Across the Table

Last night, I was blessed to have my table surrounded by beautiful women who love the Lord. It was the last night of our current bible study so we celebrated with a meal together. It was a joy to be able to serve them. The conversation was lighthearted and the food was good. Hubby and kiddos didn't mind as they got a night out for dinner and a trip to the bookstore!

MENU

Chicken with Avocado Salsa (compliments of Everyday Foods Magazine)
Red Quinoa Salad (made with red onions, red peppers, pear and apple, and hazelnuts)
Asparagus
Black Bean Corn Chips
Brown Rice Pudding for dessert!

How can you help but to picture Jesus and His disciples sitting around a table sharing a meal. I pray it won't be long before the Lord sees fit to surround my square table with whomever He sends my way.

May we all be seeking to fill our homes with the presence of His people; serving them with grace.

Weekends to Remember

First and foremost, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and Resurrection Day!

We were incredibly blessed with a gorgeous, sunny Saturday. Hubby and the boys went for a walk around the property in the morning. Being near a couple of busier roads, a lot of garbage gets dumped so they picked up quite a bit.

Then we headed toward the hills in hopes of making a hike down to the river. With initial disappointment that the park was still closed, we found ample opportunities to enjoy the day. A walk around another little trail with the wind blowing strongly was refreshing and led us to find some frog eggs in a deep ditch! The kids had a blast collecting them and I'm sad to say it was a first for them, and me! They even collected eggs for some older passers-by that were looking for a moment to relive their childhood. I hope to post pictures soon.

Resurrection Day was wonderful. Our time of worship brought us deeper into His presence and the message was thought-provoking. An enjoyable dinner with the rest of the family brought the day to an end. All in all, a simple day and I'd prefer to have it no other way. However, Hubby is exhausted, so I'll have to come up with a plan to help him rest.

Face Value

Browsing through the blog world, I found myself at http://aholyexperience.com/. While enjoying the beauty of her words amidst thought-provoking pictures, I happened upon 7 simple words. Yet, in spite of their simplicty, these words have been ringing through my mind.

"If you are saved, inform your face." ~Unknown (Read the complete article at her website under the February 25th post).

What does my face show? I really had to ponder this for awhile. Reluctantly, I succumbed to the truth that there are many times that my face is completely unaware of the amazing saving grace of Jesus that it has directly benefitted from. It would be easy to excuse it because, after all, this old mouth won't be in heaven so what does it really concern my face anyway? But we ought not to let it off the hook so quickly! We know that the word speaks of our countenance and Jesus helps us to understand that whatever is in the heart comes out of the mouth. So doesn't it stand to reason that whatever is in our heart will also effect our countenance?

My countenance can be an effective witnessesing tool. If it's smiling, silently telling the story of some outrageously great event, people will want to know why. But even more importantly, I think about what that smile or countenance communicates to my Lord. If I go around with a sullen, plain or stern face, aren't I robbing Him of a simple pleasure? He delights in the joy of His saints!

I don't believe it is the intent of any of us that love the Lord to walk around with a countenance that would indicate anything other than our joy and love for Him. But what often happens is that we get stuck in the routine of life without taking time to acknowledge Him or meditate on all He is to us.

I can't help but remember the song, "If You're Happy and You Know it, Clap Your Hands" when I think of the above quote. Doesn't that song just make you want to say, "Duh!"? Of course we realize that if we're happy there should be an expression of emotion that goes along with that. The same is true for this simple, yet deeply profound quote, "If you are saved, inform your face." This should be a "duh!" also, but sadly we may be missing out.

So what's your face saying? Be honest with yourself. And may all of our faces shine forth the salvation of the Lord. As I explained it to my kids....in other words, SMILE! :)

Damsel in Distress

Ahhhh. It's good to be back. I've been browsing quite a few blogs lately and it's inspired me to "pretty" up mine a bit. There are some beautiful ones out there. But it may be quite some time. Spring is sprunging :) and my latest project is to work on my garden and some other planting around the yard. So furthering my blogucation (blog + education) may have to wait. But it will give you something to keep checking back for!

Alright, on to something with a bit more substance.....

Yet again, our family has been touched by the lovingkindness of our Heavenly Father. Why do we so often seem surprised by these events? And yet because of this surprise, He cares to touch our lives all the more.

This week beheld an event for our family in which the anticipation of was wrought with fear and trembling. That dreaded day of coming face to face with.....The Dentist! I confess. It had been a year since their last check-up. The previous check ups, which had been on a routine 6 month cycle, were filled with cavities for our beautiful little girl.

I was as concerned as she was, inwardly of course. She was a trooper during the previous episodes with the mouth invader as she fought back her tears. I was proud of her, but had no desire to see her go through it again. She just seems to have received the bad teeth gene from one us...I won't mention who! :)

On the morning of the appointment, we spent our usual time in devotions and prayer. Little Miss K. tends to be pretty generic in her prayers and seems apprehensive to pray for things for herself. But this morning brought something different. I heard her sweet little voice, with an uncommon boldness, ask her Heavenly Father to let her be cavity free!

I rejoiced to see this boldness and boost in her faith. I knew it was a lot for her to step out and ask that. And then, WHAM!, my weak flesh crept up and the faithless thought barged its way in. What if? What if she did have cavities? Up went my prayers, "Please Lord, answer her prayer. Don't let her down." Seems trivial, I know, but this is HUGE faith-building stuff in a 10 year old! Ummm...perhaps 30-somethings too. And off we went.

We waited and waited. Then I waited and waited. Finally, out she comes with the dentist not far behind. You, the reader, likely being filled with great faith, unlike me, probably already know what the results were. Not one single cavity....only loose teeth, ready to fall out. Can you say, "REJOICE!"

One of the first things she says is, matter-of-factly, "God answered my prayer", with the biggest smile you could imagine. Though I didn't have my camera with me, it's a snapshot on my heart to be remembered into eternity. How great our God is. His love for us is immeasureable, even when we lack faith. His handiwork is amazing and oh, how He likes to dazzle us with it. Don't be fooled. Our rejoicing wasn't in Miss K.'s cavity free visit, but in the mighty work of God. He loves her more than I ever could and He desires for her to be His. He will go to no end to prove it to her.

Rejoice in the Lord always, Again, I say rejoice!

I'll Be Back!

I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. I've just been nursing a messed up neck/shoulder blunder. Typing obviously irritates it so I'll be off here for a bit. Please continue to stop by, or better yet, sign up to get email updates so you'll know when I post again! I hope to post about once a week, but had been on more of a week and a half to two week schedule. Then about two weeks ago, I ended up with this little trial. Hope to write more in the next week.

Still praising Him,