Stop and Think...about Easter

As we draw closer to Easter Sunday, it is easy for us to lose focus. We are sidetracked by the things in front of us and so we 'put off' meditating on the eternal.  We are so man-centered that we believe our list of things to do MUST be done and our schedules MUST be kept, lest out lives fall apart and something is left for tomorrow..which by the way may never come.
Easter is Hope for mankind.  It is redemption.  It ripped the veil in the Holy of Holies that we might have direct access to God the Father, Creator of the universe. What in the world could matter more?  Take time...to think about that.  God loved us so much that He killed His own Son to manifest His power over evil and set us free.  Free from our sin and its guilt.  He was not surprised at the cross.  He planned it all along.  Do not overlook Easter.  It is the greatest picture of love you will ever see or know.  Rejoice in that today.

Spring Break

My "Spring Break" has lasted two weeks.  I really don't know why I say that.  I don't work for the school system nor do I attend school in any way, shape or form.  Still, I have joined the thousands that have experienced the week long break...from drudgery.  There is just something about freshening the house, pruning the garden, and splashing paint here and there.
On the first day of break, we went with Shannon and grandkids to the Livestock Show.  This was a fun time full of icky smells and cute farm animals.  We love the baby pigs.  As we stood in line to see all the newborns, there was a tall marker board listing how many were born and on what day.  The average amount in a litter of pigs is 10-14.  Can you imagine?  Still, they were as cute as could be as they fought for a space close to mama.

We took our lunch and ate on the floor out in the hallway of the arena.  The kids think of it as a picnic area, as we do this every year, and no one took note as we plopped down with all our belongings and spread out the grub.  There were several other families that joined us there.
Tommy flipped the little ones upside down to their delight.

Katherine

Rowan

Jonathan

stroller races

cute boys

Ivy at the pig races

The rodeo offers many attractions for children.  Most cost money, but there are some freebies.  We watched pig races, mutton busters where children cling to sheep for dear life, and went through the agriculture area...where they plant phoney veggies, milk fake cows, and pay for a snack with bogus money.  Cotton candy and lemonade were the real treats we enjoyed.

planting and reaping fake carrots

fake chicks

fake sheep

fake cow

Newborn chick says hi to Luke

Burying Brennan in corn

Later that week, I painted my fireplace as seen in a previous post. I also planted a tiny garden in the backyard as opposed to the large one I dreamed of doing.  When the time came to actually purchase everything we needed, I backed out, realizing it was more than I could handle this year.  So a little one next to the patio will have to do.

And then something possessed me to paint the patio purple.  Me and paint.  No second guessing this time.  It is the perfect color.  Don't you agree?
I also painted three pieces of wood with chalkboard paint and nailed them to the fence for the kids to draw on with colored chalk.  Fun.

Who Am I?

It isn't until I am bare of all I know I am - or think I am -and all the attachments are gone and I stand 'naked' before God...
It isn't until all that is familiar has left me and I've nothing to lean on, no one beside me and my hands are empty...
It isn't until then that God can show me who I really am apart from Him.  I am nothing.  I just don't see it until  I am laid waste. I must be reminded that my surroundings - including people - do not dictate who I am.
Only my soul will remain standing when all else is gone.  I mean ALL ELSE.
The depths of despair have been mine recently.  It is God alone who showed me mercy as I went before Him.  In life, I often become whatever the moment calls for me to be.  Please tell me this is true for you, too.  I am a listener, counselor, fixer, "go-fer", taxi driver, care taker, lover, nurse, baby sitter, and more.  These words describe what I do, but not who I am.
What motives do I have when doing these things?  What attitudes?  What thoughts?  Mine have been less than admirable lately.  They give testimony to the fact that my heart is black with sin and selfishness. Scripture is true when it reveals that our hearts are desperately wicked, who can know them?
I found myself 'lost' this week.  That looks like a funny sentence, but it is true.  I lost me. Only the Lord could pierce my heart, seer it, remove the dross, grip it like no other could, and bring its contents to light that I might acknowledge my own ugliness and confess it as such.
Thank you, Jesus, for loving me enough to remind me Whose I really am.  That those You love, You chasten.  I would love for my insides to reflect Your love and kindness all the time, but I am not there, yet.  Please continue to work on my stubborn will.  Mold me, even when it hurts.  Eventually, I will quit fighting.
Pressing on, June

Me and Painting My Fireplace

If you know me, you know that I paint...a lot.  We have lived in our current house for 30 years this year.  I have painted each room at least 5 times and some rooms (like my kitchen and living room) have been abused more than that.  There is nothing I am worse at than picking out paint.  How can anyone pick out paint from a little sample square??  Really, how?
I have given up being assured that what I buy at the store will actually end up on the wall as is.  No way.  I get out my witch's brew of paints and begin the whole 'double bubble, toil and trouble' method of mixing.  It is embarrassing to behold. Actually, I have gotten pretty good at it, but then by now I should be an expert.
Recently I decided that my fireplace needed a redo.  "No, no, my ugly bricks, there is no escaping the inevitable."  Once I get an idea in my head, there is no turning back.  Realistically, I knew that this would be a once and for all paint job.

Did I mention that I am impulsive in this area?  Well, I am. Very. So, without further adieu, I jumped up from the couch, took inventory of my paint supply, chose one...then two...then three...then mixed...then sat down a very unhappy girl. Hmmm...deja vu.  I wasn't sorry I had painted - but I was once again proved to be the worst paint picker outer in the world.  This was not going to work.  Big sigh with sad face.  Finally, I turned to the internet.  Isn't that where we end up when we should have started there in the first place?  (Maybe that just applies to me.)  I googled 'painted fireplaces' and voila!  So much to look at, so many choices.  Most of them were either black or white.  My house is on the rustic, grandma, country, old-fashioned side so I chose flat black...and crossed my fingers.
Below are the pictures in order of  mistakes...ending with beauty. I had to go back into my vast supply of pictures in order to find a "before" picture.

A Fall picture...notice the black above the fireplace.

What was I thinking?  See all the cups of paint?  and the plate?

Green on bottom somehow made it worse...as if that was possible.

Finally...ta-daaaaa!

I feel certain that there is a moral to this story...but for the life of me, I can't figure out what it is.  Suffice it to say, use what you have if you can, and if that doesn't work, call your daughter-in-law and ask her what color to paint...which is exactly what I did. Thanks, Shannon!

Spring and Easter Tidings!

 Good things happen in the Spring...  First of all, Spring itself happens.  I am getting ready.  My backyard is a work in progress and I have been out there pulling up unwanted things.  I am determined to have a small garden this year...in spite of my lazy self.  If only it wasn't such hard work. Sigh.
Spring offers new life...from colored chicks to baby bunnies, from hidden bulbs to wonderful hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils.



Easter happens too.  The best news for mankind is that Easter happened.  The Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead to give new life to all who will believe.
He bore my sins.
He suffered death for me.
He rose again for me.
He is seated at the right hand of God the Father, making intercession on my behalf.
There is nothing more worthy of praise than that.  Hallelujah and Happy Easter!
(cards made by children at church. smile)

Invisible Women

Sometimes, we as women feel invisible, don't we?  It isn't a nice feeling.  There are loads of laundry to wash, kids to care for, husbands to submit to, family to reach out to, groceries to buy, meals to cook, etc.etc.etc.  Invisible people do not do those things. Have you ever been talking to someone and suddenly they are off somewhere else and you are still finishing your sentence? It is a reminder to me to pay attention to the person in front of me and be totally there.
Jim Elliott, missionary to the Aucas once said, "Wherever you are, be all there."  I am guilty of being elsewhere when someone is talking to me.  Please forgive me if it was you.
None of us are invisible women.  The Lord God sees and hears all. Our deeds are done unto Him anyway...or at least they should be. Our words should be kind and helpful or perhaps they are not worth saying.  I have said many words not worth saying. Remember that what we do here on earth counts for eternity...and that we are not out for man's praise.  So, do the next thing in front of you as unto the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind.  It will energize you and bring Him glory.  It is all that matters, anyway.

A Few Noteworthy Truths

Recently I was fortunate enough to hear Dr. Sinclair Ferguson speak at the Ligonier Conference in Orlando, Florida.  The truths he shared with the audience were too good not to share with you. I am operating from my own notes, so...just understand that.
1. Salvation experiences serve to add people to His church.  When Paul writes "you" in his letters, it is plural.
2. Every time we read scripture, we should ask ourselves, "What is it here that surprises me?" (I must admit that I do not do that.  I am often surprised by how it affects me differently each time I read a passage, but I do not look for those surprises.  Will work on that.)
3. Jesus' purpose here was to build a church.  He came and died in order to build a church here.  It was His central plan.  (Amazing to look at His coming in that way.)
4. As Jesus draws us closer to Himself, we will also grow closer to each other. (I love that!  We will not all grow at the same rate, but we WILL grow!  There is no room for shyness or self appointed wallflowers.)
He is building a community.
5. We are born into a family.  This is one thing that the world cannot imitate.  The church is filled with love for one another...unfailing, forgiving, unconditional love.  Jesus will bring together the family branch on earth with the branch that is in heaven one day.
6. Jesus planned to build His church on enemy occupied territory.  (This is huge!)  The gates of hell will not prevail against it.  It is constantly fought against.  From His birth to His death, Jesus was always being challenged.  Infant Jesus vs. King Herod.  (Guess who won?)  We must never be surprised when things go wrong.  We are under hellish attack.
Satan has three weapons:
a. Intimidation - It was physical in the early church.  Even in today's churches, the enemy struggles to make the Christian feel inferior.  Put on the whole armor of God.
b. False Ambition - wanting to do that which you are not equipped to do.  Do what you are able to do, and all that He calls you to do.  He will ready you for whatever He asks of you.
c. Complaining - It creates division.
7. God builds His church by servants marked by frailty. (He isn't looking for super heroes, but willing servants with a mighty God behind them.)
8. He builds it on the ground plan of His destiny...the cross.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. 

I hope and pray that my notes were adequate enough to get across to you some important, valuable truths.
Dr. Ferguson is a man of God, who speaks of His marvelous goodness.