Pumpkins and their seeds

I read this article just the other day. I know you find it hard to believe, especially since I'm a mother of 2 how did I ever find the time! Well I did, Amazing but it happened. Tonight is Halloween, the article spoke on how Christians shut there doors and pretend that we aren't home. That the one night that strangers knock on your door, we do not open them to tell you about Christ. We pray and pray for God to send us, to tell of Jesus and yet when they come we turn the lights off. I always think about how I might be the only Jesus you know. That breaks my heart, It breaks my heart to think that I am the only interaction you might have had with our Creator. Why? Because I am very weak specimen, everything I have all that I am, comes from Him. Yet breaking it down for you, I do not always show that. In fact, I pray that I always reflect our Lord. So recently I have gotten a splint, which is a form of a retainer. It is so awkward for me, It's almost like hurting yourself. Now a part of your body isn't functioning correctly it takes you longer to deal with things. So in saying all this, that's how it should be when we live in sin. It should be like a part of your body is broken. Instead of living that way, we flaunt our sin like an ugly hat. We spray on some glitter and show it to all our friends. We ask things like "Don't I look pretty?" "Isn't my sin beautiful this time of year?" Of course we never call it for what it is, who would dare say we're sinning. I was at this place in my walk that I literally decided I was doing awesome. I didn't have any sins in my life and I was such a wonderful christian. Thank you Lord for hitting me with a huge reality check, I am a sinner. We have distorted all the things that God holds and brings truth upon. How about, God sees all sins the same! That means that gossip, slander, cheating, are all things that God sees as sin. If you aren't uplifting that person, then you shouldn't be speaking about them. Sweet friends, I pray you are all safe tonight. Safe in the God's love and His arms. I know we will be celebrating at the harvest festival, and it will be a clean event. I also know that some out there choose to make it very dark, and twisted. One of the reasons I choose to take my kids to the harvest festival is that I don't want them to have to see the turmoil of this world. Until they can understand why, they are as they are. Being a child is only a brief time, and I think it's unfair for them to be subject to the evils now. I think it's very important we share with them about evil being out there. I just don't choose to bring nightmares into there safe space. Prayers for you and all your loved ones. S.
9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. 10 And he did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that he will continue to deliver us. 11 He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us. As a result, many will give thanks to God because so many people's prayers for our safety have been answered. 2 Corinthians 1:9-11 (New Living Translation)

UnPlugged

Now that I just licked all the batter from the brownie bowl, I'm feeling ready to start! Laughs, no but honestly it has just been one of those days. At one point I just turned up the praise and worship and literally was singing on the top of my lungs. While that was going on there were two lovely munchkins at my feet screaming "mommy". When I think about how needy my children are with me I know that I am that way with God. As soon as He hands over something, there is always more I am asking for. Especially in this day and age where we have everything at our fingertips to "make things better". If its not our marriage we're trying to fix, its our home, our children, or even ourselves. Thank you world for showing me all the areas of my life that I come up short. Thank God we have Jesus or I wouldn't be able to find hope in anything. Seriously though, Jesus loves us where we are. I know there are few things that we love where they are. Maybe this cup of coffee, alright and the brownie batter but really. Isn't it always well "so and so's marriage is so happy" or "there kids are so well behaved". The list unfortunately goes on and on and on. I know that is where the devil wants us to exist. In this constant place of want and need, "Veruca Salt I want it now".
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."Matthew 6:24-34 This is once again why I love the bible. Because It's easy to loose sight of what God has in store when we're distracted by all the temporary worldly distractions that are in our face. Yet when we shut off the distraction, when we unplug from the world and plug into God. We can see where truth and hope lies. Over and over again Truth speaks out. "7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him."Matthew 7:7-11 How much clearer could He possibly make it, I mean we obviously are like children. Needing this direction, and open word. I am so thankful for my bible. It is such a source of Christ's love letter to me. How quickly we take advantage of that source. How many times we have passed it over for the advice of a friend, neighbor etc. Not that we shouldn't speak out on whats going on. It's more how much more will Christ take care of you when He consistently takes care of the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. How much more does He take care of us when we Ask, Seek and Knock. Just like when it talks in Matthew about building on a firm foundation. Where is your base? Is you hope, strength and foundation in Christ? Are you depending on the ways of the world? The people of the world to fill the void? Nothing will satisfy like Christ. Building an intimate relationship starts with you. Surrendering to Him, letting go of control and letting Him pick you up. Prayers for you my friends. Prayers that it may not be a ready to lick the entire brownie bowl day. Blessings! S.