Restored

Sometimes in conversation we ask each other "What's your very favorite car you have ever had?"  For me I don't even need a second to answer.  My 1967 VW Bus pictured above here is my favorite. 

It had white interior, bench seats, safari windows, rag top, white walls... on and on I could go. There is something about even the smell and sound of a VW that I love SO much.   My bus was great all the way around, and I could even get all my kids in there and their friends too.  It was  sunny and happy and just cool.  

When I bought my bus it had sat for years.  It was completely broken down.  Someone, or many people over the years, had taken it apart and then pieced it together with things that didn't belong.  Like bucket seats for example. 😭  Tragic in my estimation.  It was wiped out.

So my goal was to restore it back to stock.  Like it was completely new.  And so it happened. 

In life we can feel wiped out, pieced together, and broken down at times like my bus felt before I was able to get a hold of it. But just as my bus was totally restored, we too, can be put back together by God again.  He can make us new.  He can give us a fresh start.  He can take away the things that we have placed in our lives that don't belong and usher in all the things that do belong. 

I love in the Bible in 1 Peter 5:10 it says, "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." 

Let's ask God to take away the things that wreck us.  And He will do just that.  Then He will replace those things with all things that are just absolutely cool. We will come out completely restored and made new. 

“Behold I make all things new...”

— Revelation 21:5

Mmmmmmmmmm 😋

I took this picture of my Grandson Ev.  He's delighted because if you look closely you will see in his left hand and surrounding his lips as well, one of his Mommy's homemade cookies that I gave him.   😋

So far Everett has only said two words.  The first one is "Mama."

The second one is "Mmmmmmm."  

He doesn't say "Mmmmmm" when he's eating his vegetables.  He does it when he's eating a cookie or something like that. 

Let's be like Ev today and say "Mmmmmm."  Not just at the delicious food we are blessed to eat.  But also let's say "Mmmmm" as we taste and see that the Lord is Good throughout the day. 

The Lord is GOOD!  

We can pray even now that we would taste his goodness throughout the day, even if it seems like a day (metaphorically speaking) full of vegetables,  because even that is filling us with vitamins that will make us stronger.  

It's so beautiful that we can find all our security in that goodness and take refuge in that fact.

So let's thank God for His  goodness!  Because the Lord is Mmmmmm... soooo GOOD!

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”

— Psalm 34:8

I Appreciate it Mom

This is an old photo of my beautiful sister, Jenny, my Mom, and me.  My Mom made our matching dresses.  How cool is that? 👗👗👗

Yep, my Mom is gorgeous.  I remember sitting in the back of our VW square back, and we got stopped by the police.  My mom was driving.  The police took one look at her (you could tell he was smitten by her beauty) and began stuttering as he was trying to explain what she had done to get stopped.  

My Mom so sweetly just kinda flashed her big smile and said something like "Oh my, I'm so sorry..." and he just kinda said something like "Oh no problem, just wanted to let you know."  (Just wanted to let you know? 😂) And of course no ticket was given. 

My Mom's a Beaut! 

I got off the phone with her yesterday and started thinking about how she hasn't just been a Beaut outwardly, but also inwardly.

I was also thinking she was a Beaut to decide to be a "stay-at-home" Mom.  By doing that, she made my sister, my brother, and myself feel like we had value.  

More value than even, well... money.  

There is something more valuable than extra money?

Extra time with us kids was more valuable than extra money?  We were more valuable than her developing her career?  Wow!  That preaches!

As she got older and we kids grew up and out of the house,  she absolutely used her many gifts and talents in floral arranging, designing, painting, and all kinds of things.  But I really appreciate the fact that she was a stay-at-home Mom for us kids.

This post is in no way to put a trip on any of you precious working Moms reading this!  Some of you don't have a choice, for one thing.  For another thing, some of you have been called by GOD to the workplace!

But I'm simply saying thank you Mom, I appreciate it!  

And for any of you Mom's that are  able and making the hard choice even possibly now... To be a stay-at-home Mom is legit!  And don't think for a moment you won't be developing MANY skills you are able to use down the road!  There are just moments with your kids you seriously can't go back to, and trust me when I say this, they will be up and gone before you know it. 

Regardless of whether you are a working or stay-at-home Mom, I want to say big hugs to each of you and  ... you go girls!  

Tambo sure is rooting for you!

Flowers Speak

If you go to my little cottage where I live in Jacksonville, you will see that I always have fresh flowers out.

I LOVE flowers.  There are few things more glorious than flowers.  Flowers Speak.  They speak of God's creativity and beauty.  They fill a room with a sweet aroma.  They bring "happy" into your day.

God has given us the ability to notice, appreciate, and even surround ourselves with beauty.  I think we can often forget about that.    

I had a darling little 98 year old neighbor Elaine (now in Heaven) who said something I'll always remember because it just makes me smile.  She would say, "This tree is showing off" as we would walk by a tree smothered in blossoms. 

Just a thought for today, If you are able, go to your local farmers market or even grocery store and pick up some fresh flowers.  As you see them everyday throughout the week, pause and think about how amazing our Creator is to bring such beauty into this world.  And reflect on the fact that that same Creator loves and cares for you so much!

Let's surround ourselves with beauty. If you aren't able to get flowers, there are lots of other ways to surround ourselves with things that are lovely. We can turn on inspiring music.  Maybe open the shades and let the sun shine in. 

But regardless, let's first of all pause and notice the beautiful things God has already put around us... and then let's stop and think about ways we can surround ourselves with more beauty... Because there is always something we can do!

“It’s fun when we realize God has given us the ability to notice and even usher in beauty ...”

— Tambo 🌼

Trending Now

It's often fun to get media alerts of what's "Trending Now."  Sometimes it's something that I can get excited about for myself.  Other times it's a style or idea that just isn't going to work for me.

But something that is "Trending Now," that will fit perfectly on everyone and is a great idea for anyone, is to BASK in the Love of God!

When we bask in this love, we then begin to be a more loving person shining brightly for Him, impacting the world around us.

This trend has life-long and even eternal value.

It would be a beautiful idea to pray and ask our Father, how can I best wear this trend even this very day.  How can I wear it in such a way that it is shown for what it is: a timeless trend.

Maybe you're reading this and you've never considered this timeless trend for yourself.  It's sure not too late for you to grab a hold of it now, no matter who you are or where you've come from. 

So, Media Alert!  Trending now (and always and forever) ... Receiving and wearing the love of God!

p.s. Nothing, I mean NOTHING can separate you from the Love of God.

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

— Romans 8:37-39

Can We Be Happy?

"Classic Fun Sun" shop "Paintings" 

Can we be happy?

Okay I'm speaking for myself here but my answer is...Yes!  We certainly can be actually happy.

"...Happy are the people whose God is the Lord." it says in Psalms 144:15

Think about who our God is.  That alone makes me happy.  

Try not to be happy as you read Psalms 100 below... 😊

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.  Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.  Know ye that the Lord He is God:  it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves;  we are His people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise:  be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.  For the Lord is good;  His mercy is everlasting;  and his truth endureth to all generations."  Psalms 100

Happy?  Did you say YES? 😄 Me too! 😄

“Happy are the people whose God is the Lord”

— Psalms 144:15

Young People 👍

My four granddaughters are some of my all-time favorite people to hang with. 

They inspire me with their creativity, beauty, winsomeness, honesty, kindness, love, joy, humor, perspective, and uniqueness. 

When they come over, I'm able to take in all of the above through each of them. 

We all love art which makes it extra fun to hang out.  They are all gifted artists, and I love watching each of them take a blank canvas and do their thing with it.  All so good yet all different. (Great lessons through this thought alone). 

You can see some of this pictured below. Bailey's, Sadie's, and Lula's beautiful paintings.  I love Char's personality because she will paint a great piece rather quickly, and then head straight for chilling with popcorn and a movie ✌️(So I missed the opportunity to catch her painting). 

As we sit over dinner, I marvel at their fun thoughts and beautiful ideas and perspectives.  They always make me smile, and they just do me good. They refresh me and give me an important perspective. 

So often as adults we can think kids are to be learning from us, which of course is true.  But it is also true that WE can learn from KIDS/YOUNG PEOPLE.  Let's not miss that.👊 

In fact, let's stop for just a few seconds and think about what this world would be without young people.  Now we can easily move on from that thought and be super grateful and value youth.

Because this world would be a sad place without them. 

If at all possible, hang with a young person sometime soon.  Not with the intent to teach them something, but rather with the intent to LEARN something.

I can see why in the Bible it says to young people:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young...”

— 1 Timothy 4:12

The Oracles of God

Ever since my son Benjamin was a little guy, I've known God was going to use him in a powerful way.  He's now 28 and it has come to pass, yet God's calling on his life has only just begun. 

Just over a couple weeks ago, Ben put out one of my very favorite things he's done.  It's this video I'm posting here.  

This link takes you to Ben speaking the Oracles of God.  

There is just no other way to put it.  

Though Ben is speaking from memory here, the point is not memorizing Bible verses but rather taking in the promises of God and absorbing them.  Pausing to think about how GOOD God is and how MUCH He loves us.

So today, even if you have already watched this video, re-watch it!

If at all possible, find a spot by yourself and turn it up loud and listen to every word.

Take these promises in for YOURSELF.  Not for your neighbor or your friend or your spouse.  This is meant for YOU today. 

Then after you've done that ...  share this video with everyone. 🙌

From Hope Generation's Youtube Channel, HG Creative: Positives  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnGOA-b_rT4

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God...”

— 1 Peter 4:11