Where, Oh where have you been?

Do you ever have those times when it seems like your life should be a Dr Seuss story? Where everything just keeps marching along to an unstoppable beat even when you are trying to get off of the ride? Yeah, it's been a little like that around here for the past three or four weeks. 

I am thankful that we have had such great opportunities recently, it has just been a little more full of a calendar than I like. It is definitely time to find some margin again! 

There are a lot of great things to tell you about... which if you're following us on Instagram you've seen some previews of: the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, the Women's conference this past weekend, the hikes to enjoy the brief snatches of spring in between the snow showers. But rather than try to fit it all in one or two posts and short-change you on some awesome things God has been teaching me, I'll be back to posting much more regularly over the next two weeks. I've even got a great guest post coming up next week about friendship that I know will get you thinking. 

Thank you for stopping by these past two weeks when it has been a little quiet here on the blog! It is always encouraging to find out that you - our wonderful readers- have not only stopped by, but shared your favorite posts with your friends. :) Apparently many of you have been thinking about where your Rome is. If you haven't read that post yet... it is worth a short detour.

So many of you have asked if I would share a little more about what causes me to choose a particular verse to hand-letter. I'll be making the effort to do that more often this Spring. 

In the meantime, let me tell you a little story...

Last week, for some unknown-to-me reason, I felt compelled to read the book of Nahum. I know, minor prophets are not usually my thing either, but it is good to read the entire Bible and I knew it had been while since I'd read this short book. So I started reading and kept coming back to verse 3 of the first chapter. I think a lot of us just focus on the first phrase "the Lord is slow to anger and great in power..." and then we wander through the rest of the book and check the box- done! But there was something more there, the second part of the verse states that "the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished." Hmm... Perhaps you're recently been in a struggle over something - a job situation, a money issue, or wrongful accusations, then I guess you might notice that part too and be thankful to know that God sees every little detail of our lives and He is keeping track of what happens. Unless, of course, you were the guilty one - then maybe that is a part of the verse you want to avoid because it hits too close to home. But what do you make of the second half of the verse? 

"His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of His feet."

This is the part that made me pause. God's way is in the whirlwind and the storm. This struck me anew - God often does not do things in the gentle way I would choose to do them. He makes His presence, and His plan known - powerfully! That is probably why what we term natural disasters are what the insurance companies call "acts of God." He does His work with power, and where many can see it and stand in awe! He allows many trials to come into our lives to refine us, but He never ever leaves us! He is not only IN the storm, often He IS the storm.

Has God brought a storm through your life recently? Do you feel as though you are always caught in a whirlwind? Instead of trying to get out of the storm, perhaps we should instead turn to the maker of the storm, the only One who can hold us safe in whatever comes our way- God Almighty. It is time to stop running away from the powerful things God wants to do in our lives and instead start running into His plans. He is there waiting for us to realize just how strong and mighty He is. God is waiting for us to pray big prayers, let go of the things of this world, and watch in awe as he is doing a new thing in our lives and in our hearts. 

This past year my life has been one doozy of a storm. So many difficult things to live through, and yet, such peace as I've never known before. God's way has definitely been to use the whirlwind and the storm to show His power - but He has allowed me to be still and know He is God. Psalm 46:10 

Though the trials God has been faithful, through the losses of one kind He has poured out blessing beyond belief in other areas of my life. And then, this past weekend, He reminded me that grief is a temporary thing - even when it seems overwhelming. There will be no crying in heaven, and this body is just a temporary home for my soul. Someday, probably in another 40 or so years, this earthly life for me will end but my eternal life will be just getting started. During a time of great loss it is hard to think about yourself in light of eternity, yet not so hard to know your loved one, if they are a Christian, is in eternity. I wonder why our perspectives are so different during intense grief? 

So, these were some (not all, just some) of my thoughts as I was reading in Nahum. The next morning Arlene and I were getting ready to go to the sewing group at our church. It had snowed overnight - just a bit - not an actual storm, but that morning the sunlight was intense under the lingering clouds. Knowing that if the storm came again - He would be there - we set off. As I was driving I noticed this little church we pass on our way and I asked Arlene to grab my phone and take a picture. It seemed too fitting of a shot to miss, especially after the way the verse in Nahum had struck a chord in my heart. The dark clouds were rolling on by - just like they do in a storm - and yet, the church was bathed in sunlight. There was calm. The church steeple was illuminated by the sunshine - just like our hearts can be illuminated by the Son-shine of Jesus!

It comforted me to see the visual reminder of the spiritual lesson God had put in my heart the night before. A church building is just that - a building. But what happens inside and around a healthy church - the way God's children follow His leading to do His work and show His mercy and grace to others - that is a daily miracle! That is God's power at work - saving one life after another for eternity.

That night when we got home I started reading in Habakkuk. But you'll need to stop back by on Saturday to learn more about that one.  ;)

Know that you are loved by a mighty God - whose way is in the whirlwind and the storm!

If you are at the beginning of your homeschool journey, you might enjoy this week's Homeschool Blog Link-up where several posts are focusing on how to homeschool with babies and toddlers underfoot.