Missing the Point

Have you ever wondered how all the different denominations of faith ever came about?  How or even why did people ever split into little 'mini' churches at one time?? I haven't taken the time to 'research' the thought (and probably won't) but, sometimes I catch myself thinking why do we have all the different denominations when we all worship the same thing, JESUS?! Why all the 'small' differences?? Why can't we all come together as 'one' and worship our Lord Jesus Christ? When I really think about it, it just seems goofy. It must of been at one time (remember I really don't know) that there were people that argued about the 'small' stuff so they branched off and started a new kind of church. Maybe it would be interesting to research the matter, but I really would rather focus on researching the Bible. I have enough trouble doing that!! :o) Have you ever thought that maybe, we are missing the point?? We don't belong to that group of believers for we don't like the way they worship.  Or we don't like the old fashion hymns that this church uses. Or how about that new contemporary music that that church calls worship music. Or even the fact of how this church might baptize, do we dunk or sprinkle??

                                                                     Does it really matter??

Jesus just wants our hearts and a daily relationship with Him. He wants us to know Him like he already knows us. All this other stuff is just stuff (I'm definitely not saying 'stuff' is not important). It boils down to where our focus is.  The problem is if we focus on the differences more than we focus on Christ.  If we're growing in our faith and daily relationship with Our God and Savior and the focus is on Him, then it doesn't matter where you go to church.  Religion is not a routine or even a decision of 'yes, I do believe'.  It's all about what you do with it.  Making it a daily habit of getting to know the Creator of ALL things in a more intimate way. Acknowleding that the world doesn't revolve around yourself and submitting yourself to His will daily.  That is so much easier to type than it is to live it out.  And believe it or not, Christians still make mistakes.  I used to have a hard time when a so called 'Christian' acted in a certain way.  It took awhile for God to show me that it was between Him and that person and I was not to judge them.  It was my job to love them instead.  And you know what, it's made my relationship with Him grow deeper not having to worry about what others were doing wrong and it looking bad towards 'Christians'.  God is bigger than that and can handle people being naughty.  He has a way of making ALL things work for the good of those who love Him. (Rom 8:28 NIV)  Just dig a little deeper and find out for yourself!  It just takes effort, motivation and selflessness.  Which by the way do not just come to you.....I learned that the hard way too.  It's a choice everyday that you make when you get up on how you're going to live that day.   Are you going to live for Him today or yourself?

The Mess part III

Today was a very progressive day in terms of bathroom/laundry room.  I wonder if God ever thinks the same way about us?  Anyway, I'm having a hard time deciphering weekdays from weekends since the boys are not in school anymore.  Today totally felt like a weekend especially since Cowboy was home working on this never ending project.  It was such a fun day.  The boys hardly fought which is rare and I know they're sleeping well tonight.  Everyone was part of a different project.  Here are a few pics to highlight the day: 

Beamer Bob got the job of redoing the mailbox. 

He worked for quite awhile sanding away the old paint.  What was left of it I should say.

Here it is almost done.  He had fun doing this too.  Maybe he'll be a carpenter?  I have him pegged as a computer person.  Like on the Geek Squad!

These three hoodlums got to paint the fence.  They were excited until they remembered......

how long the fence really is.  This is the project that Cowboy worked on at the beginning of the year.  He welded alot of metal this spring.  This is one that took the place of the bathroom project.......

Can you see them?   They did pretty good!! Three cans of paint later.

They wanted me to get a pic of their hands......looks like they missed a few spots too.

And I wanted to get a pic of their faces....and jeans.  They must of forgot what they were painting a time or two.

Bossy Bob painted his hands and then thought it'd be funny to paint his fingernails black.

This was Bugger Bob's project after we paused for a station identification and ate lunch. 

Here is Cowboy cutting lots and lots and lots of trim.  It looks like he's going to cut his fingers off.

It's coming together!!  Working on the trim.

Got the baseboards in and need to get the window yet.

This was my job and I think I might be staining in my sleep tonight.  I can't imagine building a house and having even MORE trim to stain and poly.  My new nickname I think is Polly.

This will probably be the last to get done.  I got it painted but we're so focused on getting that shower done before harvest. 

I will be having another cleaning party soon.  No one showed up for the last one.  So I thought I'd try again! lol   Maybe I'll have a family gathering and surprise everyone by making them clean before they get to eat!  lol

The Beauty of Creation

I just love sunsets or sunrises.  The beauty of them just makes me so peaceful and in awe of God.  After all He created the earth for us so it's up to us to slow down long enough to 'see' it.  Isn't life about what you see and how you perceive it?  Why I keep myself so busy I have yet to figure out.  I'm the one missing out when I am so caught up in 'me'.  Last month I ran outside with one of my offspring and caught a few pics after looking out the window at the radiant colors that I saw out of the corner of my eye.  They're not all that great but I hope you enjoy them.  I also added a few from the other night when we had an 'electrical' storm right above our house.  The night the wind blew sooo hard that the soccer ball that had been stuck in the tree for over a year fell out!! 

The Big Brothers

Today Mr. G hit a milestone in life.  He learned finally how to ride a bike!!!  You can see the excitement in his eyes.  Cowboy has tried for a long time to teach him how like he did the other boys.  But, Mr. G just didn't quite get it.  Given his personality, I think he was just scared to crash.  (kind of like his mother possibly).  Here are few pics to highlight the wonderful moment of his 5.5 yrs in life!  :)  Big brothers are sure good to have (of the time anyway!)   ;)



LOOK MOM, I CAN RIDE!!



HEHE, WATCH THIS........

TOTAL CONCENTRATION!!

OOPS.....SMALL LITTLE CRASH

UGH....I CAN"T GET THIS PEDAL THE RIGHT WAY

I THEN NOTICED THESE BEHIND MR. G.  DO YOU THINK THEY FEEL LEFT OUT?

The Progress

Well the bathroom project is on the down hill slide!  Yay!  Amen!!  Here are a few pics of the two rooms after painting the walls and ceiling.  The floor might go in soon and then we can set the toilet and place the vanity/sink into place and wa`la!  A finished bathroom!!  This project has made me thankful of regular ole' dust.  I can not stand that white dust from mudding and sanding sheetrock.  It is everywhere and then some.  If any of you are looking for something to do........I'm still painting this entry way and then DUSTING.  Any takers?  :) 



This is the wall that we added.  The other side is the laundry room.




My tiny bathroom!!  I've been teasing Cowboy that I get the first shower!  He begs to differ!




The toilet hole.  And a...get this....laundry shoot door that my kids can play restaurant with.  ;)




The other side of the 'restaurant'.  Hope to get some shelves in the corner.




And the clothes are already piling up.  I had to cover them so the ceiling paint wouldn't make poka-dots on them.



The Springing of our Hearts

Technically it is still Spring, even though it's June!!  The evidence is all around us that Spring is still here!!  Green grass, leaves on trees and full bloom flowers.  Daffodils, tulips and many more.  It is a promise from our heavenly Father of renewing growth.  But with any season,

It is all about how we see.

What do you see in your heart?  What is springing up in it?  Joyfulness? Forgiveness?  Thankfulness?  Or how about the not so good stuff of bitterness, selfishness or unforgiveness?  How is the 'dirt' in your heart?  Are these things able to spring up through the crusty dry earth?  Or is your dirt now soil and softened so things can grow easily and abuntantly?  Dirt is made into soil by tears of joy or even sorrow.  Soil isn't usually crusty and dry after it gets wet.  Soil is always soft and tender like even though it might become dry.    Make soil by cultivating with God's word and watering it.


So if your busy making soil....at the same time it is also a time for cleaning!  We love to clean out things that have taken over our houses during the winter months.  It's a good time to clean out our hearts of things that we don't need any more.  Like that bitterness towards that someone who really hurt you.   Or that anger over that something that wasn't really something at all.  Or how about disbelief.  Not believing that God CAN take care of that problem that has been around for too long to remember.  Spring is a time to shine things up.  Wash those windows of your heart.  Or even open a window to your heart so you can feel the breeze of the grace and smell the rain of forgiveness that's lavished upon you.

Here are my pics (that I took with different settings??)  that I couldn't get loaded from my wilted flower vs watered flower.  It's amazing the difference isn't it?  Yet that is how we all wake up every morning.  In need of Spiritual water for THAT day.  Why do we insist on going through our day wilted and nothing to give, when we could water our hearts spiritually and be abundant.  What are you watering yourself with?

 

The Rain

Here are some photos of the mud and water that are lingering around our house this morning after a night full of a few rain drops!  We only had 3.5 inches last night but yesterday afternoon we had 2.4 inches.  I know my sister had more than that and MANY others!!

My tomato plant doesn't look good.

That water doesn't belong there!



Or this water.



Well, this used to be a crossing. 

But now it's a little river.

Or just a big gap now that will take a days work to fix.

What is it about boys and mud.  He just had to try to walk in it.

The creek right beside our house.  Sure hate to get too close and fall in.

The white caps are the fence posts under water.

My mailbox that needs .....well....soemthing.

Our pad. :)