Happy Spring

Nothing is a better reflection of the fleeting nature of life, than a bouquet of beautiful flowers that are here one day and gone the next.
Note to self: The word of the Lord stands forever.

"Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." John 6:27

flower quickly fading

All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.
1 Peter 1:24-25

Pruning Time.

I bet it took a really long time to grow this tree. Even though it's not a giant redwood or an enormous evergreen- even a simple, thin tree like this one probably waited years to stand straight and spread out its branches. I really like trees, but this picture wasn't particularly aimed for the tree - it was for the sun quickly setting in the background. I was chasing daylight, hoping to capture the marvelous rays I saw and felt on my face; but it was too quick for me. Before I could snap a picture or enjoy it for any longer the sun, like sinking sand or water captured in your hands, snooped down low enough to hide its light.
So instead I have this tree, with a glimpse of the sun fading in the background. And Time came to mind. If there is one thing money can't buy, or the best hunters or agents can't keep hostage, it's Time. Sure you can manage it well, and that's what we're called to do with the Time we're given. However, whether we like it or not, it's slipping by before our eyes.
On another note, the tree. Today I was feeling not so joyous, and for some reason I became fond of this [failed] picture I took the day before. Maybe it's the bare branches or the thin structure or the overall randomness of this tree in my picture, but I think I can find some comfort and hope from it. How? Even the strangest of trees take Time and Pruning. I learned about Pruning, where you have to cut off branches while it's growing to make sure it's growing correctly. Of course for the tree, it will be PAINFUL. There will be days, tough days where you don't want to keep trudging along, where you feel like you can't go on, when you feel SAD. But realize, and find reassurance in the fact that this is all part of the process called Pruning. In the moment you suffer yes, but you will see the *GASP* "WOW!" finished product in the end.
So take heart, Sad People. You are being Pruned to become a better tree-person.

Take a Walk.

Since Benji came into my life, I developed a habit of walking him daily. Ideally twice a day, morning and night. It's great because we develop a relationship, and we both get great exercise. Together we explore different routes around the neighborhood and to the local park and back. No matter where we go, the point is, we go. By now it's expected and a routine, so he waits for me and jumps for joy when I pick up the leash.
Last month, I was away for almost a week on retreat. Now, I wasn't there to see how he reacted, but I can only imagine when I didn't come to take him on our daily walk. Not just one or two, but THREE whole days. He probably felt I abandoned him.. poor pooch. When I came back, he was delighted, but disheveled. He gave me a look that said: WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I'VE BEEN WAITING!!! I THOUGHT YOU LEFT ME!
It took a couple days and LOTS of love to restore and reassure him that I still loved him.
Recently, my friend went on a family trip for a weekend and asked me to stop by her home twice a day to feed and let out her dog to do her business in the backyard (it was an indoor dog). I guess they didn't tell him where they were going, because the first morning when I arrived at her house, her dog had this confused look on his face, kinda like: Do you know where my masters went? Do ya? It happened everytime I went back, but his stress grew progressively. By Friday night when I came to feed him, he looked at me with watery eyes and was wheezing, desperate: WHEN ARE THEY COMING BACK!? WHERE ARE THEY? etc. So I had to sit down, give him a reassuring pet, and say, Don't worry, they are coming back. They haven't left you. They're coming back. When my friend and her fam finally came home, she told me that as soon as the garage door opened they heard her dog screaming from inside the house ecstatically, hope restored, and reunited once again.
Originally, I wanted to write this post to encourage you to walk with the Lord daily. But it goes another way too. Jesus is coming back, he hasn't left us on our own forever. He is the master of the home, and has entrusted us to manage his property. Just because we don't see him Now doesn't mean he's not coming back soon. He Will return, and when he does, not only will it be wonderful, it will be terrifying, if we haven't lived worthy lives for Him. So let's live with the end in mind. I went to a funeral service today and the lady who passed had lived such a full life, loving the Lord and living for him. Her whole life was a testimony. How will we end? What will be said and recognized and remembered of us? Let's run this race, as if to receive a prize.

Be Still

Many people tell me I should really invest in a GPS or Navigation system in my car.
They're probably right. I hardly go anywhere without getting lost- literally!
But a strange serenity overcomes me whenever this happens.
I came to the realization that no matter how long it takes, or how lost I am, I'll always find a way in the end. Rather, God leads me home, safe and sound.
Although sometimes it's after incredible long journeys of scenic (and/or scary) detours, in the end, you will get home.
So 'be still' and enjoy the ride. :)

"Do not worry"

I just put these in the ground. My neighbor kindly gave me three bulbs of Lilies with the verse "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Matthew 6:25-34.

I also received a bag full of seed bulbs in the summer, and they've started to bloom as well. As I looked at them soaking up the sun, I suddenly realized...
God is reminding me not to worry!

Sure these times can be anything but peace and love and comfort, yet still.. amidst it all, do not worry. Trust.

Holiday cookies.

These days I've been having my fill of holiday cookies, some of which I [helped] bake. The swirly one in the picture above is a chocolate vanilla swirl sugar cookie with peppermint candy bits in the middle. This was super fun but HARD to make! One quote I retained from the lady who was directing us... "This is hard, you're being so exact"
"That's because even one little mistake could mess the whole recipe up."

If my life were me baking a cookie, I wonder how precise the end goal would be. Am I cutting corners? Am I doing enough to just get by? Am I striving for excellency? Will I end up with a delicious cookie?

Thoughts to munch on this holiday season~ :)