Good Morning

I found this bloom this morning. It is the first of my clematis to make its debut. I like to think of it as God greeting me upon waking from a night of rest. My morning ritual these days is to take my breakfast and quiet time on the patio. From there i water my plants and enjoy my tiny, growing garden.
I thank God for this time and for the beautiful setting He has prepared for me.

The Morning Symphony

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” Romans 8:19
When i awoke this morning i heard a wonderful sound. The house was quiet. Everyone else was sleeping still. That is how i was able to hear. It came from outside my window and it was the sound of creation praising God!
The trees stood tall, their uplifted branches swaying in the breeze sang,”Raise your hands and worship the Creator of heaven and earth!”. The surrounding hills joined in the chorus. Their voices were deep and resonated with strength,”No one is greater than He!”. The changing colors of the morning sky reminded me,”His mercies are new every morning.”(Lam.3:23) As the sun began to rise, it sang with a voice so sweet,”The glory of the Lord shines over you!”(Isaiah 60:1) The wind blew,making the winchimes dance, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord!”(Ps. 100:1) it said. I was enjoying this delightful symphony when the rocks cried out, “Don’t keep silent, praise the Lord yourself.” (Luke 19:40) So that is what i did and i will continue to sing praises to my God and King. Will you join me today

God's Reminders

It has been a month of ups(birthdays and celebration)and downs(sinus infections,sore throats and raspy voices). It has been a month of highs(in the 70's)and lows(in the teens). It has also been a month of lots of running and lots of rain. In all this hustle and bustle we have even managed to strip the kitchen floor of 3 layers of linoleum and finish the living room remodel...for the most part anyway. As much as i hate to admit it we did not get the Christmas tree up until Tuesday of last week.
Just recounting the events of the last four weeks wearies me. No wonder my mood has so often matched the weather that has dominated these days, gray and dark. Anyone reading this can imagine how busy i have been. Unfortunately in my busyness i have neglected my quiet time in the mornings, opting instead to roll back over in the comfort of my nice warm bed. It doesn't take too many mornings of this before anxiety and the feelings of overwhelm set in.
One night, before crawling in bed exhausted, i prayed and asked God to remind me of my need of Him to help me get up in the morning and back into His presence. Suddenly it hit me...that is what He was doing all along! All the anxiety and depression, all the feelings of being overwhelmed-all were reminders of the relationship i was neglecting-my relationship with my Heavenly Father. The two weeks since haven't always been easy but they have been rewarding as my quiet time has resumed and God is preparing me each day for whatever comes my way.
My days are still filled with activity. That may never change. But what has changed is my attitude and the way i face life's challenges. What is making that change is the few moments of quiet before the start of each day when i sit in the Father's presence and He fills me with His peace. I am so grateful for God's little reminders and pray i do not forget.

Weekend Challenge: #4

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:25I used to wonder why it was so hard for me find and maintain friendships. It confused me why so many seemed to think of me as an odd combination of June Cleaver,Martha Stewart and Mother Teresa. As a wife and mother they thought i cooked every meal from scratch and kept an immaculate home while raising children who resembled the Brady Bunch. As a homemaker they figured i was creative and organized. While doing all of this, it also seemed i had the patience of a saint. Nothing could have been further from the truth. So where were people getting these ideas? I asked myself this question so many times, it didn't seem i would ever know the answer. Then i prayed and asked God to show me where the miscommunication was taking place. As it turns out I was the one giving everyone that impression! In my eagerness to have friends and to be a friend i was trying hard not to appear needy or too weak. I loved to listen to what others were saying about their lives and families but shared very little about myself. It is a fear thing but it is also very arrogant. Where i had sympathy and compassion for others and their struggles i had none for myself. What i finally realized i was saying was that it was okay for everyone else to struggle but i was supposed to be different somehow. This has not been a fun lesson, no one wants to think they are so arrogant but that is exactly what i have been. So instead of beating myself up, which has been the practice all my life, i am working on my communication skills. Sometimes it is the hardest thing for me to admit that i need help and then ask for it. But with much prayer and God's help i am learning. That is one item on on my list of areas where i am working to improve. Second on my list is getting exercise daily. This one just got a lot easier with the gift of a Wii Fit. Now i try to walk in the morning and in the afternoon i do a few minutes on the Wii. The kids and i are all enjoying it! Number three is getting to bed earlier and the last three nights have been successful. That makes it a lot easier to get up in the morning for my "quiet time"(something else i am trying to work at) and a walk. By the time i have taken my shower and had my breakfast i am in a much better frame of mind. There are other items to add to my list but for now i feel this is a good start.

The Gift

Life is a gift not to be kept in the box, but to be opened, shared and appreciated. Make the most of the life you have been given and thank the Giver of life everyday for this precious gift.