Today

Today was a full day. This morning was our local Home School group's used book sale. This afternoon the girls worked on their 4-H projects while Kurt baked some yummy oatmeal raisin cookies (in our new oven!) This evening we enjoyed a homemade pizza, then Kurt went off to volunteer at Symphony on the Prairie. 


While I wasn't looking for a lot of things at the booksale, I made a point to attend. First, it's good to look around- you never know what treasures you might find! Second, it's a great time to chat with  friends (who are also home schooling Moms.) Sometimes we get so busy working on getting through the school year that we forget to take time to talk to one another. What kind of friend am I being if I don't talk to my friends? I think it's important that we as parents take time to work on our friendships. How better for our children to realize that friendship takes work than to see us model it. 


Life is busy. How are you doing on living it, not just enduring it? 


There are so many references in Scripture about life --- John 14:6 Jesus says: "I Am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me."--- Deuteronomy 30:19 "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."--- John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." 


Life is to be lived, the good times, and the hard times. When we trust Jesus with our future, we trust Him with our every days as well. Unfortunately we often try to take back those days, and that is a mistake. We should be trusting Him for our daily lives as well as our eternal lives. When we stop trusting, we falter, we stumble, like walking through the woods after dark. The woods can be lovely, when you can see where you are going, but they can be scary, when you hear strange noises and keep tripping over tree roots. 


Our lives can be lovely too, not because they're perfect, because they won't be, we live in a sin-filled world, but lovely nonetheless. When you feel like you've been stumbling through the dark woods, or merely surviving life, turn your eyes and focus on Christ. He is the light that can lead us, He is the light that illuminates our paths, one step at a time. When your patience is worn thin, and you feel spread out to the breaking point, turn to Christ, find strength in Him. When you are discouraged, turn to Christ, and remember that He promised never to leave or forsake us. (And if you see me stumbling through the dark woods, point me back to the light please!)


Choose to follow Christ, choose to trust Him. Choose to take time to talk to those around you, to nurture your friendships & your family time. Choose an attitude that imitates Christ, and pray! 


Pray! Pray! Pray! There are so many people around us who are hurting, struggling, slugging through life, but not really living...spread some light and a little joy in their lives. Share a smile, share some love, share your life. Live your life, with a purpose, don't just endure it. Your life will change when you turn your eyes upon Jesus!


"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangley dim, in the light of His glory and grace."