Walk with Him Wednesday

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10

A dear online friend, Leslie, has breathed faith in recent years, as she continues to exchange her dreams for her life & children, for God’s plans & purposes.  She has a beautiful way in expressing those things that go on in the deep places where pain and joy and hope coexist in our lives…

I pray for my children that they will realize that they need approval from One and that this will allow them to be the person that He created them to be.  I know God has a purpose for each one of them…   ~ Leslie Nelson, Joyful Mother of 6

May all that we hope for our children and all that we dream them to be, be yielded to the Holy One who created them.  The One whose plans for each of us are to give us hope and a future.  

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

holy experience

Hymn Study ~ Just Give Me Jesus

In the morning, when I rise

Give me Jesus.

You can have all this world,

Just give me Jesus.

When I am alone,

Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.

You can have all this world,

Just give me Jesus.

When I come to die,

Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.

You can have all this world,

Just give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.

You can have all this world,

Just give me Jesus.

And this  

Give Me Jesus by Frances J. Crosby, 1879

Take the world, but give me Jesus, All its joys are but a name;

But His love abideth ever, Through eternal years the same.

Refrain:

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!

Oh, the length and breadth of love!

Oh, the fullness of redemption,

Pledge of endless life above!

Take the world, but give me Jesus, Sweetest comfort of my soul;

With my Savior watching o’er me, I can sing though billows roll.

Take the world, but give me Jesus, Let me view His constant smile;

Then throughout my pilgrim journey Light will cheer me all the while.

Take the world, but give me Jesus;  In His cross my trust shall be,

Till, with clearer, brighter vision,  Face to face my Lord I see.


A Thankful Heart

holy experience

163. A new child to love and grow to know.

164. Three young ladies hanging the picture and biography of little Herlinda by their beds, to look at and pray for.

165. An interesting way the Lord has provided funds for ministry. We have to get our hands dirty. Good life of faith lessons.

166. Two more years of work offered and accepted.

167. Friendly hearts that opened their home for Sabbath fellowship.

168. Vibrant autumn colors.

169. A full wood shed, a full deck and another full wood bin!

170. A praying child.

171. Her prayers answered. The well has water. Fresh clean water.

To join this community of gratitude…

the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving…

holy experience

152. Home School Funding & Teacher Support, a tremendous blessing.

153. Rain, lifegiving Rain.

154. A paperchasing question answered by God’s provision. Our mortgage statements are now paperless. One less stack of paper forwarded to a dear friend who cares for things while we are “somewherelse.”

155. SUNSHINE, Beautiful, Glorious Sunshine. Children scrap the books for fresh air, nature, industrious play. For winter is coming.

156. The sense of being “at home” in the new fellowship. The excitement to get to know this part of the family.

157. Being invited for coffee, fun conversation with adults, listening to dice tossing, pieces tapping and children laughing.

158. RAIN!

159. The prayers of a child…so simple and straight to it…and though “the well is dry”, clear water continues to flow from the tap.

160. A new week stretched out before us, with plenty of good things to do.

161. A tentative plan for “going home.”

162. My failure is uncovered, revealed in words right before my eyes. My ignorance replaced by understanding.  And the gratitude overflows as once again I see the HAND which will not leave me in my ignorance and sin.

Come by Here…

And here to share in the Multitude Community.

The Well is DRY…

Words that have struck fear in the lives of people, people who struggle against the elements of Earth to live, to raise families, to survive.
The Well is DRY.
Words we heard this week, after the tap stopped flowing.  Then started sputtering, bringing forth small streams of water tinted red with minerals and dirt.
And in this insulated place of abundance the words do not strike fear, but inconvenience.  We will need to use paper plates and the grill more.  We will continue to haul our drinking/cooking water from town in those large clean bottles.  We will haul our mountains of laundry to the town laundry mat.  In a clean, mechanically sound, comfortable, but only has a tape deck, not a cd player or entertainment system, minivan which only has HEAT or COOL air, we have to change it each season. 

INCONVENIENCE that we often think of as NEED, SUFFERING. 

The dogs will have to wander down to the pond, mud puddles, ditches for a drink.  Maybe the landlord will have water trucked out here.
No one will suffer from thirst or filth.  No sense of desperation.  No disease will creep through our homes as a result.
How does this happen to us, and we get to play pioneer?  

What do I do with this when all my insulating comfort and wants that claim to be needs surround  me so loudly that my desperation for Jesus is dimmed. 

That my heart poured out in Jesus’ name  looks like a dirty trickle from a dry well?

Psalm 116:12
What shall I render to the Lord?
for all his benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
May HE fill the well, that it would run with love and life in His name. 
JESUS, open my eyes.  this is my desperate need. 

Not food, not water, not shelter or clothing.  but JESUS. 

A Multitude of Gifts

Will you please?
Head down the lane?
Stretch the legs
Breathe in the last hint of summer short, turning now to brief autumn…
Find traces of summer wonder still in things small…

And squeeze out the very last bit of a long weekend.

holy experience

144. Continued opportunities to speak truth into lives, into the life of a stranger and into the lives of family loved ones. And the boldness HE is giving me to do it.

145. Builder is home a bit early again, time for read aloud, looking into more orphan ministry, future hopes as well as extra playtime with the sweet children.

146. The paintbox that God uses, to color the days. His work is beyond the word beautiful.

147. Hope. Answers in the unexpected places.

148. Strong health, strength to do the work, to enjoy the play, to soak up the rest.

149. Another day to learn to do right, to seek Holy.

150. Bubbly laughter, happy barks, a pack of dogs who claim this family.

151. Finding a church body to join, to take part in the Journey together.

{this moment} Mae learned a new art…

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

To see more, or to join in visit Soule Mama

May your weekend be refreshing and full of cheer.  A cheerful heart is good medicine, Proverbs 17:22