Make It Special

 




                 'Life is what you make it.'  I totally believe this and opportunities await you everyday.  We were in the Rivermarket area yesterday, for the second time this week, so we decided to go by Brown Sugar Bakeshop.  At first glance, the bakeshop looks inaccessible because of the stairs but there is an alternative route to get in.  Sure I could have waited in the van and Karla could have got our order with a lot less trouble, but it's just not the same experience.  There were signs to be seen, smells to tempt our senses and people to interact with.
                It is up to you to decide how your days will be spent..enjoyed or wasted.  When you look back at your past, will you have fun memories or wasted regrets?  I can honestly say that if I died today, that I've had a full and blessed life.  We should all have had goals that we've met because of our inner desires and motivations to accomplish them.
               We should never let something be an imposition to what we want to do.  Just get off the sidelines and get into the game of life.  Life is not just a matter of survival, but one to be truly lived.  Time waits for no one, so live now before it's over.

Weighted Down

Hebrews 12; 1-3  ''Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.''


           Hebrews 12 starts out with 'Therefore', because Hebrews 11 is full of examples of people putting their faith into action.  It is saying look at how these people made it thru trials because of their consistent faith and so can you.
           Like a rock in our shoe, our burdens can affect us all over.  We have to shake them out of our life and run our race with the freedom that Christ's sacrifice gives us.  What joy there is not to be hindered by the slavery of sin.  Jesus, the perfecter of faith, is molding and transforming us into who we are meant to be so that one day we will be in the burden free promised land.
          Somedays I feel it is harder to write an encouraging blog post for myself and others, because I do have some burden on my mind and heart.  It is in those times, I feel the need to 'cast all my burdens on Him' in prayer and feel the weight released.  We can often feel like nobody understands what we are going through but Jesus endured it all and understands.
          Our God is bigger than your biggest burden..... talk to Him about it.

Got Time?

1 Thessalonians 5;1-3  '' Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.''
Matthew 24;43  ''But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.''

             Right now, many of you are getting ready for Easter Sunday..... what to wear, what's on the lunch menu, are the eggs hidden for the hunt, etc.  We prepare ourselves for many of our scheduled activities but are we prepared for what is on everyone's schedule...death.  It is probably the most procrastinated event that people gamble with.
            Why do people wait?  False confidence.  I understand how young people are naive to the suddenness of tragedy but faith is built in young believers even through minor daily trials.  There is no 'right' time to begin a relationship with God.  'Now' is the best time ever.  People gamble with eternity because they falsely believe 'they can do that when I get old and I want to have my fun now.'  Does that mean believers don't have fun?  No, it means their fun brings glory to God, not disgrace.
              If you think you're in control of your death date, think about the last time you fell or the latest car accident on the news.  Being prepared takes the fear out of when the unknown will strike.  Getting right with God is not a 'sometime' event, but instead a priority not to be delayed any longer.

Foto Friday

My flowerbed with
new gerber daisies 

My flowerpot with new
spring flowers

Easter find at Shoporama

My dad's fishing trip at
Lake Merasak

Glass art at Garvan Gardens

Glass chandelier

Looking up through the
chandelier

Our Easter eggs --with hope

Our Easter egg reality...lol

There For Me

         Today's blog post is for two friends who help me get by with their help, Karla and Charlene.  I could not make it without these two friends.  They enable me to put all my want-to-do ideas into action.
         Today Karla and I did several Easter Bunny duties.  We delivered our balloon eggs that we made last week, we shopped for easter basket goodies, and filled plastic eggs with candy.  Karla helps me bless others because she is such a blessing to me.
         Charlene is also my helper and friend for so many years. There is no way I could list all of the ways she has been a generous and faithful friend to me.  This week she is spending her nights with me so that my dad could go on a church fishing trip.  She is a gift of love from God to me ever since I moved back here in 2001.
         These two ladies are my friends to the end and bless me beyond measure.  How great Thou Art is His grace and mercy to me.

The Calm Right Now

           Life is full of waves of tribulation and God sees us through those.  I feel right now that I'm enjoying the calm whispers of peace.  Yes, the storms inside me don't disappear but they can be calmed down to mere gentle waves.  Harsh waves come when I try to fight life's storms on my own and need reminded of Who is in control.
         Maybe I need to clarify what I'm trying to say by being more specific.  Although I will always be considered 'sick' due to my neuromuscular disease, I have been blessed by a long stretch of wellness with no colds lately.  If I just deal with the regular daily struggles without any extra burdens, it gives me a peaceful feeling.
        Do you recognize the calm times between your storms?  Do you hear 'He whispers sweet peace to me?'  There is a universal desire for peace but there is only one true source, God.  I know His peace is a gift of love and it will be with me in both the rage and calm of all my days.

Put It On

            I know this week's weather is not like last week.  It's a cold 48 degrees with a dreary rain.  We all know the phrase, 'April showers bring May flowers', so it's just part of the process.  I know for myself, a smile is more of an effort than a natural reflex on days like these. I must remember that I have much to smile about and to focus my attention on those things.
          'You're never fully dressed without a smile.'   Have you ever gone to work and realize you forgot to brush your teeth?  You worry about your looks and breath being offensive to others.  Well your frowny or stoic facial expression can be equally offensive.  'A smile is happiness you'll find right under your nose.'
           Smiles are contagious so spread them like wild fire by turning all those frowns upside down.

Be Still My Soul

          Who can't relate to this?  Often our to-do list is filled with more things than is humanly possible to fulfill in a day's time.  Sometimes the list is so overwhelming that we just put it all off for another day.
          Is 'time with God' on your daily agenda?  Psalm 46;10  'Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'  Sometimes you have to turn off the noise of the world.  I personally am not a fan of background noise, I need to hear myself think.  There is a need for quiet time, even for Jesus when he was here on earth.  What if we turned off the radio on the way to work and instead prayed for God to guide and protect us throughout our day?
         'There are many ways we can do devotions and study the Bible effectively. There is no "best" way, only that we do it! Many Christians feel all they have to do for their spiritual growth is sit in a pew, turn on the television or radio, or naturally receive their knowledge for being a Christian. However, this is not the way to transform our lives. You can no better grow deeper in Christ without any effort as you can go to a grocery store and stand in the produce section and become a cucumber. To be a mature and growing Christian, we must read and get into the Word of God ourselves. We do it through prayer, hard work, discipline, concentration, application, and even more prayer!' [from intothyword.org]
          '"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment." (1 Cor. 2:14-15)
          May we remember that if we are too busy for God, then we are just too busy and need to cut back.

Foto Friday

Rivermarket flowers

Down by the Arkansas River

Best gyros in town

Easter egg tree in NLR

Banana colada snowcones...mmm

John Deere fun

King of the mountain
at Garvan Gardens

Family time

Best buds among the tulip buds

Our easter egg project... still in the works

Garvan Gardens