A friend made this...for ME!

My very dear friend made this .... for ME! It's a quilted table topper & it looks SO nice on my coffee table. I love the colors & the raised/"3D" sunflowers! I can barely sew a straight line so I admire most anyone who can - but this particular woman I admire more than most!! Considering how precious time is, to think that she would spend the time it took to create this w/ me in mind makes it extra special - but - considering that she faithfully spends time "w/ me" on a daily basis as "together" we read thru' the Bible & journal back & forth thru' it via e-mail - AND - she took extra time to make this beautiful piece for me .... well I don't even know what to say! Thank you just doesn't seem like enough.

I found it!!!

Yesterday Strike & I landed in a HORRIBLE (TERRIBLE!) traffic jam due to construction in an area where there's only one way in & out of a small business district (warehouse store, gas station, hotel, school, offices, RMV, etc. ). Soon I knew I'd passed the "point of no return" & figured it could take hours to get out again. I made a split decision to duck into a parking lot near an auto shop & walk from there to the store. Low & behold as we walked back to may car I figured we'd sit & read for a while bc there was no sense sitting in the traffic jam itself - but - an auto store employee asked where I'd parked - & bc of where I'd parked, I could easily go around to the waaaay back of the warehouse store & get out thru' a gate that was open. The sea of people stuck in the traffic jam knew NOTHING about it!! Yet for me, and mb two other cars back there at the time - & whoever those who knew the secret chose to tell, it meant FREEDOM!! But - when I reached the gate, to my dismay it appeared to be locked! Strike looked closer & thought so too. Thankfully a man in another car was able to open it after jiggling the cord & chain that had only been wrapped by someone to make it look like it was locked - or who knows how long I might have waited for someone else to open it, or rescue me some other way - & perhaps I'd have even discouraged others to turn back from a gate that was indeed still unlocked/open!

***

This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.
Galatians 2:4

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:13 & 14

Some people are given gifts on a silver platter ...

... but today I was given a platter -- as a gift!

How cool is that?!
So pretty! I love the Artist who made that sunflower(!)
& His autograph is all over it! :)

The Gift

It's my birthday - & earlier today I was reminded of - & I found myself listening to - an amazing song about how long ago when Someone had a birthday, we got the gift! If you know this Someone, you know it is so like Him to do something so opposite of what we might expect.

In honor of my birthday I'd like to share The Gift w/ you. To open it, click on the gift below. Should you choose to accept it ... well then you'll have to talk to Him/the one who gave it to me, directly:

Ancient Chinese "Secret"?

In Chinese, the word symbol for: "life" is made up of two "components - "motion" + "Lord" which reveals the ancient Chinese belief that the Lord is the maker of all life, & "believe" is comprised of "person" + "word" - meaning that placing trust in a word is considered an act of faith or believing.**

I find that interesting when the words "Life" & "Believe" are considered in a biblical (ancient!) context & in John 1 in particular:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
John 1: 1 - 4

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
John 1: 10 - 13

** source: Institute for Creation's "Acts & Facts" - Nov'08 article: "Life in the Letters" by Ava Ford, M.D. re: uncovering creation truth in ancient cultures.

The respect he'd earned was so freely given

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor.*

* Total Recipients: 3,447 * Living Recipients: 97 * Double Recipients: 19

A few yrs ago it was my privilege to find myself on the same flight as a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. He was old and in a wheelchair. I believe he was headed to a convention related to his Medal of Honor. The pilot treated him like royalty & a military escort awaited him at our destination. I loved that the respect he'd earned was so freely given. I think this is him:

MILLETT, LEWIS L.

Captain

U.S. Army

Korean War

* via

A decoration available to all who serve, but desired by none

"Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the purple heart
has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland
and shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen."

via

Memorial Day Tribute

Oh! Thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land for the free and the home of the brave!

* by Francis Scott Key *
(last verse of the Star Spangled Banner - my emphasis added)

Thank you to all who have ever stood between their (our!) loved homes & the war's desolation.

Don't blink!

Strike was just tellin' me she grew an inch since January :( ...

Don't blink when you click this LINK

Are these the keys to success?

My husband & I were discussing our family's No TV for one month challenge - & how our youngest, who probably enjoys TV the most out of all of us, seems determined to succeed. Hmm...perhaps it's bc: - the choice was hers! We encouraged & discussed it w/ our kids & agreed to do it together (we did not force them to do it) - & - it's a challenge!- so it feels like a competition - which tends to bring out the best in my kids - esp when it comes to working hard to do something well. ( I wish(!!) they were more like this when it came to chores (but "here" the choice to do them or not - is not theirs to make) -& - some extra motivation in the reward at the end! If she's successful at not watching any TV for one month & not complaining about it one bit she'll have earned the remaining balance needed to purchase the IPOD Touch she's been saving up for.

"All of this" got me to thinking about my relationship w/ God...seems there's much controversy over predestination (He chose me) vs. Free Will (I chose Him) & salvation being gained by faith as opposed to doing good works (being "good enough"). I don't claim to have all the answers here by any means - all I know for sure is what I believe. But, I wonder.... Did God intentionally make these areas "gray" - as opposed to black & white - bc He knew that in our human nature we are more inclined to be successful if/when: - the choice is ours (or at least even to some degree we believe it is!) Acts 16:31 - & - it's challenging! I Corinthians 9:23-25 - & - there's some extra motivation in the reward at the end, if successful? John 3:16

hmm. I wonder... are choice (freedom!), challenge & motivation (reward!) the keys to success?

It takes a special person to make the mundane, FUN(ny)!

Thanks MJ for making me smile...by sharing this...:)

As seen on TV

Not that we're watching any TV ... now!

Anyhow - decided to give this a try - for tomatoes - but who knew you can plant all kinds of stuff upside down! My veggie garden has mainly been a hanging one for a few years now bc of our dogs but once the plants mature it's hard to keep the branches from sprawling/breaking. But - by George! - I think I've now got a solution to that problem. - I just wish they were a bit more "decorative". But - so far so good ... that I may try to get a few more!

It's time to trade in the remote control

"It's time to trade in the remote control for a little self-control."
- Beth Moore

In 1979, 120 families were offered $500 each to cease watching TV for one month. 93 families turned it down. 5 of the remaining families who watched 40 - 70 hrs per wk were studied. The results: closer family units, increased family activities...games, piano playing..., one-on-one time between parents & children - & patience! ... & an increase in creativity.

- Summarized from: Living Beyond Yourself

Well- no one is offering us $500 :( and we don't watch all that much TV - but we're going to try it anyhow! Assuming we're successful (there's power in positive thinking...right?!), in the end at least we'll have exercised some self-control. And if indeed we do gain patience (w/o having to pray for it - bc that kinda scares me) & creativity, it will have been very worthwhile.

We started last night. Dad wasn't home but the kids & I played badminton in the back yard. Later Strike asked to print out a coloring page & mentioned she'd like some new crayons & markers. I read by her on the couch. Playmaker did homework nearby. Hmm - I think I'm going to like this (& hoping they do too :)

***

P.S. A few details for the record: we can still watch some videos/DVDs & play The Wii/video games - but no "TV" on the computer. - If there's urgent news we can turn on TV for that.

Strike's been given some extra motivation. She' been faithfully earning & saving $ for her IPOD Touch ... if she meets this challenge without complaining about it, in the end she'll have earned the remaining balance needed to purchase it - & if the two older kids do the same, we may give them a bonus too - just haven't really discussed it yet.

Too B.U.S.Y.?! - for our own good/friends

I'm convinced that:

- one of the most rare & precious treasures in life, is a good (key word here!) friend.

- good friends require a lot of time.

- God created us for relationship/friendship - in part bc we all have needs, a need to be needed & some thing(s) (strengths/gifts!) others need - & if someone thinks even one of those "links" doesn't apply to them, they're likely more independent than God ever intended them to be.

- satan knows God created people for relationship - which means it's a good thing(!) - & sooo he cleverly & effectively discourages & destroys relationships ...bc he knows & fears their potential for good!

... Perhaps that's why it seems one of the most effective ways satan goes about discouraging/destroying relationships is by encouraging people to be more & more independent.

It seems modern conveniences allow us to do so much more - for ourselves - than ever & in much less time than it used to take - & that the more we're able to do for ourselves, the more we do! Before we know it we're so busy "saving (hoarding?) time" that we have no time to share w/ anyone else who might need what we have to offer - & - we take pride (not a good thing!) in being independent & so begin to believe that asking for - or admitting that we need help is shameful.

Hmmm. Could it be that:

We're too busy
Being (independent) Under Satan's Yoke
for our own good ... & for our own good friends?!

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother - Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

Crude Tools

A sculptor does not use a manicure set to reduce the rude, unshapely marble to a thing of beauty. The saw, the hammer and the chisel are crude tools, but without them the rough stone must remain forever formless and unbeautiful. To do His supreme work of grace within you He will take from your heart everything you love most. Everything you trust in will go from you. Piles of ashes will lie where your most precious treasures used to be....

- A.W. Tozer

Note: Just about everywhere I searched for this quote
to link it to a source, it's slightly different
- so I'm not directly quoting above - but as w/ most things
re: God & how He works, I find it both encourging and convicting.

"I have refined you in the furnace of suffering."
Isaiah 48:10

I'm reading ...

I'm only about halfway thru' it but I'm enjoying it. First line of the product description at CBD: One bad decision can plague a family for generations.

A couple of tho't provoking quotes:

"That's not coal, honey, that's a diamond-in-the-making. God will use pressure and stress to turn it into something beautiful."

"I had always depended on Freidrich to make the decisions and decide on a course of action, but this time I couldn't wait for Freidrich to save us. For once in my life I was responsible for my own life - and for my daughters' lives. They were depending on me to make the right decision. What a heavy burden of responsibility Friedrich carries every day."

I enjoyed this:

I wanna see this.

Click here to see the trailer:

Mak-n-my girl

I gotta have Strike show me how she did
this w/ her camera... Once she gets me started
I know I'll be hooked!

FREE vacations! (assuming you survive the first one!)

Tourists who catch swine flu offered free Mexico holidays

Hotels in Mexico are offering free holidays to tourists who catch swine flu in their resorts in a bid to restore confidence in the destination.

The initiative, which involves three hotel chains, is being led by Real Resorts, which owns three hotels in Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

The company's guarantee offers three years of free holidays to any guest who contracts the (H1N1) flu virus within 14 days of visiting its resorts in Cancun or Playa del Carmen.

via

Alone! Together!! .

I think it's been 8 yrs since....

me-n-my man
spent a night away from home AND kids.

Tho' we're together everyday, we're rarely (really!) alone together! During our long overdue time alone/together(!) at the beach we talked & walked - & walked & talked ... & talked some more. SO much has changed in the 4 children (one in heaven), 5 homes in 4 states, from coast to coast, & 23 yrs since we were married - & there's much we'd go back & do differently if we could! But at some point we concluded...

Regrets? We've had (more than) a few! But then again - too few to mention....

& it got very quiet after that :)

Like sand slips thru' the hourglass...

"Any person without self control is either an accident looking for a place to happen or a slave in chains." Beth Moore - Living Beyond Yourself

***

My kids are still YOUNG & RESTLESS & when I consider the "why" behind why it's so important to me that ALL MY CHILDREN make good choices, I realize that AS THE WORLD TURNS, often it's bc I'm too concerned about how their poor choices (lack of self control) reflect on me.

I believe the difference between a good choice & a bad one lies in the "why" (motive) behind it - & that parenting is every bit as much about making good choices as it is about encouraging our kids to do the same.

When I demand certain behavior from my kids - or don't allow them to suffer the consequences of their poor choices - bc I'm too concerned about what others will think of me, my kids see right thru' it to the motive of my heart & so are more likely to rebel (the negative consequence of my poor choice - ugh.)

We all have only ONE LIFE TO LIVE! And sooo - I hope & pray that ALL MY CHILDREN ultimately choose for themselves to look to the GUIDING LIGHT (John 8:12) & make their choices accordingly so that their story (testimony!) becomes a BOLD & BEAUTIFUL one that is more about His faithfulness to them - & less about their unfaithfulness to Him - bc ...

like sands slip thru' the hourglass (one choice at a time!),
- so are THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

¹²When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 8:12

¹ Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! ² Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Hosea 14:1 -2

***

P.S. if you like drama(!), read Samson's story ( Judges 13 - 16). It's basically a soap opera based on his continual lack of self control (poor choices!) until the very end of his life when he'd lost his supernatural strength, been taken captive & had his eyes gouged out! Broken/humbled(!), he finally cried out & asked God to supply him w/the strength he'd lost (admitted he needed God(!) bc God was the source of his strength?) .

God ordained Samson's dedication to Him as a lifelong Nazarite before his conception - which meant Samson was subject to a life of strict discipline (self control!): NO hair cut, fruit of the vine or contact w/ a dead body. And I wonder .... Did Samson continually rebel bc he didn't have a choice in this matter? Hmm...

You cannot lose ...

I just cannot get past Mother's Day this time around (but tomorrow is another day...I promise :) My mom - & my own children have given me an understanding I can better comprehend about what unconditional love is. In part, it's freedom...to say what you really mean, to share how you really feel - & to make mistakes...even big ones.

This lullaby by Sara Groves has deep/double meaning. I remember tears stinging when I first heard it - & kept playing it over & over. It was as if God Himself had given it to me - during a time when I was so uncertain about where I stood in relationship to Him. Hmm - perhaps I should have saved it ... for Father's Day!

This video uses the song as a sweet tribute to a baby w/ autism - tho' you may just want to close your eyes - & listen ....

'You Cannot Lose My Love'




All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. ³⁹And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

John 6:37-39

Far from Normal

Do you know someone who is far from normal? My mom & my little brother both were. I, on the other hand, was SO normal (selfish & proud) that often I was embarrassed of them &/or frustrated w/ them. I loved them but I never fully realized how much I loved them until I lost them both w/in about 6wks of each other. Then - & only then - did I understand (guess I'm a slooow learner) what God used them to teach me. In a nutshell: I needed to be different! FAR from normal! It was then that my selfishness & strong will turned into a desperate attempt (passion!) to know God & I found the motivation to attempt to be more like Christ ...& somehow - thru' it all, my pride was converted into compassion ...in such a way that I can claim - but is so hard to explain.

I'm still FAR from perfect(!) - but praise God I'm also far from normal ... & hopefully getting farther away all the time! -- bc God placed some very special people in my life who were far from normal too - & He's used few to teach & change(!) me as much as they did.

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world,
to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
2 Peter 2:11

***

I believe this is the poem my mom had on her dresser for years. It had been typed out on a typewriter. No idea who gave it to her or when - but bc my little brother had Down's Syndrome, I imagine it was quite an encouragement to her. In honor of my mom & my little brother I'm sharing it here.

HEAVEN'S VERY SPECIAL CHILD

A meeting was held quite far from Earth!
It's time again for another birth.
Said the Angels to the LORD above,
This Special Child will need much love.

His progress may be very slow,
Accomplishments he may not show.
And he'll require extra care
From the folks he meets down there.

He may not run or laugh or play,
His thoughts may seem quite far away,
In many ways he won't adapt,
And he'll be known as handicapped.

So let's be careful where he's sent,
We want his life to be content.
Please LORD, find the parents who
Will do a special job for you.

They will not realize right away
The leading role they're asked to play,
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.

And soon they'll know the privilege given
In caring for their gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild,
Is HEAVEN'S VERY SPECIAL CHILD.


by Edna Massionilla
December 1981
The Optomist- newsletter for PROUD
Parents Regional Outreach for Understanding Down's Inc.

via http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Heavens_special_child.html

Mother's Day

Today, being a mom was ... a walk in the park.

Dear Mom,

Sunday is Mother's Day. I'm now about the age you were when Byron & I were born - about a year and a half apart. You had three teenagers then!

Now that I have children (21, 15 & 12) I realize more, how difficult being a mom must have been for you. Especially when I was 11 & Dad was diagnosed w/ cancer. When I was 14 and he lost that battle. And you - w/ your numerous health issues & long hospital stays. NEVER driving. Never working outside the home after you were married. And each of us kids presented you w/ additional challenges. I for one, was much too selfish & strong willed & argumentative ... & Byron with his Downs Syndrome... How ever did you do what you did? ... and how did you accept what you couldn't do?

Despite all you couldn't do, I distinctly remember you saying "Prayer is powerful." - & sensing that when you prayed, God listened. And sooo I'd often ask you to pray for me - & I knew you would (was it bc you were so grateful to be able to do something(!) for me?). And I wonder - am I now SO incredibly blessed to have it so much easier than you ever did - bc during all that time that I resented what you couldn't do for me - instead you prayed for me?!

I'm SO sorry, mom, for anything & everything I ever did - & didn't do(!) - that made your life more difficult ... & I just want to say thank you - from the bottom of my heart - for all you did(!) - which I now realize was probably done to the degree it was, in large part because of all you couldn't do.

I miss you. and I love you.

***

P.S. It's been over 5 yrs since you went to heaven. How I wish I could've seen your face - how shocked! & thrilled! you must've been - when your "baby"/Byron arrived there so soon after you did! Seems God waited until you (my prayer warrior!) were gone - to really bring me to my knees ... in the circumstances surrounding his death.

Proverbs 31:28a Her children arise and call her blessed;

Rainy Daze

This evening Strike & her friend (above) reminded me so much of me when I was a little girl. I loved to play in the rain! Still do!

Fun-do

Just havin' fun messin' w/ my photo options...
to share this funky pic of my fun new hair do :)
It's quite short & a big change but
the harder I try, the more I like it...

In Honor of Today! (58th Nat'l Day of Prayer)

... tho' I'm not sure if this one technically counts bc I understand the White House has opted not to observe it publicly - only privately & via proclamation.

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24: 15b

I've been thinking... and if I spent as much time praying(!) as I do thinking(!) about how my prayer life could/would/should be more personal, balanced, meaningful, powerful, & effective - the time I spent praying would certainly be more time consuming!

...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

James 5:16b (NIV)

(Do you) Trust Him! (?)

Tho't to share some notes from yesterday's Bible Study - Living Beyond Yourself - & the song it brought to mind (above) :

Some scars remain bc others will only "believe it if they see it". They're for others to touch and gain hope for healing. In them your misery becomes your ministry.

John 20:29 Then Jesus told him "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Scars don't hurt. Wounds do. No matter how long it's been since you were wounded, if you are still hurting...you STILL need healing.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

In His hands the pain & hurt look less like scars and more like ... character (Sara Groves) .

(Do you) Trust me. (?) - & more importantly - (Do you) Trust Him! (?)

I'm a softy when it comes to playing hardball

Softball (sports in general!) has provided SO many opportunities to build character in my kids in ways that I'm hardpressed to do as effectively any other way - bc too often I'm too soft when it comes to teaching the hard lessons of life (ie. the ones learned best from failure & mistakes ...& hard work!). Tough love does not come easy for me. On the flip side - at least I realize that(!) & sooo - I encouarge my kids to play sports!

Competition seems to be the key to unlocking the passion that drives my kids to want to be really good at what they do - & therein lies the motivation (hidden treasure!) to work hard.

(Strike) My youngest (12) has never worked so hard in her life at anything as she has at pitching! Initially she lacked coordination. If you'd seen her back then you might not have believed she could ever do it well no matter how hard or how long she tried! But for years she put in countless hours during the offseasons & endured lots of sore/iced shoulders - bc she believed she could do it - & three amazing coaches - Butch (who secretly didn't think she could do it), Jodi & her Daddy only encouraged her. And her/their investment has certainly paid off - in ways that Strike's proud of & I am too! And thru' it all she's gained a healthy sense of confidence that she was lacking every bit as much as the coordination she lacked in the beginning!

I think Playmaker (15) sometimes lacks motivation to strive for excellence bc what comes naturally is usually "good enough". But - now she's playing high school softball - & tho' she's never been a pitcher, she's now the only pitcher - bc no one else is willing to be a pitcher! Long story short - it's been rough! Humbling. At times, humiliating! Physically demanding & painful! But - w/ the encouragment of her coach, teammates & family she's worked SO hard & her game is improving(!) - & I'm confident her character is too ... in part bc yesterday she did NOT want to go to school bc she did NOT(!) want to play in her game after school. I was not about to force her so I let her decide. In the end - & in tears - she could not bring herself to let her team down - & I think she pitched her best game yet!

Because the hard lessons & hard work ethic just come more naturally when my kids are competing - & since I'm such a softy when it comes to playing hardball ... I'm SO grateful for softball!

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3

Information ex"CHANGE"

See edit in red - below:

"Change the world one life at a time."

That's my brother's motto. He teaches children in Africa. Perhaps it came to mind after I watched this video (which I first saw here: It's Like Herding Cats - a pastor's life) - bc I wonder - when change seems to be the only thing that's consistent (ie. at such a time as this!) ...

Q Should we be changing the way we share the Message (The Gospel) that never changes?

A I don't know. But I tend to think we should consider new options that didn't exist until recently as new opportunities -- which in order to seize them would require doing some things differently / changing how we share (but not what/Who) we share - & inherent in these new opportunities is plenty of room for creativity toward that end.

Q Does more information mean more answers to the questions of life that really matter ... in the end?

A I don't think so. Tho' I absolutely believe that more accurate (key word here) information will provide - & IS already providing(!) - more evidence that God's Word is Truth.

^{Hebrews 13:8 8}Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Who Cares?!

This morning during my husband's commute to work a lady was stranded on the side of the road w/ a flat tire. She'd left her purse at home & had no cell phone. One person had stopped & let her use their cell phone to call AAA. As she was waiting, my husband happened upon the scene & changed the tire. He was just finishing up as Mr. AAA arrived -- grumpy & rude as all get out!! Seems Mr. AAA felt he'd been robbed bc of what hubby did (free of charge!). Might the story have been different if it had been Mr. AAA's wife or daughter who was stranded? And I wonder...Who cares(?!) anymore - about anything other than money or anyone else but themselves? But in my heart, I know someone does ... & he does so much out of the goodness of his heart - which is just one of countless reasons why I love him so much.

***

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher, he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

What is written in the law? he replied. "How do you read it?"

He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." Mathew 10:25 - 28

Flowers appear on the earth

our cherry tree - today
Edit: Oops...I gather this is actually probably a flowering crab tree??
Whatever it is - I think we can all agree that it's a pretty tree?! :)

Song of Solomon 2:11-12

¹¹ See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.

¹² Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.

Is a flower ever a weed?

I don't know....to those who prefer a perfectly manicured lawn, these tiny pretty purple flowers that are taking over our yard probably would be. I wonder....if those same people who spend so much time & money trying to kill them, instead looked much more closely at them - would they then do what I didn't do? I just couldn't bring myself to mow them today ...so instead I went around them - & very much enjoyed watching this busy bee & his friends enjoying them SO much!

Divine Fruit Salad

I'm enjoying this study. A friend recently asked me what it is I like so much about it. The short answer is bc the better I know/understand what the Fruit of the Spirit is & how I should be bearing it, serving it & sharing it w/ others (ie. living! ....beyond myself!....ministry) - the better I get to know/understand who/what God is (& is not). To some degree it's reassuring. & to another it's convicting.

It seems whatever fruit we're studying at any given time, is my favorite & I crave it! This week it happens to be gentleness.

I invite you to Taste and see that the LORD is good (Ps. 34:8 NIV) for yourself by sharing this "recipe for Divine Fruit Salad":

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23 NIV)

I will refresh the weary and satify the faint (Jer 31:25 NIV)

EnJOY!