Inside and Outside

Ecclesiastes 3:2b

...a time to plant,

 and a time to pluck up that which is planted.

I spent some time outdoors yesterday afternoon.  It is fall here and we are having beautiful weather this week.  The nights are very chilly and the days are sunny and warming into the 70s.  It appears that what remained in the garden did not appreciate two nights at about 32 degrees, so it was time "to pluck up."  It is sad to see the empty garden, but I rejoice in thinking of the next years produce while the earth rests.

Today there are clothes drying out in the cool morning sunshine and I think that I will warm the house with some baking.  It is midterm time and I think that I will bake for 3 college students at church (and my own dear hubby).  I think I will make some pumpkin bread, some ginger bars, and some no bake cookies and stick in some microwave pop corn to go with it.  That should warm the house and create such a pleasant smell.

BTW - Midterms are going well - 5 done today and 4 more to go (3 Friday and 1 on Monday).  Also the rough draft of the research paper came back and there is no need for a final paper - HOORAY!

It seems that this week, I am working on faith - trusting God that His way and timing are perfect.  Sometimes our view does not let us see the end result.  We know that we are supposed to be here in NC and Chris is supposed to be studying for the ministry, but we can't see the end result right now - there are too many obstacles in the way.  The flesh wants to give up, but the Christian life and walk requires faith to trust the good hand of our God upon us.  He has repeatedly shown us that this is the path, we have but to walk in it.

Our struggles remind me of a poem and song about a weaving.  The gist of the prose is that we only see the underside of the work, while Christ sees the finished products.  The back of my stitching projects are full of knots, dragged stitches, color changes - it really is hard to see any beauty there, but the end result is beautiful and that is why the stitches and colors were chosen.

So ... keep trusting.  Keep believing in God's plan.  How 'bout you?  Are you doubting His plan and His goodness today?  Why not just trust him.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God, and keep his commandments:

for this is the whole duty of man.