uptomytoes

Tag: rest

  • When Your Questions are as Deep as Your Faith

    I enjoyed a lovely lunch with a dear friend who epitomizes grace, although she probably wouldn’t agree. She is one of those people who has suffered so deeply it’s hard to understand how she is still standing upright, much less smiling and serving others with compassion. She is deep. Deep in faith. Deep in grief.…

  • Life on the Stump

    There once was a glorious old oak tree that, for years, we affectionately called “Grandpa’s Tree”. It stood on a bit of a hill overlooking the river. In its prime, this mighty oak provided peaceful shade and a quiet place to read a great mystery, ponder life and love, and offer heartfelt prayers to God. …

  • Redeemed, Restored, Resting

    I grabbed a whole row because my sweethearts were coming in behind me. I laid down my jacket, my purse, my Bible, my journal, and a few bulletins throughout the row to make sure I had enough seats. As they all filed in, I felt my smile grow bigger and bigger. These beautiful young people…

  • Grateful and (a little) Stressed

    May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.  Romans 15:13 This morning barking dogs disturbed my semi-peaceful slumber…at 4:15 am.  Sometimes I wonder why sleep remains so elusive for me. I found myself asking God,…

  • When You Don’t Know What to Do

    I often think about my life and wonder why I haven’t been blessed with a Jane Austenish peaceful life. You know sitting in a quiet room reading Shakespeare sonnets, writing letters, or sewing doilies and such… waiting for my tea and cucumber sandwiches to be delivered. Instead of sitting daintily on my lounging couch, I’m…

  • Perfect…Just Perfect

    A while ago I wrote a blog where I mentioned my expectations of perfection.  At the time it garnered a fair amount of conversation. Apparently, others see this propensity in me as well. And, although I now see it very clearly, I’m still unsure of how to change it because I’m not sure where to…

  • Are you ready to stop wrestling and start resting?

    This was eye-opening for me. In the throes of a deep conversation with a dear friend, I was asked by him to stop and be thankful.  To spend the rest of the conversation thinking about things that we could be grateful for…instead of things that we struggle with… Can I tell you…it wasn’t easy.  …

  • This Place at This Time

    I was shuffling through my bookcase – reorganizing and deciding which books I’d like to keep and which books I’d like to donate – when I found a book that a friend had written and sent to me a few years ago.  It’s called “Walks with Rich” by C.W. Hambleton.  I opened up to the…

  • Middle of the Night Thinking

    Maybe, in the middle of those sleepless nights, He is whispering in my ear, “Dearest, trust me.”

  • Love, Rest, and Sickness…In No Particular Order

    Today is my first sick day for me in a few years. I’ve done sick days for children and sick days for parents, but not for me. I slept a lot and sat a lot…well, actually I was more lying down a lot. And all the stillness…it was glorious. I haven’t been still for….for forever.…