“Let me tell you why you are here.  You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth…….
You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in this world.
God is not a secret to be kept.”

*****

We went to see Beauty and the Beast.  We ate lots of candy and popcorn and sat in a long row on my sister’s birthday.  Spectacular.  My favorite part was at the end when all the castle inhabitants under the curse were brought back to life – the way it was supposed to be, through true love. I thought of how we are also born under a curse, but then, in time, Jesus makes us new again.  “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature; old things are past, behold all things are made new.”  Oh how He loves us.

*****

We took the children to their elementary school to watch a movie.  We watched it among a restless sea of children, hardly able to hear, and then took home an extra one (friend of Caleb) to spend the night.  After the movie we joined the crowd walking in the dark to their cars, carrying their blankets and pillows, and agreed it had been a nice event for the kids.  A good small town treat.  We appreciated the calm of the night sky.

*****

The children fished for the first time this year.  Rich called me out to the porch to admire the cuteness.

*****

Church yesterday.  Reminded me once again of the only thing that truly matters.  Everything else (and there’s so much “everything else”)  is icing on the cake.

*****

I made lots and lots of cookies.

*****

There was an epic nerf fight.

*****

I got happy mail!

*****

 

Matthew 5

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.  With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”

those “Jesus, take the wheel!” moments.  When you finally let go.

“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you.  Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”

(dreams?  expectations?  a person?  a home?  a job? health?  youth? )

“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are–no more, no less.  That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.”

Contentment to me means peace inside.

Contentment to simply be.

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God.  He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.”

soul food–delicious and satisfying

“You’re blessed when you care.  At the moment of being ‘care-full’, you find yourselves cared for.”

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world–your mind and heart–put right.  Then you can see God in the outside world.”

ah, yes

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight.  That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.”

This is the number one job of a parent of more than one child.  LOL

“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution.  The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.”

*****

Sarah was the official bread runner to the house for bait.  She stepped back when the fish appeared but Caleb’s friend Collin was able to get her to touch it….I could hear her from across the pond, “It’s slimy!” she laughed.

Lots of commentary about the poor fish who ate the hook all the way down and it’s poor eye and getting it free, and putting it back.

Seth was the most frustrated.  He spent a great deal of time trying to get the bread to stay on his hook.  He never did catch one.  But it was good for him.