The LORD Is In This Place!

Genesis 28:16
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it."

Are you aware of HIS Presence throughout your day?
Do you KNOW HE IS IN that place whereever you are?
Or are you like Jacob - and you awaken ... whether from sleep or from the daily grind - and suddenly become aware that HE is here?

I am currently reading the book "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to LIVE FULLY Right Where You Are"  by Ann Voskamp. I highly recommend this book - she also has a blog which you will find at www.aholyexperience.com

It is due to her inspiration that I began to faithfully attempt to Live Life Fully! Right Now! On my 60th birthday - almost 3 years ago now - a friend gave me a beautiful journal that I began to journal my thanks in. Over the years I had done this as part of my daily journaling ... but never numerically and never a journal specifically just for thanks! What an experience this has been! Some of these I have recorded on this blog as part of "One Thousand Gifts".

This whole experience has enabled me to say - with Jacob - "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it."

Just today ... within the hour ...
# 637. RAIN - coming straight down from heaven - like a thick curtain.
# 638. the SOUND of rain - as it hits the road outside my window.

And as I read Ann's book these words of hers jump off the page and touch my heart ...
"The weight of God's glory, not illusory or ephemeral, but daily and everywhere, punctures earth's lid and heaven falls through the holes."

Oh dear ones - may heaven fall thru the holes for you today! May you see and experience HIS glory all around you!
Blessings sweet ones!
Ruthie

Psalm 42

PSALM 42:1-11

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

Day and night I have only tears for food,

while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, "Where is this God of yours?"

My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be:

I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God,

singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sounds of a great celebration!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God!

I will praise him again - my Savior and my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you -

even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.

I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

"O God, my rock", I cry, "Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?"

Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, "Where is this God of yours?"

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again -

My Savior and my God!

Discouragement and despair come to us all - at various times - for various reasons!

BUT - HE is our Hope! He is our Rock!

If you are in a place of discouragement or depression today I pray that you will remember - as David did - that GOD IS ALL YOU NEED! Each and every day He pours HIS Love on you!

May this Scripture bring you some relief - some encouragement - some hope!

BLESSINGS!

Ruthie