Shearing Pride

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
  but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always,
   but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Proverbs 28:13-14

Let's be real. Real transparent. Like the shearing of wool of the sheep around, so does the Father shear off the expectations of His beloved.

May I have one expectation.
Jesus.
To know Him
To follow Him
To live for Him
To be like Him

May I lay aside the things of this world that so easily entangle me.
Focus.
The Cross.
The way to receive blessing from on high? I desperately need to continue to receive more of Him in order to live for Him.

For many days past I have thought about that woman...(Luke 7) in all her worldly worthlessness...doing the great glorious thing. Washing the feet of the One who embodied the good news...with her tears! The ones nearby pointed and scowled. Jesus rejoiced. She understood.

I understand sometimes.
We draw near. Admitting our sinful selves. We cry out in frustrated abandonment to the One Who Sees. He longs for these moments.

After all, He looked for just one to respond to save the whole city of Sodom.

And I feel His touch. His hand on my head, calming me and quieting me.
It is in His hands now.

I encourage you. Give it to Him. Lay it down.

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Lay my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart. And you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden in light.
Matthew 11:28-29

Cultivating Children

But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’
Matthew 13:25-27

Working in the yard today... Spring has sprung. The rains have come and continue to water everything back to green living. I carefully tended around the gardens. Being kind to the young sprouts and admiring the blossoms on the early plants. Again the Father shared a bit of Himself.

He is the God who Always Sees. I on the other hand...don't

While he watches the gardens in all there seasons, I am busy doing other things. I focus on other matters in my life that need my attention too. I am not like the One Who Always sees.

My children's hearts are like that garden. All the good things sewn into them ready to spout. They are nourished and fed with the soil of God's word and the love that our home provides. But I look away sometimes...even to things good...and the unsuspecting evil is sewn.

I want to blame others...I have not done this...but that is not true. I have done good elsewhere, but I have to be on the watch. I have to prepare them for what is out there beyond my borders of care.

I want to uproot the whole garden and start over!! That is not possible whispers my Father. Also the Father to the cherubs in my care. He whispers to me to give their gardens over. Lay it down in prayer. Cultivate the soil ahead.

The best way to weed a garden is on your knees.

There is no better to way to cultivate the life of my children.

On my knees.

I say a prayer and pull those unwanted weeds. I find peace there where it is left behind. A pile of roots and green right where they belong. Out of the soil of my cherub's heart.

Hauling Hearts

Riding in the car with a family of seven for eight hours can bring surprises. It is so bonding. Little can be concealed and the slightest noise or smirk is noticed. If you are looking to find the truest of one self, take a car trip. A really long car trip. The smaller the car, the more the people, and the more will be revealed.

I have always thought with fondness that Jesus picked a few. He taught many, but he knew better than to spread himself thin. Did he choose them specifically? Or did He call them randomly knowing that He could reveal his glory through a donkey if need be. Certainly these men would do better than that! Wight? Well, one could hope. I am sure God could have used an animal instead of me sometimes. If only my were silenced automatically to corruptible talk. I pray that the Lord continues to have His way with my heart and my mouth. For it is out of the heart that the mouth speaks.

And Back to the car. A lot is said in a weekend of approximately 20 hours in the car. Some good some not good. I am so thankful for a Savior who leads us. He doesn't leave us in the pits were in. He draws us with Him loving kindness, places His righteousness in us, and continues to use and mold us until the day He perfects us.

That is love in the long haul form.