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Tears are something special and unique. They miraculously flow like small diamonds, or even a small trickling stream. When I consider a diamond I see pure, clear beauty. It is often used as a symbol of love and commitment. When I think of a stream I think of my childhood and playing in them, catching crawdads or frog hunting. They are moments of joy and innocence. I also think of both as pure and clean.
The other night I was struggling with my response to some mountains in my life. As a child we used to camp in the Rocky Mountains and I would see those mountains as an adventure and the opportunity to have great time with my family and to play in the streams. As an adult I look at Mountains as something in my way, it’s too hard to get over and so much work and effort. I am not embracing the adventure, the opportunity to grow closer to my Savior and the opportunity to play in the streams.
They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend. They sparkle in the sun and are a sign of being loved in many cases. A few years ago I was given the gift of a ring in the shape of a heart and it has small diamonds on it. I wear this ring and am reminded of the love of the giver.
A week ago I had been confronted with an issue in my heart that I knew I needed to deal with. It seemed to be festering. I finally prayed and handed it over to God and asked to Him to create in me a clean heart, and to renew my spirit.
When children cry sometimes we respond with frustration. “Stop that wailing child”, you may hear someone say to a frustrated mother in the store. When one of my children cries it affects me deeply. I may try to control my reaction depending on the situation. However, my heart is still touched. My children are precious and dear to me and so are their tears. If I could save every tear I would. There is something precious about the tears of a child.
Today I shed many tears. I hope they are more then just tears of hurt, anger and frustration but tears of healing, cleansing and purifying. I know that they can be priceless and a reflection of God’s love for me and his work in my heart.
Today I can say I truly reflect this verse.
Psalm 6:6 NIV
6 I am worn out from groaning;
all night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
Yet, I claim this verse.
Psalm 126:5 NIV
5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
May your tears be ones of love and cleansing. Remember that we are His children and He treasures every tear.
Are you like me and start your day cringing in the mirror at the bed head and puffy eyes staring back at you? Well don’t be. Let me tell you what you see each morning is beautiful. It is amazing. Everything in you was so beautifully and intricately designed. Take an anatomy class some time and tell me you are not amazed at the super human computer called a brain or the the amazingly complex electrical system called the nervous system.
One of the changes I am making in my life is my weight. After many years of health issues I gained a lot of weight. So I am in the process of cleansing my body and reprogramming it. I am amazed at how our bodies respond to the foods we put in it. How you can lose weight with adding the amount of water you intake. My health problems also remind me of just how intricately we are designed. Notice how when you get a headache you may be nauseated or your vision gets blurry.
I am apart of an internet group of people who are all losing weight. We each have our own page. On one of those pages they ask what celebrities body you would like to have. Why can’t we like the one that we have been given? That body was designed just for you. Yes there is a creator and he lovingly designed and formed you. You are a work of art. You are precious to him. Often times we are not precious to ourselves so we do take care of this gift. Are you thankful for the body you have given? Do you see yourself as lovingly designed? I hope you do.
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 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,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
I had not realized how time had flown by since I last wrote. To my faithful readers I do apologize so let me fill you in on what has been happening since I last wrote.
Shortly after my last post I became ill. I can not tell you what I have because I do not know. (We are still working on that part. ) I must say some amazing blessings have come from this.
I have been able to be Mom, just Mom again. Albeit I’ve been ill and could not do much I still got to be there all day every day. I have had the opportunity to rest. I mean really rest. To allow my body to work on recovering and to be at peace and to really listen to the voice of God. This also gave me time to visit others and to spend lazy days in the pool of friend while we watched out children play. So many gifts. Since I became ill I have made new friends and made decisions to help with my healing.
Remember that when you are facing a tough circumstance or are just having a tough time emotionally, worship. Simply worship and be thankful for all your days. There is no greater gift then a sacrifice of love. Sacrifice means it cost something. It was given at a price. To praise and worship on the days when you want to fall down and cry or curse is sweet to God. Just remember the next time you are struggling and think of the perfect sacrifice of love given to you, Jesus Christ. His death on the cross for your sins came at a huge price. It was freely given in love. Have you accepted that gift yet? If not I encourage you to do just that.
I can not fathom what life must be like without Jesus by my side. Even when I struggle with the life of being a single mother I am reminded HE is there. HE is always there, holding me. I am truly thankful for his sacrifice of love to me.
Take time today to seek Him out. You will not regret it.
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. -Matthew 7:7 NLT
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