Friday, July 8, 2011

Rooms in my heart



"Utterly engulfed
and wanting more,
buried,
drowned,
intoxicated,
with the vastness of Love.

Losing myself as the waves wash over me,
through me,
surrounding me;
Caught up in a hurricane of overwhelming peace,
I have let go,

and He has found me."

                           -James L. Rubart




I just finished reading this fictional book by a very inspiring Christian author.
It spoke to me like no other book has.
It forced me to take a good hard look at who I was
and what kind of heart I had.

What did I keep in the rooms in my heart?

It hurt to look
and I was not happy with myself.


What did God see when he looked at me?

When He looked into the rooms of my heart,
was He pleased with who I had become?

Was I living the life for which He intended me to?

Was there room enough in my heart for all that He was and had to offer me?


{source}

And in response, He humbled me this past week.
Brought me down to my knees in complete and utter weakness. 

Tears of pain, and frustration at myself ebbed and flowed like an angry sea in my soul.

I felt spent,
lonely,
lost,
and 
drowning.

Crumpled, torn, and tossed in the wet sand
like a leaf ripped from a sea grape.



I was forced to look deep inside my heart
to search for the woman that He created me to be,
and to rediscover my purpose in life ~

to know God intimately and to enjoy Him forever.


{source}

"You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."
- Psalm 16:11

I needed to hear His voice of reassurance and comfort.
I needed to know that He had not abandoned me in disappointment.
I needed to be lifted up and strengthened in His love 
and by His grace.

I needed to know that I was not alone.


{source}

"I will go before you and make the rough places smooth;
I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.
I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden wealth of secret places,
So that you may know that it is I,
The Lord, the God of Israel,
who calls you by your name."
-Isaiah 45:2-3


{source}


He called me by my name.

I heard Him clearly and lovingly.

He was with me as I worked outside today.
He was there in the hot sun on my shoulders
and the smell of the fresh cut grass.
I could see His reflection in Maizie's big brown eyes as she stood in the big bathtub
amidst the soapy bubbles.


He spoke to me of forgiveness
and love,
and pressed upon me the importance of living a simple life.

One that I work with my hands
and create things that glorify His name.


{source: The Robin & Sparrow, Etsy}

Picking, freezing, and canning vegetables from the garden
and fruits from the trees.
Hanging sweet smelling laundry out on the line.
Feeding the birds and squirrels that live in the old trees embracing this old farmhouse.

Living peacefully,
quietly,
simply,
and reverently;
glorifying His name in everything that I do.


{source: It's Me}


God swept the rooms in my heart clean.
He forgave me.
He lifted me up.
He held me in his arms,
and He loved me
back to joy.


{source}

I rediscovered the incredible love that has always been there for me.
That I had pushed aside for my "wants" and "needs".
The love that I had been so trivially taking for granted.


"A key to open heart's desires,
yours and those beyond,
Cords are cut and chains are broken
when we live our calling strong."


{source}


 I am still walking with God ~
only a lot closer this time,
clinging to his strength,
and will practice listening to the Holy Spirit -
knowing that I will find Him in the quiet -

because I don't want to miss anything He has to say.

I wear His key of truth around my neck that will open the treasure in my heart.
His treasure.

I wait to hear His voice
in the peacefulness of my days
here at Heaven's Walk.

And I am listening to my heart,
for it knows the truth
because it is  
"where the temple is and where the King dwells."


{source: Sparrowsong Scripture Tags}


In a room
in my heart...



{humble hugs}



PS  My apologies for not replying to all of your sweet comments
this week. Know that I treasure each and every one...



{I am linking to the parties on the lower right of my sidebar.
I pray that you will be inspired.}

32 comments:

  1. Inspiring Laurie! I have never heard of this author or the title - will definitely look for it!
    Thank you for sharing,
    God Bless,
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful and thought provoking post. I think I need to get this book and see if God is pleased with the rooms in my heart. I think I will find some things not so pleasing as well. Praying to draw closer to Him.
    Blessings~

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful Laurie,

    The rooms in your heart are beautifully heartfelt!!

    A beautiful privileged relationship with him!!

    Blessings to my friend.
    A pearl you are!
    xoxo
    Dore

    ReplyDelete
  4. When we let Him in our heart, he takes us in His arms. Welcome back to His arms. The sweetest words ever from Him are- You are forgiven...
    So glad you had an awakening and rebirth into His light and you did such a wonderful post in His honor.
    Love your heart, Laurie...
    Hugs- Tete

    ReplyDelete
  5. This post was just what I needed to read today as God and I were having similar discussion yesterday...I'm such an easily distracted lover, choosing silly little things over First Love all too often. Thank you sweet friend.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for the inspiration-I will look for this book.

    Have a lovely weekend,

    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  7. Gorgeous post. I'll just have to download that one to my nook.

    ReplyDelete
  8. So encouraged and inspired by you. I too, have found myself since the beginning of this year in a very dark and humbling place. I can tell you that without God's grace, His love, His comfort, the many "angels" He has sent my way through family, friends, and even strangers...I would not be here today. Through the pain, He assures me that He has a plan, a promise, and restoration for my broken heart. Thank you sooo much for sharing like that. You are a precious gem.
    Blessings & Hugs,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for sharing this inspiration with us. I think listening to the Holy Spirit is a real key to walking with the Lord daily. This book sounds like one to keep an eye out for, a good read.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Laurie, I love how your words pour out what your heart feels. You are an inspiration! God bless you! Julie

    ReplyDelete
  11. beautiful Laurie.....what a poetic soul you are

    and I am so excited to find another book!! yeah!

    ReplyDelete
  12. your words have brought me to tears. thank you for sharing openly the work God is doing in your heart and life. thank you for sharing your desire to live simply - my heart echos that desire so deeply. We are about to put our house on the market with the plan of moving to the country to pursue a simpler life enjoying the simple pleasures you spoke of. Your picture of your gorgeous red barn in sunlight is our screen saver and inspires me every day.
    Blessings, sadie

    ReplyDelete
  13. I need to get that book. It sounds like something I would love.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Laurie,
    Such a sweet and moving post. I agree the simple things are so important to stop and enjoy. To rejoice in every day living is really a gift from above isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a beautiful and thought provoking post!!! I'm glad I stopped by, I'm going to check out that book.
    Thanks!
    Sharon

    www.breakformom.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is my 1st visit to your blog and I was deeply touched by your post. You so intimately shared your journey in seeking God's will for your life and his awesome grace towards humanity
    I have to admit that I sometimes don't want to look too closely inside because of my comfortableness with myself. I don't want to have to be asked to change. So, so selfish, I know! Thank you for this reminder to me to slow down and think more about the eternal.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Very nice post sis! whatever it takes to bring us back to our First Love is worth the journey.
    Now, I have some rooms to sweep.
    Love you.
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just beautiful Laurie...as always. Thank you for sharing this with us.

    xoxo, Andrea
    Oh....and I finally finished your hearts and have set up a reserved listing for you in my etsy shop...thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sounds like a must read book Laurie. Thanks for sharing with us so honestly and openly.
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  20. You sure have a way with words, just beautiful! Thank you for opening up to us! I must find this book!
    XO
    Kristin

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a lovely post!!! I can tell just how much this book has moved you! Isn't it wonderful when we come across a book like that! Have a very wonderful July day!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Such a beautiful post! Love the photos!

    ReplyDelete
  23. hey,
    I got to keep this short because I know I need to purge my rooms. Thanks for putting it out there for me to find.
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  24. This just completely hit home and brought tears to my eyes! In our human-ness we somehow think we are hiding those rooms from Him, keeping the doors closed, and yet He is already in that room, isn't He? :-) He never barges through or forces us to open it up but waits patiently for us. You have a gift with words and I so appreciate you sharing this with us at Inspiration Friday this week...it truly inspired me! :-)
    Vanessa

    ReplyDelete
  25. So gorgeous Laurie. This is such an inspiring beautiful post. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. oops... Sharing it on FB too... thanks for sharing at my party sweet friend! :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a beautiful post! Thanks for linking it up!
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  28. This is such a sweet and touching post...isn't God good?!
    Rene

    ReplyDelete
  29. Soooo very beautiful!!!
    We are so blessed to have the Lord
    carry us every day ~

    ReplyDelete
  30. This is wonderful!!
    Nothing else I can say.

    thanks for the blessings of sharing your heat.

    barbara jean

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have had the most heart-wrenching, physically, emotionally and spiritually draining past week. Your post could not have been more meant for me. I, too, have drawn closer than ever to my Lord Jesus this week, and I am so very thankful that he loves me. Now, I've got to go track down that book.
    Gloria

    ReplyDelete

Bless you and thank you for visiting! I read each of your comments and treasure them all. So, please make sure your settings will accept emails, or leave your email address so that I can reply! ♥ Laurie