That Other Journal

Just some thoughts that have been rolling around in my head lately.  

Sometimes when I REALLY need to remember something, I doodle about it in a different journal that the girls got me for Mother's Day this year.  

For some reason, focusing on writing it in really pretty font makes me slow down and let the Truth go deep into my heart.  

Yes, I will sing!

Yes, He is not weary!

Dominique

Hannah ~ Praying Through Anguish

Maybe you've noticed how lately I've been painting a portrait of a Godly woman.  With entries about the virtuous woman, Jochebed, and Naomi, I still have a few more thoughts on Godly women of ages past.  

Hannah was one of the wives of Elkanah.  Peninah, the other wife, could have kids, but Hannah couldn't.  Peninah bullied Hannah for years.  Elkanah tried to comfort Hannah, but at last, Hannah found herself on her knees in the Temple.

She was vastly discouraged and poured her heart out to the Lord.  She prayed out of great anguish and sorrow.  

God answered her request the very next year with a beautiful baby boy named Samuel.  

When I read Hannah's story, I think, "Where do we go with our deep anguish?"

Do we rant?  Do we vent?  Do we post?  Do we text?  

Let Hannah's example compel us to PRAY through our anguish.  

Dominique

Snapshot from a fishing expedition on the lake.

A Little Tea Time

It's funny how fancy tea time looks, but it doesn't take very long to brew a pot and get those pretty plates out of the cupboard for sweet goodies and savory bites.  

It's the perfect way to catch up with a friend, share burdens, or reorient with the Blossoms.  Sometimes when I stumble across these snapsnots, I remember how easy it is to use tea time as a healthy reset.  In busy or stressful times, tea time is a tool.  Tea time is healthy.  Tea time is fellowship.  Tea time is love at work.  I'd better go put the pot on now...

Dominique

Naomi ~ Following God Through the Pain

Ever read the story of Naomi?  She was Ruth's mother-in-law and eventually, she acted as David's grandmother and Jesus' great-great-I don't really know how many greats-grandmother.  

But what if she had given up when tragedy touched her life? 

Her story started with a famine.  She relocated to Moab with her family.  The famine was only the beginning of tough times.  Her husband died.  Her two sons, who had married in Moab, DIED.  This was tragedy after tragedy.  She was alone.  With only two daughters-in-law left, she tried to part ways with them when she heard things were good in Judah again. 

They even wanted to go with her.  She said no, because it didn't make much sense.  Maybe it was Naomi's grief talking.  She felt utter loneliness.  She was bone-weary of pain.  

One daughter-in-law took her advice and stayed in Moab.  The other, Ruth, did not.  

"But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God."

Ruth 1:16 NLT

It makes me wonder, what was there about Naomi's faith that caused Ruth to stay with her?  

I think the Holy Spirit was prompting her and leading her.

Eventually Ruth met Boaz and ended up marrying him.  It's a beautiful love story that some call the Hallmark Movie of the Bible.  

Ruth and Naomi were in the very center of God's will.  If we follow the story through to chapter 4, we find that Naomi found joy again in Ruth and Boaz's baby boy, Obed.  

But WHAT IF Ruth hadn't married Boaz?  The family lineage goes something like this:

Boaz---> Obed---> Jesse---> David---> and eventually Jesus

I look at this winding road that Naomi was on and how Ruth joined her.  I look at the outcome of it all. 

I think about that "WHAT IF?"  

When I look at Naomi, I see that you can follow God, even through intense pain.  

Let's not veer from the will of God because of our deep pain.  

We WILL find joy and impact others.  

Dominique

Pics snapped on a fun little day trip to the cabin.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Will You Sing Today?

Friend, 

What struggles are you facing today?  Are you frazzled?  Discouraged?  Bone-weary?  

A friend reached out with this verse to me mid-week.  

"But as for me, I will sing about your power.

Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.

For you have been my refuge

a place of safety when I am in distress."

Psalm 59:16 NLT

I was exhausted and so discouraged, but when I read this, I felt that I needed to obey.  

I needed to sing.

I didn't want to sing.  I didn't feel like singing.  

I just wanted to go back to bed and somehow rest and forget my own heavy burdens.  

But, I couldn't escape the command in this verse.  

Haltingly.  Hesitatingly.  Unwillingly.  

I sang.

I sang the first song about God's love that came to mind.  

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.  

His mercies never come to an end.  

They are new every morning,

New every morning.

Great is Your Faithfulness..."*

The longer I sang, the easier it became.  

All day long, I sang in faith.  I sang when I didn't feel like it.  I sang when I'd rather be quiet.  

And my spirit lifted from my own weariness, 

from my own discouragement to the power that our God holds.  

Friend, if you are there, take courage from this verse and sing.  

Dominique

Pics from a recent venture to a park with a few extras.  

Cousins love creek-slopping and wildflower picking as much as Blossoms do!

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

*The Steadfast Love of the Lord by Dave Hunt

Rory's Political Views

We're so conservative, even our dog is an NRA member.

Who's Never Weary

I was upset.  Tired.  Feeling like I had given 110% and it still wasn't enough.  

In the middle of my angst, I felt the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit whisper, 

"But why did you think you were enough?"

I paused, almost dumb-founded.  

In my busy-ness, and in my hustle, I'd allowed a worldly mindset to creep in!

I believed I could be enough.  

When did this happen?  When did it start?  I don't know.  

But NO.  There is only One who is enough.  In fact, He is MORE than enough.  

His name is "El Shaddai," the All Sufficient One.  

In my struggles, I found Isaiah 40:28 reminding me that

our everlasting God, the Creator of everything, never grows weak or weary.  

I am not enough.  

I will never be enough.

He IS enough.

He is MORE than enough.

And, HE IS NOT WEARY.

Mama, today, get yourself an index card and write down these truths.  

You may be exhausted, but

He is not weary.