Distracted

There are a thousand distractions in my day-- a thousand ways that my attention and focus are pulled away from the perfect-to-do-list designed by God for each day that He gives me.

But once in awhile, God stops me in my tracks by a phrase that reorients my mind and gives me a renewed spirit to fight the endless distraction and savor the God-ordained list instead.

Last week, I was reading in Luke 10 and there they were-- three words that have hardly left my mind since that day...

"Martha was distracted..."

It could so easily read, "Heidi was distracted."  Those three words have haunted me, instructed me, caused me to think hard about how much I get wrapped up in serving my family, my church, my friends, without savoring Christ-- just like Martha did.

But then beyond those three words come the words of Christ that gently whisper to me through the busyness and distraction...

"You are anxious and troubled about many

things, but one thing is necessary..."

One thing.  One thing railing against the thousands of things that cloud my consciousness and clamor for attention.

Oh, that my heart would sit at His feet, listen to His voice, and rest in His sovereign plan for my days and weeks and months.  Oh, to fight the distraction and mindless drivel that flood my world with toxic discontentment and flustered activity.  Oh, for strength to search every minute for that one thing that is "heart-necessary" in order to joyfully balance the God-given responsibility of the "daily-necessary" that fills my time-- husband, children, meals, laundry, dishes, music lessons, and math...

Oh, for more and more grace...

Daily battle of mind and heart against

Inane and worthless time-thieves,

Stealing my energy and

Taunting my focus,

Rather than reveling in

Abundant life lavishly given by

Christ Jesus.

Teach me, Savior, to shun

Earthly distractions and instead,

Delight to hear Your voice above the din.

Expecting Perfection

Charles Spurgeon said in his sermon entitled "Ripe Fruit":

"He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more.  He overlooks ten thousand of their faults, because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case.  He does not expect perfection in the creature, and therefore, he is not disappointed when he does not find it."

Life-giving words to a Christian family--

And a perfectionist of a momma being transformed daily by grace.

So we drink deep, letting the gospel wash over us yet again, quenching the thirst of this family-blessing needing also to be watered with grace today...

Silly Saturday- Doughnut Seeds

I didn't have a Silly Saturday post last week because it seemed somehow out of place sandwiched between Good Friday and Easter.

So...in honor of the first Silly Saturday post of April, I thought I would share something funny from April Fool's Day!

Since I'm determined to laugh more with this dear family-blessing God has given me, I was looking for a good joke when I came across this very funny printable.  I made one of these for every member of my family, wrapped them in gift bags, and presented them to everyone with much pomp and ceremony.

My dear, sweet family was incredibly touched at my thoughtfulness.  In fact, all four kids spent the rest of the day trying to find a way to repay me for my kindness.  They never did get me, although I did check my bed carefully that night before climbing under the covers.

Don't you wish you could really grow doughnuts? I'd plant them in my garden next to the chocolate bars, one row behind the marble cakes and french silk pies...

An Easter Bloom

"Bleeding Heart"

(Dicentra spectabilis)

Of all the beloved blooms

 that color the landscape far and wide,

this bleeding heart- a garden favorite,

touched by the paintbrush of Almighty God,

always reminds me of grace, 

and of another garden, 

and an empty tomb.

I do believe it is no coincidence

that it always appears

just before Easter.

Grace blooms anew, and I am reminded yet again-

He is risen!