Tag: praise

Mercy Raining Down

Published on by JackieLeave a comment

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed. His mercies are new every morning… Great is His faithfulness!

Golden rays touched the world with warmth this morning as the sun rose over the hills once again. I paused to take in the beauty, simply enjoying the stillness at the beginning of what promised to be another lovely spring day.

My coworker stepped outside to join me, and breathed, “It’s like God’s mercies, raining down!”

I smiled, that joyful, glowing smile that I feel bubbling up in my soul so often.

It’s true that it’s the newness of Gods mercies every morning that has kept me going through so much change in my life.

In the exhausting intensity of trying to build so many new relationships, God was creating a place for me in this community.

When being surrounded by people yet “on my own,” God has come close in a new way, and mercifully provides connections with others just when I need them most.

And somewhere, through the winter months, I became not only comfortable here, I began to thrive.

I no longer feel so keenly aware that I’m in a different place than home – because this has become home. For now.

And it’s comfortable.

Just the other day I told a friend, “I think I might be becoming one of those stereotypical single ladies.” More than a little surprised, she asked me to explain.

“Well, I like to sit in my favorite chair (there’s no one else in the living room, I could sit wherever I want, but I always sit in the same chair because… I just do) and then I like to drink tea. I do this after supper, and sometimes I read a book, or I just sit and enjoy the feeling of a quiet evening at home.”

She told me that no matter how much I like an evening with a book and a mug of tea, my personality and lifestyle still prevents me from joining the “stereotypical single lady” population.

I was relieved, but I know I am awfully close. I do love my cozy house, my friends, the people I get to care for, and going for walks outside. 16 year old me might be horrified at how much beauty I find in the simple things, but I don’t mind. This is the life I’m living, and it’s full of joy!

Being adjusted to my job, and having enough people in my life to thrive doesn’t mean God is done yet, though.

God’s mercies have been shining on my life in so many ways lately.

He’s filled my cup full and now He’s making it overflow, blessing me with beauty I didn’t know I was missing.

Long conversations over iced lattes, forming new relationships…

Answered prayers and wisdom given in unexpected ways…

An evening with a friends’ family and being given the gift of feeling right at home with them…

Sunshine on my face as I sit in a meadow on the hillside, writing this post…

Wildflowers, daffodils, birds singing, and a warm breeze.

So many beautiful notes of hope, evidences of God working in my life, and a peace that simply smiles at the unknowns I still face.

God is going to guide my future. I know He’s going to. And while He’s working it all out in the best way, I get to enjoy this moment… and the next… and the next.

I know His mercy will always rain down on me, wherever I am.

Cozy & Content

Published on by Jackie1 Comment

My fuzzy blanket wrapped around me, I’m relaxing after another busy day.

The sun has set (a few hours ago) in a fiery blaze that framed the hills in the distance.

Today was good.

I stepped into the little white church this morning, and it felt good. Almost… normal. I still miss my home church people, but I’m getting to know this congregation. They are a gift from God, all of them have given me such a warm welcome since I moved here.

I sat beside a little boy who decided to be friends, and put a fishie sticker in my Bible. He’s about the same age as my nephew that I miss so much… and my auntie heart was delighted to have that bit of interaction with a child again.

I came home from church and warmed up leftovers for lunch. (The bacon in the casserole was a gift from friends who visited me recently. I think the world would be full of happier people if we would all gift each other with bacon occasionally.)

I took a nap in my comfy bed, then went upstairs to spend the rest of the day with my people.

I blow dry hair, go for walks, serve meals, give hugs, sing Christmas carols, trim fingernails, search for missing hearing aids, change bedding, give hugs, draw pictures to color, retrieve abandoned walkers, listen to sad hearts, put clean laundry away, give hugs, brush teeth, lay out fuzzy pajamas, tuck the sheets just so…

I give one more hug, and say “Goodnight, I love you, see you tomorrow!”

The Christmas carols today. That was so fun. We were having a great time, some of us singing the lyrics on the page, others singing the best part of the song over again just for good measure.

Sunlight streamed in on our impromptu choir, and grey heads and wrinkled faces were shining golden as we all praised Jesus together.

Heaven comes a little closer in moments like those.

Or when someone says, “One of these days I’m not gonna need this wheelchair anymore! I’ll be walking in heaven!” I reply, “Not only will you walk – you’ll be flying!”

She asks who I think will run faster, me or her. I said, maybe I can race you!

She laughs and says, “Let’s do that someday. But first I gotta go see Jesus. After that, we can race!”

Another gentleman, who is a wealth of sage advice, has told me that I’m stuck here forever. “You can try to leave,” he warns, “but I’ll always pray you come back again! And God hears me!”

These dear people.

I like being here, too.

This life really is beautiful.