Sunshine, Roses, & Thorns

I love to work in my flower bed. It can be a lot of work, but it is worth it. I have to put the plants or flowers in the right place because some flowers need more sun than others, and of course, I have to coordinate my colors! I have a lot of fun. But, I started thinking about how we are all roses in God's flower bed. I have a few rose bushes, and these are some things that I have learned from them. 

1.  Roses need sunshine. If you will pay attention some day, you will see that plants of all kinds grow toward the light. My roses sure do.  I read that roses need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. We are the same, except we need the light of God's Son. Just like the roses, our Special Sonlight draws us to Him. As God's child, we need to establish our roots in His Word. Therefore, as we feed from the Bible, we are drawing toward the Sonlight.
2. Roses are distinct flowers. I don't think I know anyone who has to ask what kind of flower is that when they see a rose. They are easy to identify by their appearance and character. That's how a Christian should be.  A complete stranger should know that I am a Christian just by appearance, countenance, and behavior. The Bible gives clear instruction in every aspect of life. 
3. Roses have thorns. I see two sides to this point. The first is that thorns hurt. Even when you are trying to be careful, sometimes you still get stuck. I can think of a few thorns that hurt us. How about not reading your Bible or going to church? Or maybe telling that "white" lie just stuck you. Thorns hurt, huh? Well, guess what?! So does sin!!! Satan makes sin look attractive and he even makes it easy to do. Then you get stuck. That thorn is the consequence you pay for disobeying God. Secondly, thorns protect the rose. God has placed those protective thorns in our lives. Your pastor and church are a hedge God has placed around us. Staying in the Word builds another hedge about you.
You are a beautiful rose in God's garden. He has provided the Sonshine for you to grow. The Bible provides the armor you need to face the fiery darts. Lastly, God has strategically placed people in our lives that will lead and guide us in His ways.

Hello!!!

It has been a long time-six months and 8 days-since I have blogged last. So much has happened and yet not much has happened. Most of the past six months I have been tired. I go to bed later than I should and get up way too early. Of course I was getting up so early because we had to be at school in Rendon by 7:45. It takes 45 minutes from my house to Rendon.  That was a hard trip, but we made it.

Speaking of school, I will be home schooling Josh his Senior year. OH MY!!! My one and only baby is graduating next school year. So hard to believe. Is it real that he is this old? Oh if only I could stop the clock and then allow it to go forward when I'm ready. I'm excited to be teaching him for his Senior year. There were many reasons for us to choose this plan and I know it will be hard, but it will be so worth it. I will have him all to myself his last year with before he runs off to college. Don't get me wrong, I am so proud of Josh, but I'm just not ready to let him go. Thank God I still have 13 1/2 months to try to ready my heart for this.

This is such a busy summer for us. We just got back from our vacation to, you guessed it, Port Aransas. We had a great time and appreciated the time away from the hustle and bustle of work and bills and laundry and dishes and so on.
Next week we are off to Eufala, Ok to church camp. Royal C Ranch Youth Camp has been a favorite of our young people ever since we went for the first time. I love it, too! We missed a couple of years, and we are all so excited to go back. I am looking forward to God moving in our teens' lives.
When we get back from camp, we will have a week off to rest up for Vacation Bible School. After that, the ladies of our church will be off to Royal C Ranch for a Ladies Retreat. Then we turn around and go right back to Oklahoma to Southwest Baptist Church for the Heartland Youth Conference. We had a blast at this last year and I know it will be great again this year. And then of course,  we get ready for school. Whew, did I get to rest during all that? Sure hope so!

I'm thankful for things of the Lord to keep us busy. I don't want to ever be idle when it comes to the Lord's work. We keep saying this in our church right now, but it is true. Serving the Lord is fun!

Till next time!