Intentions

This little fella had some big ol’ intentions.

He spotted the largest of all the containers in the play area and worked hard to pick it up.  With his high hopes, he tilted, poured and emptied the entire contents onto the middle of the floor.  It took him no time to size up the heap before he swiped, scrambled, and spread the pieces outside of his reach.   Before you can say Duplex Legos he lost heart.

Someone who does not understand the concept of time and feeling it insurmountable when asked to pick them up says, “No, I’m going to let it stay there 45 minutes.”

Someone who does understand the concept of time knew he had no intention of ever doing so.

This little side-stepper had put me off before with a discarded mess. One Thursday he wanted me to wait until “Monsday.”

Are you familiar with this little toddler timetable?

I know it well.

I too have all these well-meaning intentions collected.  I let them get all piled up in a heap. I allow apprehension to set in and change my mind.  Then before you can say hopes and aspirations,  I’ve lost heart.

Feelings of inadequacies can make the toddler timetable feel very comfortable.

Begin.  Hesitate.  Wait.  Doubt.  Quit.  Repeat.

We’re not alone here.  One of God’s main men Moses began in a similar fashion.  Except he never quit.

Moses didn’t think he was adequate. He even had a past history that could prove this true.  And yet, he never quit.  Moses was about to embark on the biggest assignment of his life.  There was a wilderness to navigate and a mountain to climb.  And yet, he never quit.  He was many years in as a leader to 12 grumbling, complaining and criticizing tribes of people.  God used him until the age of 120.  He just never quit.

The Lord said, “Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or not hear, see or not see?  Is it not I, the Lord…You’ll be able to tell wonderful stories to your grandchildren about the marvelous things I am doing.”

Let’s take heart, little fella.  He does this in spite of our weaknesses not the absence of them.

There are marvelous things He is doing.

Let’s not quit.

Exodus 4:11, 10:2

Snowstorm

I got the snow I wanted!

I’m all good now, weather forecasters.

It just takes more than say the average 1 or 2 inches to do the trick.  And can I just say freezing everything in its place for a number of days afterwards is always a winter gift.  I know positive positions on precipitation of the frozen kind don’t win many popularity votes. I’m related to one of those.  She’ll tell you that winter dills her pickle.

But, snowstorm predictions come so few and far between. Who doesn’t need to be frozen in place for a solid rest?

“God sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.  Then at His command, it all melts.  He sends His winds, and the ice thaws. ”

So, it’s going to melt. He’ll command it.

We’ll all be thawed out before you know it.  Real soon I’m going to be troubled by the heat and humidity.

I imagine God is familiar with His cranky crew and fair-weather friends.

But, hey!

Choose winter art on your television screen.  Swing curtains open.  Heat beverage.  Don comfortable thermals. Cuddle under fleece blanket. Place Bible in lap.  Rest.

(Wait for mocking memes from daughters with toddlers.)

Laugh.

What better way to enjoy a snow day!

“For all who enter into God’s rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world.”

Psalm 147:16

Hebrews 4:9-11

Commitments

Commitments

It’s that time, isn’t it?

A new year.  A fresh start.  A bright beginning.

It’s just a good time to put my hopes up high and start what has yet to be accomplished.

Read the Bible in a year.

I’ve pieced and parceled my way through the Bible long enough in no particular order.  I am going to try and read it chronologically from beginning to end instead of the order it’s arranged.  I am interested how Job will be historically introduced from that order.  I am curious how the Psalms will be weaved in.  I love how some books will be shuffled in and out like a deck of cards in sequence of dates and times.

So, I’m making a plan.

But, I have some bases to cover.

I have a community group for accountability.  I have a plan that guides the process using my hardbound Bible as my preferred choice of reading, but there is also an online option available that is audible when necessary.  I have chosen a translation that limits complicated obstacles. I’m also following along with a guide and commentary called Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble.

You know, my 7-year-old granddaughter in her enthusiasm with a personal accomplishment said recently with glee, “I tried and my try worked.”

So with anticipated glee, I’m making a commitment to try.

If you want to follow online, try with the Holy Bible app and see if your try works.

If you want a hardcopy, try a personal Bible and see if your try works.

If you want support, try a community group and see if your try works.

If you want to start, try Genesis 1:1 and see if your try works.

Start with me.

“In the beginning.”

Pears

Tell me about an ongoing battle you have with a critter that’s trying to outwit you.

We have a pear tree outside our back door. It’s a tree that has really become the bane of my existence.

In the summer, this pear tree drops no less than 100 plus pears on peak days.  I know this because my grandkids won’t pick them up for a penny each, but they will for an M&M.  So, they count.

Apparently, these critical critters don’t care much for the pears themselves, but the seed inside is another matter.  So, they chomp and chew spitting all pear refuse outside our back door.  Spitting all refuse on our walkways.  Spitting all refuse on the lengths of our wooden fence.  Spitting all refuse over grasstop. You get the picture.

Here’s a lesson in pears, or maybe it’s a lesson in squirrels, I don’t know.  But, pears don’t just attract squirrels.  They attract flies.  They attract bees.  They attract ants to name a few.  Oh, and birds.  They attract birds who want the flies, the ants, and the bees. There’s a real fruit feast outside our back door.

And, don’t think for a second that whatever is outside, doesn’t want to come inside that back door.

So, whatever pears the grandkids don’t pick up, I get out my power blower and try to blast them away from the house or whomp them from here to there with the water hose until squirrels come back to do it another day.

Which means, everyday.

Well, there was one particular profuse pear day, where I had to take a deep breath and the heaviest of sigh when I thought this crazy varmint must have had enough of me disposing of his territorial pears.  A windowsill on the opposite side of the house was now lined with them. I mean, on my windowsill!

Imma Gonna……..

My husband plays with me that I’ve taken something too far and laughs at the degree of cleverness I’m attributing to a tree-dwelling rodent.

But, evidence is on the windowsill.

Everything in him was trying to hold back as long as he could while finding entertainment in a ridiculous rant I was having in believing something to be true.

With his guilty conscience he said, “It’s me. I placed those pears on the windowsill.”

Pause for my heavier and exasperated sigh at mockery.

Keep pausing.

You want to know how the good Lord diverted my attention that day?

“God’s people can produce fruit that survives even death.”

Produce what, I think?

“Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Faithfulness. Self-Control.”

Self - what?

I pause.

Well, to this species that tries to outwit me when I take things too far.

God is your Savior!

Galatians 5:22-23