Welsh Wanderings...

Down in the valleys

Where thorns grow thick

If you fall over 

You're bound to get a prick.

The green rolling hills

Where the streams flow free

Glistening in the sun

Beauty for all to see.

Pebbled rivers move

Across shallow ways

Water crystal clear

Differing everyday.

They grey clouds above

From where the rain falls

Soaked through to the skin

But at home the fire roars.

Back to the cottage

Hot chocolate in hand

Watching flames flicker

Simplicity is grand.

Let it go...

There come times in life where you are left wandering. Wandering about, what to do next, where to go, what to do. 

The hardest part comes when you are told not to worry about it. Not to even think about it. To let it go.

When everything you hear, read or come across, tells you to give it up. 

This may all sound rather negative and depressing, but on the contrary, it can be the most exhilarating thing. Knowing that you don't have to do anything about it, not having to think about it nor reason with it… a whole weight off of your shoulders.

However, how do you do that? 

It's not that you just give up caring or become totally oblivious to the situation, but, you hand it over. Once you hand it over, it is not a waiting game, but a time to rest in contentment because of the awe you are overwhelmed by. What I mean by that is, you are so thankful for the mercy and grace shown to you, that you are at peace by handing it over and want to acknowledge the greatness of that act. 

Many are the plans in a human's heart, bit it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. - Proverbs 19:21

Teaching in the brokeness.

In my sickness

I forgot my healer

But you called me child

And healed me because of grace

and because of your love

In my sickness

I distracted myself with the world

Pretending I was okay

The doctors knew all

But you shone through

You came 

And you spoke

You comforted

And said everything was okay

To lean on you in faith

Your words revealed

your grace and promises

Truth and knowledge

A greater respect

One to never forget

In the sickness

You made it beautiful

For nothing is greater than you

My friend

My Father in heaven

You met me on Earth

But bought heaven

Nothing can outdo your love for me

Forever your kingdom reign

Thank you Lord

Jesus or Religion, it's not the same thing.

What I really believe…

Emotion unknown

There comes many times in my life when I find myself with unexplained emotion. Whether that may be  frustration, sadness, pure joy or true thankfulness.

It was only this morning when I found myself welling up for unknown reasons. It could have been for one of the emotions above or because of the many. It may have even been for something not explained by emotion.

When one hears a good piece of music, unexplained things may occur in the human mind. Hans Christian Andersen once said "Where words fail, music speaks". You can connect deeply with a piece of music and that piece of music may seem to explain exactly what you mean.

Although it was during a time of music this morning that I welled up, it was not because of the music. In a similar way that music may move some, it is the presence of God that moves mountains; and I believe that it was that presence that moved me this morning.

For unknown reasons, God wanted to meet me this morning. My only guess is, that he loves me more dearly than I could ever imagine, that he wanted to be with me more presently than I could have expected. God is always with me and I with him, however on occasion he needs to remind me he is there.

The frustration, the sadness, the confusion all disappeared at this moment, for love as pure as he is, casts out every fear I could have; because perfect love casts out all fear. I am thankful for that moment among many in my life, because I am blessed to know God and feel even more blessed that he knows me better than I know myself.

Thank you Lord.

Thankfulness.

Although I have much on my plate at the moment, today I have been reminded of how blessed I truly am and how thankful that makes me. And in being truly thankful- I have realised the pure joy that there is in thankfulness.

Looking back over my blog, I have realised that I have not told my blog readers a life changing thing that happened to me this year. I got married!

            This in itself brings may things to be thankful for. Firstly I am thankful for my amazing husband. He cares for me in everyday possible, he puts up with my funny ways, he helps me make the simple decisions and tells me when I'm being silly. He washes up, he irons, he cleans. He helps me discover God's call on my life and we walk together for the calling that we share. He loves me limitlessly. 

This then leads me to be thankful for my new family, my in-laws. Although there are a lot of them, they have all taken the time to welcome me into each of their hearts and have given me time, love and friendship.

Then I look to the family that I have always had, nuclear and extended. Although I have 'flown the nest' they are never far from my heart and thoughts. They have taught me how to live, forgiven my mishaps, taught me to love God and have endlessly loved my even before I was born.

My friends have always been close to my heart. Those that have been there fore me 21 years and those that have been there only a few. The way they have welcomed me as close as my own family, they have loved and helped me and have allowed me to do the same in return. 

I am thankful so many things. The trips in the woods. The joys of meals together. The crazy happenings of Uni life and the many lessons that I have learnt in-between. 

Most of all, I am thankful to God. He has provided more than I shall ever need. He has given comfort when I was afraid. He has shared in my joys- if not given them. He has made most of my dreams come true already. He allows me to keep dreaming, helping me along the way. He has given me courage to do things I never would have before. He has taught me how to love like never before. He has allowed me to love him. 

For all this, I am truly thankful. 

God bless you all. x 

Winter Wonder

As one of my passions is art, I thought it would only be fair to share some of my work with you. This is a 3 part oil on canvas piece called "winter wonder The pieces are only A5 size each and should stand next to each other. So as they are in order from top to bottom, so they should be from left to right.