Pruned For More Beauty

Summer is a time of renewing for me.  School is out, the pool opens, and the pace slows for me somewhat.  I have made an every year commitment to God and myself to put to paper the list of things that I've committed myself to over the past year.  After I've made the list, I begin to pray over the course of the summer if God still wants me to commit myself to whatever I've written.  It is hard for me, because the evil one will whisper in my ear that I'm a "loser" if if "quit", that "surely you can do it all", "everyone is counting on you".  God has grown me so much over the years to know His sweet voice that says, "Here is where I best can use you" and "this has run it's course, and it's time to move on and let someone else."

I was reminded of my "list" that I compile every year as I was pruning my rose bushes today.  Sidenote: I usually NEVER prune them, but with my man and baby girl out of town, I've had a bit of extra time on my hands.  Here's what I saw...

Slowly fading blooms...others looked like this...

Still others this...

God gently reminded me that the fading blooms, and even the ones that had no bloom at all represent those things on my list that God is no longer calling me to.  What I've found with pruning is that the more you prune, the healthier the flower is, so the more pruning I allow God to do in my heart and life, the more healthy I will be in Him!  But what do I do at times?  I try to get life out of a flower that has no bloom left in it.  It's seen it's beauty, and now it's time to prune it back and allow God to birth new blooms...

So what about you?  What on your list of things that you "do for God" need to be prayed over, and maybe cut back because they are no longer blooming, so that He can bloom anew in you??

Waiting To Be Fed

My man and my middle child are in Haiti.  My oldest child has flown the coop, and my 12 year old flits from place to place.  God is teaching me alot as my house is quiet.  With bermuda higher than my man would ever let it grow, I ventured out yesterday to love on him by cutting his grass before he returns.  He loves to mow grass and calls it something that "massages his skull" and gives him alone time with Jesus.  All I can say is that I needed a massage and an IV with fluids after I tackled the yard.  But just as I was emptying out grass clippings on the street, God gave me the most beautiful site...

A dad and mom cardinal feeding their newly "nestless" babes in the grass.  Both mom and dad were doing the feeding (which is a whole different post in itself with its own lessons), but what I found so interesting and cool was that the babies sat and waited for both parents to go and gather the food, and then come back and feed them.


Taste and see that the Lord is good;^(A)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge^(B) in him. (Psalm 34:8)


All I could do is sit and weep as I watched the total dependency of the babies on their parents.  They didn't wander off, didn't think "this is taking too long, I'll make this happen myself".  They patiently waited for their Provider to give them all they needed.  


One of the reasons this has meant so much to me is that God has shown me over the past week how hard it is for me to "sit and wait" for HIM to satisfy and fill me.

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
    and you will delight in the richest of fare.  (Isaiah 55:2)

The thing I do so often is that I seek Godly counsel from others as if it were coming from the Lord.  Why?  Because I can see them, touch them, feel them.  I do this especially with my man.  God has shown me this week because I haven't had my man with me, that HE is the Provider. He is the answer.  He has the right timing.  His Word has the answer.  In my loud life, I sometimes need reminders to be still enough to hear.  Take time to see what He has for me, and to remind me so lovingly that He's got this, He's got me, and He's totally crazy about me.

Lord, I thank you for your forgiveness when I knowingly or unknowingly put someone or something else on Your throne.  You are the King, and you are not taking applications for Your Position! You know best and desire only the very best for my life.  Thank you that your tapestry of my life is not finished and you are continuing to make a masterpiece of me.  I am CRAZY about You too!  Amen