One of Life in Focus's Friday Faves really spoke to me today. http://www.titus2atthewell.com/2009/02/perfect-love.html
Read it. It will bless you.
I need to focus more on Him every day
so that I can show our family His perfect love through me.
I was forming a blog post in my head today until I had time to sit down and type it out. But everything I have read today has had the same message to me so I think i will just keep sharing what is inspiring me.
I love the spiritual parenting newsletter I get each month. This month is about dodging the winter blahs and how to cheer yourself and your kids up in the middle of winter. Check it out here. http://spiritualparenting.com/AWINTERPRESCRIPTION.htm
I don't know about you, but I am just about sick of winter.
We have more snow coming tonight they say.
I say bring on spring!
Bring on the mud!
Bring on my seasonal allergies!
really, I can handle it now because I've had enough of winter already!
I especially love Mimi's idea of the ribbon. She says :
- Tie a ribbon around the kitchen faucet as a gratitude reminder. Each time you see it, pause and allow feelings of deep thanks to wash over you. Give thanks for your beautiful child; the gifts of more power, clarity, and vision today; the gentle wind that blows through the window and the faith that spring is on the way.
We all need a reminder once in a while!
We all need a reminder once in a while!
I know I do!
My prayer this week has been to lose myself.
You know how people say they are going off to find themselves.
I think that's a bunch of crap.
What we really need to do is lose more of ourselves
so that we can be filled up with more of Him.
I have four kids plus a few here during the weekdays too so there isn't much time for myself right now anyway and I was struggling with that yesterday. God answered my prayers and saw my frustration. Sometimes he is literal like that. He bonked me upside the head and told me to put my money where my mouth is. I said I wanted less of me and more of Him so therefore I got less time for me. :) OK, ha ha... God, I got it. Thank you.
I do need to rely on Him more and more.
I do need to look the big picture
especially when I am surrounded by my thousands of little ones
(sometimes literally in my photography busy season LOL!)
and that's all that I can see.
God is there.
Whether I can see Him or not is up to me.
I just need to look.
.jpg)
Michelle - a quilter friend of mine sent this to me the day you made this post so I think I was meant to pass it on RE 'losing yourself'.
ReplyDeleteQuilt of Holes
As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles;
an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares.Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.
An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.
Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'
May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!
God determines who walks into your life ...it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.'
I need this back. If you'll do this for me, I'll do it for you....When there is nothing left but God that is when you find out that God is all you need.
Take 60 seconds and give this a shot! All you do is simply say the following small prayer for the person who sent you this.
Father, bless all my friends in whatever it is that you know they may need this day! And may their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.