come to me all who are weary



 

Weariness. It’s a word that vibrates through our being when we hear it. It makes us think of long dragging hours when we cannot find the strength to move, when our minds turn blank and our eyes close heavily. It describes our surrender to Life’s challenges and frustrations. 

Satan takes advantage of our tiredness. He knows that our walls of fortitude have fallen and we are too weak to resist. “When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.” –Deuteronomy 25:18

God doesn’t want that to happen; He offers us a constant, unwavering invitation to find rest in Him. Do we accept his invitation? Or do we shrug it off and say ‘I can handle this. I’m not tired.’ We try so hard to do things on our own, but all we end up doing is getting angry and spinning in circles until something trips us up. It’s humiliating and exhausting. We hate it, yet we keep trying with a dogged determination.  God spoke to this people, to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”—but they would not listen.” Isaiah 28:11-12

 

What if we accepted God’s beckoning call? Would the inward battling go away? Would the burden of exhaustion be lifted from our shoulders? Yes! God remains faithful to his promise and gives us the quiet strengthening peace that we ask for. He protects us; He surrounds us with His favor as with a shield. Not even Satan can reach us and runs away defeated! Weariness no longer hinders our soul and we soar on wings like eagles.

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31

 

spinach chips

      I have never liked spinach at all. One of my earliest memories was when Mom handed me stewed spinach on a plate and I stared at it in startled terror. It was nasty stuff—not even Popeye could beguile me to try it.

            Now that I am older and wiser, I am trying to reform my eating habits, which means spinach and other green things are necessities.

I get to be adventurous and try exotic things like yogurt covered fruit, feta with zucchini, and spinach chips.  

 

Spinach chips are the easiest things to make in the world. Just a little olive oil, some sea salt and herbs—bake them for 15 min. at 300 degrees and voila! You’ve got a healthy snack to last you till the next meal.  (You can find a more detailed recipe here.)

 

 

Note to self: take it easy on the sea salt the next time.

~happy list~

finding that one special book at the library

 

seeing the big dipper every night when I go to walk the dogs

 

hundreds of little toads hopping about after a big rain

 

buying my first pair of elephant pants

 

spider webs. and running smack dab into them.

 

rediscovering things you forgot you had

 

curling up in a handmade quilt

 

the creaking of a western saddle when you ride

 

listening to music while I cook

 

smelling every single candle in the country store

 

chaotic family reunions with laughter and too much food

 

wildflowers along the highway

 

concocting a smoothie with random things you find in the freezer 

getting sticky hugs from my nieces and nephews

 

life.

mason jars and barnwood

      A couple of months ago, my sister Elissa got their old barn pulled down. I was greedy (as I sometimes am) and asked for some pieces of barn wood. Of course I asked with good intentions of doing something wonderful with it, but instead the wood sat in our garage for quite some time. Just recently I stumbled across this picture and spontaneously decided to try something like it. It was easy to figure out, and because Dad helped me with all the manly stuff (like drilling) my lovely project was finished quickly.

      Here is the end result-- with some summery yellow flowers from our garden.

 

city life

          I profess to be a country girl--but technically I'm not. This past spring, we moved to the 'city' and it's taken us a while to break ourselves in. I still love the country, (and would prefer it any day) but now I'm beginning to see the finer points of city life.

 

 

 

 



Catherine and I went to see 'Guys and Dolls'! Gaaa! Soo much fun!!!

 

The life of our city is rich in poetic and marvelous subjects. We are enveloped and steeped as though in an atmosphere of the marvelous; but we do not notice it.

Charles Baudelaire