Bowed...

Bowed in adoration, in humbleness.

Bowed low that He may raise me up.

Bowed low, not empty, but filled with Him.

Bowed low that I might stand on the heights.

Bowed low that I might leap and fly.

Seeing the world through His eyes with my head bowed low.

Only when bowed down do I see the perspective through Christ's eyes.

Just like the wheat head that is truly full is bowed low.

What will you give Christ today?

Counting the gift of Christ filling me up each day as I seek him and put my trust in Him.

Thankful for His gifts.

By His Grace,

Cole

Paint the Black Night Bright

Colors red and blue paint the black night bright.

Rhythmic dancing of beams calls me in, eyes unable to look away.

Swift, graceful shadows of those long expected dance in and out of the light.

 

Movements with a purpose, a reason.

Movements not lost on me.

 

Here, now, in this hurried, fast paced, way of life,

I am thankful...

 

Thankful for the phones connecting the hurting to those with wisdom to heal.

Thankful for 140 character that light the prayer chain on fire.

Thankful for God's Word, the Body of Christ.

Connected in this...

...the hurried, fast paced life.

 

Counting all as Gift.

* The Daily Verse.

* Gator driving in a field.

* Helping my sister in one of her elements-photography.

* Crazy, fast rides in a field, my sister and I laughing like days past.

* Honor of serving our Veteran's.

* A dad who continues to heal.

* The smile from a friend.

* Medicine to care for a cold.

* Words found to bring insight and new direction. 

 

 

 

What are you thankful for today?

By His Grace,

Cole

Joining Ann and others for Multitudes on Mondays

{Tired...}

The cold morning permeates my skin.

I pull the collar of my bright pink, fleece, jacket higher...

thankful for the under armor below.

I check the headband around my ears. 

Good there.

 The fleece pants still blocking out this bitter cold.

With each check of the counter on my phone,

my fingers get a taste of the coldness.

The thin gloves covering but not protecting.

The stars shine bright, so clear, so close.

With each step we take, 

the cold, dirt road below cracks.

We walk.

We run.

We walk.

We run.

Over and over until the counter beeps stop.

It is then she says,...

"I am so glad you are doing this with me, with us. I wouldn't be motivated if not."

And it is there in the TIRED, wee, early morning hours 

in my own Tiredness,

I hear God clearly....

***STOP***

Will you join me on this race, this training? 

Not only physically but spiritually?

This is a short series beginning with a run,

a run that leads me to His truth.

Joining Lisa-Jo, Ann Voskamp, and others today.

Writing without edits and counting gifts.

* Warm fleece to protect against bitter cold.

*Women/friends who are joining me in this "race."

*Black sky, stars shine so bright.

*Hearing His voice.

*Running water and hot showers.

By His Grace,

Cole

Gift...{Weekend Thoughts}

"Where you are right now is exactly where God wants you to be. And it is good. It is gift."

---Ann Voskamp

Relevant 11

{Counting...}

...song of the birds in the morning

...heavens rays reaching down

...perfect peaks of whip cream on pie

...rooster crows

...humming fan overhead giving cool, gentle breezes

...sunlight sneaking into the windows

...the moments between fully asleep and fully awake

...your heart and sharing in this community

...this journey

...new friends made

...Grace in the hard

...the shield of God

...long phone calls with a brother far away

Counting gifts and giving thanks.

Father God,

May we have the Grace to know how long,

how wide,

and how deep

your love is for us.

Amen.

What blessings are you seeing today?

Have a Beautiful Day,

Cole

Loving This View...

...From my lounge chair in the backyard,

listening to the cicadas sing their song,

feeling the breeze on my skin,

watching the sky bursts into colors of yellow, then red, and orange,

stilling my soul,

taking a breath,

and counting gifts.

Just one of the things that Makes Life Lovely

What does your view look like?

Blessings, 

Cole

Blessings In It All...

This past year has been a journey of...

 

...Hope...

...Passing away of a loved one...

...Health challenges...

...God-Sized Dreams...

This Tuesday, I again faced some health challenges which resulted in leaving work early and

being rushed to the hospital.

It was pain and nausea so strong that I thought my gall bladder or appendix had exploded.

Through test after test...

I found out that it is kidney stones and infection,

caused by my gall bladder we are not sure yet.

{Not fun.}

It was a span of 12+ hours of severe pain and nausea resulting in being sick.

But...

through it all,

once the pain had subsided some I began seeing Gifts in it.

Not present in the hand kind of gifts...

but Gifts from a loving God that only He can give.

{Whatever the times may be.}

Tonight...

I am counting those gifts.

Thankful for a God who takes care of me.

A God that I can trust in all circumstances.

 

source

~Family close by to help.

~Co-workers stepping in and helping me with my class when I was not physically able to.

~My dad driving   racing me to the hospital.

~Knowing my mom was staying awake with me until I finally feel asleep, knowing she had work

the next day.

~A brother who can make me laugh only like brothers can even when sick.

~Seeing large, fluffy, wet snowflakes falling from the sky as I crawl out of the car in pain.

 ~Church family and friends sending up prayers and making phone calls.

~The song of the birds in the afternoon stillness.

~The gift of this community here, you.

I am getting better...

still not feeling 100% but thankful for it all.

Thankful for all the gifts God has given today.

 

How are you today?

Blessings for a Beautiful Day,

Cole

P.S. I still plan on getting you that DIY Spring{y} craft and sending out a new blog award.

Thank you ever so much for your grace and love.

 

Counting Gifts:: {Thoughtful on a Tuesday}

I've been reading a wonderful book.

A book that is...

...stretching me...

...growing me...

...covering me in Grace...

I am reading Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts and it is reaching the depths of my heart...

the depths of my soul.

Learning to see the beauty, give thanks, and receive the Joy...

in all things...

the ugly and the beautiful.

As I read this book and allow it to sink in...

I am finding myself looking for the beauty...

~Unexpected frost over everything.

~Loving truth (God's truth) sent in an email from a close friend.

~Bunny in the yard.

~Supper shared with friends.

~Ancient Words.

~Playing "kitchen" in the Church nursery with the children.

~Light shinning through the coffee shop window.

~God revealing to me a hard truth.

~Brokenness.

~Hearing the bird's song on my way to Church.

~Rooster in ditch.

~Calf leaping to feed truck.

~A supper shared with my mom.

All beauty...

All thanks...

All joy...

What gifts have you been given lately?

Have a Beautiful Day!

Blessings,

Cole
 {Simply sharing a beautiful thing. There was no monetary or gifts exchanged for this post.}

When the day goes long...

When the day goes long...

And you feel heavy, weak, or stressed.

The ONE who is...

is calling your name.

Calling for you to come,

Lay down your burdens,

and rest in His presence.

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Source

This week The last two weeks have been long,

and very busy.

From one thing to the next.

What "needs to be done" with what "wants to be done."

A balance, a dance of the heart so to speak.

Today, 

through Ann Voskamp and the words she wrote,

God reached out...

He called out to me to lay all aside, trust, dwell, abide in His Word. He is refining, stretching, growing me to trust Him with the Hope and plans He has for me. I may not know what will be, but I know that one who is..

And it all begins, 

when I simply come.

...Come to Jesus...

when the to-do list goes long,

the activities pile up,

and the day goes long.

Come to Jesus,

laying the day at His feet,

for He has promised,

"His yoke is easy and His burden light."

Thank You Jesus for your Grace, Mercy, and Love.

Thank You Ann for your loving, serving heart for God and the words He gives you.

When the day goes long...where do you find rest?

By HIS Grace Alone,

Cole

Source

Figuring Life Out - One Thousand Gifts

Hello Friends,

How has your day been?

We missed out on the snow,
but boy do we have the frigid wind.
It whips back and forth,
threatening to "steal" my very breath.

So, right now...
I am snuggled up at home,
with my fleece blanket and a steaming cup of Joe.

Won't you join me?
Take the burdens of today,
the stresses of today,
the craziness that is this blizzard...
and join me in watching Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts."

I am so looking forward to joining the Bloom (in)courage Book Club and reading Ann's book.
In fact...
I have already read the first chapter.

...It has reached in and gripped the depths of my heart...

I'd love to have you join us...
Just leave a comment below or if you've started reading it...

What has gripped the depths of your heart?

Have a Beautiful Day,

Cole