God is so good

Just simply thinking on the fact that my Lord is 

so wonderful... 

so gracious... 

and...

so good!

~~~

Our biggest problem...Ahem, MY biggest problem

"Our biggest problem... is not the environment in which we have been reared, it is not the evil that has been done to us by others; it is not the limitations that we feel so acutely. Our biggest problem is a heart that wants its own way in opposition to God's way."     ~Jim Berg, Changed into His Image, pp 34-35

Ouch! That hits it doesn't it? I know it does for me. I would love to blame all that is wrong and/or painful in this life on others but the fact is.... my greatest struggle is the one in my heart. The fact that I want or think I need something that is in opposition to what I know God wants for me. And I know if I am walking closely with Christ, those problems which seem to propel me towards disobedience won't seem so large. If my focus is on Him... not my problems.. I CAN, in the midst of those troubles, have joy! 

Look with me for a few moments at the following pictures. 

In this first picture is a pseudo scorpion.

Pretty impressive, huh? 

And when you consider that this fine fellow was in my bathtub... well.. that thought can be downright frightening!

Now, look closely at this next photo, please:

In this photo is my guinea pig, Bea, and the pseudo scorpion.

He doesn't look quite so scary now does he? 

Our problems can be a bit like that pseudo scorpion. When I focus on my problems, they seem huge!! They can be frightening-- horribly so. BUT, if I put those problems in the proper perspective, remembering Who is in control and that He is with me, loving me... they won't seem so horrible any longer.

Oh, that I would FULLY grasp this in my heart!



.

Let the children play...

Think with me for a moment back to your childhood..... do you remember long summer days hanging out at home, playing with your friends? I do.

I remember....

Making mud pies

           I remember feeding them to my dog. She was just a tiny little beagle. Her name was Tiny as a matter of fact. And for whatever reason, that dog would eat a mud pie! I had more fun with that little dog. 

Swimming in the river

Yes, we actually swam in the river. There were bloodsuckers in there, fish and snapping turtles and somehow we managed to have a fantastic time!! This was a favorite pastime of the summer.  I remember when I was junior high age, the swimming hole in the river down behind my house became the "hot spot" to swim and hang out in one summer (for a few weeks anyway, until my Dad put a stop to it.) I remember the awesome time I had that few weeks as even much older teens would come and swim! It was party central and I loved it!

Riding bikes

How many miles did I ride on bikes as a child and teenager? I would ride round and round in the the driveway and go around the neighborhood. As a teenager, I would go for much longer bike rides and even enjoyed riding bikes with my boys when they were young.

Playing with the little boy next door

We did "nothing" most days and were always getting into trouble for it! I remember when I was about 7 he felt I should learn how to drive. He was an expert driver at the ripe old age of 6. We got in a little old Datsun his parents had and he drove it around out back of his parents' property. Then it was my turn. I was SO scared but pretty thrilled too and promptly drove that car right into the side of their barn! (He was always my protector. He quickly had us change seats so that he got in trouble for it - not me. He was my hero!)

 Adventures

A friend and I actually spent one whole afternoon when I was around 11 years old looking for the end of the rainbow. Yeah, it was a great adventure! I have no idea how far my friend and I walked... we kept thinking we were getting closer and we were anxious to see if there actually was a pot of gold waiting for us! Eventually, the rainbow disappeared and we had to walk back home through the fields and woods having procured no gold! But we had a great time just the same.

Swinging

As a young child I remember well the thrill of swinging on a small swing, and as a preteen teen I remember I would sit in a lounge type swing, where I would swing and read for hours.

These are just some of the memories of summertime from my childhood. Do you remember any of these? Remember the looonnngg hours of summer, how great it was? Days just filled with playing outside and one little adventure after another.

My own two sons spent most of their childhoods right here at home. We would go once a week or so and visit friends and or go to a park but most of their lives as young children were spent right here on our 5 acres. They built forts, played with friends, played with their cars in the dirt (do children do this anymore??), ran under the sprinkler, read books, had picnics, rode bikes, tried to fly (yeah, really!), investigated ant hills, got dirty, used their imaginations.....

Sadly now, I read more and more that children do not play. They must be given activities to do. Where has imagination gone Mommas???

Let the children play... 

let them have the freedom to get dirty and have an adventure! 

They will only be children for a short time... 

the land of make-believe only exists for us for a few short years... 

don't let them miss it...

~~~~~~~
 For ideas for outdoor play visit the   Outdoor Play Blog Hop 

God provides even the small desires of our hearts

My story first begins about 45 days ago, when I first began visiting greenhouses for the year. I had been wanting to buy some portulaca to put in my flower bed along my driveway. Sadly, I have been unable to find any in my area to purchase. I was at a bit of a loss of what to put in this flower bed. It really needed something along with the perennials and the few petunias I had purchased. Working out in it a few days ago, I was a bit discouraged. In my mind, portulaca would be the only plant that would achieve the look I wanted.

Once again I must go back a few weeks in time.... deciding to try something new with my pumpkins this year, I decided to put them in pots. I found several old pots in my shed I could use for this. One of the pots, I hadn't used in a few years and it still had old soil in it. For no particular reason, I didn't plant any pumpkins in it. Instead I set this pot beside my front door and began watering the soil in prep for whatever plant(s) I would put in it eventually.

A few weeks went bye and I still watered the pot and thought about what to put in it. This is unusual for me. I usually like to have something "cute" by my front door to display flowers in this time of the year. This plain plastic pot with nothing but old dirt in it is not cute. However, each day I felt the need to water it and just leave it alone.

A few days ago, as I was going outside, I noticed something had begun to grow in this pot. Initially I assumed it was just weeds, whose seeds would have blown in this spring as the pot sat there. It had been so long since I had planted anything in this pot, it did not occur to me that there could actually be any viable seeds laying dormant in it from plants that were once planted in it. Taking a closer look, I was both surprised and thrilled to realize it was portulaca growing in this pot! The very plant I had been looking for and was unable to find!

Isn't that exciting? God has given me these small little desires of my heart... I am rejoicing today in this tiny little blessing that God has given to me. They look so small but to me they mean so MUCH. I can not help but think how much my God loves me each time I walk out my front door!

All you have to do is call...

All you have to do is call.... And you know wherever I am....
I'll come running to see you.




I mean it... :)

All I need??

"Each day as I spend time in His presence, let this thought be with me: Christ is all."

~Andrew Murray

Wow.  That is a powerful statement.

 “Christ is all.” 

I have often thought that if I could fully grasp that concept, so much of what I think I need or want in this life wouldn’t really matter.


 

“Christ is all.”

HE is everything.

All I want… 

all I desire…

all I dream about… 

all I NEED…. 

Christ is ALL. 

Oh, that this would be true of me! 
 ~That He would do a mighty work in me, so that I would be able to say..


He is all.

Goals for Summer 2011 Planning Chart

 After reading the summer goals of several bloggers, I have decided to make up a list of goals for myself this summer. I made a simple little goal planner to use and thought others might enjoy using it as well. 

(Just click on the link below - it should open right up for you.)

Summer 2011 Goals Planner

God bless,

~Penni