lavender

I miss the long nights of fellowship
The eager early morning greetings

It seems as though I've let time slip away from us...
Have let the demands of others put a wedge between us.

And the gifts you gave me...
I haven't had the time to enjoy...to savor...
to nurture and produce more.

My heart longs to be filled with sweet music...that it may clear
my cluttered mind.
And intertwined in notes my be the love shared between
you and I.

Like the sweet fragrance of lavender oil
poured out of Mary's box...

I pour out my heart...
Saying I Love You...
Praying never to be apart.

What was he doing in the field?

He went out to the field one evening to meditate and as he looked up he saw camels approaching. Genesis 24:63 NIV



לָשׂוּחַ-lasuah basadheh, is the Hebrew word used in this passage in place of meditate. There are several schools of thought among the Jewish scholars as to what lasuah means. Some say it refers to prayer, a pouring out o f the heart as it is referred to in Psalms 102:1. Others say that the root suah in this instance means to 'speak'. Yet others take a more literal approach and suggest this word's reference is to things that grow from the ground, like grass and trees.



So what was Issac doing out in the field? Was he praying or just simply on a nature hike?

There have been many a times where I have enjoyed going out to nature to clear my mind and have found myself in prayer and meditative reflection. It is during those times where God has revealed so much about His character. As I admire the intricacy in which he created the colorful birds, delicate petals, and majestic mountains, I ponder the question, if He's mindful of these is He not the more mindful of me? His child created after His own image? And if He provides rain for the dry land and sunshine for the flower's bloom, will He not provide my every need? Then all of a sudden I'm aware of His presence as I continue to commune with Him amongst His creation!

I believe Isaac, as our first parents Adam and Eve, was doing both out in the field. He was in meditative prayer, speaking to God amongst the grass and trees. It is important to note where Isaac was at this point of his life. He was dealing with the loss of his mother and Abraham had sent his servant in search of a wife for him. So there Isaac was, with all sorts of thoughts going through his head, probably asking God for a special companion he could share his thoughts, ideas, and plans with. Someone he could debrief with, laugh with, and grieve with....Someone who would support, encourage and inspire him and he and turn do the same! And as he looks up...could it be the answer to his prayer? As the story in the bible continues, we see that indeed it's God's answer to his prayer...he meets Rebekah who becomes his beautiful life companion.

So I pose the question, is it possible for a word to mean several things at the same time? He went out to field one evening to "nature"....lets say for the sake of an example the word "nature" in this particular instance means meditative prayer amongst nature. Then we would clearly see exactly what Isaac was doing out in the field. Is it possible lasuah was conveying all three meanings at once...speaking/praying amongst the grass and trees? Maybe....lol!

Whether you think this particular concept might be a little far fetched or not, the point is prayerful meditation with God is one of the most powerful things one can do. This particular verse about meditation jumped out at me because it was therapeutic during my depressive state and going out in nature to clear my head and speak to God is probably one of my most favorite things to do. Oh how He's answered prayer just like he did Isaac's!! If you've never had the opportunity I suggest you try going out one day and experiencing meditating on God on a nature hike! =)

My Notes On Jesus

Time is more precious than money

a kind gesture speaks louder than words.

A gentle touch feeds the lonely.

An encouraging word voids a negative spirit

A sweet song uplifts the depressed

The Word quenches thirst

Prayer is a life line

Faith is healing medicine

Patience reveals all things

Real love has no conditions

Awe-Some Praise

Oh Lord, how I delight in the beauty of your creation!

What detail in the most delicate flower.

What vibrant display of color in the plumage of birds with colors we have yet to name!

Soft rolling hills that fall into the vast valley.

Majestic mountains that seem to cut through the Earth in an attempt to reach the heights of

heaven!

And all around , I hear the song of your creation giving you honor and glory from the energetic

vocals of birds to the mountain's reverent praise.......

How excellent is your name in all the Earth!!

All my cares and worries fade away as I join in praise.

Realizing your are God who is in control, mindful of all your created beings!

Broken Heart

Like a broken vessel full of fragrant oils, a broken heart often emits the sweet perfume God loves to smell....

For it is then He comforts and does His greatest restorative work

He begins to mold and shape you for the task He has prepared

The trials whose weight have crushed your heart-
are used to develop your gifts...

so that they may spread throughout like incense to bless those that you come in contact with

They in turn smell the aroma of God

And as His scent lingers...

they are moved like you were as He begins to pour in healing streams into their broken hearts

Filled up, they continue to share His essence!

Oh to share blessed fellowship with Him

Whose broken heart of love healed the world

Grateful

It's hard to believe that 4 years ago I was battling with depression. For 2 of those years my mind was a battle field. Every morning I would wake up afraid to face the day because physically and mentally I did not feel adequate to handle anything...to take care of 2 boys, take care of my house, chores, etc. The more I tried to keep up with the demands of life, the deeper I sunk.

Looking back now and through my recent experiences...

I am grateful for trials

I am grateful for His Word which is my comfort

I am grateful for His unconditional love...its what keeps you going when human love fails.

I am grateful for the gift of mercy

I am grateful for the gift of grace

I am grateful for forgiveness

I am grateful for answered prayers.....He is so faithful!

I am grateful for knowledge shared

I am grateful for true friendship

I am grateful for open doors

I am grateful for life's experiences

I am grateful for every opportunity presented to me

I am grateful for the ability to choose

I am grateful for family

I am grateful for the gifts He's given me

I am grateful for health

I am grateful for all the people in my life....good or bad.

I am grateful for discernment

I am grateful for His revelations

I am grateful for all I've learned and will continue to learn

I am grateful for every single day

I am grateful for this journey!

Marathon

Let us go over to the other side. Mark 4:35

When I started this blog, I had decided to start on a life changing journey, which is why this blog is entitled as such. One of the major ones being to run a marathon!

San Diego was the marathon of choice and I am overjoyed to say I did it! 26.2 miles. All my training and obstacles I had to hurdle paid off at the end. Though I sit here in pain as I type away, every bit of it is well worth the feeling of accomplishing something that research states only about one tenth of a percent to one percent of the population accomplishes. Of course, I wasn't aware of that until I heard someone say it over a bullhorn on the sidelines of the course. What an inspiring thought along mile 8!

Running through the course, you run into all kinds of people from newbies like me to elite runners; from the young to the 75 year old seasoned runners, who by the way were passing me up and finished way before me!! LOL!! The course being 26.2 miles gives you a lot of time to think as well. So many things came to mind. Thought about how far I'd gotten milage wise in training, when at the beginning 6 miles was a huge feat to now 26.2! At half of the race (13 miles) it was inspiring to see some of the people in my training club. Especially one of the pace leaders, who is in his 70's, running after he had just done the L.A. marathon the week before. I think it was at about mile 17 my body started revolting and the realization that there were still 9 miles to go set in,so I was pleasantly surprised to see friends on the sidelines cheering at mile 20, which in turn gave a boost of energy and lifted the spirits up! So thankful for them!



But it was close to 4.2 miles left, that I started thinking about all the obstacles I had to hurdle to get to this day, this race. Thought about the sacrifices..being a mom and wife...encountered people who with their words or lack of support tried to discourage. At the same time, I thought of those who only spoke words of encouragement and during the week of the race, would send inspiring texts of prayer and how proud they were at what I was about to accomplish.



I correlate all of this with this race that God has asked us all to be in. You see along the way, you realize that as you prepare, that even the people closest to you might not understand why you sacrifice so much for what God has called you to do and say things to discourage you from accomplishing the task He has asked of you. The enemy speaks through others to feed your doubts and insecurities so as to keep you from realizing and experiencing that which God is crucially trying to convey to each and everyone of us!! But God is so good. He will not leave you nor forsake you. He will not call you to a race and not prepare you for it. He sends people in your life to speak words of life and encouragement. He sends people who have gone through similar trials and through the knowledge they've gained, uses them to guide you every step of the way! I kept hearing His voice saying, "I've prepared you for this day and am with you, just as I've shown you time and time again...just as I've promised." At the same time, one of the people on the sidelines was walking up and down telling us that from this point on to the finish, it was your mind that was going to get your through to the other side.



So, I looked over at my coach, running partner, and friend, who is an experienced runner, who graciously decided to run my first marathon with me, and let him know I was ready to kick in and finish this thing!! We finished in 6:01 hrs. and met up with another friend that ran and my husband who were waiting at the end of the race. But as we crossed the finish line, I became overwhelmed with joy and a sense of accomplisment that had I not fought back the tears...those tears would have told the story of my journey to the other side.

Likewise, when we finish this Christian race and get to the other side with Christ, our tears and songs will tell the heavenly hosts the story of our journey and the realization that all we endured was more than worth it.

Revelation 5:11-13 (New International Version)
11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"