Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

It's snowing in Chicago today!  Really the first snow of the season.  I was just thinking yesterday that it would really feel a bit more like Christmas if there were some snow.  Now I am the first one to say that I hate to drive in the snow.  But it really does make it "seasonal"!  The picture above is one of the first memories I have of "winter".  It's from that same time in Aberdeen, South Dakota that I have been blogging about.  That's my brother Greg and I am 4 years old.  I've come to realize that, for me, lots of important stuff happened in those years when I was between 3 and 6 years old.  When I saw this photo I was remembering the snow.  We had LOTS of snow!  If you notice, I am wearing really big and ugly boots (my brothers hand me downs).  But they kept my feet warm and dry.  I remember that this same winter I learned to ice skate in the ditch next to the highway that was just a couple of doors away from our house.

Everyone talks about the years of the "big snows".  And there are always different years for different people.  In Chicago, there was a BIG snow in February 1967 (which was before either Ken and his family or my family moved here.)  For me one of those "big snow" year memories was the winter of 1978-79.  That year we had snowstorm after snowstorm after snowstorm.  It seemed to snow every week.  And the snow piled up and up and UP!  I especially remember this year because I was pregnant with Gwen and I shoveled lots of snow that winter.  Our neighbor across the street would always run out and insist on finishing up the shoveling if he saw me out there.  Ken was working 45 miles away and was gone from home more than 12 hours a day.  So clearing the drive was left to me!  At one point we had to shovel the roof because of the weight of the snow!   And our small yard had so much snow that I could no longer throw the snow on the pile.  All you could see of our house was the snow and the second floor windows.  Yep, that was WAY TO MUCH SNOW!

When I look out the window today I am so thankful that Jesus has washed my sins away and now I am "white as snow". I love Psalm 51- especially verse 7 -  "Cleanse me with hyssop and  I will be clean, wash me and I will be whiter than snow"  And I was thinking about those really ugly boots I have on in that picture.  Isn't that just like the ways that we try to cover up our sins?  We find things to hide behind and think that our sins are hidden from Jesus. Sometimes the cover ups make us feel warm and safe, but that is always a lie.  The only way we have to be free of our sins is by the blood of Jesus.  And then our sins are not covered up or hidden.......... they are TAKEN AWAY! Yes, I love the way snow reminds me of the best gift I have ever been given - Jesus.  So today, the snow is really making me feel "Christmas-y"  Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Jesus, thank you for your plan to bring us not only forgiveness of our sins, but also FREEDOM from our sins.  Holy Spirit, what an amazing gift you give us as you draw us to Jesus.  Thank you for Christmas, for snow and for your great love.  Amen

Taking out the garbage...

Today I was back to work - sort of - with just one of my little buddies.  I watched the youngest of my nanny kids - the 19 month old.  I haven't seen him since the first week of June, and for a little guy, that is a LONG TIME!  Additionally, his family moved into a new house during the summer.  So I got introduced to his new home and RE-introduced to him.  I am pleased to say that he knew me right away and didn't even cry when his mommy left for work. 

We were having a great time playing in the family room at the rear of their house, when all of sudden, he stopped dead in his tracks and RAN for the front door!  He had heard the garbage truck picking up the recycling from the curb.  He stood at the open front door, pointing and saying "truck - truck - truck".  It was clearly the highlight of his life to watch that truck.  After his nap, it was time for a walk to the park and some outdoor playtime.  On the walk, he was delighted that it seemed to be a garbage truck on every street!  He just squealed and laughed through the entire walk.  He would strain to look around the corner, hoping that there was a garbage truck on that street.  And he was mostly finding his hopes met.  For some reason there seemed to be a lot of garbage trucks in their neighborhood.  After the park, we walked home and went into the back yard to play some ball and slide on his little play set.  Once again, he went running for the front yard when he heard a garbage truck on the street out front.  After two trucks just drove past, I was reluctant to let him go to the front when, once again, we heard the roar of the trucks.  But I relented and we went to the front yard.  There were two garbage trucks just parked in front of their house. (I think that drivers were just taking a short break!)  Michael immediately just sat down on the grass - never taking his eyes off of those trucks.  I sat down next to him and for the next several minutes, he just stared at those trucks.  Finally, the drivers returned to their trucks.  On seeing Michael watching, they waved at him, and he happily waved back.  As soon as the trucks pulled out of sight, Michael was up and running to the back yard.  The show was over.  Isn't it great how such a small thing, can be so much entertainment for a little one? 

On the way home I was thinking about spiritually taking out the trash.  I am so thankful that Jesus is just waiting to take away the trash from our lives.  All we have to do, is take that stuff to the spiritual "curb" and place it in Jesus' waiting hands.  We don't have to wait for Sunday or any other special trash pick-up day.  Whenever we confess our sins, He is faithful and will forgive them and take them away!  And just like the trash, we can't get our spiritual trash back either.  He has taken them away!  There was a time when I didn't grasp this concept.  I knew that he FORGAVE me, but I missed the fact that he TAKES OUR SINS AWAY!  And the best news is that when he takes something from us, he replaces it with something of Himself.  When we bring him our anger, he gives us his peace.  When we have been selfish or cruel or unthinking towards someone else, he fills us with his love not only for others, but for ourselves. Satan does not want us to remember this!  He wants us to constantly be back in our sin.  So we need to not only TAKE OUT the garbage - we need to LEAVE IT THERE! 

Yahweh, thanks for the reminder of your great plan to remove our sins.  Jesus, you are always there to hear our confession and willing take away our sins.  Jesus, thank you for your amazing working that allows us to be filled with all that you are when we empty ourselves of sin.  What a joyful and wonderful thing this is!  Yahweh, bless all of those workers who drive those garbage trucks.  Holy Spirit, remind them that they can take out their spiritual garbage to Jesus.  Thank you Yahweh for the provision of work for me.  Bless the families that I serve.  Thank you today, especially for Michael.
Yahweh, remind people who see those garbage cans on the curb, to take out their spiritual trash! Amen

 

 

Misplaced blame........

 

You know how you have a "love/hate" relationship with some things in your life? I am sure that most are familiar with that phrase.  Those things that at times are so wonderful, but then at other times not so wonderful.  Well, I have one of those relationships with my Kindle.  I confess that, in fact, I love my Kindle.  It's just that when I start reading I can't stop. !  So, when I have been awake half the night reading, I blame my extreme tiredness the next day on the Kindle. This is not the Kindle's fault - it is totally ME.   And the thing is, thanks to the  internet, I have in my hands an almost endless library of books, magazines, articles and other reading material.  And a lot of the books are free or almost free.  And it is available 24 hours a day.  No running out of reading material.  No searching the book shelf for a book to read over again after having already read it more times than I can count.  Just pick up the Kindle and in just a couple of minutes, there is a new book to read. 

The book currently causing me to be so tired, is Mark of the Lion, by Francine Rivers.  I think I have read most of her books.  This series of three books begins in Jerusalem in AD70.  I love the way the author is able to weave so much Biblical truth into her books, while creating a wonderful story. I don't usually read historical books about Greece or Rome or gladiators.  But this is a story that draws you in.  So, take this as a personal recommendation for the book Mark of the Lion. 

What is really on my heart tonight is misplaced blame.  I have been thinking about how quick I was to "blame" my Kindle for my tiredness!  Isn't that a silly thing?  But Yahweh has been showing me how many times I try to place blame somewhere else, rather than seeing that I am to blame.  You know, blaming the traffic but really YOU are the one running late.  This is really misplaced blame. Satan wants to keep us blaming others so that we can remain unforgiven and filled with anger and bitterness.  I have discovered that I am much less angry and upset when I take responsibility for the things that are my doing.  Once I do this, I deal with the situation and with my emotions about it and solve the problem.  Confessing whatever failing and/or sin and then seeing Yahweh's response is ALWAYS  forgiveness and grace that  brings freedom and peace.  The best part about this is that no matter how small and even trivial OR how big of thing it is, doesn't matter at all to God.  The important thing is that you accept blame for whatever you have done.

What an amazing part of Yahweh's great plan.  We can be forgiven and set free, just be knowing and confessing our wrong doings.  I think over the next few weeks, I am going to pay much closer attention to my thoughts when things aren't going right.  Before getting angry and upset, I can just stop and pray and trust the Holy Spirit will reveal what needs to be revealed.  And then I can walk in greater freedom and peace. 

Yahweh, thanks so much for your plan of forgiveness.  Thanks for reminding me that you care about the small things as well as the big things.  Help me to remember to stop and pray when I am in challenging situations.  Thank you for your peace and the freedom from holding on to blaming others and the bitterness that follows that.  You are a mighty and wonderful God.   Amen

(And, just for the record, I confess that I have re-read almost all of the books that are on my Kindle.  I guess it doesn't matter how many books are available, when you have a good book, it is worth rereading.) 

Why did I do that??????

Today was one of those days when I asked myself the question.... "Why did I do that?"   I have been known to do some pretty outrageous things over the years.  Like not checking the pockets of jeans that are thrown into the washer (which yields wet, soggy wallets and one or two ruined cell phones). I've said things I wish I could take back.  I've bought some things that DID get taken back.  Anyway, you get the idea.  Well, today's "that" - the thing I wish I hadn't done - was walking to the beach without my shoes.  Now, I know that doesn't sound like such a big deal, but let me remind you - it is July in Florida and it was sunny!  Yes, the sand was VERY HOT!   And I have two good sized blisters on the bottoms of my big toes to prove it.  I covered myself with sunscreen and then burned the bottoms of my feet. 

I am thankful that there is a Walgreens on every corner these days.  I was able to get something to protect the very sensitive, open wounds from the popped blisters, on the bottom of my toes. 

Which brings me to the point of this post.  Sometimes, even when we are trying to do the best we can, we mess up.   I just forgot my shoes and did not think it was a big deal.  I didn't really think it through.  I am so thankful that Yahweh understands when we mess up.   No matter how small or trivial or how big of a thing it is.  Jesus forgives us when we ask.  We don't have to be afraid to fail or make mistakes.  Doesn't that feel good?   Jesus is even more present and available than that Walgreens store.  All you have to do is talk to Him.  Amazing!   It seems that around every turn, every day, I am coming into a greater understanding of just how AWESOME  Yahweh is!  I am so grateful that I have a relationship with Jesus, with Yahweh, with the Holy Spirit that allows me to grow - to learn and to understand more about Him - even when I mess up!