You Must be Grounded to Fly

This thought came to mind very early this morning and I have been pondering it in my heart. There are so many different directions I could go here.

"Grounded" can be applied to our lives through multiple applications. First of all let's see what the Webster's definition says:

"mentally and emotionally stable: admirably sensible, realistic, and unpretentious."

Okay that pretty much leaves me way out in left field somewhere. Boy I have a feeling this one is gonna hit home. It is plain to see that Mr. Webster forgot about being grounded spiritually. How in the world could we ever accomplish the rest of that without it?

As I considered the different ways this word can be used I thought of electrical grounding. It is certainly important to be sure our source of power is connected back to the earth to prevent injury of shock or electrocution. Now how easy is that one to relate to scripture? We all know that God is the source of all of the power within us and that we must remain connected to avoid the dangers this world can charge us with. He will protect us from the enemy.

Your right hand, LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, LORD, shattered the enemy.Exodus 15:6

Secondly, I thought of being grounded as a punishment. We all hated that one. Just spank me and get this over with. No one likes to be told they can't go and do what they have planned. Ouch!!! Sometimes God has to do that in our lives. There are times we may get a pop on the wrist but there are other times when He must take us out of the game for a while. He want's us to have to sit and think about what we have done. But most of all He wants us to know that He loves us and that He is going to be there with us through it all. After all it is for our own good and His good and perfect will!!!

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

Okay this analogy is gonna take this to another level. How about the thought of grounded coffee beans. I know, my mind goes off in all directions. Let me explain myself before you count this out. If you drink coffee then this will obviously mean more to you personally. Think about that little bean...can you make a cup of coffee with just that? Nope, you have to have a bunch of them and they have to be ground and boiling hot water has to run through them in order to bring out their full flavor. I would have to imagine that it would not be a comfortable place within a coffee grinder or coffee pot for any of us. Yet sometimes this life can sure feel like we are right there with those beans at times. You know, the test and the trials. That's God's way of getting the full flavor out of us. That's what makes us stronger. A sweet aroma to Him. Don't miss the part about it taking more than one bean. You are not in this alone. Our test and trails can be a blessing to others if we will be real and come along side of them during theirs. We can be the cream that lightens the load and the sugar that sweetens the pain.

The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. Genesis 8:21

Well now that we are all well grounded how will we fly? When will we fly? Why should we fly? Why would we fly when we could soar? This grounding time is complete...go soar.......


But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Just so ya know...I don't look for ways to bring birds into these blogs...God has been doing that. I love that about Him...I love Him!!!

Let the Son Shine In

Mornings are such a precious time of the day. A new birth. The Son is on it's way to bringing new light, new warmth and new growth just to mention a few.

New light can be the difference between depression and joy, taking or giving, sitting or dancing, staying buried or blooming. What will today's new light be for you? Will you use it to guide you or will you make your own way? Will you take time to make "lighted" decisions or will you run off blindly into the dark? I hope you will bloom like the flowers of the fields under the Son.

New warmth can bring healing, comfort and peace. What needs healing? Maybe it's a broken heart or sick body. No matter the brokenness the Son can heal. He came this morning to heal. Who needs comfort? We all do. This thing called life can be lonely and frighting. Climb up in His lap and let Him wrap His arms around you. You are never alone...He shines all around you. We can all find peace if we let the Son shine in. Let Him guide your heart...better yet just let Him have it :)

New growth, my favorite of all for without it we shall all wither and die. If you are not growing you are dying. Each new day we can become more and more like the Son. We can have the opportunities to shed more light on this dark world. We can help those who are broken. We can wrap our arms around the hurting and we can offer peace though the Son. What an awesome privilege and responsibility.

Just remember...the Son is always shining...even in the darkest night...

But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
Malachi 4:2

A baby duck's day at the lake...

Beautiful day on the lake. Of course any warm and sunny day on the lake in February is a nice day, an unexpected surprise. Nothing as relaxing as God's creation.

As Jon unloaded the kayaks and all the gear that goes along with a day on the lake I enjoyed the scenery. The wind was pretty strong so the breeze coming off the water was a bit chilly. I wondered if I had dressed too lightly hoping that it might be like the day before of 72 degrees. There weren't any other people around at the time but that soon changed.

We paddled across to the opposite bank, it was sunny there and offered a more inviting atmosphere for the first fishing of the day. It granted me a feeling of warmth. I know I liked it better over there and we hoped the fish would too...after all the water was still very cold for fishing.

We worked our way around the lake...yes I caught a fish, the first fish of the day thank you very much. Jon doesn't mind. He is happy when I catch fish. He is happy when I do the things he loves.

As the morning wears on the fishing is slow but the activity around the lake is picking up. There are horse trails and hiking trails all the way around the lake. All the signs there say "horses have the right away" isn't that interesting? Made me wish I was a horse :)

The conversations carry across the water of parents talking with their children. It warmed my heart to see so many families out enjoying this day together. Some people were there alone...walking or running...some came with a child and others had many children. I couldn't help but remember the days when our kids were smaller and what it was like to take them somewhere like this. When they would follow us around like baby ducks.

I wish I had known then what I know now. I wish I had encouraged them more to explore...run...jump...just have FUN!!! Those days are so short, so few. I wish I could tell these parents that. I heard so may times throughout the morning, "stop", "don't", "quit", 'come back here".

Some parents were having fun with their kids and some parents acted as though this was hard work. Oh to be able to tell them these young years are the easy ones. These are the years when their biggest pain my be a skint knee or a bike fall. Mama knows how to kiss that and make it all better. Nothing like the years to come when mama can't fix it anymore.

I guess we really do need to go through this thing called life one step at a time. It might be overwhelming if we knew in advance what the future might hold. All we need to know is WHO holds the future. Guess we should always follow Him around like the baby ducks...

How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:7

"I heard a story recently about a hen that apparently perished in a barnyard fire; but after the rubble was cleared out they found, under that hen, the baby chicks, alive. The mother's wings had protected those little ones; she had laid down her own life, and those little chicks under the hen were safe and were preserved."

The Big Picture...

Have you ever wished you could fly with the birds. Have you ever longed to fly away and leave all of this life's heartaches and pain behind? I actually use to have a recurring dream that I could fly...I could quickly take myself above what ever situation I was in and see down on the big picture. I just realized that I haven't had that dream in a very long time.

I have to wonder if maybe my heart no longer wants to know what the big picture is. Am I afraid of it or am I trusting God more to work it out for my good? I'd like to believe that I am trusting God but I know in my heart that this day to day life can be so hard. I know that I often lean unto my own understanding and forget to trust God. That never gets me very far or grants me an ounce of peace.

I long to be more like the birds of the field. Wake up singing...freely accepting God's gift of a new day and going about the task at hand that has been set before them. 

Spring is coming and there will be many new nest built. I have a nest of my own...but it often seems so empty...so abandoned.

I know this is the way God designed this thing called life...but it is hard. Not a day goes by that I don't long to hold my babies again, that I don't  miss them, that I don't wonder if I gave them everything they will need. As these words come to the tips of my fingers and are typed on this keyboard God is reminding me that He too has missed me, that He longs to hold me and to remind me that He is all I need.

He sees the big picture. He created it. He knows the plans He has for me. He will make a way. He is my rock and my fortress. His eye is on this sparrow and I know He watches me...

PS. Oh yes, thank you Lord for letting one of my little birdies come home and spend the night in the nest last night. She has no idea how that blesses a mama's heart! 

She painted that picture for me...and I love it...I love her...

Trash to Treasure

First of all the title comes from the thoughts in my mind today but it also reminds me of a very special friend as it is the name of her business. A friend who has loved me though thick and thin...she knows my whole heart and she still loves me...I know it is Jesus in her...

God speaks in the most unusual ways...does He not?

As I opened the blinds in my bedroom this morning I saw the trash can out by the curb...I vaguely remember the sound of Jon rolling it down the long gravel driveway before daylight. I can remember thinking that I was glad he remembered. It's sort of a personal joke around here cause acts of service feed my love language and that simple task gives me great joy...makes me feel loved...sounds silly, I know but it does.

All that said, my thoughts didn't stop there. God had much more in store for me as I caught that site. He quickly reminded me of my "own" trash...my pride...my unforgiveness, my disobedience, my lack of compassion, need I go on...all my sin. All the trash that I carry around on a daily basis when I don't have to. I could wait and take it down to the curb on Thursday mornings like Jon did today. I could bring it with me on Sunday and leave it at the altar.

But why would I wait? Why wouldn't I take that stinking stuff out daily...not daily...moment by moment? Why wouldn't I take it out as soon as I recognize it? Why would I wait until it is falling out the top and onto the floor. That floor being others in my life? Why should they have to endure the stench?

Imagine if we dump it as we go right at the foot of the cross. God will turn all that trash into a treasure. He will take my pride and turn it to humility. He will take my unforgiveness and mend broken relationships. He will take my disobedience and love me into obedience. He will take my lack of compassion and show compassion on me. He will take my sin and make me whole, clean and empty so that He can fill me up with Himself...I have to wonder if it is His love language too...does He feel loved by me when I take out my trash? Something to think about <3

Now please excuse me while I go take out the trash...