~breathing deep

Relaxing, letting down and breathing deep...

do you know those feelings?

Listening for the sounds of all...

the bullfrogs croak

and the crickets chirp

Our awareness awakened

(making) taking the time to escape

Remembering TIME is in HIS hands

from the rising to the setting

the lungs are filled

no shallow or fast breaths

no hurried feelings

Amazed by HIS gifts

God's color wheel is so much more vivid

color coordinated :)

relaxing and resting

in HIS beauty

brings refreshment

to the soul and body

"need to get away"

this phrase is used by all

living in this world of fastness

our bodies know

We were made for a "getaway" with

Our Creator.

We are freshened in HIS goodness.

We become fixed on God.

We leave focused on HIM.

These shots were taken one evening back in March,

my husband and I slipped away to chase a sunset

and we stayed way to late...

but, it was so worth it.

Today, as I began putting this post together

the LORD used these captures again to remind

HE is desiring a "getaway" with me.

~~~

Just a personal update.  It has been quite some time

since I posted.  My family was "sweet" to me and

were able to "make do" without me for almost a

week, as I visited with my mother and mother-in-law.

Time slipped by as I prepared for the visit

and when I returned life was busy.

~from decorating for a bridal shower to sitting in a dentist chair

and a few other things in between~ :)

My mother has remodeled her home and I helped

put things back in place. A dear friend of

mine came over one day and we had a fun time

decorating. I know I'm bad, (I did not take any pics),

 but when I return, I promise I will!

She is enjoying all the work and it looks really great.

Prayer request to all my blogging friends.

  Please pray for my mother, she is having

health problems.  She has lost alot of weight and is

continuing to lose, the doctors have found a bacteria

in her stomach along with a lung condition.  She

will be having a biopsy on her lungs next week.

I am overloading you with updates,

but one last thing, that I am so excited about!

My sweet mother-in-law and I are planning

to attend a weekend retreat at the Potter's House.

Nancy and Pat have created

a weekend "getaway" for ladies to spend

time with the Lord in the mountains of North Carolina.

Click on Potter's House and read more about

this great place.  I can't wait to meet them

and see what God has in store, while we are there.

I will share when we return~

Karen

~wrapped up in LOVE

No better comparsion of God's love and comfort

than the thought of being wrapped in the

 heirlooms of our grandmothers.

~~~

Scraps stitched and held in place with the work of hands

whose love reaches beyond the threads of life.

Wrapping ourselves in God's comfort

when we can't piece together the unknowns.

***

Those times when we can't share with others

we can wrap our hearts in His Love and Word.

Remembering the sweetness and dedication

of those Grandmothers

who took the time and devotion to stitch each one,

is a gentle comparison to the faithfulness

of our Saviour.

***

Who is like you, LORD God Almighty?

You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds.

Psalm 89:8

***

Recalling those past times

he wrapped and soothed when no one knew

 the hurt and the struggle.

Allowing ourselves to wrap our mind around

these rememberances, brings the peace

knowing HE will do the same for the future. 

Blankets wrap you with warmth,

quilts wrap you with love.

-author unknown

this featured collection of quilts belongs to my mother-in-law

she has them displayed on a quilt hanger in a room of her home

~INTO

Wednesday's capture with my phone

while headed to eat lunch with my sweetheart

Have your heart right with Christ,

and He will visit you often,

And so turn weekdays into Sundays,

meals into sacraments,

homes into temples and earth into heaven.

~Charles Spurgeon

Roots Exposed ~

The ride to the bluff was a treacherous one...

bumps, washouts and ruts

it was twenty four days into November

we made the late afternoon ride to mark it with
 a 2 and a 5
 to remember the day we said "I do"
~~~

the tree that bore the first markings

as fresh sweethearts

 was no where found after a lengthy search
we had hoped to mark the years spent
underneath the first

maybe the wind, man or other forces

 had taken toll?

~~~

the knife with skillful hands

 carefully scratched the years

in the smooth bark of a new beech 

as I waited with camera in hand

my eyes and heart were not able to miss

the sight of the tree's base down below, 

 the beech tree roots

 running on the ground

 reaching for nourishment

but exposed so raw

 tall and straight
roots bare and sprinkled with colors of beauty

but exposed to forces of nature and man

My hearts condition lay bare
at the base of the tree
the LORD stirring my heart

with full exposure
the shutter clicked

convicting thoughts tugged
~~~
send your roots deep
prepare for the storms of life

desire a fresh word
~~~
how am I to withstand the
"mama said, there'd be days like this"

standing straight to the trials and the forces
 that come with the living-life
~~~
 the inevitable but unseen and unknown
making their unwanted visits


The unwanted is no respecter of persons
~~~
My roots must be covered
they must run deep into God's Word,
be buried in His way.

Landscaping using His Word to cover
and watering with prayer to add beauty
of My Saviour's Love

 within a few short weeks,
of the ride to the bluff, life storms blew
the inevitable was encountered
death visited our family
...How did we stand?

with the support of God's ever-ready
 comforting peace
and the love of family and friends

“The tree on the mountain

 takes whatever the weather brings.

 If it has any choice at all,

 it is in putting down roots as deeply as possible."

---Each New Day” ― Corrie ten Boom

I found this on pinterest

a few weeks ago - 

just another affirmation

of His desiring us to be grounded

In HIM.

Source: be-the-change.tumblr.com via Karen on Pinterest

I pray you are sending your roots down deep.

In Him,

Karen

City on a Hill ~

photo taken November, 2011 in Vidalia, LA

looking across the mighty Mississippi River to Vicksburg, MS

as the sun was beginning to make the first appearance of the day

May our lives reflect Jesus

 to those who are looking for THE LIGHT.

In Him,

Karen

Linking to Spiritual Sundays.

when all is quiet~

Intentionally quiet

The past nineteen days of January

have slipped slowly as only the necessary was done.

 even quietness fell here .... at Places of my Heart

In the fast-paced world's eyes,

 January will have gone in a blink.

When we slow and quiet ourselves in the LORD,

through prayer and in His Word

a new perspective of the time-clock is gained.

learning to eliminate

 the unnecessary and concentrate on the necessary

...in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength.

Isaiah 30:15  Amplified

allowing the LORD to speak

 listening for HIM in all things

Re-discovering delights

what delights us ~ directs us

Pulling away from those things that consume,

that have no eternal value

and spending time alone with God.

Be still and rest in the Lord; 

Psalm 37:7a  Amplified

Regaining focus and perspective...

sitting still and opening the heart,

laying it bear...exposed and allowing Him

 to share His thoughts.

Pen and paper close at hand,

for jotting down

 those that could come and go.

~~~

Developing a quiet spirit by spending time

with God, results in a peace that He is in

ultimate control & increases the desire to

have this daily time with Him.

Delighting Him with the Fellowship

In Him,

Karen

 

Comments have been removed at Places of My Heart.

Communication is accepted via e-mail.

Christmas

~capturing the true meaning of Christmas

Jesus came as a babe

lade in a manger

 lived a sinless perfect life

took our sin upon Himself on the cross

to allow us life with Him forever

by accepting this free gift

What gift can we bring that is fit for a King?

Our love and devotion to HIM.

Praise and Thanksgiving

but, first

 our acceptance of

 Jesus, Christ as Lord & Saviour

this is what He wants for Christmas

John 3:16

~~~

Our families' hearts are heavy this Season.

My father-in-law will be spending Christmas with Jesus.

He went to be with the Lord last night.

Prayer is what others can do

 to share in the heaviness and lighten

the load for those who are hurting. 

 "It's us oh, Lord who are standing in the need of prayer"

Merry Christmas

 from our family

to yours,

~Karen

~november's beginnings

learning a different pace of life

~~~

enjoying the sweetness of slowing

not hurrying through life,

taking the back roads

adds a whole different meaning

to living life to it's fullest

and the most wonderful surprises can be waiting

around the bend of the road

take the extra moments to turn the engine off

and explore up close

those surprises you are given

beauty can be found

trials, heartaches are beauty being developed

requiring our attention to be turned toward

the Source of our strength, the Lord.

He makes all things beautiful in His time.

"Lord, please show me every day

as You're teaching me Your way,

that You do just what You say

in Your time."

words: Diane Ball 1941

~may your November beginnings

be slow and focused upon

having thankful hearts.

Karen

Hiding

I pray your Sunday is filled with rest.

Karen

~Nothing Unnoticed

If we could only grasp the magnitude of His love for us.

This verse reminds me of the preschool song,

God loves the little children....

all are precious in his sight.

Fixing my sight on Him,

Karen

~Pottery

when we acknowledge our Father,

the Creator of the Universe

and cry out Oh Lord,

we become as clay

in His hands

moldable and shapeable.

We humble ourselves,

realizing His skills as The Potter

are  shaping us into beautiful vessels

to be used by Him.

May your weekend thoughts

 be turned towards Our Creator & Potter.

Giving Him praise!

Karen

Linking to: Spiritual Sundays

Scripture & Snapshot



HE chose me~

So much excitement and promise in this verse.

To think that Jesus Christ would seek

and chose, a sinner such as I.

But, to promise to give what I ask

for in my Father's name, is truly amazing.

The middle part, my part

my responsibility, a three-fold

in requirement...

go

 bear fruit

ask

Wishing you a wonderful weekend

of discovering HIS beauty & grace

and in return worshipping God,

the Giver and Our Creator.

Mighty is our God

Recently while visiting our son,

he and I drove down to the river one evening,

and of course I haven't learned to carry

my camera everywhere I go.

He reminded me of my phone camera.

The sunset gave the side of the bridge the warmest glow.

I seemed small from where my feet stood.

A few days after arriving back home,

I transferred the picture from the phone to the computer.

As I opened the picture and saw how the

bridge was the focal point of the evening sun,

I was reminded of God's strength.

What comfort and peace we can have resting

in His might.  He is working all to our good.

Heartaches, Hardships, and Trials

require our dependence upon Him to show HIS strength.

I have faced some large, overwhelming circumstances

in my lifetime, not as great as some may have faced, but have

looked back and questioned how did I make it through?

It was my Lord and Saviour who showed His strength.

Who provided the peace in the midst of it all.

His word is so real for today.

2 Corinthians 12:9 speaks of HIS strength and power.

I've shared the following passage from The Message translation.

But HE said to me,

My grace

(my favor and loving-kindness and mercy)

is enough for you

[sufficient against any danger

 and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]:

for My strength and power are made perfect

(fulfilled and completed)

and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.

Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weakness

and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ

(the Messiah) may rest

(yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

Wishing you a weekend filled

with renewed strength.

Karen

Linking to the following: Spiritual Sundays, Scripture & Snapshot

My tendency is wanting the external picture

"picture perfect".

 The flesh desires for others to draw great conclusions. When on the inside choas reigns.

Oh, if I could only

have the vision of my Saviour;

~~~

for the LORD seeth not as man seeth;

for man looketh on the outward appearance,

but the LORD looketh on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

~~~

Sin always dims the vision of HIM.

~~~

Lord, create in me a clean heart

wash the dirt and sin away,

so I can see you at work more clearly

in my life. 

~~~

Resting in HIM,

Karen