Tangible Forgiveness White.

 Run my hand over the white.  Feel the cool.  Touch the smooth.  Touch again because it is just too soft.

Tonight I got to meet with my senior small group. (and I mean small- only 3 of them total.  Trying to  do the fewer deeper thing when my tendency has always been the more the merrier).  Having a baby has forced me to struggle with having to say no and being ok with not being able to meet with everyone that I want to mentor.

 We are going through the book of Galatians.  

Tonight we went off on a tangent and I did a little activity I saw on Ann Voskamp's blog about forgiveness.  Ann is the woman who wrote 1000 Gifts that has been on New York Times best seller list for over a month.  If you haven't read it yet- make it one of your goals this year.  My old roommates from college days and I are reading it together then once a month doing a group video chat.

I pour flour into the glass.  Soundlessly it fills up the base.  I set up a prayer bench that the ladies can kneel before.  Simple coffee table in a private nook in our house.

 How many times do we actually bend a knee in awe towards God?  Unfortunately for me its usually not enough.  I like to provide time and space for youth and myself to stop in their business and bend their knee.  

 I place a piece of paper about dealing with forgiveness beside the flour.  One by one we spend 10 minutes before the thrown of God.  We breath deep what it means to run our fingers through the cool and tangibly draw how we have been forgiven.

After spending some precious moments before a holy God our sin is completely wiped clean.  We smooth out the picture... those sins forever gone never to be retrieved again.

 We draw who we need to forgive.  Wow- why is it so much easier receiving forgiveness than giving it?  Maybe because we feel wronged?  We still harbor anger, bitterness, and want to wait until fairness rules?  

I gulp down the truth that God smashed fairness squarely in the face when he allowed us to share in his perfection.  Share without deserving.  

 As our fingers get dusty and white clings our hearts become free with wrestling with choosing to forgive.  Not harbor any hatred against that person who wronged us.  

The pain is still deep yet the choice is not based on feelings.  We forgive because

   ¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

~Mathew 6:14-15

 ³⁸ Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. ³⁹ Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

~Acts 13:38-39

 My hand rests in the fine powder.  It is finished.  I have chosen to forever not hold that person's wrong against them any longer.  The memory is still there, the pain even remains... but my choice is final and they are forever forgiven.    

I am forever forgiven.

 My hand swirls in play.  I am free.  I am filled with renewed joy and passion for those who have never experienced this joy.

 Have you been forever forgiven by Christ's blood?  Who do you need to forgive?  

Operation De-clutter with a twist

De-clutter? Simplify? with accountability so I actually get it done?  YES sign me up! 

I will be joining a group of bloggers/normal moms who desire to make their home more organized.  If you want to join the challenge you can.  Simply click on the box above and it will take you to www.simplemom.net where it will give you more details about hot spots we are going to tackle during the deeper clean.  We will tackle only 4 projects March 5-30.  I will be posting on here before and after pictures of what I get accomplished.  I am so excited! (I know I'm a little wierd to be excited about organizing.)

Tsh (yes that is her full name) who manages the simplemom blog also wrote a book called Organized Simplicity.  I bought it last year but unfortunately haven't gotten around to tackling whats in the book yet because of having lil Z born.  But now that he is taking two naps a day and sleeps through the night- I might have time and energy.  ;-)    I strongly look forward to applying what she wrote in that book in my life as well.

One reason I love to organize is the simple fact that I probably have items laying around my house that others could really NEED and that I haven't really touched all year.  I enjoy cleaning out my closet and giving away clothes to others who would use them every day while if they stayed with me the clothes would just hang collecting dust.  What a shame.  How many shoes do I really wear?  Do I have appliances or utensils in my kitchen that someone else would need and I really could do without?  

Love those around you, tangibly.  

James 2:14-26 wrestles with FAITH and WORKS.  Can the two really be separated? Read for yourself to come to your own conclusion.             

Verse 17-18:  "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.  But someone may well say, "you have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith BY my works.""

I love the next verse:  "You believe that God is one.  You do well; the demons also believe and shudder."

Are we just believing and not being the hands and feet God has called us to be?  Have we been blinded by mediocracy?  Have we been maimed by complacency?  

Let me know if you want to join the simplify challenge with me and take it a step further to GIVE to those in real need!!

 

 

Pink and Red match...Today

Zane had his first Valentines day party at four months old.
I had fun getting to hang out with Kelley and Beth and their kids for some good 'ol mom time. Beth was a wonderful host and made us yummy tomato soup for lunch.
Zane got to 'decorate cookies'...although he seemed to want to chew on his toy and mama more than pay attention to the delicious cookies Kelley made. That's ok- more for mama. ;-)

We also got to have a photo shoot time. These next few pictures captures the moments of toddlers, babies, and mama's running around. Having all those kids stay still so our photos won't be just a big blur fest is quite the challenge.

At this point they all wanted to give Zane a kiss. Sweet.

I am pretty sure here Canaan is putting flowers on Zane's bottom.

This is the one picture all 5 kids are sort of in the same picture. Although it is just the legs of some... Jack, Karleigh, Canaan, Eden, & Zane.

Drool fest mania

Canaan Kiss while Zane winks... classic V-day pose. ;-)

Zane and Eden who are about 2 months and 2 weeks apart.

At the end of the time we were rolling in the oreos in the carpet. Now that equals fun.

Zane also made a card for daddy today