Are you longing to see Jesus’ face someday?

What do you think you will see in His face?

I imagine LOVE, pure LOVE.

How do I know that God loves me?

I thought of these reasons today:

1.  Because He is merciful to me (“There is nothing little about God; His mercy is like Himself—-it is infinite.” -Spurgeon)

2.  His grace.  I have so much to be thankful for.  Those things are proofs to me that God loves me.

3. He never leaves me.  He never lets me go.  He is always there.

4. He calls me by my name, I belong to Him, I am His daughter, He adopted me, He chose me, He bought me.

5.  He gave me salvation and bought me with the precious blood of CHRIST, His only Son. (and that is the only reason I need)

6.  I know He loves me because of the testimony and witness of other believers.  Doesn’t my heart burn within me?  Doesn’t my soul say “amen” when I read or listen to how God is working in my brother’s and sister’s lives?

7. Because of the good He does for my soul.  He is faithful.  “He who began a good work is faithful to complete it.”  It is an ongoing process.  He must love me to do that!

8. Because I know and have faith that God loves EVERYONE.  Little children!  Handicapped!  Weak!  Old!  Anyone!  No one is too unloveable to God!  That includes me!

9.  Even though He is still working on me, He accepts me now for what I am now.  He smiles gently at me and understands what I am going through.

What happens to my soul when I meditate on God’s love for me?

1. Fear and doubt are removed (“Perfect love casts out fear”  “There is no fear in love”)

2.  It gives me a healthy focus during my life on earth. (God)

3. It gives me healthy motivation for service here on earth. (out of LOVE, in order to GLORIFY GOD.  NOT OUT OF DUTY and not in order to earn anything from Him)

4. It enables me to have a healthy goal-“For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain”

5. It takes the sting out of death and makes Heaven a sweet reward (because I get to be with the One I love).

6. It gives me real contentment.

So, I ask one more time:

How do YOU know that God LOVES YOU–freely, unmeasurably, unlimitedly, boundlessly?  Do you have a favorite story, testimony, verse, a hymn, or an encouraging word about God’s love?

“Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring
Thy great love and power on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.”  William Reese

another successful meal

I was able to go to my parent’s house from Thursday until Sunday afternoon.  On Friday I had a much needed visit with my aunt Colleen.  We went out for lunch (I took the above picture outside the cafe we ate in – where the view is gorgeous and truly “country”) and to an antique shop.

“No, you can’t come with us,” Colleen told her daughters, “this is mommy-time!”

The regular fast pace of my life with five small children slowed way down and I even had time to read in bed:

“Just as soon as I knew you were coming, I started cleaning!”- Mom

On Saturday Dad, Mom, and I went shopping.  We ate lunch at my favorite pizza place of all time:

Spending time down memory lane:

“Your Dad has always been so handsome to me” -Mom

On Sunday we had a family dinner after church.  It was fun to be around my brothers.  

The old familiar sight of Mom working in the kitchen and Dad by her side.

“I hope we can die together in our sleep, so we never have to be apart” -Dad

 I love you. . . .

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.  ~Anthony Brandt

The kids and I went for a walk yesterday.

Did you spot the boys in the first picture? 

Whenever I get out in the woods I don’t want to leave. 

We heard an owl.  I wanted to go try to find it but a 19 month old really slows me down.  (not that I mind, he was so so so so so so so CUTE)

I noticed this tree. . . . .and it’s rings.  This picture makes me think about God and eternity. . . because of the circles. . .because He took the time to create trees with rings in them.  No man would have thought of the extra details and it certainly didn’t “just happen”.

Decomposing wood. . . .it has a wonderful outdoorsy smell.  The bark is soft and the tree inside is now a rich and dark brown earth.  I love the color.

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I’m leaving tomorrow morning to go to my parent’s house all by myself for 4 days!  I am busy today doing laundry (it never ends!)  I also took the kids to the library, went to the grocery store, and I am making a pile of things to take with me.  I’ve also been printing some pictures. 

There is still lots to do, including the rest of the school day!

The weather is mild and warm.

The children are all resting now so I’m going to go have some tea.

Tea anyone?

Weak grace may do for God, but it must be strong grace that will die for God.  William Secker

The right manner of growth is to grow less in one’s own eyes.  Thomas Watson

 All grace grows as Love to the Word of God grows.  Phillip Henry

Grace is the freeness of Love.  Thomas Goodwin

For what is grace but the beams of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness.  Richard Sibbes

“Do this and live!: the Law demands,
But gives me neither feet nor hands.
A better word God’s grace does bring,
It bids me fly and gives me wings.  Kenneth Wuest

“And grace will lead me safely home”  -from the hymn “Amazing Grace”

How can it be?  How can it be?
Was ever grace so full and free!
From heights of bliss to depths of woe
In loving kindness Thou didst go,
From sin and shame to rescue me-
O Love Divine, How can it be?

How can it be?  How can it be?
That God should love a soul like me,
Oh how can it be?  ~Avis Christiansen

Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.  Romans 5:20

To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.  Ephesians 1:6

We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved.  Acts 15:11

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  2 Corinthians 12:9

*sigh*  I feel better now.  Nothing like a good dose of God’s grace to change a case of the “grumps” to inner calmness. 

Watching a movie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I have noticed three signs of spring here in New England:

The birds are singing differently

The days are getting longer

There is a feeling within me that is looking and longing for spring

I’m so thankful for the seasons!

The day arrives when you see a teeny tiny hole (usually in a screen) and you think, “Oh well, he won’t notice THAT.”  You hope it won’t get noticed because we all know what happens to teeny tiny holes that get noticed.  They grow.  Oftentimes~ mysteriously.  You never actually SEE it happen.

Recently, at our house, a hole got noticed.  And it got too big.  WAAAAY too big.

My purpose has been defeated

So now I want to know something.  Should I:

1.  Rediscover my creative side and sew an artsy patch?  

or,

2.  Buy a new playpen. 

or, 

3.   Graduate the little guy from the playpen and give him complete freedom.

I need a playpen!

The day arrives when you see a teeny tiny hole (usually in a screen) and you think, “Oh well, he won’t notice THAT.”  You hope it won’t get noticed because we all know what happens to teeny tiny holes that get noticed.  They grow.  Oftentimes~ mysteriously.  You never actually SEE it happen.

Recently, at our house, a hole got noticed.  And it got too big.  WAAAAY too big.

My purpose has been defeated

So now I want to know something.  Should I:

1.  Rediscover my creative side and sew an artsy patch?  

or,

2.  Buy a new playpen. 

or, 

3.   Graduate the little guy from the playpen and give him complete freedom.

I need a playpen!