Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...
Our Memorial Day was a beautiful one this year. The sunshine was bright and the temperature was perfect.
Our kids were old enough this year they could understand the meaning of the holiday.
A day celebrating the lives already past.
Our oldest daughter, our sensitive one, struggled a little. She is empathetic and feels the pain of those grieving. She wasn't sure she wanted to come to the cemetery with us. I understand her feelings. There are many emotions surrounding this day.
We took the kids to visit the graves of family members. Most of which passed on before the kids were born. We did lose my husband's grandfather last year and the kids remember him.
I am thankful for family ties. Legacy's of love continued past the grave.
We had an opportunity to tell the kids about their great grandparents. A little about their lives and what they stood for.
We gave the kids each an opportunity to remember their great grandfather with a flower from our garden.
Legacies are important. Life is important.
Our children know this life is not the end.
We followed our trip to the cemetery with a family potluck at a local reservoir and park.
We met with a few of my husband's family....lots of nieces and nephews.
I want my kids to understand the importance of family.
Memories.
Legacies.
Childhood Remembrances.
Spending quality time together.
Life is short.
And...a new generation of families will grow up and celebrate those gone before them.
I want my children to understand what's important.
(**Quiet the blog music first, scroll down midway on the left hand side, to "Farm Songs", then click pause)
Wow. I am so tired, but so blessed. God is so amazing. Yesterday I got back from Living Proof Live 2012. For those unfamiliar, its an amazing two day event featuring awesome worship and a great message. Beth Moore, a wonderful teacher of the Bible and Travis Cottrell, a worship leader, lead this amazing event.
I have to say I went expecting to hear something my heart needed....and I wasn't disappointed. I love when God does that!
The message presented was so very relevant: Running our Race Unhindered. Running without baggage that drag us down, fatigues us, making us stumble. It was about losing our shackles that make us ineffective. And that its only in this manner we'll have endurance to get to the finish line.
I did a lot of soul searching during the conference: God revealed my shackles. I've been toting unnecessary baggage all my life: I've been traveling with FEAR. I run my race with fear dragging not only from my ankles, but my waist, and my wrists....and my head. I give my fears to the Lord just to pick them up again. Why do I do that? Really, its so dumb. Who runs a marathon carrying an arm load of bar bells???
The odd thing: my fears are perceptions and possibilities (not even reality). I fear expectations. Perceived expectations.....(and I guess some real ones). I fear them, because it could be proof I don't measure up (another fear mine...lol). And my deepest fear: rejection for "not measuring up". Rejection...oh, I hate (and fear) the thought! Anyway, you get the picture....Fear is a huge hindrance for me. I've spent a good deal of my life shackled by FEAR. I hate fear! It's kept me from doing a good many things (that God's intended me to do). I've been ineffective because of FEAR!
I want to run freely. It's funny how when you live with something for awhile you cease to see it. Fear at times has dictated my life. It's like I have a big "F" on my forehead painted in red, however, when looking in the mirror, I don't see it. Yet, I sit on the side lines of life not participating because of it. Fear has held me back from being who God has made me to be. It has hindered me from reaching my God-ordained destiny. My shackles have held me captive. And....when I am shackled, I am right where the enemy wants me.
God showed me this weekend that to run the race marked out for me, FEAR must be eliminated. And...I know I can't do that without my Savior. He's my redeemer. I only need ask Him, and He'll adjust my focus (with a lens eliminating fear). He doesn't want me wearing shackles. My shackles hold me captive with lies.
It's terrible how long the "F" has been on my forehead and the shackles on my ankles. I pray He removes them from today....and tomorrow.....and the rest of my life.....
I can't live life without difficulty, but I want to live it unhindered! I don't need to be afraid.
Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us
throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12: 1&2. A few notes from the conference:
Disappointment - (without) Hindrance= Faith
Devastation - Hindrance= Trust
Injustice - Hindrance= God's Vengeance
Handicap - Hindrance= Hero
My Pain - Hindrance= My Passion
My Life - Hindrance= My God Ordained Destiny
And....the last verse from the book of Acts: "He [Paul] proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!" Acts 28:31.
Running without hindrance....that's what I want.
*Notes and ideas are taken from Beth Moore's Living Proof Live 2012 Boise Conference.
I am not sure which it is. Whether the filling of the irrigation creek along side the pasture. The taste of ice cold lemonade poured straight into a mason jar. Maybe its the sensation of rich soil passing through your fingers as you plant those precious seeds. But, you know summer is comin'! There is no doubt about it!
This week was one of our monumental "once a year" happenings. The "filling" of the ditch. We are near the end of a long succession of irrigation ditches. By the time water reaches us, it is really more of a creek. We call it our "crick". As the ditch rider opens our water gates, the newly formed flow of water slowly ebbs toward us. My kids think its just for them. The horses think it's just for them. The dog thinks its just for him. And I watch them all and smile.
The horses get down and roll and splash. The dog gets in too. By the time the water gets to the kids its nice and muddy, thanks to the four-legged's. It's a yearly passage of time. You know soon following, frogs will begin their chorus and tadpoles will start emerging. There is something about it that lightens my step.
We undertook the garden in earnest this week too. The corn is planted and the beans. I am a little nervous to put the tomatoes in quite yet. We'll see. Maybe next week.
The joys of sunshine. School is nearly out. I am in love with spring and so thanking God for it!
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven........ Ecclesiastes 3:1
Friday, May 4, 2012
Okay, I just finished studying the book of Esther. Wow! It's crazy what you can get after reading a book of the Bible you've already studied. The word of the Lord IS alive and active. You can read something in the Bible many times and still come away with something different.
As a kid, I used to look at the Bible and wish it was smaller. "How can I ever "get" it all when there is so much to it?" I used to think this. Now I am so thankful for its size and depth. It's a never ending treasure chest. You never know what you'll get when you read it (praying for God's wisdom and understanding as you read). It becomes water in your life.....you can't live without it. It quenches every need in your life.
If you haven't picked up your Bible today, do it, please. Pray that God would reveal things to you. Do it with an open heart. You will be amazed what happens... I promise. He's done it for me. He will for you.
With Love,
Candis
For the word of God is living and active....... Hebrews 4:12
