Take a Breath

Tis the season for lots of lasts. The last soccer, or baseball game. The last day of school. There are field days to prepare for. End of school picnics. Preschool, Kindergarten, High School and college graduations. It's a busy time. Lately I've heard many a mom's heavy sigh as she is trying her best to get it all done, and do it in a memorable way. There need to be more hours in the day so we can properly wrap up this school year and prepare a fun filled, yet educational summer. It's so easy to get overwhelmed with it all and to forget to enjoy these fleeting moments. Take deep breath with me and lets pray.

Dear God,
Give me strength today to do all the fun end of school year activities with my children. May I have joy as I prepare for my day the night before, anticipating the fun, instead of anxiety about how it is all going to come together. Please help me to remember that my children will remember my enjoyment and love more than the look of the cupcakes or decorations. In Jesus Name Amen.

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. " (NIV)

Philippians 4:13 " I can do everything through him who gives me strength"(NIV)

Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it"

What Are You Wearing?

Yesterday after my youngest saw how fun dress up could be we had to put on "her finest" as soon as we got home! It was a fun afternoon of playing ballerina in the back yard! She does have two older brothers so it was not all frilly girly time!

It made me think about the things we wear and what I hope we are wearing no matter what clothes we happen to pick on any particular day. There is a parable in Matthew about a wedding feast. Those invited did not come, so the king sent out his servants to go out and find anyone they could find. They found people out on the streets both good and bad and soon the wedding hall was full. In those times, when you were invited to a wedding-special clothing was provided for you by the host. The king, while visiting with his guests saw some who did not have on their wedding clothes. He asks them how they got in without the clothes. They are speechless. They are thrown out. It seems rather harsh. Perhaps the king does not recognize them as his own because of what they are not wearing.

When God looks at me what does He see?

My hope is that He sees me covered with the robe of righteousness. Because of Jesus covering my life full of sin with His perfect life, God will recognize me as His own.
May we be covered in the robe of righteousness, "holy and without blemish."

Revisit this parable Matthew 22:1-14

Dear God,
When the time comes and we stand before You, may our faith in Jesus be so strong that all You see is Jesus covering us. Give me the words and wisdom to teach my children and others about Your abundance of love for us, in the gift of Your Son, that I may pass this faith on, so that they too will be covered. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Colossians 1:22-23 "But now he (God the father) has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, with our blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel." (NIV)

Ephesians 6:14 "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. "

Job 29:14 "I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban."

Butterflies

Yesterday my daughter and I did a butterfly craft. It was really easy; made with a coffee filter, painted clothes pin, pipe cleaner and googly eyes. He is missing two of his legs as she wanted to play with him before he was dry!

To Christians the butterflies life cycle can be symbolic of the three stages in the life cycle of Christ and the Christian.

The caterpillar's non stop eating reminds us of the normal earthly life of mankind where we are preoccupied with taking care of our physical needs. The chrysalis or cocoon resembles the tomb and the butterfly represents the resurrection into new and glorious life free of material concerns and restrictions. The butterfly can soar!

For the Christian the caterpillar can represent our life in sin, the cocoon time spent in contemplative study and searching for truth and the butterfly when we become born again in Christ. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!" I Corinthians 5:17. (NIV)

The butterfly can represent the victory of eternal life over death. I Corinthians 15:51-52 Paul writes, "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." (NIV)

The butterfly is a symbol of a change for the better.

Dear God,

I know I have fallen short on Your plans for my life. I have gone after my own selfish gains, grumbled and complained, forgetting all of the sacrifices You have made for me. My life is not my own, as You have paid for it in the life of Christ Jesus. Search my heart and if there is anything in word, thought or deed that is not in accordance with Your will reveal it to me so that I may confess and be rid of it. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for the life of Jesus that was given for me. May I daily be conformed and transformed to Your will for my life. In Jesus Name, Amen

2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (NIV)

Romans 12: 2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV)

Please pray for my neighbors husband- he had back surgery a month ago and is still in pain. He is concerned for his job. His wife, my friend covets your prayers for healing.