Planted and Rooted

Last May we purchased our first home.

It was an exciting time and filled with all sorts of new responsibilities like a mortgage, managing utility bills, mowing our own lawn, taking care of our landscaping, and other things that you never think about or take care of until you have a house.  I was so excited about our landscaping, because when we moved in there were nice beds made but all the plants had died over the previous winter freeze- which meant that I got to go pick out all new plants.  I've always loved the idea of gardening but never have put that desire into practice and here was my chance!  I got gardenias and camellias and then some annual flowers to plant.  After it was all finished I felt so accomplished, it was so energizing to do something with my hands and then stand back and it look at what I had planted. 

When spring came around the corner this year, I was again excited to freshen up our landscape with new flowers and color.  So when I went to plant all the new flowers I thought it would be nice to have Jeter outside with me.  I put his rope outside, hooked him up and started organizing the plants.  Next thing I know, I turn around and Jeter and his rope are wrapped around one of the gardenia bushes.  He ran toward me and pulled the plant right out of the ground!  I realized it would not work having him outside with me, put him up and came back to the uprooted plant.  When I looked at it though, the roots hadn't been uprooted at all.  The plant had NEVER taken root over the past year.  I was amazed because it looked just as healthy as the other plants, and looking at it you would never know that it wasn't rooted in the ground and really growing.  

Jesus tells a parable about the seeds planted in different soil ~ Matthew 13:5-6 "Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root."  

I wonder how many of us look good to others on the outside?  When compared to those around us we look like we are healthy and growing, but really we can be pulled 

out so easily because we're not rooted.  

Jesus continues in Matthew 13:8 "still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop- a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."  

The soil that he was describing in the parable was about our hearts and how we receive the word of God.  Jesus explains in Matthew 13:20-21,23 "The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away... But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it.  

This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." 

John 15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, 

so neither can you, unless you abide in Me." 

Jeremiah 12:2 "You have planted them, and they
 have taken root: they grow and bear fruit"

It is the condition of our heart that allows God's
Word to take root in our lives.  He causes
growth and fruit to bear if we remain in Him!

More Than I Ever Imagined

   I am a huge fan of... 

Some of my favorites are ColorSplash, Dear Genevieve, Sarah's House,  Holmes on Homes, and Curb Appeal.  However, my absolute favorite is Income Property.  I think I like this one so much because the rental spaces are usually in such bad shape that it IS hard to imagine it to be a livable space.  But more than just repair the structrual/foundation problems and renovate it to be lived in, I love how it is transformed into an incredible apartment.  I just imagine being a homeowner of one of those places and maybe feeling like it could get 'spruced up a bit' but never thinking it could ever be a place someone would WANT to live in.  I guess that's why the homeowners are always so surprised when they see the finished product.  

I've been so encouraged by the current sermon series at Crossroad's called "Imagine".  It's challenged me to really let my heart imagine and dream with the desires God has placed in me.  As I watch HGTV, at the end of the shows are the big reveals and almost every time, the first reaction is "It's more than I ever imagined it could be!"  (and maybe they just don't televise the bad reactions, but I have to believe they all turn out good).  I had never noticed that before until we started the "Imagine" series, and I thought it interesting how the designs are always 

"more than they could have imagined".  

I watch these designers on HGTV as they go into a space that often looks hopeless, but they don't look at it the way we do.  They see with their imaginations and are able to see a vision for that space and then accomplish an amazing design- more than the homeowners could have asked for or ever imagined.  

It puts a desire in me to have that kind of perspective of the world and circumstances around me.  I want to see with

 His eyes and understand with His mind.  

1 Corinthians 2:16 "...but we have the mind of Christ."  I want to look into a hopeless situation, and be able to imagine what the hope of Christ could do to transform their life.  

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen."      

~ Ephesians 3:20-21

Birds & Baseball

About 6 months ago Michael and I got a puppy (Jeter)    

                                                                                                  

How cute huh?  

And he was even more adorable around the house, a tiny 7lb ball of fluff thats always sleepy and wanting to snuggle.

Then one day it's like we woke up and realized we now have a dog!  He grew so fast and, needless to say, laying around the house is just not enough action for him.

Over the past 2 weeks I've been letting him run free in the backyard each morning, which he looooves, and it has quickly become one my favorite times of the day.

Michael will leave for work, I'll make my coffee and Jeter impatiently whines by the door because he knows whats coming next- BASEBALL!  He has gotten so attached to this baseball that stays in the back yard and he will run out and find it (because he specifically hides it) and as soon as I say 'go get your baseball' its on.  We go back and forth, throwing and fetching until he's decided he's had enough.

Then comes MY favorite part ... (because throwing a spitty-wet baseball is definitely NOT my favorite part).  I sit under our gazebo, with the cool morning air, drinking my coffee, enjoying the peace that comes from just being quiet and letting my mind and heart be still before the Lord.  It has become such 

a precious and refreshing time for me.

This morning as Jeter and I went through our normal routine, I began to notice all the birds around me.  At first it was just the singing that caught my attention and then I saw two beautiful blue jays on my roof.  I was instantly filled with awe at the Lord's creation and while I was watching them,  a few more birds flew in and landed right in the yard.  There was an orange one (not sure what kind) and then a bright red cardinal.  I was just amazed at the beautiful colors and how the 

birds just go about their business, singing, and 

glorifying God just by being who God created them to be.

As I sat there, meditating on all this, 

the Holy Spirit recalled a familiar scripture to memory~ 

"Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows" 

Matthew 10:29-31

It still amazes me how incredible the love and intimacy of God is. He cares so much, and knows every little detail of my heart and life.  He knows the things that mean so much to me, like sitting under my gazebo watching beautiful birds fly around and listening to their songs of praise.  It's like a little love note 

sent from the Creator of the universe ~ "just a little something to say I'm here with you as a reminder of My unfailing love"

Gotta love Birds & Baseball!

why kaleidoscope memoirs???

Because life is full of changes in season, circumstance, 

relationship, family, experience and everything in between.

Life seems to be like a kaleidoscope.

 I look into it and see a wonderful display before me, 

then a shift happens and all the little pieces in my life come together 

in a new way reflecting the light in a more beautiful pattern than before.

 I strive to reflect His light in all I am and do. 

As a child is filled with amazement when looking into a real 

kaleidoscope, I pray those looking into the kaleidoscope 

of my life will see the Light of God shining through as He transforms it

 turning ashes into beauty, resulting in glory to God ~

 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" Matthew 5:16