Sucker!!

There is hardly a day that goes by that I do not learn (or usually relearn since I am so poor at actually exercising my attitude and actions to use what I have learned) a lesson from the farm. This morning I was removing suckers from the lower trunks/limbs of the pecan trees. It is frustrating to see all of that new growth and energy being spent on suckers instead of being routed to the growth of the tree and its fruiting capabilities. Hmmmmm...... yep, I let too many little "distracting suckers" (wrong attentions) sap my strength from eternal fruits. I think that I should get a picture of these suckers and paste on my calendar. Just as a reminder of what is really important.

Good Friday Thoughts

Science can give us a feeling
of being smart.
Politics and fame can give us
a sense of importance.
Religion can make us believe
that we are actually good.
But when we look at the Messiah
hanging on a cross, beaten and bleeding
and breathing His last for our sin;
when we truly look at who He is
and what He has done,
we look at the Truth.
We are but foolish vapors
who are deceitful and selfish
in everything we do.
And yet He did this for us anyway.
The sinless Christ knows what we truly are
and yet He still chose to endure
that agony for us.
When I see Him through His Word,
I can see nothing of value in myself
for Him to love.
But He does.

Amazing mercy...

grace indescribable...

love beyond words.......

Let me never take my eyes off the One who hung on that cross.

Uncomprehensible

When I am in heaven,
Looking on Your Holy Face,
Will I be able to understand
The depth of your great grace?

When we bow before you
Seated on your holy throne
Will I comprehend
Why you chose me as your own?

When my eyes behold your glory
In its fullness and unveiled,
Can my heart perceive it
And not fully melt?

As we sing "Hosanna,
Worthy is the Lamb"
Can my voice join in
Without choking as I am?

In this world of sin
Even when we really try
We can't comprehend
How You must be up on high.

Tiny little glimpses
Like snowflakes in the spring
Are the only visions
Of your glory we can see.

Oh, how overwhelming
Is your sacrifice and love
For this vilest sinner
You chose to be with you above.

Help to dim my senses
To this world below
Seeing more of your sweet face
And your grace that overflows.

Mfangano February 2011 (short)

For those who have known me a while, you know that Kenya holds a very special place in my heart. When I was living for the success of this world, I had a job where I met and trained several Kenyans, who taught me a little of their rich history and showed me the wonderful hearts that they had for their country and its people (and hooked me on Kenyan coffee :) !). After I turned my life over to the LORD, I was very sorrowful that I had missed a great opportunity to share Christ with these precious souls since I was living so selfishly at the time. What a joy and privilege it has been over the years to know that God has "restored the years of the locusts" by allowing me to be a prayer partner and donor for several trips others have taken to Kenya. Recently some people from a church where we used to live returned to Kenya and began the journey to establish a "New Life Camp - Kenya", another amazing step in God's work there. Praise the Lord for those willing to go and serve, for those ready to hear of the hope and love of His Word, and for the joy of being able to be a "team member" by praying for God's people. Thank you, Lord, for technology that helps us to see and hear of your work! Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to see how You can turn what we meant for selfish desire into your Kingdom work. God is so good!

Merry CHRISTmas to All!!

2010 Thanksgiving Tree

One of our holiday traditions that we love is making a 'Thanksgiving Tree". Lots of families do this, so I know it is not unique but it has made its way into the "absolute musts" of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Today is December 1st so we dismantled the tree that we began a month ago and completed on Thanksgiving Day. For the past several years, we had "deleafed" the tree on Thanksgiving Day to take the leaves down to Grandma's for the meal. This year we had the meal here so we left it intact until today. Here are the items on the leaves (no particular order):
tape
computer
monkeys
snow
Jesus dying on the cross for our sins
Mom and Dad
Dr. Jones and his family
Men at Franklin Jail
His love
Honey
Israel
A good brain for school and things
Mom, Dad, Gran, Russ, Matt, Katy, JoJo, Ethan, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins
My son Eeff
Oxygen
Family
John Wieland & Co.
A free country
Plants
Friends & Animals
My sister Wanda & her family
The lovely, gracious and talented Miss Em
My son Russ and His wife Katy
Uncle Carl
My son Matt
Brooke
Craig Custer
My daughter Joanna
The Holy Spirit
Jesus
Cars & Trucks
Fruit
Kirsten :)
Emma Kate - bff & ss
Jesus
Gentleness, self-control
Faith
Jesus
Chocolate
mercy
Miss Emma's short bread
Love, joy, goodness, kindness, patience and peace
The cross
Love
GOD!!!!
a house
The chickens
Birds
heaven
Pumpkin pie
Legos, nerfs, star wars and other things
Ramein noodles
Prayer
Flowers
Everything
creating me
our pecan trees
Matt, Russ, Katy, JoJo, Emma and Ethan
Hope
Food
Pecan Pie
Emma, Jojo, Matt, Russ, Aunt Wanda, Uncle Craig, Mom, Dad, Gran, Brookie, Beanie, Barbie, NeeKee
Art
Wind
Chocolate Pecan Pie
Flowers
Love, Faith, Kindness, Gentleness, The Holy Spirit, Bible, Jesus and everything good in the eyes of God
Pumpkins
An awesome family
Turkeys
Books
Grits
Friends
Rain
Silly, crazy, hyper, lovable NeeKee
Eyes, ears, legs, arms, healthy bodies
No cavities!!
Pineapples
Peace
Tools
Snow
Eggs
Electricity
hair
Time together
Sunshine
Crackers
Prayer
Syrup
Bread
GRACE
A loving family
Bacon
Water
Animals
Vegetables
Lions
My family
A Godly church
Men's Bible study
Salvation
The Bible
Home
Friends
Emma, Ethan, Mrs Faye, Derwin, JoJo
Smiles
peanut butter
Wii
Grapes
YOU
Thanksgiving
batteries
Acorns
My Mother Gran
Ice Cream
My loving wife Faye
My parents, Nana and Grandaddy
Ninjas

Random acts of kindness - really??

"Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty." This quote (bumpersticker/fb sticker/etc) has always irritated me. It sounds good on the surface. But I don't want to practice random acts of kindness. As a Christian I should long to practice consistent, meaningful, acts of kindness. Not for my own "I'm OK because I do something good once in a while" emotion. In quiet, humble, often unseen ways I want to practice consistent kindness because I am NOT good. In spite of my selfish, glory-seeking deceitful heart I want to be kind to others because Christ has showered kindness and mercy and love and grace on me anyway. I want my acts of kindness to be so natural and numerous that people don't even notice them because they come from the heart of God, not from my own desire to feel better about myself.

And "senseless acts of beauty"? Really? Are there such things as "sense"less acts of beauty? Can beauty be seen or appreciated without using senses? Doesn't the Creator Himself use all senses to show us the organized order of beauty such as the stars in the universe and petals on a flower?  Or if by senseless you mean without a purpose or no real depth (or even foolish), then are they beautiful?

Now before you jump and say I am too harshly criticizing this quote, I will say it for you. Yes, I am being overly critical of probably what started out as a simple off-the-cuff well-intentioned remark. But the reason this quote rubs me is because I often follow it myself. My acts of kindness are often self-seeking and random rather than Christ-glorifying and consistent. Acts of beauty on my part are often senseless, meaningless, and probably pretty far from being beautiful in the eyes of the One who created true beauty. I think that's the real problem I have with this bumper sticker. It sticks too close to my own heart.