Seeing Myself Clearly

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
~Philippians 2:4~

The real truth about myself or my character and motives can often be hard to discern and even more difficult to see.As an all too human woman, at times, I see myself through the pink hues lenses of rose colored glasses.I see myself through His eyes which are eyes of love and grace.Today I saw myself through His eyes.But this time it was through the eyes of a Father who longs to see me whole,and like Him.Those Eyes were loving but I,at that moment,realized I needed help with my attitude.I don't do the servant thing very well at times.I would,at times,rather do anything than cook another meal or wash another dish or do one more thing for another here.I saw this very clearly today.This was a glaring truth to me.I saw myself clearly.And it was not pretty.A sharp tone,rolling eyes or heavy sigh,may be missed by those whom I am serving but they are not missed by God.And today I was made aware of it.I had been too absorbed in my own self interests to see this as an opportunity to become more like Him.Jesus,the Son of God,took on the form of a servant and humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross.And yet,there I stood in my kitchen,not wanting to cook one more meal.But I did it anyhow.*Smile*Thankfully I married into a family that is extremely gracious and forgiving.Just like God Himself.They see me clearly and still they love me.That is an immense blessing.

Image from SOJ Graphics

Gift Graciously Bestowed

My dear friend Jo over at The Road Less Traveled
has graciously bestowed the Arte y Pico award upon me!
Apparently it was an award created for bloggers who inspire
you with their creativity and talents!
Thank you dear Jo for bestowing such an honor.
I am humbled and blessed by this.Jo is herself
a recipient of this award and I encourage you to
go and read her blog as well.You will enjoy!
This award is special I am told.
Therefore it comes with some rules:

1.)Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to.

2.)Each award has to have the name of the author and a blog
link to be visited by everyone.

3.)Each award winner has to show the award and put the name
and link to the blog that gave them the award.

4.)Award winner and the one who was given the prize have to show
the link of Arte y Pico blog so everyone will know the origin
of the award.

I bestow this award upon:
Adrienne

Ann

Brenda

Melissa

TeriLeigh

Blessings all~Sharon
PS~Keep me in prayer as I am getting over an upper respiratory infection.
Thanks so very much.

Berry Bliss

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth;
One is nearer God's heart in a garden,
Than anywhere else on earth.
~Dorothy Frances Gurney~
1858-1932

We had opportunity recently to spend an unmeasured amount of time out in nature recently.I craved it.Desired it.Turns out I truly needed it as well and my soul and spirit knew that.God knew it.Too much of my life is spent indoors.Taking care of business here in the apartment.Inside the van on the way to run errands.Inside businesses and stores.Little time spent in the sun,fresh air and out in God's lovely and restorative nature.So,off we went to a local berry farm.To pick blueberries, we hoped.And we were grandly rewarded.They were ripe and ready to be picked.The sun was warm and the wind was cool and there was nary a cloud to be seen.We took our buckets and gingerly made our way over the uneven terrain to where the blueberries were.Acre upon acre of various fruits and flowers were laid out before us.I began to be at peace.There is something very calming and cathartic about picking berries in a garden for me.It's as if God Himself dwells there and He speaks peace to me as I pull the sun ripened,blue orbs off their delicate stems.His peace begins to permeate.And I am transformed.Unaware that I have been carrying any stress internally I begin to feel it melt away as the sun,the wind and God's presence do their much needed work within me.I move onto the next bush and with each bush I peruse I feel my pulse slowing.My heart rate calms.I feel,I think,what the first humans must have felt in the Garden of Eden.And I smile for I am suddenly aware of His presence here more than any other place I have been.And this changes everything.My outlook is renewed.I feel internally refreshed.And I think to myself that it is no accident that time began in a garden.For I think God knew of it's ability to heal and restore and bless.And for that I am grateful.I am grateful that there are still green spaces,gardens,berry farms and such.I am not anti-progress but I am glad that there are still places in His creation where we as His children can go and gain a small glimpse into what Eden must have been like.

Blessings~Sharon
Image from All Posters

I am,I think Meme

I have been tagged by my dear friend Jo!So here are my answers to these wonderfully thought provoking phrases.I shall decline tagging anyone for Jo and I share many of the same blog friends and I got no response last time I tried this!

Blessings~Sharon

I am: A much loved child of an awesome God.

I think:God is the greatest artist there is.

I know: His plan for my life will be accomplished.

I have: Many who call me sister and friend.

I wish: I was thin.

I hate: Those things that separate people from God .

I miss: Many things and people.

I fear: Circumstances will remain the same.

I feel: Peaceful this morning.

I hear:The hum of our fans and husband's occasional snoring.

I smell: Freshly made coffee and the smell of a summer morn.

I crave: Books,books and more books.

I search:For God's will and for beauty as well as inspiration.

I wonder:What my family and friends are up to right now?

I regret: That I couldn't go to College.

I love:God,His creation,and all that is beautiful.

I ache: For those who need to be set free from sin's clutches.

I am not: Lonely.

I believe: God is good all the time.

I dance: Seldom.

I sing:Often.

I cry:When needing to release stress.

I don't always:Do that which I should do.

I fight: Seldom.

I write:Because I love it!

I win:In the end!

I lose:My patience sometimes.

I never: Say"never!"

I always:Try to remember to say "thank You."

I confuse:My priorities sometimes.

I listen:To beautiful or inspirational music most all the time.

I can usually be found:Writing or reading or cooking or cleaning.

I am scared: That inspiration in writing shall never return.

I need:To find Him once again.

I am happy about:My life in general.

I imagine:Heaven will be an amazing place!

Glimpses of His Grace

My husband and I have faced numerous losses in the last 6 years or so.Losses of health,employment,finances.Loss of friends and family members through old age and disease.Consequently we've faced times of fear as well as depression.It is a common thing,even among Christians.Sometimes we have even had to sell precious possessions to make ends meet.You do what you have to do.At least this has been our experience.But in the midst of all this grief,pain,sorrow and loss we've seen His grace as well.I was pondering this while in our bathroom yesterday.I was observing how pretty the stained glass angel night light was that one of my younger sisters had given me.They were a set of 2.One graces a small alcove in our living room.Sandy knew of my love of color,stained glass and angels.And she graciously bought these for Christmas last year.They have been a continual remembrance of His grace.How He provides light for us in the dark places in our lives.A bit of beauty in our day,just like the sun that rises and shines it's light on us.A reminder that He sends His angels,ministering spirits,to protect us and to guard us.And He reminds me of His love through the love of my sister.Glimpses of His grace.Sometimes they're small.Sometimes they're great.But they're always present in even the darkest times in our lives if we but look for them.

Blessings~Sharon