He giveth...and giveth...and giveth again.

Tuesday mornings are good for me...or should I say they turn out to be good for me. Accountability is everything, right? I meet with some very special friends on these mornings. We just finished both "Captivating" & "Wild at Heart." I know these books are controversial, but after reading them and discussing them at great depth, I've decided that God could, if He wanted to, show me areas that were still in need of surrender to Him. I went, not expecting, but ready to ask the hard questions and willing to take His answers. Being transparent is sometimes, no, most times a hard thing to be. I've discovered that all it entails is being really truthful & willing to make the necessary changes. We like to "sugar coat" a lot about ourselves, don't we? This is why Jesus came and literally lived his life in front of us. Not one time have I ever read that He said what we wanted to hear, or acted in a way that was politically correct. However, He did always please his Father. The overwhelming message that has been given to us is that everything that has been put in place since creation, has been done because of His great, expansive, inexhaustible, unchanging love for each of us. This love is what He wants us to experience. These next several weeks (or months), we will be reading through the first five books of the Bible. This morning we hardly scratched the surface, just getting through Creation and have left poor Noah & family just leaving the Ark for the first time following the flood. Everything must have looked so strange to them after their time inside that Ark. This is where I want to start again...Like everything is new, exciting, and different. A new day in my Journey with Jesus and my friends (whom I wouldn't trade for the world.) We are starting over ....in the Beginning. God's grace to Noah, his family, and to us, is never ending. Remember, there were only eight people in that huge ship, with God only knows how many animals. No one else would listen. If only, all that were left behind had taken advantage of His Grace in time. When we focus on that grace and love, our perspective is bright...like the rainbow. His Covenant to us. Take a look or if you know the song, hum these words of one of my favorite hymns. I think they fit!

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Loving some quiet time...

Yeah!!! It's Sat. morning and I am totally enjoying some quiet for just a little while. Yesterday was actually very productive in several ways. Trying to get somewhat settled in our new digs has been challenging to say the least. I had a yard sale and managed to get rid of some of the larger things. Mostly neighbors came by, which was fun since I was able to meet them on my turf and promote business at the same time. Think I will put some things out again in the afternoon for a few hours since it's the week-end and see if I get any more takers. I have found out that I am not a saver. Wayne keeps every little paper and receipt, I, on the other hand, am a thrower awayer. Now don't start judging me yet, I do have some old cards, special gifts, pictures that are special to me, but come-on now, if I kept everything that comes my way, and added that to his "memories," I wouldn't be able to walk to the front door! The old adage, "What you can't see, you don't miss (just made that up)" is reasonable to me. After all, if you've kept something in a box in the attic for the last nine years, and have forgotten it's even there, then how can you miss it? Get my drift?
I think I like the idea of purging on a regular basis. Not the body kind, since I'm not good at starving myself, but the "stuff" kind. Just the thought that my kids would have to rummage through all sorts of my things, after doing it for both sets of parents, is almost enough to promote the gagging reflex. How about if I just ask them now about what they do or don't want, and I don't have room for I get rid of? Now what about that is irrational?
Any picture of Jesus I've ever seen, I don't ever recall seeing one of him toting a box, or a suitcase, a backpack, or even a fanny pack. Life is too short and there's too much to do to be incumbered by anything that takes our time away from the really important things in life that God has given us to do. Can you tell that I've been thinking about this alot these past weeks? Remember, in the Gospels when Jesus enlisted Peter, James & John to be his disciples? What did he say? "Drop your nets (& all that entails) and come and follow me..." He asks all of us to leave what we perceive is security for us, i.e. the THINGS that WE surround ourselves with, and trust Him to add what we NEED, in order to be the best US that we can be according to His riches in glory. Now after pondering on that thought, this sounds like an incredible trade-off for us, right? Remember Jer. 29:11? "I know the plans I have for you, plans for a hope and a future..." Psa. 34:10 "Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing." So, maybe you would join me in "throwing off the things that sideline us." It really is freeing. Nuff said. Thanks for spending time with me, hope your week-end is full of personal blessings and valuable trade-offs.

I need to go to bed...

What is it about me that I can't keep my eyes open in the mid afternoon and then I'm ready to go once the clock strikes ten. Give me a job to do and I'll tackle it while the moon is shining. I'm having a yard sale tomorrow morning starting at 7 a.m. I can guarantee you that when my alarm rings at six I won't be willing and my flesh will be weak. But my garage is overfull and all the cars are in the driveway. Backwards wouldn't you say? Guess if I can rid myself of some of the big stuff it will at least give us room to organize and go forward. This business of "downsizing" has it's perks though. Smaller house, one story, more room outside, a pool that we all love, closets that are empty still...sounds good, doesn't it? I've always wanted to live in the country where the lights come from the sky at night. No streetlamps, no sidewalks, lots of trees, and neighbors that appreciate the lack of the city hustle-bustle. We have an acre here that nurtures 32 fruit trees, some grape vines, and I have been resurrecting the rose bushes successfully. Cut some flowers and brought them into the house two nights ago.
Andrew bought his first car a few days ago. Found it on Craig's list (gotta love that site) for $500...the seller took $400. Has a good 6 cyl. engine & a 5 spd. transmission. He's been working on it and enjoying the freedom he has with it. Just an old jeep, but after painting it flat black with a jillion spray cans, installing a stereo system, replacing a side window that he broke from one he found at a junk yard, and putting some good old fashioned elbow grease into it, he now has a vehicle that even the previous owner wouldn't recognize on the street. I'm very proud of him! He's had alot of help from his buddies ,and of course his Dad, but he's been in charge. Nothing like a first car for a guy.
Don't ask me why but the verse in James 1:17 comes to my mind, "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow." Reminds me of my house here in the country, where I can look up and see the brightness of the sky at night and of God's goodness to give my only son a car that, altho it is anything but perfect, fits the bill and he is having fun with it. It's so good to know that our God is in the details!

A little Meloncholy today...

This morning has not gone very smoothly. Woke up to the dogs barking and people shouting. One of those "where am I" moments. Put me in a pensive mood to say the least. Didn't get home until after midnight from the sprint car races lastnight. Great races, wonderful company, but kind of felt unusually melancholy when I found myself looking at my "kids" all growing up. My own three have already stepped over that thresh hold and these babies, now 9, 6, 4, & 3, are all going to start school in one more day. I don't hate to see them grow up, but I do hate that they aren't babies anymore. They all hold intelligent conversations, deal with their own relationships, are learning what it is to be decisive, as well as experience the consequenses thereof, talk back, vasilate between independance and babyhood, etc. Most of all it is a little sad to me that I have to nurture my relationship with them as they struggle and grow to become themselves. Does that make sense? Change isn't usually that hard for me, but for some reason I'm thinking it would be so much easier to just have those that matter most always see you in the same light. Maybe it's acceptance of who we are that I'm talking about. If we love someone why can't they always just love back? Love is a risk, isn't it? People change. Guess this is Life Lesson #2,259...God is teaching me again today, starting with lastnight, that the only thing secure is his love, his faithfulness, his acceptance, because He alone knows me. All that I am is of the utmost importance to Him. My friend Paul the apostle puts it well, "I know I have no regrets. I couldn't be more sure of my ground—the One I've trusted in can take care of what he's trusted me to do right to the end," II Tim. 1:12...even at times if I look like that cat hanging from the branch by his claws!

Here is something a friend sent me today... A timely reminder.
The most beautiful rainbow As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.