Plans Work, Plans Fail ~ Keep on!

I wanted to at least one check in for July. Things are a little hectic here. So, I also hope to do another one in August. I really hope I have time to pop by and do more though.  


In the meantime if you are on Instagram or Flickr, please do come on over and hang out. I've been sharing every day photos over at Instagram and I have photo classes that I post for on Flickr. No facebook or twitter though. I don't think I'm ready for all of that yet. Although this post will be streaming through there automatically. 


Thank you in advance for understanding.

  

Update, honesty and prayer request ~ 


Meanwhile, right after I started my break the kids moved in. Needless to say, the changes are awesome and uncomfortable, but I welcome them. God keeps assuring me that though I'll be extremely tested and uncomfortable, to stay close to Him and the changes will be amazing! 


The main purpose of my break though was that I'd been feeling even more unwell. I progressively became more exhausted and ill since October of last year. Shadow also caught a skin irritation later in October that he's been fighting through and healing from. His requires constant attention as we can't allow him to scratch or lick. Poor dog can't be a dog.


So although the rest was needed, the kids moved in, and here I am trusting God that I will find that much needed rest and refreshment.


As I write, a major change occurred today so please do keep us all in prayer. 


As for me, I feel that pull to be completely open with you all. I hear God saying it's what he wants. So here goes, even though I'm freaking out about it. Laying my imperfections on the table...gulp!


I haven't been myself. I've been cranky, frustrated, highly irritable, and at times rude. Who the heck is this person??? I'm quick to apologize, but it still feels so gross to be in this state. I'm normally upbeat, bubbly, and joyful even when I am sick. I know I've offended and although it gets settled, I can't seem to be okay with it and move on. I tend to beat myself up. And so here I am feeling beaten up, beaten down, stressed, and not too proud of myself.


I wanna escape it all. Thoughts of wanting to run started this week. Feelings have come of wishing I could be in my heavenly home already. Sometimes, I'd like to lock myself in my room and stay isolated. Light depression has hit. 


Is this the extreme testing God told me about? Good thing, I'm staying close to Him. In all the changes, my time with God was, is and always will be non-negotiable.


So, I humbly ask for your prayers. Also, If you're going through something like I am, know that I'm praying for you as I pray for myself and those I might be offending.


Room to grow and space for changing. It is very painful! I believe so deeply that in Christ, what feels "ugly" will become beautiful in Him and in His timing.


What to do with it all. I'm in that state where I have no clue what do to with it all...the feelings, the thoughts, the words, the attitudes. I feel lost. My thoughts are all over the place. My words get ugly. My attitude stinks, frankly. 


So I pray. I'll keep praying. I apologize. I'll keep apologizing. I love. I'll never stop loving. I hope. I know his hope will not disappoint. I embrace the coming change.


The little joys and small wonders. The treasures in my every day moments. The adventure in the every day happenings. These are harder to take notice of lately. So, I dig deeper, look harder, and I find something everyday that brings a smile and lets me know God is with me. Doesn't matter how small or big. 


This week, I'll stay with Him longer and let Him soothe and ease me. 


Time to get back to creating again. Time to get back into those refreshing activities. Time to get back around the ones who lift me up.


Until August, or the next update...


Soul Refreshment: 


Psalm 31:1-2 ~ 
I run to you, God, I run for dear life.
Don't let me down! 
Take me seriously this time!
Get down on my level and listen, and please - no procrastination!
Your granite cave a hiding place,
your high cliff aerie a place of safety.


v24 ~ Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up.
Expect God to get here soon.




As always, if you've silently popped in, thanks for being here and sharing in my every day. 




Small favor - if you have trouble leaving a comment. Please do email us so we can troubleshoot. Thank you.

{Past Post} How to Slow Flow

Today I share a little bit of Sarah Markley with you. I remember finding her post in the middle of God teaching me the words "Slow-Flow" and how to do so. Then, along came Sarah's beautiful post. May God bless you with all you need through any means and heal the rushing inside ~ Jeri

*Hi there and thank you for coming by. If you missed my 3/6/11 post, I'm on a two-week R & R. I'll be back on Thursday, 3/22/11.

More Slow Flow - Sarah Markley's Best Days of My Life 

(Originally posted on Thursday, September 16, 2010

I am so blessed to have found Sarah Markley and her blog Best Days of My Life. She is part a wonderful community of women at(in)Courage.

I read her beautiful and enlightening blog post and couldn't wait to share it with you all. It goes perfectly with finding ways to live in the "Slow Flow".

At her blog post, The Little, Boring Things, Sarah shares:

"I’m learning from those little, boring things.

Do you want to do it too?

Watch — Watch the world around you. Take mental note of the beautiful and the ugly, the difficult and the easy. Look at your children, look at your own feet as you walk down the sidewalk, look at the simple world that makes up your personal universe. You must watch and train yourself to be observant of the life that goes on around you.

Ask — Ask God to teach you something from what you are watching. Ask Him to show you His truth in the simplicity of your baby falling asleep for a nap. And ask yourself the same question. Maybe you’ve learned this lesson/truth before and you need to be reminded.

Listen — And then listen. Listen to God when He speaks to you. And if you can’t hear, get rid of the distractions like music and television and your phone. Take 10 minutes to yourself and ask God to speak to you again and then listen to what He speaks to you. Journal it if you have to, but open your ears.

That’s the simple formula.

And I’m learning to love the simple, boring things much more than I love the amazing."

I hope you get to visit Sarah's blog and maybe even let it be a resource of insight for you. 


We'll continue to share resources of every kind as we find them. 


God Bless You on your Slow Flow adventure

{Past Post} on Refreshing - Soul Silence

I chose this as a fave because at the time I learned how soul silence could be found anywhere and at anytime. What a surprise to find such a timeless gift on a hike. I pray God bring you to a such a lovely and sweet place. May you be blessed by this and know He wants to give it to you without reserve ~ Jeri


*Hi there and thank you for coming by. If you missed my 3/6/11 post, I'm on a two-week R & R. 
I'll be back on Thursday, 3/22/11.

Refreshing Day 18 ~ Soul Silence 

(Originally posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 )

Lamentations 3:28-30 ~ 

When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence.

Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear.

Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. 

The "worst" is never the worst.

I shared in earlier posts how I had been feeling overwhelmed. Even the celebrations overwhelmed me. That's how I knew I craved refreshing desperately. Times of refreshing truly restores.


I feel God's pull. Wonderful changes are taking place in me and in my life. Through all of this, I feel that need again. The need to take time for me.


Time for soul silence. The kind that slows my breath to a peaceful calm. The place where the voices quiet...my heart beats gentle...and I smile without even realizing it. There's no one way it's done or one place I go to find it. It's inside me. In my spirit. 

On Sunday, an impromptu hike turned into worship. There were quite a few people on the hike and all pleasant and friendly. Shadow was unbelievably calm with every person that we passed, which is not usual. 

We entered the trail and everything familiar seemed more beautiful that day. The strawberry guava smelled perfectly sweet. The sounds that normally fill the air were so relaxing. The birds even sang softly. The cool wind blew gently. The light everywhere illuminated soothing warmth. Every single plant was beautifully colored. All of it, so balanced and peaceful. 

It brought me to soul silence. 

By the end of the hike I was changed. The whole walk back to the car I felt different. Everything looked and seemed different. I usually whisper or silently pray. This time, I thanked God out loud while we drove home. 


Everything just seemed to be right. There was no question that I had been completely refreshed. Inside and out.

I'm so glad David captured this moment. I have something to look back on.

Are you needing soul silence? 
He can set things right.

What does soul silence mean for you?

Soul Refreshment:

Psalm 11:7 ~ 

God's business is putting things right;
      he loves getting the lines straight,
   Setting us straight. Once we're standing tall,
      we can look him straight in the eye.

Click the photo for more Days of Refreshing

{Past Post} on Dwelling ~ Refreshing Change

Grace comes when we let go of what we habitually think and believe. This kind of  releasing opens our hearts to receive His changes and be refreshed. May you be showered in His refreshing ~ Jeri


Lord, teach us to sit in your silence and give you what we don't need to "control". Refresh us with your beautiful change. Amen.


*Hi there and thank you for coming by. If you missed my 3/6/11 post, I'm on a two-week R & R. 
I'll be back on Thursday, 3/22/11. God bless You ~ Jeri

{Dwell} :: Kinks and Tweaks (Originally posted Sunday, November 13, 2011)

Dwelling...on all that goes wrong magnifies the challenges. 

Side Story:
Social networks have brought us some challenges the last few weeks. The companies are adding new apps and tweaking out the kinks.

Meanwhile, multiple posts or drafts are being published rather than the normal. It always works out, but my first reaction is to get peeved.

We've recently been renovating our blog home and just so happens in the middle of all this are the site glitches. It had me frustrated to almost a little scream I must confess. Okay, big screams. Well, it all has me laughing now. But, I wasn't a few days ago.


Dwelling...on what I'm capable of and am able to do can be frustrating.


Our current story:
We've been dealing with tweaking the kinks in our home life and relationships. It's hard work! The small signs of progress build hope and bring rest a little more each time. The changes are necessary as we have new things going on in our family. Huge helpings of change are all around us and in us.

Past experiences always get in the way when you try to move forward. We hold memories of how "it's" always been or "he or she" always behaves. I hear myself thinking "Yeah right. We'll see if this (change) lasts." How rude of me, right?! It's only natural to go through this process as we take the next step in anything. We must choose to let go of the way we always perceive, expect, and respond for the beauty of change to refresh us.

Dwelling...on what He can do for me, in me and through me...mind, body, and soul rest.


His story for us:
One thing God keeps reminding me is that the old behavior will only change when I realize I can't do it myself. He's the master pro of tweaks and kinks. He'll work it out. I picture him as the best masseuse ever massaging my knots. His kneading renews my muscles and relaxes the tension.

I'm breathing again. The aches are relieved. Only God can do that. That's what His grace is all about.

By His Grace:
By His grace means with His help, in His strength. Him in us and through us. The beautiful thing of His grace is how it comes from the foundation of His love. He love us so much. He makes it possible for the kinks to be tweaked. We just need to give Him the time.

Soul Refreshment:

Psalm 9:7

God holds the high center, he sees and sets the world's mess right.

Romans 14:17

God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy.

~Your Turn ~ 

Any kinks being tweaked in your life? How are you dealing with it? I'd love to hear your thoughts on it all.

*November's life words are dedicated to gratitude and dwelling.

{Past Post} on Dwelling in Time Off

Here is one of my favorite picks from the "Dwelling" series on taking time off. I pray it  motivates you for taking time to slow-flow, often. May God guide you in rest and refreshment. ~ Jeri


Psst...I have a fun surprise to share with you tomorrow. So be sure and drop by to check it out.


*Hi there and thank you for coming by. If you missed my 3/6/11 post, I'm on a two-week R & R. 
I'll be back on Thursday, 3/22/11. God bless You.

Originally posted on Friday, November 4, 2011

{Dwell} :: Unwrap, Discover, Dream and Give Thanks

Dwelling...

I'll be taking the weekends off from social networking to make room for quieter living. I like to call it slow-flow. After 31 days of writing, it's gonna be hard to do. I had so much fun!


This is the perfect month for slowing down. During November, I'll be mindfully unwrapping the small wonders I discover. You're invited to come along and share too. I can't wait to see what God blesses us all with.


That said, the weekends be for photos while I slow-flow. Photos of what God gifted me with throughout the week. It may be one photo or a whole mosaic. Maybe even two! I also hope to link up with Dawn for Camera Phone Fridays.


The weekends will be for celebrating God's unwrapped discoveries that fuel my everyday dreams. I can only pause, breathe and give thanks for them all. I know I'll enjoy sharing them with you. I hope you'll enjoy the weekly peek into our lives.

1) Shadow & Ezie 2) David in the quiet before... 3) Renovations 4) Ezie's fall before he tries again

5) Shadow's playfulness 6) Morning walks 7) Writing life words 8) Family meal together

For Camera Phone Friday with Dawn

1) Coffee while we wait. 2) Errands together 3) The pretzel is back for fall.

4) Found this magazine at Walmart. 5) Free Starbucks 6) Chrismas being promoted already?!

Soul Refreshment: excerpt from Revitalize Your Spiritual Life

"God's dream for our lives has nothing to do with our performance. 

     It has everything to do with our hearts....

When we have come to the end of ourselves, 

    God is waiting to give us a new dream." ~ Sheila Walsh 

*I'm dedicating November's life words to gratitude and dwelling.

Lingering ~ Work, Me, An Easy Recipe, Prayer

The need for R & R:
David was on a trip last week and it revealed just how much that man does for me around here. I'm wiped out from doing both our household and personal "stuff".  As a result, I got nothing done to start working again. 

I know just what I need. 

I feel God's pull to quiet, still, and reflect for what's ahead. 

More becoming.

Soul refreshment:


1 Chronicles 16:11 ~ Study God and his strength, 
      seek his presence day and night; 

Books - Work - Open doors: 
I'm about to head into a two week adventure of my own type of R & R. 


~ A few books are calling out "linger in my life-words." Okay, corny, I know. 
~ I'll be starting back to work in writing food and nutrition articles for my two 
    columns. I'm excited about that. Time to prep.
~ I also have some personal endeavors that are finally opening up for me. I'm anxious, in a 
   good way, to give attention to those as well. 


~ Of course, I'll be sleeping in, sleeping early, lounging, and hanging with family too ;-)


Soul Refreshment:


Psalm 73:28 ~ But I'm in the very presence of God— 
      oh, how refreshing it is! 
   I've made Lord God my home.

What you can expect here the next two weeks:
I've picked out a few Past Post favorites and included a short message before each post as my way of saying a little "hey" and staying connected. They'll be pre-scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. Hawaii time and automatically post at our GodsDreamsForMe Facebook page, my page and Twitter too.


So, I'll keep the blog doors open while I'm having my R & R.  Do come visit, hang out and share your comments if you like. Just give me time to get back to you after my two weeks. Same with Facebook and Twitter. 


As always:
Feel free to slip in and slip out. I appreciate your time here with just the same.


Soul Refreshment:


Philippians 1:25-26 ~ So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you 
      as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues. 
You can start looking forward to a great reunion 
     when I come visit you again.     
We'll be praising Christ, enjoying each other.

My fave breakfast recipe for you to try over the next few weeks:


1 Cup of your favorite cereal
2 Tbsp Almond butter or Peanut butter - creamy works best
1 banana chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 Tbsp Chocolate chips


My personal recipe is completely vegan as I can't digest animal products properly. Oh, the tests we endured to find that out. Nevertheless, food is still incredibly delicious. And yes, there is such a thing as dairy-free chocolate chips! Cool, right?!


Just mix all of the ingredients together in a good-sized bowl and enjoy! Try any combination of ingredients you like. Leave out, add in, it's up to you.


My favorite pairing of this is with a homemade soy latte. Any flavor.

Soul Refreshment:
Psalm 34:8 ~ Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.


Please pray for me:
Can I ask that you pray for me and the time I'll be spending and investing over the next two weeks? Thank you so very much for doing so.