Be Still

These days, we're all in motion...

I wonder how Abba Father sees us. What do we look like from His perspective? We, like ants, are busy, working, gathering food, provisions. Forever moving... Like an aerial view of Atlanta during during rush hour, streaks of lights, representing countless souls transitioning from work to home. From busyness to connecting with family and friends and where is God in the midst of all of this motion? 

Be still...

Life is filled with moments. 

So often the moments blend as we spin out of control. 

We must somehow find our own way to slow. 

To breathe. To be still. To mingle with people close to us. To wrap our hearts around souls. To be still and know God. To be aware of His presence. His gifts that glow in shimmering sunrise and sunset sparkling on waters, in blankets of fog and gentle rain. God's presents given in moments unfolding.

Be still...

Our minds process and analyze life's struggles. We try to grasp truth and purpose. We suffer and such wrenching pain shoots through every soul's veins. Aaah we long for peace, yet it evades us. Hope deferred makes our hearts sick. May our dreams be fulfilled, like a tree of life, budding fresh, as we practice being still and know He is God. May joy come in the morning and in the mourning...

May we stop striving and know You Abba Father.

May we recognize You. 

May we be in awe of Your ways.

May we let go of our concerns and see your solutions.

May we not be fearful, fretful or impatient, restless or focus on tumultuous seas. 

May we be quiet and easy, resigned to Your will, oh Father. 

May we live in an assured expectation of Your divine providence. You know us. You know our weaknesses, what scares us, what brings us to tears. You know where to hide us until the storm is over. May we learn how to fully relax, be still and know and understand with a certainty, that You are God. That You are much much much bigger than we can ever imagine. You set the stars in their place and put them into motion. You are able to still us. 

 © 2014 Marie Nease

Ancient Paths

This is what the LORD says: "Stand beside the roads and watch. Ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is. Walk in it and find rest for yourselves. 

But they said, 'We won't walk in it!' Jeremiah 6:16 

I pray I listen and find rest. 

I pray you listen and find rest. 

We have the tendency to be rebellious, 

to walk in our own ways.  

We are prone to wander...

The ancient paths speak to me of the tried and true ways.

Ancient paths that those before us 

have traversed where they found rest for their souls.

I long for rest for my soul. Most of us crave rest in this world filled with bad news, challenges, cancer and losing loved ones, ISIS and other tremendous evils. Often we feel blinded and confused when we grope to find the good way, the ancient paths to walk on. 

May we clearly see the ancient paths and walk in them. 

©  2014 Marie Nease

Beauty in Dying?

I find it almost impossible

to see beauty in dying.

Over the past several years,
precious friends lives were snatched away
by cancer's unmerciful grasp.

I find no beauty in that!

Yet, somehow, 

God is able to see beauty

in everything. To cause beauty

to bloom from the unlikely.

To even burst forth beauty

from the grave!

Autumn reminds of beauty in dying...

leaves glowing,

showing off,
dazzling us
with their blazing colors,

during their last days
before they let go,
twirling, gently to the ground.

© Copyright 2014 Marie Nease

Trees

The trees of the field clap their hands!

Nature praises her Creator!

May we join nature

 in extravagant praise 

of our Creator!

   You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12 New International Version (NIV)

Exquisite Beauty, Horrible Pain...

I see such exquisite beauty expressed in creation, music that moves me, heart and soul, smiles that light up faces, blue skies, blue eyes, brown and green, babies being born, sunrises painted across blue, sunsets aflame, petals in hundreds of hues, raindrops, lightening flashing, the moon, slivered or full, stars sparkling, the Milky Way glowing, autumn leaves showing their vivid colors, happy people laughing and couples still in love and in the gentle, yet powerful touch of God in our frailty...

I see such heartbreaking, intense pain, tearstained faces, hearts bent over with weights, heavy with this world and it's cares...I see limping, wounded souls, broken, grieving, beyond imagination...I see diseases, cancers, conditions and disorders that eat at our bodies and minds, doing their best to cause discouragement, depression and even death...


I see incredible evils, lustful, devious and murderous acts. I hear stories of devastation that are so horrible I weep... Most leaders of countries are not leading in a righteous way.

The world quakes and shakes, whirls and spins, smokes and spews gases and lava, the earth cracks and it floods, experiencing birth pangs...




Yet, THIS I CHOOSE TO REMEMBER, to sing out, that He, our God, has seen the end and He has come back dancing!! 

He is aquainted with our grief and pain! 

He is with us in it and through it. 

He is with us in the midst of the exquisitely beautiful moments and the horribly painful moments too.

My prayer is that we may really KNOW Jesus intimately in the midst of these days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGhmvNGFENE 

I need to know you are holding the whole world in your hands... ♥ ♥ ♥  Love this song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr15pYT_RXM ♥ ♥ ♥  Love this song!

My humble apologies.... Blogger is suffering tonight with some issues so the blog formatting etc is off..... oh well, we live in an imperfect world, right? :-)

© 2014 Marie Nease 

Wingdreamer

Kiss the Shoreline

This quote by Sarah Kay spoke straight to my heart today. It speaks to me of perseverance, of not giving up, though with everything within us, at times we feel like giving up. There is something spiritual, something real and just downright gutsy that I experience as I stand on a beach and feel the sand between my toes, the tremendous power of the waves pounding on the shore, a coastal breeze tousling my hair and God's Spirit reaching out and touching my spirit. I am most alive in these moments. As I go through continuing challenges, I will persevere. I will feel that coastal, spiritual breeze and I will press on. I will look up, into the face of my Creator and continue to hope. Will you continue to hope with me? I hope so.... I pray your heart is lifted. Feel the coastal breeze...feel God's comforting Spirit gently, wrapping 'round you.

Signing off for tonight, Wingdreamer 

Know Him

 

Navigating trails

that wind and turn,

God cares about details,

He'll help us discern

which way to go

as we learn His ways

and yearn to know Him.

Not leaning on our own understanding,

but trusting in Him with our whole heart

we're standing, then landing 

on His grace, we're His work of art

painted with strokes of brilliant light

in darkness and wanderings,

no longer lost, hope in sight,

clear voice saying, come,

I've made this path smooth and straight,

peace and rest will become

a way of life, as you drop worry's weight,

then you'll rest in a verdant field

and I'll guide you by a quiet river

as you relax, trust and yield,

knowing, loving Me, your life giver,

direction finder, guide and compass

to lead you through uncertainty

and fears, to receive My promises,

then, we'll celebrate eternally!

© 2014 Wingdreamer

 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,

"This is the way; walk in it."

 

Takes My Breath Away!

God's creation constantly takes my breath away! 

I'm so thankful every time I see a stunning sunset painted across the evening sky. 

I treasure sunset moments. 

They remind me of God's incredible creative nature and 

His love for us, His children.

What are some of those creation moments 

that take your breath away?

© 2014 Marie Nease

Wingdreamer  

 

Sunset Storm

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. 

 

Psalm 65:8

 

 © 2014 Wingdreamer

Shape of My Heart?

Sting sings "Shape of My Heart" and every time, I swoon. Silly huh? I just love Sting's voice. Not sure exactly what this song even means, but I love it! Some people say there is spiritual significance in the meaning. 

I think only Sting and his guitarist, Dominic Miller know.

More significantly, today, as I've been having an extended time of being with the Lord, worshiping Him and 

studying His Word, 

I keep hearing these questions in my mind...

What is the shape of my heart? 

What is the condition of my heart?

What does my heart ache for?

What do I want more?

Lingering on these thoughts today...

Inviting you to linger with me...

Linger long in God's presence. The answers are there.

Wingdreamer

Upward and Outward

Leaves are unfolding.

New growth is reaching.

Our Creator is beholding,

His lessons are teaching

us how to trust Him through every storm

and allow luscious fruit to grow.

Jesus, the vine, will transform 

us, the branches, will show

 fruit born from living with the Gardener,

who roots us and grounds us in love.

The Vinedresser is also our pardoner,

pruner and friend, we sit with above!

  © 2014 Marie Nease 

John 15 ~ Galatians 5:22-23 - Isaiah 55:7 ~ Micah 7:18

Adversity is not simply a tool. It is God's most effective tool for the advancement of our spiritual lives. The circumstances and events that we see as setbacks are oftentimes the very things that launch us into periods of intense spiritual growth. Once we begin to understand this, and accept it as a spiritual fact of life, 

 adversity becomes easier to bear.

 ~ Charles Stanley

   

 
Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth. 

~ Rick Warren

 

 If a man does not exercise his arm he develops no biceps muscle; and if a man does not exercise his soul, he acquires no muscle in his soul, no strength of character, no vigour of moral fibre, nor beauty of Spiritual growth. 

~ Henry Drummond, The Greatest Thing in the World

Men may not know how fruits grow, but they do know that they cannot grow in five minutes. Some lives have not even a stalk on which fruits could hang, even if they did grow in five minutes. Some have never planted one sound seed of Joy in all their lives; and others who may have planted a germ or two have lived so little in sunshine that they never could come to maturity. 

~ Henry Drummond, Pax Vobiscum

 

Focus

Mind wanders.

Thoughts flutter.

Eye shutter clicks

again and again.

Choose subject,

focus.

click.

Choose subject,

focus.

click.

What is my eye

drawn to?

 

In the dark room,

of life

what is developing?

What images emerge

after being

immersed in watery 

processing? 

As the image of me is created,

what am I allowing to be exposed

on the paper of my life?

What I focus on

will appear

almost magically

on the image

of me...

fixing our eyes on Jesus...

 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Hebrews 12:2 The Message (MSG)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, 

since what is seen is temporary, 

but what is unseen is eternal. 

 2 Corinthians 4:18

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are

here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.  

1 Corinthians 4: 16-18 The Message (MSG)

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.  

 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
    stay on the safe path. 

 Don’t get sidetracked;
    keep your feet from following evil.

 Proverbs 4:25-27

Wingdreamer is refocusing...

© 2014 Marie Nease

Listen

L-i-s-t-e-n ...

What do you hear right now?

For several minutes, just still and listen...

Outside my window, a whippoorwill fills the air with it's song, a repetitive, yet mysteriously calming melody. A gift to my soul. Last night a mocking bird's beautiful song echoed through the night air.

Listen...

What is going on in your mind in the midst of your day? What "self talk" to you hear? Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head. Are your thoughts mostly positive or negative? Do you breathe prayers to your Father God as you go about your day? Do you meditate on scriptures that apply to your current life situations or challenges?

May we be fully aware of the enemy of our souls and the lies he whispers in our ears. You aren't good enough. You aren't smart enough. You failed again. You aren't worthy. DON'T listen to those lies! Listen to the Savior of our soul and His whispers.

• Jesus whispers ... I'll never leave you or forsake you.
• Jesus calls to us... Come to me all you who are weary, lay down your heavy burdens, I will give you rest.
• Jesus reminds us...I give you peace, not like the world can give you. Don't allow your heart to be troubled or afraid.
• Jesus urges us... Come drink the water I offer to you, living water, then you won't thirst again!
• Jesus says... I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
• Jesus whispers...My little sheep, listen, and you will hear my voice and follow me and obey me.  

 
Jesus longs to speak to us and His words are spirit and they give life!

Listen to the voice of Jesus, not your inner critic. Listen to Jesus whisper His love and His direction and His encouragement to your heart as you go through your day.  

What are some of your favorite words of Jesus that encourage you? Write them down, paint them on your wall :-), share them here, share them with others!  


As we listen to the voice of Jesus, revel in the fact that His voice is like the sound of many waters. Revelation 1:15
                            

Rivers of Living Water!

per·se·ver·ance

per·se·ver·ance

ˌpərsəˈvi(ə)rəns/

noun: perseverance

1.

steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

Synonyms: Persistence, tenacity, determination, staying power,

indefatigability, steadfastness, purposefulness;  indefatigability: able to work or continue for a very long time without becoming tired  I long to be untiring. Indefatigable. Many years ago, I experienced times when my 4 boys were growing up when I had to be "energizer mom" and just keep on going way beyond where I thought I could. Baseball, cub scouts, music lessons and homework filled our days. We managed to fit in some camping trips and days on the lake. Leaning on Jesus and bubble baths kept me sane and smiling. Learning to love my boys with a balance of needed discipline was often difficult. I was far from being a perfect mom. Their dad, angry and not really knowing how to love, mostly failed at being the dad they needed and longed for.  This past year has been an uphill challenge for me. At times it felt like riding a tricycle up Mount Everest. At times, it truly felt impossible.  Do you ever feel like this?  I'm in the midst of a desert.  I am weary. I am tired.  My hands aren't lifted high in praise, though I long to be able to praise my Father God in this challenge! I'm low, way low on hope, perseverance and determination.  I'm spent. Parched. Thirsty. Desperate.   Hear my cry, for I am very low!! Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me.” Psalm 142:6-7 When my spirit is overwhelmed within me, You know my path. Psalm 142: 1. Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD; I make supplication with my voice to the LORD.  2. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.  3. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, (Ready to sink and faint under the present affliction... Gills Exposition) You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me.…  Barnes' Notes on the Bible When my spirit was overwhelmed within me - Luther renders this, "When my spirit was in distress." The Hebrew word rendered "overwhelmed" means, in Kal, to cover as with a garment; then, to be covered as with darkness, trouble, sorrow; and then, to languish, to faint, to be feeble:  Psalm 77:3; Psalm 107:5. The idea here is, that, in his troubles, he had no vigor, no life, no spirit. He did not see how he could escape from his troubles, and he had no heart to make an effort. Have YOU ever felt like you couldn't escape from YOUR troubles? Have you felt like you had no heart left to make an effort?  What are we to do when we feel overwhelmed?  1. Psalm 61:2 Cry out to YOU Father! 2. Psalm 142:3 Realize that you know my path 3. Psalm 88:1-3 Remember You are the God who saves me 4. Cry out to you day and night 5. Pray that you will turn your ear to my cry 6. Psalm 55:2 Pray You will listen and answer 7. Because You are worthy to be praised, I am to call on You and you will hear my cry, you will reach down from heaven and rescue me draw me out of deep waters.  8. Psalm 143:4 remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands.… Actually, there have been times just this weekend, that I felt overwhelmed. My Mom was admitted to the hospital with two pulmonary embolisms. She could've died! Pulmonary Embolism's are a known cause of sudden death. Mom is still in the land of the living, and we are so thankful!  A very special close friend comes to mind, who has recently been dealing with her aging parents. She and her family are having to make difficult decisions. Most certainly, they feel overwhelmed as they deal with the emotions that surface during times like these.   The scriptures above are our "prescription" to fill when we feel overwhelmed. Our Father God desires for us to persevere.  He will help us! Wingdreamer signing off for the night...    http://biblehub.com/commentaries/psalms/119-32.htm

Saint Patrick's Words

Tonight, the words of Saint Patrick spoke to me, almost as if he shared his heart with me, in my home, by firelight. 

I was moved by his words.

"As armour on my breast I bind
The powers of God in heaven and earth;
The fleetness of the rushing wind.

The brightness of the morning's birth;
The splendour of the fiery glow,
The whiteness of the winter snow,

The lightning's wildly flashing mirth;
The strength that girds the rocky steep.
The vastness of the unfathomed deep.

I bind as armour on my breast
The Wisdom which shall be my guide;
The Shield whose shelter bids me rest

In peace, whatever ills betide;
The Eye of God, to search my thought;

His Ear, my prayer of faith to hear;
His Word, to make my words be fraught."
 

Care to read some more of his writings?

 https://archive.org/stream/writingsofsaintp00patr#page/n5/mode/2up