I am Noon?

Came across a link to this quiz in The Upward Call. I'm not sure that it is totally accurate, but it is kind of fun! Never thought I'd be noon - reminds me of the title song to the western movie "High Noon". The one that starts, "Do not forsake me , oh my darlin'....."

You Are Noon

You are upbeat, ambitious, and never at loss for energy.You have a lot that drives you in life. The desire to be the best, and a secret hope of fame and power.And while you definitely have a Type A personality, you are still fun to be around.You have a ton of charisma and a genuine interest in others. You are adored by many.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Weeds & Sins

I only went on vacation for eight days, and my garden is a mess. Flowers need deadheading, weeds need pulling, more gumballs need raking. Not only that but it's time to plant some seeds. Then I need to put in the annuals and do some mulching. Things happen so quickly in the spring! But the backyard patio provides a real lesson. Between the pavers have sprung up a bazillion weeds - they are almost knee high. I really don't think they were there before I left for vacation, but perhaps they were small enough that I overlooked them. It started me thinking about the sin in our lives, and how we often overlook (or ignore) the small things. But those small "plants" can quickly grow to large weeds that choke out the beauty of desired plants - the real fruits of the Spirit. Just like the weeds in the backyard garden, we need to constantly be on the lookout for the sins in our lives, and pull them out while they are small. It also helps if the ground is moist and workable. Constant drinks of the Living Water are needed; not to mention the Bread of Life for nourishment of the good plants.

Those Surprise Anemones

Rain and Anemones

Well, we're finally getting some rain. A real, steady, drip-dreary, gray-sky, depression-laden, ground soaking rain. Praise God! Normally, I crave the sunshine - can't seem to go very long without it in fact - but we've needed this rain so badly, I really can't complain. It also gives me an excuse to avoid pulling weeds for another day. I can do some inside cleaning and run some errands instead. Tomorrow, if the rain is gone (and I think it should be), I will go out after church & get some of those weeds while the ground is nice and soft.

I had to laugh at myself a few days ago. Last fall, I bought and planted a whole bunch of bulbs - tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, etc. This spring I have been eagerly awaiting each to arrive. But in one part of the garden, I found some weird lettuce-y leaves growing and could not figure out what they were. Eventually, buds formed and they bloomed - anemones! I had forgotten all about those - what a neat present! My mom thinks I am a little squirrelly for forgetting what flowers I had planted, but I think it made for a fun surprise. I love that about spring in the garden. Even when I think I know what to expect and when to expect it, something a little different always shows up to surprise me.

Only Temporarily a Leper

I have been sick with a nasty spring cold for the past week or so, though thankfully, I seem to be getting over it now. Most of my friends, for various reasons, can't afford to get sick right now, so I have been living in self-imposed exile for the last week. The rest was probably good for me, but man - it is lonely! I was thinking that this is what it must be like to be a leper in Jesus' time. Then I thought some more and realized, no, that must have been a lot worse. Colds go away, leprosy often didn't. Those with leprosy lived in exile. No companionship, separated from family & friends, people running in the other direction if they came near, being "picked on." And no one would touch them. Not a hug. Not a single pat on the shoulder to say "I care". Until Jesus came. Now He could have stood at a distance & cured them of the disease, but he didn't. He knew their spirits/souls needed healing as much as their body. And so he touched them. (Mark 1:41) Imagine what that must have felt like to the leper!