Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Jesus. (Okay, so I am a day late.) Thanks be to God for the greatest gift ever given in the form of his baby son. Many blessings to you all as you celebrate this joyous occasion, with whatever traditions you have accumulated over the years!

Ah the dilemma...and the dusty floorboards

Be satisfied with what you have. Long for more (the good ole mantra of consumerism). I realize that the Lord instilled in us a longing and that we are forever mistakenly struggling to fill our need for Him through the filling of our lives with stuff...it seems such a fine line, though.

While reading "Who Stole My Church?" by Gordon MacDonald suddenly a disheartening revelation that my words don't match my belief..."'Jesus didn't ask people just to swallow his words, but he asked them to spend time with him and see what he was about....Did his life match his words?" (p.73)

I strain for a life of simplicity with only a few possessions and yet in our garage sits a riding lawn mower AND a push one...a china cabinet perches against a cobweb-filled corner half-filled with wedding gift china and crystal that, in all honesty, is rarely pulled out and utilized...I am in the process of ripping out living room carpet to reveal a gorgeous hardwood floor beneath...why do I crave change? Why am I unable to remain static? This may not be erroneous on my behalf - but why the need for upgraded surroundings? Why can I not simply exude gratitude for what is here, for what I have? Why do I have to "pretty up" our living environment, dreaming of larger gardens and different hues of walls and heated bathroom floors?

Conundrum. Remember the "spatula" girl? I'm surmising that "conundrum" is now one of my very favourite words (and ways of being, perhaps?). Conundrum conundrum conundrum (and I can even repeat it without blushing)!