Thoughtful Thursday: Creativity died.

As I stood in front of the sliding doors, marveling at the flurry of feathered friends fighting for food in the snow, a poetic spirit filled my heart...and I wanted to create a poem of praise for my Creator.  But...in that same moment...Creativity died. 

My pride said, "There are probably a million such poems and pictures composed already.  All part of the public domain.  Why bother."

And I pondered how creativity is tied to pride.  Either the oblivious pride that my ideas are original and marvelous and better than everyone elses...or the reversed pride that there is nothing new under the sun so why bother.

Why bother?

Because He deserves my praise.  In my heart or published abroad.  If He is marvelous and mighty...I should shout it!  Sing it!  Cry it out!!

Oh stupid pride...die, die, die.  Stop making me think I'm more than I am...God is all to me and more than enough.  His grace is sufficient and efficient.  Stop discouraging me from praising my worthy Savior.  Without His mercy I'd be stuck in the darkness and gloom you promote.  Oh Stupid pride...I was made for the Light...so, go away!

The only good in me is Jesus...whatever else you see...the only good in me is Jesus, Jesus.   

Oh, Lord...Turn me inside out so that I can be a reflection of the One who made me...so the world can see that it's Christ in me, Lord...Turn me inside out.

Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
Maker of Heaven and of Earth
No one can comprehend Your worth
King over all the universe
To You be the glory

And I am alive because I'm alive in You

It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
I'm alive, I'm alive

Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
Maker of Heaven and of Earth
No one can comprehend Your worth
King over all the universe
To You be the glory

And I am alive because I'm alive in You

It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus

Every sunrise sings Your praise
The universe cries out Your praise
I'm singing freedom all my days
Now that I'm alive

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive  
(by ZOE All Because Of Jesus)

March Hodgepodge!

1. The expression 'mad as a March hare' originated with a fictional character who is distracted and frantic. When were you last 'mad as a March hare' and what was it that made you that way?
The only time I can think that I've been distracted and frantic has been when our son has allergic reactions...the ones that end up in ER.  I try very hard to stay under control and I actually handle the crisis just fine...but everything feels in slow motion and crazy fast all at once when your baby can't breathe...or is getting IVs. 
2. Mardi Gras this year falls on Tuesday, March 4th. Have you ever been to Mardi Gras, and if so what did you think? If not, do you have any interest in going?  Purple, green, and gold are the colors of Mardi Gras. Which one is most prevalent in your wardrobe? How about in your home?
I'm not a Mardi Gra-er...but one of my favorite restaurants is Yatz Cajun Creole and their decor is very Mardi Gra...does that count?  Green is probably most seen around my house.  I only wear gold jewelry...and I really don't care for purple.  I'm not gonna say hate....but...
3. Are you old fashioned?
Let's just say for someone in their mid-30s I relate really well to people older than me....generally a lot older.  I read, quilt, can, garden....Hahaha...spelled BORING!  But, I make it fun!!!
4. Do you carefully plan your vacations, or do you prefer the days to be more spontaneous?
I control freak it out to the minute carefully plan our vacations.  Actually, I'm getting better.  I do have trouble planning to do nothing.  I need nothing defined.
5.  March is National Sauce Month...what's your favorite sauce, and what do you most often top with this sauce?
Montgomery Inn BBQ Sauce.  I will eat it with a spoon.  Oh, and I would generally tell you I hate BBQ sauce.  Yeah...I didn't say it was logical.
6.  What's something that easily brings a tear to your eye?
Those youtubes of soldiers coming home. 
7. If you could own any sports team, which one would it be and why?
I have no idea...I don't watch sports.  Really.  :-)
8.  Insert your own random thought here.
It just shows to go ya...that we humans are never satisfied.  I've been belly-aching about this long winter for...well, all winter...and now that Spring approaches I caught myself complaining about the mud.  Somebody shut my mouth!!
 

 

Tune Tuesday: Before The Throne Of God Above

Monday Musings...

Guess who's thinking of ditching Facebook again?  ME!  Here are some various and a sundry thoughts on social media in relation with spirituality...Do I check in with God as often as I check in online?  What if I treated my Bible like my phone?
 Email and the Holy Spirit
What if...
Should Christians be on Facebook?

Lent approaches...and just as I use Advent as an opportunity to teach my Sweet Boobahs spiritual lessons I've embraced this too.  My friend Janna shouts it best...so rather than recreate the wheel I'll just let you hear it from her soapbox.  Like her, I was not raised celebrating lent...but have found it useful in teaching my children and talking to people about Christ.  She shares books, songs, decor and more.

I found these awesome FREE calendar downloads in case anyone other than myself loves this stuff!

Occasionally, I quilt in my friend Tammy's basement...and her sister, Trisch Price, just wrote a quilting book called Accentuate the Negative....and she also blogs with several others at My Stars.  Neat...nothing like name dropping on a Monday.  Snort...harhar.

I'm off to get some sewing and reading done...and maybe a cup of tea.  I've just discovered TAZO...ahhh, help me!

Sew Saturday: progress...

I'm making progress on my three baby quilts. The I-Spy top is almost together...

...this Sock Monkey just needs sashing out in polka dots and gray to have the top done.

This one will take some time...I have a design in my head and I'm going to borrow a friend's computer program to help me with the math. It's for a long awaited baby...so needs to be super special!

FIve Minute Friday: Choose

Choose:

 Go!

I'm slowly learning that happiness is a choice.  With great intentionality I must choose to be thankful, to look forward at the eternal perspective.  Why must I choose?  Well...by not choosing happiness, I choose the alternative....and it ain't pretty ya'll.

So today I choose...to slow down and embrace mome-hood.  To ooo and ahh over the little things.  To enjoy God's creation with my Sweet Boobahs who see it so clearly and comment on it constantly.  See those stars, see that beautiful pattern in ice from this long winter.  I choose to snuggle and not strive.

Today I choose...to waste no more time wishing for more time.  I will look for new ways to love my man.  To enjoy hiding notes in his lunchbox again...praying over each pair of socks, encouraging my children to respect and love him more.

This is my prayer: that my love for God may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that I may be able to CHOOSE what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (based on Philippians 1:9-11)

STOP.

Wishful Thinking Thursday

I wish...that we could learn languages easily...

I saw THIS graphic for Psalm 34...and wished I could read Hebrew.  I knew that certain Psalms were acrostics...but never realized how much we lose by not seeing them in Hebrew.  I wish they all appeared in my Bible like this picture. 

I am thankful for the little bit of Spanish I hold onto from high school, as it continues to serve me well.  I wish I had more time to brush up on it...more brain to absorb it.  I had an absolute blast helping a new student in Caleb's class who has almost no English.  He was happy to not be stuck tracing numbers...even if he wasn't happy each time I made him repeat the numbers in English.  I wished I was fluent...and could encourage his obviously overwhelmed little self.  Breaks my heart.

But for now...my being fluent in any language, other than basic English, is just wishful thinking.  Perhaps God is at work...and it's time to do some studying...