The Best Kind of Tired

February is only half over, but it seems like it's been a busy month!  We've had beautiful snow...

This is our new house...in the snow.

Each year on Valentine's Day, I take some sort of treat to all our widows and singles.  I have yet to find them all at home, but I try!  This year I made strawberry cupcakes with cream cheese icing...and a chocolate heart on top!

This is one thing I just love to do...

And this past weekend, was our church valentine banquet.  I got to do the food and while I had some anxious moments (will there be enough...will the everything go as I've planned?) it was all perfect.

Decor by Janet Hendrix

My homemade truffles at each place.

My new favorite...twice baked potatoes...they were the best!

Melinda and Vicky helped me on Saturday and I must admit by the end of the night, we were pooped! But it's the best sort of tired...when you've made others feel loved and pampered in some little way.  I am the one who is blessed!

Right on Time

We are having a family crisis right now - and we are all clinging to the Word knowing that He is our strength, our comfort, our hope! Crisis bring out our fears. Job said, "the thing I greatly feared has come to pass", as the news of the death of his children was brought to him. 

Abraham and others are listed in Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith.  He is described as the one who "believed God and it was counted to him - righteousness".   What is believing God?  It is faith...in what He says.

God told Abraham in Genesis that his "seed" would be a stranger in a land that was not theirs...that they would be slaves there and that after 400 years, He would deliver them. I marked that passage.

Then last night I come to Exodus 12: 40-41: "Now, the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt."

For this to happen, God first had to allow His people to move to Egypt...to be put into bondage...to suffer.  But He never forgot them...He was with them and at the exact time - He delivered them.  Not just any day, but the exact self-same day - four hundred thirty years to the day, that they went into Egypt!

Yes, we are being tested.  We are hurting and afraid.  We don't know what is ahead.  But we do know this - we are not alone, He is right here with us...He is in control...and He will act in accordance with His will...right on time!

We Are So Blessed

This is my song in the night...tonight....
We are so blessed
by the gifts from Your hand
We just can't understand
why You love us so much

We are so blessed
we just can't find the way
Or the words that can say
Thank you, Lord, for Your touch

When we're empty, You fill us
'til we overflow
When we're hungry, You feed us
and cause us to know

We are so blessed
Take what we have to bring
take it all, everything
Lord, we love You so much!

We are so blessed
By the things You have done
For the victories we've won
and what You've brought us through

We are so blessed
Take what we have to bring
Take it all everything
Lord, we bring it to You!

Lord, we are SO blessed.  You are so good.
We praise Your Holy Name.

Why is choosing paint colors so hard? Part 2

Well, I have to take back all my words...my complaints.  I went back a few days after painting my two test walls - and lo and behold - I LOVE my bedroom paint!  It looks EXACTLY the way I thought it would...exactly like the paint chip.

The jury is still out on the living room.  It is like the paint chip...I think the disconnect is in my head - figuring out exactly what I want. But, I believe I will use it.

LOL!  Life is good.

Reflection

My thoughts are rather jumbled today.  I'm hoping I can straighten them out by writing them down.

I'm thinking about how God made us each unique.  How He made us just the way we are.  And how He loves us unconditionally.  He tells us to loves each other the same way and to forgive as He has forgiven and continues to forgive us!

Here's the rub.  We are sinners.  We are flawed.  The fact that God made us the way we are...and that He loves us unconditionally - does NOT give us the right to stay the way we are.  Jesus died and rose again to give us the power to change...into His image, to reflect Him to those around us.

So, what does it say when we are not changed, when we continue to stay as flawed as we were to begin with?  We even cop out with, "Well, God made me this way."   I have come to believe God gets the most glory when a flawed human is changed through the power of His Spirit.  No one can deny it when someone is truly changed - when someone begins to act like and look more like Jesus - because it is something we can never do on our own.

I cannot continue to act badly and expect you to just love me anyway.  Can I?  I can't use that old - "I'm only human" excuse any longer.   I can't expect God to be pleased with me (He never stops loving me) if I refuse to be obedient and  hear Him when He points out those areas I need changed or if I do not allow His Spirit to work in my heart.

It starts with renewing our minds through His Word.  I am not likely to even see my true reflection...unless I look into His Word. It is easy to deceive myself, or compare myself with someone else, and think I'm looking pretty good!  I do not naturally think like God thinks...I do not see those bad spots that others see.   And face it, all others can see is what I say and do...the expression on my face...my attitude - they cannot see my heart, but God does.  Jesus was very plain about everything we say and do coming straight from our hearts.

Lord, help me to see my reflection...to repent and depend on Your Spirit to change me...so that Your reflection will be seen when others look at me.