Scraps and snippets and and long lonely threads lost…
And maybe that’s all that’s left.
And I remember what the Farmer said when I first met him and asked why he was so quiet and he quoted Proverbs, that in many words are many sins, and I have spoken too much of late, said too many things, and I question them, wonder, and why not joy instead of a thorn, wallflower instead of brimstone, and I think about this: the making of an ambition of quietness and the way of grace…
I lay on our bed and I liquid murmur that I am not smart enough for any of this, that I fail miserably and everyday and I’m getting so much wrong, and how do you really invest just one life and what about the laundry? And the Farmer he draws me onto his chest and he strokes back my hair, wraps one strand around a finger… and he is quiet. Because sometimes it’s only silence that simply waits that can hear God.
The man is a farmer. He feels wind and he knows rain. He breathes prayers. He pulls me close.
It’s after a long quiet that he whispers it into my caverns,
“Remember? He asks for Praise not Perfection… Grace not Grindstone…”
With a smile and a kiss, that bulk on my shoulders slips, ice to vapor, and I sink into the mattress and sleep comes, tattered relief.
In the morning, early, I work on Jesse Tree devotionals. It’s been a season tight at the seams and I am behind, stretched. The 27th, next Saturday, a link to all of the Jesse Tree devotionals rewritten, reformatted, shined and polished for new homes and hearts, Lord willing. He’s mended me back together with the hours of pouring over Scripture, listening and praying before each word. I am undone and made whole and anxious to feel more of the fabric of God. I pray that all the gracious folks who wrote and asked about how to find the Jesse Tree devotionals, find these odds and ends. Your prayers and kindness have gathered me.
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And there are shavings of wood everywhere, crumbles of trees, and just before Christmas.
Caleb sands down the sharp edges of old wood and makes a few more Advent wreaths.
And I remember The God Babe who comes for a tree, to take a nail in the hand, a back to the bark, and how it’s the enemy who crumbled.
Messy odds and ends lie about, unswept.
And she who’s odd is held at the end and all that’s left remembers…
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The Jesse Tree Devotionals will be available as an e-book download, available Nov. 27th, Lord willing, 100% of proceeds to Compassion.… praying it’s a way to bless the least of these and you, families wanting to seek more of Him.
The Way of Light Wreaths: And Caleb has a few Advent to Lent to Ascension Wreaths already made and available here.
If you emailed him prior with interest of a wreath, he thanks you for grace as he’s tried to keep up, invites you to click over here to complete your order and hopes all those interested find these odds and ends here too. Shipping’s worldwide and all orders of the limited supply will ship on Monday. We pray it helps your family celebrate His grace for many years to come…
Thank you for grace.
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The Way of Light Wreath
invites families to keep company with Jesus on …
- the journey of Mary with Child on a donkey travelling to Bethlehem through the 24 days of Advent
- the journey of Jesus carrying a cross to Calvary through the 40 days of Lent (candle wreath extensions included)
- (optional — the wreath may be used to mark the next 40 days, from Easter Sunday to the Ascension of Christ, marking each day either with the movement of a candle, or a self-made paper butterfly, flower etc…)
Celebrate His Coming: Advent
Celebrate His Gift of Salvation: Lent
Celebrate His Resurrection: Ascension
For more information on how to use the Way of Light Wreaths or place an order, see here
