Mosaics of our life... thanks to sweet Ellie!

Ellie is one of the most artist, creative kids I have ever seen.   Oh how I love this little girl!  She spends a large part of her day in "pretend" play.  Either with dress up or little people or dolls, she has a big story to tell.   She loves all kinds of crafts and often asks to paint.  You never know what Ellie will be wearing since she chooses her own clothes every day.  Ellie is not swayed by anyone!  She knows what she wants and she does not give up.   The prophetic word I received for her when she was born that that she is a Warrior of the Lord.  She would DECLARE and intercede and pray.  More than that, she would fight God's way.  She will still stand in high places and take back the land.  Yes, Ellie has the heart of this kind of warrior.  And she is clothed with compassion and mercy.  A perfect picture of a warrior of the Lord.  

Here is Ellie with a Magnetic Mosaic picture that we created today.  I just love the idea of creating a meaningful picture out of little bits that don't seem like anything until they are put together.   I was thinking of some of the amazing stained glass windows I have seen.  Amazing scenes are born out of broken pieces of glass, joined together in a meaningful way.    I love that Jesus takes all of the broken parts of our life, along with all of the good things and creates a beautiful picture of His plan and destiny for us.   He makes a "mosaic blueprint" and fits it all together perfectly.   It is such a comforting thing to know that He has created that blueprint for us.  Jesus can use all of the not so wonderful stuff that is hidden in our past, and then create something for His glory.  I know that I have lots of that hidden stuff and I love that Jesus is not only bringing that stuff out of hiding, he is turning it into something marvelous!   Looking at this picture above, I see all of the blessings that I have in those yellow, pink and white pieces.   I love that the red pieces remind me ...... especially this week.... of the great sacrifice of Jesus and His shed blood.   And each of those darker pieces, help me to not forget how much Jesus has done for me and in me.   Thank you Ellie for this wonderful picture that brought me to this place tonight. 

And just for a special bonus tonight, here is my sweet little Anna!   Can't wait to see her personality bloom!

Jesus, thank you for the lessons that we learn from children.   Thank you for all that you are doing in Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna.   Jesus, help us all to see the "big picture" mosaic of our life and to recognize what you have done, even in the dark and hidden places and to celebrate all that you are doing now.   Holy Spirit, thank you for revelation and clear pictures.  And thank you for the smiles of babies!   Amen

The carrot, the egg and the coffee bean....

If I have learned one thing on this vacation it is to breath in during the horrible storms we have been driving through.  Ken and I were remembering one amazing vacation several years ago, when we drove over 3800 miles and never had one drop of rain!  This trip has not been like that.  We have had rain, RAIN AND MORE RAIN!  And of course, the worst storms always seem to happen in the cities with the most traffic!  Today I remembered to breath.  I remembered to pray.  I remembered to ask others to pray.  And then I picked up my phone and started looking at Facebook!  Isn't that a good way to take your mind off of the wind and the rain and the lightening?  Which brings me to the title of this post.   I saw a little story that has been on my mind the rest of the day.

The story compared hard and difficult times to a pot of boiling water.  The water doesn't change.  Just like our circumstances sometimes don't change.  So the question is...............  when you are in that pot of boiling water, are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?   The carrot starts off hard and solid.  But when dropped into that boiling water, it become soft and squishy.  It really doesn't hold up.  The egg has a hard exterior. It seems like it will be fine, but under those hot and boiling circumstances, the inside become hard. The coffee bean doesn't seem to change.  BUT the water changes.  Instead of being effected by the boiling water..... it changes the environment! 

I want to be a coffee bean!  How about you?  I want to stay solid and firm.  I don't want to get soft and mushy like that carrot.  And I know that I don't want to harden my heart like that egg.  And the coffee bean doesn't just change the water.... it releases a wonderful aroma that draws people in.   Once again I am in awe of Yahweh's plan for us.  He designed us to be able to not only get through difficult times, but we can actually change things in the midst of troubles and storms.  AND we can release a wonderful aroma of joy and peace at the same time.   The best part about this is that the coffee bean doesn't have to DO ANYTHING!!!!!  It just is!!!   It just gets thrown into that hot water and then just has to BE! 

So, I am going to think of myself as a coffee bean!  I will remember that I don't have to DO anything at all.  Those tough and difficult situations will happen, but in the midst of them, it is Yahweh's plan to release HIS presence and power that changes things.  And it is His aroma that swirls out as joy, and peace and love.  What a relief! 

Thanks to the person that posted that wonderful story.  It has given me much to think and meditate about.  The story helped me to relax and travel through the storm as we drove.  I love little things that help me to hold on to these concepts.  Today it is a coffee bean!

Yahweh, what a wonderful, loving, amazing God you are.  I am in awe of your plans and your purposes.  You reign over the heavens and over the earth.  You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thank you for showing me your plan in the little things.  Thank you for the coffee bean! (And the coffee!).   Amen