Lighter

For so many, walking through these days isn't always easy. It's tough actually. So many challenges. Such an uphill climb. Having friends and family to walk beside, through the challenges, makes life easier. When we get off balance, our friends and family often will notice first and can gently share with us their concerns. We know the scriptures, but honestly it isn't always easy to walk in the truth through difficult times, when the weight of the situation is heavy, the struggle is in our face and we are weary of the fight. I am SO thankful for family and friends who care and who point me to Jesus when times are really tough.

Goodnight from Wingdreamer

Galatians 6:2

Amplified Bible (AMP)

² Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and ^[a]troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete ^[b]what is lacking [in your obedience to it].

©  Copyright 2013 Marie Nease

Fresh Blossom of the Day

Pink Cone Flower

I struggle with the morning. I'm a night owl. However, I really long to be a morning person and open sleepy eyes when morning stretches her arms and yawns awake. 

Pink and purple often washes across early skies while I dream. There are times when something wakes me and I peak out on my forested view of the world and see dew drops glistening on everything it touches. I see watercolor skies and a golden rising of a new day, smiling, though eyes are still blurry with sleep. For now, this is my reality. 

Whenever my "morning" is, even if later than some, I long to give that new blossom to Jesus, an offering, fresh with dew, to sing to Him my thankfulness for another day. Thankful for His love, faithfulness, guidance, provision and ever hovering Holy Spirit 

who is comfort divine, 

more than enough for this day. 

My voice shall you hear in the morning, O LORD; 

in the morning will I direct my prayer unto you, and will look up.
Psalm 5:3

 King James 2000 Bible

© 2013 Marie Nease

Walk in the Light

Jesus is a warm, comforting light in darkest night.

Jesus is a piercing beam, sent to redeem

our souls, lost in the dark.

...for you were formerly darkness, 

but now you are Light in the Lord; 

walk as children of Light. 

Ephesians 5:8 NASB

...but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7 NASB

Jesus is the Light and as we walk in Him, abide in Him and remain in Him, we will bear fruit. 

We are not able to bear fruit on our own. 

 
Children of light, according to the Hebrew dialect, 

are those who are in a state of light, endued with knowledge and holiness. 

From the Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

© 2013 Wingdreamer

God's Signature

 

While much of the country watched the

 "Super Bowl" I found myself contemplating God's signature. I can't help it. I don't care for sports. 

I'd rather be creative!

As I recall images of fields of flowers and my Mom's gardens, I see God's signature written with flowers, with such incredible love for us.

 

I so desire for HIS signature to be written all 

over my life. He wants to write His signature on my life and yours, more than we could ever imagine. I want His scent, 

like fragrant flowers,

to permeate my days. 

To enjoy the fragrance of Christ that wafts through my life and then allow it to be shared and enjoyed with those around me.

I am not fragrant in myself. My flesh stinks! However, as I abide in Christ, there is a sweetness that develops, that I long to share. As I stay in Him, stand in Him, endure in Him, reside with Him, dwell with Him, 

remain in Him, 

I will exude the fragrance of Christ. 

What is preventing this sweet fragrance from freely being released in my life-- daily? 

That is the question I ask tonight. I pray for an honest unveiling of my heart.  

I step into grace. 

I long to be a fragrant aroma to Jesus, 

as He is to me. He offered up Himself as a sacrifice, a fragrant offering. When I step into a room, what fragrance do others notice?

© 2013 Marie Nease

 

Ephesians 5:1-2

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Philippians 4:18

 

In the Garden

He waits.

He longs

for us,

for our company.

He delights in us.

He longs for us to 

walk with Him

in the garden. 
 
We hear Him gently, 
whispering our name...
What do we do
when we hear 
His whisper?

Do we run to Him, 
longing for His company?
Do we busy ourselves
with earthly
distractions?

Do we drop
whatever we are doing
and walk in the garden 
 with our Heavenly
Daddy in the cool of the day?

 He yearns for us to
 listen to Him
speak into our hearts...
to speak direction in the midst of days 
when we are terribly and hopelessly lost 
in dark forests...
to speak peace when we're drowning in 
 turmoil and our ship is sinking in the storm,

to speak His perfect love to cast out our shivering fears,
to wrap His divine comfort as a blanket and bandage around our open wounds...

We only need to walk with Him
in the garden
and He will be enough...
More. Than. Enough.  

Copyright © 2012 Marie Nease    
  
  

Bare

The last of the leaves,

swirling in their letting go,

unveiled in autumn's glow,

now reveal the

true beauty of 

her intricate branches, 

bare, yet reaching

heavenward.

Though Winter's chilly

winds may gust,

and her arms bow low,

she'll be able to stand.

Her graceful limbs grow

strong, enduring Winter's rest.

Hopeful, budding green

will sprout again in Spring. 

Her graceful branches,

dressed in Spring's newness

stretching skyward,

into vivid blue, inviting, 

attract a feathered friend

to perch awhile

 and share an 

enchanting song 

heard before, but only

in her dreams...  
© 2012 Marie Nease  

  Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
   but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

      

 

Thankful beyond words

In the wee hours 

of Thanksgiving morning...

I should be sleeping,

yet I am awake...

there are moments

of keen awareness

of those who are suffering,

of those who are mourning

the loss of spouses,

the memories

of family members,

and of friends

who have gone

before us,

especially those who've

gone before their time...    

at least before we were ready

for them to go...

for them to leave us.

There are others

who are not sleeping,

hearts who are weeping

for those whose

lives hang between

this life

and the next,

wondering how many

hours will pass

how many days

will loved ones last?

So, humbly our hearts bow

crying out, we don't always understand

why you allow

suffering and sickness; 
hold our hand

as we struggle to look up into Your face

thankful for hope, 
dancing in the midst of grace.

I'm thankful for family
and friends
who are still with us...
For precious, memory making
kind of days 
to touch their hands,
their hearts
fully while we are able.   

And so we learn

in the letting go.

We learn 

in the stretching,

in the growing,

through times that ache,

to be thankful in 

ALL

things

experienced

in this world

because we are 

in the process

of getting to know

a personal God,

a process of being

changed into HIS image,

He who chose to send His

only son to redeem us

from sin...

from ourselves

and unto Himself.

So, in the wee hours

of this Thanksgiving morning

I am so "thank full"

for all the reasons

for all the seasons 

of life

and how God chooses

and uses 

every

tiny 

detail

 of our lives

to draw us

unto

Himself.

Amazingly,

God draws us closer

to His heart

because His love is beyond

our imagination...

He longs to live through us

in divinely illuminating,

forever communicating.

His immense love,

the expense poured out

His blood freely

sacrificed 

for us... 

So thankful

beyond

these

words.

 Copyright © 2012 Marie Nease