Ink Drawing

The sun was shining so bright and clear today.  And on my walk I noticed that the dark, crisp shadows of the leafless trees looked like ink drawings on the ground.  Just as I was thinking this, a few leaves drifted down right in front of me.  There aren't too many leaves falling this time of year so it felt as if God were saying to me, "Thanks for noticing!"  It made me smile.  He's quite the artist.

Chocolate Cake

I love dessert.  It's my favorite part of the meal.  Heck, it's my favorite part of the day!  But a few years ago I developed an itching and rash so extreme it almost brought me to tears.  What does this have to do with dessert?  I discovered I was sensitive to gluten and dairy.  What are the two main components in most desserts?  Yep, gluten and dairy.  But I had prayed to God for relief from my itching, and He gave me that; just with a few stipulations. So after a lot of research, I learned how to bake amazing desserts without gluten and dairy.  And today, in what was otherwise an ordinary day, I baked a fabulous chocolate cake with buttercream frosting - and nary a dairy or gluten in sight!  I felt pure joy and satisfaction in my first bite of that cake - and there I found God.

The Blow-Dryer

Okay, this is going to sound a little strange, but I found God today when I was blow-drying my hair.  I know what you're thinking (I would, too),  but hear me out.  Blow-drying my hair is one of my least favorite chores.  It's mind-numbing.  But today, while I was staring blankly at the wall with the dryer blathering away, I felt a nudge from God.  "Hey Tia, I'm here even now.  What are you going to do about it?"  And I was suddenly inspired to pray.  I've read about other people praying while waiting in line, at the doctor, etc.; it just never occurred to me to pray while I dried my hair.  But I did, and before I knew it, I was done and still hadn't quite finished my prayers.  So now I may actually look forward to drying my hair... or maybe not.  But I know I can always find God there as I did today turning the most menial task into something worthwhile.  Yet another little blessing in my life.

Cup of Tea

I was feeling very tired today for no good reason.  I had slept well. I hadn't done anything strenuous.  I even took a nap.  Still tired.  But then I sat down this evening with a hot cup of tea.  Ahhhh....  The steam rising off the tea, the warmth of the cup, the hot liquid warming me to my toes.  It was so soothing, so comforting... and there I found God.

Yoga

I was feeling listless and a little down over not being able to get outside for my walk due to the rain.  I always connect with God when I get outdoors.  So I decided to do yoga instead.  (I used to do yoga several times a week, but the past several months it's been sporadic.)  I got out my mat, lay flat on my back, took a deep breath, stretched my arms way overhead and...Wham!  There was God!  I didn't see that one coming.  What an amazing feeling!  I realized as I continued through the movements that when I walk, my connection to God is all around me - externally.  But with yoga, it's internal.  You focus totally on yourself and your breathing, and in doing so you become centered in God.  Try it.  Lie flat on your back, stretch your arms overhead and breathe God in.  In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 it talks about your body being God's temple.  I found God today in that temple.

Misty Morning

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I had to post this photo. There's no way I could do it justice with my words.   It was an absolutely gorgeous misty morning, and this is where I found God today.

Light and Shadow

When I decided to start this blog, I thought it would be easy to write about where I find God each day.  After all, I feel Him around me all the time.  But after just a few days, I started to struggle.  All the little ways I see God in my life seemed too insignificant to write about.  So I prayed for help... and I prayed some more.  And it came to me that those little things are the point.  I was never shooting for a literary masterpiece, but I suddenly felt pressured to come up with something "significant" when I knew other people would be reading this.  So my prayer was answered, and the pressure's off.  All these little ways I find God are what make Him a part of my daily life.  And that took me back to my original purpose.

Today I found God in the play of light and shadow outside my kitchen window.  There's an empty lot next door, and sometimes in the evening the sun shines through the trees in a way that's just beautiful.  The golden light and dark shadows turn an ordinary scene into a work of art.  It always makes me pause to take it in, and there I find Him.