The Vine

I planted four vines under our pergola today, they are very pretty. I'm looking forward to seeing them grow, twist, connect, and run all over our pergola.
The chapter I read this morning was John 15, He is the Vine, we are the branches. God has often led me to this chapter, His way of gently reminding me whose in charge. Without being connected to Him I can do nothing at all. Without Him, I will be fruitless.
"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant."
He reminded me again to love others the way He loves me. To put my life on the line for friends, and to keep His commandments. He says that He chose me and has put me here in this world to bear fruit for Him.
The Vine, it is strong, beautiful, and it is deeply rooted. It hold steadfast to the branches.
So, throughout this day I have thought of this chapter and continually prayed to be a strong branch IN Him. To be fed by The Vine, to stay alive, vital, and complete.
Say That to me again, Jesus. In You I am alive, vital, and complete, because YOU are The one and only true Vine.

Until next time....

The Door

My kids and I went for another walk through the neighborhood today. We went down an ally and I had to snap a picture of this old door. It looks worn, rugged, and strong.
The Door. My Door is Jesus. He is open to me all the time. He is strong, rugged, and He will never wear out.
Say That Again, Jesus. You are my Door, and I am welcome to come in.

The Anniversary

Twenty-nine years ago today, at 3:00 in the afternoon, my husband and I were married. It was a warm sunny day, and we were married in a small church in Utah. I had a head cold, so a close friend went out and bought me a bunch of medication so I could breathe. It was a good day. We had a lot of friends there and we had a big reception with a huge cake that my brother made.
We drove to Victoria BC for our honeymoon. It's been 29 years, packed with good, bad, and in-between. We've had a bunch of dogs, a goat, cats, a horse, and rabbits. We've lived in several different homes, city and country, and traveled across the country and the world. We've been blessed with five children. We've worked for other companies, and we've owned our own businesses.
Through it all, we've stuck together. God blessed me with an amazing man, and he is an incredible father. Through the years, he has always loved me, he has been faithful to me, and he enjoys me. What more could a woman want? He has striven to be the man God intended him to be, and he has grown. Because of this, I have been richly blessed, loved, and kept.
So, today I thank my God for the groom in my life. I thank Him for taking care of me in this way, for loving me so deeply, and for blessing me so richly. I thank Him that He has given me someone that reflects the Father, and through that I have learned to love my Heavenly Father.
Gracious Father, Say That Again to me on this day. Your love for me is so deep and wide that You chose to demonstrate it through a man like my husband.

Until next time....

The Day

We drove around the lake yesterday. Our two older sons and their wives in one car, the four of us in another. It was a trip down memory lane, and it was very enjoyable. We had a little competition going to see who could get to the destinations first. We took a break for ice cream and treasure hunting. We took a lot of pictures and had a lot of fun exploring.
We use to have a cabin on this lake, many years ago. So, we took the trail that led to the cabin. Our sons found their old fort, and we had fun telling stories of days gone by. The old train tracks have been changed into a walking/biking trail. But, many things were the same, it was peaceful, quiet, and full of beauty.
After our expedition, we met at an Italian restaurant for dinner then watched an episode of Top Gear on TV. It was a very nice family day, easy, funny, reminiscent.
I like these days. I like this kind of day with God. An expedition, an adventure, a walk with Him that brings peace, joy, and satisfaction. I like looking back and seeing all the changes He has made in life, and reminiscing about the spiritual markers and blessings. I like that He is God in my life, and IN Him I am full and complete.
Jesus, thank you for great days, for family, for love. You are a God of abundance, and for this I will praise You!
Say That Again, Jesus, blessings overflow!











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The Happy

It's a sunny day, can you believe it? It's not just sunny; it's warm. I'm very happy about this and I'm looking forward to a day outside with our family. We are celebrating two birthdays today and an early Father's Day. June is a full month for our family, we have our anniversary in two days too.
Our oldest son is going to be 27, wow, he's closer to 30 than 20!! And, our next son is going to be 25, the years have flown by in so many ways.
As I watch them, and see their lives unfold with hopes and dreams, it makes me happy to see. They have chosen tender wives, good careers, and best of all, a life with Jesus!
Last night, we had dinner with friends. Just as we were finishing up our two sons with their wives came in and the entire house became lively and vivid. A lot of laughter, talking, and noise! It makes me feel happy.
Our two youngest children have collected some sticks and our nine year old has been carving them. He made guns last night, because he's a boy. I felt happy as I watched my two daughter in-laws invest energy and time into our young children and play guns with them. They did a lot of running, shooting, playing. It was joyful.
So, as today unfolds, with the sun and with our family, I plan to bask in the happy. I like to watch them, listen to them, and enjoy them all. I consider it all a blessing.
Jesus, do I make You happy? Do You look down on me and the life I have chosen and consider me a good testimony of You? Me, Your child? As You watch me with my family, my friends, my steps in life, are You pleased?
Say That Again, Jesus, I am Your child and You are well pleased!

Until next time....

The Great I AM

I've had those years in my life where I felt like I was searching for who I am. There was always one more corner to turn, and so many things to figure out. Then, the realization hit that it's not who I am that needed to be discovered; it's Who He is. This was good.
And, now it's settled. I am who I am because of Who He Is! I do what I do because of Who He Is.  I am not who I am because of what I do! He is the One in charge, He sees my heart. This is why He says not to judge others, because we cannot see everything, only He can. I am who I am, because He has saved me. I am who I am because He loves me. I am who I am because He is God, and He has kept me.
I grew up in a very legalistic home. I tried to keep the rules, but in my heart, I did not believe that God was even real. It wasn't until I actually experienced Him with my heart and witnessed Him working in my life that I began to believe. The rules, regulations, requirements, they all meant nothing. I did what I did out of obligation and fear, not out of Who I was for Him.
If I am His child and fully devoted to Him, living His way will come from my heart. It will be my desire and my joy.  He will be my Authority, and my reflection. He will empower me to move on with vigor, peace, hope, and love. I'm excited to know who I am, because I know Who He is!
Say That Again, Dear Saviour. You are the Great I am, I am not.  You have made me to be like You, and I humbly bow at Your feet, and I say, "thank you."

The Paper

As God has directed me to move ahead with Women's Ministry, I have found that I am often confronted with a new fear of some sort. Most the time, I have been able to work through it pretty quick and move on, sometimes it seems to latch on for awhile.
I received a paper, four of them, with "guidelines" for a leader. Hmm, I see the red flag go up in my brain. Scanning down the sheet, I see the word, "requirements" And, I see a couple of red flags pop up.
We all need guidelines, right? When do the guidelines turn into rules? And, what if I can't keep all the guidelines, or I do things differently than someone else? Am I booted out? Do I even want in? Flag, flag, flag.
I've been praying for this, praying for a specific thing to take place, and God has answered my prayer. He did it fast and in an amazing way. And, now here I am faced with whether or not I really want to take Him up on the whole idea. Are these His requirements? Are they His "guidelines"? What does He call me to do when I am shepherding another? Is this even about what I can do? I don't think so. This is His strength through me, His light, His path, His talk.
I have to ask myself about my focus. I have to remind myself about His calling on my life. I have to remember all that He has said so far, and the wonders of His Ways. Why am I allowing myself to get hung up on a set of guidelines and requirements?
My answer to that is failure. I'm afraid I will fail. So, from there I have to take the step of moving beyond self and INTO His presence. He has to take this over, minister through me. Otherwise, I will start out as a failure in this. But, if I keep my focus solely on what He is asking of me, He will touch lives, using me as His witness. He has promised this.
Jesus, I give you The Paper. Jesus, I give you the human idea of what must be done to serve You effectively, and I give You my heart. Take it all, and use me.
Jesus, I'm going to Say That Again! Take it all, I'm Yours!

Until next time....