A Little More Ooze

My daughter, Anna,

 is engaged to "The Handsome Captain", 

who is currently far away.  

The letters fly between them. 

 She looks to the mail everyday in anticipation of the next love letter.  

Today, there were two letters awaiting her in the mailbox.  

When she arrived home and found them, she dashed up to her room to read them. 

 Then, she read them again.

  And again.  

Then, she floated down the stairs, 

oozing in twitterpated delirium over the man she will marry.  

The rest of her day she will think on those words penned to her. 

 She will quietly smile

 or burst forth into a sweet giggle at the thought of his words.  

She will joyously share tidbits with us.

  It is beautiful to watch. 

 She is in love.

I wonder, 

 do I respond to God's love like that?

If I don't,
 I surely should!

 Do I ooze over my adoration of him?

 Do I joyously share the latest words of love I have read from His word?

 Do I smile and radiate His love as I meditate on His goodness?

Is my love for Jesus noticeable to others?

Just something I am thinking about today.

Femininity

As the darkness of sin and evil seem to be sweeping across our nation,

a thinking woman must wonder;

what can I possibly do about it?

You can be a city set on a hill...

just by being who God created you to be.

Here are some thoughts inspired by Emily Barnes:

Being a woman created by God is such a privilege,

and the gift of our femininity

is something we can give both to ourselves and those around us.

I believe that our society is hungering to be transformed by the

 loveliness

 and grace

 of Biblical femininity.

What better antidote to a violent and pain filled culture

 than warm

 and gentle

feminine strength?

What better cure for poverty and filth

than a love of beauty and a confidence

in one's ability to make things lovely?

What better hope for the future than a

nurturing mother's heart that is

 more concerned for the next generation

than its own selfish desires?

All these qualities:

gentle strength,

love of beauty,

care and nurturing,

 are part of the essence of femininity.

"In quietness and trust is your strength."  Isaiah 30:15

 

As Emily Barnes says so aptly in her book, The Heart of Loveliness: 

 "To me a godly woman is one who possesses inner peace and tranquility; 

 she doesn't have to prove herself to anyone.  

She is strong, and yet she does not use her strength to control or dominate people,

 neither does she depend on recognition from others.

  Hers is an inner contentment and satisfaction based not on accomplishments, position, or authority,

but on a deep awareness of God's eternal and personal love for her. 

 That kind of inner peace, strength confidence and tranquility comes from depending on God; 

 drawing on His wisdom and strength,

 learning to be like Him.  

When this happens in our lives, 

we gradually grow free of anxious competitiveness and aggressiveness.

  We no longer need to prove our worth and value

 because we now how much we are worth in God's sight... 

and then, we are free to reach out in love to others.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornments such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes, instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

1 Peter 3:3,4 

As we set forth to cultivate femininity in our homes, 

let us think not only of ourselves, but of the darkness of the nation creeping in around us.

We are, in part, the answer..

for as we shine forth God's truth, acted out in our lives,

 we will be like a city set on a hill.  

For darkness does not take away light, but only deepens as the light grows dim. 

 Stand strong, therefore, Biblical women,

 and let your light shine.

Matthew 5:14-16

Celebrating Independence Day

"For Freedom, Christ has set us free."

 The tall, handsome preacher declared Sunday morning.

The line stuck with me through the week.  

As he read the Declaration of Independence Wednesday before our 50 some guests, 

and we sang the Star Spangled Banner,

 it was those 7 words that rang in my ear,

 long after the boom and bang of fireworks had ended
and all were snugly tucked in bed.

"Stand fast, therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and  be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Galatians 5:1

July Updates and My Firefighter.

Once  the sunshine began to warm up our neck of the woods, 

it was high time to get the porch outfitted for summer.  And, although the sunny warm days have been few and far between so far, the porch is still the favorite spot to hang out this time of year.  

The other day, as the rain pounded the earth and the heavens raged with thunder and lightening, 

it was the porch where we gathered.  

Where else,

 can one be so intimate with a spectacular thunderstorm 

and yet enjoy it?

Also new for the summer, is my dear husband's shaven head. 

 He lost his hair at VBS, as he most always does, 

when the children reach their goal for raising money for a mission project. 

This year their project was for Compassion International's mosquito net program.

 This photo was right after the head shaving finally,

 where the children at VBS screamed with delight as the clippers buzzed right 

down through the middle of his head.

He is keeping the look for the summer, 

a reminder of what a little community can do to impact the world.

Just after VBS, Brian and I went out to celebrate 23 years of wedded bliss.

We just had to have a picture taken for the occasion.

What a man!

What a blessing to married to him!

Then, the other night we celebrated having our firefighting son, John,

 home for a few days rest from the terrible Colorado fires.

John was one of 2,000 fire fighters who gathered at Fort Collins to fight the monster wild fire blazing there, threatening many homes, burning over 300 structures, and scorching 90,000 acres.

A highlight of the first few weeks;  one day his crew's hand line saved several homes from being burned. 

"Ya, that was a good day."

My fire fighter, after the weekend's rest,

 was sent back out, this time to fires in eastern Montana,

 where temperatures above 100 degrees, wind, and a recent lightening storm 

have loosed several wild land fires.

It is amazing to me how God has made men in particular, to delight in being in the fray.

Hazardous, dangerous, heroic work is what little boys dream of.

Guarding, Protecting, Fighting, this is man's work.

  I am ever so thankful for the men who gladly take that responsibility and give it their all,

 protecting our country from terrorists, 

from  rampant fires,

 from darkness sweeping through the nation,

 standing tall and brave..

like a city on a hill. 

Just the way God made them to.