It's not what you think

You are in the grocery store check-out line, you glance over and see this the lady's cart in front of you.

 Let's get a closer look.

You are thinking... really, COUPONS????

 Why do I always get behind the lady with the coupons. 

She probably is paying with a check too. 

Oh, wait....she has some issues. 

Well, folks it isn't always what you think! 

So we drove by church last Saturday and saw it was "garden clean up day." We stopped to help and all the kids were out by the road (with adults) helping clean up trash....then, this little white, scruffy, Benji-looking dog ran across the main road, dodging cars, right up to all the kids there. Happy as can be, so friendly. 

I am not one to let a dog get run over, so we made a leash out of a scarf. 

First thought, no collar = not very good parents. (Yea, MY dog has gotten off her collar before and run away, but we live in a gated community and she looks clean, there is a difference...) 

Then I start to hear about this family across the street, people see LOTS of different dogs there. Um hum....they would explain why he was in tact if you know what I am saying....

By the way, they haven't even looked for the dog, do they even care?

So he hangs out with us awhile, we actually come across a real leash. When it is time to leave, we drive across the street to find out what is going on. I go walking up these peoples driveway with my "I am better than you" attitude, polite, but definitely an heir of I know better.

"Excuse me, Sir, is this your dog I found without a collar? He almost got hit by a car crossing the street."

"Oh, my daughter brought it home last night, I am not sure what is going on...."

Here we go I thought. Um hum... Keep in mind the dog is in the car with my husband because I am not about to give it back.  The man's daughter comes out...

"Yes, Mamn.  He was at the gas station up the road.. They said he was there for two days and had to go, so I brought him here with me. He was so thirsty he cried when I got him water. I bought him some food too. He was very hungry. I didn't have time to get him a collar. I gave him a bath too."

My face and heart melted..... I was so ashamed. We started talking about church and I told her about a youth concert we were having next month. She was very involved with youth at her old church but it was too far, she may attend the concert and bring a friend. I offered to take him and help find him a home.

 Shhh, don't tell my husband, but he may not leave! 

And back to the Preparation H, you can also use it for "eye cream" on a puffy day. So next time you are quick to think someone may have or be a pain in the you know what... think again.... I sure will. 

Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

  

Is your Faith in a box?

We have been blessed with new neighbors!

They are busy unpacking boxes as you can see 

 And in my usual style, I got to thinking..

did you unpack your Faith after your last move? 

Or is your Faith taped up in a box, sealed tight and placed on a shelf at the top of your closet so 

NO ONE CAN SEE it?  

...or do you wear it out on RARE occasions, like a fancy dress or suit?

Or do you only wear it when you NEED it, like a snow jacket? 

Or is it under your clothes like SPANX, no one else knows you are wearing them, but you no longer have unsightly bumps, it just smooths everything out and you LOOK & FEEL BETTER.  It's not like you are wearing a sign that says, "Hey I have Spanx on," but YOU KNOW IT and you just feel good. 

(I guess for you guys out there, this would be the equivalent of the drawers with holes in them you still have from college, we know you have them and love to wear them.) 

Or do you wear your FAITH on your FEET? The actual shoes you are wearing, they go everywhere with you, PROTECTING you EVERY MOMENT. 

And people can SEE them too. They might say, "Hey, I really like your shoes, where did you get them?" 

Or is is like the over-sized bag high on your shoulder and you keep HITTING people with it and they get annoyed.  And then furthermore, you have to comment on the size of everyone else's bag or lack thereof too. 

Well, I have to run and do some unpacking myself...and go warn the neighbors they need to be careful what they put out in their trash, 

I might take a picture for my blog.

  

Are you "Root Bound"?

Recently I pulled these plants out of the ground because as you can see, they weren't exactly thriving. They are "root bound", meaning their roots are all intertwined, tangled, and suffering without water... really slowly dying.

I got to thinking
How many of us are "Root Bound"?

How many of us out there are tangled up in our lives so we can't thrive and grow, bound by unneccesary people or things, even suffering in our day to day life?

As we celebrated Easter Sunday, and I taught the lesson in the kids Sunday School class

(mis-pronouncing Pontius Pilate "Pilates", in my usual style)

It hit me like a ton of bricks ~ isn't that why we celebrate Easter,

because Jesus died on the cross for our sins and so we don't have to be "root bound" anymore?

So Believe

Unburden yourself

Set yourself free

Live

and

    Thrive