Anyway. Always.

The past few weeks have been an incredible lesson about life on many levels. I have learned to depend on Him even more. I have realized the value and presence of faithful, loving, authentic family and friends. I have seen Him work in unexpected ways and people. Above all, I have learned to trust in Him...and to never give up hope. Never. As Spring surrounds us, I am grateful for reminders of His continued presence, power and peace. I am amazed. I am grateful. I am never alone. I am loved. Anyway. Always.♥~thl

Easter morning...every moment...

Easter morning is a beautiful reminder that no matter what has been, or is happening...no matter how dark moments seem to be...no matter how many doors have closed in our faces...no matter how many have turned their backs...no matter how painful or disappointing circumstances may be...There. Is. Hope. Forever! He loves us. He holds us. He will not forsake us. He has conquered death and darkness. I can...and I will...face tomorrow. ..because He lives...because He loves...because life is so much more than what this world has to offer. I am amazed. I am grateful. I am never, ever alone. I am loved. Anyway. Always. ♥~thl

Held and hopeful...

Thank You, God, for holding us every moment, in every situation and never letting go. I am amazed. I am grateful. I am never alone.♥~thl

Change...yet constant...

It's time for a change this weekend.  Tonight, (Saturday), clocks will be moved forward one hour before going to bed.  Although I do not enjoy losing an hour of sleep, the time change is a reminder that spring is almost here.  The transition seems less abrupt for our family when we move our clocks forward during early afternoon instead of at bedtime.  Somehow, we seem to anticipate the change more readily than moving a clock forward at the last possible moment.  

I began thinking.  Life's journey also seems to be a constant process of adjustments.  Someone once said that "Change is the only constant in life."  There is truth in that statement.  When I reflect on the way life used to be as a child compared to the way life is now, there is no doubt that major change has taken place.  When I remember the seasons of my life, change is obvious.  People change.  Circumstances change.  Lives change.

  

While I have welcomed some changes, there are other changes I wish would have never happened.  That's part of the journey.  Yet I am very glad that there is something far greater than change that is constant in life.  I am deeply grateful that the One Who made me, loves me and holds me...never changes.  He was, is and shall be...forever!  Even when...especially when...everything else is changing, I find hope and peace knowing that He is with me..always.<3~thl

Father and fog...

My drive home tonight was a bit more challenging than usual.  My vision is quite limited at night anyway, which requires extra caution.  After a day of much rain, however, thick fog developed so my journey home took a little longer. Yet it wasn't a time for fear or confusion.  It was a time for gratitude for recognizing the familiar in the middle of unfamiliar conditions.

I began thinking.  Isn't life like that?  Just when the journey seems familiar enough that we feel comfortable, something happens that seems to cloud our perspective, create more challenges and cause unexpected confusion.  Perhaps it involves major life changes, illness, disappointments or loss.  What we thought we knew becomes much different.

I am grateful that the One Who holds me on clear, sunny days is also the One Who holds me on dark, foggy nights.  I am thankful that His Presence surrounds me in peaceful times as well as stormy times.  He is familiar, consistent, all-knowing and ever-present even when my journey becomes very unfamiliar.  His love is with me.  Always.  Each step.  Every time.  I am amazed.  I am grateful.  I am never alone.<3~thl

Perplexed but protected...

While running errands yesterday, a situation arose that made me feel quite apprehensive. Someone approached me wanting to get in my vehicle. I was alone. I was still in the vehicle. His reason was illogical and misleading. Thankfully, I knew better than to cooperate. He returned to his vehicle and drove around the parking lot aimlessly before going to another place of business to do the same. I wonder what his intentions actually involved.

I began thinking. If running errands in a small town can present such questionable situations, I wonder what other dangers surround us in this world. Obviously, turning on the news answers that all too well.

I am grateful for The One Who protects me every day...more than I could possibly imagine. He holds me each moment, even when...especially when...I don't understand the journey. I am amazed. I am grateful. I am never alone.♥~thl

Flu...and forever thankful...

Well, the last member of our family became ill today. After weeks of flu, cold and viruses among us, the last Lorenz standing, (Tim), is in bed with the flu. It's been an interesting winter on many levels.

I am thankful for The One Who holds us, heals us, loves us and never leaves us on this journey. Whether our bodies ache or our hearts break, I am grateful that He restores us, renews us and refreshes us. He is faithful. I am amazed. I am loved...anyway.♥~thl

Selections and surroundings...

While putting things in my spring/summer closet recently, I noticed that my color preference is quite obvious.  There are many pink, lavender, navy and black selections but it is evident that the majority of my clothes are white. Checking  the coat closet, I realized that I even own more than one white coat/jacket.  My family will confirm that when shopping, the first item I pick up is...white.  Always.

I'm not sure why I choose white more often.  Yet...I don't desire to wear white all the time.  I personally don't even prefer white walls in our home.  (White furniture...oh, yes...which is why I choose other colors for walls.)  As much as I love white, I realize that there is a limit to how much I wear or use in my surroundings.  I began thinking.

What do my choices in life say about me?  Am I as selective about surroundings...and the influence of people...as I am about clothes, furniture and paint preferences?  Do I allow opinions of others to define me? Do surroundings in my life limit or encourage His work in my life?  Do I allow Him to work in me, on me and through me?  Do I have limits in what I will and will not allow in my life?

Life is precious.  May each amazing moment be lived seeking what truly matters and dismissing what doesn't.  May I never waste a moment.  May I pause to notice all the beauty along this journey...in every color, every situation and every choice.  May all I see...remind me to be all I can be...for Him.<3~thl

This one...

We have this day...this one precious moment...this one breath...this one heartbeat...this one amazing gift from God...to share with Him and for Him.

May I offer each moment as an expression of gratitude, opportunity and love in whatever way possible.

I am a simple gal. I live a simple life. Yet I believe that He can use simplicity to make a difference. May each moment simply count...for Him...The One.♥~thl

True friends...The Friend...

It is a major blessing to have true friends...the kind you may not talk to daily, weekly or even every month. Yet when you have the opportunity to chat with them, you pick up right where you left off...as if time stood still. For some reason, I have been given dear friends like that. Our hearts are with each other no matter what happens between conversations or visits. Wow!

I am so grateful that I also have a Heavenly Father who is always there for me...ready to listen to my thoughts, my feelings, my dreams, my questions, my frustrations and even my failures. He still loves me...anyway. I love that He listens to me although I know He probably nods His head and says..."Here she goes again." I am even more amazed that He allows me to listen to Him...anytime, anywhere, under any circumstances, for any reason.

He is faithful. I am amazed. I am loved. Anyway.♥~thl

Live...Love...Now...

I never met her...or them.  I never attended their concerts or owned their CD.  Yet the past few months had me watching, praying, loving and hoping...for Joey and Rory Feek, a country/gospel music duo.  Joey has battled cancer and as her husband wrote about their journey, I couldn't help but notice, admire and respect their amazing faith as they faced terminal illness with eternal hope. Today, March 4, around 2:30 pm, Joey took her last breath on earth and her first breath in Heaven.

Something that Joey's husband wrote, as he announced on his blog that she had gone Home, moved my heart deeply. Rory said, "In the time that God gave her...I believe Joey's given all she could give.  She's loved all she could love and lived all she could live."  What an incredible and beautiful testimony for this precious forty-year-old wife, mom, daughter, sister and musician who left this world much better than she found it.

I have witnessed life on many levels.  I have carried and given birth to our children.  I have lost precious family and dear friends too many times.  I have witnessed life leaving this world. My own mother is gradually fading from the life she has known here toward a time that will eventually take her Home, too.  I have also been between life and death as prayers were prayed and medical personnel literally raced me down a hospital hallway.  Life is so precious.  Life is so frail.  It arrives and leaves much too quickly.

Those who know me best know that I often share this simple statement.  "Love living.  Live loving."  Those are my most simple, sincere and strong words I can say from my own journey.  I take life...and love...seriously.  Each day reminds me that this is the time to "give all I can give, love all I can love and live all I can live."

May we celebrate each moment He has given us.  May we share the love He has shown us.  May we give as He has so beautifully given to us.  Today.  Tonight.  Tomorrow.  Each breath.  May we truly and thoroughly "Love living...and Live Loving."<3~thl

Resting...

The quiet of the snow covered street,
The peace of night's sleeping shadows,
The warmth of our heated home,
The scent of a burning candle,
The soft light illuminating the room
Encourage rest in our home.
Yet the Presence of the One Who loves me
Allows peace, hope, calm and joy.
In His arms, I am renewed, restored, revived.
I am amazed.  I am grateful.  I am at rest.<3~thl

Running Home...

Quietly,

Peacefully,

Longingly,

Wearily,

Dependently,

Joyfully,

Lovingly,

Definitely,

Amazingly,

Beautifully,

Significantly,

Honestly,

Vulnerably,

Simply,

I run into His arms.

He holds me.

He calms me.

He renews me.

He refreshes me.

He restores me.

He strengthens me.

He loves me.

I am amazed.

I am grateful.

I am Home.<3~thl

Replaced or Restored....

It happened quickly...yet over time.  As I worked on my laptop tonight, I put on my  prescription reading glasses...and the left ear piece broke off...completely.  Actually, this is the oldest pair that I own, which is kept on the nightstand just in case I need them for a quick glance.  A newer pair is used for traveling, reading books, paper work, etc..  Yet this pair is old, scratched, loose and worn.  It didn't really shock me when they broke.  They had been through much over the years.  They will be replaced.

I began thinking.  Some things can be replaced.  Some things cannot.  We actually live in a very disposable world, which concerns me greatly.  If an appliance breaks, we replace it.  If we get tired of a piece of clothing or a pair of shoes, we replace them.  If we own something we don't like, we get rid of it.  I was raised to never waste anything.  "Repurposing" is nothing new in my life.  We found countless ways to repair and use things during my childhood and with my own family.  Yet our present society throws away anything that we no longer want, need or value.

Honestly, I am deeply concerned that we have become quite "disposable" with the hearts and lives of others.  It seems much too easy to dismiss what others feel, need or experience.  If someone isn't worth our time or interests, we walk away from them.  If someone isn't valuable enough, good enough, smart enough, talented enough, attractive enough, young enough or strong enough, we dismiss them from our lives.  (Note:  I am not referring to unhealthy, abusive or dangerous relationships in which distance is necessary.)  Far too often, we dispose of those who are broken...struggling, searching, hurting and weary...because they are of no benefit to us. It seems we value...or devalue...others based on what is best for our image, our titles, our desires and our interests.

I am grateful that God doesn't exclude His love so easily.  I am touched that He still values my life with all my imperfections.  I am amazed that the One Who is perfect loves, heals and transforms broken lives.  He doesn't want to replace us.  He wants to restore us.  I am amazed.  I am grateful.  I am loved...anyway.<3~thl