As I was jogging on our local trail, I noticed a bird's nest nestled underneath a bridge in a small crevice.  The only identification that a nest was being built was a few little straw pieces hanging down from the crevices.  As I jogged away from the site I was suddenly reminded that God never wastes the smallest nook or crevice.  Those areas of our lives that seem to be unimportant to the world are molded into our character by a loving God that knows the purposes to be accomplished.  We need to remain steady and continue building every facet of our lives, straw by straw until God unfolds His plan.

I've very thankful for the lesson of the bird's nest.  Realizing the miraculous design of how a small bird wields a nest together from straw and sticks, I desire for God to continue using my life, straw by straw; adventure by adventure; storm by storm and victory by victory so that I may house a spiritual "nest" for Jesus.  God bless, my friends.  Have an awesome Saturday morning filled with refreshment, relaxation and an extra cup of coffee! 

After procrastinating for two years, I have begun to overwhelming task of purging.....starting with closets!  Now, I must admit that I am a pack-rat.  I save lots of items especially when it comes to letters, cards, notes  written to me and various accomplishments of my children.  Needless to say, when your children are currently 27 and 29, there is a lot to be purged if you started collecting their precious notes once they learned to scribble!  It has given me great joy to re-read some of those notes and comments and to know that yes, Mom is loved.

One of the funniest notes was written by my daughter, Kimberly, when she was little.  It was a hand-written Mother's Day card and on the inside it read, "Dear Mom, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."  Psalm 37:4  I love you so much mommy and my mother's day gift to you is I will do laundry for 1 week if you show me how to."  Love Always, Kimberly/Kimbo (a little nickname we have always used).  Isn't that just the sweetest note?  I can't remember if she did the laundry or when I taught her how to do laundry, but the intent just melts my heart even after all these years.  There was another that read, "Dear Mom, Nobody smiles like you.  Nobody likes me more than you.  Love, Your Daughter, I love you."

And to think I needed to purge to be able to remember and be re-introduced to these lovely reminders by my children.  So, I am thankful today that the Lord slowed me down and placed me in the middle of a mess so that I might find these beautiful reminders that I am loved as a mother.  Using Kimberly words as a child,  "Jesus, nobody likes me more than you! Love, Your daughter, I love you.  Thank you, Lord, for blessing me this day!"

In my little "reaons to be happy" book, one of the items listed was the happiness you feel with the promise of seed packets.  Each time I enter one of my favorite gardening stores there is a display near the counter with countless seed packets.  Vegetables and flowers are beautifully pictured in the hope consumers will pick up a few and begin the process of planting their favorite items.

There is a promise in each packet.  Sometimes that result is seen and sometimes not.  It depends on the caretaker, the soil, the amount of sun and rain and, of course, on the seed itself.  I'm reminded that our lives are similar to those seeds.  If you read the story in Matthew 13, we are all given the same opportunity for growth by the Master Caretaker, but often we stumble into places where growth and stability are difficult.  God provides the sunshine of HIs love and the water of His unending well to nurture our souls.  Take care to allow His love and unending provisions grow you into the lovely creation He has always intended you to be.  God bless, my friends! 

How wonderful it is to watch the earth explode with color this time of year!  Not only do we have a ringside seat watching buds give birth to blossoms, but seeds are emerging from the ground that will give us tasty food items for our dinner tables!  I simply love donning my garden gloves and "diggin' in the dirt" even if it means I have to weed first and bag leaves before I get to plant new flowers! 

Recently at my local grocer I found a magazine which dedicated its entire issue to flower beds and borders!  It listed the various flowers that need full sun, partial sun, lots of shade, full shade, etc., and then exhibited color coded drawings telling the reader where to plant everything!  It was definitely "gardening 101 for dummies" and I was the focus audience!  So now I am armed with my list of flowers and my plan for a new and improve yard.  So, if you are in the vicinity, stop by for a cup of java and I'll give you a guided tour, but remember I'm a novice!

This reminded me of a book I purchased in Florida entitled, "reasons to be happy" by Sanday Gingras.  It lists the small things in life that we often overlook as we remember the graciousness of a loving God.  One of the reasons was a picture of a market and underneath the drawing was "a roadside stand".  Those roadside stands and farmers' markets are some of my favorite summer treats.  I will be sharing little tidbits from this book during the coming months.  But remember to be happy in the small things, my friends.  God as the big things coming on heaven's shore! 

After making a point yesterday of not showing partiality among the those we find different from ourselves, I got a hard reminder today.  I, too, am a sinner saved by grace and not everything I do or say is worthy of the Christian banner I wave and proclaim.  Amazing how quickly we find ourselves in that sinful nature although we try earnestly to be good role models.  How often have I wanted to say something to another person about the Lord and couldn't find the right words so I started talking about something else....after all, I don't want to offend my friend, right? 

I am glad that the Lord saw fit to remind me that I am not above temptation.....I always need His guiding hand to lead and His mercy to forgive when I mess up.  I would do will to remember this fact....God bless, my friends!  Hope you enjoy the video and song, "Here I go again" by Casting Crowns.  It just about sums up my feelings in the writing today.

I was reminded recently that there are believers that seemingly carry around preconceived judgements about others simply due to the clothes they wear and the "persona" they invoke.  Although I've probably been guilty of the same offense, I rarely verbalize those notions because I am of the belief if you check out those persons you have labeled you might be pleasantly surprised with what you learn.

I wish the individual I spoke with this morning had known the individual they were discussing.  I use the past tense since the focus of our discussion, a man whom I knew, is no longer living.  I personally had good discussions about the Lord with this child of God.  Isn't it our duty as commissioned in Matthew 28 to proclaim the Lord Jesus to those He sends our way?  Are we to pick and choose our subjects or allow the Lord to lead us to them?

It was another reminder this morning that we must be very careful what we think, what we say and how we let others know those opinions.  We are all sinners saved by the grace of God.  A fact we would do well to remember.

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I've had the awesome opportunity to have my daughter and granddaughter spend the week at our home.  To have both our girls 24/7 has filled our hearts with love and laughter.  Witnessing the day-by-day growth of our 3 month old little Lucy and enjoying daily chats with our daughter, Kimberly, is better than numerous unopened surprises in our Easter baskets!

Each morning Lucy and I shared time together while Mommy got to sleep in.  I would sing all the children's choruses that I learned as a child and sang to her Mommy and her Uncle Nick.  Among them, the "B-I-B-L-E"; "Into My Heart"; "Jesus Loves Me"; "Jesus Loves the Little Children"; "Zaccheus was a Wee Little Man"; "I've got that Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy" and numerous other tunes. Lucy would smile and coo in recognition of the melodius music.  Even at her young age, Lucy is aware of familiarity and repetition which yields recognition.  Recognition, in turn, comes from exposure.  To what does Lucy's loved ones want her exposed?  To know the unconditional love of Jesus Christ as introducted by her parents, grandparents, other family members and Christian friends.  As a result of that exposure it is our prayer that she lives out her growing knowledge of Jesus in her speech, her life, her love for others, her faith and her purity.

So don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, Lucy Anne, but be an example for all those observing your life!  God bless you, my precious girl.  Jesus loves you and so do we!  

I'm not one who likes mirrors.  The feedback I receive seems to leave me lacking!  However, it's essential to view our reflections to ensure we are presentable daily to those who witness our appearance.  In the Book of James, Chapter one, the Bible speaks of individuals who look a mirror and after checking out their image they immediately forget what they viewed. 

The spiritual lesson that unfolds from this example deals with hearing the Word of God, as compared to looking intently into a physical mirror to correct the unattractive facets of our appearance.  However, often when we leave our places of worship or rise from bended knees in prayer, we no longer remember our spiritual mirror and how our actions can cause others to stumble.  But a child of God remembers the before and after view of his/her life as revealed by the mirror of the soul and seeks to exemlify a righteous life even after the mirror has been removed.

Whatever the verse, whatever the chapter, God's Word has a purpose and lesson to be taught.  Look intently into this spiritual mirror to see a true reflection of Jesus Christ, our Savior!  God bless, my friends.  Have an awesome weekend!