From the title, you are probably thinking I'm writing this during the wee hours of the morning or very late at night. Nope, but I am writing this from experience, this morning at 3:30AM to be exact. For some reason I wake up almost every morning between 3:30-3:45AM. Most of the time laying there, twitching my restless legs, trying with everything I have to go back to sleep. Most of the time the more I fight it the longer I am awake. But on the mornings that I realize that God has me awake for a reason, I use it to talk to Him. Most of the time I wake into a sea of worry. Yes, I admit it... I am a full-fledged, card carrying, stomach ache inducing, worry wart. Always have been, and I am not proud of it. So at 3:30 when my legs are twitching and my dog and husband are singing their songs of deep sleep, I think of all the things that might go wrong during the day. Yes, I said might, like I said - I am not proud of it. This morning was one of those restless mornings, but this morning was different. God quickly reminded me that He had me awake for a reason, and it was to talk to Him. This morning it was all about my husband, which is my favorite subject of prayer. So I started praying, and praying with all my heart. I quietly laid my hand on my husbands back and just started praying for him. Praying for his day, praying for God to give him peace, praying that God would give him Joy in his day. Praying that he would wake up feeling refreshed, feeling his importance in life, feeling loved unconditionally, feeling appreciated, and so forth. I prayed, prayed, and prayed some more. I prayed that I would be an encouragement to him, that I would be a safe place for him to come, talk to and listen. I prayed that I would be his teammate so he doesn't have to face his stresses alone. I prayed for his friendships, that He would have men in his life that he could have fun with, do "stupid guy stuff" with, have adventures with, and ones that he could talk to. Then came the prayers of Thankfulness. The room had become quieter, and all I could hear was the sweet purr of my kitty as she stretched and nestled in to the comforter over me. I thanked God for her, because she calms me. I thanked God for my husband, for being such a great provider. For being my rock when I need someone to lean on. For being there for me whenever I need him. For always watching out for me and making sure that I arrive to my destination safely. For still opening the doors for me, after 18 years of being together (14 as my husband). For his giant hugs that calm my fears. For wiping away my tears when I am hurting. And for letting me just ramble when I need to. Ok - he totally deserves a medal for that last one. During that silence of the morning and the joy of being thankful, I fell back asleep. So I pray, the next time I am awake at 3:30 - that God will immediately remind me that it's our time to talk, without any distractions, and that He hears my every word, fear, worry, and thankfulness.
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For a few years now, I have been trying to finish the logo for my Rural Housewife stuff - but I seem to get a creative block when I work on my own designs. I am excited about adding this to my handcrafted items that I sell online and at craft shows - lately I have been making leather goods (wallets, bracelets, journals, etc). I am also excited about using it as a watermark for my photography (personally and professionally). To me this logo encompasses all of me - my rural surroundings, the star (from my years in Texas), the fonts are bold with a little girly thrown in, and the edges are rough because God's still working out my rough patches :). "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you." (Psalm 139:1-18 NIV) Mrs. GrumpyPants was totally me this morning! I woke up tired, irritated, snappy, and all around pathetic. As soon as my hubby got up and came down stairs I told him the great news. Poor guy! I told him that it was probably best that he go out, have fun, and enjoy the beautiful day without me because all I wanted to do was crawl into a hole, cry, and throw myself a pity party with an extra large chocolate brownie until I passed out from exhaustion. What he did next is why I love that man with all my heart. He came over, gave me a hug, and said "let's go to the lake, take Pete for a walk, and we can even take the van. That way if you get tired or want to hideout you can hangout in the van and take a nap (actually one of my favorite places to nap) while Pete and I walk around the lake." Yep! That is why I love that man! So, begrudgingly, I agreed to go. When we got there, got out of the van, and started walking, the weight lifted off my shoulders. I looked around at the beauty around me and just sighed a sigh of content. The leaves - gorgeous; the company - understanding; the fresh air - soothing. It was exactly what I needed. Here are some of the pictures from our walk. I pray that they take you to a place of peace and relaxation. Because for me - it was a great reminder of how Amazing our God is and how creative and magnificent his creations are. And on a bad day where all I want to do is hide, he is there - as a huge ray of soothing sunlight! |
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