White as Snow

The first day of December dawned bright and clear.

And brown.

Everything was brown. Dry, dead, and brown.

It wasn't at all typical, either. Colorado in December usually means knee-deep snow everywhere. Cold, crisp, and white.

This winter has been slow in coming. Unusual. Strangely so. And for a tourist area that depends on snow, it wasn't good. You could feel the tension in the air.

But finally, weeks after the snow typically arrives in full force, we had our first snowstorm of the season.

Sweeter than Honey: Week 1

I don't really like to admit it, but I'm going to. Authenticity, right?

Reading the Bible is something I've never done well. 

There. I said it.

It hasn't been a priority, it confuses me sometimes, sometimes it makes me a frustrated. Sometimes it makes me overwhelmed or bored. It's hard.

But!

That doesn't mean that it's not important.

For the next few months, I'll be working on this vital (and so often, missing) part of my spiritual life. Of my daily life. Of my this-is-being-human life.

I'm inviting you along for the journey.

Priorities

I was having a conversation with my darling auntie the other day- we were talking about sewing, of all things. She was telling me about how she used to make clothes, but "who has time anymore?"

Who, indeed.

I think it's a common feeling. I mean, I know I feel that way. I get home from work, have supper, put the dishes in the dishwasher, finish up my evening cleaning routine, watch an episode of Andy Griffith on Netflix while reading blogs and looking at Pinterest, and next thing I know, it's 10:00 and I should really get ready for bed. How does that happen, anyway?

As a Deer

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”

These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.

 I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

--Psalm 42

Lead Me to the Rock That Is Higher than I

Hear my cry, O God,

            listen to my prayer;

from the end of the earth I call to you

            when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the

             rock that is higher than I,

for you have been my refuge,

             a strong tower against the enemy.

Let me dwell in your tent forever!

             Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!

 -Psalm 61:1-4

Sometimes we just need a refuge, a shelter, a place to rest.

When life disappoints
When challenges loom heavy in our minds
When it feels like everyone is against us
When we're stuck in a rut
When decisions are heartbreakingly hard to make
When we're just plain tired and worn down
When anxiety threatens our joy

And you know? It's so easy for me to hide in things that have no power at all.

I avoid that difficult conversation by just not making the phone call. I watch a TV show rather than make the decision. I turn to sweets, to working overtime, to over-planning, to the next project or the next distraction, to the things I can do, rather than really and truly finding rest in Him.

And why?

He's been my strong tower in the past, in the hard times before.

Remember those times? The times when the comfort was almost overwhelming, when the peace came like a soft rain?

He is higher than I. He knows better than I do. He's got everything in the palm of His hand.

And I rest in the shadow of His wings.