Foto Friday

Tuesday's trike troop

Jack.. the real pillow pet

Sweet williams from the rivermarket

Outside Walmart market... too cool

My amarillo from Cathy started blooming.

Karla and I at the Saturday Rivermarket

Jack not wanting me to get up

Tiger holding my hand

Broken and Spilled Out

           When we give of ourselves, we are rewarded back... usually more.  People are like flowers, when we water them with love and kindness, they perk up and stand up straighter.  We all need sprinkled with a compliment or two and you will usually get one in return.
          'Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.' Colossians 4:5-6
         'Mary, one of Jesus' followers, poured out a bottle of nard, an extremely expensive perfume, on his feet, prompting concern from others, but praise from Jesus himself.'  Mary literally watered Jesus with a perfume.  Her sacrifice was her way of showing her love to Jesus.
          Do you sacrifice your time and possessions to show love to others?

Your Garden of Faith

               Well it's that time of year... garden planting season.  If you haven't already started, you better get on it. We hope that what we sow, we will reap in an abundant harvest.  Gardeners put in a lot of work in to prepare and maintain the vegetation they desire.
               Luke 17;6  ”He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.''
             'You may have never worked in a garden in your life. But you're planting seeds, whether you realize it or not. In fact, some of what's happening in your life today - for better and for worse - is the harvest of some seeds you planted years ago. And, as the Bible makes crystal clear, "A man reaps what he sows." (Galatians 6:7) ' [biblegateway.com]
             Our faith is a like a plant that needs nurture to grow and sustain itself through life's storms.  We have the resources like prayer, the Word and love to keep our faith strong.  Do we take care of our faith or is it just a weak branch that we lean on?  Your faith will show itself to others, as a strong oak tree with deep roots or as a dandelion blown with the wind.

Playdate

               I love to have playdates here with the kids of my friends.  I feel like I smile the whole time.  They learn the art of sharing the most.  Taking turns is learning that it's not all about me and to love one another. Is there any lesson more important for life?  The world is our playground, so don't grow old by forgetting how to enjoy playing in it.

Better Days Ahead

John 16;33  ''I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

            ''Christians are not promised an easy life--far from it. The Bible specifically warns that Christ-followers will experience suffering. Our consolation comes in the knowledge that the battle against sin has already been won, and that Jesus will return one day.'' [biblegateway.com]

            We all have our low points and days of despair.  Are we ever satisfied?  I doubt it because we are all subject to trouble from this world.  The verse above says 'But take heart', which means don't give up or lose hope because 'He has overcome the world.'  When we expect perfection in this life, then we can also expect disappointment.

           'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.'  Philippians 4:6-7

           I have found that lowering my expectations of myself and others has helped me to be more at peace.  We all struggle with something and others may or may not understand.  So when the only One who understands all our trials tells us 'I have overcome the world' then we should find contentment, patience, and perseverance in that promise.

           May your circumstances never define you, but remind you to be of good cheer with a God-like perspective...even on cloudy and lonely days.

Summer

         I know it's not summer yet, but at 11 a.m. today it was 90 degrees with 29 percent humidity.  That is perfect to me.  'This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.'  Yes it's easier for me to quote and sing this verse on days where I can feel my extremities and feel the sun against my skin.
        Even though we have four seasons in the year [and you know my favorite], God really wants us to take it one day at a time.  ''Moses wrote: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 ). Notice how Jesus said our needs would be met: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 ). Notice what God says about how He’ll give us the strength we need: “Your strength will equal your days” (Deuteronomy 33:25 ). When you run ahead to what may happen the next day or next week or next month, you’re running ahead of your supply lines, because God gives the strength you need in 24-hour increments.'' [hutchcraft.com]
         The seasons of the year remind us that, whatever it is, this too shall pass, so if summer is not your favorite time then you just have to wait it out. 'On the one hand it's a sobering reminder that nothing lasts forever; but it's also encouraging to know that difficult times will eventually but inevitably be followed by times of peace. God is in control of it all.'

         Who's ready for summer?  Me, who dreams of summers that last forever. 

Freedom

         What does freedom mean to you?  By definition, it means 'the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint' or 'the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.'  Freedom can mean living in a democracy like America, the feeling of driving alone for the first time, moving into your first apartment, or many other things of feeling unrestricted.
         The closest I've ever felt to being free is when I used to swim.  The weightless feeling in the water let me escape my physical restrictions.  I felt stronger in the water than what true reality was.  Freedom in the water was like being in a different body for a short time.
         As Christians, we have freedom from sin by following Jesus Christ.  Galatians 5;1 ''It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.''  Galatians 3;22  ''But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.''  Galatians 5;13-14  ''You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

        Until God gives us immortality, we are all still in a battle with sin in our flesh. ''The Christian, unlike the average non-Christian, is not indifferent to the weight of sin. He is actually hypersensitive to it. Having come to Jesus Christ, his senses are awakened to the reality of sin. His sensitivity to sin intensifies as he matures spiritually.''  

        Romans 7; 21-25  ''So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!''  We can all relate to Paul's struggle here in these verses and it should remind us that we are set free by grace alone and not by our own doing.  Only through our belief in Jesus as our Savior is the bridge to freedom from sin obtained.

Foto Friday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whatever You Do

             It doesn't matter what time of the year it is, I always have at least one candy dish out in my room.  Most kids or adults will ask me before helping themselves.  One five year old asked me, 'Angie, can I have a jellybean?'  He knew already at five not to be greedy or gluttonous.  He could've taken a few more and still be considered as having good manners.
             We must remember that our bodies are the temples in which Christ lives.  We must take care of our bodies physically and spiritually.  Sometimes on the way to church, I see people out running.  That is all well and good, if the spiritual run has not hit a dead end.
            We must also remember to not cause another to stumble because of what we eat or drink.  We must adjust our menus to the needs of others accordingly.  Whether diabetic, gluten-free, or alcoholic discretion is needed, consider others before yourself.
           'Whatever you do' should bring glory to God, so think before you act. God don't like ugly.

Repetition

              What are the reoccurring thoughts in your mind?  I think we all have a steady flow that runs through our heads naturally, albeit positive or negative.  Phillipians 4;8  ''Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.''  Have you ever said, 'Let's talk about something else, this is just too depressing?'  I think God gave us this verse because He knew the sadness of this world could be overwhelming and needed a new perspective.
              We need repetition in our lives.  I wonder how many ways God tells us in the Bible that He loves us and that His love endures forever?  Repetition is how we learn, so are your life patterns of good or bad for you?  Break the cycles of destruction and replace them with ones that build Godly character in you.  You can't change by just doing the same.
             I am a thinker and that is why I need to be careful to watch over my thoughts.  What I tell myself is like a recording of where my heart is..... good or bad.  Isn't that true for all of us?

Thrown

              Today my friends, Charity and Gloria, came over with the kids.  The afternoon turned out a lot nicer than expected.  The kids played on the golf cart with a plastic tub drug behind it.  They had lots of fun.  Even the dogs, Jack and Lucy, had a  playdate full of running with each other.
              Days like these remind me of my donut making go-cart and air grabbing three-wheeler days.  Yes, I'd like to be as rough and free in play as I used to be, but there is a time for every season of life.  Having an independent spirit, I can honestly say my disabilities have broken me into a dependence on God sooner in my life than I suspect without them.
             Until you are truly broken, your perspective on Who is in control of your life is biased with self confidence.  If we could grasp the strength of God's power in the tornado, then why can't we see His power over our lives?  I trust in the joy of the future to be far more freer than what I remember of the past.