Thank you for the way that you love us...

Looking for something of beauty in my yard, I came across these tulips in my old flower bed. It wasn't till I uploaded the picture that I noticed the ugly dying dandelions next to these beautiful tulips, that I had a moment in which I understood God's love for me. Before He came into my life, I was an ugly dying creature, who didn't know Him. Once He came into my life, He then had the ability to create something of beauty within me. Wow. Only He can change the ugly dying parts of me, into something that is both beneficial and beautiful.

Although I will never fully understand God's love, I am reminded again that HE made me, HE created me, and my whole purpose in life is to bring Him pleasure and glory. How can He not love what HE created, even me? How can I live up to that awesome responsibility....well, I can't. Not in my humanness. But as I grasp the reality of His love for me, His life in me, His plans for my life...then I might finally start to fully live life the way that HE intended. That really is the point, it's not about me, but about HIM. God has created me completely and solely for HIM. So today, Lord, bring the beauty of your presence in my life, so that others will not see the ugly dying dandelions in my life, but the beauty of the tulips you are creating in me.

Mastering Me....

What is it you are trying to show me these days, Lord? I want to hear, but I am surrounded by distractions. I am most distracted by attention to myself, my needs, my issues, my problems. So, my distraction is "me." How do I get away from "me?" How do I blot out all of the thoughts, insecurities and attention I give to "me" every day?

I was just lamenting to a friend that my children are awesome, but they don't seem to have a focus outside of themselves. Ah....that would be the fault of "me" .... I have inadvertently taught my children that their own version of "me" is more important than everyone else. Okay, so how do I change this?

Matthew 16 says "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done." How do I live that every day? How do I make what I want, take a backseat to what God wants in my life? A question for the ages...but a question I am pondering, as I learn how to master my love of "me" and return to my first love, Jesus!

All things old are new again.....

We had a lovely day at an Artisan's Fair in our community that highlighted what would be considered old time activities, raising farm animals, spinning wool, sheep shearing, candle making, soap making, etc. It makes me want to do these things myself, and yet somehow life seems to get in the way! A month ago I was going to work to "perfect" the art of bread making. I made two loaves of bread that weekend. Somehow, even though they were far from perfect, I have not gone on to make more bread. That is sad. In past days, people would not have had a choice, but would have had to feed the chickens, churn the butter, spin the fiber, and even chop the wood. It is still my goal to perfect bread, and learn the art of making soap, but this probably won't happen till I'm forced to do so. So, for now, I will take off the pressure, enjoy crocheting a little, baking bread from time to time, and enjoy the life I am living now!