A Challenge for You, Dear Reader!

Good morning to all of my friends and family! I love you all, even those Christians who have read my blog who I will never meet this side of heaven.

Today I propose a challenge which will be much more difficult for those of you who are going through truly hard times than it will be for others, for whom life is a gentle sail along on smooth waters for the time being (all two or three of you). Why don't we spend today thanking God for every good gift He has given us? When a negative thought comes, try to think of three good things associated with that issue. If there is a call to action associated with the negative thought, thank God that you will have the opportunity to watch His creative care in action, then proceed to view the negative thing as a challenge to be overcome with God! If there is not one single thing you can do about the issue, INTENTIONALLY MOVE YOUR MIND to one of the one billion good things God has and is doing/providing! (If you are a chronic news watcher/reader, you may have to cut back for this plan to work.) The upshot of this challenge is that you will be soaking your challenges in effective prayer and thanking and praising God, A LOT!

God cares about the details of our lives, and you can trust Him with them. "Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing." (Psalm 34:10) (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Second Edition, Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois, 2007)

God Has Given You So Much....But Have You RECEIVED Any Of It?

Spring is the King Pin. The Big Daddy Doo Rah Rah of them ALL in my book. I cannot stand to be inside when the sun is brilliantly splashing across brightly-colored flowers and lighting a cornflower sky. Even when it's hot I park it on my deck in my "spot"....a little bistro set that is really starting to look a bit worse for the wear. Summer makes me happy too. The sheer number of sunny days stacks end-on-end to equal joy that overflows my heart.

I read somewhere in a Guideposts devotional that anyone who studies birds will be enthralled with them for life. Just now as I heard their twittering calls, each one, I am sure, specifically engineered to to say something that needs to be said, I looked up and saw a tiny red-and-gray finch feeding at the bird feeder Jonathan gave me for Mother's Day. Though I hung it up there a couple of days ago, this is the very first "customer" that I have actually seen myself.

I have been on a bit of a renaissance, "seize the day" kind of kick lately...and I am loving it. God gave us life, and he is the author of everything beautiful and good. Therefore (I reason), when I am enjoying life, both my work (writing, creating, nurturing my family) and play (watching the wild birds), I am taking the gifts He has given and making a home for them in my heart. It's the same principle we employ with gifts given to us by people we love. For example, the day after Mother's Day, I took the flowers Matt gave me, put them in a spare vase I had, added fresh water, and took the ribbons that were used as handles for the paper box they came in and fashioned a lavender bow for the vase. Then, at dinner that night, his flowers were the centerpiece. I wanted him to know that, not only did I get the flowers from him, but I also RECEIVED them. Similarly, I ran out to Tractor Supply on Monday, bought seed for the new feeder Jonathan gave me and hung it in a prime spot over my deck. I then opened the blinds to I could see if any little birds were feasting at any point. When Jon came home from school, I showed him what I had done. I had fully RECEIVED his gift.

I pray today that I will RECEIVE all of the gifts God has given me. May I straighten the house He provided with joy, finding little ways to make it homey. May I enjoy the mind He provided through the reading of a challenging book. Perhaps this week I'll exult in my calling (writing) by penning a poem that, in all possibility, only He will see. I will RECEIVE His gifts. Will you?