Another Counting

Happy Monday! It is again a day of new counting. Join me?

26. Old flannel shirt . . . my Daddy's.

27. Shining summer sunflowers

28. Laughing with cousins Saturday, what a gift.

29. Family dinner at Pioneer Villa . . . fellowship and oh how delicious the food. :)

30. A summer job, lived long and now finished.

31. No big injuries as I watched over kiddos the past three months.

32. Daddy's birthday . . . his life held with such value. (I love you, Daddy! So much!)

33. Sister got her license! An answered prayer. Nerves relax.

34. Fresh, succulent blackberries and blackberry milkshakes . . . MMM!

35. Sweet August . . . memories

36. Playing freeze tag, choosing to be young.

37. A sky punctured with radiant stars.

38. Celebration service at Church . . . a new man giving himself to lead us.

39. Five young, energetic boys in Sunday School.

40. "Grace greater than all my sin." alleluia

Live! It's a brand new day. :)

Yours truly,
just Simply Danae

Rock

So, I wanted to get another post in before my 1000 gifts post tomorrow (Lord willing). :) I was cleaning out one of my drawers yesterday, and I found a sheet filled with C.S. Lewis quotes that I had typed out from the book Mere Christianity, which I HIGHLY recommend by the way. :) Anyways, I wanted to share with you a quote that I really like, one that makes me desire to reach further, to be more like my Savior. It goes like this:

"Every now and then one meets them [men that Christ has made new]. Their voices and faces are different from ours: stronger, quieter, happier, more radiant. They begin where most of us leave off. They are, I say, recognizable; but you must know what to look for. They will not be very like the idea of 'religious people' which you have formed from your general reading. They do not draw attention to themselves. You tend to think that you are being kind to them when they are really being kind to you. They love you more than other men do, but they need you less. (We must get over wanting to be needed: in some goodish people, especially women, that is the hardest of all temptations to resist. [how true of me at least]) They will usually seem to have a lot of time: you will wonder where it comes from. When you have recognized one of them, you will recognize the next one much more easily."

Oh, Jesus, make me new.

Today was a big day. It was the "installation" service of a new associate pastor to my church, a celebration. It is the day that I found out that one of my dear older friends has the healthy use of only 30% of his heart, bad news. It is the day that I figured out that yet another church member has cancer. It's hard to be made new, to stand strong upon a Rock that never fails, when the torrents fall heavy, and heart splinters under its weight. I'm really not feeling that discouraged right now, but I think that if I dwelt on it, it would hurt. Last Sunday for special music, a young mom with twins and her aunt beautifully sang the song "In Christ Alone." Here's a link to hear it on youtube. It's beautiful! Part of the lyrics go like this:

"This Cornerstone, this Solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm."

I love that. I love that He's the Solid Ground now for the storms that might come later. I love that the Rock is SOUND for all the future storms that I WILL travel through. Guaranteed. It is also capable of holding us through our present flash floods and storms. He is enough.

Other lines that stick out are "Light of the world by darkness slain / Then bursting forth in glorious day / Up from the grave He rose again." I love this: "Jesus commands my destiny," and "Sin's curse has lost its grip on me." alleluia. If you want to be blessed, take some time to read the lyrics and listen to the song. It's incredible!

I hope your Sunday was a day on the Rock, resting in the One who has made all the difference. :)

Yours truly,
just Simply Danae

PS See you tomorrow for more gift tracking Lord willing! :)

Child Heart

I wanted to share with you an adorable story my mom told me yesterday. Now my mom is one of my heros. She's an RN (registered nurse) who is working for this little 10 year old boy with a ton of disabilities. I believe he has cerebral palsy (?), is legally blind, completely deaf, and probably has the amount of brain usage as a toddler. He must be fed and have his diaper changed. Well, anyway, my mom so very lovingly takes care of this kiddo around 2 - 3 days a week, and often times, she is able to get some smiles out of him. Sometimes, he even tries to wrap his arm around her. She's told me that sometimes, when he seems to be really uncomfortable, she'll say a prayer outloud for him (my mom is such an incredible prayer warrior . . . but that's another story!), and he seems to visibly relax. (Have I told you before that our God is a miracle worker?!)

The parents have this child go to a school for kids with disabilities where he's able to do some things. My mom normally goes with him during the days she works, and school is going on. I love to hear stories of some of the other kids that go to the school. They're so in need of love and so beautiful, even if the world has tagged them "abnormal" and "disabled." I think some of those kids are a lot closer to heaven than we are some days. Anyway, yesterday, mom was telling me a story about this little boy I'll call Justin. He's a young blind boy, maybe 8 or 9. Yesterday, he turned toward my mom and told her these precious words,

"Julia, I like your haircut."
smile.

Did I mention he was blind? :) I love how innocent and precious Jesus has made children. I love how He invites them close to His heart. I love how I am called to be a child. I am called to be innocent, moldable, teachable, obedient. Often times, I feel so child-like. So young. But sometimes, it's when I am young that I can truly experience the security and love of God Almighty being my Father. A precious, indescriblable miracle.

I hope you can smile today . . . :) May our child-hearts be turned towards the Light, the King.

Yours truly,
just Simply Danae

One Thousand Gifts

Today is "Multiple Gifts Monday" . . . a time to count the gifts from our Heavenly Dad's hand. I'm on my way to one thousand. Will you join me?

11. Fresh, buttery corn on the cob

12. Bright blue eyes of giggly Child

13. Streamers cascading and rising on ceiling, a surprise

14. A new day of summer vacation . . . only two weeks and a day left . . . each day a gift.

15. Answered prayer . . . a child has been found

16. Light shed on who I am . . . it's sharp but good.

17. Meeting Book-lover . . . soon to be friend Lord willing.

18. Fresh blackberries

19. Walking through a field in bright sun

20. Small, brilliant balloons

21. Visitors in Sunday School yesterday

22. Sister's birthday and life

23. Blog updates by Friend(s)

24. Homemade ice cream

25. The promise that "Jesus commands my destiny." alleluia

Put your hand to your heart today and feel its pulse. In VBS this year, one of the leaders told the kids that the beating of their heart was a reminder of God's incredible love for them. Feel it . . . may God's love pulsate throughout your heart and soul. Have a glorious day!

Yours truly,
just Simply Danae

Dearest Sister . . .

Dearest Sister,

It is your birthday today, and ya know what?! I'm so glad to be your sister. I hope your day was a sweet one . . . I love you truly. :) Never ever forget!!!!!

Love from,
"Goose"

Number Six

"Pick a number between 1 and 66," I told the 9 year old girl I babysit yesterday.

"Six." She answered. I was surprised she didn't ask why as I turned to the sixth book in the Bible. Now I am a true believer in divine appointments and circumstances, and I think this was a divine situation indeed. Previously, I had read Ann Voskamp's daily post which can be found here. It spoke of courage and how courage and humility are tied together. Anyway, a little later, I had asked Girl if she'd give me a number and "six" brought me to Joshua. Later, these are the words I read:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 NIV

By nature, I am not a strong person. At all. I am very weak, very "nice," very safe. I keep a big space between danger and myself. I have this strong admiration for strong people though, especially strong women. For instance, I met a very strong Lady yesterday. She has a lot of love but knows how to be firm in love, knows how to raise four kiddos while they're daddy is fighting for us. And you know what? I want to be strong. It didn't really hit me until last night and this morning that I'm commanded by God to be strong. To be Courageous. To NOT be discouraged. And how can I be all this? Because "God will be with [me] wherever [I] go." WHEREVER! I want to tell the truth, even when it hurts. I don't want to apologize for being used by God to convict even when it's uncomfortable.

Well, I better wrap this up. I need to start bouncing into action and get somethings done besides publishing a post. :) Have a lovely day! Be strong!

Yours truly,
just Simply Danae ;)

Leftover Stew

Okay, so I really don't have much to say, and yet, I have everything to say in the same post. Hmm . . . so this might turn out to be a little like leftover stew . . . the ingredients being a little of this and a little of that and whatever's leftover, you know?

So, today I met this fantastic family that I'll be working for occasionally. It's mom, big sis, brother, little brother, and little sis. Dad's in Iraq . . . missing those kids and his wife I'm sure. I can't wait to serve 'em and love 'em, hope that God uses me, uses my broken pieces.

As I think about some of the past posts I've written, I feel like I've kinda distorted my image. Sometimes, it's quite easy for me to do that. I so enjoy writing, crafting words into webs of art. Often, I go through tough circumstances and imagine myself talking about it later to a big crowd or writing about it as if my story gives me value. But words and stories are nothing when wrapped in paper. They must be real. Transparent. Open. Full of rough edges and sometimes even loose strings. And sometimes, sometimes experiences are sacred . . . words spoken have power to break sacredness. I must remember. Forgive me when I get carried away with poetry and forget to write out the true lining and throbbing of my heart. I want to be real.

Speaking of real, brokenness is a condition I'm quite used to by now. It's a very hard condition to experience yet one laced with grace. But you don't always feel the grace. No. Sometimes, you feel deep pain. Sometimes, you don't feel anything at all . . . and sometimes, that's what hurts the most. I am a broken, prideful, sinful, weak person, but Jesus is holding me up, redeeming me. He is changing me. Breaking me. Speaking Life to me. Singing over me. And one day, I will live with Him forever. I will truly be who I was meant to be before the beginning of time. And you will be too, if He is the Lord and Savior of Your life.

I don't want to present you with the picture of who I want to be. I want to show you who I am. Not sure how that's going to work, but I'll see what I can do. :) Anyway, the night is fleeing from me, and I must end this leftover stew. :) Have a wonderful night, wherever you are, whoever you are. :) You are precious in the sight of God. It's true . . . I know. :)

Yours truly,
just Simply Danae

PS Christina Marie, I love you! Thank you for your post . . . it made me smile. I hope this random-ish post makes you grin. :)