Lilacs

Take me to where the Lilacs grow

It is March cold with melted snow

I long to see the tips of green

And melt my soul from the winter freeze

Who made the Lilac so petite and lovely?

The purple so fresh peak out from the leaves

With blossoms of grandness and glory

Blessing nature with beautiful love

Oh how I long for lawns & fields alive with green

The tulips & hyacinth their beauty anew

Nature ready to be set free

The beauty of God for everyone to see

The roads illuminated with wildflower romance

Rivals the golden palace a king does view

The love of our Father on precious display

Gives us the strength to spread the Good News

I know no way to celebrate the blooms

To give praise to God for dispelling the gloom

God gives us his best, a creation shrine

So we can worship the Lord in nature Divine!

Winter Drive in Nebraska!

Last weekend Tim and I got a chance to go to West Point, NE for a P.A.L.S. gathering.  And what is P.A.L.S. you might ask.  Well it stands for Post Seminary Applied Learning and Support, I know that doesn't really explain it does it?  It is a group of Pastors and their wives who are newly out of the seminary (in the last two or three years) who get together a few times of year to learn and support each other together with a mentoring couple who has been in the ministry for a longer period of time.  We really enjoy our P.A.L.S group and the time that we get to spend with them.  This time on our drive it had recently snowed so the ground was covered and everything was really beautiful.  I just made me think of all the wonderful blessings God gives to us.  So of course I had my camera with me so here is our winter drive through Nebraska in pictures!  Enjoy!

John 1:3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made!

Job 12: 7-10 But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.  Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?  In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.  

Even though the main roads had all been clear for days we still ran across a plow working on on of the side roads.  

Job 37:6 For to the snow he says, 'Fall on the earth' likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour,

Psalm 104:24-25 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.  Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both great and small.  

Psalm 96: 11-12 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar; and all that fills it; let the field exult and everything in it!  Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

I just loved this country church!  It was so beautiful covered in snow.  

Psalm 147:16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes!

Of course, no road trip is complete without a few orange barrels!  I suppose this next verse tells exactly when there will be no more road construction.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

One of my favorite things about driving through Nebraska are all the life affirming signs like this one.  It is really great to see so many people standing up fir those who cannot stand up for themselves.

Psalm 139: 13-15 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you , for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  

Isaiah 55: 10-11 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes our from my mouth; it shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.  

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Romans 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse.

This old house reminded me that no matter how badly beaten up we are, no matter how tattered we are with sin and guilt, we are beautiful in the eyes of the Lord.  We are washed in the blood of Christ and we are pure and white as snow!  

This is just a funny thing we saw on the side of the road. I am not sure if it got there because of the snow or it was parked there for some other reason.  I just hope there is not somebody out there waiting for their house!

I love taking pictures in the mirrors of the car.  Here is one of the many Semis that were sharing the road with us.

Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. 

We arrived at our destination.  The drive was such a blessing.  Thank you God for giving us time to be together and enjoy the wonderful creation you have made!

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps! 

Loss of Breath

I don't know how many of you have ever had an asthma attack.  Or even just lost your breath really bad.  That tightness, that panic, you just don't know where your next breath is going to come from.  The last year or so has been rough.  I feel like I had a spiritual asthma attack...a spiritual loss of breath.  It felt like life took my breath away.  I was in a slump emotionally, spiritually, and physically.  Exhaustion was my constant companion.  Peace seemed far away and God even farther.  

Every day made my "chest" tighter & tighter.  My husband passes out due to exhaustion...puff...days and days of waiting to see where we would call home next...puff puff...a daughter struggling...puff...student loans growing & growing...puff...Nebraska is so far from everybody...puff...letting go is too hard...puff puff...I feel guilty for loving it here...puff...she's pregnant...puff...I can't help, I'm no good to anyone...puff...I need my Mom...puff...what is my purpose?...a life gone...puff puff...I have no power...puff..................

My family and friends would give me little breaths of rejuvenation, which I needed badly and am extremely grateful for.   It seemed temporary.  A quick fix, a shot of adrenaline.  But I was missing something very important.  Do you notice something from the cycle I showed above?  The Puffs!  I was still breathing.  And why was I still breathing...the Breath from Heaven!

One of my favorite song says it best:

I am waiting in silent prayer

I am frightened by the Lord I bear

In a world as cold as stone

Must I walk this path alone?

Be with me now, be with me now

Breath of Heaven, hold me together

Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness

Pour over me Your holiness, for You are holy

Breath of Heaven

God never left me.  In the shallow, hurried breaths...He was there.  He is here!  He will always be with me.  How do I know?  Because He says so.  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."  (Deuteronomy 31:6)  Life can never take me breath away because His breath is the source of my life!

P.S. Check out this video of Breath of Heaven.  It's awesome!