Experience: The Act of Directly Perceiving Reality {Intuition Diaries}

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

(Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)

Our anchor still holds.

Experience tells us that we can trust certain things to be true. After the sunset at Sylvan Beach, we decided to stay anchored to the sandy bottom of the lake, while the other boats, one by one left for their home ports. We heard thunder and saw the lightening in the distant sky, yet we decided to weather the storm while anchored out. 

I went to bed uneasy about the anchor. Would it keep us in our spot? Even though experience has proven over and over that being moored to an anchor is safe. (We also have an anchor alarm, if we do start to drift.) But neither experience nor the alarm kept me from waking in the middle of the night wondering if we had drifted out to the middle of the lake or inched toward the shore.

The storm passed us by, leaving a gentle rain pattering on our boat off and on all night. In the morning, we woke up in the spot, which we anchored at the night before. Experience proved true. 

I would think by know I would trust the anchor, but each time I have to experience its security before I praise its abilities.

Not unlike my trust relationship with God. I know He is good, faithful, loving, just and holy—but I have to experience His goodness, faithfulness, love, etc to affirm my faith over and over again. And each time that I trust and acknowledge Him, my faith deepens and His character remains trustworthy.

Experience secures my heart to the LORD, whom I trust.

Confidence: A Relation of Trust or Intimacy {Where I Reveal My Dream Come True}

 

But know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself;

the LORD hears when I call to him.

(Psalm 4:3 NRSV)

When I was a teenager, during a youth retreat we were encouraged to choose a name that would describe who we wanted to become. I chose the word, "confidence." I drew a key and wrote the word across it. Probably the first time I ever used a concordance to look up Scriptures. Under the listing, I remember reading: "The LORD is my confidence." (Proverbs 3:26a)

At that retreat was one of the first times I asked God for something for myself. I wanted Him to be my confidence, but also to make me more confident.

For many years I have been growing into that name. As I  was getting ready for a new venture today, God reminded me of that act of faith so many years ago. Back in May, through a series of God events, I took a step towards fulfilling a dream. This dream came to life today! I am calling this dream:

 

 

 

(Logo design created by Jessie Flori)

Souldare will be a place where people gather together to discover their created self through journaling, collage art and eventually, nature hikes accompanied by times of contemplative prayer.

What does this post have to do with my recent series on prayer? God hears when we call to him. And sometimes, the answer is revealed in stages, over the years. And sometimes, He uses that very request to increase our faith and confidence.

When I look at the word confidence, I think "with faith" or "with fidelity," which when applied to my life humbles me. To think that God would call me one of his faithful ones exalts his faithfulness. It indicates a depth of intimacy with God that has grown sweeter over the years.

What a joy it was today to witness others exploring and discovering their created selves through collage art and journaling. God was in our midst. I can't wait until next week to see how God reveals himself to us again.

 

A poem I read before I left to facilitate the workshop became another prayer for confidence:

Where fear imprisons, faith liberates;
Where fear paralyzes, faith empowers;
Where fear disheartens, faith encourages;
Where fear sickens, faith heals;
Where fear makes useless, faith makes beautiful;
Where fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life,
faith opens the windows on a new world,
a new life that knows no end.
(Father Philip Chester, as qtd by Jonathan Aitken in Prayers for People Under Pressure)

 

How is faith enabling you to overcome fears?What long forgotten request

is God answering today?

 

Faith: Firm Belief; Complete Trust

 

 Now faith means putting our full confidence in the things we hope for, it means being certain of things we cannot see. It was this kind of faith that won their reputation for the saints of old. And it is after all only by faith that our minds accept as fact that the whole scheme of time and space was created by God’s command—that the world which we can see has come into being through principles which are invisible.

(Hebrews 11:1-3 J.B. Phillips)

 

 

 

 

 

Finding

Affirmation of the

Invisible by

Trusting Jesus

Hourly.

 

Prayer for a Winter Day

 

 

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.

(Psalm 42:1-2 ESV)

 

 

Lord of life and love, help us to worship thee in the holiness of beauty, that some beauty of holiness appear in us. Quiet our souls in thy presence with the stillness of a wise trust. Lift us above dark moods, and the shadow of sin, that we may find thy will for our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From the Book of Worship)

Light: Something that Makes Vision Possible

 

Blessed are those who

have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light

of your presence, O Lord.

Psalm 89:15 NIV

I like Mondays. On Mondays, I observe a day of rest. I call it my extra Sabbath. On Sundays, my husband and I serve and worship at our church. And I often take a nap in the afternoon.

But resting on Mondays is different. I don't schedule any outside appointments. I don't have to rush anywhere. I can linger with my coffee. I let go of agendas and I do my best to listen. There is no hurry to leave the presence of God. I read, journal, listen and pray to my heart's content.
 
This particular Monday, I am enjoying time on our porch swing on a warm, balmy winter day. The sun is shining, the birds are calling each other with warbles and whistles and chirps and trills.
 
Sometimes, I go back and read over my journal to gain insight. To see what light has been poured out through my pen. I notice what God and I have been dialoguing over the past several weeks. Since I had the leisure to do so today, I thumbed through my journal, highlighting the glimpses of a theme or a direction. Path, desire and want were common words. Also hope, blessing and love. Here are some quotes and musings that resonated with me today. I hope they are a sweet balm of warmth on this wintry Monday.

"As wonderful as it is to have Jesus' blessings,

it is even more wonderful to have Jesus."

(Roy Lessin)

 

 

 

"O LORD, the house of my soul is narrow; enlarge it that Thou mayest enter in. It is ruinous, O repair it! It displeases Thy sight; I confess it, I know. But who shall  cleanse it, or to whom shall I cry but unto Thee? Cleanse me from my secret faults, O LORD,

spare Thy servant from strange sins."

(St. Augustine)

 

 

"To have someone to absorb us, who wants to understand the shape and structure of our lives, who will listen for more than our words,

is one of friendship's greatest gifts."

(Paul D. Robbins)

 

 

Below is a written prayer that I copied down today, and my response to that prayer:

 

"Almighty God, whose word is authority and power and whose way is love, grant us today clear minds, understanding hearts, and willing spirits so that we may wisely appropriate Your word of truth. Amen."

 

 

My response:

 

"Let us not try to change each other, but rather trust each other. Trust ourselves. Accept that each other's personalities, skills, gifts and life experiences inform the whole of who we are and how we interact with one another. Let us love one another."


Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. 
(1 John 5:21 NLT)

 

 

 

 

Stay:To Remain With

Stay the course. Don’t get off track; keep your eyes on Me the author and finisher of your faith.

Don’t let setbacks discourage you. Start what you finished. Stay with me, baby, we’ll go far.

Won’t you stay…just a little bit longer…say you will

It’s hard to rest, to remain, to abide, to be still…I wonder…I wander…I want to move.

I find staying in one place difficult…but it is good for me, I know.

Slow down, pace yourself, you are trying way too hard…you have a choice

You can stay or go…but I’d rather you stay…simply be…enjoy this…trust…rest…be…

Please stay with Me….just a little bit longer…say you will

 

. . . weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5b NIV

 

 

Linking up with:

 

Trust: Assured Reliance on the Character, Ability, Strength, or Truth of

Intuition Diaries

This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

 Hebrews 6:19 NLT

 

 

A pattern is emerging this last week of the trip, a modified routine. We travel to the next port, then stay a day, travel and stay, travel and stay. We plan to head home by the end of the week.

 After a day and a half at Frankfort, we set out to Luddington State Park about 48 miles south to climb 130 steps to the top of Michigan’s tallest lighthouse, the Big Sable Point Light. The waves were fairly tame that morning, but we still took it slow to conserve gas. We planned to spend the night at a marina in Luddington, where we could see the Badger again. A 1950s era, steam engine car ferry, which we encountered entering the harbor of Manitowoc, WI.

S. S. Badger

The wind picked up, creating bigger waves, which kept us at our slow pace. The hazy sky made the sightseeing bland, not as crisp as the previous days. But even with these conditions we were able to admire the dunes marking the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

After lunch, we were closing in on our destination. I had a bit of a headache, and was beginning to wonder if it was such a good idea to anchor offshore in 1-2 feet waves, while we wandered up to the lighthouse.

Les thought it was doable. I was hesitant. I was in unknown territory. Was it okay to anchor offshore from a state park? Would we get in trouble? (Irrational fears, I know.) But my biggest question centered on a trust issue? Would the anchor hold?

We dropped the anchor in three feet of turbulent water. The boat was rocking erratically and I was panicking. The boat was doing its job. The waves were being waves, but I just didn’t believe that the anchor would hold the boat in one spot. Les reassured me that it would be fine. So I reluctantly climbed off the boat into the lake and waded to shore, while our dear boat was tossing in the waves.

 

I revoiced my concern about whether the anchor would really hold. Les nonchalantly remarked, “It held the last sixty times we used it, why would it not hold this time?”

 

I mumbled, “I dunno.” We continued our walk up the beach to the lighthouse.

We climbed up the 130 steps, enjoyed spectacular views, saw our boat rolling gently on the waves from high above the lake . After viewing the vast landscape, we climbed back down the 130 steps, and headed back along the shore to the boat, which was right where we left it.

 

 

 

Our anchor held!

Rest: Peace of Mind or Spirit

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:

"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it."

Isaiah 30:15 NIV

 

North Point Marina

The Intuition Diaries

The first day of our trip a small craft advisory kept us at rest. We weren’t able to leave the marina as the waves were too high for safe travel. The next day we embarked on the first day of boating, we were well rested after a day of eating, napping and exploring the North Point Marina grounds. On our day of rest, we celebrated Les’ birthday. I made Les dinner and I told him that I had a surprise…I was going to take him on a trip around Lake Michigan. He laughed.

For his birthday dessert, I made brownie waffles with strawberries on top.

We left the marina early Monday morning to cruise the 67 miles to our next port. While we puttered along the Wisconsin coast of the lake, I was thinking.

 I often ask Les what he is thinking and he will reply, “Nothing.”

I find this difficult to believe because my mind never seems to rest. I noticed while I was busy thinking that I either recall the past or project into the future. One minute I am thinking about all the fun times we had on previous vacations, and then the next thing I know,  I am wondering what’s for lunch or where will be headed the next day.

I asked Les about his ability to think about nothing. He admitted that he enjoys the present. He explores the scenery around him. He pays attention to the charts and the direction the boat is headed. He lives in the moment. I admire him. I can do this occasionally, but it truly takes discipline for me to rest and remain in the moment.

The trip today started out calm, and about halfway through our trip the waves started getting choppy. This caused the boat to bounce, which caused me to get a bit uneasy and queasy. I tried everything to enjoy the moment, including taking a nap.

 After my nap, Les asked if I wanted to drive and I declined. About an hour away from our destination, I decided I did want to drive and Les gave the helm over to me.

I was amazed at how I went from restlessness to restful once I had something to concentrate on. Rest takes many forms. It can be sleep, which actually renews our bodies. It may be just letting your mind enjoy the scenery around you. For me I need something to help me rest, so I rested my mind on the task at hand.

Once we got to Port Washington, Wisconsin, I was feeling relaxed. I was at rest, free from anxiety. We continued our rest by wandering around the town, eating a late lunch at Beanies (best fajitas ever!). We ended our day by riding our bikes on a local trail and eating ice cream for dinner.



 

 

Turning Point: A Point at Which a Significant Change Occurs

Monday Musings

This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.

(Isaiah 48:17)

Significant change can occur instantly or over time. I have been travelling to this particular turning point over the past twenty-four years. I remember the day the journey started, July 29, 1988, the day Kurtis John Rohlf arrived into our lives. Our first baby, and a couple years later another boy joined us, Bradley Keith Rohlf. Each arrival changed our lives, bringing joy and heartache and fears and hopes. Today they are young men, sharing an apartment and seeking their destinies.

Their departure finds hubby and me alone, with time and space and new challenges and dreams awaiting us. Last year, I completed my Bachelor of Arts in English. My turning point has arrived. I am moving towards a new season of pursuing a road I left behind when I chose to have a family. The road up to this point has prepared me for the next part of the journey.

Trust has been the foundation of this journey. Trust in a Savior, called Jesus-Emmanuel-God-with-us, the one who never leaves or forsakes me. My constant companion at each turn, this God-Man communicates unfailing love to me daily. And not only to me, but He loves every person in this whole wide world.

I got a glimpse of Jesus loving my nephew, Peter, recently. We were at our local water park. One of the highlights of the park is the lazy river, so our first visit there this summer, we gathered my nieces and nephews and a few tubes to float away our cares. The three younger ones each fell off their tubes, and Peter refused to return to the lazy river the rest of the summer. Peter is almost seven. He has a twin brother, an older sister (11) and a younger sister (5). They moved to our neighborhood recently, bringing much joy to us.

Just before school started, we decided to have another family outing at the water park. Everyone else wanted to go in the lazy river. Peter was reluctant to go. While the others lazed around the river, I decided to coax him one last time to try it again. They have double tubes, so I reassured him that I would go with him. He finally agreed, when I said he could bring his goggles. Just before we stepped down the step and into the tube, Peter stopped in his tracks. He placed his hands together and stated simply: “I’m going to pray.” He asked God to not let him fall out of his tube. I smiled and hoisted him on the tube. His anxiety returned, and he took a breath counting to ten out loud. I settled into the tube next to him, and pushed us off into the lazy river. Peter took another breath counting to ten again. (I was pleased that he was counting because I taught him this technique that I learned from a friend. She told me that counting to ten is not just a technique to calm down, but the task actually engages our rational side of the brain, thus overriding our emotional responses. Try it, and see how it works.)

We were on the lazy river, Peter resting calmly on his side of the tube with his arms propped behind his head; classic relaxed pose. It was a mere few minutes after his prayer and counting exercise that he remarked “I trust God with my whole life.” What joy! This confession birthed out of his rational mind brought me renewed hope. It is a rational choice to trust God! And the emotions follow—peace, hope and joy!

I will mark that afternoon as a turning point for Peter and me the rest of my whole life! By the way, Peter didn’t fall into the lazy river that day. He actually got the courage to hold on to the sides of the tube and dunk his goggled face under the water. J