TEARS to TRUST

[my photo]

I have waited and waited
this week
hoping that I might have a moving blog post about
TEARS
... but nothing came ...
not even the outpouring of my own floodgate of
TEARS
It's not because the readings for reflection
were not inspiring or wonderful
because each of them are
I guess that I thought
somehow
miraculously
I might have the right words to share
or a special revelation from God
I even prepared this image

The Daily Scripture Readings

John 11:17-44; Matthew 23:37-39; Matthew 26:36-46; Hebrews 5:7-10; Luke 7:36-50; Psalm 56; 2 Kings 20:1-6

Beautiful passages in Scripture, yet even with the moving portrayal of our Lord Jesus, in John 11:35, I had no TEARS as I read and reflected not even while reading the beautiful Reflections or the tender lyrics of a special song shared "TEARS are a Language God Understands"💚 I still had not allowed the healing flow of TEARS to dampen my eyes and lament the loss or many losses throughout the years. Perhaps, the many times I cried throughout those years were the TEARS for now that fail to come. Perhaps, it's because I've hardened or am still too numb. All I know is that God's perfect timing of each of these One Word focuses were to give me the strength that He knew I did not have on my own. I even searched places (like The Daily Grace I recently shared) for TEARS and there were plenty - I still have not finished. 

I do believe that TEARS are a gift of Grace from God. Psalm 56:8 tells us that "TEARS are prayers, too. They travel to God when we cannot speak." For this I've been thankful on so many occasions, and I am quite the emotional person, but I've always had struggles with grief. I even read a beautiful blog post by Lisa Appelo, and I agree with every word & way because I know that TEARS bring healing. Even if you don't need healing, you should read this and more available from her. {another new place for me} I know eventually they will come - at unexpected times and places. I even reread some Comfort books I have, but no tears. As much as all the Reflection Readings & Scriptures were wonderful, I guess this is the one I need most:

"Help me O God, Give me the courage to cry. Help me to understand that tears bring      freshly washed colors arching across the soul,      colors that wouldn’t be there apart from the rain. Help me to see in the prism of my tears,      something of the secret of who I am. Give me the courage      not only to see what those tears are revealing      but to follow where they are leading. And help me to see      that where they are leading me is home. (Windows of the Soul by Ken Gire)

[my own photos]

It's said that a 

"picture is worth a thousand words"

So

now I have expressed in 3000 words 

(not including the TEARS image) 

what I am unable to do or write

I

🙏

for Godly courage, comfort & strength

in the days ahead

I

found in the past that gathering photos

also bring healing

{So far, in this case, they have not, but I keep gathering}

I

love the image painted in Ken Gire's words:

"... TEARS bring

     freshly washed colors arching across the soul,

     colors that wouldn’t be there apart from the rain.

Help me to see in the prism of my tears ..."

and of course, I love 

"where they (the TEARS) are leading me is

HOME"

I

still live in my beautiful 7 acres of paradise

here in my earthly

HOME

I look forward 

to the years I am given here

but even more to the years

in my eternal

HOME

[my photo]

If this week, you shed TEARS, I 🙏
 that our precious Lord

held you closely

because

I know He gathers all those

TEARS

in a bottle and 

He weeps along with us

<>

I recommend strongly

GRIEF SHARE

{I shared much from this decades ago}

in the past, receiving their 

daily encouragement newsletter

was wonderful & they have so much more

resources now & groups

online & in-person

<>

My concern for my 

NO TEARS

even had me searching for what

this means

- yeah, emotional numbness -

Grief Healing

is helpful

then I came upon this, 

oddly 

TEARS for fears

{the flowers reminded me of a beautiful bouquet I recently received}

TEARS
💦
This one is much more soothing & reassuring
IN HIS TIME
so
I will TRUST Him
Oh, and that's the next One Word focus on Monday:

• Trust 1 (Tuesday in book)

• Trust 2 (Thursday in book)

• Trust 3 (Sunday in book)
• Trust 4 (Monday in book)
• Trust 5 (not in book)
• Trust 6 (not in book)
• Trust 7 (not in book)
• <>
• Once again these may not be the same as or the same order as

The Blue Book, but they are from Jim Branch
LET'S HOPE and TRUSTthat they are, or just go with the book😉[the part in ( ) is after I checked each one]
{Yeah, it's a confused mess again, sorry}So just stick with The Blue Bookbecausewe are missing Psalm 20:1-9 (Weds);Job 42:1-6 (Fri); & Luke 22:31-38 (Sat.)
but the JB blog does give us these extra Scripture Readings:Psalm 125:1-5; Philippians 4:4-9; Matthew 6:25-34 and some different Readings for Reflection

And I expect that one day

WHOLENESS

and

HEALING

will come

- that's when we will be -

HOME

{upcoming One Words}

REMEMBERING SHORTYBEAR ...

This is a REPOST from the

Lighthouse of Prayer

(2017)

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Our dear

DENISE

(a.k.a. Shortybear)

OLDHAM

November 20, 1963 - October 18, 2017

from Chattanooga, TN

is now at home

with

Jesus

her mama

brother Charles

sister Vicki

may

they rest in

PEACE

not a farewell or goodbye just 

until we meet

I love You Denise!

Please keep Eddie (husband), Coco, 
family and friends 

in your prayers

*1st photo is of Denise and Coco

2nd one's from Marsha

{I tried to leave my comment on Denise's post link of photo, but need blog author's approval, so I hope you approve: 

"It is my joy, honor and such a privilege to have come to know and love you, my friend and sister in Christ. Words cannot express what a true blessing you are and have been to me. You have been through so much yet I know Jesus is right there with you. 

My dear Denise (a.k.a. Shortybear) I love you and you hold a special place in my heart today and always! {shared your photo with Coco on our Lighthouse of Prayer} You are a true warrior and the sweetest spirit ever... I treasure you just being you! With a heart full of love ~Peggy

[I wanted to enable replies, like my other blog has and use this in the comments, but cannot find where to do that ... it was Oct. 2014 when this prayer team slowed down and I believe that it was because Denise was taken so ill and Alice also, then I looked at November 2014 followed by some posts in March 2016 where I attempted to try again and there I read Denise ... sharing prayers for others and participating as the best team player I could ever ask for ... indeed Denise will be missed. I have so much I'd love to write about Denise, however if you read her sweet prayers, visit her blog, you will discover how easy it is to love her ... Denise deserves a real tribute, but this and her own words and prayers are the best I have at this time. 

Thank you all for your prayers!] 

Post script: 2025 ... from Peggy. It was in 2017 that I met Denise, at her wake & funeral through her family & friends that were there & her dad. We had never met in person, only through blogging yet I couldn't feel any closer to her than if we had

known each other our whole lives. There's only one other blogger that's as close as a sister, or maybe even better than some sisters, but I have

not met her yet in person either. However, she is the best person in every way since our blogging day connection, she has remained near & dear. All 3 of us, will meet some day when God welcomes us home, and what a joyful day that will be! These 2 precious souls crossed my path through our days together blogging online & God couldn't have chosen better sisters & friends to journey together.  

I hope each one of you are as fortunate as yours truly - because though our journeys are different, each of us need special people to walk & encourage us along the way - to be there in all seasons. We miss you dear Denise! And my, how beautiful you were dressed & ready as the bride of Christ (and your Eddie) it was a pleasure & a sorrow; a treasure to have flown from MN to TN to be present with y'all gathered that October day in 2017 ... still holds a fond memory in my heart! It was an honor to be present in your "celebration of the life" of Denise "Shortybear"! Then & now, I think of her often, and she still brings me such joy.

FEAR ... in Grief (for me)

FEAR

{in grief for me, this past month}

so it was a topic I searched this week

 yet many other

FEARS

surface in our lives too

as I'm sure all of you know & experience

[image credit: Daily Grace - Lauren Bowerman]

In my absence here and not sharing 

from the recent One Word focus in our

I have been so blessed!

and 

also comforted

but

what I really want to share is this new site & podcast

I found and listen to when I can

The Daily Grace Co.

Podcast - Blog

(and even an APP)

<>

I could not bypass not sharing

this image & quote

this week

"Fear is not contrary to faith and lament is not contrary to praise."~Lauren Bowerman

(quote in image)

After
GATHERING
we've continued on with J Branch(January 2013)
continuing there or elsewhere with
QUESTIONS(end of January & beginning of February)
and this week
FEAR
[only linked to day 1, see Archive on JB blog, left side]


<>🙏Prayers always appreciatedbut especially for me onOctober 16thand all it may entail.
Thank you!💙

GATHERING ...

the pieces

[image credit]
{yes, I downloaded the ebook}

"O Lord our God, help us to be faithful to GATHER what You have provided for our hearts and souls this day—that we may feed on You and live.  In the name of Jesus, the bread of life. Amen."

GATHERING

the One Word for this week's focus
I suppose that many of usfeel like throughout our life journeyswe have just been
GATHERING
the pieces
as the author of this newly published book writes in her memoir
After being
BROKEN
(our One Word last week)
this only makes sense that we would set aside the time to
GATHER
those pieces
I happen to think that there are many of us
who find ourselves this year, or maybe for awhile
in the place of 
GATHERING
or
in need of a place or space to
GATHER
our thoughts, our feelings, our pieces ...
or perhaps "ourselves" as
we deal with the circumstances of our lives
or the world in which we live, and so much seems
to be falling apart at the seams.
I know the best place for me to
GATHER
is at the feet of Jesus
listening to music
leaning in to
hear His whispers
but first
there needs to be a time of
GATHERING
<>
I was a bit curious at the end of last week's BROKEN
what might be the One Word that follows;
but now that I'm here
starting this Monday
with
GATHERING
I find myself in need of a brief "PAUSE"
momentarily
{just because I haven't & not quite ready still but know that I should ... }
[as I read this shared by Lennie Campbell]

[image credit: Lennie Campbell]

So as I continue to hear what God's speaking,

I won't lose sight of this either. 

I really do need to learn how to 

"give grief a voice" 

or lament.

I will 

"take a few minutes"

knowing that the time will come when 

I'll take much more than this

"... to allow my mind and heart 

to be still before God"

this is how Jim Branch, author of The Blue Book, starts us out 

each day on his website

day 1 (2015) Monday (not Sunday for us)

 through day 7 (next Sunday)

(and all the days in between linked below)

GATHERING

[Bible Hub Topical link]

us together

to read from Scriptures (the bible, God's Word) according to

p.329

and the Readings of Reflection(s) (in 2015)

which sometimes are also the

Closing Prayer as a Reading for Reflection

Psalm 147 Monday - John 6:1-14, p. 331-333 for Reflection Tuesday - Exodus 16 Wednesday - Zephaniah 3:14-20 Thursday - Jeremiah 31:1-14 Friday - Deuteronomy 30:1-10;The Living Reminder by Henri Nouwen Saturday - Isaiah 40:6-11 Sunday - Ezekiel 34:11-16

{Note: there are times when the blog/JB website & The Blue Book differ}
For example; Tuesday's Scripture reading is Luke 9:57-62and the Reading for Reflection is"Abide" by Macrina Wiederkehr, not "A Tree Full of Angels"as it is in the book, p. 333and the next day is Psalm 147and it continues with new & differentReadings for Reflection thatare not in The Blue Book"The Book of Hours" by Rainer M Rilkeis later but with Isaiah 35:10 and then Isaiah 61:1-11 is on another day with "Beginning Contemplative Prayer"by Kathryn Hermes (not in The Blue Book)
SOIf you have The Blue Book, go with that - 
otherwise follow the days at 
"room to flourish"
[for the next day, just click on Newer Post at the bottom of his blog post]
I may look for another sequence of 7 days on his website for
GATHER
in another year
[I found one in *January of 2013]
No matter, we will still
GATHER
read and reflect
* Day 1 (Monday) shares John 6:1-14 with 
GATHERINGby Jim Branchp. 330
Day 2 (Tues) Exodus 16 with Jim Branch
Day 3  Weds. (linked above to Zephaniah 3:14-20) with"A Tree Full of Angels" by Macrina Wiederkehr
Day 4 (Thurs) Jeremiah 31 with "The Book of Hours"
Day 5 (Fri.) we have that one above but this onehas another short Reflection "Breaking Bread" by M. Pennington 
Day 6 (Sat.) Isaiah 40:6-11 with"The Book of Hours" Rilke
Day 7 (Sun.) Ezekiel 34:11-16"Breaking Bread" by M. Pennington this one is the one in the book, p.335

Clearly we can see that I should have gone with 2013 first and not 2015
Live and learn
AGAIN
Hopefully before I post or plan for another
GATHERING
on my blog or at YouVersion
I will check out more of the years 
and find out which one is closer to our

 readings
and not make more 
MESSES
{ready for the repost with the corrections we need, I hope}
<><><>

I really like that Lennie Campbell is creating a page called
Memory Lantern
{we all have plenty of those, even if they're growing foggy a bit}
Today
I release some special memories of my dad
celebrating his birthday
today in heaven
1909-1998
Happy Birthday Dad!
💓

BROKEN ...

💚Broken💚

[for the full day from Opening to Closing]

Isaiah 61

is above my tabs, under my blog title

🙏🙏

💙

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This past week's One Word focus

BROKEN(2012)(2014)

BROKEN Vessels (Amazing Grace) Hillsong Worshipinspired by 💚
Bible Hub
Poetry Soup
<><><>
I'd like to write more (sometime) on "Broken" so for now 
this is enough
to save this place for me to come back & share