From the Heart, But Not Out of Duty

It's been a couple of days. I've been working and told myself, "Sue, you don't need to blog every day." Yeah, giving myself permission to not be loaded down by a responsibility that actually is meant to be an avenue of sharing from the heart, not a duty. Make sense? Or am I the only blogger out there who struggles with wanting to do it daily, yet not always having words to say?

The snow has been pretty to look at. The temps have been chilly so when I go out to shovel or sweep, there's the whole bundling up process to look forward to. I'm blessed in that I don't have much to contend with. Must admit that two mornings that I came home from work, it was frustrating to see the end of my parking spot all filled in with snow. The plowers of the road had done their job and the end of my space showed the aftermath of their work. Annoyed, I parked the car alongside the road and shoveled and cleaned out the space before putting the car in place.

I don't mind that it snowed. There's a purpose in it. It will water the earth as it melts. That means spring will come! I guess I'm just not appreciative enough of having more work made for me. And being human, yeah, grumbling and complaining kind of come naturally. And yes, I admit it....I definitely was grumbling while I shoveled!

It's humbling to admit that we're not perfect, any of us. I know I'm not. I fail, I fall, I stumble. Yet the grace of God picks me back up and sets me on the straight and narrow once again.

Here is where I want my heart to be:

Psalm 130: 5-7

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in His word, I put my hope.

My soul waits for the Lord

More than watchmen wait

for the morning.

Put your hope in the Lord,

For with the Lord is unfailing love

And with Him is full redemption.

How grateful I am for His unfailing love, for His tender mercies and for His faithfulness which is renewed every morning. I am thankful for the hope I find in Him, for the grace to go on.

Proverbs 20:27

The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.

One last thing to share today. Came across this in a book I'm reading by Jan Karon (one of my favorite authors - but then I have many favorite authors!), In the Company of Others. I know I've also heard it in a song as well:

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love us,

Christ in the mouth of friend or stranger.

That's what I want....and all I need!

May you each be blessed today beyond measure!

From the heart,

Sue