A Few Thoughts on "Snow"

For the most part, our little corner of the world has not had a really hard winter this year. It seemed like it really didn't turn too cold until recently ... we had some snow last week but it was about a couple of inches.  But because the temps were only in the teens & 20s, the snow stuck around a while. 

And now ... as I write this short post ... we are expected to get 2 to 4 inches of this white stuff.  I will say that I particularly can leave the snow.  

When I was younger, I enjoyed the snow much more.  Growing up with all my cousins around me & my aunts & uncles ... we all had such a fun time sledding off my parents' hillside.  We had some great times in the snow.  

One of my most favorite memories of snow was when our daughter was four years old.  She and her Daddy were creative and just couldn't make an "ordinary snowman" ...

... this was their "snow-cat" endeavor!

You know, snow actually does fascinate me in some ways ...

it's beautiful ... it's majestic ... it's pure ...

and every flake is unique ... 

never are two snowflakes alike ... 

anywhere in God's creation.  

That in and of itself just completely blows my mind.

And something else ...

we are just like snowflakes --- 

we are unique ... 

God did not make anyone else to be us ... 

in all of His creation there is 

only one you

and one me

Snow-angel Lucy at 5 months old

God is truly awesome

God's Creative Gift Packaging

{{Preface ... the core thought of this post is beyond the first section regarding this book. The book is just the "packaging" for my main thought.  So, if you read any further, thanks for sticking to it through this introduction.}}

Several years ago my friend gave me the Hallmark published book  

Creative and Thoughtful GIFT GIVING ... Easy ideas for making gifts special.   

I've always enjoyed looking through it and getting ideas on the "packaging" side of gift-giving.

You can ask any person in my household "who" packages gifts nice and fancy -- 

and hands down ... my husband is the winner!  He is very meticulous on wrapping -- corners have to be razor sharp perfect... just the precise amount of clear tape... paper has to be cut in a straight line (or at least closer than my sometimes ripped/torn zig-zags)... 

absolutely no under-side piece of paper to be seen... quite obnoxiously OCD!!!  

Even Lucy can tell the difference of which grandparent wraps her gifts.  I always tease him or give him a hard time about his preciseness of gift wrapping & his time doing it -- 

whereas my motto is "hurry up and get it done!"

So, this book was THE perfect gift for my friend to give to me. The ladies who compiled this book 

(Leah Ingram, Aimee Herring and Lauren Hunter) give ideas on gift-packaging of several themes ranging from holidays ... to moving ... to retirement ... to baby showers ...

to how to wrap boxes (my hubby could skip this part -- 

he has this down to a science) ...

but I may need some extra practice

and even how to wrap obscure-shaped boxes 

(yet another section for hubby to skip) ... 

 but I will just pass that one to him to wrap

And now my little jokes aside because here is where my 

thought process really begins ---

Not all gifts are given in "perfect" packaging (such as in a box).  There have been times in my life where God has given me a gift that wasn't squarely packaged or wrapped to precision.  Yet, those have been some of the most beneficial gifts to me.  

Now, I'm not talking about gifts such as eternal life through His Son Jesus ... 

or the gift of marrying the guy of my dreams ... 

or the gift of my daughter and now grandchildren.

All of these gifts are the core of who I am (and probably you too), but there's a bit more.

I'm talking more of the gift of His provisions.  Sometimes I think we as mere humans have a tendency to "overlook the obvious" when we receive a gift of God's provision.  Such gifts may come in the form of a simple phone call or message from a friend who 

(for "some" reason) just knows you are in need of a little encouragement ... 

or maybe a meal delivered to your house when you least expect it but need it most ... 

or even just a smile or a simple "hello" from someone along your daily path.  

God always knows what we need and when we need it most.

Sometimes, though, I believe His provisions can be overlooked.  And actually to the point that we miss out completely on more blessings that He wants to abundantly give us.  There are times that I believe we struggle for so long over things that when God provides the means for us to grow and benefit ... 

we completely miss it. 

Maybe we're looking for a certain packaging and presentation ...

maybe we're looking for a definitive answer and resolution ...

  maybe we're looking for instructions and process ...

And if it's not wrapped up in what we deem as "appropriate" we brush it off and basically tell God

"Thanks for this, but I'm still waiting on the packaging, the presentation, the answer, the resolution, the instructions with step-by-step clarity.  So, send it to me with my specifications, then I'll know it's from You."

And it's at this point that

we.  completely.  miss.  it.

I'm not saying that those may not be important and needed.  But I'm saying that sometimes we let our

own expectations dictate how we believe God needs to bless us and provide for us.  And it's those preconceived notions  

LIMITS that we ourselves place on God that (I believe) 

keep us from benefiting from His bountiful gifts.

There have been times in the past that I have completely missed God's blessings in my life.  I've looked for certain things that I deemed as necessary along with my ideal presentations.

And I totally missed what God had for me.

I don't want to be my own hindrance anymore ... 

I want to search the things that come my way and find His provisions & blessings.  They may not be wrapped up in the packaging that I expect ... but I certainly would rather be the benefactor than my own hindrance.

In Philippians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul writes

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (v19)

Notice that Paul does not say that our provisions will come neatly packaged, wrapped to perfection with step-by-step instructions on how we are to use them.  Sometimes we need to acknowledge that His ways are not our ways 

(and His means are not our means ... His packaging is not our packaging).

  

Dear Lord,   Thank You for Your provisions and blessings in my life.  Sometimes I may overlook them because of my own preconceived notions, but help me to set them aside and just see how You have blessed me.  Sometimes I may need to look a little more creatively in how You have packaged certain provisions for me.  And Lord, I will need Your help to do this.  There are areas where I know I have given You my parameters on how to bless me.  But right now, I lay those requirements away.  I want to see through Your eyes and Your creative packaging.  Thank You for always loving me and always providing for me.

In Jesus name I pray this ... Amen.

Looking Forward with Thankfulness

Five days in to the new year ... and I have already been reflecting as well as looking forward.  So far in 2014, I have yet to make it to the gym or even workout at home.   But my goals for this year go beyond a resolution to get healthier & lose weight.  My goals are more internal than external.  
This year of 2014 is a big year for all of us ... we all are moving forward.  So, what better way to begin the new year and each new day than looking inward at my heart attitude?

I haven't normally had a life verse that I cling to during the year, but this year is different.  
And so here is my verse ...

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, 

therewith to be content.  Philippians 4:11 KJV

This is my verse for the upcoming year ... 

it doesn't matter how much I have or what I have.

I'm content because

Jesus is simply enough.

I'm so very thankful that I don't have to write with flowery words ...

I don't have to be someone that I'm not ...

I don't have to be a Bible scholar ...

Jesus loves me.

Like I said, this is a big year in our household -- 

the 30-50-K:

Dan & I will celebrate our 30th anniversary

I will celebrate my 50th birthday

Lucy will begin Kindergarten

The older I get, the more I realize that it's the everyday that matters most. 

Nothing elaborate, nothing fancy, nothing earth-shattering.

It's the little things in my everyday that makes me thankful --

the little giggles and kisses I get from my grandbabies ...

Tag's "I yuuuv youuuuu, Nanny" ...

Lucy's "you're the best, Nanny" ...

It's the way my husband takes time in the mornings to have breakfast with me ...

the way he has the grandbabies balanced at the kitchen counter trying to eat his dinner ...

the way he says "I love you, Sweetheart" at the end of every day ...

It's the little things in everyday life that matters most ...

 and these little things become the monumental cornerstones in life.

So, with the new year here upon us and just a few days into the freshness of new beginnings ...

I'm already clinging to my verse.  Knowing with open eyes that there will be challenges and trials and hardships to endure ...

but His mercies are new every morning.

And I can do all things that make up my goals' list through Him because He is my strength in the midst of my weaknesses.
I will press onward to meet my external goals but only as my internal goals reflect His greatness and His glory.

Perfect life?

absolutely not ...

Perfect me?

not by a long shot ...

Perfect Savior?

ahhhhhhhh, YES!!!!!!!

Now, without a doubt, I know that I will backslide and not everyday will I cling to this verse.  I know that I will cling to my own flesh and my own wants of my own way.  But His ways are not my ways, and He will give me His peace that will pass my feeble understanding of certain situations that will come my way. 

But, as long as I awake every morning, I will have a brand new day to start again.

And thank God, He will accept me just as I am.

I do look forward to realizing my goals for this year and will endeavor each day to become more like Christ who lives in me.

2014 is the year of our 30-50-K ...

and I thank God He already awaits each new day for me.