Showing posts with label mercy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mercy. Show all posts

Monday, April 09, 2012

thoughts from Emmaus....

Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! 
Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? 
Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah 
had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?" Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.
Luke 24:25-27

I've read the account of the followers of Jesus on the road to Emmaus many times.  I thought I knew it... I really did.  Until yesterday.

Yesterday, Resurrection Sunday 2012, I realized that I could have easily been one of those travelers... we think along similar lines... we doubt.

On the very same day that Jesus defied death FOREVER and rose again, 
those followers of Him doubted...
we thought He was the One...

On the very same day that Peter saw the empty tomb, 
those followers of Him doubted...
it's been three days...

On the very same day that Jesus revealed Himself 
and His risen body to Mary in the garden, 
those followers of HIM doubted...
not our Jesus...

So often... I doubt.

On the very same day that a miracle happens,
I doubt...
it's just a coincidence...

On the very same day that I see something empty,
I doubt..
but I've prayed for 3 days.. or 5 days... or forever...

On the very same day that He shows Himself to me...
I doubt...
it couldn't be Him

Yesterday... on the very same day we celebrate a risen King... I doubted and then I heard Him...

So thick-headed
so slow-hearted!

I don't want to be like those followers of Him who walked to Emmaus in doubt and disbelief... I want to be like the women at the tomb who ran and told everyone HE IS RISEN!

Counting gifts again with the gratitude community at Ann's because one of the best ways to announce HE IS RISEN is to shout all the ways He shows Himself to me and to list all the ways He blesses...in gratitude there is no room for doubt.

~*~

... for the privilege to serve a risen King!
... for the freedom to worship 
... for the privilege to honor and celebrate Resurrection Sunday
... for early mornings and remembering the women who ran to the tomb


... for sunrises services
... and church brunches
... for worship
... and laughter with a church family


... for a friend filled week
... and friends who traveled to be with us
... for conversations that pick up where you leave off
... for great cousin time


... for sunrises
... and sunsets
... and friends who for a campfire that ends a great spring break


... for the opportunity to tell my story again
... for the Author who pens a story that brings Him glory


... for modern medicine
... for a long-time doctor who understands
... for another antibiotic


... for a Savior who reaches down in the middle of a church service to speak directly to this  slow-hearted, thick-headed follower.




Wednesday, March 21, 2012

His loving mercy


I can't help but love the days when my God changes up my plans and gifts me with reminders of His tender mercy.


I woke, this morning, to another "no" in the quest of promoting this book.  Another incredibly gracious "no, thanks, but we wish you the best."  

In this journey, I find myself so very thankful for the mercy of my God who has been incredibly kind and merciful to this tender heart.


This morning's gift came just 10 minutes later in the form of a phone call from my long time friend and Emily's guidance counselor.  Two times a month, Carmen organizes the entire school into community service teams and relies on parents to help drive.  Ellen and I often drive to a nursing home with a great group of boys.  Today, though, the phone call and the plea to cover for someone else... and go to a farm.


"Take Ellen!  She'll love it!" she said.  "And, you can sit and read a book, if you want."  

"I'm in!"  


Ellen helped get a pony brushed and ready for a pony party this weekend.  I think she loved every single minute of it.



...and me?  Well... I didn't read a book... instead, I sat at a picnic table on a most gorgeous March morning and wrote.

The gift of time to work on a sequel.  Time to do what I love to do...

...all because of His loving mercy and the gifts He bestows day after day.

~*~



Wednesday, February 15, 2012

post Valentine gift for you...


This is what being intentional looked like yesterday... intentionally saying I love you fourteen different ways.




Amazingly, the thought came to me while I was writing yesterday's post.  My initial heart response was..."I don't have the time for that!" ... why?!?  Why is that ALWAYS my first heart response.  


Reality?  Writing four lists took me about 20 minutes... not much time to invest in these I love.




Sometimes I wonder if the surprises are from him... or are they from HIM in disguise?   Just when I write my heart and essentially swear off the materialism of Valentine's Day... he comes home with these... and I smile and say thank you and thank YOU for grace and mercy, and for HIM putting me in my place.


Today, I marvel much over grace gifts... the many gifts that come my way day in and day out.  The many answers to spoken and unspoken prayer. Most specifically, the answers to the prayer of the Mom's heart that says... give me mercy, give me grace, help me endure the days he's home recovering.




Instead of endure... I have enjoyed!  Gifts of sweet time and sweeter conversations.  A few moments to sit by and immerse myself in this moment before it's gone.   All too soon, he will be back in the adventure of life and we will be running here and there.  Soon, too, he will be off on his own life adventure.   So... I sit and I soak it in... this time with the one I can hardly call man-cub anymore.


...and, I offer you this gift...




... just $.99 at Amazon or Smashwords.  


...happy belated LOVE day!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

mercy...

...because of the tender mercy of our God...
Luke 1:78

Because my God is a God of tender mercy and His Word promises that His mercies are new every morning, this child is named Mercy...Ellen Mercy.  His gift to us of tender mercy and faithfulness.

My sister and I have often remarked at how God can take one thing and use it differently in different lives to His glory.  In our family, pregnancy seems to be that "thing".  Four women...four different stories of God's faithfulness and mercy through pregnancy...

...for one sister... mother of five says it all.  Pregnancy hasn't been an issue... well.. actually it has.  She's mother to five on earth and one in Heaven.  She and her husband have had to reconcile some unexpected pregnancies and the torn emotions that go with them.  Five children... five hearts... five souls held dear by their parents all have been used by God in their hearts and lives.

...for my other sister...mother of one was her long time description.  Years of waiting and losing one baby have been hard.  Thankfully, there are gifts of tender mercy there as well... for number two has lived with them on and off for the last 18 months as a foster child and number three is due soon... eight years after the birth of number one.  God has used years of waiting... hoping... longing to bring about His perfect work in my sister's heart and life.

...for my dear sister in law... mother of none was how some saw her for ten years.  Graciously and without complaint, my sister chose to live her life with my brother as a couple rather than as parents.  God used them mightily during that time and I think He was able to use them so well because of her obedience and surrender to His will.  Days after their eleventh wedding anniversary... God blessed them with the birth of their son... a gift of His tender mercy and great faithfulness.

...for me...mother of three is how most people know me.  However, in my heart, I am a mother to seven.  Seven?!?  Isn't that CRAZY!  In fact, the neurologist looked at Ellen's health history last week and said, "She was your SEVENTH pregnancy? How many children do you have?!?"  I have three here with me and four waiting for me... how COOL is that?!?  God has used each of my children to chip away sharp edges on my heart... to smooth rough patches of my soul... to mold me... to shape me more in the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.  

On the morning of September 14, 2003, God granted us a tender, new mercy... Ellen Mercy. 

...thus named so we will always remember.