With my tears and my hair.

From Luke 7:36-50

 Here I am Lord a tarnished woman. The oil from my jar is a love gift to You.

My tears stream down to wash Your feet Lord. I am but a sinner let me.

I hear the comments about waste, but had I not done this, I’d have nothing to give.

Sell it they say. 300 Denari I know a high cost even though it would feed so many more.

A balm for my Savior and ointment for Him. This is preparing Him for the grave.

I hear the words that the world will remember me, but that is not why I did what I did.

My gift of love was poured out in sorrow. My tears mingled with the perfume.

His feet they are washed and prepared for His end. I have no towel so I’ll just use my hair. Dry and ready He is going to the cross. His life He has given for you and for me.

Thank you dear Jesus for Your act of service. You have allowed me to live life today.

With hope, joy and courage, I walk now toward You. This race I will finish with refinement from You. Help me to love and forgive as You do. I am but a cracked vessel use me.

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God is my pressure washer.

I was preparing the outside of my house for showing and the realtor asked if I would bleach a few spots on the driveway to get a few oil stains out. I had honestly never thought about cleaning the driveway!  So, I took the bleach and scrubbed the driveway but it wasn’t doing the job well enough. I thought about using a pressure washer.  I have never used a pressure washer, nor did I have one.  I had seen our neighbor with one and inquired about it.  He graciously loaned it to me and I proceeded without any instructions, to put it together. 

 It was hot, and I was having no success.  Finally I figured it out!  Woo hoo!  We have been here in this home almost 4 years now and that is what was on the ground! You can see the dirt and grime build up. There were some nasty spots on the driveway that over time had built up. I didn’t notice them because they became common.  That is the way sin is in my life.  I get accustomed to it and it doesn’t bother me.  So of course I had to take a photo to show what God does in our lives when He has free reign to do so!  

 God is our Heavenly “pressure washer”. Sometimes it takes some mega scrubbing and some severe force to get the sins out of our lives. You know, you actually have to ask Him to clean it out.  Ask as it says in I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  We can be clean! Simply ask.

Lord, if there is any unclean thought, any evil or any sin in our lives today, please wash it out.  Help us to yield the dirty pavement of our lives to You Father. In Jesus name, Amen

Clean House.

It is official. Our house is on the market. The house has been prepared for showing, but I still have 3 kids and a dog. How in the world am I going to keep this house clean???  One room at a time!

 I was given a mug from Mary Engelbreit that says, “PRINCESS OF QUITE A LOT” for Christmas a few years ago when it really should have said “QUEEN OF CLUTTER”!  http://www.helloandgoodbuy.com/collectibles/public/product.asp?ProductID=12578&CollectionID=112&CategoryID=1065&ManufacturerID=5

I am not sure why, but I have been a clutter bug all of my life and it is something that is not easily overcome.  Here are a few things I have done to try to cut the clutter and prepare for the showings.

1. Put stuff away as soon as I am done using it. Logical thing for sure but hard to do when I get distracted.

2. Put a covered tub in each room so I can just throw the kids things in quickly and leave the house and after the showing, put their toys away.

3. Use the same dish all day with washing and putting it away immediately.

4. Pray a whole lot!

 Our house has not shown yet, but I have a good feeling that the showings will be begin soon. So I am excitedly expectant as we begin the process of selling our home. Say a few prayers for our family. It is hard to pack and move. It is hard to say goodbye to beloved neighbors. It is tough to help the kids understand why we are being obedient to God. This I know. God will provide. God is my help. God is a God of order!

Lord, today, if we have things in our lives that need to be dealt with, help us to draw them into the light so that you can purge our hearts and our lives to make us ready to “show”. Help us to be a good example for you not just hiding stuff in boxes to deal with later. Let us truly invite You in to clean our homes where you reside. Our hearts. In Jesus name. Amen 

(I borrowed this picture from http://webclipart.about.com/od/businesscareers/l/blclp4s.htm)  It is not my work but solely theirs.)