Dancing in the Sky

About a week ago we witnessed an amazing, or as my husband calls it, the only lightning storm like this ever seen in the Pacific NW.

We don't get lightning and thunder very often.  A large, gaping hole in my climatological history since moving away from the South.  BUT on Sunday, July 9th, we had a lightning party!

Attribution

Dinner was just over and we were visiting family out of town.  Someone said they heard wind blowing, and we all stepped out on the deck.  Sure enough the wind was blowing, but that wasn't all that was happening.

The skies were dancing, and God was putting on an exceptional show!  Thunder clapped and rolled, and the skies were filled with what looked like strobe lights dancing behind the clouds.

And this wasn't intermittent in nature.  This entertainment went on nonstop for about 20 minutes.  With never a break.  Never a rest.  Constant.

SUDDENLY, it dawned on me.

There was a message in this storm.

Its theme was constancy.

Never-ending!

You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust,
constantly tuned in to the Message,
careful not to be distracted or diverted.
There is no other Message—just this one.

Colossians 1:23 (MSG)

Unfortunately, I'm not constantly focused.

I'm easily distracted or diverted.

But I am to stay grounded, steady resting on His bond with me.

What about you? 

Linking up with:

 

Obedience Is Hard

Because Abraham had faith, he obeyed God
when God called him to leave his home.
He was to go to another country that
God promised to give him.
He left his home without knowing
where he was going.
~~ Hebrews 11:8 (NLV)

Maggie is an indoor kitty.  Our home is on an extremely busy street.  We are surrounded by dogs.  Not an ideal outdoor environment for Maggie.

But being the softies we are, we occasionally treat Maggie to the great outdoors on warm sunny days.  She either sits in a lap while we read, or like yesterday, she dons her harness (I hate this thing!) and with an extra long leash we give her running and playing room.

Yesterday the sun sat high in the sky, and the temperature was pushing toward 83.  I could tell Maggie's black coat was beginning to store the sun's warmth.  She was slowing down.

I casually mentioned it was probably time to head indoors.  I picked up my gardening tools and put them away.  By the time I turned around, Maggie was gone from sight.

Knowing she couldn't go far on her leash, I began to look in the woodpile, behind large planters, other places she might hide.  

Finally, I found her in this massive growth of myrtle hunkering down to be as small as Maggie could possibly be.  Her mind was swirling with, "If she can't see me, I don't have to respond to her decision to go inside!"

I coaxed and coaxed to no avail.  Finally, I had to bodily pick her up and carry her inside.  As I removed her harness, I began to think.

How often have I heard God call me?  

How often have I turned a deaf ear?  

How often have I hunkered down hoping to disappear from His line of sight?   

How often have I just blatantly said, "No"?

Too many times.  

Maggie's demeanor reminded me of myself -- 

attempting to hide from God's calling
 
with an unwillingness 

to go to a strange place,
 

 to step outside the box,
 

to take a risk,

to say yes instead of no.

I want to be more like Abraham --

stepping out in faith,

obeying God's calling,

trusting God's promises,

even though I don't know what lies ahead.

What about you?  

How do you respond to God's call for your life?  

Walk by faith, not by sight. ~~2 Corinthians 5:7
Attribution

Trust Me

Exert your will to trust Me in all circumstances.
Don't let your need to understand distract you from My Presence.
I will equip you to get through this day victoriously, as you live
in deep dependence on Me.Tomorrow is busy worrying about itself;
don't get tangled up in its worry-webs.Trust Me one day at a time.

~~ From Jesus Calling (Sarah Young, 2004)
March 18, p. 81

Daddy will catch you!
(Attribution)

Do not worry about tomorrow.
Tomorrow will have its own worries.
The troubles we have in a day are enough for one day.

~~  Matthew 6:34 (NLV)

Linking up with Jennifer today at:
 

And visiting Joan at Grace Cafe

 

 

Simply Sunday -- Letting Go

Humbly let go. Let go of trying to do, let go of trying to control,
let go of my own way, let go of my own fears.
Let God blow His wind, His trials, oxygen for joy's fire.
Leave the hand open and be. Be at peace.
Bend the knee and be small and let God
give what God chooses to give
because He only gives love and whisper a surprised thanks.
This is the fuel for joy's flame. Fullness of joy is discovered only in the
emptying of will. And I can empty. I can empty because
counting His graces has awakened me to how He cherishes me,
holds me, passionately values me.
I can empty because I am full of His love.
I can trust.

(emphasis mine)

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
by Ann Voskmamp

Attribution

With Barbie at Freshly Brewed Sundays

and with Deidra in

and linking up with L.L. Barkat at