A Measure of Grace

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

2017-01-02T17:30:00.002-06:00

Today started much like most other days, except there was a heavy thunderstorm in the morning as we got up to have coffee and watch the news. Amid the darkness, the burst of brightness from lightning, and the sound of heavy rain pouring through the trees and on the roof, it felt like an ordinary day.

The storm soon passed and normal morning activities continued, except we exercised first thing because today was THAT day. The day we promised we would begin those new resolutions. Our one promise was to exercise and eat better. So, we exercised after enjoying our coffee. And, it felt like an ordinary day.

Then I drove to see a friend who has been ill. On the way, I prayed and sang in the car. And, it felt like an ordinary (but good) day.

I won't give details as to the visit with my friend, but I will say that during our visit the day went from ordinary to extraordinary. Some people have a presence and a witness about them that just affects everything and everyone around them. These people turn ordinary into extraordinary.

As the day changed from ordinary to extraordinary, my heart began to feel so full even from the smallest blessing. Everything that crossed my mind brought joy, no matter how insignificant.

That is the power of living a life of faith and gratitude. My friend reminded me of that blessing and my day was transformed by the power of a thankful heart and faith in the grace and love of Jesus.

The rest of the day didn't disappoint either! We worked our bees on January 2nd with temperatures in the 70s! And, they were well behaved. Neither of us were stung.

Then this happened!

How can a day be more extraordinary? God is so good and faithful. I'm so thankful! May you experience the joy of finding the extraordinary blessings in everyday life. Amen.

Be love and be blessed,

Elections and the Elect

2016-11-08T09:35:00.000-06:00

Today, Americans will elect the next President of the United States. It has been a long and unusually divisive campaign season. I'm certain I'm not alone in breathing a sigh of relief that it will finally be over. At times the negativity has threatened to rip the last bit of joy from my soul.

Presidential elections should be a time of hope. Campaigns should be about ideas that will further our democracy and elevate our way of life. They should raise awareness about things that need improvement and the ways in which we might unify and make those improvements together as a nation. Ideas, reasoning and inspiration should be central in our Presidential election process.

This election cycle was none of those things. It was hopeless, ugly, disingenuous, arrogant, divisive and lacking in any meaningful dialogue about how to make our nation better for the next generation.

As a person who loves this country and longs to be inspired by true leaders, it has been discouraging to say the least. However, I remain hopeful no matter who wins the election today. And, so should you.

My hope isn't placed in any man or woman. Our future is not in the hands of legislators or government authorities. Our hope and future is in the One who institutes all authority.

"for there is no authority except from God" - Romans 13:1

I pray for the sake of our country and for all of us who hold it dear, that we will accept the outcome of this election with grace. May we embrace one another in reconciliation and with hope for more unity in our future.

Let us put our hope and trust where it should be - in God. Humans are just that - human. Fallen, unjust, unrighteous, sinful. Whether Clinton or Trump wins, each is an imperfect person in need of God's redemption. And, so are we.

After the votes are counted and the leaders chosen, let us move forward TOGETHER in grace and unity, striving for a better future for our children and grandchildren. We are THE ELECT of GOD! Therefore, as God's chosen people, let us represent Him in worthy fashion - as people of faith, hope and love.

"Yet the peoples saw and did not understand,
or take such a thing to heart,
that God’s grace and mercy are with his elect,
and that he watches over his holy ones." - Wisdom 4:15

Be love in a dark world,

Longing For The Freedom To Be Broken

2016-03-21T16:39:00.001-05:00

Most of us have walls around us. Walls that we've erected to hide our own brokenness. Yet, we long for the freedom to be broken, to let down the wall and allow ourselves to fall apart so that God can put us back together. We long to release our pain and experience true healing. So, what is stopping us?

The walls we erect are fortified by our own pride and foolishness. We are too proud to admit that we are 'those people'. We think we are completely different from those who are down in the "gutter" of life. Believing we have nothing in common with them, we don't care to be in their circles and especially not in the same room (or on the same church pew) as 'those people'. Truth be told, we are one broken relationship, one paycheck, one drink, one drug addicted child, one night of unprotected sex, one sexual assault, one serious illness, one abusive relationship, one temptation away from being one of those on whom we loathe, or pity, or both.

When we admit to ourselves and those around us that we are broken and need God to repair our lives, we experience a freedom more powerful than any fortified wall. You see, the Divine Potter glues our broken pieces back together with Himself!! His very Spirit is infused in us and wraps around every heartache, every pain, every mistake, every sin, every piece of brokenness in our lives, and that Spirit mends us and transforms us into something brand new and beautiful and blessed.

But, first we must acknowledge that we are one of 'those' people! We are the adulterer, the drug addict, the assault victim, the mentally ill, the abuser, the alcoholic, the debtor, the shunned - at least we are only one blink from being any or all of these. No matter how perfect we think our lives are, we are all broken. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. US. BROKEN.

But this beautiful treasure is contained in us—cracked pots made of earth and clay—so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us. - 2 Corinthians 4:7

My prayer for all of you today, is that you allow yourself the FREEDOM to experience your own personal brokenness, and that you seek Jesus so that your human brokenness may be transformed into a beautiful clay jar infused with the golden Spirit of God Almighty. May you find the beauty in your brokenness and the deep joy of knowing that the Creator of all the universe loves you enough to knit you back together with His very own divine Spirit.

Amen.

For the Love of Children

2015-07-31T15:43:00.005-05:00

I could not stop sobbing last night. It was a deep, mournful, crushing sorrow that forced out uncontrollable anguish as I cried out to God. That is how profoundly heartbroken I am.

Never have I been so ashamed of our human race, so pained by the depth of our aptitude to live in the darkness of evil. I'm still reeling.

First, I want you assure you this is NOT a partisan political statement. This is directed to Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians and anyone of the human race. It doesn't matter if you are Pro-Choice or Pro-Life. We need to work together and talk about this.

Most of us have at least heard the news stories involving the undercover videos of officials from Planned Parenthood discussing the harvesting and selling of fetal tissue and body parts. Just writing that sentence seems vile, but I feel compelled to talk about this issue.

Perhaps mistakenly, last night I watched the lastest video that features a doctor discussing the selling of organs and body parts with fake "buyers". But, it gets exponentially more horrific when they go into a lab and examine actual body parts from aborted fetuses.

That is when I went from horrified to utterly heartbroken. My whole spirit was crushed.

God, have mercy on us all.

PLEASE DO NOT WATCH THE VIDEO! It is the most disturbing thing I've seen and it will forever haunt me. I will never be able to remove the images and the awful words with their evil and callous inflection from my mind. You do NOT want to see it.

But, here is what is important. These unborn children - call them whatever you choose, fetuses, embryos, babies - they have tiny body parts just like you and me (they showed those parts in graphic detail in the video). Whether you believe life begins at conception or later; whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, whether you are Republican or Democrat or neither, don't these lives at least deserve a modicum of dignity in their handling and disposition?

Can we all agree on that? Can we come together as humans and say that handling and disposition of what would have become a beautiful human life should be respectful and reverent?

That is all the good I'm asking to come from this terrible situation.

It is completely crushing me that humans have plunged to such dark depths of insensitivity and callousness toward life that we feel no loss or sadness or reverence when we look at a tiny human being that is now lost to the world.

Can we talk about the sanctity of life? Can we grieve more, and be more outraged at how unborn bodies are treated than how a famous lion was murdered? (I grieved the lion too, by the way)

I'm not trying to change abortion laws or point the finger at one political party or another. I just want our society to value human life, even human life that is being voluntarily terminated. We even afford prisoners who are about to be executed for their crimes the dignity of a last meal, a visit with clergy, and a chance to speak their last words out loud. Their remains are treated with respect, not prodded and picked apart and thrown in the trash. Can we do the same for aborted humans? Is that too much to ask?

Honestly, I'd like to defund Planned Parenthood. Personally, I'd like to close them down. But, I would settle for a change in their culture to one that treats every human life, no matter how small, with dignity and respect. Can we all agree on that?

Now, let's talk about being pro-life. What does that mean? We need to check our societal self righteousness at the door because our resumes are sorely lacking any depth when it comes to truly believing in the sanctity of life.

Sister Joan Chittister, a Catholic nun, said this:

"I do not believe that just because you're opposed to abortion, that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you don't? Because you don't want any tax money to go there. That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is."

Now we can argue about those statements as Republicans or Democrats, or we can do something positive together. Together.

Together we can say that children truly matter. Together we can help the most vulnerable in our society with more than empty words. Together we can put aside our differences and our power struggles and agree that we want all children to have enough nutritious food to eat, a decent and safe place to live, and a good solid education. Together we can put our money where our mouths are and spend what it takes to do these 3 things.

Food. Shelter. Education. For children.

In this nation, with all our wealth and resources and blessings, we can do this. We can act as if children's lives matter in this country, not only with our words, but with our money. What is stopping us?

Will we allow political differences or pride or selfishness or foolishness to keep us from giving our children the basics of life - in one of the richest countries on earth? REALLY?

We must act together. We must act together or we will surely destroy ourselves, our children and the future of our society.

I don't know about you. But, I know I can't stand by and do nothing. Please write to your Congressmen. Call them. Tweet them. Send them this blog. Just tell them.

Tell them that American children matter. Tell them to put our tax dollars to good use for food, shelter, and education for every child. Tell them to stop bickering and agree on one thing - children's lives matter. Tell them they can cut other programs and fight about the money for their pet projects and pork barrel spending, but that programs for food, shelter and education for children are non-negotiable.

If we could make this one change, putting money and resources into the lives of this country's children, then maybe the worst of humanity represented in those videos would be a little less crushing.

God, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Be love and be blessed,

Charleston

2015-06-19T12:56:00.001-05:00

This is a serious subject and the photo may seem out of place. But, I was talking to God about this senseless loss of precious lives and He sent this butterfly to me. In a small way, it gave me hope.

I thought about not writing anything concerning the devastating tragedy in Charleston. It was because I was at a loss for words and too troubled to begin to form any meaningful thoughts. And, also, because I feel so helpless to say anything that will change what is happening.

But, I have a few things to say, and some of them may seem harsh.

I will not pretend that I have all the answers as to why this heinous crime was committed, but I do have some answers. Let me preface what I'm about to say with the statement that I don't know anything about the man who committed this crime, nor do I know his family, but...

Here is what I do know. Children are not born with hate in their hearts. Our loving Father created us for Love, and I believe we all start out with love embedded in our spirits. However, the enemy will use every opportunity to destroy that beautiful love that is implanted in us. He will use the world, deception, our own brokenness, and every other thing he can get his "hands" on to turn us against one another and try to replace our loving spirits with hate and evil. It is our responsibility to fight this evil whenever and wherever we see it.

Parents are often (not always) the ones who teach prejudice and hatred to their children. SHAME on those who teach their children to hate others because of the color of their skin, or the accent of their speech, or the place they worship God. If you are telling racial jokes, calling people of other races disparaging names, categorizing people simply due to their color or their nationality, or using any language that doesn't reflect the undeniable fact that God loves ALL mankind, then YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!

It breaks my heart to think that most people in this country call themselves Christians, and yet they degrade other people with their speech and their actions. WWJD! Remember that? What would Jesus do? What would Jesus say to us right now? I shutter to think how broken hearted He is right now seeing how we treat one another.

Parents - teach your children that God loves ALL people. Just like the song "red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight." Teach your children not by telling them. Teach your children by your example. Show them that you love people who don't look like you by being inclusive, by using loving words to all people, by NOT accepting hateful speech, hateful music, hateful actions around you. Reach out in love to those who may be on the fringes, and let your children see this.

Friends - I have been guilty of laughing at a racial joke. I have been guilty of worse. We all have. Even my African American friends have done this. It is time that all of us TAKE A STAND! No more hate speech. Not even joking. Period. That is what we can do. It begins with you and me.

I vow to set an example of God's love for all people by my speech and my actions. I will not promote or tolerate the enemy's agenda by putting other people down. If a friend or someone I know decides to live with hate or promote racism with their words or actions, I will take action. I will call them out. I will let them know it is unacceptable and evil. I WILL TAKE A STAND!

Together, we can teach one another and the next generation that #AllLivesMatter. Will you join me?

Jesus' commandment was simple.

#loveGodlovepeople

A Revelation In The Valley

2015-02-19T14:05:00.001-06:00

Often I will "come across" Scripture that I was not looking for, and when that happens God is usually trying to reveal something to me.

Today, I picked up my phone and it opened the Bible app without me touching the icon (I can take a hint Lord :)). It opened to Mark 8, so I read through the chapter trying to see what God was saying to me. Beginning at verse 14 we learn that as the disciples are leaving by boat with Jesus, they realize they have only brought one loaf of bread for the journey. Now, mind you, this is after Jesus performed 2 separate miracles feeding 4 thousand, then 5 thousand people with only a few loaves of bread. Yet, here they are, eye-witnesses to those very miracles and they are right back to worrying about food when the Son of God is right there in the boat with them!!

Oh my goodness! There are some BIG lessons here, aren't there?

The first thing that slaps me in the face is how quick we humans are to doubt and to forget the greatness of the God who created us. How many times does He have to prove His trustworthiness before that is the first thing we think about when we are in crisis? How many times has He rescued us from the darkness of our own sins? How many times must we witness His love before we truly believe that He is always out for our good?

He is standing in our midst and we fail to recognize the God of all creation.

Jesus says, "Don't you grasp what has happened? Don't you understand? Are your hearts so resistant to what God is doing? Don't you have eyes? Why don't you see? Don't you have ears? Why don't you hear? Don't you remember?" I can almost see the look of exasperation on Jesus' face.

Forgive me Lord when your grace is right in front of me and I fail to see it. Forgive me sweet Jesus when I limit your power by my own doubt. Forgive me Father for my human failures.

I may be in the valley of darkness at this moment, but I shall remain faithful to the One who has proved Himself over and over and over again. He is incapable of failing me. Did you hear that? God is INCAPABLE OF FAILING US! It is not in His DNA (okay, I admit I don't know if He even has DNA, but you get the meaning).

I have failed Him countless times. Sometimes, it is even the same sin over and over. But, He will NEVER fail me.

He will hold my hand, whisper to my heart, reveal His goodness and mercy, and pull me from the valley to the mountaintop once again. I trust my God in the midst of doubt, and pain, and struggle. He isn't letting go of me, and I refuse to let go of Him.

He is worthy. I trust Him.

Be love and be blessed,

Crying To God In Winter

2014-12-20T11:01:00.001-06:00

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about seasons. Despite what many Northerners believe, we do have changing seasons here in Texas. I love the changes, but I do have my favorite times of the year.

Summer is my favorite season by far. That may sound strange since summers in Texas can bring brutal temperatures and ungodly humidity. But, there is something magical about summer.

Walking outside in the early morning in a tshirt, shorts and flip flops makes me feel unencumbered. And, the warm sun on my face feels like love upon my skin. You know how love makes you feel warm all over? On those warm summer mornings sitting on the porch, looking at the way the sun reflects on the lake like millions of diamonds sparkling brightly, I feel close to God.

Our bald eagle sightings are far more frequent in summer than any other time of year. God speaks to me through these majestic birds, as well as the hawks that live near us. When I am blessed to spot an eagle flying over the lake looking for an aquatic meal, I hear God speaking to my heart. I feel His presence and His love for me, personally. I'm convinced He is sending me love letters in the form of these birds that I love, and in many other ways through his earthly creations.

Now that I'm writing these thoughts, I realize the true reason I love summer more than any other time of year. It is because I feel God's love and His spirit so much more powerfully when I'm spending time experiencing nature and the incredible creatures around us.

But, I've been thinking more about winter these days. Not so much the season of winter that is upon us, but the seasons of winter in our lives. To be sure, we all experience winter. It's a time of bleakness, uncomfortable cold, and sometimes utter darkness. I've survived many a winter in my life. Times of despair. Times of hopelessness. Times of hunger.

In the midst of these cold seasons of life, when I've felt I could not go on one more day, when winter had taken a heavy toll upon my soul, I inevitably reach for Jesus, in desperation, asking for answers, begging for the pain to stop, questioning why a loving God would allow me to suffer so.

He doesn't always bring me the answers I seek, or lift the pain with the snap of His fingers, but when I finally turn to God in my suffering, I find solace. I find comfort. I find He is and always was there. And, in time, I find joy again.

Because we live in an imperfect world, winter will visit us again and again. Sometimes it is mild and spring arrives so quickly we hardly notice that we experienced a darker time and our challenges are easily forgotten. Other times the harshness of our winter threatens to overwhelm us to the point of annihilation, and in those moments we have no choice but to cry out to God for help. There is nowhere else to turn, and if we don't cry out we will surely die.

Your might isn’t in numbers, and your power isn’t in the strength of a human being. But you are the God of the humble. You are a helper of the underdog, defender of the weak, protector of those who despair, savior of those without hope. - Judith 9:11

More winters are coming. A harsh one is on the horizon. Lord, I need you now. Sweet Jesus, thank you for suffering for me so that I can remember the hope I have during the terrible winters. A hope of everlasting life, a joy so complete that it will banish all winters into oblivion. Thank you that I can find joy even in winter, knowing that summer is coming.

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will fly up on wings like eagles; they will run and not be tired; they will walk and not be weary. - Isaiah 40:31

Be love and be blessed,

Remembering

2014-09-11T10:12:00.000-05:00

I will never forget that horrible day. It began as routinely as any other day, and held the promise of wonderful possibilities. But, before morning had the chance to rush to it's secret finale, that promise was destroyed.

On the phone that morning, a client alerted me to the news that an airplane had flown into a building in New York City. Immediately, I turned on the TV and saw the image replayed. My heart began beating faster as my hand rose to cover my mouth though that gesture failed to keep the audible gasp from escaping me. I remember thinking "those poor passengers and crew" and "what was wrong with the airplane that the pilot would have lost control to the point of crashing into a skyscraper?".

As I continued to watch the film footage on the news, I cried out in terror when I saw the second plane hit the second tower. I don't remember the mental process of connecting what I had seen with what had actually happened, but it only took seconds for the reality to register - that this was no accident. My heart broke into a million pieces and I crumbled in dismay.

This can't be real. It's some kind of trick. I waited for the news agencies to reveal the hoax.

They didn't.

Part of me didn't want to know what I knew. If only I could erase from my mind the images and words I'd already filed away in my brain. But, I could not. There was no escape now from the horror of the knowledge that an evil such as I'd never personally witnessed had, in fact, arrived, uninvited, on the doorstep of America.

Today, I remember. I remember that evil can and does attack people and nations whether or not it is invited or expected. I remember that shock and terror are paralyzing forces. I remember that a nation of citizens no matter their race, politics, or religion can stand together in solidarity to mourn, to weep, to be vigilant, and to seek justice. I remember that God is good and He grieves with us when our hearts are broken.

I remember.

One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Never forget. September 11, 2001

Be love in a world that desperately needs it,

Meeting Jesus

2014-04-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

It has been a difficult few weeks. Yesterday, after learning a person I love has a devastating illness, I broke down.

I railed against God, I questioned, I screamed, I cried and I told God it wasn't fair and that I was mad at Him. My head knows it is not His fault, and He did not cause this terrible thing to happen, but my heart was broken and I wanted Him to know the depth of my pain.

He listened and took my misguided anger, just as Jesus took my sins upon Himself on the cross. God didn't flinch when I screamed and told Him He wasn't fair.

Right before turning the lights out for bed, I prayed that He would allow me to rest. He did. I slept well despite my heartache. When I awoke, I thanked Him right away for the good rest.

Often, I pray when I walk. This morning I took a walk in the woods, and there I met Jesus. When my eyes saw this, I fell to my knees and cried for mercy and strength.

"Lord, my suffering is nothing compared to what you suffered for all of us. But, I am hurting and I need you. Please show me the way."

And he answered, "My Word is a lamp unto thy feet and a light unto thy path."

Amen.

Be love and be blessed,

Changing Seasons

2014-02-18T16:25:00.000-06:00

As I sit on my sofa, looking through the east facing windows of my home toward the lake, I see new life joyfully springing forth.  The skies are bluer, the temperatures warmer, the grass is greening and the birds seem very happy! This change seems so out of place given that just a week ago we experienced a winter storm that ended with heavy ice clothed tree branches that snapped and crashed down all over our property.

Seasons are that way. They sneak up on us, don't they? One day it is so cold you cannot steal enough courage to walk outdoors, knowing the north wind will painfully punish any skin that happens to be left uncovered. And, the next, you look out and see new populations of birds at the feeder, and leaf buds forming all over the still bare tree limbs that reach desperately toward the heavens as if looking for what they need to bring them back to life.

Isn't this true of humans too?  As in nature, we pass through seasons of life and sometimes we can't know when the season will change. Just when we think we can take no more - no more stress, no more bad news, no more uncertainty - a friend comes along and throws us a life preserver in the form of an encouraging word, an offer of help, or simply an ear to listen with true concern. Suddenly, the sky isn't as dark and our countenance begins to soften as the stress melts, even if only for a while.

Sometimes we are sailing along enjoying our summer without a care in the world - all is well. The kids are healthy and happy, the finances are in order, the job is secure, and then it comes crashing down. The season is suddenly changed to a cold, dreary, gloomy time that seems without hope or answers, or end.  The marriage you thought was rock solid is falling apart. One of your kids is abusing drugs. Your company is about to downsize. You ask, "What happened?"

Life happened.

The seasons of life ebb and flow. We're not privileged to live in uninterrupted summer (insert whichever season is your favorite here - mine happens to be summer) with our smiles, our tans and our icy lemonade. But, we are blessed to witness the beauty and joy of summers, and that helps us, and even prepares us, to endure the harsh times of winter.

A deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ is the way we get through the seasons of life and maintain a joyous attitude. When we carve time out of our lives during every season to build our relationship with our Savior, we find that in good times and bad we maintain joy. We can face the sudden changes in life with a smile and with the assurance that in the end we will live in the beauty and the glory of perpetual summer.

What season are you in currently?  Are you desperately reaching for what will bring you back to life? The Good News is you don't have to reach far, just grab His hand. He's right beside you.

Be love and be blessed,

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

2013-11-23T08:53:00.002-06:00

Today will be a new beginning of a wonderful love affair. Today, we become new parents to a Labrador Retriever puppy whom we've named Riley. It is an incredibly exciting day, as we have looked forward to having her for quite a while now.

But, the day is also a little bittersweet because even a new, precious puppy can't replace our beloved Katy. And, that is the way it should be, isn't it? My heart still aches sometimes when I think of her and wish she was still beside me. She will hold a permanent place of honor and love in my heart and mind.

Riley will be loved just as Katy was and is, not as a replacement, but as a new unique member of our family. My prayer is that Miss Riley will live up to the standard of intelligence, companionship, kindness and unconditional love set by my sweet Katy girl.

Katy, watch over this new girl and help us remember how to teach her to be not just a good dog, but an exceptional friend, as you were.

Be love and be blessed,

Oh My - I Went On A Shopping Spree!!

2013-09-22T17:55:00.001-05:00

The very few people who read my blog know that I've challenged myself to a year of non-consumerism, of frugal living, of being grateful and focused on all that I have instead of wanting and buying more.

Now, before you get judgmental about the title of this blog, let me explain myself. I've done quite well since January with my pledge to not buy new. There have been some exceptions, particularly when it comes to my grandson, but I put him on the "does not count if I buy him any amount of clothes or toys" list before I ever agreed to this endeavor. Though I'm proud to say that I mostly buy his clothes at baby consignment sales.

Back to my confession of my tremendous, excellent, stupendous, amazing shopping spree, the likes of which I've never experienced in my life! You ladies who like to shop will just laugh and think I'm loony, but I really HATE shopping. Yet, this was the most fun I've ever had shopping for clothes. The good news is......

I DIDN'T BREAK MY PLEDGE!!

My closet really has become sparse when I discount all the shirts with holes in them and the clothes that don't fit anymore. It was time. I had to get some new duds.

Thank God for a wonderful resale clothing store in Tyler where I spent 4 hours shopping (folks I've NEVER spent 4 hours shopping for clothes) and tried on at least 100 pieces of clothing! To my surprise, absent was the pressure I would've normally felt shopping at Macy's to find the perfect ensemble at a price that didn't give me buyer's remorse.

It was also surprising to me how I felt a new sense of freedom and adventure in choosing what I liked. When a name brand skirt is $6 or $8, you can venture out and try a style that is a little different than what you would normally do, with no guilt.

I left the store with 17 gently used pieces of clothing, including one pair of dress shoes that looked like they had never been worn, spent about $170 before tax, and felt like a million bucks!

Now, I have 2 dilemmas.

The first is when I'm going to wear each of my new items! And, the second is will I ever go back to the old way of living and consuming? I feel so much better shopping this way where I save my family money, reuse items that are still wonderful and viable, and feel like I'm being a much better steward of all that God has given me.

It's something to think about.....

Be love and be blessed,

Waiting for Blessing

2013-09-07T14:33:00.000-05:00

I was reminded today that sometimes we must wait for what we desire. We are normally an inpatient lot, aren't we? We want what we want and we want it now!

But, what if we were to wait for God's timing? The mere discipline of waiting for Him to reveal His gifts can be a blessing all on its own. When we wait patiently, it forces us to slow down and take notice of our surroundings, our feelings, our hopes and our blessings.

"I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope." - Psalm 130:5

This morning I took the kayak out on the lake in hopes of seeing the eagles and getting some decent photographs. I even managed to take my camera with a charged battery this time!

As I paddled along the shoreline, I took my time and enjoyed the solitude and beauty of the morning. There were no motorboats on the water and the only noises were the sounds of my paddles hitting the water, the bubbling and splashing of fish hitting the top of the water and the various water birds calling and heading off in flight to a new fishing perch.

Soon I was in front of the eagles nesting area, but I saw no sign of them in the tall pines. I brought along cold water and a granola bar, so I sat patiently in the kayak and slowly ate my breakfast. Because I had no place I had to be and was in no hurry, I simply enjoyed the moments.

I savored the taste of grains and nuts, listened to my silent breath, and sat still, a quiet (though not invisible) observer of the amazing beauty around me. The great blue herons were peacefully walking along shorelines looking intently for neighboring fish who might swim close enough to become a meal. Two pelicans were lazily floating in the shallow inlet. Cattle were grazing in the fields and venturing into the water to get a drink.

The world is at peace.

For this moment.

Praise you Lord for your wondrous works and your gifts of grace and mercy. Even though I did not receive what I desired (eagles) I was blessed by Your presence and the gift of serenity.

Be love and be blessed,

Of Gardens, Wasps and Bald Eagles

2013-07-14T16:26:00.002-05:00

Yesterday started as one of those fairly mundane Saturdays that unexpectedly turned into a day I will always remember. It's funny how an ordinary day can be transformed in an instant. When unplanned things happen and suddenly your day has transformed into something altogether different that you anticipated.

That is exactly what happened yesterday.

It's July in Texas and we have a garden. That normally means getting to those garden chores on Saturday mornings before the heat index reaches "swim in your sweat" level. So, after coffee and breakfast we headed to the garden to clean up, weed and pick produce before the worst heat of the day settled upon us.

I began by picking peas and tomatoes and cleaning up the mess the squirrels had made. Plants were drying up from the heat and drought and I was examining the cucumber vine, trying to decide whether it was a goner or not, when out of nowhere a red wasp dropped down on my arm like a blowtorch.

The pain was instantaneous and sharp. I jumped up and down like an Indian doing a war dance and headed over to get help from my husband who must have thought I was crazy as I danced around waving my good arm at him. He couldn't hear my yelling over the tractor and his iPod, so the crazy dancing was definitely necessary to get his attention.

Bruce jumped on the golf cart with me and raced me to the house where he put a soothing paste of baking soda on the sting. It did help the burn, but it was still very painful. But, not liking anyone to think I'm not tough, back off to the garden we went.

I had the nagging feeling that maybe I wasn't supposed to be in the garden that day. As I continued cleanup - at the farthest point from the cucumbers as possible - something bit my leg. Examining the area I couldn't see anything, but it was itching and uncomfortable. Within a minute it began to swell and the itching grew intense. "God", I said, "are you trying to tell me to get out of the garden? Is there a snake around here and are you trying to keep me from getting bit? Or, am I just looking for an excuse to get out of this hot work?"

After a few minutes of feeling like I was supposed to leave the garden I walked over and told Bruce I was taking the kayak out for a short while. I'm not sure how pleased he was to learn that while he continued working, I would be leisurely paddling around the lake, but he tried not to make me feel too guilty (only because I had been wounded by the aforementioned devil wasp).

After changing clothes, filling an insulated jug with ice water, and loading and unloading the kayak into the water, I was paddling north for a short adventure on the lake. Since my goal was a short, leisurely trip I decided to follow the shoreline of our next door neighbor's ranch and watch for wildlife. His lakefront is not accessible in most boats due to the tree stumps and shallow water, but it would be no problem to navigate in my kayak.

Immediately, I saw two giant blue herons, a common, but still always remarkable sight. I love the grace of these birds, but they are easily spooked when we are in our power boat. Now, as the kayak quietly slipped through the calm water, they remained perched on the tree stumps in shallow water, alertly scanning for their favorite meal to swim by. I was no bother to them at all.

Three sweet mallard ducks were nestled in the weedy grass at the shore, preening themselves and enjoying the quiet of the inlet. They didn't seem to notice me and my bright green kayak as I slid by.

The familiar cormorants were swimming and diving into the water for fish. A few were scouting for a meal from tree stumps scattered throughout the inlet. There were a few of another interesting bird that I didn't recognize but will certainly investigate. Perhaps a bittern?

There were cattle grazing along the shoreline who typically don't enjoy humans coming toward them, but contently watched as I quietly passed them in the water.

As I rounded a corner where I had planned to start heading back toward home, I studied the last part of that shoreline, admiring the new stand of young pines growing in front of an older stand of majestic tall pines. As I gazed from the young pines to the taller ones, I caught a glimpse of white and did a quick double take. There she was with her white crown of glory atop her head, an American Bald Eagle!

She literally took my breath away! Though I wasn't moving fast, I pulled my paddle out of the water and just sat in my kayak watching and admiring this gorgeous and powerful creature. My mind just kept screaming "WOW!" as I held my breath in an effort to be invisible. She stayed for a good while, turning her head in all directions with such precision and alertness. Finally, I watched as she flew out of the trees and across the water, such grace, and power, and courage showcased within an 8 foot wingspan.

I sat still, unable to move because my heart was so full of wonder and amazement. After a couple of minutes, I saw her returning toward me in flight. She landed in the exact spot from which she had launched moments ago, as if she were tethered so precise was her landing.

Immediately I heard it, the cries of baby eaglets! What amazement! What joy! What beauty! I couldn't believe there were baby eagles right next door to my house. How blessed am I to witness this glorious bird in person?

After watching until I felt I was invading on mother's privacy, I rushed back in the kayak to tell Bruce what I had witnessed. My suggestion was that he take the kayak and see for himself, but he wanted us both to go in the canoe. So, we did. This time, not only did we see one majestic Bald Eagle, we saw both parents! The two of them stood in the trees, beautiful white crowns on display above their powerful brown shoulders. The sun reflected off their yellow beaks and their fierce eyes didn't miss a single detail in the landscape.

Through a comedy of errors we did not get a photograph of the eagles. But, we will quietly and respectfully venture there again to watch and admire them. Hopefully, pictures will be in the future.

For now, I have vivid, powerful images etched into my brain of the day when God nudged me out of the garden and into the wild. Painful wasp sting? Baaahh! It would have been worth several to get me on the lake to behold the majesty God created.

Try going where He nudges you. You may just find that you are filled with amazement and joy!

Be love and be blessed,

Life Transforming Love

2013-06-18T15:04:00.000-05:00

My husband and I returned a couple of days ago from a junior high mission trip in La Porte, Texas. Neither of us has ever participated in a youth mission trip, even though our daughter went on several when she was in high school. Back then she did NOT want her parents along to "ruin" her fun.

When our church announced that adults were needed to go on the trip, it was as if God said to me "Get your bags packed, you're going." I told my hubbie that I had to go with or without him, but I preferred it to be with him. He obliged, naturally. :)

My eagerness and determination to go should not be construed to mean that I had a lack of fear or anxiety about accompanying our youth on their first, and my first, mission trip. I was plenty scared.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

Boy, is that verse true! God answered our prayers, strengthened us and helped us. We aren't spring chickens any more, but with God's presence we were physically, emotionally and spiritually strong enough for anything that might happen.

We're so thankful that we listened to God's calling and accompanied our youth on their trip! We are both forever changed by our experience. Let me just list a few of the things we learned in those 3 days.

Youth want non-family adults to take an interest in their lives. Not only do they "want" that, but they need it.
When you take time to get to know kids, when they understand that you truly care about them, they will let you into their world. That may include asking your opinion about an important issue (when is the last time your own teenager asked your opinion?), or asking you what the Bible says about a specific topic, or just sharing how they feel about something or someone.
Kids will follow your example, even if at first they are fearful. If they see you encourage, they will encourage. If they see you love unconditionally, they will love unconditionally. If they see you worship God with abandon, they will be comfortable in connecting with God.
It doesn't matter your age or circumstance or ability, everyone can make an impact in the world and bring the love of Jesus to others.

Our worship experiences at camp were absolutely incredible! At times, there was not a dry eye among the 116 attendees. Worship was always about God and showing Him how much we love and need Him. It is never about us, even though we try to make it so.

But true to God's nature, He always has more to give than we understand or anticipate. So, even though our intent and purpose was to worship Him, He filled us with to overflowing with His joy and love. Teenagers flocked to the altar, raised their hands to heaven and praised God with tears pouring down their faces.

What a joyous and fulfilling sight! If I died tomorrow, I would be at peace and happy with the gifts of abundance that God has given me. The last night of worship with everyone on their feet at the front of the sanctuary, praising God, I thought this is exactly what Jesus was talking about when he said,

"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." - John 10:10

Be love and be blessed,

The Messenger

2013-05-28T17:37:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I feel alone. I bet you do too.

But, we're not. Our loving Father is always with us. Many times though I neglect to be still, to quiet my mind, to seek Him.

He is there. He is waiting for me to slow down and spend time with Him. He longs to hear from me (and you) - and to speak to us. If only, I would quiet myself, and give Him my time.

Recently, I've felt a sense of loss in some relationships. I reach out to some whom I love, with caring, and find a void. There is no acknowledgement, or gentleness or return of loving gesture or feeling.

It is nothing that I can change, He has told me. He has encouraged me and affirmed me when I'm saddened by this lack of human caring or return of love.

And so I was in the garden, feeling a bit sad and alone, wondering about the way people treat one another. On my back I had strapped a backpack sprayer with 3 HEAVY gallons of organic plant food. With one hand I pumped the sprayer handle up and down to keep pressure in the tank, and in the other hand I held the sprayer nozzle.

As I began spraying my tomato plants, a beautiful small butterfly landed on my left hand. I stopped what I was doing to admire and study him, thinking he would fly off in a few seconds. He didn't.

He doesn't look colorful here, or particularly beautiful with his wings together on his back. But, occasionally he would open them ever so briefly and I'd glimpse a gorgeous kaleidoscope of color and pattern.

But his beauty was not the wondrous thing about this encounter. For this little butterfly was a divine messenger. In my heart, I heard God telling me, "You are not alone. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I will always love you."

Instantly, I felt joy and the sadness melted away. I thought, "Okay, I hear you Lord. Thank you for that reminder." But, He wasn't done encouraging me.

You see, my little winged friend refused to leave me. At first, I wouldn't use my left hand, not wanting to scare him away. Then, I decided to go about my chore, though gently. As I used my hand to pump up the sprayer, he hung on to my finger. I thought he would surely fly off any moment, but he stayed on my hand while I sprayed plant after plant.

"Wow God! You really know how to send a message!"

As I finished the garden and started to load the sprayer onto the cart to drive back to the barn and use the remaining spray for our blackberries, my friend flew off my hand. I smiled. How special our time together had been - He had cheered me so!

When I arrived at the barn, put on the backpack again and walked to the blackberries, I thought I saw a butterfly. Flutter. There. It was a different one on the blackberries. "Oh well," I thought, "it couldn't have been the same one."

At that moment I a felt a tickle on my left hand. I raised my hand, and there was my friend holding my hand in the very same spot as before! "This is amazing."

He stayed with me as I finished my chore. I carried him through the yard to show my husband and to take his picture. Finally, I told him thanks and let him know it was okay to leave now. Only then did he fly from my hand.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Father, you are so kind and generous with your love. You ALWAYS take time to show us your love if we stop to seek you and quiet ourselves in your presence. Thank you for the messenger of love you sent my way.

Be love and be blessed,

Something New

2013-05-28T08:53:00.000-05:00

I made it to April before I bought something new! And, technically, I haven't broken my "compact", but I was a little disappointed nonetheless.

My walking/running shoes had holes in the toes of both shoes, so a new pair was in order. It just so happened that we received a reward card from REI so I was able to buy a new pair of running shoes (and some running shorts) with the card without spending any money from our bank account.

I have to confess it felt nice to have something new, but I was also a little disappointed that it was necessary to buy something. It's funny how after a while the goal of being a non-consumer is just part of who you are.

Thanks to a friend of mine who is trying to be more frugal, I found a nice resale shop that I visited. They have great clothes and shoes, so if I really want something "new" I will definitely shop there first. So far I've resisted the almost new riding boots and a couple of cute dresses - for now!

Now for the real confession - I bought a new souvenir t-shirt while we were on vacation. :( But, I think it's a lucky shirt because look what happened the first time I wore it!

Now that's a bass!

I'm continuing on the frugal journey and enjoying moments of life, instead of "stuff". It's amazing the sense of freedom you gain when you let loose of possessions. When you stop chasing things and realize all that surrounds you, it is humbling.

May you let loose today and be free to fill your soul with the beauty of creation, the laughter of loved ones and the love of God.

Be love and be blessed,

The End is Near

2013-04-19T09:46:00.002-05:00

Events are still unfolding in Boston. One of the Marathon bomber suspects is dead and another, his 19 year old brother, is on the run with hundreds of police and military personnel working to apprehend him.

The end is near.

Either the brother will be caught, killed or will disappear. But, one way or another this terrible saga will be over, at least for a time. I am still convinced that we will not receive the answer we desperately want to understand - Why? Nonetheless, we will all breathe a sigh of relief, even while grief still holds our hearts in its grip, that these criminals have been stopped.

But, what about the next enemy? When will another individual choose terror and murder as the path for their life? How do we protect ourselves from these enemies?

The importance of our well trained and courageous law enforcement can't be overstated. I'm so thankful for the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe from our enemies. We must always pray for them, for their safety, for their families.

But from a spiritual perspective, what are we to do about these enemies? Scripture is clear. We are to pray for our enemies.

In Matthew, Chapter 5, Jesus tells us:

"love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"

It seems absurd in this situation doesn't it? The Alpha and Omega, the Word who has been present since the beginning of time and will be present for eternity, knew that we would need to hear and heed those words in this perilous time in history. Why would Jesus tell us this?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

We pray for our enemies so we may be sons of God. We pray for ALL because ALL are God's children and He grieves over the Lost.

If you believe in the power of prayer, then you should be committed to praying for our (and your) enemies. I believe Jesus also knew that we would need to battle spiritually against the dark forces in this world that would threaten our very existence. He knew there is no greater power than believers fervently praying to the Father for help, deliverance, protection and praying as interceders for the Lost.

We must pray for our enemies. Pray that the Holy Spirit will enter their hearts and lives so that hatred and evil would be replaced by love and God's goodness. Pray that those who are Lost and vulnerable to be used by Satan for evil would instead be found by the God who loves them so much He sacrificed His own Son for them so they might be saved.

That kind of prayer is the way to change hearts, and changing hearts is how we make the world better.

Pray for your enemies.

Be love and be blessed,

What Remains?

2013-04-16T16:04:00.001-05:00

In the wake of yesterday's horrific tragedy we are plagued by questions, the biggest and toughest of which is Why? Why do humans hurt one another in such senseless acts of violence? Why would a person or persons think that to harm innocent bystanders, minding their own business and enjoying an American tradition, yields anything of value?

In the coming days our authorities will analyze the mountain of leads coming in and will find those responsible for this act of terror, of this I have no doubt. But, I am just as confident that even if those who are responsible tell us "Why" it will not answer the question. We will still be left stunned and saddened and, unfortunately, perhaps a little more hardened ourselves.

So often we discover after an event such as yesterday that those responsible for the evil destruction upon others have in some way been impacted by hate, violence and bigotry in their own lives. Don't jump to conclusions - I'm not defending these heinous acts or the perpetrators in the least. I'm simply questioning on another level - Why? Why do human beings, whether in the name of God or justice or plain hatred, decide that murder and maiming are ways to a better life or to positive change or even to furthering their agenda?

I can't make sense of it.

How can so much evil and vileness exist in the same human heart that can respond with goodness, generosity and love?

We are already hearing the stories of courage and selflessness that inevitably occur in the midst of tragedy. Bostonians and visitors rushed to give blood that would save the lives of the injured. The citizens of Boston opened their homes to complete strangers who had lost their belongings in the explosions. Many of these stories will be nearly identical to those we heard after that fateful day in September that forever changed us and forever changed our nation.

We need to hear these stories of love because the question of Why hangs in the air like a shadowy noxious gas. If that question was all we were left with, we would suffocate under the weight of the burden of knowledge that mankind can be so incredibly cruel. But, it's not all that remains.

1 John 4:16
We have known and have believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them.

Let us stand strong together. Let us seek justice for these horrible crimes against innocent citizens. Let us be courageous and resolute. Let us always fight the evil that exists around us. But, let us not forget that we are not just capable of great love in tragic times, but it is our responsibility to keep that love alive in us no matter the circumstances. That is how we overcome evil and hatred, by allowing God to remain and grow where bitterness and hatred threaten to take hold.

Don't allow it. Don't give up. Don't lose faith. Don't stop loving others. Everything will end one day and strife will no longer be. But, love never ends.

Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Be love and be blessed,

In case you don't know the meaning of my closing, I always use the same one, "Be love and be blessed". Some have thought I meant "be loved", but I have intentionally used the phrase to mean that we are to be love in this world and by being that love we not only bless others but are blessed ourselves by showing and sharing our love.

Pelicans and Eagles, Oh my!

2013-04-02T16:57:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, with 80 degree temperatures, blue skies and calm winds, we couldn't resist taking a boat cruise on the lake. Oh, I've been craving an afternoon like that for months! The simple bliss of feeling the warmth of the sun on my bare arms and legs was AMAZING!

There were other spectacular joys too, and that got me thinking about all the gifts we enjoy freely. (You were wondering when I was going to get to the free, frugal, saving money theme weren't you?)

Words can't describe the incredible sight of watching not one, not two, but three bald eagles soaring over our boat dock as they glided across the gleaming water on the lake and ascended high above the tall pine forest. What a treasured moment to see these magnificent birds literally in our own backyard!

Oh, but God had more excitement in store for us. As we motored slowly north on the lake, we came upon a half dozen or so white pelicans, a common sight in the winter and spring months since they began migrating to our lake seasonally several years ago.

It was on the way back south toward home when we again saw the pelicans that we spotted one floating atop the smooth water right on the path we were taking. The picture isn't the greatest, but we didn't want to get too close and scare him away. But, WOW! Another uniquely beautiful creature!

Our creator has fashioned a world of glorious beauty and unmatched artistry for us to behold. If you're struggling with ways to save money on entertainment, try spending afternoons and evenings in a natural park setting, on a lake, or sitting under the expansive arms of a giant decades old oak tree. It's the perfect time of year in Texas to take those outdoor opportunities and develop an appreciation for nature's free "theme parks".

Pay attention, listen, and meditate on the quiet and gentle splendor of creation. If you settle your soul and rid your mind of your day's worries, you may even hear the whisper of God, and that is a priceless treasure indeed.

Be blessed,

Heating Pads and Other Necessities

2013-03-26T15:44:00.003-05:00

How am I doing with this frugal living challenge? I'd say fair - maybe give myself a B+.

It's been moderately easy to keep a grip on my wallet when it comes to new clothing, books, music. But, let's face it, I have plenty of clothes in my closet. They may not be the latest fashion, or what I want, but I'm certainly not in need.

However, I'm learning there are modern conveniences that we don't want to go without. And, some things I don't feel good about buying used even if I could.

Our 25 year-old heating pad that finally died is one example. First, I'll give my hubby some kudos because he did take apart the electrical control to see if he could fix it. But, alas, 25 years is apparently all the life you get from an electric heating pad. This thing looks like it was actually made in America - that should tell you how old it was!

Even if I could find a heating pad at a consignment store, I don't think I would buy it unless it was in the original box and came with a warranty. Something about safety and electrical appliances just doesn't feel right.

So, we bought a brand new heating pad. If this one lasts 25 years, I'd say that's a darn good investment and, although it's not an absolute necessity for survival, with all our aches and pains from gardening and overdoing it taking care of a large property, a heating pad gets plenty of use around our house and keeps us going for another day!

This was how the pain occurred for the most recent heating pad occasion.

I digress.

The modern convenience of a solar powered gate at the entrance to our property also required the purchase of something new. The control panel went bad and after spending months charging and changing batteries every week, we finally ordered the new part. Costly! And, not anything fun to spend money on. But, we want the security and convenience of that automatic gate, so we paid.

Enough of these boring purchases, have I told you about the children's consignment sale we went to a few weeks ago? Now, that was a fun place to spend money!

Here is my sweet grandson in the high chair I bought for our house at the sale. This is a $150 high chair that was in perfect condition, had all the features I wanted, and cost $45!

I couldn't resist buying him clothes and he was ready for 6-9 month sizes. How does $46 for $300-$400 of clothes sound? Not a stain, tear or fray on any item. Why would any sensible person not shop at these sales for children?

There's no new Easter dress for me this year, but that's OK. I'll give myself an A for that effort though. There is a lovely pink dress in my closet that's only been worn two or three times and that will do just fine for Easter.

How are you doing with your budget? How are you doing in simplifying your life?

P.S. Did I mention that my hubby's computer was run over? Literally, run over in the driveway! Guess what the next new purchase is?

Be love and be blessed,

Choose To Be Happy

2013-03-24T14:50:00.006-05:00

This morning I saw a post one of my friends put on Facebook. It was about what happy people do differently. What makes them happy.

Happiness isn't difficult. It doesn't have to be elusive. It's not a secret puzzle that can only be solved by a few.

Happiness is all about attitude and choice.

We choose to be happy or to be miserable. PERIOD.

Each day when we get out of bed, we can have a glass half full attitude, or we can see everything as half empty.

I'm sorry, but it really is as simple as that (serious mental illness excepted). Don't try to tell me that YOUR circumstances are different and that's why you aren't happy. Baloney!

Don't start with the "well, ifs". You know its not true and I ain't buyin' it!

"Well, if I felt better I would be happy." Brrrrp! (That's supposed to be that game show sound meaning "wrong answer".) You can be happy when you feel terrible. You can choose to find the good things in life despite your health. Examples of people overcoming physical disabilities and diseases and having a great attitude abound. NEXT?

"Well, if I had more money I would be happy." Brrrrp. How much did you pay for that last package of Happy you bought at Walmart? It's not a matter of money, or even whether you can pay your bills. It's about gratitude. Happiness comes from a truly thankful heart. Choose to live minimally and within your means, no matter how modest. Focus on the gifts God gives - love, relationships, nature. Next?

"Well, if I had more time for me I would be happy." Brrrrp. You choose how to spend your time. You're in control of allocating your time. If you're overwhelmed, you are the one who can change your calendar and your commitments. Oh, I'll hear a lot of excuses here, but we waste a ton of time - Time we can reclaim for ourselves.

You get the idea. Happiness is your choice and only you can make it. No one can ruin your day unless you allow it. No one can give you gratitude - you must nurture that yourself. No one can wave a magic wand and make all your troubles disappear. But, you can choose to smile and be kind no matter what trouble the world brings.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? ...Matthew 6:24-34

I think the worry the Lord was warning us about was the kind of unhealthy focus that we allow to steal our happiness. When we spend our time worrying and focusing on all that is negative, it becomes harder to experience gratitude and joy. Jesus tells us that we are the most important thing in creation to God.

If we think about the greatness of the love from a God who would suffer and die so that we can enjoy a relationship with Him forever, how can we choose anything but happiness?

Be love and be blessed,

You Hypocrites!

2013-02-28T17:23:00.000-06:00

Forgiveness. We all want it.

But, we don't always offer it.

In our Bible study this week, we discussed persuasive arguments people give as a reason they don't go to church or why they aren't Christian. One argument people give is that "Christians are hypocrites."

As a Christian, let me confess. I'm a hypocrite.

That's right. I believe in a standard set by Jesus Christ, a standard with a bar so high that I cannot possibly toe the line without mistakes. I profess to believe in something, and yet I sometimes act in contradiction to those beliefs. I'm an imperfect human.

And so are you. We are all hypocrites, aren't we? At times, each of us simply fails to live up to standards we have set for ourselves. It is the nature of fallen mankind.

But, I'm a hypocrite saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus.

Back to the issue of forgiveness. I've always wanted forgiveness when I make a mess of things. When I know I've done something wrong, or I've hurt someone, I want to be forgiven for not getting things right. I want to know that just because I'm a temporary hypocrite doesn't mean that I'm worthless, unlovable or unforgivable.

Am I extending that same forgiveness when I'm the one who's been hurt or wronged? Not always.

But, I'm getting better at it. And, that's because I'm getting better at giving the hurt, the anger, the betrayal, the unfairness to God. He will carry my burdens if I let them go and lay them at His feet.

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30

When we forgive others, we are made right with God. It is not about letting someone off the hook. It is about knowing and living in the standard set by our Redeemer, who has called us to "love others as we love ourselves." So, that's the other part of the equation.

Forgive yourself. We are called to forgiveness. Of others and of ourselves. In forgiveness you will find true freedom, for when we give our burdens of anger, sorrow, hurt, sadness, betrayal, and frustration completely to the Lord, we are free to feel love, peace and joy knowing that our burden is gone.

Be love and be blessed,

Torture at the Hands of Prabal Gurung

2013-02-25T17:21:00.004-06:00

Prabal Gurung at Target! Are you kidding me? Was this new clothing collaboration created just to torture me while I try to live in my self imposed non-shopping, nothing new, reuse, recycle, repurposed life?

Have you seen the commercials? The.... cutest..... little.... dresses.... around!! So colorful, springy, fashionable - so ME! It hurts...... Okay, not literally.

Last week I went into Target to pick up a couple of items (nothing for me - and no clothing). I knew Prabal Gurung was on the premises when I walked in the front doors. Beware, I told myself. Be on guard. Wouldn't you know it? Of course those clever marketers placed the springy, colorful, flowing, lovely, sweet pieces of clothing just inside the doors where you almost have no choice but to walk right by!

Did I mention how unbelievably affordable Prabal is? Well, you didn't expect that I could walk by and NOT look at the price tags, did you?

As I quickly flipped through the hangers just to see if this designer was worthy of my attention - I mean I flipped those hangers so fast - my mind raced. Cute, yes, ohhhh, ahhhh, my goodness, omg, $39.99 for this dress?, no way, I need to get this ... for Sara. She would look so cute in this.

I mean really, look at this! Easter dress? For less than $50? That's a steal!

It's a trap. What are you doing? You don't need that! Sara can buy her own clothes. Stop looking at P R A B A L!

Joking aside, I find myself longing for a colorful spring outfit. Maybe I do that every year at this time because I'm ready to celebrate the warming of the earth. Colors are ever so slowly teasing us and letting us know that just below the surface of winter and grayness is new life, color and abundance.

God is moments away from amazing us with his annual display of new beginnings, of rebirth. I look forward to watching those first green leaves unfurl from the native oak trees, and the dark green heads of spring asparagus pushing through the last layer of rich earth to reveal goodness and life that was hidden for a time from our sight, but life that had never stopped or left us.

So, I will resist buying a new dress for Easter, and instead focus on the exciting display of color, variety, freshness and life that will soon burst forth all around me. And, I will say "Thank you God! You make Prabal Gurung's designs look like a pre-schoolers scribbling."

Keep your eyes open for blessings and your heart open with gratitude.

Be love and be blessed,

My Friend Katy

2013-02-15T11:38:00.001-06:00

The tears haven't yet stopped completely. I miss my friend so much.

I miss her in the morning when she would either wake us with "face sugars" or with the sound of her toenails clicking happily on the wood floors as she moved through her merry breakfast dance.

Labradors live to eat and Katy was no exception to this endearing characteristic. "Breakfast", "dinner" and "treat" were her favorite words! Her tummy always knew the time to the minute. At 5:00 p.m., she would sit and stare at you as if to say - "Hello, don't you have a watch? It's time for my dinner." If she were ignored while trying to get your attention as to the time, she would become quite vocal in her demands that you remember the well rehearsed meal routine.

Since I'm able to work from my home office, everyday is bring your dog to work day. I miss Katy reminding me to get up from my desk and take a little break. "Come on Mom, let's go for a short walk and stretch our legs." Since she's been gone, I've forgotten to get up for long stretches and then suffered through back pain as a result.

She always took good care of me.

When Sara went off to college and left us with an empty nest, Bruce was required to travel extensively, leaving me home alone. But, I was never entirely alone. Though devoid of human companionship for long stretches, I always had my loving and cheerful Katy May along with my sweet boy kitty Frodo. She kept loneliness at bay with her never ending love, her cheerful nature, her beautiful smile and her sweet hugs and kisses. More than once her thick yellow fur absorbed the tears falling from my face and she turned my sadness into smiles as she licked the salty moistness from my countenance. Oh, how you loved me.

I don't know how I will enjoy our boat rides this spring without our First Mate, Katy. She was the Queen of the Boat! Next to all her food related words, "boat ride" was her favorite. She was born to live on the lake where she could boat and swim at her pleasure! I'll never forget the hundreds of times we would let her outside only to find her at the door a few minutes later soaking wet, with a huge smile on her face, waiting to come back into the house. Of course, she knew that we would have to towel her off before she could come inside and that was nearly as wonderful as the swim itself. "And, what happens when I go for a swim Mom? That's right, a milk bone treat!"

Good Girl!

I miss her when we walk to the mailbox and come back through the gate. I want to turn around and watch her promptly sit her rear down in the grass as soon as she was inside the gate, waiting for us to "go her way". She stubbornly sat until we turned right off the paved driveway and headed toward the meadow and woods, the path she preferred to take on the way back to the house. We hardly ever refused her insistent request.

I miss my friend when I'm sitting on the closet floor putting on socks and shoes. Katy made it a real challenge to get my shoes on because she strongly viewed sitting on the closet floor as an open invitation for a large yellow Labrador to roll all over my legs and keep me from being able to put on my shoes! And, I always accommodated her by letting her roll on my lap, rubbing her belly and kissing her face. "Good Girl Boo."

We nicknamed her "Boo Boo". I couldn't remember how that got started so I asked Bruce the other day. He reminded me that when she was a puppy she would clumsily run into things and it always looked like it hurt, so we called her "Boo Boo".

I said before that Katy was full of courage and never complained. She had bad hips at an early age, but she never let her pain get in the way of living a full life. She was my brave warrior.

Katy had a heart of gold and lived to please us and make us happy. And, in that she was magnificently successful. I'm thankful we made her happy too - and were blessed to be able to spoil her rotten every day. I thank God for our precious, furry, sometime smelly, itchy, lovable, ridiculously smart, happy, joyful, kind, courageous, beautiful, always shedding, funny, miraculous FRIEND - KATY.

I miss you everyday. You will keep a piece of my heart with you in heaven until we are reunited. I'll always love you Katy.

Be love and be blessed,