Gardens and Grace- Consider The Lilies

Consider the lilies of the field...

...how they grow...

...they neither toil nor spin...

...Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these...

...But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore, do not be anxious...

Matthew 6: 28-30

Summertime

It's been a couple of weeks since I've written anything here.  We finished up school at the end of May, and I spent the last few weeks excavating some of the piles that built up throughout the school year.  After seven years of homeschooling, I have finally come to accept that I can do school well or my house well, but not both.  School and the kids always win over dusting and piles, and this reforming perfectionist of a mama is finally at peace with a decorating style that is best described as "Early Science Experiment with a touch of Dust and Lived-In".  (The basement decorating style is "AAAAAAAAAA! with a touch of Run for Your Lives", but that's probably a different post...)

Anyway, I've made a little bit of progress on the piles.  I've also got a ton of summer sewing projects on the docket, so my sewing machine is dusted off and out on the dining room table, waiting expectantly for those spools and bobbins.  We're spending time soaking up the sun, working in the garden, swimming in our neighborhood pool, and generally enjoying the more relaxed pace of summer.

I love summer, partly because the slower pace gives me a chance to reflect on all that God has done and is doing in our family.  As I sit on the patio, soak in the sunshine, look at the flowers, and watch the birds flit around the yard, I am so thankful for the ways God cares for His creation.  It sends me straight to Matthew 6 almost every morning-- "Look at the birds... Are you not of more value than they?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they neither toil nor spin... Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow..."  Summer is such a gift of grace-- a loving reminder from the Father who cares for His birds and His flowers and His children.

Soaking.
              Savoring.
                               Reflecting.
                                                 Regrouping.

I'm incredibly thankful for summertime.

Food Poisoning and God's Schedule

Paul was out of town this last week, so we decided to go out to dinner Thursday night on the way home from picking him up at the airport.  We had some "free kids' meal" coupons, and we thought it would be fun to have a nice dinner to celebrate his homecoming.

About 30 minutes after we ate, I started feeling sick to my stomach, and by Friday it was clear that I had some type of food poisoning.  I ended up spending all day Friday, Saturday, and part of Sunday completely out of commission.  Praise be to God that I am feeling much better today!

To be completely honest, I was not a bit happy about being knocked out by this unexpected kink in my plan. I was mad at the restaurant and upset that I lost more than two days of productivity.  I had my agenda for the weekend, and it didn't include getting sick.

I often struggle to adjust to God's plan for my days when it is so dramatically different than what I had planned.    I know in my head that His plan is absolutely perfect, and I know that He works all things together for His glory and my good, but I am being sanctified as I learn to submit to His agenda for my days instead of insisting on my own agenda.  I'm learning that there is a big difference between just adjusting mentally and truly submitting with all my heart and mind.  As I lay on my bed wrestling with my attitude, the Lord kept reminding me of the verse that says, "All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."(Ps. 139:16)

All the days ordained for me...even the ones with food poisoning.

I can be such a slow learner, but God in His wisdom used this last weekend to teach me more about what it means to submit to His schedule and to listen to His truth in the midst of the unexpected changes and adjustments.  Thank God for His unfailing love and tenderness as He draws each of us along, for He knows exactly what He wants to teach us in every moment that He gives us life and breath.  Sometimes those teachable moments come from unexpected speed bumps like food poisoning.

There is one other unexpected blessing that came out of being laid up for a few days.  I finally finished a book I've been working on for 10 months!

Gardens and Grace: The Paintbrush of God

Consider the paintbrush

 of Almighty God,

Who,

in giving His spectacular gifts,

still reminds us that they are only shadows

of the glories yet unseen.

Gaze long.

Breathe deep.

Kneel forevermore.

Pictures and Ponderings: June 1

Sometimes I come across a funny little scene in my house that makes me stop and say, "Hmmmm....I wonder how that got there?"  Recently, one such pile made me literally laugh out loud-- squirt guns, hair accessories, and a crystal-handled wedding cake server-- all hanging out on the laundry room bench together!

Yep, we are a family, and I guess this is a little bit like the way we roll--

  imperfect,
 sometimes illogical,
 but hanging together nonetheless!