photo: CCO public domain graphic: Martha G. Brady
Thanks to a light winter, our Spring has arrived with all her shades of light green as trees bud. Then there are the colors of yellow (daffodils), purple (redbud), white (spirea and the many other white, budding trees). They all form a beautiful backdrop for the many colors of bulbs and flowers that are blooming all over!
These beautiful colors go well with our early easter season that proclaims with joy, “Hallelujah! He is risen from the dead!” Although we had some cold weather last night and tonight, it wasn’t cold enough to quite freeze.
It seems our winter went fast this year. I’m not sad about it at all!
Preparing for a new season…Spring.
As I face a new season, I’m thinking about what lies ahead. Over the past few weeks, I have been stuck in the doldrums. Actually, it was more than doldrums. I felt very stuck in some problems I was facing and couldn’t seem to find a solution. No matter how I turned the facts over and over in my head, I couldn’t come up with a solution…and it wasn’t something I could take to Ron these days…I so miss that!
I felt very stuck in some problems I was facing and couldn't seem to find a solution. Share on XSome of the problem was my fault. But telling myself it was my fault and I deserved the trouble I was having really didn’t help at all! It just kept sending me into a more downward spiral of hopelessness and fear, feeling I never would find a solution.
Finally, one night, I realized I needed to talk it over with someone. I did. It turned into a much shorter conversation than I expected. The person I talked to, helped me break the problem that looked like a huge mountain, into bite-sized pieces. The next day, I started working on the problem by making an appointment for taking care of one part of it. Then, I made a call to get information re another part of it. As I unloaded pieces of this apparently huge boulder in their rightful places, I found the burden lighter.
The person I talked to, helped me break the problem that looked like a huge mountain, into bite-sized pieces. Share on XIt was surprising how quickly this mountain broke apart once it was attacked
I still have a few more conversations to go, but in the meantime, I needed to clean my house and every time I tried to get energy to do it, I could not last more than about 20 or 30 minutes. A few days ago an out-of-town friend texted me that they needed a place to stay for the night tonight and wondered if they could stop here on their way to visit a college daughter.
The thought of a fun visit with an old friend lifted my spirits, I said, “Yes!” Then I started working on the apartment! It was such a mess, I couldn’t even take a before photo. Talk about discouraging. Ugh!
I started cleaning and cleaning out…and throwing out. I also did something I usually don’t do when I go on a tear like this…I took breaks. Pretty soon, the tops of counters and tables were showing. Dust and grime were gone. The bathrooms were both clean. The kitchen was clean and the Dining Room and Living Room are all clean. The big Christmas wreath I have been shoving around the Living Room since January is now in plastic and tucked away in the storage closet! And the pretty Spring floral one is hanging on the door.
Last night after the front half of the house was all clean, my friend contacted me. Their plans have changed some. They won’t be spending the night but will be passing by so we can meet them for lunch on their way home this coming week. That is great!
I have a mostly clean house. I still need to work on bedrooms, but I don’t have to wear myself out…and I’ll still get to see my friend. How delightful is that?!
When I am in distress, GOD hears my prayer and answers
When I was burdened down, I prayed for GOD to help me. He did…in a variety of ways. He will continue to help me as I continue to develop new habit patterns and adjust to changes in our family that don’t come naturally to me.
When I was burdened down, I prayed for GOD to help me. He did...in a variety of ways. He will continue to help me as I continue to develop new habit patterns... Share on XThen He helped me as I asked for help and as I asked for help and some of the burden lifted, I was able to carry some of the load again. It is strange how it all works out that way, isn’t it?
May GOD help us as we learn to depend on Him to live out the answers He gives to our prayers.
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.
Psalm 4:1-5
What prayers do you need to ask GOD to answer?
As part of the answer, do you need to talk to another person as well, to ask for their help?
Sometimes we just can’t see His answers, His work, His hand. But true to His character, He hasn’t abandoned His own.
I’m so grateful He is risen! I celebrate with you, Martha …
all I can say to that linda is Hallelujah:)
Sometimes we just need a different perspective or a sounding board. I’m having a hard time getting things straight around my place – and I take it like you do – in spurts. I just don’t give up! Thank you for such an encouraging post!
i’m glad it was helpful blue:) you can’t imagine how long i have been dragging around over this burden of things to be done that i just couldn’t seem to attack! once the ball got rolling, a lot was accomplished. no i’m not done yet, but by the end of the week, i’ll have a handle on much of what had me down. i feel much lighter for sure!
Perfect for today! Thanks.
glad you liked it carol:) i enjoyed your post as well…and passed it on! i’m not sure i would have the stamina to go on a 4 AM hike to see the sunrise but i know it was worth it:)
This was one of the posts I didn’t want to end! I was so encouraged by it!
I found especially profound your statement, “Then He helped me as I asked for help and as I asked for help and some of the burden lifted, I was able to carry some of the load again. It is strange how it all works out that way, isn’t it?”
This encouraged my heart to pray this way, a way I had never thought to pray before, believe it or not.
What a blessing it was to stop by here today. Thank you for sharing your testimony about prayer so that we could be encouraged.
i’m glad you did karen:) glad this was encouraging to you. blessings today.
Martha, it is amazing how our God responds with exactly that which we need to navigate and lighten our load. Glad to have stopped to visit from Inspire Me Monday. Blessings!
so true joanne. thanks for stopping by:)