So, My Son, Go Your Own Way

So, my son, go your own way-
     the hard way-
And when the hard way
     has broken you
Your heart will be soft-
     ready- prepared-
For God's cultivation.

You see, my son, hardened soil
     has to be broken-
Before anything
    can be planted.
Before anything
     can flourish.

So, my son, go your own way-
     For then God will allow you
To do as you "please".
     But, your pleasure will be bitter.

And when you "come to your senses"
     Jesus will be where He has been all along-
With you.

Such a great Mother's Day!

What a GREAT Mother's Day!

Let me list for you some GREAT things that happened today:

1) We sang at church for the very first time- Beneath the Waters by Hillsong.  It has been one of my favorite songs, for awhile.  The words share Who Jesus is, and What He did for us at the cross!  Thank You, Jesus!  Leigh Anne just knocked it out of the park!  And why did she?  Because she has experienced and lives in the revelation of knowing Christ as her life!  I will post the lyrics and the video at the end of this blog.  


2) Johnie, Cody, Allison, Ben, Connie, Beas, Nick and I had lunch here at the house.  Again, a beautiful time.  We talked, we laughed, we shared.  My Connie means the world to me.  She is the mother/friend that God brought into my life 8-10 years ago.  She has taught me what someone who TRUSTS Christ looks like.  She doesn't just say it, she does.  It comes naturally to her.  As it should to all of us.  I love Connie.  I am so blessed that Connie is one of my "all things".  Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  He took a motherless daughter and gave her to a daughterless mother.  He worked us together for good.  

3) The kids and my beloved Nick got me EXACTLY what I wanted!  A wagon to pull around the yard!  I LOVE it!!!  The boys put it together for me yesterday!  Thank you, Cody and Johnie!  I do a lot of gardening and this will make my life so much more easy and enjoyable!

4) Sweet Allison- my dear daughter and her sweet Ben- seriously could I ask for a better son-in-love??  Got me a dozen pink roses- I think she got them to honor my mom today (I think she read one of my blogs from yesterday!)  She also got me 3 great cards...yep...I'm going to post them!  And a plant for my porch.  But greatest of all were her words to me:

"Last but not least, thank you to the most important woman in my life, my mama. Happy Mother's Day to you! You are a great mom. Even in times of doubt you are a great mama. You have taught me how to love, how to control my emotions ( even when I fail lol), how to trust Christ in all things and how to give thanks in all things. You are the most beautiful, kind, generous, loving, creative, selfless and inspiring woman that I know! You have taught me to never give up. Even though you did not have a mom to model how to be a mother, you have done a fantastic job! Without you so many things in my life wouldn't have happened: my wedding day, graduation, my first year of teaching, my first year of marriage, and the list goes on and on. You have pushed me and encouraged me all along. You are first my mother but secondly you are my very best friend (besides Ben! : ) ) I am so thankful for you! I pray The Lord continues to reveal himself to you and speak through you. ACLU. All my love!"

Wow.  I can't tell you what these words mean to me.  Honestly.  I praise God for His healing in me so that I could be the mother He created me to be.  Without Him...well, lets just say- it wasn't good!

I've been pretty honest that as the kids were growing up I wasn't a very good mom.  I really really struggled emotionally.  I'm not going to go into detail here (all you have to do is read this blog long enough!) but I believe God is answering my prayer.  He is restoring the years the locusts destroyed.  

My hearts desire for my beloved children- Allison, now Ben, Cody and Johnie is this: that you each have a beautiful, intimate fellowship and oneness with Jesus Christ.  That He is your Center- your Life.  

"Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise)"

This is my revelation
Christ Jesus crucified
Salvation through repentance
At the cross on which He died

Now hear my absolution
Forgiveness for my sin
And I sink beneath the waters
That Christ was buried in

[Chorus]
I will rise, I will rise
As Christ was raised to life
Now in Him, now in Him
I live

I stand a new creation
Baptized in blood and fire
No fear of condemnation
By faith I'm justified

[Chorus]
I will rise, I will rise
As Christ was raised to life
Now in Him, now in Him
I live
[x2]

I rise as You are risen
Declare Your rule and reign
My life confess Your Lordship
And glorify Your Name
Your Word it stands eternal
Your Kingdom knows no end
Your praise goes on forever
An on and on again

No power can stand against You
No curse assault Your throne
No one can steal Your glory
For it is Yours alone
I stand to sing Your praises
I stand to testify
For I was dead in my sin

[Chorus]
But now I rise, I will rise
As Christ was raised to life
Now in Him, now in Him
I live

I will rise, I will rise
As Christ was raised to life
Now in Him, now in Him
I live
[x2]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTwA3NLEjY4

LOL...she KNEW I thought about it!

Mother's Day Lunch: Rosemary/Red Pepper Chicken

Allison and Ben are coming for lunch this year for Mother's Day. I decided to make chicken in the crockpot. Here is my recipe.

Spray the crockpot with cooking spray.
Smooth butter on the bottom.
Sprinkle powdered chicken broth.
Sprinkle pepper and salt.
Sprinkle fresh chopped rosemary.
Sprinkle dried red pepper.
Lay chicken in the crockpot.

Repeat powdered chicken broth, salt and pepper, rosemary and dried red pepper as you layer the chicken in the crockpot.

Cook on high for an hour
On low for 3 hours while at church!

Macey : )

Mother's Day

Oh how I love flowers! I adore them!

My mother loved flowers.
My paternal grandmother, Betha, loved flowers.

The peonies came from my dad/grandmothers yard. They remind me of her.

The pink roses remind me of my mom.

I love and miss them both. I look forward to being reunited with them- and never again being separated.

I do not mourn Mother's Day. I rejoice in them both, and I have faith (sure and certain) I will be with them again

I also celebrate because I am a mother. Of three wonderful imperfect children/adults.

I am blessed.

Thank you, Jesus.

What is it that we must do and what is it that God will do for us?

From My Weakness for His Strength by Michael Wells.

Tea?

Cornflower
Honeysuckle
Yellow Wood Sorrel
Purple Dead Nettle

This tasted OK but I decided to put it in hot sassafras tea- it needed a boost.

Cranesbill Geranium

Cranesbill Geranium

A great blog about Cranesbille Geranium;

http://www.eattheweeds.com/erodium-circutarium-geranium-carolinianum-two-bills-you-want-to-get-2/

Yellow Wood Sorrel

A great blog on the Yellow Wood Sorrell:

http://bushcraftskills.blogspot.com/2010/07/wild-edibles-delicious-lemony-medicinal.html

Purple Dead Nettle

I'm trying to name some of the "weeds" on my yard.

This is a Purple Dead Nettle.

Yummy!

I've upped my running miles. Last week I had a great 10 mile run. This week I had a slower paced 9 mile run.

As I was finishing up the 9 mile run I keep thinking about a "chunkie" I wanted when I finished.

So I picked a few dandelion flowers and red clover flowers to put in it!

Here is all put in it:

Pineapples and juice
Uncooked oats
Apple- with peeling
Spinach
Frozen Berry Medley
Lemon Balm (dried)
Dandelion and red clover flowers
Grapefruit juice

Frank Viola- God's Favorite Place

I received this from Andrew Farley- and have ordered the book.  If you order the book, your have access to a LOT of resources.  One of the resources is 3 hours audio of Frank Viola teaching.  I downloaded it and listened to it yesterday- it is wonderful.  Encouraging.  My heart filled with Joy- as He spoke and taught about Joy, Himself- JESUS!   I encourage you to order the book- and then download, for free, the audio.  There are also 25 other resources!  Some much for only $9!

God's Favorite Place on Earth

A Special Deal from Frank Viola - 5 Days Only! 

If you purchase this new bestselling book by Frank Viola within the next 5 days, you will receive 25 other free resources, including an article that Andrew Farley and Frank Viola wrote together!

How do you get the 25 free resources? After you’ve purchased Frank's new book, just send an email to GodsFavoritePlace@gmail.com and in the subject line indicate where you purchased the book.

 

For your convenience, here's an Amazon link to God's Favorite Place on Earth

 

Dandelion

Some people call this a weed, I call it salad!

Yummy!

Herbs, Weeds and Wildflowers

Thought I'd post some pictures of my "baby". The beginnings of my future magnificent to-be herb, weed and wildflower garden!

Yes, I'm a proud mother-to-be!

New Adventure!

I'm super excited about a new adventure in my life. God has uniquely designed each of us. He has given each of us different desires and likes.

I love herbs. God has created me with a desire to learn about them, grow them, use them and eat them!

Here is my first book on the subject!

Yay!