#5 Open-Hearted Love

The clouds are gathering outside as I sit by my bedroom window at work. The wind has picked up and the water out in the bay has turned to a dark-grey color as it churns back and forth. I know the sun is shining, but I cannot see it as before. The cool air keeps me inside where it is warm and where I can escape from the biting wind. This kind of weather is beautiful in its own sort of way, but I do not think that I would actually label it as beautiful in my mind. These kind of grey, windy days display power and fierce strength; they make me think of the storms that I go through in my heart. God is the maker of these days, and His power far exceeds them. God is also the one who gives these kind of days for His own reasons that I do not know. 

 

#4 Open-Handed Trust

Brisk, cool air meets me as I swiftly make my way out to the Station's front gate to lock up for the night. I stop. My gaze turns toward the heavens. Small teeny-tiny dots of light shine down amidst the veil of darkness that cloaks the world around me. These rulers of the night faithfully carry out their God given purpose without faltering. As I gaze up with wide open-eyed wonder, a new miracle begins to take place in my life. This grace inspired and enabling open-eyed wonder---which has blossomed in my soul with the joy of thanksgiving to the Lord---has also given me courage and power to live in open-handed trust. For how can I not trust the one who loves me and is the Giver of all good gifts---and all His gifts are good? In 1 John 4:18, John notes that perfect love drives out fear.

#3 Open-Eyed Wonder

 A new day dawning. Renewed life and strength bursting forth with purpose. The gift of each new breath to sustain for a time. Sights seen day after day, seen fresh and new with open eyes. The sound of gulls exuberant and filled with life, along with the far off toll of a buoy twirling in the wind and current. A mind racing to count and capture daily blessings so uncommonly common; so unique in their constancy day after day.

This is my new day! My gift of life from God! I meet this gift with open eyes and I am left amazed. Open-eyed wonder washes over me as the sun bathes me with its golden beams, as the wind's gusts send chills down my spine, and as the fresh scent of a new day fills my lungs. Sights and sounds met with open eyes and ears. And in openness thanksgiving is born! Thanksgiving explodes! Thanksgiving opens the eyes wider to see more wonder---to see the beauty of God.

#2 When Life is a Gift ~ And the Giver Is Good

The breeze is gently wisping around outside as the sun sinks low. I just enjoyed a few moments of peace as I watched the blue-rippling water and the lovely shades of color splash across the sky as the sun sets outside the Coast Guard Station. I recited the beautiful words of 1 John 3 that remain a timeless testimony to my heart of God's great love for me. "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God....We know love by this that He laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:1,16). I truly cannot measure God's love for it has no limits. So I set my heart on the lovely pursuit of knowing God's love; a joy that can only be met in openness. Open eyes will see a world touched by grace and sustained by a patient and kind Creator who is all-powerful and glorious in splendor and yet so generous in love to those who think such little thoughts of His existence. Open hands are ready to receive the gifts of love and grace that the Lord alone bestows. Open hands know that in love God gives and takes away because God's gifts are but for a time, and they are to be enjoyed in their time with thanksgiving. Open hearts quietly wait and eagerly look to the Father to meet all needs and to lavish true love without limits. Open hearts do not try and hide, they do not try and disguise who they are or what they've done, but instead they trust that God's word is true and that His love is real.

#1 God Will Make A Way...

 

As I sit here in my sun-bathed kitchen, I am quite content. My tummy is full from a nice breakfast of fried eggs and chocolate chip pancakes; and now here I sit contemplating so many scattered thoughts with my cup of coffee close at hand. Mornings are just lovely that dawn with the sun shining and sparkling, causing everything else to dance in its light. My little plants love to sit and soak in the sun beams because this isn't such a common joy up here in Eastport during the winter/spring months.

Oh, I have been trying to think recently just how to put into words all that the Lord is impressing and teaching my heart over the past few weeks and months. I suppose it is kind of like trying to catch bubbles with your hands or attempting to capture the scent of freshly washed laundry that is about to be thrown into the dryer or even trying to understand any mystery that befuddles us in this life. These lessons from the Lord are downright allusive! But I am set on capturing them the best I can because I do not want to lose them amidst life's constant flow and change.