Mother's Day Blessings

First I was blessed with a wonderful mom. She's adventurous, creative, fun and has always given unconditional love. Then I was blessed with a terrific step-mom. She is always so good to us and she makes a super pot of gumbo. :-) Then I was blessed with the best mother-in-law you could hope for. She treats all her daughters-in-law like her own kids.

Then God wanted to give me a glimpse of how He loves us so He gave me children. Cate and Reed. They are so fun. God uses them all the time to show us what it's like to love unconditionally, to want to comfort gently or direct with a firm hand at times. My children are such a huge joy. I am so thankful that I'm a Mom but I am more thankful that we have a God to knows all our needs, who wants to have a relationship with us, who loved us so much that He sent His only Son to earth to die for our sins so that we can spend eternity with Him.

How big is God?

Is He THIS BIG mommy?

Seeing God in Nature

I love that my kids get excited about birds and God's beautiful creation. This morning we had to tear ourselves away from 20+ Goldfinches on the deck eating sunflower seeds so we could get Cate to school on time. Then the drive was so fascinating I had to remind myself to watch the road. The sun was shining on the frost and it looks like God had scattered millions of diamonds all over the grass and trees.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (Rom. 1:20).

Wholly Surrendered

Yesterday was one of those days when you go to church and it seems like the message and music was just for you. The praise band sang:

Jeremy Riddle - Sweetly Broken
From the album Sweetly Broken

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

Chorus:
At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I'm sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You've called me out of death
You've called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I'm reconciled

Chorus:

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

I am amazed at how when I lose my focus, Christ will "draw me gently to my knees." I long to be "wholly surrendered."