The Time Has Come

My entire life I have heard sermons and lessons on preparing for the time to come. Inside my heart is a driving force telling me that time has come and is now. Remember all of those Sunday School lessons about being kind to your neighbor? Do you have a neighbor? Be kind to them NOW. Do words from Kids' Crusades of long ago flit through your memory with fond remembrance? NOW is the time to put the messages shared by those dear children's ministers to life.

Maybe your neighbors aren't exactly like the ones in our childhood stories. Our adult friends probably haven't fallen and skinned their knee, but I am pretty sure they have hurts we can bandage with love and prayer. A kind word never goes out of style, and I am positive that grownups get left out of the in crowd just as often as children do in school. Loving our neighbor doesn't have to be difficult or complicated. A plate of cookies, some bottles of water, a friendly wave and smile don't require a special formula or plan.

Do you have a favorite hobby or talent? What would happen if you would use it as an open door to pour the love of God through? Sketches can be shared. Pictures can be given. Handcrafted items can be gifted. What if that is why God gave you that talent, so you could use it to extend Him to your neighbors? Maybe God's love to our neighbors looks like cold bottles of water handed out to someone working outside in the sun. Maybe it looks like a BBQ or potluck picnic with our neighbors being invited instead of our usual crowd. Maybe it looks like our usual crowd AND neighbors. Sometimes it might look more like a PB & J with a cold glass of milk eaten on the porch with a neighboring child chattering away like the proverbial magpie. What would a warm smile and a listening ear speak to a small child? What would it speak to their loved ones back at home?

Who says loving our neighbor has to be complicated or hard to do? It wasn't God. In fact, He says quite the opposite: "For the [true] love of God is this: that we do His commands [keep His ordinances and are mindful of His precepts and teaching]. And these orders of His are not irksome (burdensome, oppressive, or grievous). 1 John 5:3 AMPC" 

Don't bother arguing that you aren't talented or that you don't have anything to give. God says He has given you everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1) and that He supplies all our needs (Philippians 4:19). These two verses are merely a few of the many telling of God's provision and abundance. Others make sure we know He provides seed to the sower. Whatever your neighbors need God has provided it. Do you have a smile? Using it is free. Do your hand and arm work? Move them in a friendly wave. Leaves can be raked. Lawns can be mowed and/or tidied. Weeds can be pulled. Trash can be collected. 

Maybe being a light of God in our neighborhood is even easier. Maybe it is something as simple as placing a pot of cheery flowers on our own step or better yet, cleaning up our own yards and getting rid of our own trash. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do for our neighbors is providing them with a clean, tidy home and yard to look at every day. If we have children, training them to be polite and kind to others shines out like a piercing beacon in the selfish darkness so prevalent today. Loving our family and laughing with each other outside of our home where neighbors can see and hear can flow over a community like a Love flood. How it warms the heart of others to see a family loving and enjoying each other.

Whatever love door God has provided for you, open it. Open it NOW. A little love light here, another little love light there, and pretty soon our entire community will be a light with the Love of God. It only takes a spark to get a fire going you know. The time has come. It is NOW. Let's love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves. Let's obey God and do it NOW.

Loving one little love light at a time,
Abundantly Blessed

Better Together

The favorite reads for my youngest these past couple of days have been Farmer Dale's Red Pickup Truck by Lisa Wheeler illustrated by Ivan Bates and Little Blue Truck by Alice Shertle illustrated by Jill McElmurry. Both stories involve pickups; both include animals. Both also have a story line that revolves around helping each other, and how one more push, no matter how small, can save the day. As I read these two books over and over and over again to my son, I can't help but ponder how true their messages are. We truly are better together, and everyone is important, no matter how seemingly small and insignificant they appear. Life is simply better together.

God says it like this "Two are better than one, because they have a good [more satisfying] reward for their labor; for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie down together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone? And though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) 1 Corinthians chapter 12 shares more in depth how deeply God created us to be connected to each other.

None of us are exactly the same, none of us free of mistakes. Each and every person has been created an individual masterpiece of Love, filled with grace, and set free to extend mercy and loving kindness to every one we come in contact with. Better together. Yes indeed we are most definitely better together.

Learning how to love together,
Abundantly Blessed

I Have Noticed

Over the course of the years, a number of people have shared concerns and struggles with me. As I have listened to their hearts' pain, something sad has come to my attention. It seems as if very few people really want healing or redemption or restoration. Not all, but the majority, want the supposed problem to go away. Even Christ followers who love the Lord want whomever they are in conflict with to be straightened out and put in their proper place, which of course is NOT the place of grace, at least not from their perspective.

That whole other brother issue we find in the prodigal son situation is, unfortunately, alive and well in mankind. Few of us care about God's desire. We are so thoroughly absorbed in our own desires and dreams that seldom does it cross our minds to consider what our Abba Father God wants.

I see examples of this lack of love often as a mother, usually the examples are found in my life. This lack of love has caused me great concern and sadness. I am listening to His voice and trying to learn His heart. What I want most is for His desires to become real. Isn't this what love does?

There is something else I have been seeing among brothers and sisters in Christ that puts me in prayer. There is something that happens regularly when Christians begin to get frustrated by less than ideal situations and start talking about them with others. Whatever people talk about in judgement they become. If they gripe about others being judgemental, they themselves are judging those who judge. If the complaints are about people addicted to offense, they themselves have taken offense at the offended. No matter what the problem being talked about is, the people griping become what bothers them.

I can't help but wonder if this is why God tells us in the scriptures to do everything without grumbling and complaining that we may be pure and blameless children of God. Everything He instructs us in is for our good. It is not so God can boss us little humans around. Just as the instructions I give my children are for their good instead of my personal convenience so too God's instructions are to us His children. When are we going to realize this and grow up in Him and walk in His grace? When am I going to see that it is not about me? When will I live all for Him? Why is it so easy to expect mercy and grace from others yet so difficult to extend it back to them in return? I find myself asking God if I am ever going to grow up. He assures me He has this. He can get me where He wants me to be. Which brings things full circle to the topic of rest.

Rest in the Lord. This is one of the things that has our attention
here at Abundance House. Sabbath and rest. Maybe you would like to share what God reveals to you in a comment. A Sabbath Society website shares articles with encouraging thoughts for those learning to live to a rhythm of rest and Sabbath.

Learning and leaning,
Abundantly Blessed

They Are Messy

Everyone who has been in relationship knows it to be true. It isn't a secret. Relationships are messy. And family relationships can be the messiest of all.

Thankfully, God, in His loving kindness and grace, has provided examples of relationships for us to follow in the Bible. In scripture we see Jesus knows exactly how messy family can be. His family didn't always understand his calling, and his friends denied they even knew him. One of them betrayed him for the price of a slave! Yes, our lord understands messy.

In spite of the mess, one of those same brothers who didn't "get it" when Jesus lived on earth ended up writing a book in the Bible. Messy doesn't have to remain a mess. God can turn our messes into messages of life, hope, and goodness. Times of testing can be transformed into glorious testimonies of loving forgiveness.

No matter where you or I am in our relationships, Abba God has everything under control. He is bringing all of us into His likeness. Together, in our messes, we are being transformed into a rich, rare, and beautiful treasure.

In the middle of messy,
Abundantly Blessed

Summer Reads

Hi! What a long time it has been since we've visited! I am thankful to be here on our special bench visiting today. Do you think the rain will soak us before our visit is through? As long as it is the rain of the Holy Spirit from Heaven everything will be fine.

I can't begin to tell you how many conversations with you I have begun in my mind throughout the past few months. They are simply too numerous to tell. Most frequently I wanted to tell you about the latest books I have been reading. The visits where we share what we are reading with each other seem to be the most thoroughly enjoyed. Because I have been reading some of the books for a very long time, there may be titles you recognize from other visits. There are definitely some new ones you simply musn't miss though so I will risk repeating myself.

• The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp *
• Rivers of Grace by Mark and Patti Virkler
• Revolution in the Church: Challenging the Religious System with a Call for Radical Change by Michael L. Brown
• The Book of Romance: What Solomon Says about Love, Sex, and Intimacy by Tommy Nelson
• A Family Shaped by Grace: How to Get Along with the People Who Matter Most by Gary Morland *
• The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears by Mark Batterson
• Jane Austen by Peter Leithart
• Proverbs by Eugene H. Peterson
• The Life Giving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming by Sally and Sarah Clarkson *
• If Only I Had a Green Nose by Max Lucado
• The Big Red Tractor and the Little Village by Francis Chan
• The Oak Inside the Acorn by Max Lucado
• When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner
• The WouldBeGoods by Edith Nesbit *

* a personal favorite 

All of these reads, except Jane Austen, have been pure pleasure to read. Each one has provided exactly the morsel needed to chew on at the precise moment nourishment was needed. I am finding the book about Jane Austen informative but boring. I don't know if I have ever written such a word as boring in a book review before. Not certain I like doing so now, but it can't be helped. I do find the book a truly boring read. Perhaps it is the author's tone, which seems to drone on and on or perhaps it is the uninteresting manner the facts are relayed. All I know is it holds my interest not one little bit, even if it is about Jane Austen. I do find myself wanting to put on a pot of tea when reading though. So that is one good thing about it. 

Speaking of tea, The book by Sally and Sarah Clarkson listed above has been like a soothing balm to my weary soul. I find myself wanting to get lost in the writing while also wanting to pop up and prepare tea or create a dress up trunk for my children. To say the Clarksons speak my heart's language would be an understatement. Not only do these godly women speak with gentleness and love, they also write truth sharing how the every day practical is intended to be infused with the supernatural of God Who is Love. It is encouraging, challenging, and soothing all at once. 

As with most summers, the Easy Homeschooling series by Lorraine Curry and the books on a Thomas Jefferson style leadership education are being scoured for educational gold and teacher's encouragement. Our hearts' desire is for our learning to be strengthened each year. I also possess high hopes for giving Never Too Early by Doreen Claggett another go. Count has been lost of how many times that book's pages have crossed my eyes.

No matter how much I enjoy other reading material, my favorite read of all time is, and always will be, the Bible. Someday, someway, somehow I hope to share the miraculous ways the Bible has led, taught, and revealed truth to each one of our family. For now, know that I have saved the best of the reading list for last. God's Word. The Bible. What have you been reading lately? Are your spirit, soul, and body being challenged, led, and strengthened? Is there a particular read that has brought supernatural soothing to your soul? Please, do tell us! We'd love to hear from you!

Reading to the glory of God,

Abundantly Blessed 

HUGE Giveaway!!!

Hi! I rarely talk about homeschooling because not many of our readers homeschool. However, because there is a SUPER HUGE Giveaway taking place tomorrow,  I simply have to share. Just in case someone reading is a homeschooler or knows someone who could benefit from these resources.

The giveaway is one day only, tomorrow April 25 9am - 9pm CST. It is at notebookingpages.com. Not only are Lifetime Memberships being given away and/or offered at greatly reduced prices, but many free resources from other companies are included in the various giveaway pacakages as well. One of the packages is valued at $800! This is a giveaway notebooking homeschoolers, or those who know them, don't want to miss.

Those of you who do not homeschool or notebook please pass the word on to any and every one you know who does. Everyone who enters will receive a free sample of various notebooking pages offered by notebookingpages.com. Any individuals who practice the art of keeping a journal could also put a number of these pages to use.

Just to clarify, notebooking is a method of recording what a person/student is learning. Basically, notebooking is journaling and/or scrapbooking what you are studying. It is a method of study that has been proven to increase a student's retention of knowledge and allow them "ownership" of their education. It also provides each student with the opportunity to freely express their unique creativity.

Our students and I are newcomers to the world of notebooking, yet we are looking forward to filling many notebooks with pages full of everything we are learning. Giggles thoroughly enjoys creating notebook pages to fill with the facts and and information she learns; Mighty Man of God prefers putting the web-app to good use and create pages using creative technology rather than hand drawn images.

Don't forget the giveaway tomorrow at notebookingpages.com,
Abundantly Blessed

Simply Done Food

What a lovely spring morning for a visit with a friend!  One of the most life changing lessons I have been learning this past year is how meaningful and healing simple things can be. Too often throughout the years I have mistakenly felt special gifts and occasions must be complicated and over-the-top in order to be special. God has been gently teaching me this simply is not so. While preparing to enter the restful rhythm of Sabbath, a couple of simply easy recipes came to mind. You came to mind at the same time; thinking of you made me hungry for a lovely spring's morning visit together. These recipes have been shared before, but good things bear repeating.

English Muffin Bread
Lemon Curd

As you sit with a cup of  your favorite beverage, savoring a piece of freshly toasted English Muffin bread smothered in fresh lemon curd, may the presence of Jehovah Shalom, God our Peace, permeate the very atmosphere of your home. May He begin from within you spilling Himself out of your heart into whatever place you are. Even if you don't make the bread or lemon curd, may He still fill wherever you are with Himself, for wherever the Spirit of the Lord is we can find rest.

May a Sabbath of resting in Him be yours,
Abundantly Blessed

The Bible is Encouraging

The following words were especially encouraging to me this morning. Perhaps they will be for you as well. God's Word is alive and active. May the power of The Word wash over you, strengthen, soothe, and fill you with an increased knowledge of Who He is as you read them.

"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6

Zerubbabel was responsible for rebuilding the temple without trusting in man for resources. As I read this earlier I was struck with the similarity between Zerubbabel's situation and mine as a mother. I am responsible for building foundations of Truth in the temples of God a.k.a. my children. Just as Zerubbabel relied on God for the resources needed so too I can rely on Him for what is needed in building in the lives of my family.

"If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey." Numbers 14:8

The Lord will bring and give. Not me. Not my knowledge. Not my strength. The Lord will do what needs to be done. A timely reminder on this Monday morning.

"For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them." Psalm 44:3

Another reminder that it is not me. It is God. He will not only save but He will keep.

"We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith's perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was filled with the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 The Passion Translation

He endured for me. The ultimate love story I never tire of hearing. Nothing wrong with Hallmark love stories on TV, but those stories can't hold a candle to truth. There never has been and never will be a greater, more romantic lover than God. For love He gave.

"I pray with great faith for you, because I'm fully convinced that the One who began this glorious expression of grace in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you through your union with him and will complete it at the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!" Philippians 1:6 The Passion Translation

God won't leave me. He won't quit. He will finish what He has begun in me. Hallelujah! I will be completed in Him! And did you see? Did you see that not only will He faithfully continue the process of maturing me, but that the maturing process is referred to as a "glorious expression of grace"? Becoming mature is not only intended to be a process, that process is an expression of grace. I don't have some weird defect nor am I lacking something necessary because it is taking time for me to mature. Maturing in Christ is meant to be a process rather than a one time event. And that phrase, an "expression of grace"... Doesn't that phrase bathe your mind in beauty?

As you travel through the day, may these words of truth from Truth cause you to be infused with the strength of the Lord throughout your entire being.

From one expression of grace to another,
Abundantly Blessed