Rejoicing in my Savior!

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Simply Devotional

The last couple of days God has given me the promptings and alertness to make time with Him my first priority of the morning. I tend to be the type that overdoes and over plans EVERYTHING!
You know, morning devotion had to be with a hot cup of tea; sitting in my recliner; complete silence of sleeping children; and very early in the morning so that I could completely focus on my bible reading and study for a solid 45 minutes.

Yeah right!

Yep, you guessed it. It almost NEVER happened. And so I just kept feeling guilty.

But then it hit me that I could do more than nothing.
I started by implementing the repeat method with the shortest book in the bible. After all surely I could read 14 verses at least a few times a day.
Then I realized that I could do this very easily first thing upon waking.
So now I keep my compact bible next to my bed. Sometimes I'm nursing baby, or have kids bouncing on the bed but in this very simple easy way I can meet with my Lord first thing. And sometimes I bend my knees next to my bed and converse for just a few moments before the craziness starts.

Another lesson learned....simple is best!

Garden Learning

Tonight Alissa and I went out to pick lettuce for supper out of our garden and low and behold we got a surprise!

We found two little Cabbage Loopers hiding underneath the leaves! The first one we plucked off and squished but the second one we scooped up on the end of a wooden spoon and spent the next few minutes observing it. The kids enjoyed watching it loop around and grab onto things. We held a bunch of flowers up to it and it grabbed ahold of them and crawled around. Lots of fun and a chance to learn too.
During supper while eating the lettuce (yummy) I asked the kids to "tell" daddy about our find. Of course they didn't know it but they were narrating our science/nature lesson!


Since we were having spaghetti for supper I took Thomas out with me to pick some fresh basil for our sauce as well and although he didn't want to taste it he did smell it:) Two leaves were sufficient to add a nice flavor to our sauce.

I took the time to talk to Alissa about the reason for having our own garden (saves money, food is healthier) and we had a good chat about eating healthy and conserving our resources to save money.

"Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life."

Why?

I've been arguing with God today.
Well, that's putting it mildly. I've been throwing a temper tantrum and it hasn't been pretty.
My entire attitude today has centered around that one word....."why".

Why me, why now, why is it so hard, why is everything always dirty, why can't I be healthy, why aren't my children better behaved, why can't I lose weight, why, why, why.

I've plopped myself down in front of the computer to escape my "blessings", I've glared at my neighbor, who is losing weight, with jealous eyes, I've griped at my husband because he doesn't "get it", I've yelled at my kids because they are having too much "fun" and bothering me and I have whined to God for giving me these heavy burdens.

And yet,
all day long,
He is there.

With every thought I hear Him whisper "Come to me all ye that are heavy laden".
With every scowl I hear the still small voice "My yoke is easy and my burden is light".
With every sigh I hear Him calling "Rejoice, and Give thanks."


As I was preparing for bed tonight I brought this day before Him.
"I don't understand, God. Why can't I seem to make any progress? I'm doing all of the right things but it still hurts, it's still a struggle. How much more do I have to die?"

"More" He responds.

"Why" I plead.

"Because I love you"

And then my blessed Saviour leads me ever so gently to do the one thing I find impossible.......nothing.

I have always been a doer. But now He is leading me to be a "dier". Dier to self.



And such is the ways of our Lord that he leads me here for encouragement and instruction.

step by step,
Jessica

Dandelion Wine-God's perspective on Life's weeds

I sit here after reading Ann @ Holy Experience "Dandelion Wine" post with goose-bumps on my arms and tears in my eyes.
The Holy Spirit has moved through her words.


I have been fighting, complaining, whining, and gnashing my teeth at the "cup" that God has brought my way for the last year.
I've demanded it's removal,
I've begged pleaded and angrily cried "why me".
And yet these physical problems remain, unanswered by doctors.

I see now as I've not wanted to see before.
This is my cup.

I pray for the refiners fire, yet I wail at it's burning.
I pray for pruning, yet I run from the pain.

He is answering my prayers,
I will no longer fight and run
but step forward and embrace what only my omnipotent, loving Father could give me.

I too, will take dandelion wine.


step by step,
Jessica