Mulch Day

Today was a major mulch day! Yesterday I was preparing for the mulch by pulling weeds. I love how God uses nature to show us parallels with our own lives. I think of the verse that talks about how God uses His Word, the Bible, which is represented as seed and depending upon the soil (rocky or weedy) is how we will grow. I was looking at some of my weeds in my flowerbeds yesterday. I noticed some tricky weeds as they were harder to see when it was closer to the flower or bush itself. I was thinking about how some weeds we don't see in ourselves when they are so close to our heart.

Then today I have some Golden Trivot bushes. Because of the late frost we had this spring, the bush for the longest time did not sprout any leaves. But the bush has started. However, the old limbs remained. So I began pruning. OK- I have to admit, I am starting to really like pruning. I was thinking how the Father calls Himself the vinedresser and how much He must like to prune us- to get rid of the dead limbs in us. Why do I like to prune, because my bush looks so beautiful afterwards. I think- this must be the Father's gratification as well to make us look beautiful. He wants to cut all those things that are not of Him- as I talked in my earlier post the things that are causing decay. Then I was thinking I have some pretty full bushes- but if I let them go- the bushes would look wild- limbs going here and there and everywhere. The bush needs defintion and shaping for its purpose- and I was thinking the same is true with us.

Heart & Soul

As a little girl, I remember one of the first songs that I plunked out using just my index finger on our family piano was Heart & Soul. I was in the 3rd grade and had my dear friend, Joni, came over to my house and there she taught me how to play my part as she played her part of Heart & Soul. Wow- our heart and soul....what does that look like? I've been doing some thinking lately about our soul. I'm so glad God gives us the greatest commandment of loving Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. So I looked up soul- in the Greek- here's what I found...., just call me Sherlock :)...the breath of life, the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing; 2a) the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.) 2b) the (human) soul in so far as it is constituted that by the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life 2c) the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body).

So I was thinking how in our culture there is a movement to be health conscious- we are aware of what we put in our bodies. If I ate Big Macs with Large Fries and a Large Coke for three meals a day, seven days a week there would be an obvious effect on my body- not only outwardly, but inwardly. But, the obvious would be the outward effect. So then I was thinking about the health of our soul. What are we pouring into our soul? The world wants us to pour in unhealthy things into our soul (feelings, desires, affections)- perhaps the faltered view of greed, maybe unhealthy feelings of comparison and jealousy, perhaps the things we view that pique our sensualities. We may not think that these have an effect, because we can't see them. But as I read 2 Peter, Peter talks about the power and knowledge God gives and by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Guess what corruption means: decay. When we choose worldly things- our soul decays. Whenever I hear or read the word decay vivid imagery pops into my mind of skulls, death. Yuck. I want life; but that is where the deceiver comes in- we think these things fill our soul, or we may even be totally ignorant going along our day- but sin brings decay to our soul. But thanks be to God who has given us His Son- who is the lover of our soul- who breathes His breath of life into us everlasting. The Holy Spirit comes in and invades and grows our soul into beauty. So God asks us today: today I set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; choose life so that you may life. Yes- my heart's cry: choose life.

Praises

Here are some occurrences over the last couple of days:
- Answered prayer in multiple ways
- My God's lovingkindness towards me always and even Him speaking to me in preparation of news for my heart
- The best treatment I've had with a patient, which resulted in her joy of dogs and the perfect timing of Regis and Kelly showing dogs on their morning show
- God's timing is perfect
- God's ways are higher than my own
- Blessings from people in my church

Pslam 89- "I will sing of the lovingkindness of the LORD forever; to all generations I will make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth." v6"For who in the skies is comparable to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty is like the LORD, A God greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all those who are around Him? O LORD God of hosts, who is like Thee, O mighty LORD? Thy faithfulness also surrounds Thee."

Jesus, my friend, He calls me friend

What an amazing week I've had with the Lord this week. I feel like He's really spoken to me and I think I've allowed my heart for that receiving. I am so thankful that my LORD is relational. That I can tell Him all of what I'm feeling and then I can claim His truth. That I am blessed in trusting in Him; how my heart can rejoice because I trust in His holy name. I praise my Father in heaven who brings His righteousness into my heart. Coming to a state of brokenness in His goodness not only towards me, but all of His kids.

This week, I've tasted just a small smidgen of His heart. How it's hard when you care for people and you are initiating, but you don't get a response back. To be honest, I've not had this happen before with people I've been in relationship for awhile. And my heart realizes, how many times, or like my roommate said- millions of times, that this happens to God. My God's compassion, which is likened to a mother loving her unborn child, is like no other and is amazing to me. His relentless unending love- thank you God for your love which never fails- His love remains- Hallelujah!

Water

As I'm reading my World Vision magazine tonight- I realize that I totally take for granted my access to clean water. Here's some interesting or rather sobering statistics...

"Drink This"

"The world spends $100 billion a year on bottled water- a suprising statistic because most people who buy it usually have high-quality water piped to their homes for a fraction of the cost. Meanwhile, an investment of a mere $30 billion a year would halve the number of people who have no access to clean water (currently about 1.1 billon) by 2015."

"In Our Lives"

" At home the average American uses 80-100 gallons of water a day. Where some of it goes:

- Flusing the toilet: 5 gallons per flush

- Brushing teeth with the water running: 2 gallons

- Running the dishwasher: 12 gallons

- Taking a 5 minute shower: 25 gallons

Counterpoint: The average African family uses a total of five gallons of water a day."

10 K

Once again, my feet hit the pavement along the roads in Troy Ohio for the annual Strawberry Festival 10K. This year I felt a bit more prepared; however, as I ran there were two distinct times that I wanted to quit. Running can be a mental sport. As I ran I recalled to mind "Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning the shame and sat down at the right hand of God. Consider Him who endured such evil opposition from men that you may not grow weary or lose heart." Renewing your mind is so important on this race of life we run. Amazingly, I was able to kick it in gear to give it my all to the finish line. What a feeling it is to finish and run well! I made my goal. But, I thought- how true it will be and so much sweeter when I finish this race of life by God's grace.