Dirt & the Farm Wife

Most of humanity can see Spring coming by the grass waking up--the daffodils and tulips begin to bloom. Fresh warm breezes blowing gently...ah, Spring.
Not the farm wife.
We first notice that spring has arrived in our laundry rooms.

I have yet to find an appliance commercial that uses

a farmers clothes

to advertise how effectively

their machines work.

Here is my arsenal to battle the 

"SPRING (GREASE AND MUD) FLING"

I can't ever get the clothes as clean as they need to be

 That's ok.

Because typically the next day

you will never be able to notice

....by looking, smelling or touching ...

that they were clean just 12 hours ago.

Same goes for the people that wear 

those clothes...

I love this shirt.

Don't ask me what piece of equipment that he was pressure-washing to get that dirty, either...

you don't want to know.

I have been holding on to these pics since April wanting to do a post on Dirt.

BUT....it was done for me!

Ann Voskamp beat me to the punch on her blog the other day.

I LAUGHED SO HARD AT HER PICTURES!

.... AND THE SCENARIO

THAT PLAYED OUT IN HER KITCHEN

IS PLAYED OUT DAILY IN 

OUR KITCHEN.

Some of the dirt sticks to clothes.

That's the dirt

we deal with as

farm wives.

Some other kinds of dirt

stick to our hearts.

That's the dirt

we deal with as

human beings.

Check out the link

by Ann Voskamp

When your life feels Messy...The Real Truth About Your Dirt- A Blog post by Ann Voskamp

It gives me a new perspective

on laundry.

The Right Man

Ok-so teenagers are

a.w.e.s.o.m.e.

Last night our family had the best time playing cards.

(and stayed up too late!)

The Southern Gospel tunes

(as well as Audio Adrenaline...)

were cranked up.

Hey, we only played one song at a time...

...and yes...the genres are opposite...

...don't send an email about it either! :)

We like it that way!

Everybody has their own groove.

Their own way to

praise Jesus.

We had a blast...

Our family is a singing family.

all. 4. parts.

and it is so much fun!

We have had the opportunity 

to share our music with

lots of people...

but when we can cut loose

in the kitchen

we sure make it sound interesting.

We have tenors trying to be

bass

We have bass trying to be

baritone

All wrapped up with

teenage hormones

I. love. it!!!!

Last night was no exception.

We laughed until our

sides hurt.

We smiled until the wrinkles in our cheeks

were fixed in place.

Uproarious

laughter.

One song came on over the speakers...

(below is the link!)

and as everyone sang...

I looked around the table...

at some pretty awesome teens.

What amazing things that God has planned.

pilot/musician/computer techie...future unfurled!!

author/musician/amazing cook...the sky is the limit!!

farmer/mechanic/business owner...no stopping him!!

What an awesome thing...

to be a parent...

to watch them grow up.

to make choices...

the good/ the bad/ the wise & not-so-wise 

and even...

well, um...ridiculously funny

and ridiculously NOT so funny.

Isn't THIS our job as Mom and Dad?!?!?

To point our kids to Christ!

...so they become the right type of men that the right woman wants...

And to raise daughters that desire that kind of right man?!

I am praying for all of you Mama's and Papa's out there trying your best to raise your kids to follow Jesus.

I am praying for all of the future Brides and Grooms out there that you aim to be all that God has called you to be.

To one day have a family that is sold out for Jesus Christ.

I Want To Be That Man by Brian Free and Assurance

click on the link for an incredible song!

Hey all you teens that 

follow this blog...

pray for your future spouse...

Don't settle for less!

Love ya'll!

Jesus, Firm Foundation

different perspective brings struggles...wrestling with my  inner man.
the man that  weakly wanders, fearfully waits, constantly disobeys....
wrestling my inner man brings a glorious new perspective...on the depravity of my heart.

(how about you? Seen the depths of your heart lately???)

and sometimes a new perspective brings ya right back where you started from...
square. one.
the. basics.
but...
with. new. eyes. to. see.
with. new. ears. to. hear.
with. a. new. heart. to. love.
with. new. hands. to. serve.
with. new. feet. to. share. the. Good. News.
with. a. stronger. voice. to. speak. truth.
with a joyful radiance that spreads

GRACE 

SWEET

UNDESERVED

UNMERITED

GRACE

I am studying

"The Explicit Gospel" by Matt Chandler
(...an incredible study!!!)
and it is back to the basics.
Funny how much stuff we pack on top of a really, really, really
simple
yet profound truth.

THE GOSPEL SAVES YOU.

"Our failure to realize the gravity of eternity reveals several issues at play in our lives. 

An underestimation

of the nature of sin.

An overestimation 

of our own abilities.

And a

drastic downplay of the extremity of God's Grace."

~Matt Chandler

excerpt from-The Explicit Gospel pp.33

How firm is my foundation?!

Really.

How firm is the foundation.

Is the foundation of your faith...

well,um...your faith?

Or is the foundation of your faith...

Christ alone.

What is the Gospel?

Is the Gospel the 'Jesus-plus something' program?

Is the Gospel enough to save you and keep you?

I think it is easy to think of accepting the Gospel as the starting point of the walk with Christ and then we advance on from there...

NOPE.

The Gospel is the point...THE WHOLE POINT. 

it is the beginning...the sustaining...the ending. If it is the 'Jesus-plus something" that saves me and that keeps me...than it is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

It is all about the Gospel.

It is all about Jesus.

The Gospel saves me.

The Gospel keeps me.

The Gospel sanctifies me.

THE GOSPEL IS FOR 

MY PAST

(before I knew Him...He knew me...and while I was yet in sin he had a plan through Jesus to rescue me) 

MY PRESENT

(God is conforming me to his image through my circumstances)

AND MY FUTURE.

(heaven)

JESUS MY FIRM FOUNDATION!

JESUS MY RESURRECTION!

Jesus, Firm Foundation 

(click to listen)