I Wanna Be...A Tree

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:7-8

Yes, a tree. You get it now, right? I mean, after reading that verse it kinda makes sense. A tree...firmly planted and rooted in the soil, producing good fruit. It's simple. So why is it so hard? I mean really, do you think about "producing good fruit" every time you open your mouth or do you just let stuff come out with no consequence to the fruit it is producing? Do you talk without thinking or carry an angry look on your face and refuse to smile sometimes? Weeelllll, with my hand raised high in the air I will say, "I do, I do!" Not that I'm proud of that. But I just have to be honest.
It's tough to constantly be thinking about the little things. But guess what? Paying attention to detail is most definitely a plus. It's these little things that we don't think about that non-believers are watching. Really. Not kidding. They just look for those little contradictions that can say we aren't who we say we are. And really, is that "good fruit"? Nope. Not only that, but it does affect our thoughts and our actions. You get too used to that angry face you're carrying around and you start becoming angry b/c everyone is REACTING TO YOU b/c you LOOK angry! ***WHAM*** That one hit me in the face just the other day.
I know it sounds like I'm off topic with the verse above...but I think the little things fall into the category of "it's leaves are always green". I want to be a tree whose leaves are always green...constantly producing fruit. That takes discipline. Keeping our eyes on the little things. Questioning ourselves and the little things we do. I think when our faces, our thoughts and our hearts all line up together, with the word of God, we are green. Green trees...producing fruit.
Sooo...I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be...a GREEN tree! :P

Still Guessing...

Ever have one of those days where the lyrics to a song seem to just say it all? Well, I do and today is one of those days! One of my very favorite recording artists is Francesca Battistelli. Not only can I sing along with her quite comfortably but I love how her songs speak to every day life. Things like getting a speeding ticket, running late, have a few "dents in my fender". That's real life. And I love how she portrays it in song. So, here's my real life in her words...Keeping Me Guessing.

Coffee cup waking me up I've got to board a plane and fly away sometimes
I feel like I'm going the speed of light. Can't relax I'm moving too fast
I want to find the gold but I don't have a map. I wish that I could know what you've got in store for me.

I try and try to read your mind 'cause I forget that patience is a virtue.
You're teaching me to hold on tight.

'Cause I don't know how the story ends but I'll be alright 'cause You wrote it
I don't know where the highway bends but I'm doing just fine. 'Cause You're in control even when I don't know where my life's gonna go you're keeping me guessing.

So slow me down, show me around I want to see the world that I've been without
I am here and now the future is out of my hands.

I'm trusting you and how you move I won't forget that patience is a virtue.
You're teaching me to hold on tight. Seasons come, and seasons go, but you decide.

'Cause I don't know how the story ends but I'll be alright 'cause You wrote it
I don't know where the highway bends but I'm doing just fine. 'Cause You're in control even when I don't know where my life's gonna go you're keeping me guessing.

Sometimes I think I tend to forget that God has it all under control. He's writing my story, I just have to trust and obey. So many times I let circumstances dictate how I live out my story. I decide to stay stuck in places that aren't healthy for me instead of moving up and onward. I have to make an effort to trust that God is there. It doesn't come easy sometimes. When you are looking at an impossible situation, impossible dispair, impossible finances, impossible relationships, impossible grief...you have to remember WHO is writing your story...and He wants each "impossible" to have a VERY happy possible ending!

I read this verse this morning in my devo time and it just brings so much hope to my heart! It helps to know that our struggles are not in vain, doesn't it??

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:1-5

Here's another one...

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58-60

Wow! Praise God that he uses every trial and tribulation...and victory...for His glory. That everything we go through can build character and produce endurance. It's so much easier to be in a place of "guessing" what God has in store when you TRUST the one writing your story!

Are you trusting God to make a beautiful story out of your mess today?

Bless this mess...

Lord, bless that which is a mess in my home.
Lord, bless that which is a mess in my life.
Lord, bless that which is a mess in my head.
Lord, bless my kids that are a mess and those that they also make.
Lord, bless me and my mess so that we can BE a blessing!

Yes...it's one of those days. You wake up and you want to groan. "Do I really have to get out of bed today??" You know the answer. It's the rhetorical question on the lips of EVERY Mother at some point in time. When life seems overwhelming, things aren't going as you'd like, but those littles STILL want you to get up and act as though everything revolves around them. *sigh* It's exhausting.

Since it was one of those mornings for me I don't have lots of time to sit and ponder the questions of the universe. Instead, I'll be "entertaining" Captain of the Universe, Miss Universe and What IS the Universe again? until the sun sets on this beautiful day.

BUT...before I go tackle my hair (you should see it...sooo not prit-dee) I wanted to share this with you...

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

TADA!!! Did you feel it??? That little jump of hope, peace, security and love all flood your heart at the reading of God's promise for today?? WOOHOO! Forget the coffee...God's word just jump started my heart! (Ok, no. Don't forget the coffee, it's vital for today...but you get the point I was trying to make, right?)

In Him we have hope...even for the worst of days. We have a reason to rejoice and say, "This is the day that the Lord has made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!!" Look to the hope of the cross and the security that comes from knowing God has it all under control.

In the midst of your mess this morning, REJOICE! God has it all under control.
If your hair won't be tackled and it's sooo not prit-dee (like mine) REJOICE! God has it all under control!
If your littles are driving you up the wall, REJOICE! God has it all under control!

I know some of you are saying, "That's easier said than done" BUT NO, IT REALLY IS THAT EASY! :P

Relax, laugh a little, TAKE HEART and let God (and the Littles) be the center of your Universe today. Rest in knowing that He has already overcome the world AND ALL of your messes!