TOO PRETTY TO CUT

My hubby loves rhubarb pie so I was the every loving wife and made him one. I cut the rhubarb. I cleaned it. I chopped it. I added the ingredients. I put it into the crust. Okay. It was a Pillsbury crust. I put the pie in the oven. I waited. I took the pie out.

THE PIE WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!

The edges were a golden brown and just enough juice had seeped out to make it shine. The top crust was perfect. And the smell!! The whole house had a sweet aroma with just a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.

The pie was way too beautiful to cut! But I had made the pie to eat. What to do?

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There was a Samaritan woman at the well when Jesus came by and he said to her, "Will you give me a drink?"

The woman was more than a bit shocked. Why did this man even speak to her? Samaritans and Jews did not work and play well together.

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that ask you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

Wow. Living water just for the asking!!

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There that pie sat. All I had to do was cut it and we would be rewarded.

Yes, we cut the pie and it was as delicious as it looked.

There is only one piece left. Should I allow Bill to have the last piece?

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The Samaritan woman made a comment and Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Living water just for the asking!! Eternal life!!!

Scriptures from various verses in John 4:4-14

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If we had only looked at the pie, we would have missed out.

If we do not ask for the living water, we will miss out.

Do you want to look at what Jesus has to offer or do you want to receive what Jesus has to offer?

VACATION TIME

Our daughter, two (maybe three) grandsons and I are headed to Missouri in July. I am so excited because we are going to visit a fantastic friend and her family.

I had the best time this morning. Noah and Timmy and I planned the trip. We looked at the atlas and Timmy found the states we would be going through. We answered questions: Do you want to go on interstates or back roads? When will we eat lunch? (Well, they are growing boys.) Of course, that question was followed with, what snacks can we take? Which was followed with, what about supper? Grandma, you know we like to take a blanket and pillow don't you? Where are we staying? (We looked it up and they gave it their stamp of approval.)

We also set some rules: Since we have established a time frame and where we will lunch, you will not keep saying you are hungry or ask when we will stop. Trash will be put in the trash sack. If you feel sick, grab the throw-up bowl. (Hey, this is not my first trip with kids.) No game boys/video games/iPads used when we are not on interstates. (They admitted when they are playing games they forget to check out the countryside.)

Timmy and Noah are very excited. Part of that comes from helping make decisions. Part comes from knowing exactly where we are going and what to expect.

Vacations are fun and, although sometimes getting in the car and just heading out is okay, planning is a major part of the vacation. Planning is: Checking to see which road is the best to take where. Using your imagination to picture what you might see. Looking forward to the challenge of finding that out of the way place from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Knowing your room is waiting.

Noah, Timmy and I spent time this morning making plans. I spent time this afternoon organizing those plans. We will pack. We will prepare. This got me to thinking.

Do I spend this much time preparing for the most important journey of my life?  Do I know where I am going and what to expect?

WHICH ROAD SHOULD I TAKE? I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8

WHAT MIGHT I SEE? He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. Psalm 23: part of verse 2

WHAT SHALL I EAT? On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. Revelation 22:2

WILL MY ROOM BE READY? In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

Do I spend this much time preparing for my journey with God?

Do you?

HELLO MY NAME IS

Don't ya hate it when a song gets in your brain and takes up residence? It just repeats and repeats. Around and around. You hear it when you wake up in the middle of the night. You hear it when the room gets quiet.

You even hear it when the radio is playing another song. Don't ya hate it when a song gets in your brain and takes up residence?

I have one stuck in there and it can just stay because that song has caused me to add something to my bucket list. I want to go see Matthew West!

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!

1 John 3:1

When I first heard the song, Hello My Name Is, I stopped in my tracks.

Hello, my name is regret -- Oh, how that fits my life. It fits all of our lives.

Hello, my name is defeat -- Yes, listened to that one too.

Voices, lies -- Why do I - we - listen to the voices of others and allow them to define us?  Why do I - we - listen to the lies?

I have believed them for the very last time -- Declaration of freedom!

No longer defined by all the wreckage behind -- Permission to let go!

Then my body stayed planted firmly on earth, but my Spirit soared. I am sure it circled the moon before it came back --

Hello, my name is child of the one true King! -- Yes! That is what I want to be called.

Saved! Changed! Free! -- Amen!

Oh, goodness! My fingers are having trouble staying on the keys. They want to get that CD, crank up the volume so I can sing along.

Hello, my name is child of the one true King

WANT TO JOIN ME?