Power Meets Fragile

I've always loved this picture from a number of years ago.  It's my granddaughter Lula "walking PawDre" my dog. 

It's funny to me because PawDre probably weighed 5 times more than she did.  Was quite a bit more powerful than her.  He could've taken HER for a walk. 

But PawDre was a gentle giant.  That's the nature of a Newfoundland. 

PawDre sensed a sincere and sweet little Lula that just loved him and wanted to go for a walk with him.  And he just walked right along with her.  He didn't yank her around, he just walked with her.

I think of our walks with our all-powerful God.  God has the power to yank us around.  But He made us and knows we are but dust.  He is gracious and kind.  His very name is LOVE.

He is there with us.  He protects us.  He is a Gentle Giant, I say in the most respectful way! 

I love knowing there is so much power walking with me.  I love this picture of power meeting fragile. 

Because that's me with God.  I am weak... He is strong.  But we walk together so where I am weak...I am made strong. 

This is true for each of us... Ya gotta love this! 😍

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

— Psalm 86:15

Gods Hands

Photo taken of The Sea of Galilee -  You can purchase upon request (not yet in gallery) 

I often love to look up to the skies when I pray.  Because whether it is daytime or nighttime, it so speaks of the glory and vastness and beauty of God and the work of His hands.

Our God is capable of so much.  He is capable of any and everything. 

When we pray today.  Let's pray in a vast way.  A big way.  

Let's pray with God's hands in mind.  Let's pray with an understanding that our God is a glorious God.  

His beautiful hands have done more than words can really say...

...But the skies say it...  And the scars on His hands say it.

These hands are mighty and loving.  Let's pray with the hands of God in our minds today! 

One last precious thought about the hands of God, Jesus said "...no one will snatch them out of my hand." 

God's got YOU in HIS hands!  No one or nothing can snatch you from these hands. 

How simply beautiful is that!  

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

— Psalms 19:1

Don't take it personally...Just Laugh!

A few weeks ago I was sitting on a little bench in our front garden.  I was holding and feeding my grandson Ev and talking to Jon and my daughter Mary. 

While I was doing that... IT....BROKE! 

As It was breaking right from underneath me it felt like we were falling in slow motion.  I was thinking, "this is embarrassing" and laughing so hard at the same time.  Trust me, so were Jon and Mary(As far as Ev was concerned, he didn't care at all and just continued to take that last bite as we were tumbling.  He seemed to think it was no big deal.) 😂

The picture above is the broken bench after I moved it to the side yard and  broke it down to put it in the garbage.  The picture of me and Ev on the "about" page on my website was taken right after this happened! 😄

Embarrassing things happen in life.  

Let's laugh.  Let's live.  Let's not take things quite so personally.  Let's take a lot more things a lot less seriously and just laugh more. God's got it all under control even when we don't.

“God created us to laugh, there must be some value in it! 😉”

— Tambo

The Door

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Is there a door you want to open but it's shut?  Pause and think about a specific door you want to open, but it just isn't yet.

I promise you this,  you keep walking and talking with God and He will open it up at the PERFECT time.  Or he flat out will take you to  a BETTER door and open up that instead.

Meanwhile, while you are waiting, understand Our Father is getting you ready for that door to open. 

So be patient my friend and do not give up!  God will lead you perfectly as He opens the right door at the right time and you will look back and say "THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU God for making me wait.  It was so worth it!"

“Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you.”

— Matthew 7:7-8

Restored

Sometimes in conversation we ask each other "What's your very favorite car you have ever had?"  For me I don't even need a second to answer.  My 1967 VW Bus pictured above here is my favorite. 

It had white interior, bench seats, safari windows, rag top, white walls... on and on I could go. There is something about even the smell and sound of a VW that I love SO much.   My bus was great all the way around, and I could even get all my kids in there and their friends too.  It was  sunny and happy and just cool.  

When I bought my bus it had sat for years.  It was completely broken down.  Someone, or many people over the years, had taken it apart and then pieced it together with things that didn't belong.  Like bucket seats for example. 😭  Tragic in my estimation.  It was wiped out.

So my goal was to restore it back to stock.  Like it was completely new.  And so it happened. 

In life we can feel wiped out, pieced together, and broken down at times like my bus felt before I was able to get a hold of it. But just as my bus was totally restored, we too, can be put back together by God again.  He can make us new.  He can give us a fresh start.  He can take away the things that we have placed in our lives that don't belong and usher in all the things that do belong. 

I love in the Bible in 1 Peter 5:10 it says, "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." 

Let's ask God to take away the things that wreck us.  And He will do just that.  Then He will replace those things with all things that are just absolutely cool. We will come out completely restored and made new. 

“Behold I make all things new...”

— Revelation 21:5

Mmmmmmmmmm 😋

I took this picture of my Grandson Ev.  He's delighted because if you look closely you will see in his left hand and surrounding his lips as well, one of his Mommy's homemade cookies that I gave him.   😋

So far Everett has only said two words.  The first one is "Mama."

The second one is "Mmmmmmm."  

He doesn't say "Mmmmmm" when he's eating his vegetables.  He does it when he's eating a cookie or something like that. 

Let's be like Ev today and say "Mmmmmm."  Not just at the delicious food we are blessed to eat.  But also let's say "Mmmmm" as we taste and see that the Lord is Good throughout the day. 

The Lord is GOOD!  

We can pray even now that we would taste his goodness throughout the day, even if it seems like a day (metaphorically speaking) full of vegetables,  because even that is filling us with vitamins that will make us stronger.  

It's so beautiful that we can find all our security in that goodness and take refuge in that fact.

So let's thank God for His  goodness!  Because the Lord is Mmmmmm... soooo GOOD!

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”

— Psalm 34:8

I Appreciate it Mom

This is an old photo of my beautiful sister, Jenny, my Mom, and me.  My Mom made our matching dresses.  How cool is that? 👗👗👗

Yep, my Mom is gorgeous.  I remember sitting in the back of our VW square back, and we got stopped by the police.  My mom was driving.  The police took one look at her (you could tell he was smitten by her beauty) and began stuttering as he was trying to explain what she had done to get stopped.  

My Mom so sweetly just kinda flashed her big smile and said something like "Oh my, I'm so sorry..." and he just kinda said something like "Oh no problem, just wanted to let you know."  (Just wanted to let you know? 😂) And of course no ticket was given. 

My Mom's a Beaut! 

I got off the phone with her yesterday and started thinking about how she hasn't just been a Beaut outwardly, but also inwardly.

I was also thinking she was a Beaut to decide to be a "stay-at-home" Mom.  By doing that, she made my sister, my brother, and myself feel like we had value.  

More value than even, well... money.  

There is something more valuable than extra money?

Extra time with us kids was more valuable than extra money?  We were more valuable than her developing her career?  Wow!  That preaches!

As she got older and we kids grew up and out of the house,  she absolutely used her many gifts and talents in floral arranging, designing, painting, and all kinds of things.  But I really appreciate the fact that she was a stay-at-home Mom for us kids.

This post is in no way to put a trip on any of you precious working Moms reading this!  Some of you don't have a choice, for one thing.  For another thing, some of you have been called by GOD to the workplace!

But I'm simply saying thank you Mom, I appreciate it!  

And for any of you Mom's that are  able and making the hard choice even possibly now... To be a stay-at-home Mom is legit!  And don't think for a moment you won't be developing MANY skills you are able to use down the road!  There are just moments with your kids you seriously can't go back to, and trust me when I say this, they will be up and gone before you know it. 

Regardless of whether you are a working or stay-at-home Mom, I want to say big hugs to each of you and  ... you go girls!  

Tambo sure is rooting for you!

Flowers Speak

If you go to my little cottage where I live in Jacksonville, you will see that I always have fresh flowers out.

I LOVE flowers.  There are few things more glorious than flowers.  Flowers Speak.  They speak of God's creativity and beauty.  They fill a room with a sweet aroma.  They bring "happy" into your day.

God has given us the ability to notice, appreciate, and even surround ourselves with beauty.  I think we can often forget about that.    

I had a darling little 98 year old neighbor Elaine (now in Heaven) who said something I'll always remember because it just makes me smile.  She would say, "This tree is showing off" as we would walk by a tree smothered in blossoms. 

Just a thought for today, If you are able, go to your local farmers market or even grocery store and pick up some fresh flowers.  As you see them everyday throughout the week, pause and think about how amazing our Creator is to bring such beauty into this world.  And reflect on the fact that that same Creator loves and cares for you so much!

Let's surround ourselves with beauty. If you aren't able to get flowers, there are lots of other ways to surround ourselves with things that are lovely. We can turn on inspiring music.  Maybe open the shades and let the sun shine in. 

But regardless, let's first of all pause and notice the beautiful things God has already put around us... and then let's stop and think about ways we can surround ourselves with more beauty... Because there is always something we can do!

“It’s fun when we realize God has given us the ability to notice and even usher in beauty ...”

— Tambo 🌼