May 21, 2023

It’s been well over a year since I have posted on this blog, but thank God, I am returning! The last few years, the last 3 in particular, have been extremely hard. My husband died in March 2022 after several years of illness. The stress and exhaustion of caretaking, loss, grief, and trying to rebuild my life stymied my energy and motivation to write. BUT GOD… He has loved me and carried me through some of the hardest times of my life and once again is inspiring me to share our story. It’s only fitting that the next “wisdom” from my journals is about realizing that He’s still at work in us and for us, even when we think things are dead, there’s still life underground! As I move forward with this blog, I plan to change things a bit. I will share current insights the Lord gives me, and then continue to share my journey of hope in chronological order. For those of you who have followed me, thank you for your patience.

Pearl

POST #67: (From Journal #10:  October 4, 2007)

There’s Life Underground!

I opened Your Word to Isaiah this morning.  Right off the bat, scripture was jumping out at me.  You are always there directing my path.  My ears will hear.  May my heart and mind always listen and choose what You are showing me.

Isaiah was talking of all the good things You replace for bad things in our lives:  “instead of briers, the myrtle will grow.”  Figuratively I get it, and literally I get it.  I see all the crepe myrtles that keep springing up in my yard.  May I see them all with fresh eyes – You replacing the briers in my life!  I remember last year after my ER visit in Atlanta while visiting Pam, coming home and working in the yard as an act of faith.  I dug up several “rogue” myrtles and replanted them.  

One in particular was so big and yet it seemed to die.  It was just a stick for so long.  I considered pulling it up because I assumed it was dead.  But then, after such a long time, I saw the tiniest bit of growth!  Now it’s growing well.  I got the lesson about how we don’t see things happening in our lives, yet “under the soil” You are growing the seeds that we’ve planted.  Now Lord, every time I see all these crepe myrtles spring up, I’ll know You are replacing briers!

This encourages me not to give up on the dreams and the callings I have felt you have for my life.  Just because in the natural it seems nothing is happening and the dreams have died, You are still at work!  There is life underground that I can’t see.  I just need to trust You, listen to Your directions, and watch for that little life to start pushing up out of the ground!

Isaiah 55:13:  Instead of the thorn bush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.  This will be for the LORD’S renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.

Isaiah 30:21:  Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

January 30, 2021:   (Post #59)

(From Journal #8:  February 24, 2007)

I’m at the beach with a group of ladies.  One of my friends and her husband built a beautiful house right on the coast.  After going through immunotherapy again, I’m so grateful to have this time away to just rest in You and fellowship with my friends.

This morning as I walked on the beach looking for shells, You taught me another life lesson.  We, like the shells, are made by You.  We were created to be whole and perfect, each beautiful in its own way – all shapes, sizes and colors.  But life, bad choices, even things out of our control, beat us up and we can be broken.  Even if only a tiny piece is on the beach, it’s still pretty to someone (You) who will pick it up and make something beautiful with it.  It still has value and worth.  What some will walk by, another will stop and gather.  They see something in that broken shell that someone else doesn’t. Some shells even mold together, similar to how we get help and support from others.  

Thank You for this revelation, Lord.  I am always humbled by the size and power of the ocean and yet You created it and hold it in the palm of Your hand!  How big is my God! 

Isaiah 40:12:  Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

Psalm 34:18:  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 51:17:  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.