"Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread."

"Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread." by Max Lucado *What a statement of trust! Whatever you want me to have is all I want. Some days the plate runs over. God keeps bringing out more food and we keep loosening our belt. A promotion. A privilege. A friendship. A gift. A lifetime of grace. An eternity of joy. There are times when we literally push ourselves back from the table, amazed at God's kindness. "You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup fills with blessing" (Ps. 23:5 MSG). *And then there are those days when, well, when we have to eat our broccoli. Our daily bread could be tears or sorrow or discipline. Our portion may include adversity as well as opportunity. ***This verse was on my mind last night during family devotions. I called my daughters to the table and set a plate in front of each. In the center of the table I placed a collection of food: some fruit, some raw vegetables and some Oreo cookies. "Every day," I explained, "God prepares for us a plate of experiences. What kind of plate do you most enjoy?" ***The answer was easy. Sara put three cookies on her plate. Some days are like that, aren't they? Some days are "three cookie days." Many are not. Sometimes our plate has nothing but vegetables--twenty-four hours of celery, carrots, and squash. Apparently God knows we need some strength, and though the portion may be hard to swallow, isn't it for our own good? Most days, however, have a bit of it all. Vegetables, which are healthy but dull. Fruit, which tastes better and we enjoy. And even an Oreo, which does little for our nutrition, but a lot for our attitude. ***All are important and all are from God. ***---> The next time your plate has more broccoli than apple pie, remember who prepared the meal. And the next time your plate has a portion you find hard to swallow, talk to God about it. Jesus did. In the garden of Gethsemane his Father handed him a cup of suffering so sour, so vile, that Jesus handed it back to heaven. "My Father," he prayed, "if it is possible may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matt. 26:39). ***Even Jesus was given a portion he found hard to swallow. But with God's help, he did. And with God's help, you can too!!

clean house?

Do you know people who have those picture perfect homes? You know -> not a dust bunny to be found; not 1 finger print on any window; not a single dog hair any place in the building; no magazine out of place; no dish in the sink; no toaster crumbs have ever touched the counter; no mail left on the table everyday; no shoes off of the shoe rack; etc...! I do NOT live THERE! I want to! but sadly, no. I day dream about coming home to those picture perfect magazine-looking-homes! Such rich-colored, perfectly polished furniture; the un-shedding dog; the pristine view from the front door as you enter....Ahhhhhh, sounds heavenly!!! *MY guys have fingerprints on EVERYTHING; the dogs have hair on every chair; the cats curl up on every item of clothing they can knock down; the dirty dishes seem to multiple in rabbit-time; the laundry basket usually has plenty to hold; dust bunnies galore; the phone ringing off the hook; my mom making me scratch my head in wonder; being pulled in ever direction at once because seemingly no one can function without me for 20 minutes; nope, not a moment of silence to be found! *Heck, I'd settle for my home to STILL be clean even 15 minutes after I have put away the cleaning supplies!! :) I dream of quiet time!! where I can read a book, or enjoy a whole magazine; or sip my morning coffee in peace & quiet; where dogs are seen and not heard; where I can hear myself think; where my husband doesn't diasgree with me 98% of the time; where my son will not desire ALL of my attention; where I can take a bath without conversations that can not wait until I am done; etc...! ***But then!! All of those years of working in nursing homes come in a great flash before my eyes...and I am smacked with the realization that my house will not ALWAYS be full & crazy!!! That there will most likely come a time when my husband (who is 10 years my senior, with heart issues) will not always be here. That my son will one day have a wife, kids, home repairs, a mortgage to pay, and a full & crazy life of his own to juggle -> and good ole mom will be pushed to the back burner of his focus! When my neices and nephews wont need me so much; when my pets are no longer alive; when my parents are no longer here to make me crazy & make me laugh; when my brothers have forgotten my name from old age; when my aunts & uncles have long since left this planet and wait for me in heaven; when my cherished friends will need a walker to get to our girl's dinners; And there will most likely come a day when I will be alone and bored and praying for this loud, crazy life that I am worn out from at the moment...and so, I choose to be grateful in this loud, 'lived-in', dust bunny & pet hair covered, loving home!!!! *but don't feel badly: I will have plenty of quiet time to think and read in my nursing home...but for now -> there is fun to be had!!!!! :D So...I am off to make memories with my loud, crazy family...and oh yeah -> don't forget the camera!!!! ;o)

My prayer, my hope, is that when people meet me...

I fail miserably, mostly when I try to do everything in my own strength. It is when I give it all to God, that His Love shines through, not mine. Only when I humble myself and remember what I am not, can I share with other people what an awesome God He is. "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galations 2: 20 My prayer, my hope, is that when people meet me, they won't wonder what I do, or who I am. They won't even want to know anything about me, but somehow through my faith and failures in this imperfect life I live, they will want to know The God who helps me through it all. They will only see Him for Who He is. They will see His goodness. His mercy. His love. And they will turn to Him and say, "Nice to meet you." ***Please Note: I did not write the preceeding thought/wish...but when I read it, my spirit felt like I had!! Thank you Melanie, for beating me to it! :) (copied in part from 'This Ain't NY'...to see in full, check out her blog)