Urgent Prayer Request

Oh my dear friends, I can hardly believe that I am once again asking for prayers. This has been a tough year for my husband's family.

My mother-in-law was taken to the hospital on Friday evening and had to have emergency surgery. In the process of recovery, the doctors were keeping her sedated and have been waking her up intermittently to make sure there have been no cognitive changes.

Today, she had a reaction to some medicine and now they are unable to wake her up. We need prayer!


© A Sacred Longing 2009

Student of Grace

Learning to be thankful in all things, so I am and fearfully, so I think I will always be - learning. I am beginning to understand that this side of heaven the splendor is found for me here.

It is in the learning that I come face to face each and every time with grace.

It rarely gets better than that.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more...It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. It turns problems into gifts, failures into successes, the unexpected into perfect timing and mistakes into important events.

Melody Beattie

Grace abounds to those who are thankful. Life and circumstances may not change. Yet, in our thankfulness we see beyond the horizon where grace shines bright.

© A Sacred Longing 2009

A long and winding road...

I have been on a long road to daybreak.

It seems like I have been walking hard this last year.

I know that there are times in our lives when the journey seems more cumbersome; when the scenery we pass by is sparse and when the steps we take are incredibly lonely.

I know this doesn’t surprise you (those few that venture to this blog) as my writing has reflected a heavy heart and heavier feet.

Even so the path I wander, much like yours, is full of twists and turns. Our foolish hearts and impaired vision would have us believe that the scenery and thus our lives are stagnant and barren.

Don’t believe that lie!

For rooted deep within our spirit is the joy that comes from the Creator Himself, it is there where our faith is fashioned not by the circumstance of life but the love of our God.

Anticipate the future and its changes with joy. There is a seed of God’s love in every event, every circumstance, every unpleasant situation in which you may find yourself.
Barbara Johnson

I am cresting this hill. I know it.

There will be more hills ahead. I know that too.

My prayer is that my heart and my vision will see the seeds of heaven, first and foremost.


On this Thursday, I am thankful for so much….

I am thankful that my husband’s health. The news we received from the doctor was positive and relieving. Our prayers have been answered – no medical intervention is necessary.

I am thankful that my sister-in-law has made it safely to Ohio. She continues to grow stronger. A few days ago she was able to ingest some applesauce and speak a few words with her speech therapist. We continue to pray that she will not be ventilator dependent and rejoice in the hope that continues.

I am thankful that God never wants to leave us where we are.

I am thankful quiet rainy mornings, my bible and my journal. Add a pair of PJ’s and a cup of coffee, heaven on earth, I tell you!

I am thankful for this blogging community. Sweet friends in Christ, who inspire, encourage and sweeten my days. I am grateful for your prayers. I appreciate your visits and enjoy your comments.


Walking a little bit lighter and a lot brighter….



© A Sacred Longing 2009

Faith Walking

Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of Your universe…Each day enrapture me with Your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share in the wonder of it all.
Abraham Joshua Heschel

I want to be a faith-walker. I want to be one who does not muddle a life journey with the need to know. I want to be one who steps out in faith into the great unknown desiring only to share in the wonder and glory of the God who created it all.

Like Noah, who built an ark when it wasn’t raining.
Like Abraham, who went even though he didn’t know where he was going.
Like David, who as a child killed the giant warrior with a stone and a sling while the armies watched.
Like Esther, who approached the king not knowing if he would receive her or kill her.
Like Isaiah, who saw the Lord seated on His throne; felt his unworthiness and with touch of God’s glory eagerly offered to be sent by the Lord as a prophet.
Like the disciples who left their nets and their lives to follow the One who called to them.
Like Stephen who spoke boldly for the Lord and was stoned for it – in his dying moment he prayed for those who threw the stones.
Like Saul who became Paul after a meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus. His life was never the same.

A faith walker doesn’t ask why. With faith, there is that unknown factor. If you can see, you can touch it and you know why it is there – do you really need faith?

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV

I am not a faith walker or at least not one with great consistency. My “why’s” are often like the “why’s” of a toddler, incessant.

Is the need to know really important?

If knowing the why’s doesn’t really change the circumstance then I would say the knowing isn’t important. Faith, however, is essential.

Often, the situation remains unchanged but it is faith that causes a transformation. Not in the circumstance but in the heart.

My “why’s” should be my “why not’s” in Christ.

Why not believe in the God who created my inmost being and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Why not believe in the God who has created and ordained the days before even one came into being.
Why not believe in the God who gave of His very own save me.

Why not trust my yesterday, today and tomorrow to the God who planned for me, created me, saved me, knows me and sustains me.

Faith goes up the stairs that love has made and looks out the window which hope has opened.

Charles H. Spurgeon

I am stepping on and stepping up in faith. Care to join me?

© A Sacred Longing 2009

Welcome Home

Home

That is where we are now. Almost unpacked and settled in.

Often the coming home is much sweeter than the being away - hard to believe and even harder to say.

What not so long ago was the rut and routine has gracefully become the warm and cozy. Within its embrace we are welcomed back to the reality of life.

And, we are glad to be back.

I think that we all need those get away moments. Sabbath breaks in the midst of being. Occasions to release, replenish and return.

Release that which we should never had gripped so tightly.
Replenish what is left empty and wanting.
Return not so much to what was but what should have always been.

Home again.




© A Sacred Longing 2009