2011

[lightbox href href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0669-e1297282166827.jpg”][/lightbox] Two hearts unequally yoked. Long has been the journey of an unfaithful people and a faithful God. He always knew they would leave him. We would leave him. Oh faithful God, we are humbled by your compassion. By your steadfast love. We will never know a more faithful lover than you. This is Love… When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who […]

[bl]D[/bl]ear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Sounds easy! Love one another. So why is it so hard? Why is it that our love comes out awkward or ill timed? Why do we pass up opportunities to show love but we’re quick to pass judgment? And why do we hide our love with pride and selfishness? Why is it that all day long I plan to greet my husband with kind, gentle, I’m-so-glad-to-see-you words when he walks through the door from work….but instead I spew at him all the frustrating things the children […]

[bl]D[/bl]ear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0658-e1297281869775.jpg”][/lightbox] Our most genuine efforts of love don’t necessarily come on Valentine’s Day. But still, it’s a time when the world acknowledges love. Images of love and romance throughout our towns, all red and pink. We make heart shape cookies and trade love notes. We created to love humans welcome all gestures of love, even the superficial, and especially the ones covered in chocolate! [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0612-e1297275996332.jpg”][/lightbox] A world trying to love. Imperfect love shared between imperfect people. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows […]

[bl]L[/bl]arge flakes of snow swirling and falling. Blowing and gathering. The barren winter earth covered in a thick blanket of white. Pine tipped with snow, green peaking through. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0524-e1296707403752.jpg”][/lightbox] Deciduous trees, otherwise bleak and brown, made pretty by the snow gathered in their crevices. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0518-e1296747559464.jpg”][/lightbox] And when the ice hangs on and the sun shines in just the right way, it’s stunning. Children with rosy noses and cheeks. Footprints of play. Giggles on sleds. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/20081201-004-e1296763789786.jpg”][/lightbox] Sweet hands cupping hot cocoa to warm their fingertips, to warm their body. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0561-e1296758773565.jpg”][/lightbox] I sometimes forget that these beautiful winter […]

[bl]A[/bl]fter weeks of sickness and pushing through the darkness to find the light, we finally receive our reward.  Two friends who share a birthday. Just two days apart…and ten years. We dropped off 7 children to spend the weekend with Aunts and Grandparents. Met at the airport with handsome husbands in the lead and only one darling baby to keep us from forgetting who we really are – parents. We depart for Maine, and the lovely Kismet Inn. [lightbox href=”http://environmentsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_7236-Version-2-e1296667813592.jpg”][/lightbox] From the dead, bleak, cold of winter we enter into Shadi’s home. A home of life, color and warmth (which […]

Day seven. God is always faithful to his promise. Always. I stand on the other side of victory, humbled and joyful to have witnessed God’s presence. Unexpected opposition, but my friend she stood weak and let the strength of God consume her. She didn’t just survive. She was victorious! And the glory goes to the One who carried her through. I am amazed how God numbered these days of my fast. And timed them to perfectly meet my friend at the battle line. His plan was different than mine. I had intended to fast for eight days, praying one day […]

Day six: I love when my fast takes a detour. When God impresses upon my heart someone to pray for, someone different than those I intended to. It reminds me that God is ever present. Listening. Prompting. Interceding. It’s been a hard day. My body is weak. But my spirit persists in prayer for a friend in battle. The enemy is strong. And the friend feels unprepared to face it. Not yet. When I’m stronger. When there aren’t so many things working against me. I agree. I would never send her into battle unprepared. But…“As the heavens are higher than […]

Day Five. I’ve learned to embrace the physical benefits of fasting. After the first few days, I usually feel amazing. Strong, clean and empowered. I’ve been making a distinction between flesh and spirit as I share this journey. God makes this distinction in his word, and it’s wise to understand how the flesh works against the spirit. However, I believe our God created beings are whole. The body and spirit as one. Our spiritual beings are physical, mental and emotional. And though we speak of them separately, they are really one. They are all a part of the spiritual. Our […]

Day four. The hunger is leaving me. From this point on the not eating gets easier. The body is adjusting to the lack of intake and it starts being okay with it. But oh the cravings! You see it’s not your stomach that craves, it’s your mind. And definitely your eyes. As you deny your flesh fulfillment, your spiritual being becomes more alive. This is the hardest part. Confronting our spiritual beings is scary – all the emotional, relational, mental experiences that we’re not sure how to deal with. Often, we numb the spirit by feeding the flesh. So when […]

Day three. The breath is almost unbearable! The odors are strong. The body begins to flush itself. And like the day when I was buried in water at eleven years old, I step into the shower and let the water wash away that which is toxic to my body. Clean and forgiven. Thank you, Jesus. My hungry mind keeps thinking of Bravo’s cheesecake. I haven’t eaten in three days and that’s what I want? Why do I seek false satisfaction? What I consume matters. Why don’t I live by that truth? In a culture of consumerism we have anything and […]