Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Rainy day thoughts


Spring is here. It has rained the last two days. The world is wet and brimming with life. Our apple blossoms are ready to burst open, the peas are growing great guns, and bird songs fill the air. The hill behind our house is shrouded in a heavy mist. The leaves are bringing their color to the landscape. There is an eerie, peaceful sort of feeling that comes from looking at the mist. It reminds me of "Much Afraid" as she is climbing the mountain. She is nearing her journey's end. Like "Much Afraid" I too am on a journey. I want to be shrouded by the mist of God. Not to act like a Christian, but be one. Letting Jesus live through me, obeying His spirit, listening for that still small voice and acting upon what I hear.

The battle for our lives seems to be raging hotter as we seek to obey the Lord and forsake our own agenda. The misty hill brings a sense of calm, coolness, refreshing. Sleepless nights, financial stress, and growing children stretch us, weaken us. Yet God is pleased, for we are where we are supposed to be- in our weakest state. Through our weakness He is made strong. When we run to Him and give Him our weakness he is whispering "Yes, this is what I have meant for you to do all along. Let me live through you." Why is it we think being a Christian makes our life easy? That if we manage our lives properly everything will turn out okay? "If I could just get enough sleep I would be cheerful" or "when I have enough money I will give". This is the way we think, but not what God thinks. He says "let me turn this impossible situation into something beautiful and let me work through you. Would you be my broken vessel?" The Lord will use anything to draw us to Himself. When we see the Lord work through our weakness, when we know it was not our own doing, but His alone, then there is a refreshing of the spirit, a joy that lifts the heavy heart. We have been emptied and Christ is living through us. That is what being a Christian is all about, our hearts desiring to live for Him, to be like Him. To let Him live through us.

Through trials, the Lord is opening our eyes to give thanks in ALL things. Though we do not often see the purpose or plan of God, we know what He has said to us, and we know that He is good. Nothing is wasted with God! Let our eyes continually be opened to the work He is doing in us and around us.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

What will be, will be

Spring has come and we are so... busy! Some happenings around the Powers' house are:

Dirt successfully brought to the back yard. Our rake broke, so we are sill smoothing and not quite ready for grass yet.



One of our hens is sitting on about 18 eggs. Her nest has so much down on it.
I can't wait for the little ones!

 We have continued to plant and dig and dig some more. Here are some of our "guilds".
 We are creating a self sustaining habitat around our trees.
Different kinds of plants are added that perform different functions.

I have been cleaning and organizing up a storm. It feels good!

Here are a few of the wonderful books I am reading right now.
Can I just say how wonderful "Large Family Logistics" is! It would be a wonderful read for any mother, or mother to be. I would go as far to say for anyone who wants to run their household efficiently.  I was so encouraged by this book written by a mother with 9 children and who has a solid biblical perspective on what that means.
"Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" lets just say there will be a post in the future about how that book is changing the way I think about food! A real joy to read!

Last, but not least, is our new car!

Let me just say that this has been a.....trial....yes. Ugh. After seeking the Lord's guidance to buy this car we went ahead and bought what seemed the best choice for us.  

We are still getting it fixed(need I say more) . Our "new" car didn't come with all the wonderful expectations we thought it would.
Somehow it seemed more magnified because of our previous year long car trial(that is still in limbo).
At the end of it all, we still praise God and thank Him for his provision, and we hope to enjoy our car for many years to come!