Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

This year we took Mason to Joan's Farm in Livermore again. Only this time he was walking. It was so much fun watching him explore and feed the farm animals. Not so much fun were the meltdowns he displayed when he couldn't go the way he wanted to go. That boy is a stubborn one. Now I know how my mom felt when I threw my tantrums. It's getting incredibly difficult to get a good picture of him because he rarely stops and when he does he doesn't look at me because he's too busy with whatever captured his interest to make him stop in the first place. I did manage to capture a few cute shots of the back of his head....

The Father's Love

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." ~ Lamentations 3:22-23

So often, I beat myself up because I feel like a failure as a Christian or I remind myself of all the things I do wrong or of all t he times I get wrapped up in myself.  The truth is many days I get caught up in living my life my way and don't stop to consult God on how He would want me to live that day or in that moment. I forget that I'm only here to live my life for him and my only purpose is to worship Him and bring Him glory. Now that doesn't mean God doesn't continue to bless me with things I enjoy or with meaningful relationships. Quite the contrary. You can't out give God. It does mean that I need to remember all of this belongs to the One who created it. On many occasions, I fail to do this and I feel like I'm a big disappointment to God. I tend to want to lump all my shortcomings and faults into one huge pile and think about how terrible I am and how much I don't deserve to know God. The reality though is that none of us do, but He wants to know me....and you. How amazing it is to know that the King of kings, and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the Creator of the whole universe, knit me together in my mother's womb. He knows my weaknesses and my strengths and loves me all the same. 

I have learned so much as a mom about God's immeasurable love for us. And even what I've learned doesn't even come close to understanding it fully. But when I think of Mason even at this young age and the times he disobeys me, I don't love him any less. I have to remember that even though I mess up everyday, God too doesn't love me any less. I am His child. His forgiveness, mercy, and grace cannot be measured. Thank you Lord Jesus for taking my place at the cross so that I could become a new creation and a child of God. For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Puzzle Pieces

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. ~ Jeremiah 1:5

When I was younger I used to love putting puzzles together. To accomplish this you must first look at the whole picture. Next you put down the corners. After that come the outer edge pieces of the puzzle. And finally you fill it in by grouping certain colors and patterns together until you have the final, completed picture.

This, to me, is like our Christian walk. God knew me before I was born. He knew who I would become and He has a plan for me, "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 a hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11  He sees the whole picture and He is putting the pieces of MY puzzle together. "...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 1:6   To complete my puzzle, God knows what pieces need to be placed first. Things may happen in my life that I don't understand the reason for. But God knows. He knows that ultimately, in the end, it is a part of the puzzle. A part of the whole picture that He ultimately ordained. And this piece must be placed in a particular order to make me complete. My puzzle won't be completed until I see Him face to face on that day, but oh what a glorious day it will be to see the whole picture and to finally see the One who completed it.