Potential.

Today I went to some friends' house to help them clean up their yard, raking leaves, clearing walkways, moving mulch and firewood piles.  A good work day.

They have a very nice property, bluebonnets (when they come up) fill the front yard, a pool and patio one one side, a chicken coop on the other, and most prominently, a shady back yard with large oaks and a veranda and walkways.  As I was working there, a word came to mind:  Potential.  Yes, this was a yard with great potential, carefully tended to, it could become a place of life, and beauty, and music (pardon the LOTR reference!), a paradise.  However, left alone, it would inevitably become an eyesore, overflowing with fallen, decomposing leaves.

This yard is like our human hearts, without the tender, affectionate and constant care of the gardener,  our hearts our filled with junk, clutter, and sin.  However, when Christ is constantly there, through the word, our hearts can become filled, beautiful, clean, holy. Then, it begins to overflow, our lives affect those of others, strengthening them through the word, and in Christ.  We must clean our hearts, taking out the junk, and bringing it to Christ, for his will for our life is our sanctification.  Mortifying sin, growing to be like Christ, these are integral parts of the Christian life, and they only happen through constant time in the word and prayer.

So, how's your garden doing?

Thank you.

Ego no siempre fidelis, sed Dios siempre fidelis, siempre indulget.

Lord, I come on bended knee,
Begging for your forgiveness.
Once again, I have failed the King,
Inciting righteous wrath,
And judgement.
But you have said that there is:
"no condemnation for those
who are under Christ Jesus".
And for this, I thank you.

You have said that we have been:
"Justified.. by grace".
And even when we sin,
That grace is still there.
Lord, merciful Heavenly father,
You have chosen us before time.
Knowing what evil deeds,
we would commit,
but choosing us anyway.
And for this, I thank you.

Lord, "forgive us
our trespasses".
Our evil deeds are,
beyond measure,
and even our "good deeds,
are like filthy rags in your sight.
Continue to purge me,
Ridding me of this sin.
You have sent the Holy Spirit.
And for this, I thank you.

"Empty me, of the selfishness inside.
Every vain ambition,
And the poison of my pride...
Lord empty me, of me,
So I can be,
Filled with you."

An early snow.

Wow!  Yesterday (15-1-13), it snowed. Yay!  It's so early.  Very shocking.  Coming right after I had said that we needed another hard freeze to delay the mowing season and kill the bugs.  It was the first real snow that we had had on this wonderful three-acre property, so we had lots of fun, and lots more snow!  With a good accumulation of 1.5-2 inches of mixed sleet from the night, and snow from the day, it was wonderful. Despite that the winter didn't come in until Christmas Day, it has been a good one so far.  all shallow standing water was frozen when we left at 03:00 this afternoon, and we are still finding drifts and ice in cold, shaded places.

My room has no insulation, and is very cold.  However, the summer is forecasted to be very hot again.  We could use a lot of rain.  The reservoir has gotten very low.  but the burn ban as been lifted for a little while, so we took advantage of it and burned a lot of trash wood.  It was a great, huge fire, with sparks going everywhere, amazing.  Heb. 12:29. 

Kristen Culp is renting out the little cottage on our property now.  Fun fixing that place up.  School started last week.  Going well so far.  However, the hours that we played in the snow Tuesday wrecked my schedule.  Dad's job is going well at Fossil Rim.  He becomes an official employee with all the required and included benefits that come with it and are not always possible for the company to provide.  Sorry, I need to stop dropping random political jokes and jabs too much , but I couldn't resist that one.  In case none of y'all know, Dad oversees the homeschool outreach &c at Fossil Rim, a local reserve.

Sorry for not posting in so long.  We are getting Internet at my house soon, so that problem should be fixed.  Also, sorry for any typos.  The library computers have large. clunky keyboards that my fingers are not used to.  Google's spell check does not catch everything.