Good Morning to you.

Is the Son in your eyes today?

Thank the Lord for another beautiful Sunday! I am so excited to get to church and worship the Lord! Whatever you’ve been through this week, and whatever you anticipate for the week ahead, bring it with you and leave it at the cross. Nothing is too big for our God!

"Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness".

I Chron 16:27-29

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH-snsXw1as

(Courtesy of http://s638.photobucket.com/home/jamstermedia)

The Cost

I had to look twice at the jogger who paced on the corner waiting for the traffic to flow so he could safely cross the street. There was definitely something different about him as he bobbed and moved.

That’s when I realized the man had no legs! His prosthetic devices began somewhere above the knee and continued down to his running shoes with long, preformed metal bars.

I watched him and immediately wondered about the effort of simply getting out of bed in the morning, or showering, or driving a car, or even bending over to hug a child. Simple things to those of us blessed with full use of our limbs, but no doubt a real challenge to that man.

I certainly didn’t pity him. Instead, I felt the weaker one. I found myself saying, “What is my excuse? I have everything in working order, so why can’t/don’t I accomplish what I’ve set out to do?”

The answer is simple: I have to want it badly enough! I have to want my dream and my goal enough to endure the pain. To make the sacrifice. To say ‘no’ to some things, and ‘yes’ to others.

I can’t imagine the obstacles that man must have faced and overcome in order to gain the strength, the courage and the endurance to run again.

I’ve thought about that day many times since then asking God to help me to see more than just the end result in people and situations, but to help me to appreciate the cost. Help me to see through imperfections of the outer shell, and through to a heart that now rests on the other side of hope.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. ²⁰He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. ²¹Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:18-21) NIV

The Blessing of a Loving Husband

New school clothes.

New schedules.

New books.

School supplies.

Alarm clock going off in the dark.

New teachers.

Lunch money.

“Sign this, Mommy.”

Gas money.

Driving.

Ironing.

Laundry.

Writing.

Pack a lunch.

Work in the garden.

Bills and checkbook.

Picking up.

Dropping off.

More driving.

Cooking.

Cleaning.

Gotta get to the office.

Church stuff.

Women’s Ministry stuff.

Dog to vet.

Kids to doctor.

Hugs and kisses.

More writing.

Homework.

More driving.

Clock watching……someone’s coming for dinner?

One sweet, unexpected note from my husband

“I love you and appreciate you for all

the stuff you think we take for granted.”

Priceless.

Know What You Know

The whole nursery was abuzz with garden enthusiasts sporting floppy-brimmed hats and dirt spots on their well-worn jeans. I passed by the leggy begonias now deemed “clearance” worthy, and moved on to the more colorful mop-head hydrangeas. There they sat in fluffy pinks and blues; the result of much pampering and horticultural botox, no doubt.

“Oh, these are lovely,” remarked a woman from across the table. “Do you think these would do well in full sun?”

I looked up and met her blue eyes realizing she’d directed her question toward me.

“Uh, full sun? No, not really. These do well with a mix of morning sun and shade,” I offered. She seemed appreciative of my attention as we went on to talk about propagating the little darlings, and turning their blossoms from pasty white to blue or pink.

I left the nursery a little while later with a few purchases and wondered if I’d be so willing to talk about my faith in the same way I rattled off useless plant knowledge.

If I encountered someone on an ordinary day who uttered a few words spoken to no one in particular but just happened to land within earshot, how would I respond? Would I be ready to share what I know? Would I be willing to tell them how I became a Christian?

I mean after all, I know how I like my coffee. I know I love many types of music, and can document a personal play list to fit each mood. I know the names and growth habits of the majority of plants found at my favorite nursery, and love the opportunity to share my gardening trials and triumphs with others. I know exactly who is coming down the stairs in the morning, just by the sound of their footsteps. But, would I…could I share what I know and feel as

it relates to Jesus?

God brings about opportunities for us to live what we profess. I certainly wouldn't want to bungle an opportunity to share the gospel by offering a sloppy, form-letter type response to a sincere heart hungry for the truth.

Would you?

Don't Delay the Blessing

Hello there. So glad you could drop by. Please, settle in and get comfortable because I’m afraid I have a bit of a confession to make.

I’ve been spending way too much time READING about writing, TALKING to others about writing, WRITING about writing and THINKING about writing

and all the while, my actual manuscript is collecting virtual dust bunnies…waiting for me to start writing!

It seems once I get on the computer, there are just too many distractions. I’m like a pinball game bouncing from site to site – there are so many wonderful author’s blogs to visit, so much great information to study and

too many Facebook messages to read. They’re all awesome, but they add nothing to my word count.

Now, I’m a little thick headed, but I think I’ve finally realized that by procrastinating and riding along the outskirts of my dream, I’m actually delaying the blessing God has in store. I’m also delaying the potential blessing my book could be to others (after a whole lot of work, of course).

Have you considered the possibility that by giving in to procrastination, you too could be delaying the blessing that God intended when he planted your dreams within you?

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” I especially like the Living Bible translation: “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”

Don’t delay the blessing of a God-inspired dream.

"Whatever is noble...whatever is pure..."

I grumbled. I groaned. I scowled at the guy in the dilapidated Honda in front of me doing 35 mph with his muffler waving with the rhythm of my beating heart.

“Remind me again why I have to drive you to junior college 30 minutes away 2 days a week?” I mumbled over the top of my travel cup to my sleepy-eyed son.

“Oh, that’s right – because you spent your summer swimming with friends and yelling at video games when you could have gotten your driver’s license!”

There was no use in getting angry, I decided. He had an early class, and inconveniencing me was somehow easier than actually getting a ride from a friend…insert eye roll here. So, I flipped on soothing classical music, sipped my coffee and tried desperately to make the most of my reluctant morning commute.

Finally, past a flurry of exhaust-spewing semis and a couple freeway exits later, we said our good-byes and I turned back toward home. The classical music turned to opera – so NOT my mood of the moment, so I changed over to the Christian station.

Yep, God definitely gives us WHAT we need WHEN we need it. I’m sure it was no accident that I ended up listening to a Christian author whose words spoke directly to my dry, empty soul. God knows how I’ve been sitting and staring at a blank computer screen the past few days with the cursor screaming “Type something already!” What better way to help me through my dry spell than to hold me captive in traffic with the words of a professional Christian author speaking my language!

Wedged among an endless line of anxious motorists, my frustration quickly turned to praise as God’s message, spoken at just the right time, confirmed and reassured my calling to write for His glory. To top it all off, the author even recited one of my favorite scriptures, Philippians 4:4-9, as he spoke of our need as Christian authors to not be swayed by current market trends, but rather the importance of getting pure, wholesome literature into the hands of our young people. Amen.

Thank you, God, for traffic jams!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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.
Finally, brothers, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Phil. 4:4-9) NIV