Looking Unto Jesus

I was sitting in church where a mother was binking a querulous baby a few rows up.  I'm so glad we are given the grace of the instruction not to be willfully distracted during mass, for the sweet little fellow kept drawing me in.  We have an amazing mural of the risen Christ, and the idea came to me that Jesus had been a baby.  I know this.  We make a big fuss every Christmas about it, but the fact that the Creator of the Universe used to poop his pants isn't something I'd put much thought into. It's worth thinking about.  There are spiritual enterprises where I'm lucky to get my poo in the pants, poo in the pants is a good day.  On those days and in those areas of my life Christ is in his infancy in me.  He is still fully God and all-powerful.  He is still completely present and hard at work, but he is not yet what he will be--in me.  

"I Know"

   Before I had children, when I would see an unruly child in public, I would automatically think what a poor job the parent must be doing. Ignorant, judgemental me.....Then I was blessed to be able to adopt my 5 children, 3 of which have a diagnosis of ADHD. This past week ADHD has kicked my butt and left me exhausted and cranky. Friday was the worst!
   My 7 year old had decided that she didn't want to take her medication, so when I had turned my back she sneaked it out of her mouth and into the trash can. It was hours later before she finally confessed what she had done. Of course by this time she had been in trouble and been yelled at more times than I could count. She flipped and flopped, ran and rolled, jumped an jiggled ALL DAY!!!! Then when the blessed hour of "bedtime" (can you just hear the angels singing?) finally came.....she was wide awake and stayed awake for 28 hours straight!
   Living through the roller coaster of ADHD has caused me to become a pro at recognizing it. Now when I see a child who is unruly, instead of making that same ignorant judgement, my heart goes out to the parent as I want to hug them and say "I know".
   Hebrews 4:14-16 encourages us to hold on to our faith. It says that Jesus understands our weaknesses because He has faced all of the same testings, but did not sin. Because of this, when we run to Him, He will not scold us or turn us away.... He will say "I know" and shower us with mercy and grace to help us when we need it most.

It's Always Like Springtime With You

Ahhh! Spring is finally in the air.  Flowers are starting to appear, birds are singing, trees are budding.  I am thinking of all the weddings that I will be attending, beginning in a few weeks, and several songs based on the Song of Solomon are playing in my head. 
"With you I will go; you are my Love, you are my Fair One.  Winter has passed and the springtime has come." (Dance With Me,  from Paul Wilbur's Lion of Judah album and Jesus Culture's Consumed album) 
"See the winter is past and the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth, and the season of singing has come.  Cooing of doves is heard, the fig tree forms its fruit, and the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.  Arise, come, my darling, my beautiful one.  Come with me, come with me, come." (Arise, from Heather Clark's album, Dark Yet Lovely)

In these songs I hear the voice of Jesus as the Bridegroom, calling out to me to come away with Him; come and spend time getting to know the Lover of my soul more intimately.  Being a newlywed, and still in the "honeymoon stage" of my marriage, you would think that it would be easy for me to do.  After all, I do whatever I can to be able to spend as much time with my husband as I can, which has been challenging the past few weeks because of the craziness of our schedules.  But I make the time for my husband.  Why is it so much more challenging to make time to quiet my soul and spend more time with the Lord?

I am so thankful for His grace.  He loves me despite my excuses, and continues to call my name.  
"Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." (Song of Solomon 2:13)

Listen, When Spoken To

While pregnant with Sarah, my husband worked in the coal

mines of WV. I took care of the house & checkbook. As I drove to

"town", I intermittently took my gaze from checkbook to road, in

order to get the paperwork done before arrival at the bank. A thought

crossed my mind, pull over to the side, then do the checkbook.

I knew it was the Holy Spirit & I thought back, well if I do that I

won't have enough time to get to the Holy Week Services, do You

want that? A few moments later, more sternly, pull over, then do

the checkbook. I was like, "I don't have time, O.K."? Another few

min. & sharply, "PULL OVER NOW". "NO, I can't, I won't get it

all done". Then, as if hands were removed from me I heard, "O.K.".

I looked up quickly, to see my vehicle headed straight toward the

guide rails. I slammed on the brakes, turned the wheel sharply &

lost control while my anti-lock brakes locked. My SUV went on it's

side as I instinctively put my arm out to suspend my 7 month pregnant

belly, to protect the baby. As I did this the window that supported us

broke and my arm was scraped across the road. Thankfully the person

who stopped first, knew what to do. I was taken to the hospital. Paul

arrived later panicked. It takes at least 45 min. to simply get out of the

mines, then 30 min. to get to the hospital. I didn't go to any services,

the bank or stores. I did however, have a lesson outside of church.

God taught me to pay attention, as He clued me into what to do next

through our daughter's life. Without His leading & guiding, I have no

idea where she would be today, if at all. Now, when discouraging

circumstances happen surrounding her, I rest more easily in the fact

that God has a purpose for her here & now.

This Boy...and His heart

I have a boy who has the most beautiful blueish grey eyes you have ever seen.  He is quiet and reserved when you first meet him, then goofy and all over the place when he feels comfortable. He has always had a thing for texture.  When he was just shy of two years old he realized his love for Gap tags.  Everyday after getting dressed he would reach his chubby little arm to the back of his neck and feel for what kind of tag was hanging there.  He loved those canvas, soft tags.  Later, when he was old enough to help choosing his clothing for the day, he would go down the line of hangers feeling all the tags of his shirts.  You can imagine our disappointment when many stores began selling the "tag-less" clothing.  I often giggle when I unpack the small clothing for our now two year old, and my older boy asks "Mom, who does he have so many Gap shirts?"  I show him the tags and he looks at me sideways as if I have made his fascination up....all while rubbing that tag between his thumb and finger.

My boy is aware that with eight children in the home, we do not splurge on many things.  But my boy has his eye on a Sherpa lined hoodie and a pair of high top shoes.  He has longed for these for six months.  I have checked sales and scoured clearance racks.  Then the question came.  "Mom, do you think I could get high top shoes for my birthday?"  This is a big deal in our house.  We do not buy toys and treats year round, so he is asking to forfeit his chance at toys for the shoes.

It's his heart.  His heart that makes us want to get him those shoes.  His heart that makes me want to grant every wish his little heart has.

This is one of those moments when I wonder....is this how God feels about us, and our hearts?

Does he see our hearts, and not just the request?
When our hearts are willing to sacrifice, willing to bend to Him....
Is it then that He wants to give us our hearts desires?

This boy is turning eleven this week.
I found those shoes for my boy...and that Sherpa lined hoodie, 75% off!

God is good, and always showing me things through these children He has given me.

Fighting.

The hardest battles you can't see or hear.

I get out of bed.

I wash my face and brush my teeth.

I read the Bible.

I pray.

Standing dressed, I face the day.

Standing with head high and heart open, I brace myself.

With hope in my soul, I walk into the room.

I go about the routine of the day.

In God's grace I stand.

In His throne room I ask for help from His mighty hand.

We are not alone.

The seemingly simplest tasks are the hardest of them all.

Take Me Instead

When it comes to my family, sacrifice is simply another opportunity to show love in a tangible way. I want to show my kids the same kind of love God shows me, that "I won't let you fall so far that My love can't reach your hand as it reaches for Me." It's not about short-tem "success." It's not about honor and reputation. It's about the long haul, and it's about their future. I want my kids to look back some day and know I really CARED, and was happy to give them my time. I want them to especially hold onto the Truth, no matter what the world's wagging tongues are saying at any given time, and to become better people for it....and I am far from perfect, and I hurt, and don't have all the answers. I just pray that God helps me to get up off the floor after being knocked down, to stand between my family and the world if need be. When my family comes under fire from something that has become unjust, to threaten to destroy us, may God give me strength and peace to stand in the gap to say, "Enough!" Until my children have the ability to withstand the twisted world on their own, I pray God helps me to prepare them and be a filter for excessive harshness.  Take me instead.  

Snail Mail

These days most of our written communication comes electronically. It's nice to be able to send a message for free and receive a response back very quickly. Many weeks our mail carrier only delivers bills, magazines, and junk mail to our mailbox. Ever since I was a child, I have considered it a treat to receive a card or a letter that came through the mail. As electronic communications have become more and more common over the past twenty years, it seems that snail mail from a friend or loved one has become even more special. Before I began using e-mails, I used to send many letters through the mail, but over the last twenty years I haven't sent many cards or letters aside from my annual Christmas card. Over the past year I have been encouraged on many occasions by a card someone has sent me. Seeing what a blessing it has been in my life, I have set a goal to at the very minimum send one card a month. Maybe to a widow who will soon be approaching the one year anniversary of her husband's homegoing, my daughter's Sunday School teacher, or to someone whose beloved pet recently passed away. Who couldn't use a little encouragement through the mail every now and then? I pray the Holy Spirit will bring just the right person to my mind and use whatever I send to brighten her day. "Encourage one another and build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Maybe you could drop a card or a letter in the mail to someone this week?

Dream Holy

I like to dream big--to think about how little can become much.  I especially like to dream big about God's kingdom.  If God can give us so much, why can't we do more with it?  He gave us his Son, his only Son, and what have we done?  Fed the hungry? not really.  Sheltered the homeless? not really.  Upheld the despairing? not so much.  I get frustrated.  I write off big ideas and I look around for good small ideas.  Small ideas are just so slow and I have no patience.

Then I remember St. Zita, my patron saint, the patron saint of domestic servants.  She wasn't a nun.  She wasn't particularly clever.  She wasn't rich or powerful in any way.  She was the maid, then the cook, and after a rocky journey, the housekeeper of a Roman family.  The only thing she was was holy.  Her holy was enough to feed and clothe the poor.  It was enough to transform her employers and everyone who knew her.  St. Zita's holiness looked like scrubbing, baking, and cooking.  Her holiness was as everyday as you can get, but God in the middle of that everyday changed everything. It's still changing everything, including me.

Pray It Forward

   Last Monday was a rough day. (Understatement) ...... Our family has been dealing with some tough stuff for several months now, but for some reason this particular day brought overwhelming anxiety. I battled between my mind, spirit, and body over the difference of what I believe and what was staring me in the face. My body revolted and began giving in to a full blown panic attack. Heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, trembling, ears ringing, and room spinning sensations made normal functioning impossible. I was beyond anxious. I was terrified! I finally ended up having to take medication to combat the physical symptoms that were overtaking me.
   The next morning I learned of some difficulties that a friend of ours is facing. As the day went on, the panic that had rendered me useless the day before kept trying to rear it's ugly head. I decided that since I couldn't do anything to change my own circumstances, I would purposely pray for my friend. So I did. A few days later, I was talking with my brother in law who told me that he and my sister had been sensing an urgency to pray for me that week. And they did.
  I may not have been able to pray for myself, but I could believe for God to move on behalf of my friend. And while I was doing that, someone else was believing and praying for me.

Seasons

Last night I went to a church service in Pittsburgh and one of the ministers told a story of a man who sent his four sons to view a fruit tree on a faraway piece of property.  He sent each son during a different season; one in the winter, one in the spring, another in the summer and the last in the fall of the year.  He asked each one to describe the tree upon returning.  The first son saw what looked like a tiny, withered, dead tree, and he saw no hope for future life or growth from it.  The second son, upon returning, told the first brother that he was wrong; this tree was growing and beginning to grow leaves.  The third son said that they were both wrong.  The tree he saw was large and strong, with beautiful flowers all over it.  The last son said that they were all wrong.  The tree was heavy with fragrant, ripened fruit, ready for harvesting.  The father told them that they were all right.  They had simply seen the same tree in different seasons.  The minister then compared this story to how we view others and how quickly we form opinions and judgements regarding them, when we are only seeing them in one season of their lives.  

Wow.  That made me consider how easily I get frustrated and am tempted to give up on people who God has placed in my path, when they don't appear to be acting in the manner that I think they should be acting, after I have poured into their lives.  How unbelievably arrogant of me!

Lord, remind me when I begin to feel this way, that I am seeing only one season of their life.  Remind me that one will plant the seeds, another will water them, but it is You who gives the increase!

He Has Me Covered

I was feeling overwhelmed with all the things that have come my way
lately. We were having internet problems at work. Then, after getting
the internet fixed, my computer would not turn on, at all. I didn't get a
day off from work at all this week, and I normally only work 2-3 days.
The door in the Walmart dressing room would not open, after many
tries by several people. I finally said, "give me a screwdriver so I may

take the handle entirely off from inside". I laughed and everyone was
laughing also.

Other times, I freak out on my family. My poor dogs eyes are wide open,
as he shakes in the corner. My daughter is crying, and my husband has
simply left the room, or house entirely. I would not recommend freaking
out on ones family. After doing so, I feel bad, realize my issue, clam
down & apologize. I pet my poor, petrified, eyes peeled backtill whites
are all you see, dog in the corner. Other times, God gives me grace I do
not have on my own, to deal with situations that would otherwise be made
worse, by this behavior.

What ever the case, these times make me very thankful that God is in charge.
That He won't let anything go too far, even my temper. In my weakness His
strength rises. He provides a door of escape, or in my case, the ability to look
at a dressing room door & figure out how to remove it, to then escape, and
the ability to laugh at the whole thing.So Glad my heavenly Father has me
covered either way.

In View of His Mercy

I am often asked "How do you do it all"

In all honesty, I simply don't

I sit here today, completely sleep deprived for the past 7 days

Ear and head feeling it is about to burst, fevered

Schooling Children and speaking of God and His goodness

Teaching of the gospel and all that means to us today

 How?

There are no sick days for mommies

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

In view of God's mercy

My eyes and heart on Him

Always pursuing

Often failing

Unfamiliar Roads.

    I have a friend that lives in a neighboring town that is connected by a very isolated back road.  It is the kind of road that feels like someone's really extended driveway.  Recently she asked me for a ride to town so I gladly prepared myself for awful potholes and poor cell service.

     In broad day light I found myself prepared for the roads uncomfortable twists and drove at a speedy 45mph.  The light exposed so much of the ruts, washed away bits, and detritus blocking part of the way.  As we drove, I kept my eyes on the road and respected my surroundings.

     We went to our scheduled meeting and were challenged to exceed expectations and use our spiritual gifts.  We had learned much and had a lot to share on our crazy road back to her house.  My friend is extremely wise and kind.  She has a generosity of spirit that puts my cynical side to unspeakable shame.  As I again navigated the twists and turns now in the total darkness that comes in northern Tippecanoe County at night, I listened to her share her thoughts and the plans that she'd made.

     I found myself driving at 30 mph and thinking much.  Her light exposed my ruts, washed away bits, and detritus blocking my progress.  As I delicately picked my way back to her house in my SUV, she delicately picked away at the hardness of my heart.  I am grateful for her thoughts, putting into practice what she taught, and hoping for the brightness of day to show a clearer path.

The Human Race

The Human Race   by Heather Bowman 4/16/13

Running the Race

Beset around

By those who would Harm

Or have us bound

In Fear, in Silence,

Without Voice

To stand for Truth

To make our Choice

None of us know

When ends our race

We all must run:

Hold on to Grace!

We truly never have Control

Yes, Evil would destroy your Soul

But The Victor of Peace

Is at the End

So keep running Strong,

And help a friend

Our Savior has already won!

So keep your eyes upon the Son

The First and the Last

Will see you through

So Finish Well:

He’ll Carry you

Too Much Information

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets have made it very easy for us to be inundated by the details of hundreds of people's lives. It's much easier to know far more information about a wide group of acquaintances than it was twenty years ago. I enjoy reading a few blogs and scanning my Facebook news feed each day, as it enables me to see photographs and read updates from many of my friends and family. However, sometimes what I see and read leads me to feel deficient as a mother because I've never taken my daughter for a pedicure, made an amazing birthday cake, or taken my kids to a classical music concert. When I begin to feel this way, I try to remind myself of three things. First, I am creating a composite of what many different moms are doing with their children. One mom couldn't be doing all of the things I am reading about with their children. My four-year-old daughter is currently involved in ballet, tap, and soccer - three things I've never done, and yet I don't feel deprived because I haven't experienced those things. I was busy doing other things like reading books, playing the flute, taking ice skating lessons, and practicing the piano. Secondly, I tell myself that God wanted my precious children to have me as their mother. I should continue to strive to grow as a person and as a mother, but He knew my personality, strengths, weaknesses, and interests when He gave me these children. Finally, things like cakes and crafts are really unimportant in the grand scheme of life. I want my children to experience the unconditional love of their parents and Heavenly Father. I pray that each of them will develop a personal relationship with the Lord and strive to grow closer to Him all throughout their lives. I am sure most moms throughout history have struggled with "mommy guilt" from time to time, but social media has made it possible for us to compare ourselves to far more people on a daily basis. If I keep my eyes on Christ and look to Him for wisdom, I am certain I'll be exactly the mother God intended my children to have.

Breathing

"In Him we live and move and have our being."  When you're pregnant that Scripture hits home in a new way.  There's a tiny being living and moving inside of you.  I usually got a little crazy as delivery got closer.  Kurt quit questioning late night trips to buy dish towels and a freezer full of lasagna.

I'm starting to get the same kind of urges over my novel.  I've been working on it for five years or so, and in the beginning it was quite content to move along three or four hours on Saturday night.  Not so anymore.  I find myself rereading material.  I constantly evaluate progress, and I'm looking for as many ways to squeeze out more writing time as I can.

It's a book with a deeply spiritual purpose and just as I had to rely on God for each child's development, I have to trust him for this paper child's development as well.  I can't make the writing good.  In fact at the moment I'm happy if I can say it's not bad.  I can only follow the Spirit's breath as he lives and moves inside my being.

The Unexpected

    Six months ago.... The fall weather was creeping in, quietly changing the trees from their former green to beautiful shades of oranges, yellows, and reds.  We were working toward adopting what would have been our sixth child, my homeschooling adventure with my 2 youngest daughters was beginning to find a rhythm, our sons' football seasons were in full swing, and our oldest daughter had started college. Life was humming along.

    Then it happened. Within a few days time life fell apart. We were faced with not just one major crisis, but several. And today we are left with only 3 of our children living the nightmare with us.

    My oldest had recently turned 18 and had started the new chapter of her life... College. I was so proud of her! She had come to us at age 12 and we adopted her at age 14. We watched her grow into a beautiful young lady and looked forward to celebrating each future success.  But, she left.......

    She just walked out with a few of her things to "think about things". It was 2 weeks before we were able to confirm that she and her boyfriend had gone to Ohio and moved in with her birth family. Communication over the past six months has been sketchy at best.

    I know that God has a plan for her life even though it is terrifying to watch it unfold. BUT..... today.... I just miss her.
   

Bat Barakah - "Daughter of the Blessing"

I declare, I do get invited to the most interesting celebrations!  This weekend I am attending a Bat Barakah ceremony and celebration for the daughter of some very dear friends.  A Bar/Bat Barakah (meaning "son/daughter of the blessing or grace") is a ceremonial blessing at the time of puberty in which the father releases a son or daughter spiritually and emotionally into manhood or womanhood.  It is similar to the Jewish Bar/Bat Mitzvah (means "son /daughter of the law").

In investigating the purpose of this ceremony, I have come to learn that most cultures observe some sort of rite of passage from childhood to adulthood, but it is generally absent from our American culture.  It is important for a child to receive his or her father's blessing in order to establish his or her identity and to walk into his or her destiny.   As I read about this, different ones came to my mind whose parents, especially the father, have been absent from their lives, and I have watched them struggle to find acceptance, identity, and love, many times in the wrong places and from the wrong people.  Hmmm...

Anyway, back to my friends.  I have watched them raise both of their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and I am looking forward to adding my blessing to theirs as her father proclaims over her, "This is my beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased."  I have been asking the Lord for an appropriate spiritually minded gift, and a special word of blessing for her.  I also look forward to watching her grow and mature into the beautiful woman of God that I am already beginning to see.  Exciting!!!

Baruch Ata Adonai; Blessed are You, Lord our God!

"I figured I'd let God take care of you"

We were not the only ones to notice that our daughter Sarah
was different from other children. When we would go to a
restaurant, invariably, when our order arrived, one of us would
need to take Sarah out, so those around us could enjoy their
dinner. She would become uncontrollable. One time, while with 
my parents, we had to leave the restaurant entirely because 
she began screaming, while others looked on in disgust.

Sometimes you don't know the whole of your story until you share
it with others. My husband was asked to speak & I sing for a very
small congregation. He spoke of my one fallopian tube being removed 
and the other being severely damaged. No cause was found but in an
effort to fix me, I was put on a medicine that shut down my reproductive
system. By the grace of God, I found out that this drug could have killed 
me, should I have continued with it, as instructed. We were told that we
would not likely have children, and if I ever became pregnant, I would 
have to be watched very closely. All this I knew, then he said, "We 
prayed for a child, and God gave us Sarah without any doctor intervention
at all." Afterwards I asked, "Why did you lie & tell people we prayed for a
child?" He said, "I prayed." I said, "well that would be a nice thing to 
discuss with me first, don't ya think?" He said, "I figured I'd let God take 
care of you."

We began taking Sarah to Children's Hospital. They told us her hearing was 

fine, but her speech was severely delayed. They could not test for neurological

problems until she was 5. Since Sarah's birth was a total God thing, and never

supposed to happen, I guess I figured she would be an easy child. However, God had a different plan that was unfolding before my eyes, I just couldn't see it at the time.

Surely this is not my home....

When I walk into a room that is now in disarray. Papers and toys and cereal, oh the cereal strung about

When I catch the unwelcoming glances from across the room and feel the void of comfort

When I hunger for something more in the midst of silence and worship

Surely this is not my home....

And I hear, no dear child, this is not

This is training ground for your sweet arrows

A place for you to pour out in community 

For only I can quench what you hunger for

Rest in me, for I am your joy and strength....Surely this is not your home

R U OK?

     Three little words.  Also said as, "How are you holding up?"  I pause and think now about this question.  I ask it everyday of my toddler Ellanor who will invariably fall face forward into a wall.  I have gone from rushing in with major concern to "Are you OK?"  This is so much so my fall back default setting that after she falls her default response is, "I'm oday."  ...Even before I ask.  Even before she truly knows that she is OK or not....
   
     Those that read the blog know that my friend my age recently lost her husband.  I watched her valiantly go through the "Are you OK's?" in the church lobby.  While I know that in my church the person really wants to truly know, I wondered in other settings, what the asker was really asking.  Did one truly want to know how to help, or did one just want reassurance that one did not have to worry?  I look at my friend, try hard to put myself in her shoes, and know that for many years and in many ways, she will not be "OK" on some levels.

     I've started looking at situations like this and want to consciously start moving to, "How can I help?" or "What do you need?"  This response acknowledges that a profound hurt has happened and that I truly am interested in helping, not just interested in being reassured.  This example was set for me by a friend who is quickly becoming dear.  She read some of my status updates on facebook, and came over right away to help.  She didn't ask, "Are you OK?"  She asked, "What can I do to help?" and the difference spoke volumes to my soul.

Monster Vines

There is something about spring that makes me relish working outside.  Maybe it’s having been cooped up all winter, maybe it’s the sense of starting new things we’ll enjoy all year, but the first decent weather we got this year, I went out and tackled a major yard project.  We have a wonderful clump of black raspberry bushes in a corner of the yard, but have never been able to get to the middle of the clump.  Every year, I would reluctantly have to leave the waste of whatever berries we could not possibly reach.  As I made a path through this circle of bushes, I and my daughter tackled some monsters:  wild grapevines that had taken over the whole area.  Left alone, they would choke out both the berry bushes and a nearby lilac.  The insidious roots had grown as close as possible to the lilac roots, and also throughout the good berry bushes.  Many hours later, most (and I’m hoping all) of those vines are out.  We can now get to both sides of the bushes, and the lilac has a chance to live.  My daughter asked me if we were done with those vines and had gotten them all.  I told her that even though it looked like we got all of them, we would have to continue to fight them every year to keep any we missed underground from taking over again.  People have wild grapevines in their lives.  Sins and bad habits we think we’ve conquered in the past sometimes pop up again unexpectedly.  Many times, they try to grow as close to something good as they can in hopes that we won’t notice or be able to pull them out without harming the good.  We must continually give our lives to God to help us pull out the bad so that we may bear good fruit.  A little evil left alone will try to take over like a wild grapevine.  Good that we are trying to do would be hampered and eventually choked out.  The good news is that small shoots are easier to pull out than old, established monster-vines.  Don’t be surprised to see a few weeds pop up in your life.  We aren’t perfect, and can’t see underground.  God can see into our hearts, and if He brings a “weed” to your attention, by all means pull out the sucker before it takes over!  He has a shovel for those monster-vines, too, and He knows we can’t do it alone.  The Master Gardener will make you flourish when you belong to Him.  No “monster weed” in our life is too much for Him, for He already has the victory, and nothing can tear His children out of His capable hands. 

 

John 15:5 New King James Version (NKJV)  ⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

John 16:33 New King James Version (NKJV) ³³ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will^[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

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