Learning to live for HIS glory

I decided to pick some words to describe this season of life  Carl and I have found ourselves in since our wedding in August. This is what I came up with: Sweet, beautiful, painful, and really, really hard . There, I said it. It's funny really, People expected this season would be hard, We actually did too.   But it wasn't... At least not in the way we expected. I miss my family and friends, yes. But not having to say goodbye to Carl has been wonderful. And for us, At least most days, Homesickness has not been a huge issue. Like we thought it would... Like we were preparing for... Instead our challenges have come out of left field. We've gone through the normal newlywed stuff... Adjusting to life together, Arguing, Figuring out how to disagree and be okay with it (who am I kidding?  I'm still not okay with it!) Growing, hopefully! But what has really rocked us was not something we at all expected. He...

Rain, Icy rain. Warmth evades ...and even my soul feels                                     cold. Because going through the motions ...doesn't mean a thing, I'm lost in the meaningless,                                nothingness,                                    daily striving after                                          ............................. In the middle of it all, Hungry, I'm yearning for words,                                good words,                         ...

I discovered this in my computer as I was going through some files.  I wrote it about 2 years ago . . . its just a small piece of the story of my life, but it describes a really rough period of time, and the Lord's faithfulness to see me through.  Perhaps someday I'll write the other pieces of this story, but without further adieu: The cold whispers through my window pane as I sit here tonight. Black branches and trunks silhouette against a dark satin sky. Inside my heart there burns a story . . . a story begging to be told. Can I find the words? I hope so, I pray so. It’s crazy how fast years can fly by. Looking back I see how much has changed, how God has worked. I stand amazed. In awe of Him this silent night . . . how He has worked and is. A year and half a year or so, takes us back to springtime 2011, the beginning of a season when dreams began to shatter. Don’t you know? Often beauty and healing only come through pain. I didn’t understand. They di...

Oh Jesus, my Joy-Giver, In the middle of ugly and useless, Remind of beauty and blessing. In the middle of heartache and hopeless, Remind of mending and mercy. In the middle of bleakness and burdens, Remind of rest and rejoicing. You are the Giver of good gifts, The Giver of Life. Desperately we need You. Amen.