He knows...

One of my sons said this earlier. "Life is hard at times." 

He lives in Costa Rica! In paradise! 

The gut truth is that life isn't perfect, even in a "paradise." We get stressed no matter where we live, right? Growing a business or making a living, working on relationships or living alone, letting go of earthly things, paying bills, learning to be still...

The past several days have been a time of stretching for me as I've been learning new things in post processing of images, in order to deliver what a client desired. My brain hurt in the learning. Good news is that the work is complete and will be in the clients hands tomorrow. 

Will they be happy? 

I sure hope/pray so...

So, today, I was at a saturation point. I needed an escape from my computer, more than I knew. I needed to escape from being up until 3:00 a.m. trying to finish this project. 

A FaceBook status for The Cottage Vineyard & Winery spoke tome, as if it knew... "Looking for that wintertime escape? The Cottage offers breathtaking mountain views, wines that will take your mind to your own personal oasis, and hospitality only found in the south! " I typed, "YES!" then pushed away from the computer and headed in their direction.  

I needed to feel the mountain breezes playing with my hair. My soul needed expansive views. I longed to feel the heat of the sun, low in the sky.  Sunshine did more than physically warm me. My soul warmed. The sun does our body, soul and spirit good. (The Son, Jesus, does our body, soul and spirit good!) 

Pink sky silhouetted against bare trees and fences brought me to "life" again. Just what HE ordered to refresh me, body, soul and spirit.

Was my afternoon perfect? No. Was I able to experience the total peace I hungered for? No. There were other guests who had no idea of the quiet I sought there. They were laughing loudly, their sense of humor not in sync with mine at all... Sounds like life right? Yep. Am I glad I went? Yes! The wide-screen views, sweet wine to sip, the breeze, 

the warm autumn sun were medicine. 

The sunset itself was worth the drive.  

 Sweet dreams are made of "this"... Our Father God knows what we need. I can rest in this.
Signing off for the night...

Wingdreamer

  

 Your Father knows what you need before you ask.” Matthew 6:8

 

Our God doesn’t dwell in clouds

Our God doesn’t dwell in clouds so high,

He chooses to live and identify
with mortal souls today.
Creating joy in hearts of dismay
because He came to die
and be the answer to our why.
Through the power of his ascension
He brought us into His dimension.
Now our purpose is fulfilled in his plan
because our God was willing to become man.

May you sense God’s presence anew
within the very core of you.
Relentlessly he woos and pursues
Like a bridegroom, until he captures
our hearts to be His own.
Then, He takes us to heights of rapture
when our hearts are his alone.

© Copyright 2013 Marie Nease

Don't Let Life Pass You By

Today, we celebrated a very special woman's life. Von Rogers. She was Jesus with skin on to so many people. I personally haven't had the joy of knowing her closely in recent years, yet the years I was close to her and her husband Mike, are memorable in so many ways. They were a special part of my wedding, years ago. As I walked down the aisle they sang an amazing song called "Lady in White" by Larry Stockstill. It speaks of the bride of Christ.

Moments shared with Mike and Von were focused on worship and fellowship. Those kind of moments make imprints on souls. I'm so thankful that Von and Mike's imprint is still there, in my heart. (and so many others that I saw today at Von's memorial service that I recognized from past years. 

I found myself saying, I know that smile, but having to ask their name. Precious people that I've worshiped with and enjoyed sweet fellowship with way back in the 70's.)  

Such mixed feelings were experienced today as we spoke of Von and together, we remembered her, together we sang "It is well with my soul" though through tears of realization that we don't understand why Von left earth for heaven's realm, before we were ready to see her go... 

There were so many things I took away from today. I guess what stands out now, before I lay head to pillow, is to not let life pass me by. To live fully. Live. Every. Moment. 

To be Jesus with skin on to those around me: to family, friends and strangers. To pursue Jesus with fiery passion. To pursue my calling and gifts with total focus, leaning totally on Jesus' strength. To love others fully and passionately.

To walk on water when necessary. 

Don't let life pass you by!

© 2013 Marie Nease ~ Wingdreamer

 

Sunrise to Sunset

From sunrise to sunset,
    let the Lord’s name be praised!

Psalm 113:3

 From sunrise to sunset, today was an incredibly gorgeous autumn day! I feel the sun, still warm on my skin, pink from hours out in the bright sunshine. May we sense the warmth of the Son, Jesus, from hours spent in His presence...

May we praise His sweet name from the moment the sun rises until we watch the sunset colors spread across the sky, painting another sunset that is beautiful, beyond words. 

We are all facing challenges, physical, emotional, financial... may we think on this scripture and find hope for the future. 

"The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.

Isaiah 60:19.   

 Wow... I can't comprehend this. Not really. Not with my earthly mind. May my spirit, your spirit, catch this hope that Jesus will be our everlasting light, our God will be our glory and our days of sorrow will end. Be gone. Over. We won't experience sorrow. Wow! Can you imagine this? 

No more sorrow. 

 

Jesus, everlasting light, Morning Star, your splendor is like the sunrise, in Your light we see light...  as we fear Your name, may the sun of righteousness rise with healing in His rays. May we "go out" from all the places we've been wounded and may we frolic like well-fed calves. Please, remind us that as we put on Your righteousness, we will shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father. 

May we see You, Your face, like the sun, shining in all it's brilliance!

© 2013 Wingdreamer

Life Itself Is Grace

I NEED Grace! Every Day! Life itself is grace!

I am finally at a place where I recognize I must walk in God's grace. Without HIM, I really can do nothing. 

Years ago, I read this scripture and said, yes, I agree. Now, it is reality. In daily life, I "get it." Without Him, Jesus, I truly cannot get things right every time. Whether it is something I say or do, in all things I need Jesus to do "it" through me! 

What a place of rest this is for me. I don't have to perform. I can relax into His grace and allow Him to move in and through me. 

In Him I live and move and have my being. 

This is a mystery. 

Acts 17:28

2 Corinthians 12:8-9

“Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

Father, may we be always sufficient only in You. May we feel the absolute necessity of your redeeming and preserving grace. May we never be too proud to cry out and long for the God who made us! 

    © 2013 Marie Nease

Sunsets

 Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.

Psalm 65:8

The New Living Translation 

I am in awe of His wonders. A friend told me of a new place near me to enjoy a sunset. Wow! I am twitterpated... the sunset tonight left me breathless and almost speechless, yet full of praise and wonder at my Father God's creation. 

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.”
― G.K. Chesterton

 “In silence the three of them looked at the sunset and thought about God.”
― Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib

© 2013 Wingdreamer.com 

A Place of Stillness

This life we are walking through can be chaotic and stressful. We all need to find a place in our world to get away and breathe and be still and know that HE is God. 

I encourage you to escape from the "daily grind" and find a place of peace where you can still yourself. Listen to the quiet. Listen to crickets and frogs singing their song. Listen to the breeze moving the trees. Watch as afternoon turns into evening on another day. Offer up thanksgiving for the simple things that life brings. Joy. Laughter. Bird songs. Hummingbirds flying by your window. Sunset colors painted across the sky. Unexpected provision. Love and friendship unfolding. Breathe in God's gift of peace in your place of stillness. Look up, expectantly. 

Where do you find your place of stillness?

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