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

Rise From Ashes

Life can change, overnight. Devastating is a word used more than once in news reports. Flames. Ashes. Shock. A community is grieving. Businesses are suffering because of the flames that raged in the night in downtown Clarkesville Georgia on Wednesday night March 5th and the morning of March 6th, 2014. Families are affected. Finances are affected. Hearts are bowed low. Ashes have replaced flourishing businesses. Thankfully no one was injured!

Though I do not have deep roots in this community, I do have fresh, new roots that have worked their way into the soil of Habersham County. I feel the pain, the devastation. I grieve. 

I drove through Clarkesville a little over a week ago. The beautiful cottage garden at the Mauldin House was beginning to bloom. I wandered through the paths with my Nikon, capturing images of daffodils and crocuses heralding Spring. 

Once again, I drove slowly through Clarkesville this past Saturday. My eyes, my heart, were touched deeply by black wounds in historic buildings, ravaged by flames. I circled the square, once, twice. My heart heavy. I wasn't alone. Others drove slowly, their eyes taking in the destruction. The Mauldin House and gardens, though so incredibly close to the flames and devastation, were untouched. Bird song filled the air. Early Spring blubs continue to push through cold ground and bloom. A colorful beacon of hope.

For now, a community needs to grieve. Then there will be a time, soon, to push through the cold soil of the flames and devastation and bloom again! There will be a time to rebuild, a time to rise again from flames and ashes. It will be hard work. but it will be well worth it! 

Every time we push through what looks like an impossible situation, we will grow!

The community of Clarkesville Georgia is strong! 

I've been facing my own challenges and learning how to push through and rise from the ashes of "flames and devastation" in my life, as so many others are! I believe in new beginnings and rebuilding. I believe in beauty from ashes. I believe in a God who is big enough and strong enough to walk with us through every fire, every scary experience, every challenge.

"Whatever you do, hold onto hope.

The tiniest thread will twist into an unbreakable cord.

Let hope anchor you in the possibility that 

this is NOT the end of your story,

That change will bring you to peaceful shores." ~ Unknown

Aerial view of Clarkesville from a Taste of Clarkesville event 2013

 There is a hope to bloom again! 

Clarkesville Georgia will bloom again and rise from ashes!

© 2014 Marie Nease

“Whatever you do, hold on to hope! The tiniest thread will twist into an unbreakable cord. Let hope anchor you in the possibility that this is NOT the end of your story; that change will bring you to peaceful shores.”

See more at: http://www.idlehearts.com/?p=3174

“Whatever you do, hold on to hope! The tiniest thread will twist into an unbreakable cord. Let hope anchor you in the possibility that this is NOT the end of your story; that change will bring you to peaceful shores.”

See more at: http://www.idlehearts.com/?p=3174

Together

I don’t want someone who promises me the moon and stars. 

I want someone who promises to lay on the grass 

and watch them with me.

~ unknown