Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

1. The way the sun comes up over the Prairies in the winter;
2. The sound of my coffee maker brewing;
3. The sound of children television programming and the silence soon after.........;
4. Cuddling with my three year old when he just want time with mom.

Me: "So do you have brothers and sisters?"
Leroy: "Yes"
M: "How many?
L: "7.......4 brothers and 3 sisters."
M: "You're the youngest?"
L: "Yes"

1. Bathrooms: There is something about a clean bathroom that can make or break my day. Even if every other room in the house is hazardous, this room is always clean and sparkling;
   
2. Oven: Self Cleaning need I explain more!
3. My Kitchen Counter: When this is organized and clean, I feel decluttered. However, too much on the counter and I can't think until this is organized;
   
4. Making my bed: Again, just done to make me feel more organized. As well, I can use it to pile clean clothes on once folded; and
   
5. Laundry: Ok really not my favourite thing to do in the winter, but in the summer when I can use the clothes line I love it. I actually keep up with the laundry (except on rainy days).

The last two days we have been having new carpet installed in our basement. However, we had to remove the old carpet first (ok my husband removed the carpet, as well as removing all the furniture). The hallway carpet came up easy (was only held by double sided tape). The rest of the carpets were glued directly to the cement floor. My great husband scrapped the foam off the floor for three nights after working an eight hour day. This was messy job. I did help a little, but really my job was clean up.

Now as I'm enjoying this new carpet I am realizing how our carpet saga is like our coming to God. When we accept Christ into our lives, God starts scrapping the baggage from us (hopefully not with the ice scrapper we used) and believe me this is a messy job. He then cleans us up (Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:2). When we accept and repent, we are made new (You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24).

I'm thankful for my new carpet and I'm so thankful to God for "taking on" the messiness and continuing to work within me! I'm not finished like my carpets, but I am a work in progress!

1. LIz Curtis Higgs for teaching me that bad girl could be reformed;
2. Ruth Graham Bell for modeling her faith and showing that you don't have to be a perfect mom, just a perfect model for Christ's love (read "Rebel with a Cause" specifically the ice cream story);
3. Jesus....need I say more;
4. my best friend Debbie (and evil twin) for showing me that having a disability doesn't mean that you aren't useful for God's purposes;
5. my friend and mentor, Natalie Owen, who continually teaches me that it's OK to show your emotions;
6. my friend, Andrea, who continues to encourage me in my walk (though she doesn't even know she does that) and has "challenged" me to write this blog; and
7. my grandmother and mother in law, who both raised more than 9 and 8 children respectively, and continue nuturing the next generations with love.

The pastor announced before the end of service that next week sermon would be on lying and that everyone should read Mark 17 to prepare for the sermon.

The next week the Pastor asked the parishioners who had read Mark 17. 3/4 of the parishioners raised their hands. The Pastor quickly stated "Then this sermon is for you!"