Signs of Spring

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

Fellowship

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."  (1John 1:7)

Come!!

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  (John 14:2)

I love my new birthday present!!  No, my birthday is not until July, but I needed this one NOW!  This is not just ANY birdhouse, it's a hotel for Martins!  Their scouts come back from Brazil to seek nesting shelter for the summer, and they come mid-March, so they need to come and stay in my beautiful, spacious Birdie Hotel!  This hotel has enough space to house 16 families of Martins.  WooHoo!!!

Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, a perfect example for us to follow so that one day, He could go back to Heaven and prepare a room for us!  I am so thankful that He has room not just for 16 but for anyone who calls on His Name!

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  (Acts 2:21)

Fly FREE!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free"  (Galatians 5:1)

God gave me two words yesterday. "Fly Free"! Each time my eyes would land on a bird soaring through the air, my heart said, "Fly Free!" The word "free" has such a sentimental place in my heart and has since 2003 when Jesus set me FREE from the sin and shame of having an abortion. My heart longed to truly be free, but somehow I just didn't know how as long as I was carrying the chains of shame behind me.

Watching birds is so soothing for me. Flying from tree to tree, methodically manuevering between branches, knowing where the food is, and singing all the while. My heart was drawn to birds that I see in the pet stores. I feel so sorry for them, because the cage is all they'll ever know, and in reality, if they were released into the free space of the sky, they would probably die from the predators that lurk, waiting for the weak.

Up until seven years ago, I was that caged bird, willingly bound, because I felt too weak, too ill-equipped, too worthless to "fly free", but oh, how wrong I was! For every truth, there is counterfeit, a lie, waiting to take up residency in our hearts. Through the Truth of God's word I have embraced that...

I am God's child (John 1:12); I am Christ's friend (John 15:5); I have been justified (Romans 5:1); I am a saint, a holy one (Ephesians 1:1); I have been redeemed and forgiven of ALL my sins (Colossians 1:14); I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10); I am free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2); I cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39); I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)

The door to the cage is open...FLY FREE!!!!

Sweet Time

My heart has been yearning to be outside and see God.  With Spring's rebirth getting closer, it heightens my anticipation, because although I love to see God in Winter, I see Him much more in the the LIFE of the other seasons.  Mike and I had the blessing of getting away to a B & B for our 21st anniversary.  It was sooo awesome!  God took that yearning and fed it as He showed off for me and Mike as we hiked, listened to the rushing water, and just "vegged" in His creation.  The next few posts were from our time away.  We stayed at Evins Mill in Smithville.  I highly recommend it!

Only For a Season

What is seemingly dead will soon come to life...no leaves yet...no sign of life, but life is around the bend.  There is a season for everything.  At times, our lives are alive with color and every facet blooming, and then there are seasons where the branches are bare, brittle, and barely hanging on.  His Love brings life to the darkest places, and His Promise is that there is a time to die, and there is also a time to live.  He has the power to bring life out of anything and anyone.

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

(Ecc. 3:1-4)

Let Me Step Where You Step

Hiking, for the most part, is a single file adventure, with one leading, and the rest following.  I found that as I was following Mike along this trail, wherever he stepped I stepped there too.  As I watched his steps stay secure wherever he went, I planted my feet there as well.  Mike is also the leader of our home, and I have to trust his steps and direction in our family.  I watch where he goes, and because I know that ultimately Jesus is ahead of him, guiding his steps, I know that I can trust his direction of our marriage and our family.  By his staying on course with Jesus, our path together will always head in God's direction.                        

"5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take." (Prov 3:5-6)

Legacy

"I wanna leave a legacy. How will they remember me?  Did I choose to love?  Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things? I wanna leave an offering.  A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your Name unapologetically."  (Nichole Nordeman)

As the water of truth pours over the ledge and touches everything in its path, our lives on this earth affect others, both for the good and bad...the words we speak, the actions we take.  At the end of my life, I want to have touched other lives for Jesus and those lives touch others, just as the water falls down and touches every layer until it reaches bottom.  My heart is to leave a legacy of love in honor of the Perfect Lover of my soul.  Lord, pour me out like a drink offering!

"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering"  (2Tim. 4:6)

The Path That Leads to Living Water

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (John 7:38)

Roots Exposed

The roots of our faith grow deep as we journey in our walk with Jesus.  With each passing year, the roots should grow deeper and stronger as they search for the "Living Water" that nourishes them and makes them take deeper root.  Life happens though...storms of disappointment, anger, disease, failure, shame, deceit, and struggle try to erode the foundation of our lives in Christ.  With each storm, the erosion has to be tended to, filled in, and rebuilt, otherwise the roots become exposed and vulnerable.  But no matter how many storms crash against our lives, our foundation is always secure in Christ Jesus.

"It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain."

(Isaiah 4:6)