How Earthen Vessels Last Forever

"God never hurries.  There are no deadlines against which he must work.  Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves."  A.W. Tozer

(After reviewing past posts, it seems as though I speak of this one topic often. Forgive me, there is most definitely a good reason...I need to be reminded over and over and over...)

Check this word out:

har·ried--ˈharēd/-adjective--feeling strained  as a result of having demands  persistently made on one; harassed.

Has your week been one of strain?  Persistent demands made on you?  Feeling harassed by the circumstances of daily life?

When the pressure builds up for me, I aim the lens and focus. 

I Shoot.

Heading out the back door at dusk, I spied this feeder, completely useless because the opening is too high for hummers to drink deeply, yet, what I saw inspired me.  Do you see it?  

It's cracked all around.  Yet, it's beautiful, and though it appears broken, it was delicately created in such a way to reflect light.  Here it hangs, glistening...inviting me closer.

This morning, bright sun shone through blurred glass and a mix of joy and sadness welled up in me

How do I really enjoy my life when glass is smeared, smudges block light?  Do the smudges really stop the light or do the tiny fingerprints painted over each other only serve to remind me that, today, right here in my home, His light shines through the dirt, the grime and when I take in that light and embrace it, I am saturated with His glory?

This moment had to be shared...I grab Jenna and we stare. I am sad that in three weeks the potential for more artwork will no longer be around.

There will be a day I wash away these memories.

But NOT today!

How often have we missed seeing the beauty of the world around us?  We are ever in a rush to get somewhere, but if He doesn't rush and we are His, wouldn't we be happier people if we only embraced the Light, slowing down to take it all in?

...but then, what about the times that I have tried to wash away the smudges?  He holds the camera and focuses in on my cracked life: 

I complain in my head, fuss about things that don't really matter in light of eternity, want to be thinner, younger, prettier, have more money, go away by myself (often), get paid to give advice, make my kids love God and serve Him and Me...(no need to go on. You get the message.)

But then, as I sit in the Light, I am undone. Instead of life being a blur, it all comes into focus.  

Oh, the glorious freedom and hope His Word gives!

How grateful, how transforming, how comforting to know:

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”  2 Cor. 4:6-11

There are cracks, smudges, and flaws but His light still shines.  As a matter of fact, the uglier, dirtier things become, the greater His power to manifest His life and shine beauty wherever we go.

Remind yourself this weekend that there is nothing in your life that He can't fashion beauty from.  

Not one thing.

The Summer of our lives...

Are you making the most of your summer? 

Here's a visual glimpse of what summer is revealing to me...

 1. ...this journey called 'life' is to be savored.

...blink and it's gone.

2. ...that with each 'time sacrifice', grace is available to enjoy the moment...the gift of her medication means I get to have her here longer:

3. ...that simply smiling before I even have my first thought has brightened each day tremendously...why did I wait so long to start this habit?

4. Daddy knows what I need, so I choose to be as a little child and dance!

5. that losing Uno two games in a row to your grandson is fun...giggling warms the heart and laughter has drawn us closer!

6. ...my Garden is a constant reminder that He waits for me daily. Just as the flowers need daily watering, so do I~

7.  Even when life has been challenging, there is still beauty to revel in:

8.  Sometimes life appears all twisted in knots (ever feel like this?), but He still amazes me with His tapestry of beauty!  Flowers bloom on this 'tangled mess' daily!

As each day unfolds, every one of us on the spinning ball have choices to make.  Will we choose to only see the troubles that Jesus said we would all have...or rather choose to ignite each day with looking past the temporary and into His eyes, seeing what He sees:

Life.

I choose to see through His eyes.

How about you?  What choice will you make today when all around you things are spinning out of control...your control?  He holds the universe in His hand, surely He can handle our cares, struggles, limitations. 

The summer of our lives is so short.  Start today to journal what He wants to show you.

Not all fires are bad...

Only ninety-four miles northeast, fires rage in Bastrop.  The flames are licking up the dry, parched land, leaving behind destruction and death.

I really cannot comprehend that kind of devastation.  But I am asking God for comfort, protection for the firemen, and a quick end to it all.

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But not all fires are bad...

With the first day of our 'Out of the Box Academy' over, Love and I sat in our yard, listening to the sound of quiet, rocking back and forth in our 'Freecycle' swing from Germany, speaking of the day's events and unwinding-- just the two of us. 

Soft breezes and mild temps give the hint that maybe the blistering summer is winding down.  For that we are also praying.

As we rocked, our words turned to confessions, then declarations and finally to praying the will of God for our home.  We both recognize that we're in a war, but sometimes the dry, busyness of each day pulls at the threads of this three-fold cord, threatening to unravel us. Yet, in moments like this, I remember He designed this cord and He holds all things together.

Do you have a place to unwind, breathe deep and renew the spiritual fire in your marriage?  Physical passion is fabulous, but the intimacy shared at the feet of Jesus is unparalleled.  Just listening to your lover's heart poured out before a Holy God is not only attractive; it's a gift that only you share.  Do you treasure that gift?  Does your mate feel safe to share their weaknesses in front of you?  If not, why? 

Start a fire in your life by honestly asking the hard questions about what really matters...

What really matters?  One's own relationship with the God of the universe, expressed to us by the coming of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  Read about it and then ask Him to reveal to you your need for His love, so you can love your mate. 

Make this your prayer:  Start a fire in me God!