7/1/13 - 8/1/13

Main Posts Background Image

Main Posts Background Image

30.7.13

Do We Spend Too Much Time Online?

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

29.7.13

Visiting Cathedral Square in Tulsa Oklahoma



You know, when you go on a road trip... a place like Tulsa, Ok is not at the top of the average traveler's list of 'places I am dying to go see. ' In fact I am certain it never would have made the list at all. 


It was, however, the unforseen jewel that turned up at the end of our 20,000 mile, ten day trek.  We got to the hotel late in the evening and crashed in our 11th floor hotel room at the end of the longest trip we've ever made. I was thoroughly tired of sitting in that truck however much I adore my dear hubby. lol



But I was indeed rewarded for my flexibility and patience. Who would have guessed what I would discover out my window the next morning! :)


 

 
 There are at least seven cathedrals in this sleepy little town (little as compared to Houston.) I'd love to find out the story behind this massive investiture in architectural beauty!

 
 Honestly it was so hot, dry and barren, at least downtown, that I really expected there to be nothing worth seeing while we were there.

Tim was doing a little job for his former boss so we tacked on an extra day to the trip to help him out. I am so so glad we did!

 
I really was in heaven.. being the architecture 'buff' that I am. :) 




It must have been 115 degrees outside--I mean baking hot.  I got sunburned and almost over did it in the 45 minutes that I trekked around the block of our hotel--but I just couldn't refrain from snapping pictures left and right.You can see even more from other photographers at flicker.


It was absolutely worth it!  Tulsa, Ok now holds a special place in my heart. :) 




Cathedral square.. the hidden jewel of Oklahoma.
 If you happen to be passing through that state.. stop and visit. :)


Happy Homemaking..
Donna

Alone with God

6 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.Jeremiah 25:6,7

I was reading this out on the deck this morning.. the first morning home but without my hubby.  It’s his 50th birthday.. and I had hoped to do something special with him.  It was hard saying good-bye last night. 

I can’t help but remember when I broke my wrist last year.. and then Tim got the wonderful job but had to move away.. and the kids moved out to their new homes.. and it was just me and my 18yr old son for seven months—hubby only coming home on weekends.

The Lord wanted me to turn my heart to him in my trial of aloneness and instead I turned to the world.. to a game and an online community. I didn’t intend to. It was a family game and we chose to meet online during the seperation. Sadly, I used an earthly means to meet my needs instead of turning to the Lord in my loneliness.

It didn’t work and you can read about it in this post.. the amazing miracle God did to bring me out of it. Sadly, I told no one until this February when the Lord answered my plea to help me. He had been working on me through January.. but Feb. 5th was emancipation day for me. 


This morning I sat on the deck, looking out at the amazing green of our forest, listening to the myriad of sounds of nature surrounding me, feeling the gentle breezes of an early morning in the woods, and  marveling at God’s grace..and just worshiping Him.

 I told him, "Thank you Lord for these broken feet. For giving me a 2nd chance to this time..turn to you. This time, through the amazing grace of your Holy Spirit enabling me,  I won’t fall apart.. and cry through every weekend of hello and good-bye.

This time I will embrace the chance to be ‘alone with you’ and even rejoice in it. This time I will turn my ears to you and my heart and learn the lessons you tried to teach me a year and a half ago."

Really .. we aren’t alone .. it’s just we’re alone with Him.
 
The context of these verses in Jeremiah is that the Lord commanded the disobedient children of Israel to surrender to the Chaldeans.. as he had decided this was for their ‘best’ and for their good. In the vision of the good and bad figs, one group submitted to the Lord’s disipline.. and the temporary captivity.. and the other refused to leave their stronghold.. .. they were the bad figs. Unwillling to give up their ‘safety’ and really pride and position, the Lord set his face against them.

How I have embraced the Lord’s call to be alone for the next few weeks.. and am so grateful that is the work of His holy spirit in me. 

 During this ‘alone’ time I know he will build me up and plant me and cause me to love Him even more.  Surrendering whole-heartedly to His will for me.. and praying for grace for my family as they ‘cover’ for me. 

Praying the Lord will keep me focused on Him and not the circumstances.. for his GLORY.. and not mine. Last year, you got to see the evidence of how ‘Donna’ handles crisis like being alone. So don’t think for one minute that ‘I’ did anything. 

The 'real me' blew it big time and always will. It is only in seeking the Lord and God’s amazing grace that we walk in the spirit during trials rather than walk in my own strength. I do hope my story will help anyone who is struggling in a similar way.
Now that I will be sewing more and sitting more, I have a feeling I'll have a bit more time too and perhaps can take up regular posting again. It'd be nice to stay in touch with all of you more regularly. We have finished a 60 hour round trip visit to the kids and grandkids, I've done a lot of wedding sewing, and have plenty of time for tea with you! 
Blessing to each of you,
Donna :)

27.7.13

Jesus is Knocking...Can You Spend A Little Time with Him?

 


I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking:“Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. Songs 5:2

Today, I had coffee and prayer time on the back deck and had a great time with the Lord. The breezes, the green, the pines and towering oaks made Song of Solomon come alive this morning. :)


Sometimes, though our heart belongs to Jesus, we ‘sleep’.. assuming all is well. Our hearing gets dull.. our minds distracted..and we aren’t paying attention.  In this chapter the Lord shows us that he is knocking, that he delights in our praise and fellowship, and is just waiting for us to open the door.


I am praying that you and I will not be like the Shunnamite woman who makes excuses, " my hair is damp, my feet will get dirty, I don’t want to have to get dressed again.. when the Lord knocks.  "



So much joy, peace, compassion, acceptance.. all waiting at the door if only we will say Yes.  So much trouble (the watchman beat her while she is hunting for her beloved—the one she spurned) could be avoided.

So much joy is waiting on the other side of that knock.


Praying we will seek the Lord daily.. not just read.. not just obey.. but really worship and adore the Lord and respond to the Holy Spirit who wants our attention and our praise..the perfume of our lips.


Yes we are 'black' in our flesh and sinful nature..but in Christ’s robes of righteousness, in our born again state, we are pure and beautiful in His eyes. So we can have fellowship with Him and it will meet the deepest needs of our souls and transform us.. and grow lilies to share with others.


Just so in love with this book! I’’m reading it out loud to Him today on the deck under the trees and in the midst of the sweetest breezes ever. What a wonderful first day back home. :) 


Love,
Donna 



Ps. I broke both feet and had to move back to the country house for the next couple of months.. without Tim sadly. But knowing the Lord is in control.  This is an excerpt from my devotional blog, At Home With God.
“There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.” ~ Margaret Sangster

Friends of Comin' Home

Thanks for visiting!

Search This Blog

Followers

Copyright Comin'Home 2020. Powered by Blogger.

Error 404

The page you were looking for, could not be found. You may have typed the address incorrectly or you may have used an outdated link.

Go to Homepage