The Desires of My Heart

"Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!" Psalm 37:4

When I truly delight in Him His desires become my desires.

Not "pie in the sky" dreams.

Not "happily everafter".

Not "without a care in the world".

In John 4:34 "Jesus said to them,  My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His Work."

Jesus brought the Glory of the Lord to earth for all to see.  It was the Father's desire.

Less of me Lord more of you..that Christ would shine through me.

Monday morning musings

Dear ones,

Thinking of each of you as you begin your day and wishing I could reach out and give you a hug! 
Wish I could tell you face to face how much you're loved....how encouraging your participation in our conversation here at Heartstrings mean to me.
The typed words on a page will have to suffice.  Know that they are from the bottom of my heart.

In about 45 minutes my daughter and I will be on our way to the airport. We're traveling to spend a week with her big brother and his family.  To be with both of my children will be such a treat for me.

Pray for me..that my words will be sweet and my heart (filled with the joy of the Lord) will rest in the blessing of family.

I'm praying for you today.
     For peace in your heart
       For a song on your lips
        For a spring in your step
         and most importantly
                For the joy of the Lord in your heart!

Have You Come To the End of Your Rope ?

It's Friday and God's Word is on my mind and heart.

I've been soaking in Matthew 5 for the past several days; especially verses 1-12.  I've been poring over different translations and I share with you below verses 1-3
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved. (The Message Bible Online)

"When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him.
Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down  and taught his climbing companions.  This is what he said:  'You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule'."

His disciples climb up the hillside with Him, they sit down  ready to listen to His Words.
Eugene Peterson has put what is known as The Beatitudes in today's language, and this first one goes right to the heart of the matter:

Less of me is a good thing.  Without self trying to reign in my life there is room for God to rule


Confession time - I struggle often with "myself" reigning.
As a little girl I constructed a safe place of "self-protection" .  I believed the lie that if I was "in control" of all things in my life I would be safe.  And though I asked Jesus into my heart at the age of 17 I still spent the next 20 years continuing to live within those walls of self-protection.  During all those years of reinforcing my defenses from who or what might hurt me,  I didn't realize I was missing God's best for me.

I didn't know -
      He created me for relationship with HIM
      He held the answers to my heart's questions
      He had a purpose for my life
      His unconditional love for me trumps all other love(s)

When I came to the end of my rope just before turning 40, our ever-present, all knowing, all powerful God was waiting, with open arms to welcome this prodigal Home.

Now nearly 28 years later...I say with quivering voice..."Lord, I want You to reign in my life 24/7"..."less of me and more of you". 

At those times when I forget what I say I want.....the Holy Spirit, full of grace and mercy, reminds me and once again, for another day, I experience the everlasting love I've discovered I can't live without!

My question is  - have YOU come to the end of your rope?

It's my prayer.

From a Sister Blogger

Happy Wednesday dear readers.  What follows is a post from one of my favorite bloggers.    Her posts have been great encouragement as I step out into a new area of ministry.  I encourage you to follow her:

Heart To Heart With Holley.
 http://holley.dayspring.com/ -


If Fear ever Frays Your Edges
Posted: 18 Oct 2010 05:59 PM PDT


I pull the jeans from my closet, hold them up to the light. I'm about to fold them neatly into my suitcase when I notice the rough cuffs.


I grab scissors and snip at loose ends. They only fray more. I tug and pull. (Did I mention these are my good jeans?)

I sigh and lean back against the wall. And as I do, I realize my jeans aren't the only thing with frayed edges.

My heart has them too.

You see, I'm packing for the Relevant conference this week. I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones, to learning and time with Jesus.

And yet (confession coming) a part of me still feels insecure.

Will I fit in?

Will people like me?

Fear pulls at the edges of our hearts.

My jeans are frayed.

And I am afraid.

Neither of us seem quite good enough at the moment.

And as I stand there, jeans still in hand, a change begins to happen. It seems Jesus lays His hands on those frayed edges, those places I wish were different, and He stiches them up with grace. He tells me again...


Love all. Please One.


Be who I've created you to be.

You are enough because I am enough in you.

Each line is like a thread that mends my heart. I run my fingers along the edges, amazed--they suddenly feel smoother and more whole.

And my jeans?

I put them in my suitcase.

I've decided I'll just wear them anyway.

I'm slowly learning it's not about being perfect...

but being perfectly loved.


There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4:18

- Holley Gerth

Dear friends, This post landed hard on my heart.  As I read it and re-read it the peace of Christ fell afresh on my anxious thoughts replacing them with HIs confidence,

May it be so for you.

Joy Notes

Last weekend I had the great privilege and joy to have lunch with 40+ former classmates.  The occasion was our 50th high school reunion.

Most of the "girls" I hadn't seen in nearly that expanse of time.  However, thanks to modern technology I have reconnected with a few on my FaceBook page, and as the time for the event approached, excitement grew.  I invited my daughter to accompany me and we had a beautiful day for our roadtrip.

As we drove over the Manatee River from Palmetto into Bradenton my mind was swept back to the late 50's and 1960 and the many events held in this area on the shore of the river.  Many of the tenants of buildings have changed but some stay the same.  The Manatee Players is in its original spot and lunch was at "Mattison's", housed in the Pier Building of my teens ,which at that time was home to Bradenton's radio station. (top floor of the building)

For 2 hours the restaurant overlooking the river was alive with much conversation and laughter.  It was a wonderful time as I visited with dear friends from girl scout days through the first year at Manatee Junior College.

I haven't lived in Bradenton since I was 19; nearly 49 years. There have been many changes as you can imagine in that many years and yet it still retains it's special southern coastal flavor.

Last Saturday for a few hours time stood still and 40 women in their sixties were girls again.

Several of us have promised to stay in touch...its my prayer.

When The Unexpected Derails The Train

I wrote the title for today's blog very early this morning.

Suffice to say when I wrote it I was not prepared for what God would surprise me with two hours later.

Just an inkling of where my head and my heart have been over the last 24+ hours as posted on my FB wall -

Someone once said that interruptions are God's opportunities......well I'm having difficulty with seeing it that way today.....I guess if I look at it as His opportunity to reveal my true heart for Him ... I get it .... and I see that I am failing big time ..... letting my feelings dictate my reactions .... not thinking... with the mind of Christ...argh! Not good! Help me Lord!...... (Yesterday, about 24 hours ago)
 
Oh precious faces - how personal is our God....He says to call to Him and He will tell us great and mighty things....within minutes of my cry for help, this lands in my in-box -
"Even when we cannot see the why and wherefore of God's dealings, we know that there is love in and behind them, and so we can rejoice always." ... -- J. I. Packer
How Great is our God.... (Yesterday - about 10 minutes after the above)
 
Hungering and thirsting this morning.....Lord, put your Word in my mouth today....the World's words don't taste so good. "He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna..that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord."   Deut. 8:...3 (6:00 AM this morning )
 
Hummmnn...I see a pattern..almost a path the Lord was putting before me - as if He was saying "keep looking at "ME" not the circumstances.  As I told Habakkuk when he cried out to me wondering 'How long Lord, are you listening'? Hear the same words to you my daughter -
'Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it.'
 
I'll say . 
 
New title - When The Unexpected Keeps The Train On Its Track
 
Giving thanks with a grateful heart today!
 
What are you grateful for?

Beyond Bethlehem

Since Monday Peace has been our topic.

On Tuesday I asked the question – “where does Peace begin?”

That question led me to a 2 day look at the birth of Jesus Christ.

Why?

Without Christ I have no peace. He is the sole reason that peace is in my heart.

Sometimes I let the noise of the world creep into my heart and it threatens to push Peace to the furthest recesses of my heart and mind.

Life can get noisy and cloudy at those times. I don’t do well in the dark.

The best way to put light back into my life is to read and digest God’s Word.

These past two days looking in Isaiah and the gospels has reminded me of the creativity and audacity of our good and powerful God.

Come to earth as a babe in an animal stall? Spend 33 years growing in wisdom in order to call a special group of 12 to be up close and personal as the who, what, why ,where and how of The Gospel was revealed? Patiently teaching the multitudes how to love others by His example of love?

For me??????

I am once more put back on “the narrow way” as I fix my eyes on Jesus. He is the author and finisher of my faith.

Only God.

Always God.

HE is my Peace.

The Angel Paid a Visit

Yesterday we paused after the Angels proclaimed the birth of Jesus to shepherds tending their sheep.

We review the scene so far.

Bethlehem bursting at the seams; overrun with those who claimed it "home". Traveling from near and far to adhere to the decree of Caesar Augustus , that all the people of the Roman Empire were to be registered, each to his own city.

Mary and Joseph were included to be counted and while there the baby due to be born would wait no longer.

When we left the scene Mary had gathered her new son into her arms, wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger (an animal feeding trough) and on a hillside the Angel of the Lord comes down and pronounces to the shepherds tending their flocks that He has brought them "great news" .

I read of the glory of the Lord flashing and shining all about them as the angel appeared and I wonder what was going through their minds at that moment. The bible says they were terribly frightened. That tells me that this was not a usual occurrence….angels appearing in the midst of sheep tending.

I wonder how I would have reacted in their place. Would I have been immediately calmed when this visitor said “don’t be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people. “ ? Or would more information have been necessary…the birth itself perhaps and why “this” baby was reason for God to send His angels to visit shepherds? Would I want a description and location of the event? Would you?

From the account written in Luke the shepherds must have needed the details along with the inclusion of a visit by the heavenly host (God’s angelic army). For at the angelic departure we read that they turned to each other and decided to GO (with haste) and see this “thing” for themselves..this thing that God had purposely informed them of.

They found the little family as the angel described and in turn told others…the Messiah promised by God through the prophets had arrived!

Was there singing and dancing?

Do you think they wondered “why a baby?” “how will he save us?”

What would you have thought or wondered if you were in the shepherd’s shoes (sandals)?

The text continues that those who heard their account were astounded and marveled at what they were told.

Mary quietly kept “all these things” inside and “weighed and pondered them in her heart”.
......and the shepherds?  They returned to their sheep all the while glorifying and praising  God for all the things they had seen and heard, just as it had been told to them.

Mind boggling.
............….To be continued….

Where Does Peace Begin

Yesterday I shared how a treasured coffee mug with the inscription : "May Peace Be More than a Season" has moved me to consider Peace and what it looks like in ordinary lives.

Peace in our hearts
Peace in our homes
Peace in our neighborhoods
Peace in our world

Peace is more than the absence of noise or confusion.  Peace is more than serenity on the face of a sleeping babe or an engrossed 5 year old.

Peace is more than safe streets, productive families, and countries laying down weapons of destruction.

Where does Peace begin?

Today I leave you with the one visual that changed the world  and how we view it forever -

...Bethlehem .... numbers and numbers of people coming to register for the census decreed by Caesar Augustus..including Joseph and his betrothed, Mary, who was great with child.  While there, her time to give birth would wait no longer.....no matter the surroundings (a smelly stall) nor the events of the day.

Can you sense the activity? Suddenly a cry and then sweet silence? Mary wrapped her infant son in long strips of cloth according to the culture of the day.  These cloths were believed to give his limbs strength and protection.  In today's culture wrapping an infant securely in a thin blanket is believed to give comfort and warmth.  I imagine a glow filling that place...and peace...unprecedented permeating the hearts of Mary and Joseph.  God had kept His promise.

 "In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid ; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people ; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth PEACE among men with whom He is pleased."
Luke 2:8 -14

Then as now there were those who fell at His feet in awe and belief and  many others who turned away.

His life on earth  was just beginning .... Peace had entered the world and life as it was known untill that moment  was now "turned upside down".

What would it mean to Mary and Joseph...their friends..their family?

.....To be continued.....................................
..........................as we spend time with Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John....

Peace

I have a coffee mug that was given to me by a friend last Christmas.  For most of the past year that mug has been sitting on a top shelf waiting for this Christmas.

A few weeks ago however, my favorite mugs ( the super sized ones) were in the dishwasher.  I had almost determined that I would just have to drink out of a normal sized cup when I remembered that I had stored some mugs over the stove, and was delighted to find what has become - my new favorite - sitting on the shelf.  I had used this mug as decoration last year but now as I calculated it's size and shape, I determined it to be exactly what my hand was hungering to hold.

It is a pretty mug, decorated with beautiful red cardinals and green holly. It has an interesting curved shape and each time I take a swallow of the dark fragrant liquid that helps wake me each morning, I see inscribed on the inside of the cup - " May Peace Be More Than A Season".

That phrase has been rolling over and over in my head for days now.

Peace.  What do I think of when I see or hear the word peace?

For today I leave you with 2 of a number of visuals that make me think of peace:

A baby sleeping in her crib, eyelashes caressing her round cheeks, purses her tiny mouth to utter "coo" and suddenly her rosebud lips curl into a heart-stopping smile.

A classroom of five year olds, who only moments ago were chattering loudly, now sitting "stone still" listening to their beloved teacher read to them from "The Velveteen Rabbit".

It's more than that though.

Where does peace begin?

...........To be continued.

Who Are You?

Some days I need to refresh my mind by looking into God's Word to affirm who I am.

Can you relate?

Do you have days when you discover you've been wearing 4 or 5  different hats as you've gone through your day and your identity is getting cloudy?

When my vision gets cloudy and my mind becomes cluttered I retreat to my favorite book and find within its pages:

WHO I AM

I am God's child (John 1:12)

I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )

I am united with the Lord(1 Cor. 6:17 )

I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20)

I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)

I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)

I am the salt & light of the earth ( Matt.5:13-14)

I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27)

I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)

I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant ( Phil.3:20)

I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)

I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor.5 :17-21)

I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)

I am seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6)

I cannot be separated from the love of God ( Rom.8:35-39)

I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)

I am assured all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8: 28)

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )

I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)

I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)

I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16 )

I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)

I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3)

I have been justified (Romans 5:1)

I am God's co-worker (1 Cor.. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1)

I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10 )

I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil 1: 5)

I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col.1:14)

I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)

These verses help me to focus on Whose I am.... oh thank you Jesus!

Do you know who you are?  Would you prayerfully consider these verses?

  

Fall in Florida

Cooler mornings with much less humidity - it must be Fall.

Orange, yellow, green and brown colors displayed with abundance wherever you look - it must be Fall.

Pumpkins, pumkins, pumpkins: every size and every material for every decor  - it must be Fall.

October 1st, the calendar confirms - it must be Fall.

Lord you made everything beautiful in Your time -  It IS Fall - in Florida.

Hallelujah!