We are just so thrilled to have a special guest with us today for Simply Sunday!
Laurie from Heaven’s Walk has a beautiful home, a beautiful blog and a beautiful heart.
Let’s welcome her today as she shares it with all of us here at the Fence!
Laurie from Heaven’s Walk has a beautiful home, a beautiful blog and a beautiful heart.
Let’s welcome her today as she shares it with all of us here at the Fence!
“Aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands.”
1 Thes.4:11
1 Thes.4:11
Through the blessing of blogging, this passage has come to mean more to me than ever before. Meeting new friends, witnessing incredible creativity, and sharing encouraging words– have all inspired me to take a closer look at what God is calling me to do. I have learned that living a quiet life, tending to daily tasks in and around my home, and creating things with my hands that glorify the Lord, are all treasures I hold close in my heart. I never would have reached that happy realization without you ~ my blog friends.
So, when Heather and Vanessa asked me to guest post here At The Picket Fence today, I was more than thrilled. It is just one more way to “work with my hands” and share my testimony. I pray that you will be as blessed with this post as I am with your gift of friendship.
“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?
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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.
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“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.
“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
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
In a room
in my heart…
{humble hugs}
 Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful truth with us today Laurie.
You have blessed us as we know you have blessed so many others!
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Beautiful post and such a blessing. Hugs, Marty
What a beautifully written, heart felt post, Laurie. You are so special. Thanks to Heather and Vanessa for sharing. xo,
WOW! I am speechless. What a lovely hearfelt post. Thanks for bringing me down to earth today!
As I read Laurie’s words, I could not help but remember what someone shared one time too “our heart, a chapel for HIM”, hope you all have a wonderful day spent worshipping our Lord & Saviour.
Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us today, Laurie. As I was reading your words I felt like you were talking directly to my heart. And then near the middle of your post you quoted Psalm 16:11…which I had just read this morning. I couldn’t help but feel encouraged and cry a few tears of joy. God is so good and I am continually amazed at how He reminds me of His love and truths through the simple things in life. God Bless! Carrie
Laurie is such a beautiful woman inside and out. She has an amazing presence and soul that makes you feel at home, comforted, like you have known her for years. I truly believe that that is the work of the Lord through her. She spreads love and friendship wherever she is.
Thank you so much for having her here today.
xoxo
I have loved Laurie since I discovered her when I first started blogging. She is a dear, sweet soul and I have a feeling that one day she and I (and Debbie) are going to meet up somewhere, somehow!
I love how much she loves the Lord and I can just hear that shining through every word she wrote. I have to go back now and note the book she just read. xo Diana
Laurie is new to me. Thanks for the introduction and for sharing such a beautiful reminder. 🙂
Love this post from Laurie! I want to be able to write posts like hers…inspired by scripture and life and lead by God’s love.
Thanks Vanessa, for your comment on my driftwood mirror post. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by. –Michelle Paige
Great post from a great lady! 🙂
I just discovered your lovely blog. I look forward to popping by again for some more inspiration! I’m just new into blogging this year & have put together a daily blog on design, fashion, food, travel and anything pretty.
https://scrapbook-melissah.blogspot.com/ and one on everything coastal
https://coastal-style.blogspot.com/
I had a lot of fun putting them together maybe you would like to check it out if you have a spare minute.
x
Melissah
How lovely, I needed to find you tonight. Just lovely.
Kathy
Hi Vanessa,
Thanks for visiting my blog and becoming a follower. I love your blog and that beautiful post.I am now your newest follower:)
Have a blessed rest of the week.
~ Marie
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