my favourite things/amazing grace stories

amazing

this grace

but today I heard it differently

it was a sermon
at the Army church

after a weekend of learning together
the students performed for us

their giftings varied
and finely honed

and from Toronto
a speaker talked of
all the 'amazing grace stories'

filling our sanctuary

and I  thought for a moment of heaven
and how eternity would be filled with 'amazing grace stories'
all of us laying down our crowns for the One
the One...

the One worthy of these amazing grace stories
and I wept for the joy of it

how comforted He will be one day
to know we count Him worthy
of this honour

we will never tire of  hearing 

the stories 

from each soldier
each child
each one known 

before conception 

by the One
who so freely
bestowed
on us 

this 

amazing 

grace

For Him it was costly
more than we will ever understand

but 

joy will 

be His
on the day
we all
recollect to the Father
our
'amazing grace stories'

I long to see His face

my favourite things

my favourite things/ that tree

I caught a glimpse of that tree tonight
Dear Lord
walking out
into the night
I caught its darkness
and why You said not to eat of it

You
Dear One
Who formed us

You Abba Father
Holy One
Who knew we were but dust
until You breathed
Life into us

You knew

You knew we could not bear the knowledge
of such evil
You knew it would consume us
break us
and leave us
lifeless

You knew we could not grasp the fullness
of Your goodness

so You came
to show us

we still couldn't
comprehend

so you had to die
to help our hearts see

and now by Your Spirit
poured out to us

and with
Refiners Fire

this dust is being made pure gold

now we have a hope that is not ashamed

our eyes can see something new

a tree

but of Life
and we
may
eat
of
it

Abba Father

it
will
be
the
healing
of
the
nations

that
tree
Dear Lord

that tree

my favourite things

my favourite things/ green granny smith apples

my favourite things

He visited us today

The old woman walked right to us
though her zig zagging gait suggested
she'd had too much to drink
her plastic bottle empty
swaying in her hand
we all gazed at her steadfastness
to join our picnic celebrating

our blankets spread
on the velvety grass
the children celebrating a tenth birthday
fruit trays and veggies
finger food banquet arranged in its fullness

we all held our breaths
waiting

she spoke

do you have some water
its my heart
and the water helps

water

water

of course we had water

I reached one cool bottle to the children
to pass on to her
almost too eagerly
grateful she did not seek to spoil the children's fun
or take from their "abundance"

what heart is mine
I thought
O Lord, forgive me
I thought
I must give her more

we have so much

she gently folded her hands under her chin
gave Thanks
to the Eternal One
for the water
for us
our
kindness

then walked on

wavering still
but kindly
and with a grace
as she passed by
we could see
in her coat pocket
bulging
a perfect specimen
of a green
granny
smith
apple

I smiled thinking
an apple was also good for her heart
and it reminded me of the Garden
the fruit on that tree
and how even there
God's grace found us

I wanted to give her a veggie plate
Shoshanna wanted to give her a strawberry tray
Everyone wanted to give her more

but we each said nothing out loud
about it
and
we did nothing

we wanted to
but
she left so quickly

all we did was kindly return the blessing
she so graciously left for us
as she walked on

later the children found her sleeping
not far from us
peacefully

-------------------------
we are home now
and at the evening table we shared how we all wanted to give more
but she was so content
with the water
and we were frozen in time and could not move
though our hearts wished to

it was just a cup of cold water
-------------
tonight after all were settled
I did my last watch of the night

out into the dusk I went
dogs at my side
the goats and horses happy for
the evening meal
new kids put safely away
water taken around

and there arms raised to the Eternal One
with the night sky swathed in softness
He met me and touched me
I communed and rested and prayed
and praised and trusted
and waited
so long
I stood
His breath mine
His healing mine
my heart His to reshape
renew

I turned and there sitting poised and tall behind me was my Willow dog
eyes on me
and more
she had my back
she was so stoically calm
and still
waiting
so close

and I am thinking how sometimes the animals see God and angels more easily than we do

they seem to know if we entertain angels unawares

green granny smith apples
faithful guardian dogs
angels in old women disguise
birthday celebrations
little happy hearts
His Word that reminds us
He is with us

And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’…(Mathew 25:39)

His heart

my favourite things

my favourite things: a sharing from: Positively Loved and Adored: Today marks 6 months since we arrived back in Cana...

my favourite things ~ seeing the heart of our children

a joy
this growing old
the witnessing
and sharing of days
and moments
in our loved ones lives

a joy
this passing of time
days blended
one into another
little footsteps
becoming
men and women
before ones eyes
and all the love
entangled
that makes
it possible
to
grow
old
joyously

entangled in God's grace
His tender mercies
new
every
morning

this growing old
this seeing the heart of our children


my favourite things

-----------------------------
Here is my Shoshanna's blog post; I hope you enjoy it~ blesses my heart to see their love poured out.
Positively Loved and Adored: Today marks 6 months since we arrived back in Canada...

my favourite things~ that wet sort of Autumn day

  it is that wet sort of Autumn day
  mist shrouded
  yet lovely
  the feeling of a warm wet towel after a sunny day at the river
  this chinook 
  in October
  the wind stilled
  for a moment
  then a twirlywind catching the raised branches
  of the Cottonwood
  and the children leaping
  and dancing
  to catch the swirling up and down of the coloured leaves
  my dream of little feet and laughter satisfied
  by my waking
  and finding them
  all here

  my favourite things

----------------------------
(photo:Bob Kimball~ the maple tree)

Shoshanna's birthday on the 1st
Stephen's on the 9th
my mama Jessie's on the 10th
Birthdays
Thanksgiving
God's many blessings
my favourite things

my favourite things/my Eduardo

what is it that speaks
to the heart
that voice without words
that moves us
when words cannot

what is this feeling
of up and down
but has no touch
just feeds on emotion
and not always on a truth

let us hear always the True One

faith says we are His
so we need never feel alone
His Word says we are
the sweet savour of God
we do not need to be more
or different from what we are

He is enough
His grace is sufficient
His love is abounding
His joy is strength
He has taken all that is wrong
and gives what is pure
and honourable
and just...
He is all we need
ever
He is enough
Jesus
----------------
my Eduardo... sixty-three today
I love watching the morning light on you each dawn as I awaken before you
I love to trace the shadows and light along your face
I love to hear your soft short breaths... quiet and rested
your days are busy
often rushed
these morning moments watching you and listening
help me savour you through the day
I pray a year of quiet joy and peace in your heart
no matter the busyness around you
I pray laughter for medicine
I pray you will know how much you are loved
I love you
your kids love you
with Jesus love
your cup is overflowing
-----------
enjoy this cup of grace
it is enough
--------------
Eduardo
my beloved
------------
my favourite things

my favourite things/ building with family

two summers
a son home

and friends come to help
all from the heart~ true family

a daughter and her family
home for a season to milk
and hide love gifts of
tasks done with heart
to bless me and others
while I visit far and distant Afrika

to have two summers
with our little boy all grown

he used to play in the sawdust
building booby traps for his sisters
holes with wood stick rooves
all covered again
with sawdust
also with laughter

and now again building
a home for a sister
and her kiddies

from the bottom up
all the little boy genius
making a real home
taking trees from our land
milling it
shaping it

from the bottom up
a fine home
a labour of skill and love

I miss the people that filter by all summer
I miss the summer and its warmth and dryness
long days short nights
work hard play hard
Willow River raft rides
with Neumanns
with Dad
hot days left refreshed
raspberries
fresh garden
breezes
horses and goats around about us
grazing lazing
geese and hummingbirds
owls
ducks woodpeckers
robins
and always the sparrow

and always His eye on us
pouring out His blessing
day by day
at the right time
the right moment

the little boy all grown
an engineer now
new horizons new visions
us alone
still day by day remembering
love's labour
and carrying on
piece by piece
little by litte
this Home love is building
with God's strength
His joy
His help

A little Afrikan family
is coming Home one day

we want to be ready

my Shoshi
four precious grandkiddies
new visions
little feet running to and fro
laughter
hopes
smiling ones
a desire satisfied
from our hearts
and God's

God gives good gifts to His children
all these memories

building with family 

my favourite things