It' a new year!

January 6,2010.wow...it's amazing how the time goes by.I remember when the year 2000 was hard to imagine.:) This year is still a mystery.Filled with question.One thing I know for sure is that God is already there.Isn't that comforting,a restful thought? This past year had things happen that I would just as soon not have had to experiance and if we would have known what all was going to happen we would have hunkered down and not come out some days.Like I said before- "God was already there" . He is there in the middle of our "stuff".There ready to walk us right through and DELIVER us. I want to approach 2010 with gusto.I want to hold my head high ready to serve God where He is.

In the beginning of Dec...

Dec. is here.Thanksgiving 2009 is history. Life is moving on one day at a time. I have to do something to get myself in the mood for Christmas! Seriously things have been rather stressful at work.I know it's not only me because it's a large group of us wondering "what in the world"! But all that aside the family is still looking forward to me doing something to make this Holiday a wonderful time filled with the things we call traditions.Really ,what is Christmas without the huge tree in the house,the lights twinkling,snowmen lined up in their proper places around the house,chocolates,peppermint mochas,and whatever else makes us feel Christmasy.:) O I love it -I love it all I am just having a hard time believing it's that time. Boy o boy, time (literally) flies.


So...this weekend I believe I will have to get busy.Get busy getting this home ready for the Great Holiday of Christmas.My question to myself is...I my heart filled with Jesus? Is my heart in tune with His? Is his place of residence decorated with the best for Him?Is his home uncluttered and beautiful? You know how we sigh,and gasp when we see a home beautifully decorated for Christmas and it brings warm fuzzy ,homey feelings straight to our heart? Well...that is what I want others to see from my life because they see Jesus in my life.I want them to hunger and thirst for the same thing.Back to my first thought I need to do something to get me in the mood....That could be getting new ideas by going out to stores,visiting my friends house that has already decorated or listening to Christmas music...that is my whole point ...hopefully folks will see my heart,and sense a desire to have the same-Jesus!Have a Great time preparing for Christmas!

FREEDOM

I have been enjoying the verses in Psalm 119 this week.Verse 45 caught my attention. "I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments". There is an irony to that truth. Put yourself there. Someone is in command sets "rules" or boundaries and you are under them. Freedom? Do boundaries bring about of freedom?Let's say you went out and bought yourself a book. A book about "How to be a Prayer Warrior".The author gives guidelines for you to follow to progress in this area. But, buying the book does nothing,You have to discipline yourself to actually follow these instructions given by the author to succeed. When I looked up "Disciplines" in the Thesaurus the one word they gave me was “imprisonment“. So, I beg to question ,Disciplines are boundaries, boundaries bring freedom? I say, "absolutely"! There is a free-ness when I know that there are guard rails-if you please- to keep me safe.Not in a legalistic, closed in area kind of way but to know that I am where God wants me to be spiritually growing,morally correct and living my life in His circle of fellowship.I want to live in a way that my Spirit is so in tune with the Holy Spirit that I immediately know I have overstepped those boundaries.
Of Course this whole thinking of FREEDOM has come by the way of thinking about the July 4th Holiday which we celebrated with family.We had a wonderful time picnic-ing by the water,relaxing,and enjoying each other's company.A few of us walked to St. Armand's to get ice cream and a cold drink.







So beautiful! All those people coming together to watch the fireworks and know that someday Jesus will light up the sky with his return and all people will see him! GLORIOUS!
Happy 4th of July weekend to you...enjoy your freedom in Christ!

The Heart of God

Lord you have my heart
And I will search for yours
Jesus take my life and lead me on.

Lord you have my heart
And I will search for yours
Let me be to you a sacrifice.

(men) And I will praise you Lord
(ladies) I will praise you Lord
(men) And I will sing of love come down
(ladies) I will sing of love come down
(men) And as you show your face
(ladies) Show your face
(together) We'll see your glory here.Written by Martin Smith ©1994 Curious? Music UK

On Sunday evening the worship team led us in this great song of worship and at the time I enjoyed the song but didn't realize the impact on my heart! By Monday eve. it had woven it's way into my mind and into my soul. I began pondering about searching the heart of God.
On Monday while working I imagined the heart of God and what it would be like. Today while running errands I was again thinking about it and the first thing that came to my mind was "He is about'people'".
Think about it, when Jesus walked the face of the earth it wasn't to see how much he could consume,or collect,It was to "draw men unto him".The whole plan was for Jesus to redeem us.When I typed "God's heart" into the Bible search on my blog the scripture reference,John 3:16 popped up "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Love...that is God's heart...For people.About people.

But my mind doesn't rest with that! How do I search his heart?Communication.Real communication with him through His word and prayer. Yet I ask;What part of his heart does he want me to find , search, display ? When I think of His heart I imagine it to be so large with many different avenues. I wonder are there parts that I need to focus on and others that you need to?
Still it all boils down to people.Humans.Flesh and blood.Loving them.I do think the "different" for each person is how we demonstrate it.
I did a little more research on this whole idea and one author stated that first you discover God's heart than follow with obedience.Is what God calls me to different than you?
In the midst of all the pondering I did get some errands done.I also got a call from my husband asking me if I could bring a tool to his job site that he had forgotten this morning.To be real honest I was frustrated because I had my plan for the day.My agenda marked out. I selfishly ranted a bit.That's when I thought about the other part of the song that states "I will praise you" How much easier to praise if my day went as planned .I had prayed earlier "show me your heart",and He gave me a chance to see if I could really demonstrate a part of his heart in real life , I so easily forgot.I ask God and my husband to forgive me.
Well,my thoughts seem a little rambly butI am still not finished thinking about this...but life in my day is calling me...so to be continued would be fitting!

Our Main St. market

On Saturday morning I gave my mom a call and we decided to enjoy a local activity that happens every Saturday in town but we never make use of it! The City closes down part of a street in Downtown Sarasota and people set up shop to sell baked goods, fruits, vegetables and locally hand-made crafts. It's an exiting place to fill part of your Saturday.I like it too because it's close to "Pastry Art"; a delightful coffee shop that has been chosen "Sarasota's Best".You can believe it because of the amount of folks that frequent it. I actually enjoy it more on week-day mornings when it is a bit more quiet.I purchased some yummy smoked cheddar cheese,vegetables and a cranberry/orange muffin. mmmm...mmmm! I also thought I would try something new ...mini bananas. I took a bite and was not impressed!It completely dried out my mouth.I was so glad to have water on hand! I swished and swished the water in my mouth but it was still an awful feeling in my mouth. I went back to the stand and the lady said she would gladly give my money back but than explained to me that I needed to wait till the bananas turned brown-ish. So, now they are sitting ,ripening ion my counter waiting to be ready to eat! Hopefully I will enjoy the 2nd try better.:)



Proverbs 18:20 (The Message)
" Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach;
good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest."

Marshmallows,Wal-mart and VBS

VBS is here! The kids are always exited although Logan who's 14 and going into 9Th grade says it's a little boring.Well, everyone in church jumps in and lends a helping hand where they can.I signed up to bring in food stuffs to help with the snacks(which anyone knows is essential for kids!)I put my name down for several items including 4 bags of marshmallows.

I,being a chronic procrastinator suddenly remembered this.On Saturday I,with my list went to the local publix and filled my cart with lots of goodies. As I was unloading my cart I noticed that I had forgotten to pick up those white puffy things!The cashier nicely told me which isle they could be found... but than the kind soul behind me promptly offered to go after them for me...As soon as she walked away my money saving ,frugal mind thought "oh please, I hope she get's me the store brand!" But what was I to do? I continued to empty my cart!Soon my new servant friend came back laden with 4 bags of "Jet Puffed" name brand marshmallows! I hope my face did not fall.I kindly thanked her than watched as the cashier ran them across the scanner to display $2.39 a bag!Take that x 4 and you have $9.00 worth of sweet,puffy, white delights that will surely bring a smile to many Bible shool children's faces! Of course, everyone in the isle,the cashier and bagger wanted to know what I was to do with all these marshmalows! I explained that it was for a VBS project and hope that my face displayed a christ-like spirit while inside I was trying to figure out should I just leave it be ,afterall; they were a church donation! But till I got home and was thinking about how much I could have saved at at Wal-mart. I decided that Monday I would still have time to do the exchange.Sure enough today I needed to go to Wally world anyway I did the whole exchange,Publix was very kind and did't ask any questions.That is my story about the Marshmallows.Moral? not sure there is one ...:)

Summer and refreshment

Summertime is here. School is closed and what a great time to make fantastic family memories. The season brings longer days so we can enjoy vacations, cookouts, picnics or beach outings. Often these activities are taken as a means of rest from a busy schedule . Of course, this time of year also brings higher temperatures and humidity. The other day while in a grocery isle I noticed that magazine covers are focusing on “summertime” recipes to help keep us cool. I remember as a little girl watching my dad mow lawn on these hot, summer Florida days. Often I would fix ice cold water and take it out to him. Right there he would stop the mower, take the glass ,tip his head back and completely drain it of the thirst-quenching liquid .I also remember being the little girl who was watching her daddy enjoy that “gift” of refreshment. It perfectly delighted me. So, now that I have your thoughts on hot days and refreshments, let me remind you that Jesus wants us to enjoy his gifts in our lives. Not only does he prepare these gifts for us ,but he stands by, waiting for us to enjoy them to the last drop. It perfectly delights him too. Take the time to stop whatever is consuming your time and enjoy Jesus with complete abandonment! John 1:16”We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.” Psalm 23:2-3 “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”

Written for "life Talk with Caroline "