The Thin Space Between Dark & Dawn

Slender light slips dim and slow through the window. 

Darkness still clings to the corners while tea steeps. 

Candlelight flickers on the kitchen table in honor of the 

thin space of heaven’s portals between dark and dawn. 

Cold rises from floor tiles, seeps around window panes carrying the scent unique to crisp winter air. 

Socks layered within slippers. 

Sweater layered over flannels. 

A scarf too, in a cozy loop around my neck. 

I stand at the window, 

a small witness to the new day’s splendor. 

A singular heart’s praise for the persistent majesty

of God's cosmic order.

Linking with Small Wonder, Tuesday Afternoon, Weekend Whispers,& Give Me Grace.

Kitchen Memories: Winter’s Late Afternoon Light

The late afternoon sun throws rays of winter light across the kitchen, low and soft. Savory aromas rise from sautéing meat and simmering stock on the stove. Color rich vegetables lay diced across the cutting board and spices add to the scents wafting through the house. Candlelight flickers in the lengthening shadows on the counter top.

My thoughts slip back to decades ago. As a college student commuting between campus and my parent’s home, I would return from classes in the late afternoon dark of our far north region. Entering the warm house through the kitchen door I would be met by the subdued lighting under the cabinets illuminating my mother working at the counter surrounded by salad makings and the smells of supper warming on the stove. These treasured images evoked such comfort and affection. I have strived to recreate them for my own family across the years. Even in the years of a demanding career, preparing supper at home, reclaiming the house after the day’s absence, filling it with food aromas, it remained essential to create a haven that cradled myself and loved ones at the end of each day.

Warm light in the darkness, 

a safe haven, 

the promise of nourishment; 

all elements of a home …

all elements of a living faith.  

Nurture faith as you nurture loved ones. 

Guard faith as you guard the haven of your home.

Light a candle, 

put something on the stove,

savor the moment, 

offer whispers from your heart 

to our Lord.

* * * *

Linking with Laura’s community of writer’s over at “Play dates With God” and Jennifer's folks at TellHis Story.

Join us. We are sharing

our moments with God.

Tomorrow's Promise

I venture forth into my days 

carrying snippets of scriptural readings, conversations, 

teachings, and musings tucked under my heart. 

Internal thoughts pondered haphazardly as I move through my days 

pausing intermittently as some slight bit of my fluid surroundings catches...

snags on some point of those numerous musings.  

Here, as tuned lyrics overlay a phrase I read, 

or there 

as a face streams against my passing current portraying human expression of inspired scripture, 

or another 

from the natural world branching out to display a figurative expression of a sacred story. 

If last season’s life were our Biblical inheritance,

If the branch were His chosen people,

If the suspended vessels were His divine life,

If the dispersed seeds were His spirit,

If nature reflects His promise...

Illuminated understanding rises, 

not grandly, but deeply.

Satisfying as only increased clarity or 

compelling evidence 

can illuminate.

Unspoken whispers of prayer envisioned as being released outward. 

"Thank you O my father,

for giving us your Son,

And leaving your Spirit

till the work on earth is done."

“There Is a Redeemer” 

Joseph Adkison

Winter Sun

There had been only an afternoon’s reprieve from the perennial cold blanket of grey light. 

Lifting my head from the dense novel on my lap, I caught sight of the rays of sunlight that had just splayed across the kitchen wall.  Searching further beyond the shuttered windows revealed the sudden change in the sky newly lit by rays breaking through cloud cover that had hovered for days on end.  

Thinking, “move quick or miss it entirely”, I head to the entry, layering on muffler, cap, hooded coat, zipped past the chin. Track down gloves and sunglasses. Pull the door tight behind me as I walk out in the welcomed sun drenched, cold air. The slap of winter temperatures still catches ones breath but a quick pace soon produces the balance between outer cold and down insulated warmth. 

Cooped up muscles can literally sing when given the opportunity to stretch out in long extended strides. The scents of crisp air please the nose and lungs fill with thirst for all that oxygen rich air.  Eyes protected by UV shades, “I lift my eyes to you..” (Psalm 123:1), absorbing ... appreciating, the Creator’s gift of solar warmth poured out on the wintery earth. 

Its a brief interlude. 

Day’s end arrives early. 

Even as solar beams slip low on the horizon the senses remember heat and light. 

The soul praises Genesis gifts.

~

Linking with these communities, join us by clicking on their buttons provided below:
SUNDAY
Still Saturday
The Weekend Brew

Favorites from the Arctic Months

Loved:

the pared down, bare beauty of limbs exposed against winter skies.

Loved:
the iced creations that glistened in the slipstream of the massive arctic vortex that blanketed the continent.

Loved this tea:

Finally, with decided intent, we’ve kicked colas to the curb. Replaced them with various blends of black and green tea; pour on the antioxidants and chase down cortisol. {A go-to favorite, Constant Comment Green tea!}

Loved this recipe:

High volume, colorful vegetables, mouth watering turkey sausage, warm comfort that boasts nutrition!

http://www.tasteslovely.com/italian-sausage-and-vegetable-soup/

Loved this writer's wisdom...

"Life is big like God’s Kingdom. But relationship is small town with Jesus. He knows your name and what you will say before you utter it. His couch is always available and bread never runs out despite circumstance." http://redemptionsbeauty.com/2014/02/05/small-town-living-teaches/

Loved these reads:

Fredrick Buechner’s Sacred Journey, The Hungering Dark & Magnificent Defeat. Three slim volumes with mind stretching insights and spirit stretching reflections.

"...because (by) God's nature he will not let even death separate us from him finally... In love he will have us his true sons before he is through, and in order to do that, one life is not enough." The Hungering Dark, p.78

Loved this study...

The Psalms of Ascent. There was pure warmth as I gathered with several other sweater bundled women this winter to study the Psalms. A deeply reflective and spiritually healing study written by Beth Moore.

Loved this word: 

slipstream; an example,

“Reading numerous posts in the blogging sphere allows one to  travel in the slipstream of words, opinions, ideas of multiple writers.” 

Delighted to be able to indulge in these pursuits, very aware of blessings beyond deserving.

Back to yet another cup of tea in this real feel, 9 degree  day.

                                ~ ~ ~

If you are inclined to read further...
here are some thoughts about time in the New Year and then there are some words in appreciation of walking in winter's sun. 

Always,
I'm humbled to have visitors pause
to read a bit here 
Beside Still Waters.
Lisa

Adornment of Inner Self

Evergreen boughs bear clusters of beautiful pale blue berries all through the winter. In twilight their color is accentuated, a heavenly hue. Branches hang low at the point of the berries heaviest abundance. 

Arctic gales blow hard across the months of this season, shearing the blue orbs, spilling them to the ground like pearls from a broken string. The female Cedar loses the tiny bits of her adornment with every gust of wind, every icy freeze, and every pelting rain. 

The loss does not diminish the value or the character of this tall spire. She extends her branches with or with out their pale blue adornment. Creatures – winged, footed, or slithering perch, burrow, and huddle within its massive frame. Standing sure, standing strong, standing quietly across the years; simply offering the gentler gifts of refuge, shade, and shelter. 

Prudently placed in the flood plain of frequently overflowing creek beds, the voraciously thirsty Cedar absorbs the over abundance of flooding waters following every storm. This towering life quietly serves her divinely designed purpose within the ecological community through the workings of her quiet, unseen, inner life. 

Season after season I walk past her. A guardian at her post. Season after season, God’s creation provides examples for human living. Here, through a living tree, the words of 1 Peter are given roots. Her berries are attractive, yet transitory. Cedar's deeper life contains the greater portion of her beauty and purpose. A living creation to emulate.

Let your adornment be your inner self,

with a lasting beauty 

of a gentle and quiet spirit.

1 Peter: 3-4

*The Cedar Berry tree of the southwest is technically a species of Juniper.

This post is linked to Inspire Me Monday, Still Saturday, and the Sunday communities. 

Join them by finding and clicking on their button, shown below.

Every Perfect Gift

Drifted trails lace across the high desert terrain. Packed crystals underfoot join the hush of rushing winds in this natural sanctuary. Looming mountain majesty rises to the east. Heavenly majesty rising higher still. 

While at my feet frozen shells of seed and stem bare spires of sculpted intricacies. Spires transformed through the ordained participation in the eco-bound living of earth rooted life. Living to completion through the Creator’s bounty. Life transformed, unexpected in its earliest germinal form, now boldly complete and visible to all the world. Transformed to perfection through the living and the grace filled hand.

May you linger a bit, 
gaze long at glinting crystals, 
breath crisp air deeply, 
and count God's gifts in winter's display of perfection.
Lisa

My meditation and thoughts were influenced by :
~James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
~James 1:4 Let perseverance finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 
~Telios (Greek) - Perfect, “that which has achieved of reached its goal, objective, purpose” and therefore, “full grown” and “fully developed”. Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible. 

               

Sundays: Winter Hues

 Expecting only quiet taupe, dark espresso, and soft whites blanketed under winter's sky veils ones seeing. Winter's monotone hues can be surprisingly interrupted. Creation occasionally offers the vibrancy and boldness of bursting color. An offering of provisions during this leaner time. A reminder of the fruit filled seasons ahead. Color rich encouragement that can brighten a winter-dark heart.  Fold the image into your soul as God's gift of loving care.   

Linking with the faithful SUNDAY community at

http://www.jumptandem.net/