To Flourish

Mark and I were recently talking about how different our lives look now. About five years ago...we were in a floundering state....or at least it felt like we were floundering and not being very productive. But now, both of us feel that it is one of the most productive times we've ever had in our lives. What's different?

Well...our situation resembles that of an orange tree that was planted in Michigan. Michigan has a cold climate...it isn't very tropical and conducive to grow a flourishing, healthy orange tree. BUT...if you take that very same tree....re-locate it to the tropical climate & soil of Florida, and that same orange tree will flourish. What's the difference.....LOCATION!

Location, location, location isn't only the motto for real estate. It's very applicable in our lives as well. Five years ago...although we were in a good place...we were not in a bad situation or anything...we just were not flourishing and we were not producing fruit like the Lord wanted us to produce. But God made a MAJOR change in our lives. It ROCKED OUR WORLD really....and we did not understand why this change was being made. But...we were obedient....we went with what the Lord was wanting us to do. We have now been here for 5 years.

Just changing our location...where we were in life...what we were doing...who we were doing it with...made all the difference in the WORLD. Speaking for myself, I am still the same person I was prior to our change, but at our old location...I was NOT producing the fruit in my life that I am producing right now. I'm sure there are many factors contributing to this...but the main one is location.

If you feel that you are floundering, and not producing the fruit that you KNOW God wants to come from your life....pray about where you are...YOUR location. This may or may not mean moving towns. It may just mean switching jobs or vocations...it may mean the circle of friends you have...it may be anything....that's only something the Lord can speak to you about.

But this I know... that Orange tree in Florida is doing what it was intended to do...because it's in the right location. Are YOU? It's just something to think about today!!! Have a great weekend!

What Kind of Clay are You?

So this week...I heard this story, and I have not been able to get it out of my mind. It really spoke to me, and I would like to share it with you. Maybe it will speak to your heart as well!

Not long ago, several home school families were on a field trip. It was sort of a trade day of sorts. As a couple of moms walked through to look at all the arts and crafts...they came upon this potter. He was working away with his clay and wheel. It was amazing to watch this craftsman at work.

As they watched...they began to ask the potter about himself. He gladly answered their questions as he continued to work. One mom asked him where he was from. He said Gadsden. She thought that was SO interesting. She proceeded to tell this potter that several of the other potters there at the craft show were ALSO from Gadsden.

Not surprised, the potter nonchalantly said, "OH...that's not uncommon. You will always find a potter where the clay is good!"

OK...WOW...did that hit you like it did me?!?! The potter will always be where the clay is good!!!! What a powerful statement! Of course....as a Christian, I recognize our Lord as the master potter. So I had to look up what makes clay good for being used. Wow....here are some things I found.

1. Plasticity: Without a very high level of flexibility, the clay simply won't be workable on the wheel.

Plasticity must be something the Lord is working with me on daily!!!! He is teaching this little choleric gal to be flexible...to learn to roll with the punches...and not get so worked up when things don't go my way. We MUST be flexible in our daily walk other wise...we'll break!

As you are on the potters wheel of life...remember...BE FLEXIBLE when the Lord applies strength and pressure in order to mold you. It will make things SO MUCH easier!!!

2. Strength: Throwing clays must be highly plastic, but also retain enough strength to stand upright when thrown into thin-walled, tall forms.

This is a challenge. Being flexible while remaining strong! A TRUE challenge...but something we call all strive for. We have to be strong enough during these times of strength and pressure to retain the shape that God is molding in us. A challenge...but yes...POSSIBLE!!!

3. Water Absorption: Clay absorbs water while it is being formed on the potter's wheel, which is why the longer a clay is worked on the wheel, the softer it becomes.

What could represent this water? Hmmmm...my guess is the Word of God and the Holy Spirit continually speaking to us as we are being formed into the Potters desire. As we continue to receive....the softer we become and the easier it is to mold us.

Honestly...these things just scrape the surface of all that is in that little statement...'the potter is always where the clay is good." This is a multi-layered statement that I will probably be "chewing on" for a while.

But, I couldn't resist sharing it with you all!!! So, I pose the question...what kind of clay are we? Do we posses the qualities of "good clay"? Where we KNOW the potter is going to be working on us and making us who He wants us to be?

As the Lord today to reveal to you what kind of clay you are! He wants to do SO MUCH in and through us! I pray that we are ALL mold able!!

I leave you with one of my favorite scriptures. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Delight here means..."be soft and pliable". I believe that is our goal...to be soft and pliable and let the master potter create the master design in our lives!!!

I'm going for now...but I will continue to ponder this statement. What kind of clay am I? I want the Potter to be working with me!

Please Pray for Our Friends

We have some friends that are in China NOW, and just got their little girl last night (our Sunday night). Their little girl, Lili-Kate is sick...running fever...cough...not eating. They are not treating her with antibiotics...but with Chinese meds. Please pray for healing for Lili-Kate....and pray for Divine connections for Jeff & Bobbie to connect with someone that can help them help Lili. Here is their blog link: http://ourjourneytomeetlili-kate.blogspot.com/

I know they would appreciate your prayers. I will keep you posted as news comes in.
Blessings,
Buffi

Change

Change....it seems to be a word that we are hearing a lot of lately. Look at the beautiful color change in that flower above. Without that dramatic color change...that flower wouldn't be as magnificent.

I have to first admit...I am not too thrilled with all the changes going on in our government and our country. The phrase, "not too thrilled" would be mild for me to say. But, I DO have to say...CHANGE IS GOOD. Let me elaborate.

About 4 to 6 weeks ago...we purchased a new (well...new to US) vehicle. We had been contemplating a trade for a long time. Our oldest daughter, 10, absolutely LOST IT (her composure) while we were in the Toyota place trading in our old van for the new SUV. She was bawling!!! She DID NOT want us to get rid of our old van. It was HERS. It had been since she was a baby. It was a PART OF HER.

We were so torn in there because we didn't want to be insensitive to her sensitivities... but we REALLY needed to make this trade. We just had to tell her we were going to do it. And we did. While waiting for paperwork to process...we took her out to our old van...and took probably 20 pictures of her with the van. We took a picture of her hugging the van....sitting in the drivers seat...really...we took a picture from EVERY ANGLE. She was just SO upset. (I know we'll look back one day and laugh at those pictures)

Anyway...6 weeks later...she is good. She actually likes our new one because she has "control" of their air input. (Yes....I think I have a little choleric on my hands!! She loves control!!) Anyway...something I have noticed over the last 6 weeks is we have kept the vehicle SO CLEAN. I've been amazed. I mean....with our old van...we could clean it one day and it would be trashed the next.

This has gotten me to thinking about change. Change...whether it's a good change...or a bad change....causes us to re-evaluate what we do and why we do it. We're FORCED to make adjustments. Most of them are probably needed adjustments.

I've recently began working part time. I LOVE IT...but it has caused some MAJOR change around our house. I'm STILL trying to find a norm. But we are re-evaluating what we do...how we do it and why we do it...and we are making MUCH NEEDED changes in our home...and in our family and priorities. The change has helped to give us a different perspective.

As for our country and the changes that we are facing....it has definitely caused us to re-evaluate our priorities, and has caused us to be more driven by our convictions. The times are leading us away from being able to be "grey" about certain things. We have to stand up for what we believe in...and live a life that reflects the principles we stand on. All these changes...while we don't like them...has really helped us gain a new perspective on preparing for our future. And I tell you...we needed it.

This is what was on my mind this morning. I pray for those of you out there...who like my daughter...do not like or welcome change....that you will try to see what good will come out of this change. It's a process...but it's worth it to have our attitudes focused properly!!! Have a wonderful weekend!

Go Sing Your Song!!!

I have been INCREDIBLY busy trying to adjust to being a "working" mom and wife. Things are going GREAT!!! I've just got to find the new norm. I'm still reading blogs and keeping up with many of you...I'm just not posting as much. I will get back soon. BUT...until then...I wanted to share with you a post from one of my blogger friends. It is a wonderful parallel and I think it's something that each one of us should hear! I won't give it away...but this I will say...Be yourself...and make sure and sing YOUR song...the song the Lord has given YOU!!!! Here is the link.....Go check it out! It's an amazing post!!!

It's That Time of the Year

Some people dread this time of the year because honestly...it's a lot of hard work. Mark and I actually enjoy this work. it's cathartic for us. This work I'm referring to is YARD WORK! Now first...I have to admit, I've got the easy job....I RIDE the lawn mower!! :) My hubby has all the tough stuff such as pushing and trimming and weed eating. But we both really enjoy it...that is, until about August and then we're ready for a break!!

So, this weekend was our 1st weekend to get our lawn back in shape. We were so excited because the finished product of a nice looking yard is SO REWARDING!!!

As I was mowing the back yard on Saturday though...something really struck me. About two years ago, we sodded our whole backyard with Bermuda Sod. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! It was so nice and thick and just a lovely thick carpet of grass to look at!

A few months after we had laid the sod...(it was the next season, I think)...we noticed some weeds coming up in the sod. It was VERY obvious....and looked TERRIBLE!!! We didn't want anything to dis-unify the look of our yard...so we got the correct stuff to kill those weeds and feed that grass. But you know what? After a while...we just got tired of doing it! So...the next time we saw some weeds come up...we thought...oh...they'll die and then the grass will come through in the summer. We let those weeds go.

Our lazy attitudes toward weeding has gone on for a couple of years. So, this Saturday, as I was mowing the back yard...I was SHOCKED! MOST of the back yard was now weeds. All that Bermuda grass has been overtaken.

Now...there is still some of the Bermuda there...but most of what we see are weeds. I couldn't believe that our action of leaving the weeds alone not only left us looking at weeds each spring...but it also crowded out the beautiful lawn too. So now, when we cut our yard and sit back to enjoy it...while it may look good for a bit of time, it's mostly WEEDS! UGH. NOT a pretty sight.

Of course the parallel isn't very difficult to see here. We all need to do "daily weeding" in our own lives. It's amazing how the weeds (the bad stuff) will take over if we do not cut it down and make room for all the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, temperance, self-control) . It happens before we know it. The absence of these things are the indicator that our lives are "weedy" and needs some spiritual round up and weed-n-feed!!!

I'm sure we all know that that "weed and feed" for our lives is the Word of God...The Bible. Romans 12:2 says, "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the RENEWING of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God".

Just like we need to be weeding our yard, our gardens, and our landscapes daily...we need to be weeding our mind, our hearts and our motives with the Word of God. This is, and prayer, are our only weapons against "weeds" taking over in our lives.

So, as I was mowing the lawn...I just believe the Lord was reminding me how this "spiritual weeding" is important...and I truly felt that I need some of that "round up" in my life! I've got too many weeds that are crowding out the good things that I know are in my life.

I encourage each one of you...as you begin your spring yard work...begin some spring "spiritual yard work" and examine yourselves. I have and there are SO MANY areas that I need to renew. It's just a good time to do it...a good time to focus on it! I want to be all that the Lord wants me to be. And like that Bermuda grass...I don't want the good things...to be crowded out by those seemingly insignificant little weeds. If I allow it...they will eventually take over! And I DON'T want that!!

Blessings on you guys!!! Happy Weeding!

Silence....Listening

Are there ever times in your life where you feel that you're not sure if the Lord is speaking anything at all to you? I have felt like that lately. I have been SO BUSY with life...that it just doesn't seem that I hear Him speak to me. I have tried SO hard to have something GREAT to post about....but it's just not there! Silence....As I think hard and try to press into what the Lord might be saying....nothing...Silence.

Have any of you ever been there? I don't really like this place. I LOVE communication...with anyone...but I especially love to hear from the Lord. I've just been dry. A Change of seasons may be the reason...who knows! But this morning as I was thinking about this Silence...I was reminded of one of my all time FAVORITE songs... "He Is Not Silent" by Out of the Grey. You've GOT to listen to the song...but here are the lyrics to the chorus:

But He is not silent
He is not whispering
We are not quiet
We are not listening
He sends a lifeline
We keep resisting Him
He is not silent
We are not listening

Wow...that REALLY hit me this morning. Is He really silent...or am I just not listening?!?! Hmmmmmm. Maybe He's speaking to me in the every day irritations that I experience. These things maybe shouldn't be irritants.....Maybe He's saying...Buffi...put down that book; Buffi...get off the computer; Buffi...be a better steward of your time; Buffi...remember the song "Cats in the Cradle"; Buffi...you're not listening!!!!!

For those of us that have children....how frustrating is it when our kids do not listen to us?!? I've told my husband over and over..."How hard can it be for them to just obey the first time we say something?!?!" I mean...it's easy...isn't it? You just OBEY!!! I have gotten SO frustrated to the point that I am yelling at the kids because they don't obey and they don't listen. But really...AM I LISTENING TO AND OBEYING the Lord?!?

I'm asking myself that this morning. Is God Silent...or am I not listening? I know my kids just don't listen. Maybe they are just imitating what they see in me?!? OOh...it stings...I know. But it's just where I am!

So I ask you the question this morning....Is God Silent....or are you not listening? Check out the song above....I think you'll like it! I pray that we can all find the place where we really LISTEN to what God is saying. Sometimes it's subtle...like a whisper. We've got to be in the place to listen! I pray for each one of us this morning that we will hear and obey the promptings of the Lord.