Light Before Sunset
Laurie Pace
The photo was taken back in late March as we headed home from church one Sunday night... and the sky was intensely vivid just before the sun began to sink. It was that moment you catch your breath and hold it as you take in the beauty of the sky.
I have been catching my breath and holding it lately. Last night I struggled at one a.m. to return to sleep. Thankfully Spotify seems to work with the sound of rain ... ten hours worth, but I am awake by six. I try to visualize curling up under a soft blanket and sleeping near a small fire crackling to keep me warm. Recitations of favorite Bible verses in my memory wrap me in the Lord's word and I fall blissfully into a deep sleep.
"Stress often impacts on sleep quality and duration. Stress and a lack of sleep can both have a severe impact on physical and mental health. Experts recommend that people aim for 7–9 hours of sleep a night, depending on their age and other factors." Article Medical News Today.
Every single one of us is affected by stress today... some we conjure up on our own, some by news, some by family and some just out of nowhere. How do you protect yourself from it? Most times it is not a long term stress unless you or someone you love is ill. Please remember my Mom started failing 14 months ago and the clock began to run then. We do not need to revisit my last 14 months...but maybe it is time to look at yours.
Often the Lord lets a blow happen to you in your life. The blow could be light or heavy and it could involve blood or pain. You probably cry out in pain and in agony and you really want it to go away and you want to get some sleep and a plateau of time without stress. To God you are priceless and he is skilled in 'honing' you to be the most beautiful soul. He will not rip through you, but he will enrich you in ways you cannot imagine. Through every trial we actually become stronger. If we learn to abide and trust in Him, we find He continues to work on us in His process to enrich us and make us part of His best work in creation.
My mom always said, let God be the maker as the potter is with the clay. Every turn of the wheel and motion of his hands with pressure and skill may cause some pain, but we will recognize God's touch along the way.
"The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him." Lamentations 3:25
Prayers and Thoughts
Father, bless to us with your word and promises. We thank You that we can read your thoughts and words from heaven and actually hear your voice speaking to us. We will revere your word and will feel surrounded by your love. We know that we must face transformations in life and we must endure change and pain at times. From all of this our lives are transformed to be closer to you each day and night.
Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
When danger surrounds us or threatens us, may we remember this verse to comfort us. Your light always shines before us to guide us on the right path in life.
As this evening comes to a close in a few hours, may we envision sitting close to you. Accept us for what we have done this day and grant us mercy and forgiveness for what we may not have completed this day. Please watch over us through the night as you have watched over us through the day. Often we do things we should not do, and we may even fail to do things we need to do. You have been with us carefully and we know that our trust is in you to watch over us this night. Accept us as imperfect as we are and know we will work to be stronger tomorrow. Take from our hands and thoughts the very things that keep us awake tonight and thank you for your care while we sleep. Amen
Follow the Spirit of the Paint... with Laurie Pace
Laurie Pace - A Texas Artist
Laurie is an international artist, her paintings are collected in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, DuBai, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, St Thomas, Romania, Greece, Croatia, and Ecuador.
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