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Brussel Sprouts, Jazz, Cupcakes & Babies!

9/13/2015

Twitter asked me to build a profile; to basically define myself. This is what they got: "Grace Received; Married to Storm, Mom & Mimi, Baseball Wife, Love 2 Hear Life Stories, Love 2 Create, Like Thursday, Brussel Sprouts, Jazz, Cupcakes & Babies!"
Publically viewed, it is accurate. Inwardly viewed, it would read more like:
"Grace forgotten everyday: performance driven; struggles with self image; selfish; hoop jumper; self seeking; in desperate need of a Savior!"

The Family

Storm and I have now watched the arrival of 6 Grandbabes! Life sure does circle around quickly!! The joy of being a Grandparent takes me to my own sweet memories of having our first baby boy . The minute he was born a massive flood of love washed over me! My Mothers Heart was born! I knew from that point on I would always and forever love, protect, defend, and cherish this child...no matter his age or mine! He was perfect! He was a gift from God!

I remember when Zach was about 3 weeks old-- looking at his precious little face--so overwhelmed with joy-- (it had taken us 2 years to get pregnant, then I had to be put on bed rest)..I thought, "I would never give any of my children for the salvation of another person!" I began to cry as it washed over me that ...God did...His only Beloved Son...and how easily I forget the depth of His gift .

"So many of My children limp through their life starved for love because they haven't learned the art of receiving...Believing that I love you with boundless, everlasting love." (Jesus Calling)

God not only gave His very best--but He did it on purpose! That blows my mind! Blemishes, complaining and all-- He wanted to adopt me into His family!

"One of the many beautiful things about adoption is that it is initiated by the parents... The child's security is assured by the efforts of a benevolent third-party, independent of anything he/she might bring to the table, good or bad. And this is precisely what happened when Jesus came into the world." (Mockingbird Ministry). Yet I walk around acting like an orphan instead of a Child!

I am convinced my Mothers Heart is a gift to remind me that if I, in my finite life, can love with my whole heart--no matter what---then I am safe and loved and wrapped up in the arms of a gentle God...no matter what!

His relationship with me has always been about what He did! I bring nothing to the table. He doesn't require my "hoop jumping" ..there's no need to impress...He smiles when He looks at me! I'm His!
"He sings over us with exceeding joy!"
Amazing Grace--how sweet the sound!!

Because He Loves,
Angie and Storm

Quotes:
Jesus Calling, Sarah Young
Mockingbird Ministry / www.mbird.com

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Tossed and Found

9/1/2015

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Genesis 3:20-24

20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

For me these verses are such a beautiful picture of God's love and grace for His rebellious and self-centered kids like me! For many years I thought when God tossed Adam & Eve out of the garden He was just being mean. Later in my life when I re-read the verses I saw it in a totally different light. They had been tossed, but found! What changed my view?

The Gospel & Grace. I had been bathed and bred on these two concepts my entire life. The difference being, the version of my youth was based on my performance and self righteous hoop jumping! I was convinced God needed me to make His plans work. I needed to stay at the top of His favorite person list! I was such a good person. I was afraid to be anything else. The arrogance of my performance based life was exhausting.

Entering my thirties was a busy & tiring time of my life. I had 3 kids, was doing the MLB life, and was still playing the performance game. A precious friend of mine told me one day- point blank- face to face, "Angie, You are so busy doing, you don't know how to be!" She was exactly right!

The Family

I had missed the point! Yes, I loved God and knew I needed a Saviour! Yes, I knew only Jesus could forgive my wrongdoings! What I missed was He had come for me knowing exactly what He was getting into!! He didn't expect me to have it all together or be the poster child for His next project. He also was not impressed with or requiring my performance. His love for me was all encompassing! He already loved me- pimples and all!! There was nothing that could change that!

In Papas arms!

Abba Father, my Heavenly Daddy, wants me to crawl up in His lap and let Him love me. That's it. When I'm full of His love, I can then be a conduit of grace to others. When I know how much I'm loved, I can love others and not need anything in return. When I know I'm accepted totally, I no longer need to defend myself. I'm His child. I'm no longer an orphan.

In Genesis 3 Adam and Eve got it wrong. I'm sure I would've too! They were embarrassed and naked. God didn't wipe them out and start over. He made them clothes, took care of their physical needs and set new boundaries for them. He took care of their urgent needs with tenderness. He communicated with them the changes that were coming. He didn't leave that for guesswork. His lap was available! God sends Adam & Eve out of the Garden not as punishment. Genesis 3:21 tells us God needs them to be out of range from the Tree of Eternal Life. He even placed a guard there to ensure their safety. They had already snagged fruit off one tree He asked them not to touch. What would stop them from trying another? God loved them - pimples and all! Why did God do all this? Because, If they would've eaten from the Tree of Eternal Life they/us would live forever in sin. God removed Adam & Eve so He could begin His plan to redeem them, and all of us to follow! His love is all encompassing!!
"I clothed Adam and Eve with garments of skins, but you I clothed in the righteousness of my Son. Your sins are forgiven, my child, simply because I love you that much. "

The Grace Garden. 🎶🎶AmazingGrace 🎶🎶 Tossed and Found.

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