PURA VIDA

"The sounds of the earth are like music. Oh what a beautiful morning. Oh what a beautiful day. Everything is going my way." I sing the end, "Everything is going to be okay."

Just got back from Costa Rica and the lush green rain forest. Oh the earth from plants, species, birds are all singing and making music.

How tremendous of a blessing it was to view God's creation.

CURIOUSLY, FLOURISHING, LOOKING UP

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your names is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints" (Psalm 52:8,9).
I love when I pick up a devotional and flip through the pages and a verse catches my eye.
It starts with reading, leads to a word that sticks out...the word makes me curious then I look it up, which leads to me making a list or asking myself more questions. I look at commentaries and blogs. I'm curious! What does it mean for me? Jesus, I pray, I need you today. Lead me! I get lost. Lost in the truth of what really matters. I need the deep connection. I am flourishing! He is nurturing my soul. My soul is quiet. It is well. It happens, again and again. I delight in the visit. I don't want to leave, but the world calls and I must go DO instead of just being. Being with the Jesus, my creator.

Flourish: to break forth, to bloom.
How interesting. Every Tuesday recently I've gone to the Arboretum to work in the Tallgrass Prairie.
In early in April, the prairie was flat and dead, but it is growing exponentially each week due to the increase in rain. Am I blooming along with the flowers? Maybe. I know for sure that I need to trust the Lord and His unfailing love forever. I like that David reminds me FOREVER. Not just when I feel like it. Do you need an answer from God about what's up! What's going on? I do to! But no answer is coming.

I stumble upon this random verse and it answers the question "What do I do?"

TRUST
PRAISE (For me that includes worship and reflection on Jesus).
REVIEW (Have I seen God's provision before? Remember, Reflect, Relish those moments.)
THANKFUL (After that review, I can't help but be thankful.)

Look up!
Look up!
Don't look down on earth! Not many answers come from there. Look up!

Honestly, it is so magnificent to be sitting at the computer right now writing.

Your closets may be clean, your spices in alphabetical order, but how's the space between your ears? When the pace of life leaves little time to process and organize our thoughts, our minds can become cluttered with "woulda, shoulda, coulda". When the temptation to put ourselves down or compare ourselves to others strikes, defeat and condemnation can lure us into faulty thinking.

"If the counter ain't clear, then I can't think straight"! That is the saying I created in my home. Seriously, for some reason I have it in my head that the day really stops if that counter ain't clear.
I must send you a pic! Really it makes sense, let me explain. If we are ready to set down our computer and make a workspace, the desk can't be full. If it is then you just cannot think straight. Our mind is the same. If we have the daily schedule, alerts, calendar, bills, others schedules, conversations with others not completed, electronic check-ins, concern for others and finally world news. Add, emotional, imagination, impulsive, false thoughts too all of the prior thoughts. Your counter/desk is full. You are probably struggling to get things done. Focusing is hard. 

The bibles refers to the word "mind" fourty eight times!
The bible says this

WALK IN THE PARK

I am thinking of the times I have rode my bike or walked in the park.
Especially when I come upon a deer.
It's absolutely refreshing.

Restoring, reassuring, a bit of fresh air.

The breath of fresh air that God puts in your lungs is life.