Jer 29:11

For I know (to perceive, acknowledge, to perceive)

the plans (to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count)

I have for you, declares the Lord, יהוה Yĕhovah

plans to prosper ( completeness, soundness, welfare, peace)

you and not to harm (friend of king)

you, plans to give(to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend)

you hope( hope, expectation)

and a future(after part, end).

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Lord, what are your plans?

The Lord declares, "For I know the plans I have for you."

Isaiah 55:8"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

Psalm 92:5 How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!

"Plans to prosper you and not harm you"

Psalm 121:7The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;

Isaiah 32:17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

"Plans to give you hope and a future."

Psalm 62:5Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Sometimes it's hard to understand why something is happening. May this bring comfort to you as it did me.

References: biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org and picture from: wikipedia

Glenn made it home from his trip on Thursday - thanks for your prayers! I asked if I could share some of his pictures from his trip. Here are a few that capture God's magnificence.

Earth Day Recycling

Tomorrow is earth day, I came across some interesting facts in the Argus Leader on Sunday.
"How long it takes items to decompose in a landfill:
3-4 weeks - Fruit peels
1 month - Paper bag
2 months - Cardboard
1 year - Wool sock
50 years - Tinned steel can
200-500 years - Aluminum cans (But if recycled, it can be reused within six weeks.)
550 years- Disposable diapers
20-1,000 years - Plastic bags
1 million years - Plastic jugs
1-2 million years - Glass
1+ million years - Styrofoam"
I was shocked by the time it took for plastic jugs, and diapers. I recycle but I don't consider myself a person that is extreme "green." I'm not sure how they figure the numbers on plastic jugs and Styrofoam because they haven't been around for a million years, I would suppose they take the rate of decomposition and figure from there. I guess it was a wake up call for me. I will recycle what I can and be an advocate for recycling.
I think that God would want us to recycle. Just look at His practices. He does it all the time. He takes the rank, stinkin', used-up, garbage of our lives and makes them new! Then we where a "sign" that says, "Made from recycled materials" so that we can tell the world! Thank you, God, for being Green and not leaving me in the landfill!

Parenting alone?

My husband, Glenn, left this morning for a trip. He is going on an adventure of riding through the Grand Canyon on dirt bikes. I am very excited for him, it will be a once in a lifetime event! But I don't particularly care when he is gone, I am not cut out to be a single mom. Glenn keeps me calm. When I get all worked up, he brings me back to earth. When my strength is zapped, he gives me relief. We always make it when he is gone, but I wonder how many times I will screw up?

God and I had a talk this morning about this. I asked Him to be my Rock when I'm not strong. I asked Him to bring calmness to my soul. So instead of the anxiety that was bubbling up, I have peace. I know that God can help me through anything. I am assured of that. God is my strength! This has really made me realize, this is not a two-some raising two sons - it's a three-some! God loves my boys more than I even do. God can do immeasurably more than I ask or even imagine. I guess I always knew this but...I am learnin'.

picture: http://pdphoto.org/PictureDetail.php?pg=7952

Skunk

We had some excitement in the neighborhood last night. We were just sitting down for supper, Glenn was still at a meeting, and the phone rang. It was our neighbor, she was wondering if we were watching the skunk crossing the middle of the cul de sac. The skunk was right by the fire hydrant, sniffing the ground. It was a rather cute and fluffy creature meandering all over. I was always told that a skunk was rabid if it was out during daylight. With neither husband home, I suggested we call the police, we are in city limits. A friend of mine is an officer, I would call him at

home and get the phone number for the officer on duty.
I was able to get the phone number and with luck, my friend was on duty. The skunk was on the move, walking around another neighbor's house, under his deck, around a tree. Mitch came driving up in his police car. Got his gun out and told the kids to get in the house as they didn't need to be around to see this. He followed at a safe distance and then shot the skunk. The kids raced down to see it, and luckily it didn't smell too bad (we were upwind from it). Then word spread and all the neighborhood kids raced to see it. After my husband came home, he buried it.
But that old skunk got me thinking about sin. Sometimes sin is wrapped up in a cute, fluffy package, it is intriguing to us, but it is rabid in the "Sonlight". Sometimes we need to call someone to help us get away from it, but even when it's dead, it still temps us to look at it. Sometimes to get away from the temptation, the sin needs to be buried.
I know what is tripping me up. At first it didn't seem so bad, but it is rabid. I humbly turn to my Savior and ask Him to kill it, bury it.
Lord, it's me. I confess my pride.
I ask that you purge it from me.
Bury it.
Fill me with thoughts only of you.
Help me to trust in the LORD with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding;
in all ways acknowledging You and You will make my paths straight. (Prov 3:5-6).

Thanks God, you're a life saver!

(skunk photo - openphoto.net)

Saturday

It's Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Can you imagine? What were the followers of Christ doing? They were certainly struck with grief. Was it crippling? Could they function in it? Were they planning? Did they plan how they were going to get past the guards to put spices on his body? Were they paralyzed with fear? Wondering if they would be next? Was all hope lost? Did they blame each other? The news probably circulated that Judas was dead, too. Were they angry? Or were they feeling smug, because they had gotten rid of the trouble maker, the One that made them uncomfortable? No one knew, or remembered that their Lord was going to be raised from the dead in a few hours. We do.
We know that Jesus is coming. What are we doing? How are we preparing? We know that He is coming. We are told that repeatedly in Scriptures. Are we making the most of our Saturdays?
Or...
Are we paralyzed with fear?
Are we planing?
Are we crippled?
Are we blaming each other?
Are we angry?
Are we smug?
Are we so busy "doing" for the Lord rather than joining where He is at?
I am guilty. I think that there are times in my life where I am each of these. I am a planner by nature, always thinking ahead and how I am going to get past obstacle after obstacle. My Jesus is coming and I am acting like one of his followers on that Saturday. I need to be like one of his followers on Monday! Matthew 28:19 (The Message)
18-20Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
I have a promise that He will be with me. I just need to join Him. Let Him take the lead. I don't have to be paralyzed, crippled, blaming, planing, angry or smug. I just need Him! Praise God! Again and Again! Happy Easter! Sunday is coming, but what are you going to do on Monday?

family fun

Opening Day!

The field was ready - the living room

The bases in place - 2 chairs and a sofa

The players are on deck - Grant and Cole

The bats working - their arms

The balls flying - paper crumpled up into balls
The pitcher poised - the Dad

The game was on - Paper Baseball!

Opening Day of baseball for the Twins!

Posters were made by the boys and we had brats on the grill! Glenn grilled in the garage because there is still snow outside. We sat down as a family to eat and anticipated the coming season for the Twins.

We gorged on root beer floats in the third inning (because the boys had school the next day)! We celebrated the game although the Twins ended up losing. There was a rousing game of paper baseball. Paper baseball can be played in the house as it only has wadded up paper for balls. There are many "balls" as one of the rules is the pitcher can throw the ball at you to get you out! There are home runs when the ball flies into the kitchen but it's a game of fun for boys of all ages!

This is one way that we like to spend quality time as a family: Celebrating the simple and being together.

This post is inspired by the writing project by Laity Lodge Family Camp in the Texas Hill Country. The lodge is sponsoring a Family Fun Time Giveaway at their lodge. Bloggers are encouraged to write a short essay with Family Fun Time tips, and then link to this page: http://llfamilycamp.org/family-fun-time-giveaway.

Morning

The dark bank of clouds was moving steadily across the horizon. Moving at a swift pace, they ranged from wisps to heavy masses of dark. Every once in a while you could see a glimpse of pink. A jet trail behind the clouds tried to give color to the morning but the dark tried to cover it up. Then the sky started to lighten. I knew that the sun would make it's appearance but the dark clouds seemed to get taller in the sky, as if to fight off the inevitable. The dark wasn't organized enough to keep together and bright light started to shine though. Then all at once the sun broke through and a warm glow bathed the trees, grass and birds.
This was this morning. But the Son is coming back and the darkness will not be able to hold together! Praise God! Darkness tries to organize and is in full frontal attack because it knows the end. But the Light will bathe us and envelop us in Love. Praise God!
It's Good Friday next week. The clouds hold no victory. Because Sunday is coming!