The understanding that the God of Heaven and Earth reveals His will to people is overwhelming. To try to get my mind wrapped around the idea that the Prince of Peace, Lord of All, Great I AM even gives me a second of thought is, well - just too much to take in. And yet He does. When I sit in the quiet, calm my heart and listen to the whisper, His Spirit speaks to my Spirit.
Each revelation of God is unique. Treasures to be stored in my heart. (Matt 6:20) Some are meant to be shared, to sit with family members or girlfriends or those in our "safe circle" of co-workers and tell our "God story". Some to be coveted known only by the individual and Her Creator. The revelation so profound it is intended to be pondered in the soul of the receiver, alone.
Be discerning about which you choose to do.
I recently had opportunity to sit in a hotel room and talk openly about some of the revelations God had implanted in my Spirit through the years. It was a humbling time of speaking to a new sister in Christ, a beautiful teenage girl who is now learning to turn to God for the truth. The Spirit of God heavy in the room, I was choosing my words and stories to share carefully so as to represent Jesus favorably. As this young believer, her father and I spent the afternoon talking about the grace and redemption of God, I was reminded of something Beth Moore said in her "Beloved Disciple" study- "our only job as humans is to make God recognizable to the world".
As we sat in that hotel room, the grace and hope of a future with God was revealed. The hope so tangible as to bring tears to our eyes. The Spirit of the Living God was administering a healing balm on all of us. Truth was setting us free. By His stripes healing was taking place.
I didn't know it at the time, but God intervened and gave me a day of peace, rest for my soul in the middle of a season of turmoil and death. God is love.
A couple hours later, Satan showed up again to take his paw and swing his destruction. Doing his evil best to shatter the hope, peace and grace. Beware the roaring lion, he has strong teeth and mighty swiping paws.
But, my soul finds rest in God Alone...We live by faith and not by sight.
Psalm 62:5-6
My soul, find rest in God
My hope comes from him
Truly He is My rock and My salvation
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
So today, I embrace His new mercy and watch to see how He will reveal His glory to me.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Heaven and Nature Sing
There's something about sitting on a riverbank, first cup of coffee in hand on a cool misty morning that caused me to look in wonder at all that was before me.
The mountains had a fresh dusting of snow on them, the leaves changing red and yellow. The Wenatchee was up a bit from all the rain. It came winding past me swiftly making its way through the valley. Over a rocky dam it picked up speed on the way. As I sat there on the porch, a thought revealed itself to me. It was all too big, too much to take in. The sounds, the beauty - immense. Nature is that way, too big, too amazing to take in. Created by a God too big and too amazing to take in.
Sitting on the banks of the Wenatchee River, I was reminded that scripture says if we do not worship, the rocks themselves will cry out. Sitting in that place, surrounded by mountains, the sound of the river roaring downstream made me realize that all nature has a voice. A sound all it's own that sings to God whether I do or not.
It just depends on us if it will sing melody or harmony, but sing it will - regardless. I'm going to join in the chorus...let Heaven and Nature sing.
"Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy." -- Psalm 98:8.
The mountains had a fresh dusting of snow on them, the leaves changing red and yellow. The Wenatchee was up a bit from all the rain. It came winding past me swiftly making its way through the valley. Over a rocky dam it picked up speed on the way. As I sat there on the porch, a thought revealed itself to me. It was all too big, too much to take in. The sounds, the beauty - immense. Nature is that way, too big, too amazing to take in. Created by a God too big and too amazing to take in.
Sitting on the banks of the Wenatchee River, I was reminded that scripture says if we do not worship, the rocks themselves will cry out. Sitting in that place, surrounded by mountains, the sound of the river roaring downstream made me realize that all nature has a voice. A sound all it's own that sings to God whether I do or not.
It just depends on us if it will sing melody or harmony, but sing it will - regardless. I'm going to join in the chorus...let Heaven and Nature sing.
"Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy." -- Psalm 98:8.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Leavenworth, Lake Wenatchee & Hidden Lake
Washington State is just beautiful. Period.
The breakfasts that we have been served at the Enchanted River Inn in Leavenworth have been truly great. Our hosts, Kathy and Bill Lynn have embraced the challenge of Gluten Free cooking with gusto. Today we enjoyed Pluot sorbet (a fruit that is a combination of Plum/Apricot) Apple Pancakes with fresh maple syrup, sausage links and baked fresh peaches. Each day our hosts have outdone themselves with new treats. I will leave here with recipes in hand.
We continued our honeymoon the last couple of days exploring the countryside around Leavenworth, Washington. Yesterday was spent exploring the town itself, a quaint Bavarian town where townsfolk wear Lederhosen and stockings and eat foods with way too many syllables. Of course, we had to join in.
We refrained from a change in clothing but did try Curt's Curryworst and Han's JalapeƱo and Cheddar Bratwurst with Sauerkraut at the Muchen Haus Bavarian Grill and Beer Garden. The sign overhead boasted the best Bockwust and Kelbassi this side of the big pond and in my limited experience I can agree.
The lazy day was spent strolling from shop to shop and seeing the sights of Leavenworth, which included the largest "mini" golf place I've ever seen, billy goats grazing on the roadside, large hanging pots of blooming flowers and pear trees blooming on the side of the road.
Today the adventure took us up Tumwater Canyon on Highway 2 to Lake Wenatchee. We drove to the Hidden Lake trailhead and decided to hike toward the lake. The trail is heavily forested and at the entrance to the trail the sign warns hikers that Grizzly and Black bear have been sighted in the area. The sign, however, does not tell the hiker what to do should a bear be encountered. Since Brent grew up in the area, I asked if he knew what to do should we encounter a bear on our way to the Hidden lake.
"Yes" He replied, "I do" and he continued walking in the rain.
"Well, what are you supposed to do?" I asked.
He quipped "All I have to do is run faster than you"
I guess the honeymoon is over.
The breakfasts that we have been served at the Enchanted River Inn in Leavenworth have been truly great. Our hosts, Kathy and Bill Lynn have embraced the challenge of Gluten Free cooking with gusto. Today we enjoyed Pluot sorbet (a fruit that is a combination of Plum/Apricot) Apple Pancakes with fresh maple syrup, sausage links and baked fresh peaches. Each day our hosts have outdone themselves with new treats. I will leave here with recipes in hand.
We continued our honeymoon the last couple of days exploring the countryside around Leavenworth, Washington. Yesterday was spent exploring the town itself, a quaint Bavarian town where townsfolk wear Lederhosen and stockings and eat foods with way too many syllables. Of course, we had to join in.
We refrained from a change in clothing but did try Curt's Curryworst and Han's JalapeƱo and Cheddar Bratwurst with Sauerkraut at the Muchen Haus Bavarian Grill and Beer Garden. The sign overhead boasted the best Bockwust and Kelbassi this side of the big pond and in my limited experience I can agree.
The lazy day was spent strolling from shop to shop and seeing the sights of Leavenworth, which included the largest "mini" golf place I've ever seen, billy goats grazing on the roadside, large hanging pots of blooming flowers and pear trees blooming on the side of the road.
Today the adventure took us up Tumwater Canyon on Highway 2 to Lake Wenatchee. We drove to the Hidden Lake trailhead and decided to hike toward the lake. The trail is heavily forested and at the entrance to the trail the sign warns hikers that Grizzly and Black bear have been sighted in the area. The sign, however, does not tell the hiker what to do should a bear be encountered. Since Brent grew up in the area, I asked if he knew what to do should we encounter a bear on our way to the Hidden lake.
"Yes" He replied, "I do" and he continued walking in the rain.
"Well, what are you supposed to do?" I asked.
He quipped "All I have to do is run faster than you"
I guess the honeymoon is over.
Monday, September 30, 2013
The Journey continues - Wenatchee and Lake Chelan
Day 3 of the adventure began with....rain. And snow on the tops of Icicle Ridge.
Bill and Kathy at The Enchanted River Inn B&B served a terrific GF Breakfast of "Everything" Quiche with a hash brown crust and saffron sauce. Freshly made and served to us on the Wenatchee River.
We "hiked" for just a bit on the Icicle Ridge trail passing beautiful scenery along the way. The trail crosses over the Icicle creek (which looks like a river to me) and then begins to snake through the ridge. It is an amazing place that causes one to say "Wow" over and over again.
After our small hike, we decided to drive to the town where Brent was born, Wenatchee, Washington. The day was an adventure in pronunciation, as I practiced learning all the Native American names of towns, rivers, and streets. We drove passed the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers and walked along the river walk. Afterwards we drove up to Lake Chelan, Washington- a drive that passes by several wineries and orchards. Beautiful country and great conversation ruled the day.
We had dinner at Pavz's Restaurant in Leavenworth where the food was fabulous. Fresh Sea Scallops for me and Halibut for Brent that was the best meal we have had in a long time. All and all a very relaxing, lazy day. Perfect.
Bill and Kathy at The Enchanted River Inn B&B served a terrific GF Breakfast of "Everything" Quiche with a hash brown crust and saffron sauce. Freshly made and served to us on the Wenatchee River.
We "hiked" for just a bit on the Icicle Ridge trail passing beautiful scenery along the way. The trail crosses over the Icicle creek (which looks like a river to me) and then begins to snake through the ridge. It is an amazing place that causes one to say "Wow" over and over again.
After our small hike, we decided to drive to the town where Brent was born, Wenatchee, Washington. The day was an adventure in pronunciation, as I practiced learning all the Native American names of towns, rivers, and streets. We drove passed the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers and walked along the river walk. Afterwards we drove up to Lake Chelan, Washington- a drive that passes by several wineries and orchards. Beautiful country and great conversation ruled the day.
We had dinner at Pavz's Restaurant in Leavenworth where the food was fabulous. Fresh Sea Scallops for me and Halibut for Brent that was the best meal we have had in a long time. All and all a very relaxing, lazy day. Perfect.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Cougars Game & Leavenworth
Perhaps it wise to just pass over comment on last night's game. After saying goodbye to Dennis and Linda, Brent and I drove toward our next adventure. Highway 2 is a great two lane road through Stevens Pass. A winding ribbon of road which snakes through the forest which is changing colors because of the cool nights and rainy days. The scenery is enough to cause you to believe that God lives in Washington, although being from Colorado, I know that could not possibly be true.
To say that my new husband is a fanatic, well, that would be an understatement. We rode the monorail from downtown Seattle toward the Stadium with our WSU Cougar gear on. The rain gear was close by as it had been raining most of the day. We reached SafeCo field in the pouring rain. Hoods in place and ponchos on we watched the beloved Cougs get spanked, but we had a truly great time. On a good note, our new rain gear did an amazing job of keeping us dry and we had such a fantastic evening.
To say that my new husband is a fanatic, well, that would be an understatement. We rode the monorail from downtown Seattle toward the Stadium with our WSU Cougar gear on. The rain gear was close by as it had been raining most of the day. We reached SafeCo field in the pouring rain. Hoods in place and ponchos on we watched the beloved Cougs get spanked, but we had a truly great time. On a good note, our new rain gear did an amazing job of keeping us dry and we had such a fantastic evening.
After saying goodbye to Dennis and Linda, Brent and I drove toward our next adventure. Highway 2 is a great two lane road through Stevens Pass. A winding ribbon of road which snakes through the forest which is changing colors because of the cool nights and rainy days. The scenery is enough to cause you to believe that God lives in Washington, although being from Colorado, I know that could not possibly be true.
We ate dinner in town at Visconti's Italian restaurant which had great gluten free dinner menu. The Ocean prawns were superb, the conversation spirited and the Wine from nearby Quincy, Washington, a great treat.
This morning after starting our day at Starbucks, we met Dennis and Linda Byrnes for brunch at Arnie's in Mulkilteo, Washington. Brunch included mimosas and great conversation, so, of course, it was a good time. After finishing brunch, we rode the ferry across Puget Sound to Whidbey Island. The ride was quick but beautiful and while on board Brent used his considerable I.T. skill to access our home DVR on his cell phone so that we were able to watch the Seahawks win their game against the Houston Texans in overtime. He had quite a gathering of interested people on the ferry watching over his shoulder as the Seahawks won 23-20.
We arrived in Leavenworth, Washington at dinner time. A quaint town of Bavarian style, Leavenworth is loaded with shops and bratwurst, wine tasting and tourists. The hanging flowers greet you at every turn. We drove to our destination, the Enchanter River Inn and were not disappointed. Our hosts Bill and Kathy were kind and accommodating and the room was beyond our expectation. The B&B sits right on the Wenatchee River in an setting that is impossible to describe. The river flows at the back door of the B&B bending around the property swiftly making an amazing sound as it goes. The "mountain" looms nearby in the background changing color with the season. Clouds hang low between the valleys creating a fog that creates a beautiful backdrop.
The day was so great it almost made us forget the score of last night's game.
Almost.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
The "Honeymoon"
A rainy morning in Seattle.
I know some might think "honeymoon"and have images of sand, sea and sun. But Brent and I are a bit non-traditional, we like it that way.
We spent the morning walking through the downtown streets of Seattle, Washington in a light mist. We had arrived at the airport yesterday afternoon and rode the rail into downtown. It was nice to be able to see the people along the way. Seattle is a beautiful city and even in the mist of the morning we had a great time.
When here last July, we had enjoyed breakfast at the Portage Bay Cafe and we were pleased to find one very near our hotel. The food was fabulous (and of course, Gluten Free).
After breakfast we made our way to the WSU Cougars store to be certain that we had the required uniform for tonight's game when we will watch the WSU Cougars game against the Stanford Cardinal in Seahawks stadium. Brent has a new Cougars rain jacket and hat.
My husband (doesn't that sound odd?!) assures me that the rain will stop at 6:45PM, conveniently in time for the 7 PM kickoff. Either way, we have rain gear and ponchos, waterproof boots and sweatshirts. All the necessary items for the game. I am really looking forward to it.
We walked over to the site of the first REI which is located near downtown but looks as though we walked into a Rain Forest. There is a large porch area in front of the store where we sat and just listened to the rain. The trees surrounding the building are huge and beautiful and the sound of the rain in the trees was amazing.
I noticed something odd this afternoon. The rain picked up and stayed steady, we walked all throughout downtown in our newly acquired clear rain ponchos. Everyone we met along the way walked with their heads down bracing against the wind and rain. Every once in a while, sometimes in a loud voice, sometimes barely audible, I would hear the same thing repeated over and over again. In hotel lobbies, in restaurants or stores, on the street. It must be a secret Seattle greeting, some kind of NW thing? Brent seemed to know it, as he echoed back the greeting to strangers along the way.
Go Cougs!
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