i am...

These are just simple words... but I'm wearing them around my neck these days. Words are oh, so very powerful-- for blessing or for cursing, for bringing hope or for bringing despair, for causing joy or for causing sorrow. God warns us continually about our words (our tongue) and the harm or the good they can do to others... and to ourselves.

They can also form our attitudes ... or be a reflection of the same.

I'm wearing these words to remind me every time I look into the mirror...
Or when my hand strays to touch the necklace at my throat...

...to remind me that I AM well and truly blessed...

and that I AM (to be) thankful and grateful...

Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. ~ Proverbs 6:21-22

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. ~ Proverbs 3:1-4

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ~Deut 11:18

love eggs? ...or, paying attention...

I've been in a bit of a funk the past couple of weeks, and when that happens, I tend to question God... and doubt His love for me. And, I don't pay attention very well either.

This morning when I was eating my breakfast (frittata), I did notice a little something there... (come on... you know what you're looking for!)

And, in case you're like me and not very good at paying attention sometimes,

here's a closer view...

OK. Call me crazy if you want...

but we do have a Father with quite a great sense of humor!

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

~Lamentations 3:21-23

my favorite word...

The other night I was out to dinner with some friends of mine. Eight-year-old B said to me, "Hey, Sharilyn! What's your favorite word?"

I paused for a moment to ponder the question... there are just so many good words out there! I decided upon one, and just as I was about to tell him what it was, he said, "I bet I know what your favorite word is...."

"What do you think it is, B?"

"AMAZING!" and amazingly he was right! That was the word I was going to say!

I said, "Hey! That's what I was going to say!"

He said, "Well, I knew it was."

"How did you know that?" I asked.

"I knew it because you like exploring and finding cool stuff!"

I laughed and told him he was right. He smiled, quite pleased with himself, and I smiled, quite pleased that he would know that about me... from our shared adventures of discovery-- searching out bugs in his yard, closely examining flowers and leaves, discovering hearts of all types, playing on the beach together, and generally being AMAZED at God's truly amazing creation!

I decided a couple of years ago that I wanted to use words that were really worth using-- big words, not necessarily big in size but big in their descriptive powers. Words like --"fantastic" and "wonderful" and "magnificent" rather than just "good" or "cool" or "nice." And "amazing"... because that's what it's truly like to live in this world our Father created for us, and I never want to stop being amazed by it... or by Him!

...just something to think about...
what's YOUR favorite word, and what does it speak about you?

the heart of a tomato...

The other day I was cutting up tomatoes for a batch of salsa. The phone rang, so I laid down the knife and left the kitchen for a couple of minutes. Upon returning, I picked up the knife and was about to finish chopping the tomato, and this is what I saw sitting on the cutting board:

I love it! :) One of those surprise moments of seeing God's love for me in the shape of a random heart in my daily life. They never cease to delight me!

When thinking about a verse that might go with the photo, I automatically thought of Galatians 5 and the fruit of the Spirit. But I decided to do a little digging and see if there was any other reference to fruit and love I could find. This is the one I discovered:

Sow for yourselves righteousness,

reap the fruit of unfailing love,

and break up your unplowed ground;

for it is time to seek the LORD,

until He comes

and showers righteousness on you.

~Hosea 10:12

I love the likening of our pursuit of God to the process of planting -- sowing righteousness, breaking up the fallow ground, reaping love, being rained upon.

It is about preparing our hearts for God, for the harvest He grows within us! It is about seeking Him and receiving the showers He pours upon us... and it is about the harvest He brings about through us when we are obedient to His call to the fields in our hearts and lives!

All this good food for my soul from the heart of a little tomato...

taste and see that the Lord is good!

God is...

Before me,
Even as behind,
God is,
And all is well...
~Whittier

we shall soar on wings like egrets...

...but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles...

Yes, I am aware this is not an eagle. It is, instead, a great white egret. But, for some reason, this photograph keeps bringing to my mind the "soar on wings like eagles" verse. I think it's the beauty and majesty of the flight. Really... look at that great big gangly body, and yet, the bird lifts it gracefully and majestically from the earth and takes to the sky!

One would think it would require great effort (and, not being a big bird, I cannot be sure what effort is required to lift it from the ground!). Yet, the bird is doing what it was created to do. And in the verse above, God tells us that when we do what WE are created to do --to hope in and wait for the Lord -- we will have the strength of a bird in flight. We will have the sustaining power of the Wind (the Holy Spirit) beneath our wings to cause us to soar -- to lift us and carry us at great heights --like an eagle!

For He gives strength to the weary and power to the weak... that we may soar...

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

~Isaiah 40:28-31

(photograph taken at Bolsa Chica wetlands, Bolsa Chica, CA)

love in the parking lot...

Parking lot love.

No, not as in "parking"....

Just a bit of love I found today in the parking lot at the bank. It was pouring down rain (which, by the way, I LOVE!), and I was hurrying into the bank when I spotted this lying on the rain-soaked pavement:


...and me without my camera!! :)

So, when I came back out of the bank, I grabbed my handy cell phone and snapped these wet photos of a wonderful bit of love! (I'm sure the folks in the parking lot were wondering what in the heck the crazy chick was photographing on the pavement in the pouring rain!! but some things just MUST be done!)

Last time, it was aluminum foil... this time a wet towel (or a wet blanket??)...

May we continue to see God's love in our daily lives...
And may we stop and give Him thanks...
even when it's raining...

crickets...

Shhhh. Listen.

Do you hear that sound?

Crickets...

I think that's what you've been hearing at my blog the past few months.... the sounds of silence broken only occasionally by a surprise post here and there.

Well, I'm still trying to work out the discipline of fitting blog-time back into my schedule, and I do appreciate those of you who still pop by to see me! I think I'll get there eventually...

For some reason, the month of January is usually a bit difficult for me. My job is always extremely busy in January, so I feel like I work a lot. And, also, I think it's the let-down after the busy holiday season of spending time with friends and loved ones. The combination usually results in me struggling with being emotional (negatively) and having to work at not being "down."

As you know by now, I love "happening upon" God's little reminders of His amazing love for and thoughts of me. And in January, it's extra special to find them.

Tonight I made a quick stop at Costco (one of my very favorite stores!!) to pick up a couple of photos I had ordered. When I went to get back in my car, I discovered this delightful little message right next to my car door...

...a shimmery silvery message of love...

Thanks, God, for remembering me today...

Thank You, my Father, for reminding me...

...note: the circle around the heart is from my flashlight as I was taking the photo...