It was certainly a pretty day here in Michigan. I am loving the weather, not too hot. Just perfect for me. We finished a big housecleaning job today. It's always so nice to finish a job and have the satisfaction of the completion.

We also made one more step to finishing the wall in Mom's kitchen--we bought the board to go between the paper and the painted section. Hopefully before the week's out that will be completed.

I sold a few more perennials today and potted up some new ones. It's fun to see my extras get homes and me get $$$. As for the gardens, besides potting some new starts, I did some minor weeding and watered the veggie garden. I intend to till tomorrow and so with our hard, clay soil I needed to water tonight. Most everything is up; beans (the last row I planted is trying to push through) potatoes (a few still popping up), and onions. I also planted a few pepper plants and some squash today. After I till in the morning I hope to plant a row of "dry" beans for use in soups, etc. Also I have a few packages of herbs I may try to fit in here and there. They were free and I might as well plant them and see what comes up! After that the garden planting will be all completed, as far as I can tell at this point.

It seemed like today was all about completion--the job, the garden, the new wall decor. I am a person that tends to put things off especially when it comes to projects. I currently have at least 4 knitted sweaters under construction, more sewing projects than I can count that are unfinished, crocheting projects the same, at least 4 embroidery projects, etc., etc., etc. The list goes on and on. That's not to mention all the projects in my mind that I WANT to do and haven't started. I have a cupboard full of fabric that was mostly purchased with certain yet unfinished garments in mind! I have two books in the works that are in partial stages of completion and several more in the mental development stages! Many household chores like spring and fall cleaning projects that are pressing to be done and more decorating that I'd like to eventually see finished. Wow, it could be overwhelming!

I would like to discipline myself to be one who completes what I start. It's a mark of maturity. God has alot to say about "completion" in the Bible. Consider Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" God does not start things and then not finish them. If you have trusted Christ as your saviour, you are a work in progress that God will be faithful to bring to completion. What about the times when you feel "incomplete?" The word declares in Colossians 2:10,"and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Clint is currently teaching on Wednesday evenings from the book of Colossians and it's really been good!)You are both complete in Him and being assured of the good work begun in you being brought to completion. It's a win/win situation!

I have often heard Clint and other favorite evangelists speak of "finishing well." There are those personalities in the Bible that finished well and those who did not. I want to be one who cooperates with the discipline and leading of the Lord so that He is pleased with my progress. I hope to write more tomorrow on "finishing well." Blessings, LORI

Beauty, Bounty, Blessings

Let's talk about BEAUTY, BOUNTY, and BLESSINGS! Clint helped me with a cleaning job today. Together we logged in about 9 1/2 hours and we're not done yet! I was so glad he was there to help me, otherwise this would have been a job that took me several days to complete. We will try to finish it tomorrow. In this economy, we are thankful for the job--BOUNTY, BLESSING.

After I got done with the cleaning, I headed home and hurried to prepare my supplies for tomorrow. My mom, God bless her, had done my laundry and had it all folded neatly--BLESSING. As well as that, she had found someone who was more than willing to give me a start from an old-fashioned yellow rose in their yard. The rose was waiting for me to plant when I got home--BEAUTY, BLESSING.

I knew when I got home that I had to take time to pick the strawberries. I was afraid if I waited one more day, I'd lose some. I think I picked about 2 1/2 quarts of the ruby red berries. They were just wonderful--BLESSING, BOUNTY. This is the second picking so far-BOUNTY.

After I got done with that Mom washed and hulled them all getting them ready for the freezer--BLESSING.

Rhiannon made supper while I had been picking the berries and she concocted a wonderufl dish of something like homemade chicken helper. She used a leftover chicken breast that I had cooked along with two others yesterday. We also made chicken salad out of them. Supper was delicious--BLESSING, BOUNTY.

Today we learned by e-mail that some of our ministry friends were in a very serious accident and while they and their animals that happened to be with them were unhurt--BLESSING--much damage was done to their vehicles and belongings. They are trusting the Lord to use His people to help them recover the items that make for their means of ministry and I was reminded of my own BOUNTY and that I might want to think about BLESSING them.

After supper I found time for a little walk. I shortened the walk as I just suddenly ran out of steam about halfway through what would be my normal distance. I did notice the incredible BEAUTY of the roadside wild flowers that are currently blooming. There are lots of what I would suspect are wild phlox. They are tall and range in color from white to dark lavender. A large group of them was blooming in a wooded area amongst wild berry bushes. The berry bushes are currently flowering in a lovely white. Mixed together this made the most lovely scene. Just breathtaking BEAUTY.

My garden is currently exhibiting the most exciting array of colors. There are burgundies, pinks, roses, whites, purples, lavenders, and a bit of yellow. BEAUTY. Also blooming in BOUNTY are a new favorite--meadow sages--I think the other name may be blue salvia, but I'm unsure. I put them in the landscaping around the front and back two years ago and they are now huge. I love their purple spires and full, abundant look-BOUNTY.

I couldn't help thinking about the verses in Romans chapter 1 as I was walking this evening, enjoying all of the BEAUTY in God's creation. This passage declares that men are without an excuse that will be justifiable in saying they didn't realize that God existed. Beginning at verse 19 the passage reads, "because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."

I thank God I can live in a place that has scenic beauty. Michigan in the spring and summer is a lovely place. I am reminded by the BEAUTY of my surroundings that it is God who provides us with many BLESSINGS and BOUNTY! BLESSINGS, LORI