I hate this place where I am right now.

 

Learning to drink from God's fountain when things don't go as planned.

 

I have a secret.

Secrets are hard to carry around.  Some of you know my secret… but really I don’t want anyone to know.  It’s humbling.  Embarrassing. And I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

I’m a blogger who blogs about creating a beautiful home and doesn’t live in her own home.

No… I’m not renting.  I’m living with another family.  Another family who loves me like family.

It’s what happens when a job is lost and there’s no unemployment and work doesn’t come no matter how many times you apply or where you apply. Smart, successful, educated people can end up homeless.

My too much stuff sits in storage units in another state.

Yes… my husband did get a job… working for a great dealership selling cars.  Commission sales.  Almost half his income has gone to repair our car…. so he could make the drive to work.

We’ve got a big mountain ahead… to save enough to get our own place, get our stuff out of storage, and all the costs involved in starting again.

I’m weary.  Constantly I am praying and asking God to hurry and get me to my next spot.

And then I read something today that was like a slap in the face.

My discontent has prevented me from seeing that this place is the most wonderful place I could be.

 

Go to God's mountain spring for refreshment when things don't go as planned.

 

You see… it’s here that I have to rely fully on God.

It’s here that I need to drink from his endless fountain.

It’s here I’m challenged and grown.

It’s here my thirst is quenched.

 

God's fountain is a wellspring of life, especially when life doesn't go as planned.

 

I NEED God.  I NEED everything he has to offer.  He IS the source of all life to me.

I’ve missed understanding that.

You see… if all my ducks were in a row…

If I was sitting in my own pretty house with everything the way I wanted it….

If my life was going the way I planned…

I wouldn’t need to constantly be at God’s fountain.  I would be running my own water.

And if I were… I would be getting less than second best.

 

God's mountain spring lasts forever.

 

What God has for me is so amazing, so wonderful, so sustaining… nothing can compare.

Why in the world would I not realize that this “place I don’t want to be” is the place where most would love to be… only they don’t know it… and I haven’t appreciated it.

You see… the “stuff” of life is just that… stuff.

Where we live… what we wear… even having a home or clothes or not… it’s stuff.

God does not want us to focus on that.  He wants us to focus on him and the life he has for us.  He wants us to fill ourselves up with HIM.

John Piper wrote… “God is a mountain spring, not a watering trough. A mountain spring is self-replenishing. It constantly overflows and supplies others. But a watering trough needs to be filled with a pump or bucket brigade.

If you want to glorify the worth of a watering trough you work hard to keep it full and useful. But if you want to glorify the worth of a spring you do it by getting down on your hands and knees and drinking to your heart’s satisfaction, until you have the refreshment and strength to go back down in the valley and tell people what you’ve found.”

God has placed me at the mountain spring.  I need to drink and drink and drink from it.

And when I have been refreshed… in his timing… I’ll be in that next place.

And in that next place I won’t be stuck on the stuff (I hope), instead I’ll be stuck on him and will be able to live in such a way that I can show others the way to the mountain spring as well.

Have you found the mountain spring?

 

Scripture - John 4:14 reminds of God's fountain - Whoever drinks the water... will never be thirsty.

 

“Whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty.
The water that I will give him will become in him a well of life that lasts forever.”
Jesus
from John 4:14 NLV

 

Are you drinking in all that God has to offer you?

Don’t be like me… sitting next to the spring but wishing you were somewhere else.

Instead… refresh yourself at God’s mountain spring.

Drink deep.

And then don’t forget to let others know about how your thirst was quenched.

 

God's fountain provides refreshment when things don't go as planned.

 

 

It’s JoyDay!

 

JoyDay! Join us as we count the good and the not-so-good and give thanks!

 

I’m so glad you’re here to join me for JoyDay!  There isn’t anything better than each of us sharing the good things God has done in our lives this week.  Both in the happy and in the challenges.

Will you join with me in counting ‘seven’ from the past week?

I’ll start!

Thank you God for…

  1. rain and the moments in between to walk in your refreshed world.
  2. a picture perfect day and that moment of exquisite light on the lake.
  3. hummingbirds and their frenzy at the feeder.
  4. being my source… all I am and have comes from You.
  5. my limping along laptop with letters flying randomly around the screen as I type.
  6. sitting in the bookstore and soaking in the inspiration.
  7. a new week ahead and all the promise it holds as we keep our eyes fixed on You.

Now it’s your turn!  

Please join me by tapping in your ‘seven’ in the ‘share your extraordinary thoughts’ section below. I dare you!

Thank you for stopping by and taking time to leave your sweet thoughts.

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Comments

  1. Sandi says

    I’m reading your blog and glad to see what you wrote. When something bad happens I give myself a little pity party and then get back up and decide to find the good. God has always taken care of me even if it wasn’t in the way I expected. I wish good things for you. My first thought each day is I still woke up that morning and can get out of bed on my own 2 feet. The day starts from there. Hugs,

    • Thank you Sandi. 🙂 Yes… God does take amazing care of us… sometimes we just need to look up in order to see it. I have found Romans 8:28 to be so very true on this long journey and look forward to when I’ll look back and see the good God beautifully pieced together in this patchwork of my life.
      All the best for a joy-filled start to your week! [hugs]

  2. BETTY Brown says

    Diane,I am so moved by your blog today and you being so transparent.So many times I have read your blog and fantasized about your life being perfect as I read about your walks in nature and the ideas for pretty table settings.I sat and felt I was missing something in my life cause it didn’t sound like yours.I can see yours is like mine,full of things that make us run harder after God and keep running even when it seems we are never gonna measure up.I have such respect and confidence in you and may God give abundance in your life.MY joy list is 6 grands and 1great grand.lol

    • Thanks for your kindness and words of blessing. 🙂 Isn’t it funny, Betty, how we see the good and automatically think all is good? Reminds me of the old adage, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” Little do we know what anyone is living on the other side of the fence. 😉
      As challenging as things have been… my husband always says that life has been unfair IN our favor. We do have abundant blessings if only we choose to see them. Always…God’s love is lavish and constant. I’m reminded of this verse from Psalm 61 which talks about the safety that God provides for us in times of trouble: Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my prayer. I call to You from the end of the earth when my heart is weak. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a safe place for me, a tower of strength where I am safe… You are a woman of incredible value and worth… and may you know you never have to measure up to anyone, because God delights in you, Betty, his precious daughter.
      Rejoicing with you in your 7 beautiful JOYS!!

  3. Pamela says

    great post and thanks for the updates. I have been to this place, under different circumstances, but same destination of realizing how special it is to find Jesus is all we need. talk about being consumed with stuff, with our son moving on his own and our home for sale and having no idea where we will be next I can easily be distracted by stuff my 5…1.mom was moved to rehab followin g second surgery and improving 2. Son was released from hospital and back to work 3. Had no house showings in the weeks following moms accident which is a relief 4. Getting back to church yesterday after 3 Sundays of hospitals. 5. The loving care of so many friends praying, bringing food, and so on that makes up the community of believers and lightened the load.

    • Lifting you in prayer right now Pamela as you journey through to unknown, trusting in the ONE who not only loves you, but has the perfect timing for every detail… including no showings following the accident. May you have an overwhelming sense of God’s peace in the days ahead and may your “cup” overflow with JOY!!

  4. Gwen says

    1.Thank you for prayers. A life was spared. He wonders why and stayed up all the night. My brain injury caused a night of every nerve overstimulated. What a night. But Joy relaxation came in the morning.
    2. We have food
    3. I have savings to cover a huge debt
    4. I can and do have several Bibles
    5. God did use other people in our crisis. The regular helpers? All out of the country or state
    6. My injury can be a blessing. I forget lots
    7. I have a ride to a neuro physical therapy so I’d better go. First session in six mos because

    • It is a privilege to pray for you and Curt.
      I rejoice with you in God’s provision, Gwen. God is good. [[hugs]]

  5. Linda says

    What a beautiful read!! So warmed my heart and made me think about my own situation. Thank you for sharing so willingly about very private feelings. I do so long to drink of the living water.
    I pray for your continued Joyful Life.

    • Thank you Linda. 🙂
      I confess… sharing my heart was very difficult. It’s not easy to follow the nudge of the Spirit… but obedience is better than sacrifice. Yes?
      I appreciate you and your encouragements. {{hugs}}

  6. What a beautiful post Diane… truly, truly beautiful! Thank you for sharing from your heart and reminding me to also rest and savor Him!! I am right there beside you and leaning in to sip the waters too! We are in the palm of His hand and there’s truly no better place to be – even though the world would have us think otherwise. I don’t know why things are going the way that they are – but I choose to believe that He really, really does have a plan and the more we can relax and trust Him the smoother this will all go! Hang in there sweet friend! I’m praying for you! ~Hugs~ Jennifer

    • Jennifer… I’ve come to the conclusion that all this has nothing to do with our “doing” and everything to do with our “trusting.” There isn’t anything that glorifies the Lord more than complete trust. We can do this together! Yes?
      Keeping you in my prayers too!! {{big hugs}}

  7. Sylvia Marie says

    What a wonderful reminder to keep our eyes on Jesus!!!!!The author and finisher of our Faith…… May God bless you !!!!

  8. sandi I too have been at the wrong place living with someone else in their home because I too lost my job and became homeless that in itself is so horribly frightening and humbling. mw stuff too has been in storage in another state and dwelling on when God will work his magic in my life. well he brought me to Seattle that I am on my knees to just praise Him in awe for the glory and beauty I see around me every day. I am now living again in the wrong place ,better but not mine while I wait upon the Lord to open the right door so I can grab my two kitties and be prepared to run as fast as we can. thank you for giving me hope and courage.Susie

  9. Gina Lynne says

    My daughter and her husband lost their lovely country home that he had built with his own hands. Over the next several years, they lived in a variety of rentals. They always lived as if they were going to stay at the present location – he fixing up the yard and planting fruit, vegetable and flowers each time, and she decorating the house with whatever she could afford that took her fancy. Every place they lived was comfortable and cozy; and a real home for them, their two children, and lots of friends of all ages.

    • How devastating, Gina. I love how they made the best of where they are…. it makes all the difference.
      All the best for an extraordinary weekend!

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