Multitude Monday

i've missed being here (and sadly i've missed writing down some of the gifts. there is something in the writing, the official recording of His blessing).

it's been a few weeks. they've been beautiful days of blessing, and some of the joys have been down right hard... and to some degree it's just the beginning, because as she reminded me, "what's 24 years in light of Him? a speck." yes. she's right, just a speck in eternity.

i have been learning things new to me, and re-learning things not so new to me. all by His grace. oh, His grace - His amazing grace.

i completed a study on the meditations of my heart and the words of my mouth - a work in progress (praise Him for progress). and then i picked up a new read, she said it was good. and it is. it's good in the best of ways. the kind of good that steps on toes and stretches so far it's uncomfortable, but you know it's right as rain.

Simplicity is... a way of being.... the Christian focus of simplicity is to abide in Christ... As a result of this abiding, we organically manifest fruit such as love, joy and peace.... Simplicity's undoing process creates space for God to work with our motives and thoughts.... Self-awareness is central to transformation because it shows us what we truly treasure.... the Spirit gives us insightful awareness so we have a place to start. God is not mad at us, but mad about us. God is a safe shelter in which we can face our underlying motives and determine our next steps.... Any practice of simplicity, no matter how small, invites us to take a step on the path of treasuring God as we let go of other things. (from Abundant Simplicity, Jan Johnson)

 .... and then on a Wednesday eve i listened to Ann. i can still hear her voice, gentle with strong truth:

I may want Christ, but to be crucified, to sacrifice? I may want to be rescued, but do I want to be refined? I may want to be in Christ... but to be inconvenienced?

((selah))
 ~   ~   ~   ~


i am forever grateful, forever counting His gifts to me (from my 1300's)

my smile as i quietly watch --as if my presence may be a secret-- my i do browsing through the library shelves
so strong, so handsome
a seeker - in all things seeking more of Him

the joy in the sound of their laughter as it floats all through the house

thinking back a few weeks to the swing on Mimi & Poppy's back porch
swinging slowly. birds chirping, hummingbird wings buzzing by

the way that He has blessed me to share these specks of time with women who love Him, really ((praise Him for eternal friendships))
women resting in the joy and freedom and peace of His love, His grace, His mercy
women living, really. living with Him, in Him, by Him, through Him, because of Him
beautiful, radiant women practicing His presence, living victoriously in Him alone

and i am thankful that there is joy and rest and hope in the knowing
and today i am reminded of this i know:
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. Psalm 148:13

joyfully joining Ann and the community of thankful counters