Hope

In my yard there blooms a flower

Making beautiful it's space

The sun shines down upon its petals 

It's speaks to me of grace

The clouds roll through to intimidate 

They bring dark shadows on glory

Yet standing helpless in that shade

Courage speaks a deeper story

Then comes the wind in power 

It threatens to destroy

That flower holds on tightly

Reveals to me its core 

The floods they come in torrents 

It's washing all the pain

The flower closes petals

Its roots drink up the rain

The flower opens up once more 

To radiate the sun

To speak to all who will notice

That joy is sure to come.

"Weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning" 

Tam 

In My Journal...

Love God. Live Free.

Be You, Bravely.

Shine Like a Star.

Don't let the World Tell You Who You Are.

Dust off Your Dreams & Give Them Worth.

Ask God Questions.

-Erica 

Personality Types

What is your personality type? I recently discovered I am an INFJ. What does that mean you may wonder? It means Introvert, Intuitive, Feeling and Judging personality type.  There are 16 different combinations of personalities. 

• Introversion (I) or Extraversion (E)
• Intuition (N) or Sensing (S)
• Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
• Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

Go here to take a free personality test and to read about the different personalities. I took this personality test and also I took the Keirsey Temperament Sorter test, found here. After I was done and I read the descriptions of my personality it was amazing. I felt like someone had read my journal. Never before had the way I thought and the way my brain worked been explained so accurately. It was weird! Come to find out I have the rarest personality, less than 1% of the population is an INFJ. Since discovering my personality type I have found more confidence and assurance in myself.  I've realized I was created in a specific way and the way I think and who I am is not an accident but planned by God for a purpose. It brought me peace and a grounding that the way I think and go about living life is not an accident. I highly recommend figuring out your personality type so you can know more about yourself, which in turn will allow you to live your life to the fullest, moving toward things that will enhance and compliment your life. Knowing our personality types helps us to not waste time doing things that are contrary to how we were made. 

- Erica 

Passions

'Lithia Creek' by Erica Gwaltney

Why does is seem that our passions are opposed?  

Why are the activities that bring us life and fulfillment so hard to engage in and actually do on a consistent basis? 

I think the underlying issues are more than just disciplining ourselves and time management. That is valid too. We have to make time to engage in our passions and we have to log time to get good at the things that bring us life. 

But, I think our passions are key to us. What I enjoy and what brings me good pleasure are rooted in God's design for me, rooted into my identity. These activities bring me into the presence of God.  God put in me an invitation to meet with Him by putting in me desires and things I love to do.  The same goes for you. Our passions, likes, and dreams usher us into the presence of God.

What if God created me with the passions of nature photography, hiking, decorating, reading and adventuring for the purpose of calling me to meet with Him? When I am taking pictures in nature I get the feeling that it has kingdom value. 

We can expect God to show up in these areas. Our passions are to be pursued and nurtured because they are the areas where we can find God within us.  That is why they are so opposed. 

'Signs of Spring' by Erica Gwaltney

Continue to believe in the dreams that God has given you.

Press forward in your passions believing that God put those in your DNA and He wants you to do those things because He wants to meet with you there.

The reason I am talking about this topic is because this has been something I have wrestled through the last few weeks. In my life right now I have some time on my hands. I have hours in my day that aren't spoken for and I was struggling with feeling bored. I was feeling guilty with how useless I was perceiving myself to be. I am wandering through my house searching for meaning and something to do. My prayer was to God to show me what I should do with my time. He did! 

He showed me to use this time to pursue my passions and put time in on those creative loves of mine. He changed my perspective to view my "hobbies" not as frivolous, but as my craft, my job. These passions are who I am on a true level and worth my time and attention. 

Be more true to who God created you to be. Be aware of what brings you life and then go there and meet with God. 

This post could bring up the question, "What if I don't know what my passions are?"  I will address this in a future blog post.

- Erica 

Beauty and Rain

The rain! It seems to have been raining nonstop for the entire winter. It's as if the clouds have been storing up the past two years of precipitation to be able to dump on us incessantly this winter. Don't get me wrong in the beginning, it seemed like a good idea and I embraced the rain knowing that it meant snow in the mountains. The snow meant ski trips with the family. Initially I rejoiced in the rain. However, as the months wear on I am ready for the rain to end before I drown. 

The old saying comes to mind like a flood and fills me with hope. "April showers bring May flowers". The showers are ushering in something beautiful. Even as I lift my gaze through the rain splattered windows of my home, I see new life just moments away from erupting. Flowers are preparing to open up all around me. Buds that have been developing under the surface, are awaiting warmth and sun to finally come forth. Dormant grass is about to turn a brilliant green. 

What is it about this picture that brings me such hope? Is it simply the reality that summer time is upon us? That the days ahead are full of breathing in warm air, playing in the lakes, running in the sun, picnics outside, paddle boarding, BBQ's and Bon fires? It's a much deeper hope. 

We hope for beauty. We hope for more of Gods Glory. We hope that after enduring the not so pleasant, we will see the beauty of The Lord reign and radiate into our lives in new life altering ways. The great truth is that we will and He does! We push through the difficult days to find a God shaped reality on the other side. 

Sometimes I think we need to remember this when the days seem to hold no hope for tomorrow. When we want to give up or not take that step of faith into something that scares us. Remember what is waiting for us on the other side and how beautiful it is. Maybe if we will remember in every season of life the resurrection that's coming,  we won't shrink back in fear but step out in hope and faith that now is the time to prepare in the rain what beauty we desire to see after it ceases. 

Go to sleep

I sit writing this blog while rocking my granddaughter in my arms and stillness all around me. My heart is full and bursting at the seems with love and joy. I wonder for a moment why I feel so happy.....

This week I was met with some pretty difficult realities. I was reminded how fallen this world is, how fallen I am, how far from heaven I really am. Life is full of pain and heartache. Death sits on our doorstep and haunts while life seems an illusion we can never grab ahold of. 

So why at the end of it all can I sit and be astounded by the peace and love and joy that fills me to overflowing? I look down at the baby in my arms and clarity comes. 

The Lord has put me to sleep. He has caused me to rest. Just like my grand-baby who has complete trust in being held close by one who loves her, I am held close to my savior who loves me. His love for me is perfect and I can completely trust him. 

That truth seems simple enough for a child but as an adult it has been hard for me to grab ahold of. It's easy to trust when things are going my way. What about when it's not? When the wheels are coming off the track I'm driving on? When I'm sinking and can't catch my breath. 

Let me encourage you. We are meant to rest. I'm not saying lay around and be lazy, but rest. Go to sleep because God has it under control. Let the burden fall on His shoulders as He carries you to heights you've never experienced before. Then you will live in a broken world, full of life and shine the light of God into the brokenness

. 

Hope Like Stars

Hope is like a 

sky full of 

stars...whether

we see them or

not doesn't

change the fact

that they are

always there.

Truly, it is not

until the night is

at its very

darkest...that

we see them

shine the most

clearly.