Old Aquaintence Not Forgotten

I have a friend that I've known since the 4th grade.  KLW and I haven't always been the closest over the years however, in 2011 we rekindled our friendship...and we both just knew it was a God thing.  Initially we bonded over a 40 day prayer journal and as we began acquainting ourselves, we were eerily the same in a variety of ways.  This caused us to become even closer.  We found that we had the same interest in home decor, discount shopping, and food!  We shared tips and ideas on just about everything!

I was at a point in my life where I really had no one outside of my family that I really talked to and shared things with on a regular basis.  Chronic pain had been my constant companion, so I was bound to my house more often that I would have liked.  KLW understood chronic pain and in her I gained someone who could pray, encourage and be transparent with me about what I was going through.

We committed to talking once a week and travelling to each other's homes at least every other week but like always...life happened and we found ourselves being unable to keep that commitment, but we still find time to steal away every now and then and go shopping at one of our favorite stores..."Big Lots".  We both are experts at home decor on a budget and KLW is a master at tablescapes.

The most awesome part of our friendship is how we're able to grow spiritually and share how God is maturing us in a variety of ways.  We have our crying days and complaining days just like anyone else but we've learned that the antidote for complaining is gratitude.  So, after having a hard day of chronic pain, discouragement, or frustration, we know we can just sit back, look at our surroundings and begin to thank God for all He has done and given to us over the years.  I definitely thank God for this rekindled friendship.

(I love and appreciate you KLW.  "A friend loves at all times...". Proverbs 17:17 )

The ULTIMATE Light Of The World

As I was opening up the blinds today, the sun was so overwhelmingly bright.  Ahhhh...ummmm...lovely.  When I don't have a migraine, I invite the pure sunlight into my home, however, there is one draw back.  The sun reveals ALL the dirt and dust hidden by the clouds, blinds, sheers and curtains.  I threw open the back door to enjoy the sun and I quickly saw the dirt, dog hair and splatter left from who knows when and however long ago.  Yuck!  Gross!  The side of the refrigerator was  caked with undiscovered layers of dog hair.  The kitchen floor revealed dirt caked in the floor I was oblivious to.  Arrrrrghhh!  How disgusting!  I quickly grabbed my trusty cleaner and the entire roll of paper towels and began to clean.  (My next thought was to break out my handy steam cleaner but I'll save the deep cleaning for another day because I really want to go take a walk with my dogs.  Tee hee!)  With mediocre satisfaction I cleansed that which the sun revealed.  Then...I had a thought.  Is this what Jesus aka the "Light of the World" sees when He sees me?  He sees the nasty, vile, caked on layers of sin that have accumulated through the course of my life.  The Light of His love allows me to see my sin and then cleanse it with the ULTIMATE cleaner...His blood. 

Psalm 51:6-13
⁶ Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. ⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. ⁸ Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.  ⁹ Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹ Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. ¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.