Winter
From my journal today.
This morning I went for a long walk. Evidence of His grace all around. The tree full of holly, branches of berries, bright red. A young deer, on his own, feeding in the meadow. He watched me for a moment, then startled at the crunch of the snow and the leaves and the hardened soil as I stepped closer. He streaked off through the trees. Sun on the water, children feeding birds at the river. Warm fire, warm coffee and a book at the cafe. A morning full of God’s goodness and His silent reminder to me of His presence and His love. And all the while, I walked in the news of the last few days. Devastating. I walked in the same confusion and same questions about faith, and about God, that just recently have begun to make me so tired. And I feel separated from God by these things right now, yet I saw today that He has not removed Himself from me. ‘Where can I go from Your Spirit?’ He remains and He loves. He shows me that His mercies are new every morning, and that His grace abounds, and is bigger than my doubts and fatigue and failure. Bigger than these things that cause me to struggle. My impoverishment, His bounty. Amazing grace. He made Himself known to me this winter morning, this God of grace and ferocious love, and I am thankful.
Dear Birgit…whatever has caused you great sadness, may God have mercy and hold you strong. Life is full of joy in Him, whilst the world and it’s waywardness causes so much dismay, i can only speak from a 68 year old’s life. His tenderness, Love and completeness, is what sustains me.. In your picture above, there is a steeple of a church. When i was first a Christian in 1983, this was where i first worshipped the glorious Christ Jesus.
Have a gentle Christmas dear heart!
[...] are photos of a long walk I took this weekend. Winter is [...]
Scenes of Winter « said this on December 20, 2009 at 11:20 am
Hi again Birgit….on looking through your photos, i have just realised the steeple is not of my old church, but nevertheless the picture evoked sweet memories. By the way, just to say sorry, your messages, and others, were lost on my forum. I kept getting attached with spam, so will close it shortly.
God bless you!
Oh Birgit, I will pray He continues to show you His goodness and comfort you with His love…
Dear Rosalind, thank you so much for what you’ve said here, it is so encouraging and such a testimony about God’s grace in your life, and at the moment, this gives such hope! I suspect I will learn so much about God and His goodness through this time.
No matter what, He is always with us.
Even though the steeple in the photo is not the one of the church you first worshipped at, I am glad it holds sweet memories for you. It’s an exquisite setting isn’t it? :)
I completely understand regarding your forum, and look forward to visiting your site anyway. I find the scene of dawn so beautifully serene.
With love to you this Christmas season, and thank you so much for your friendship here, and your prayer. Love Birgit xo
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Tawny, this is lovely, thank you so much ox
“My impoverishment, His bounty.” Amen, my dear sister.