Mercy

What would our world look like if we examined ourselves?  If everyone else was like me, we would be remorseful, discouraged people.  The self-examination of our hearts leads us to a place of beautiful transformation.  Not one person could unveil their secrets and feel they have reached perfection.  Instead, the willingness to look at the heart authentically brings a raw chance for surrender.  Vulnerability must be present for mercy to rush in and cover all our shame.  And in this moment of naked disgrace, truer glory has never been known... the glorious forgiveness of our Lord and Savior! 
Oh Father, with reckless, hopeless abandon, I come before you a hypocrite, a sinner.  Wash me white, cover me with you blanket of grace.  Make me beautiful once again.


Inspired from Isaiah 43.

Productive!

I would consider today a productive day... I've posted on both my food blog, this one, and plan to update the family blog which is a major success considering it's been almost a month since any have been touched!  Sorry if you are a regular reader... I've been a letdown. =)

Also accomplished today, in both sun and rain:

• Picked 22 lbs. of organic strawberries with Mac
• Started one batch of strawberries, bananas, and apples in the dehydrator
• Hulled all the strawberries and begun flash-freezing them
• Found perfect Father's Day cards for both dads
• Watered my garden
• Found the first produce in our garden: a little green bean!
• Picked raspberries from the neighbor's yard
• Said hi to my parents
• Walked downtown with my Mac to get our favorite chai and take the computer to the Mac store
• Went into the Inkwell WITHOUT begging Mac to buy anything
• Rigged up a clothesline in the backyard
• Cleared the yard of weeds that came up to my waist
• Pruned the rosebushes (I know it's the wrong season, but they were falling over...)
• Discovered the herbs that previous renters planted are edible
• Thought about what to do with the 22 lbs. of strawberries and decided to make some strawberry crisp for dessert.

What beauty I find in a productive Saturday!  Now, to continue the productivity without going absolutely insane... on the docket for tomorrow after church:

• Go to Costco
• Make granola, adding in some of the dehydrated strawberries
• Get some laundry drying on the clothesline (if it's not raining)
• Bake bread
• Read my book
• Play piano
• Clean the house
• Dinner with the fam for Dad