Dear Ms. Austen

I didn’t know I needed it.  In fact, I’ve been running at full speed with a heart full of good intentions. This worked well for me, until I happened to walk by a mirror last week.  I didn’t recognize the tired worn thin lady looking back at me. I’ve been trying so hard to become a better version of me, I lost her. Or maybe I found her, and I didn’t like what I saw. As it turns out, there are a few things rising to the surface that I thought were long gone.  What do you do when you are in the story of your life and you don’t like the way your character is behaving? How do you fix her?

I confess I am lazy to the core. I’ve watched every movie about your books, but never let the words you wrote on the page sink down deep in my soul.  So last week, I decided to read “Pride and Prejudice.” It took me about 72 hours to go from cover to cover. You could say it made an impression.

But guess what I found in the pages of your novel? Guess who was hiding in the background and finding her way back to the story of her own life?  I found me.  I saw bits and pieces and remembered who and why I was becoming that girl anyway.  Just like Emily, I realized that the Author of my life has a way of meeting us right were we are and using whatever story He needs to to bring us home.

It’s funny, in your story I found love, pursuit, redemption, and yes grace. And He found a back door to my heart to lighten the heavy and weave in a bit more hope.  In doing so He let me know, that the last chapter of my story has not yet been written.

Looking Forward,

Stacey

*****

What about you dear friend?  Have you read anything lately that has made an impression?

What is on your nightstand?  What would you rather be reading right now?

**

For a free Kindle download of Pride and Prejudice, click the highlighted text.

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The Cry of My Heart

Lord,

You see them, but do they see you? Help me to teach them how to develop an inward gaze of the soul upon you. That they may look forward and be satisfied with great expectation to your will for their lives. You speak to them, but are they listening? Do they understand that your Word is written to lead and to guide them through this crazy mixed up noisy world? And that your Word leads them straight to your heart and into your embrace?

How can I, as their mother begin to teach them to behold you in every moment and to listen for your speaking voice? Show me, for if I teach them anything today, let it be these truths. The cry of my heart is that they would:

love you,
obey your voice,
and hold fast to you
all of their days….
Dueteronomy 30:20

Looking Forward,
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More Worth Mentioniong

On The Speaking Voice

The facts are that God is not silent, has never been silent. It is the nature of God to speak. The second person of the Holy Trinity is called The Word. The Bible is the inevitable outcome of God’s continuous speech. It is the infallible declaration of His mind for us put into our familiar human words…If you would follow on to know the Lord, come at once to the open Bible expecting it to speak to you. Do not come with the notion that it is this thing which you may push around at your convenience. It is more than a thing; it is a voice, a word, the very Word of the Living God.
A.W. Tozer
The Pursuit of God
Pages 77,8

Lord you are speaking, give me ears to listen.
Looking Forward,
Stacey
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Worth Mentioning

On Beholding (seeing) God

When we lift our inward eyes to gaze upon god we are sure to meet friendly eyes gazing back at us, for it is written that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout all the earth. The sweet language of experience is “Thou God seest me” (Genesis 16:13). When the eyes of the soul looking out meet the eyes of God looking in, heaven has begun right here on this earth.
A.W. Tozer The Pursuit of God
pages 85,86

Lord teach me to perpetually gaze upon thee. Thank you that as I do, I see you gazing back at me.

Looking Forward,
Stacey

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Looking Forward


I have a new regular blog post that I will begin next Friday called The Friday Five! Be sure to check it out!

Here is a great quote a friend of mine posted on Facebook by John Piper:

Service to children is a great litmus paper test of whether you are in the quest of true greatness or addicted to the praise of men. (Cf Mark 9:33-37)

Today, I will be serving my children by taking them to get new dresses for their first Father Daughter Dance. I have a very romantic picture of how this sweet affair should go…but I am preparing for the possibility of tears. (the shopping trip I mean!) Hoping for the best, preparing for the not so much!

Looking Forward,
Stacey

P.S. Vintage number five courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

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Worth Mentioning

Something to think about this weekend:

“A mother’s prayers mark her family with faith and trust in God. Her overflow of mercy and grace is a reminder that Jesus is the ‘author and finisher’ of the family’s faith. The fruit from her prayers personify Christ’s character, and hell clamors at the calm requests from a mom who trusts God. They pray for their children to obey and worship the Lord, and for their husbands to fear God, hate sin and love people. A mom’s prayer matters.

Originally posted By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters – May 4, 2009

Looking Forward,
Stacey

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