The Curve Ball

Sometimes in life, you get thrown a curve ball. (Does that analogy hit home in a 'mostly' non-baseball playing country??)

But you know what I mean. There are things that happen that you just don't see coming......that you're not prepared for....that are shocking, surprising, unexpected.

It's what you do in that moment when the curve ball hits....and the many moments afterwards when its effects are felt, that says an awful lot about the person you are, what you believe and determines what happens next.

Some people I know and love have faced HUGE curve balls lately.....major operations, massive personal challenges, ends of dreams.

And some have faced smaller ones....like yesterday.

I had arranged to meet two friends and their littlies for an hour or so of fun at the local Under 5s day. But I was late and then couldn't find either friend at the meeting place I had designated. Not that it was an ideal meeting place anyway. So I went on my merry way back through all the tents and activities, hoping they would find me. 15 minutes later, one did. She had been waiting down the other end for an hour!!!!! for me and another friend. She'd now found me, but her friend was still MIA....and there was no phone reception to try and track her down. As she was telling me the story she dropped her phone.......it did not bounce. As it hit the concrete path, it cracked and chipped in a couple of places. Hmmmmm....another curve ball. She left Miss T with me while she went to find her aforementioned friend.
Another 5 minutes later, the 2nd friend I had invited found me. She was carrying baby S and 2 yr old T was looking a little pale as he walked beside her. Seems 2 minutes before she pulled into her park, T threw up (in a brand new car). So she left him with me while she went back to the car to clean up the mess. So for the next little bit of time the 3 little ones and I had great fun exploring and playing while their poor Mums dealt with the ripples caused by the curve balls. One Mum caught up with us half and hour in and still got to have some fun, the other found us about 80 minutes later, just 5 minutes before we had to leave.

It was all a bit CRAZY! Unexpected...surprising...a little bit gross....frustrating....time wasting....annoying.....stressful......you get the picture.

But the responses of both girls in the midst of things not going to plan spoke volumes to me. They were matter of fact....gracious....forgiving.....calm.....collected.....and just got on and did what they needed to do. 

I do hope their days improved, but I am glad I saw how they reacted to those curve balls. It made me proud to know these women and have them in my life. It challenged me to consider how I would have responded if it had been me in those situations.  It reminded me that the way they chose to react was the best and the wisest way to face a curve ball and smash it out of the park!

There's been more than a few days between my last post and this one...and no real reason.

Here's a few observations from my past month:

* disappointments happen.....

* there are always opportunities to help others.....

* self-sacrifice is so very hard....

* there's more joy & frustration to be had in a day of playing with a toddler than I ever thought possible...

* Central Qld summers are so very sticky....

* the internet can be such a time waster....

* plans change....

* farewells are not always sad....

* self-absorbtion doesn't really help anyone....

* parents are lovely.....

* op shopping is fun....

* pork crackling is so yummy....

* Christmas carols lighten my spirit....

* teenagers are capable of so much good stuff.....

* waiting can be tiring.....

* living with hope is essential....

Nothing groundbreaking here...but just a few thoughts that may resonate with you. I have learnt to trust God more in the past month and know that His plans are to teach me and help me to become more like Jesus....even through the everydayness of life.

So I am grateful for it all.

Colour in Your Life

What things make your world bright? Colourful? Wonderful?

I sometimes get so rutted in routines and house work that I fail to look beyond both to see and appreciate things of beauty.

Today I had a few moments of deliberately doing that and taking a few seconds to actually think about what was happening and enjoy it.

And you know, it was again, the simple things that have added colour to my world today....

.....looking at the cute little smiles of a 3 month old and remembering when j was that small...

.....a kind message from a friend......

......a quiet 20 minutes in my room with a Bible and my best friend.....

....writing a spicy text to someone who wears sexy small black running shorts.....

....visiting with a new friend.......

Lots of colour, especially considering the day is not done yet.

But as I look at that list I am also reminded that in the routines and house work that just has to be done, there is also colour...

...how thankful I am that I actually have a house to clean...and the gear that makes it easy to do so...

....how nice that a routine of afternoon sleep for j actually happened today...

....it was a delight to cut my homegrown pumpkin up to prepare for dinner....

.....my little one is alive and well and creating mess for me to clean - again - as I speak (see 99 Balloons on youtube to fully appreciate this one.)

Can I encourage you again this day to take time......get perspective......and realise you have so very many colourful blessings to count?

Today I.....

...cleaned the bathroom and toilet. I mean really cleaned them...even scrubbed the floor.

Five hours later though....you really can't tell I out in all that effort.

Today I.....

...washed a load of our clothes.

But now that they are dry and off the line; folded and in the cupboard....you really can't tell I did the washing.

Today I....

...prepared an early dinner for j.

Within a few short hours, there will be no evidence that I made a meal.

So much of what I do in a day goes unnoticed....and I am happy with that. So much of what I do in a day has no real impact on anyone except my family.....and that's okay. So much of what I do in a day is a labour of love.....without any recognition from anyone.

Today I.....

....went the library and struck up a conversation with a total stranger.

That stranger is now a new friend and I even found a way to help her and her boys.

Today I.....

.....hopefully made a difference, a positive difference, in the life of someone....more than one.

Today I ....

.....put a smile on His face.

Tired?

Having just returned from our first family holiday...which was soooooooo much fun......I have been reminded of the saying..."Divert Daily, Withdraw Weekly, Quit Quarterly and Abandon Annually." I'm not sure who said it first, but I do know Rick Warren said it was a good formula for surviving ministry.


I think it's a great formula for surviving life.

I don't know about you, but I have been feeling a little disaster fatigued lately.....every time I turn on the TV I am bombarded with terrible pictures of nuclear reactors melting down, people being shot in Libya, destroyed homes, farms and livelihoods and that's not to mention all the other snippets of 'good' news that gets beamed into our homes every evening.

I have also been feeling somewhat work fatigued. As the teachers out there know, it is a l-o-n-g term and with 3 weeks (4 for some) still ahead, it is difficult to maintain anywhere near that 'first week enthusiasm' we all had way back in January.

There's a little wife and Mummy fatigue in there too. Busy days and sleep interrupted nights.....housework, new house planning, yard work (that just doesn't seem to get a look in), numerous invitations and of course, the added challenge of preparing interesting baby meals all had me feeling like I needed a break.

Thank goodness my husband (who had been anti the idea of a holiday only a couple of months ago) came home a few weeks back and suggested we book a little break away. The anticipation of 'time out' proved to be almost as good as the real thing. And despite coming home to thick, long grass....mountains of washing (funny how that's the one constant in life!), steamy, warm weather and first days back at work, I do feel rested.

The TV news hasn't changed.....I still had to get up to a baby in the night.....and I am collecting student assignments from my class today....BUT I feel in a better head space. I guess that's one great advantage of a break.....you get to rest, relax, regroup.

And as I think about the "DD,WW,QQ,AA" idea mentioned above, I am challenged to do better in this area. Pace myself. Get a bit more balance. Realise that not everything needs to be done perfectly and NOW. And yes....I can say 'no.'

I can also, take a few seconds often during the day to just STOP! I can make sure I divert my thinking and my actions so that I factor in some down time. This week I can ensure that there is a little bit of 'me' time, an hour or so of 'withdrawing' from all that seems so pressing and urgent. I am already looking at the calendar for our next term's little escape....perhaps just a long weekend away as a family this time....and maybe in a tent?? And the annual abandonment for 2011....well that's still in the works, but it probably involves saying 'bye' to this house and 'hi' to our new place.

Of course this can all apply to giving ourselves a bit of space and having a holiday, but I guess it could also apply to dealing with problems or issues in our lives too. Or even commitments and routines.

Perhaps it means we all need to take just a little bit of time off or out to reflect on the 3 months that have just passed by in such a flash in 2011. Three months that have seen the world shake and change. Three months that have reminded each of us of our own mortality and the immense value of life.

Yes, maybe we all needed the reminder that life is precious and we need to enjoy the journey.

Borrowed Post...Living for Others

Joshua says it so well, much better than I could after a week of brain-frying fun.

May his post be a reminder today that it is not all about US.

That thought, which I was first flattened by in the form of "It's not about you" (Rick Warren - Chpt 1 The Purpose Driven Life) a number of years ago, led to all sorts of decisions and adventures...including living in Africa for a whole year.

So please, read Joshua's post here: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/ today and be encouraged to walk in the footsteps of the One who came and showed us firsthand that a life lived for others is a challenging, painful, happy, blessed life.


It's the best life.

From Genesis 1-12

As I read thru the Bible again this year, I am going to try and keep an online journal (of sorts) with a few thoughts from what I read. Perhaps some of my thoughts might be relevant to you too...I pray that may be so....at least on some of the days.


As most of us know, the first book of the Bible - Genesis - is about origins or beginnings. But have you ever thought about what it is the beginning of? It's not just the beginning of the world, although there is that remarkable account of an awesome God planning and creating this magnificent universe. And to think, all He had to do was say it and it was...and it was GOOD!


So Genesis is also the beginning of life. It tells us how we got here. Life - including humankind - was created by a loving God. Logically then, life is precious. It is a gift. It is to be revered and valued. And we are to be grateful for it and thoughtful in how we treat and use it. The early chapters of Genesis remind us that we have been created in God's image...the only part of His creation that can claim this. I hope that as I live my life today, I reflect even a part of His amazing character.


Genesis tells of the beginnings of marriage....Adam and Eve together as a God-ordained couple. And a definition of what marriage should look like: Genesis 2:24 - For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. And we are also given the principles for a successful marriage.....walk daily with God and wives, be a helper to your husband. Someone who 'does him good.'


The early pages in the Bible also reveal other beginnings, not all good. There is the beginning of sin, as Eve and then Adam disobey God. They chose to live life - this life given by Creator God as a gift - on their own terms. And the result? Separation from Him and a legacy of sin and separation for all generations to come. The beginning of judgement....God cannot abide sin and as a just God, He needs to deal with it. And as we know from Romans, the 'wages of sin is death'.


But how incredible that Genesis also is the beginning of grace. God has made a way for us to be forgiven, reunited with Him and able to live life without fear of eternal death. And finally, we can read about the beginnings of covenant....solemn promises God makes with Noah and Abraham. Promises that still impact us today and particularly relevant as flood waters continue to rise and fall. (see: Genesis 9:9 and on)


To me though, one of the best bits about the book of beginnings is the fact that it tells us that God had no beginning. He always was and always will be. Beyond time and space, God existed....always. He is not limited in any way. He is limitless. Infinite. Exceptional. And He is the One in whom our hope and trust can find the firmest and most secure and fulfilling foundation. I have a small grasp of WHO He is and who He is makes all the difference when I consider WHO I am. A simple, but astounding, concept I heard at a conference once is 'Because He IS, I AM.' If God was not, then neither would I be. If God did not exist, I would not exist. Just a little reminder that you and I are not here by accident. There is a plan and purpose to our existence...and it's not just for the here and now, but for an eternity.


Finally, Genesis: it is the story of a good God and His good creation. It tells of man's role and outlines sin and its effects. It is the story of hope as we read about God reversing those effects and providing a future. Yes Genesis is about origins...but it is also about our destiny as well.....and when we faithfully walk with our Creator, that destiny looks VERY GOOD. 


(Credit where credit is due.....thanks to the Bible Society's Women's Devotional Bible for ideas for this post.)

Beginnings

As we start a new year, some people nearby are having to start a new life. After the floods comes the clean-up then the challenge and adventure of starting again. Sadly for some, the new start is without people and possessions they treasure. And so this week, rather than blog, I continue to pray. My prayers today are for all those who have lost loved ones. I read a couple of victim's stories this morning and the tears ran and my heart ached. So I pray. I pray for the ones who survived. I pray for comfort and peace.....for strength and courage....for friends and family to encourage and support.....for memories of happy times to stay strong and alive.....and for hearts that are broken to, in time, be healed.

Psalms Fun

I just finished reading Psalms this morning. It's taken me a few months with 2-3 Psalms read every Wednesday and today...I finished the last of all 150. I'm a bit sad about that really cause David and friends sure know how to write.

But is was great timing as I received an email slide show from my aunt...something I have seen before, but nevertheless, a great reminder of how amazing God and His word are.

The shortest chapter of the Bible is Psalm 117.
The longest chapter is Psalm 119.
And the centre chapter is Psalm 118.
There are 594 chapters before Ps 118 and 594 chapters after Ps 118.
Add 594 and 594 and you get 1188.
The central verse in the whole Bible is Ps 118:8.
What does the central verse have to tell us about God and life????
Check it out for yourself: Psalm 118:8
Clever!

Eyes to See

"The simple things in life are often the best."

Today's challenge for you readers is.....look for simple, little things to enjoy today.


The idea comes from my dripping wet paper delivery experience last Friday morning. Yes my shoes and socks were squelching...yes I was steamy hot under the raincoat....yes the mozzies were buzzing. But with eyes to see, there was still plenty to enjoy and be thankful for....tipping the scales towards the whole experience being fun and memorable - for all the right reasons.


A tiny lady beetle sitting on a dew-ladened blade of grass. A five cent piece on the footpath took my mind back to diving into the public pool when I was 11 and finding $1.34 in change. A quick chat with the friendly old man at his letterbox. Admiring the hard work of so many in keeping their gardens thriving. The little pink bike with handlebar tassles parked in the driveway of No. 21. Glimpses of the harbour. The elation of putting the last paper in the last letter box. My smiling husband and the steaming cup of coffee awaiting me at home.


Don't be too busy and too task-focussed to notice the little things today. Don't be blind to all the simple delights God has placed in your space. 


Do....look, appreciate and enjoy with eyes to see.

Where's David?

The Psalms...you gotta love 'em.
150 chapters of David pouring out his heart to God.
Every human emotion expressed - joy, gratitude, despair, desperation, devotion, anger, sorrow, love, adoration, fear, anxiety................
It's almost like Psalms is in the Bible as a permission letter for us to do the same in our own relationship with God.
So....how are you going with that?
Are you:
spending time talking to God each day?
walking moment by moment with Him?
expecting to hear from Him?
taking the time to stop! and listen?
being honest with God?
praising? worshipping? thanking Him?
asking? pleading? presenting each situation to Him?

David did all those things...and more. And he was considered by God Himself to be 'a man after my own heart.' Wouldn't you like that said of you? Imagine God looking at you, turning to the angels and with a wide, joyful grin declaring: "See (insert your name here!) down there? S/he's a wo/man after my own heart." It's my desire that God would think and say such things about me, but I need to give Him reason too.

I read Psalm 142 as part of my Year Thru the Bible readings today. It reminded me of a number of things, lessons that I have learned already but needed to recall....

• I have a great life! David wrote this Psalm when he was hiding out in a cave because his best friend's Dad - the king (and the one he had faithfully served for years!) was out to kill him. No such worries for me.
• I need to be so thankful and express gratitude to all those who help make my life great. David cried out to God in pain, desperation, fear and need. There will be times when I do the same, but so often I am ever-so quick to acknowledge God and ask for help when times are tough, but when they are good, I forget to say 'thank-you' to Him. I also need to express deep and frequent gratitude and appreciation to my husband, son, family, friends and others who bless me. I know the blessing of a timely and sincere word of thanks...so how about I return the favour....often?
• There is nothing I will ever face that can separate me from God's love and presence. Here's David, in a smelly, dark cave and far from those he loves. He is being pursued by evil men and feels threatened, imprisoned, troubled. Yet he knows God is there and has the answers to his dilemma. 
• Even in the darkest times or most dreadful moments of life, there is hope. For David, the cave was not the end of the story. He ends up in a palace. David acknowledged God could and would rescue and free him...protect and provide.....strengthen and guide.....save and restore. God is still about the same business today.....only this time, He's working on behalf of you and I.

There you go....a few thoughts triggered from writing that is thousands of years old, yet still so relevant to us today.

The Psalms....you gotta love 'em.

Friday Friends & Faves #8

Friends....
Did you know? You are not alone in reading this blog?
I found that surprising! 

This past couple of weeks I have been HUGELY blessed to receive emails from girls all over the place who have told me how much they enjoy reading Keep It Real and how much encouragement they receive from it. That blows me away, even though it has been my prayer. I guess what it says is "Once again, God has answered my prayers." Thanks Father!

I also just wanted to let you know about the journey of some of your fellow readers...your 'Friday Friends' so to speak. Here's some of what's been happening...

• a baby growing in Mummy's belly
• lots of babies born....scales definitely tipped in the boys favour
• resignations
• new jobs
• an engagement
• divorce papers signed
• injuries
• recovery
• travel
• moving house
• children graduating
• attending new job interviews
• birthdays
• farewells
• buying land
• 'welcome home's
• funerals
• last days at work
• assignments done
• marks received
• prayers prayed...some answered 'yes', others 'no' and I guess there's a couple 'wait awhiles' too

And in between the BIG stuff, everyone's been doing all the little stuff that makes this thing called LIFE happen.


Isn't it an encouragement to know that so many people are living and loving, just like us? Hope you feel a little more connected to them today.


PS: You are more than welcome...any of you (even ones who have already done it!) to make contributions to Friday's blogs. Anything you can write...from a few sentences to an essay....is welcome. Tell us a bit of your story. What's God been doing in your life? Teaching you? What have you learned lately? Just email them to me, via my personal email or through a Facebook message. Thanks.


Faves....
This one won't be everyone's cup of tea...it's a bit too specialised for that. But a website I stumbled across in a Google search that has become invaluable to me is Chronicles of a BabyWise Mom.
Jam packed with solid advice on baby and child raising, it has been a help when I have had questions...BIG ones and little ones. It covers soooo much about child raising...as the topic list on the right side of the home page shows. Some of the topics I have read about include: E.A.S.Y., playtime, nappies, cluster feeding, schedules, sleep, baby food, wrapping, "The Happiest Baby on the Block", toys, etc.... And you don't have to be a subscriber to the Baby Wise philosophy to get some good ideas from the website. Anyway...for those of you in the baby/child years, perhaps you'd like to have a quick visit and see if it's of any use.

Listen to the Lyrics #9

Hold on to Jesus - Steven Curtis Chapman


What matter's in life? 
The things of eternal value are the most important....wouldn't you agree? 
I've heard it said that when we get to our final minutes on earth and we look back at our time here, the three things that will matter most are: 'Who we loved....who loved us....and what we accomplished for God together." 
With that as the guiding principle for our lives, it challenges us to get the right perspective on the things that are not eternal. 
Does it really matter if the house is not perfectly clean...all the time? Is it essential that I get HDs in my studies if it means me being stressed and grumpy with my family? Do I need to get a new car? Is what colour/style/size/brand of clothes I have in my wardrobe a matter of grave importance? 
Ultimately, those things (and so many more that I stress about and let consume me) are 'fleeting.' So why waste so much time...thinking...money on them? 
Instead, I need to hold loosely to those things...that way I have my hands free to hold tightly to the hand of Jesus. 
That's what really matters in life.


Listen to the song here


And here's the lyrics....
I have come to this ocean

And the waves of fear are starting to grow
The doubts and questions are rising with the tide
So I'm clinging to the one sure thing I know

I will hold on to the hand of my Savior
And I will hold on with all my might
I will hold loosely to things that are fleeting
And hold on to Jesus
I will hold on to Jesus for life

I've tried to hold many treasures
They just keep slipping through my fingers like sand
But there's one treasure that means more than breath itself
So I'm clinging to it with everything I am

Like a child holding on to a promise
I will cling to His word and believe
As I press on to take hold of that
For which Christ Jesus took hold of me

Hold on for life

I heard God speak

Last week I heard from God. Not in an audible voice. But I had such a strong impression that it was Him speaking to my heart and the words were loud and clear and delivered a much needed reprimand.

Over the past couple of weeks this has been my morning routine....
Wake up when baby j does. Feed him...change him...put him in his cot to watch his mobile....make a coffee then sit in front of the computer to blog and Facebook for the duration of the mobile's songs. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? Except what I was finding was that I was getting stressed as the day progressed. I would get frustrated when I had to stop working on the computer to deal with j. I was upset when he didn't sleep as long as I wanted him too. I didn't seem to have enough hours in the day to do all that I wanted too.

So last week, on Wednesday morning, I head God clearly say..."K! How dare you think your blog readers and fb friends need to hear from you before you've heard from me." *GULP!* How true!

Yes..somehow...far too easily really....I had gotten my priorities mixed up. And gotten them sooooo very wrong. Instead of spending time with God - being fed and setting the tone for the day, I was soaking in the unreality of my on-line life...attempting to give out when I hadn't been filled. Silly me!

So what did I do? I listened. And I made the change. I went back to the routine I had been following just a few weeks ago. The one that worked. It looks like this....
Wake up when baby j does. Feed him...change him...put him in his cot to watch his mobile....make a coffee then go back to my room to read the Bible and pray. It's only about a 15-20 minute activity but WHAT A DIFFERENCE it makes to my day to start with time with my heavenly Father.

In His presence I am filled. I learn and grow. I am encouraged and challenged. I feel peaceful, hopeful and joyful. I get the right perspective on life. I set a positive tone for the day. I am fed and changed...for the better.

And it's only when that happens, I am able to experience blessing. And then as the day progresses, be a blessing.

So God help me this week to continue to make good choices....to put You first....to love time in your word and talking to you. To live like it. To get my priorities and perspective right. And to continue to hear your voice throughout the day.

Friday Friends & Faves #6

One word...okay two.

Joyce Meyer!

This week, thanks to downloaded podcasts a friend gave me to encourage me, I am considering Joycie to be both my 'friend' and my 'favourite'.
I love her 'tell it like it is' style. Her call to all of us to get rid of the crud and get on with the life God has for us....including the opportunities to serve others and to walk through challenges that test us. Her ability to share stories from her own life that resonate with the listener and make us want to 'do life better'....for God's sake (after all, we're representing Him!), our sake and the sake of all those around us - family, friends, workmates, strangers we meet each day.
So the link to her website and podcasts are below and I'll let you know that the 'Emotional Stability' (# 11 and 12) messages and those on 'Walking with God' (an interview with John Eldridge) (#19) and 'Unleashing the Power of Faith' (#21 and 22) have been instrumental in helping me deal with life this week.
But credit where credit's due....God, through Joyce....has been instrumental in helping me deal with life this week.
Visit: http://www.joycemeyer.org/ and when you do, you'll find links to free downloads of radio and TV broadcasts under the "Our Ministries' tab.

Meaningless! Really?

Hmmmmm.....if you say something often enough, you'll start to believe it.

So the author of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament must have truly believed life to be 'meaningless' because he uses that word over and over and over and..... In fact he uses it 37 times in 30 verses and my personal favourite....Ecclesiastes 1: 2 - "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." (4 times!!!!!!)


Now I think the author is King Solomon, the wisest and richest man in the world. And for him to be so adamant about how meaningless it all is, surprises me. Surely money buys meaning? And if not money, then knowledge...right? Perhaps not.


So while I don't feel I have much of either, I do feel like I have a bit more grip on the non-meaningless of life. I mean, I understand at least some of what makes life meaningful.


For me, it is:

• Walking with God....spending time in His word, drawing on His wisdom, His peace and strength to do life
• Thanking Jesus.....there is no life or truth apart from Him....He is the one who paid the price for my freedom from sin and from death. He is the one who gave me life.
• Listening to the Holy Spirit....as the power source for living this Christian life I am so glad He is a patient and gentle friend to help me along the way.
• Appreciating family.....hugs and kisses and gifts given to me. Prayers prayed for me and sacrifices made for me. Now it's my turn as I do life with my beloved J and my treasured j.
• Serving God....through daily worship, helping others and trying to see my world as God sees it, and respond accordingly.
• Loving friends....people in our lives who provide that light and warmth that we as humans need.

Yes there's more...perhaps you'd like to add a comment to remind me of the ones I missed.


May you know a day today where meaning is stamped all over it. Where you can look beyond the bills, the TV, the traffic, the dirty nappies, the floor that needs vacuuming, the looming Christmas shopping, the chaos around meal times, the long haul of a night spent doing prep work, the pile of laundry, the too-long grass, the ant trail, the overflowing inbox, the sore foot/throat/head/tail....and see Him and the meaningful life He offers, moment by moment. 

A Moment

Yesterday morning I had a moment...one of those that takes your breath away.

Jacob was in my arms when the Newsboys' rendition of Presence (My Heart's Desire) came on the radio. We cranked up the volume (ok...I cranked up the volume) and with my little boy in my arms we danced and I sang along. And as we did, the words of the song became a reality. And boy! What a sweet reality it was.


Presence (Heart's Desire) - have a listen on youtube if you don't know this song.
I lift up my voice
To The King, The King of glory
I hold out my hands
To The One who is worthy
I long for Your presence
I long, Lord, I need Your touch

[Chorus:]
Come, oh Lord, and fill up my life
With the light of Your presence
This is my heart's desire
Oh Father, come and let Your spirit abide
I long for Your presence
This is my heart's desire

I long to be washed
In the well of Your mercy
I long to be warmed
By the fire of Your glory
I long for Your presence
I long for Your healing touch

[Chorus:]
Come oh Lord and fill up my life
With the light of Your presence
This is my heart's desire
Oh Father, come and let Your spirit abide
I long for Your presence
This is my heart's desire

It's my desire

(I wanna feel Your presence)
Lord, it's my desire
(I wanna feel Your presence)
Lord, You're my desire
(I wanna feel Your presence)
I wanna feel Your presence
I wanna feel Your presence
I wanna feel Your presence - Jesus

Lord, You're my desire
Lord, You're my desire


I just love the lyrics....full of words that speak of life and hope. Words like worthy, desire, light, presence, glory, mercy, long. Words that when we experience their reality, they change our lives. Words that speak of God's goodness, His provision and His incredible blessing in our lives.


And as Jacob and I danced and sang, I did feel His presence. It made my heart lighter...my lips curve upwards in a smile of delight and my soul sing. 


Take time to enjoy His blessings today....live with an awareness of His presence...even if just for a moment.