IN MY WORDS – A few weeks ago, I was scheduled to go to an event. I was pulled two ways: wanting to be involved but also desiring to hide in a corner and stay home. While saying goodbye to my husband that morning, I hugged him and whined a bit about my day. “I don’t want to go. Don’t feel like being all friendly and extroverted and mixing and mingling and playing nice.” His quick comeback was, “Oh, so it’s like any other day for you, huh?” Gotta’ love the guy…he knows how to make me laugh.                                                                

Iremember on my way there thinking, “God, I’m not a rubber band. I don’t do well with this stretching business.” Anyway, I went and behaved. And of course, it was fine and enjoyable. The best part? God had an awesome surprise waiting for me there. If I hadn’t shown up, I would have missed out on God’s blessing. It was something only He could have orchestrated.

And guess what? When I got home that day, there was yet another opportunity (don’t whine, be brave) for a “stretching” event via an email notice. I’m sure there is another blessing ahead!  

How about you – has God been stretching you lately?

 TODAY – My latest read was this new book by Francine Rivers. And yes, it is a “Masterpiece.” This is the best book I’ve read in a long time and I highly recommend it. It runs 484 pages but trust me, it will go by fast because you will find every available moment to continue reading. It is labeled a Romance but it is so much more than a romance.

The main characters Roman the artist and Grace the personal assistant, are beautifully drawn, the setting perfect and the story line incredible. Rivers wanted to explore two characters who suffered childhood trauma and how it impacted their adult lives. She also wanted to write the story to stress the importance of knowing and following Christ completely in a culture that says, “anything goes and you’re still going to heaven no matter how you live.” The full gospel is woven throughout the theme along with the very real battle of darkness and light. I love how she portrays the reality of the spiritual world that we cannot see with our natural vision.

The story brought tears but also laughter and joy at the wondrous works of God through every situation. Oh, do yourself and favor and go find this book! You won’t be sorry. And it is the perfect time of year to celebrate the redemption story…

If you’ve read it, let me know what you think of it in a comment!

YESTERDAY – Do you have a button tin, box or jar in your family?

Maybe carried over from your mother or grandmother?

I’ve had a few tins from my mother and have held on to them for years. Why? Memories.

It reminds me how they grew up in a time when life was simple and saving was important. If a blouse, dress or shirt lost buttons, they were repaired. If the garment was threadbare and beyond hope, the buttons were cleanly snipped off and stored to be used for something else. To repair another piece of clothing or perhaps, used in a craft project.

Things weren’t tossed away as easily in those days. People were taught to save whether it be clothing, money, home furnishings or relationships. There was an understanding of how to treasure and restore what they had.

Today if an article of clothing loses buttons or rips, we’re just as likely to toss it in a giveaway pile and go buy something new. If a relationship turns rocky, we walk away to find someone else. Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost focus of how to value what we have. While de-cluttering my home, I’m reminded of old time values and inspired to hold on to what truly matters.

Faith, family, friends. Kindness.

But not all the button tins!

I am letting go of a couple of the tins as I know I won’t use them. Someone “craftier” than me will enjoy them. But I’m still holding on to one as a reminder of a simple way of life.