First of all, I have decided to take a break from blogging. It may be a week, or it may be a month. I’m going to take it day by day. I am falling in the trap again “to perform” instead of just “to be.” It’s my passion to encourage others, but often I forget to be nurturing to myself. I need some soul rest to center my mind again on who God is and who I am in Him. I need to rest in being “enough” just as I am. I need to believe His love and grace does not rest on whether or not I write a blog post every week.
I feel guilty to take a break, and I’m afraid I’ll miss some blog posts from those who I’m so grateful to for encouragement, but my heart tells me it’s important to take time to prioritize my life and my heart. Time to really listen to what God has to say to me. Time for rest, rejuvenation, and restoration.
My friends, my absence does not mean you will be absent from my heart. You will be in my heart and prayers. I hope and pray you will have a soul-reviving Easter!
“Then He gives the command and it all melts;
He breathes on winter—suddenly it’s spring!”
Psalm 147:18 The Message
Spring is here! Hope and new life spring forth after a long and cold winter. I love how The Message says, “He breathes on winter – suddenly it’s spring!” Nothing breathes, moves, or lives without His breath. When we see His control in nature, it helps us to hang onto the hope that He indeed is in control of our lives, too, no matter what comes our way.
“More Than You Think I Am”
Danny Gokey
“I catch all your tears
Burn your name on My heart
Be still and trust My plan
I’m more than you think I am.”
Books
✎ Deeper: Living in the Reality of God’s Love
“We often believe things about ourselves that do not line up with God’s truth. We think our worth is based on performance or possessions, that we have to be perfect to be loved, or that we’re too ordinary to be used by God. Deeper tears down these lies and teaches women to replace them with four truths from Psalm 139. God knows me, he protects me, he made me, he values me. Using compelling narrative and Scripture, Deeper helps women transform their lives by trusting in the reality of God’s love. Instead of striving for perfection and worth, readers can rest in the truth that they are his.” (Amazon Review)
✎ You’re Loved No Matter What: Freeing Your Heart from the Need to Be Perfect
“As women we tend to think if we could only get our act together, our life would be perfect. But you’re not supposed to be perfect. You’re supposed to be human. And humans are messy, flawed, glorious, and deeply loved.
It’s time to lay down those unrealistic expectations that exhaust you.
It’s time to embrace who you are – even the messy parts.
It’s time to start living fully instead of just trying not to fail.
Let’s do this. Together.” (Back Cover)
Hope Harbor
❀ Mercy Ministries – A free-of-charge program whose mission is “to provide opportunities for young women to experience God’s unconditional love, forgiveness, and life-transforming power.”
❀ Scriptures About Different Kinds of Hope – Vicki Chandler put together some verses of the many kinds of hope the Bible speaks of.
❀ How To Recover the Lost Art of Dying Well: What Kara Tippetts Taught Us – Ann Voskamp writes a beautiful tribute to Kara and shares such great insights into suffering and dying. “Suffering is never a meaningless waste of your life, but a meaningful way through your life.”
❀ Courage to Break Free – “Brave” by Joy Lenton. A heart-searching poem that promotes hope, healing, and freedom.
Nature Retreat
➺ A Window Into the Woods – Awesome photography of wildlife and nature
➺ Nature Photographers Network – Spectacular photos focusing on the art and technique of nature, wildlife, and landscape photography, lots of galleries to peruse and enjoy
➺ Art in Nature Photography – Amazing photos here – “Floris van Breugel is a west coast based landscape and wildlife photographer, with an eye for abstract and creative interpretations of the beautiful world we live in.”
Quotes
❤︎ “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” ~ Mark Twain
❤︎ “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
❤︎ “Forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about letting go of another person’s throat……Forgiveness does not create a relationship. Unless people speak the truth about what they have done and change their mind and behavior, a relationship of trust is not possible. When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment, but without true change, no real relationship can be established………Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive. But should they finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation………Forgiveness does not excuse anything………You may have to declare your forgiveness a hundred times the first day and the second day, but the third day will be less and each day after, until one day you will realize that you have forgiven completely. And then one day you will pray for his wholeness……” ~ Wm. Paul Young, The Shack
Linking up with:
Holley – Coffee For Your Heart
Jennifer – Tell His Story
Kelly – Cheerleaders of Faith
Bonnie – Faith Barista’s Beloved Brews
Freed to Fly 
Funny, you are the second blogger I have read today who is going to take a break. Blessings to you as you sort out your priorities and hear from God with His direction and timing for your future.
LikeLike
Thank you, Michele. May God keep you in His tender loving care! Hugs!
LikeLike
Love that verse and picture. Such hope. May you truly find quiet and replenishment deep in the recesses of your heart. Looking forward to hearing how God speaks to you. Love and appreciate you, Trudy.
LikeLike
I love that verse and picture, too. Thanks to Joy, I can share it with you. 🙂 Thank you so much for your loving prayers and kind words, Sita. They mean a lot to me. I really do need a deep replenishment. I feel so overwhelmed and washed out. May God embrace you in His loving arms and give you strength and peace! Hugs!
LikeLike
Trudy, I shared the picture and verse with a link to your post on Facebook. Was that OK? Let me know so I can delete if necessary.
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 15:19:34 +0000 To: trinisita@hotmail.com
LikeLike
Perhaps it would be better if you asked Joy. This picture and verse are in her post “Courage to Break Free.” (Above the pic) She gave me permission, and I’m sure she would just be happy to spread this truth around, but I don’t want to speak for her.
LikeLike
I think a break is a wonderful idea! Have done it myself…and do not regret it. This is a struggle for many of us, I believe: “I am falling in the trap again “to perform” instead of just “to be.” It’s my passion to encourage others, but often I forget to be nurturing to myself.” Thanks for sharing this and being honest about it…I think that itself is encouraging! #RaRaLinkup
LikeLike
Thank you, Angela. I’m glad you were still encouraged. You are one more person I’ve heard of who doesn’t regret it. May God bless you and keep you! Hugs!
LikeLike
Trudy, what a blessing to return here tonight. The quotes, the books, the thoughts of Spring just take my heart into your “butterfly” atmosphere.
Glad I came from #RaRa linkup.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind encouragement, Linda. I love butterflies! A butterfly speaks to me of freedom in the Spirit of Christ. 🙂 May God give you grace and strength for each day! Hugs!
LikeLike
Trudy, I am always grateful for your words here and this post is no exception. It reminds me why God called me out of circulation for a month and why care is needed not to rush back into things too soon. So many of us struggle just as you describe and it takes courage and inner resilience to ignore the “you’ll be invisible and ignored” voice in our head. I know just how insistent it can be and how hard rest can be to come by.
But I firmly believe God will use and bless this special time set apart with Him. I’m praying for you to be rested, refreshed and restored, and to return only when you sense it is right to do so. There is no pressure here. Much as we love your words, they won’t harm for sitting a while. And we’ll all still be waiting eagerly for the manna He pours into your heart and the sharing of it in time to come.
Have a truly blessed Easter! Much love ((Hugs)) and prayers. xox 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much for all your caring encouragement and prayers, Joy, both here and through email. It’s because of a past post you directed me to that finally led me to do this. Pressure is something I so much need to rid myself of. I hope you have a truly blessed Easter, too! Hugs!
LikeLike
Love the verse in Psalm 147. What a beautiful verse. My daffodils are coming up too. Love spring!
LikeLike
Yes, isn’t it amazing to see that new life spring up? Gives me hope! Thank you for stopping, Debbie. May you have a blessed Easter! Hugs!
LikeLike
Enjoy your blogging break, Trudy! Everybody will still be here when you come back. Thanks for sharing all these great links. This could keep me busy for awhile! 🙂 Have a blessed Easter.
LikeLike
Thank you, Lisa. You have a blessed Easter, too! May it be filled with revival! Hugs!
LikeLike
Trudy,
I will miss you, and I will be praying for you. I am so thankful you are taking the time to pause and take care of you. I took quite a break in March without really realizing it, and I do not regret it one bit. In fact it made me understand more how the pressure needs to go, and the joy needs to flow! May your heart overflow with Joy as you tend to you with no guilt or pressure. I am excited to see the fruit from your refreshing time of soul rest! Blessings and Peace to you this Easter weekend!
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers, Michelle. I did miss you when you were on your break. You state it so exactly according to my longings – “the pressure needs to go, and the joy needs to flow!” There’s this tremendous pressure I put on myself. I think that’s why I feel so overwhelmed and burned out. Things start becoming “should” instead of a heartfelt desire and joy. May you have a soul-reviving Easter! Hugs!
LikeLike
Hi Trudy! I’m just stopping by to wish you a Happy Easter. May God bless you and yours abundantly in this holy season.
Happy Spring too!
Ceil
LikeLike
Hi Ceil. I hope your leg is healing and you’re able to get around more easily. Thank you for your wishes/prayers. Have a soul-reviving Easter! Hugs!
LikeLike