thing to praise Him w/my emotions. Dropping along in your post from photo/prose/photo - I could see the Son shining. These are times when faith (what we know but can't see) powers everything else. Hang onto what you KNOW about our Heavenly Father, with all ya got. Hugs to you and for you. Love, Jenn (Is there something you need that we/I can help you with?)
ReplyDeleteLovely post Becky ~ very uplifting. xo
ReplyDeleteawesome! xo
ReplyDeleteEven when your own heart is heavy you generously open your heart to all of us! You are a blessing, dear friend! {{{hugs}}}
ReplyDeletebeautiful and honest...we all have those days and have trials in our lives...keep the faith, love your friends and family and know that everything will be ok....smile you are loved!
ReplyDeletethank you... just what i needed.
ReplyDeletexo,
LuLu
So sorry to hear you are feeling a little down. I will be lifting you up in prayer. This really was a beautiful post. Feel better soon.
ReplyDeletexo,
Adrienne
thank you for such honest words...because i know that we have all been there. i will be praying for you.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Thanks for your words. And pictures.
ReplyDeleteSad times help us better appreciate the joyful times. I hope and pray things will improve for you so you may experience the joy you deserve again soon.
ReplyDeleteI would live in Jane Austen's time. Only I'd want to be one of the gentry, living in one of the estates of course, with servants and all! I love the dresses and the balls and the conversation.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading you for a while and have so enjoyed everything you have written. I have been inspired many times by your posts and finally decided that I had better start commenting!
Woops. My last comment was meant to go on another post!
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated this post. I have been trying to more fully appreciate the good things in my life. Thank you for the beautiful pictures and scripture verse.
This post helped me today more than my words could describe. Thank you. You are inspirational to me and that 1st picture is amazing. To understand why this helped me so today, please visit
ReplyDeletewww.melifaif.blogspot.com
Many blessings!
How beautiful and very encouraging. I am thankful that God is always with us, whether in the valleys or on the mountaintops.
ReplyDeleteI am just browsing through the Friday Fingerprint posts and I see so many clouds! Including my own! I read your words and can relate so much it's scary.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. Wonderful choice of scripture.
God bless you Becky!
ReplyDelete