lake of tears

"You have taken note of my journey through life, caught each of my tears in Your bottle..." Psalm 56:8 (The Voice)

The lake provided some much needed peace after a whirlwind couple of months. The tranquil beauty of contained waters reminded me of God... Maker of all things and our constant, abiding Comforter.

I could just imagine the shoreline of the lake as the outline of God's Hands... carefully holding each and every tear we've cried.  Whether tears of joy, sorry, excitement, anger, pain, delight, fright -- He has collected and knows them all.  Nothing, even a single tear, escapes our Father.

Thank You, Father, for knowing and caring for me so completely.  From You, i have no hidden joy or sorry.  You who know all, should be trusted with all i have.  Help me release any and all fears, doubts and troubles to you.   I want to rest in Your still waters of peace.

"Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit." Psalm 147:5

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ Peace

"And He will be their Peace."  Micah 5:5

and mine... 
                   and yours.

Jesus said...

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

friend, you are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

under the Rock

"For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock...Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:5,14

The walk on the mountainous path took its toil on her.  It wasn't until we finished that i noticed her level of exhaustion. With tail drooping, tongue hanging Bella searched and found rest from the winding hills, burning sun and thin air.  Coolness under a nearby ledge provided much needed relief.

God knows when and where we need a ledge to provide protection from the troubles and harsh elements in our life.  Broken relationships, sickness and death, specials events, unexpected circumstances can all take a heavy toil on our heart, body and soul.  It's hard to keep going and breathing when the air becomes so thin, or the uphill battles are unending, or the raging, hot storms linger over our head.

How easy it is to cry out, "Where are You, God?? Do You see what I'm going through?? Do You care??"

Then slowly it comes back to me.  Being a believer is not about making life easy and fair.  It is about knowing and trusting our God in all matters. A look at any one of the people of faith in the Bible confirm hardships do not dissipate due to their faith, but they persevere through then because of their faith.

That ledge in your life is not there for you to jump off, but for you to climb under... for rest, as you look to and wait for our Father to restore peace in your life.  He is our Everlasting Rock for the good.  

God is good all the time... all the time God is good.  BE-lieve.  He cares for you.

friend, you are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ unfailing

"In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly." Psalm 5:3

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Thank You, Father!

friend, you are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

a Mghty Word ~ loved

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19

amen...

friend, you are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

not a miss... in anyway

^"So the Lord answers, 'Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore?
Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you.'" Isaiah 49:15-18 (GNT)

Did she think we had forgotten her?

It was a beautiful thank-you note from our daughter, but i found her signature amusing.  Clearly, i recognized the note being from her simply by the message or even the handwriting. Signing her name wasn't necessary for identification.  Yet, sign she did. But, not just her first name... her new last name too. 

No matter how much times passes or what transpires in life, a mother forgetting her child is practically impossible or unthinkable.  The bond flows deep and wide, expanding past grueling twists and turns. Yet, sometimes through an illness, sad/horrific circumstances, or events beyond our control, it is possible for the memory of a child to disappear, even from their mother.

Praise be!! There is One love which transcends any and all boundaries.  God's love for us, His children, is absolute and knows no limits.  He knows our every breath, whimper and desire.  Forgetting us is impossible.  We don't have to yell or stir His memory; He already knows all. We are engraved on the Palm of His Hand.

I am missing the Mrs., but i have not forgotten her nor has God. And as long as i know and trust He has her and all my children, this mother can smile and rest. And you can too.

Thank You, Father!

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ fruit

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22

How does your fruit bowl look?
May the fruit of the Spirit overflow from your soul. Someone you know is in need of the sweetness of God. 

friend, you are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ fix

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

"Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest." Hebrews 3:1


Father,
Through the pain through the praise, through the tears through the thrills, let my gaze be fixed on You. You are my constant Peace.


friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

are you weak?

The Lord said...
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding... 
the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man/woman who trusts in Him." Psalms 32:8,9,10

Dear Friend,

I am praying for you. I feel your heartache and pain… and more importantly, God sees, hears and feels all you are consumed with in your life.

Praying for Him to surround you and comfort you as only He can.  One thing I know for sure is He does not want  you to keep beating yourself up.  We all make the best decisions we can based on the information and understanding we have at the moment.  Oh, IF ONLY we could see the future!!  What perfect lives we would have…. But then who would need God?  How ignorant and dangerous that knowledge would be for us.  We were created to BE with God… to lean and depend on Him due to our human-ness. 

So, let’s accept our weakness, mistakes and stupidity as opportunities to grow our relationship with God.  It is the One relationship that can save us, protect us, lead us and love us unconditionally.  When I am weak, then I am strong.  Thanks be to God!

Take it easy on yourself… rest in His lap of Love.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

not in your hands

Packing up a goodie box... i checked the list.  Pictures, frames, dish towels, spices, cards, hugs and kisses.  Would the hugs and kisses melt during the trip? No. They were not the chocolate melting kind, but the kind capable of melting your heart.

a Mighty Word ~ prayer

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

amen.

Prayer and peace go hand in Hand.


friend, you are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

it's just one...

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

 What looks like a dead end or disaster to you, is not. 

One day at a time, one trial at a time, one mess at a time  -- God is with us. No matter what our ones are in life, we always have The One. We are never, never alone. And may we remember, God is never caught by surprise. He knows and has prepared perfectly for all our moments.  What we see as the end is actually the beginning of something new with God. In time what we don't see or understand will be revealed to us, then our ah-ha moment will show us what our but-why faith moments did not.

Thank You, Father, for staying, sticking, and surviving with me in each moment.  You are The One for me, always!

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

flower power

"His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance."  Revelation 1:16

"Many are asking, 'Who can show us any good?' Let the light of Your face shine upon us, O LORD... I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:6,8
 
Skimming through friends' pictures, my eyes landed on a favorite... sunflowers.  I love their cheerful presence and find it amazing how they always face and follow the sun.  They are a shining example to us on how to live as believers.

Having it's roots nestled deep in the foundation, the sunflower grows strong and tall for all to see and enJOY its beauty.  No matter the time of day, it is always facing the sun.  Which caused me to wonder, what happens when it is dark or cloudy? It appears the flower droops... as if it's head is bowed. 

I want my life to be like that too.  I want to be firmly rooted in a relationship with God and watered daily by His Word. As the sunflower continually faces the sun, i want to be found facing and following the Son.  And on dark, cloudy days, may my head be bowed in prayer -- laying my requests, pleas, cries and thanks before God. 

There is Power in the Son... may He bloom and shine in us, so others will see and turn to Him too.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ miracle

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Would you like a miracle?
Here's something to think about... miracles are born out of problems.  Just check your Bible; before every miracle, a problem existed.

Let us give thanks in all circumstances -- even problems.  Smile, you might be in line for the next miracle.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ relax

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32: 26

Whatever is causing you to fret, God is already in the midst of and working for the good.  

Do you believe and trust God in all things?

Do -- relax; He's got it and you.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God, 
veneal

CHRISTmas in July :)

"I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry... He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." Psalm 40:1, 3

"I'm here to pick up the cards i ordered."
"Are you the one??"
"The one what?"
"The one who ordered Christmas cards??"

I had two good reasons for ordering my Christmas cards in July... the price was right, and i am anxious for Christmas to arrive this year.

Until now, the mention of Christmas in July made me shudder. Anna left 2 weeks ago, but it feels more like 6 months. Preparing for and thinking about Christmas in July puts a song in my heart, and provides fuel for needed patience. It makes the time waiting for her to visit during the holidays seem closer and sweeter.

Are you anxiously waiting for something or someone?  May God direct your focus and help you find peace.  Whether it's reading His Word, praying, gathering with friends, cooking or preparing for Christmas in July, let God guide your day and fill it with faith in Him and what's to come.

He has put a new song of joy and hope in my heart.  Yes, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas", and i am thrilled. While you wait, God wants to put a song in your heart too.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

are you waiting?

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!" Isaiah 30:18

For the first time ever, i am wishing my summer away.
I am...

waiting for one to return.
waiting for another to become financially secure.
waiting for a career turn for one.
waiting for a change in a relationship.
waiting for an answer.

waiting,
waiting,
waiting.


Waiting for what i want... it does not come easily.  And why should we wait?

This world tells us we can and should have what we want... GO! DO! GET! NOW!!  But this world lies, deceives, steals, misleads and instills an insatiable hunger for more --  more of what doesn't truly satisfy. 

Father, there are lessons in waiting and blessings.  Help me turn a deaf ear to the circus chants, and instead trust the stillness in waiting for You.  

Only His grace, love and mercy satisfies our soul completely. 

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

let freedom ring!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a  yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

Happy July 4th!  As we celebrate America's freedom today, let us also remember the greatest freedom of all times.... the freedom in Christ from sin. 

Thank you to our armed services, past and present.  Thank You, Father, forevermore.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

Touché! Ricochet!

"Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me... You are my refuge." Psalm 30:3-4

Have you ever let go of something, and then have it come back and hit you in the face?  A rubber band, a frisbee, a ball, your words?  Have you ever encouraged someone then have the words come back to you for your own need?  

Father, thank You for the reverberation of Your Word.  How amazing that what we share with others is sometimes what we need most to hear too.  You are awesome, God, knowing and preparing us for what we need, long before we see it coming!  Thank You.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

special delivery... open TODAY

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

Dear Child,
I see your pain, i hear your cry, i feel your hurt.  Mistakes, bad decisions we all have made them.  But, we don't need to stay in them.

Don't live in the regrets of yesterday.  They only carry us down a dark, downward spiral to sorry, hopelessness and depression...  paralyzing our efforts to move on. 

Yesterday is written in ink and can't be erased. Let it go. It is poison for the soul.

What we have is today.  It is a clean sheet ready for a new start, a change, a beginning for a better tomorrow.  When we focus on today, our tomorrows will get better.  The pain of yesterday will fade and become a good memory of what we learned -- valuable lessons, growing us stronger and wiser.  And then, my Child, an appreciation for our season of yesterday woes will grow.

In your voice i hear your uncertainty and doubt, feeling a change is too late. Will things improve? Yes! I can promise it will, because God promised it first.  We need only to look at His Word and Him to see how over and over again, people can and do overcome struggles.  His promises are clear and true... God works all things to the good for those who love Him... and i know you do.  Renew your love with Him, tell Him how you feel and let Him guide your decisions. 

Where life let's us down, God raises us up.
Where  discouragement settles in, God replaces with encouragement.
Where our plans fail, God's plan prevails.

Trust Him with today, and then tomorrow do it again.  As much as i love you, God's love for you is even greater.  Can you imagine that?? Because it is the unshakeable, undeniable Truth.

I'm in your corner, cheering for you, claim your freedom from the past,
I can't wait to see the wonders of what God has in store for you!
Believe and receive,
I love you to the moon and beyond... and then, God takes over,
mom

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ Peace

"And He will be their peace." Micah 5:5


Peace --
When you think there is none... there is.  
God is our Peace... at all times.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal