Boasting – Momma’s get a pass every once in a while.

Today I turn my heart spot light on one of my favorite people on earth.

 Jordan Craig McCormick our second born child.

My beautiful boy that at times feels forgotten in a family of overachievers.  But this man is unforgettable for those who are fortunate enough to know him.

A heart as deep and wide as an ocean.  A gentle nobility that has me convinced that we must come from royalty somewhere in our family line.  A memory that can put an elephant to shame.

Jordan is a gentle spirit with a shepherds heart a patient demeanor, Puerto Rican appetite and an Irish disposition.  Roger and I can argue over whose mind he has since it’s brilliant but I have to give Silver the credit. Jordan and Roger will never forget a detail. They both fascinate me.  When he was a boy he was so “good” that when he ever had a slip up we could barely bring ourselves to discipline him.  His daddy and I have looked at each other dozens of times and thought, “we just don’t deserve this kid, he is so good.  We can’t possibly deserve him but we’re thrilled he is ours.”  I’ve never seen a child born with so little fear. His siblings always made him go first into the dark, kill the bug or check out a random noise.  He never hesitated.

My favorite memories of our little man was trailing over the tops of mountains in WA and knowing that by the end of the trail he would have a muddy foot.  He always slipped one foot into a mud hole. LOL He never failed to crack us all up.  During his elementary years he would often return home earlier than his siblings, just in time for us to make a fresh batch of brownies, his favorite.

Jordan is the best big brother I’ve ever seen in action. Being only 10 months older than his baby sister, she never had a need he didn’t try to beat me to.  From picking up her pacifier, to walking her into Sunday school hand in hand.  All the way through college when she would have car trouble (which was often huh J?).

I can ramble about my rule oriented, huge hearted beautiful boy forever suffice to say – Daddy and I are so proud of you.

Jordan Craig McCormick – Daddy and I can see you and we have always marveled at the masterpiece the Lord has lent us.  The light in you was created to push back the darkness.  You will fight for justice, protect the innocent and carry the name of the Lord where ever you go in word and in deed.

We simply adore you and we are proud of you all the way down to our toes. So today when you cross that stage having achieved one more milestone in life, know that we will be flipped out excited cheering you on.

Shine today baby boy.

We celebrate you everyday but especially today.

Dangers of drought

A drought happens when water is missing.  Simple and yet very deadly.

A drought causes great stress to the land, vegetation, animals and eventually people.

Drought leads to dormancy and dormancy leads to death.

We can see the danger signs in nature. We read about the horrific affects droughts have in countries but do we pay attention to our own spiritual condition?

Water is so intrinsically unique.  Nothing man made can quench the earth other than water.

Makes me wide eyed to realize the depths of significance that Jesus refers to Himself as the “living water.”

The source of sustenance and refreshment for the WHOLE EARTH.

The only solution to our weary  & dry souls.

Yesterday I went to see my grand-baby in her swimming lesson and I heard her instructor say to her, “let’s water the Storie plant.” Here is our nugget getting watered.

She makes us smile all the way down to our toes.

It also rained buckets last night here in Georgia where the temperatures are creeping up past 100 degrees.  I could just about feel the joy of the land when I woke up this morning and felt the break of the unbearable heat that the rain graciously brought us.  I think the land was smiling all the way down to its toes too.

Enjoy the few snapshots of refreshment I captured this morning and then I pray you go drink up some living water today.

Repurpose

Repurpose – Isn’t that a great word?

To find a new purpose for something that would normally be thrown out.   Here is an example of a old window someone had thrown away and was created into a lovely and meaningful present for me.

I was looking at my watering can today and appreciating the mind that created it.  Broken pieces placed together for a different but good purpose.

The truth is that sometime life breaks us, sometimes we lend life a hand.

Normally when something is old or broken our first thoughts are, “oh well that is done with.”

But what if we picked up the broken pieces that still hold beauty and repurposed it.

That is after all what God does with us.  He doesn’t look down and say “Oh pity,  it would have been nice.  Gotta trash that life now.  What a waste.”  Our God looks down and thinks, “hmm let’s redesign this for even greater beauty.

So our mistakes,

Our shattered innocence,

Our hearts,

Our broken pieces,

Are repurposed.

He is after all the master craftsman.

Today I’m sending broken pieces His way and watching with eager eyes to see what incredible treasured delights He will make of them.

Are you ready to be picked?

Maturity (psychological), a term in developmental psychology to indicate that a person responds to the circumstances or environment in an appropriate manner.

I was thinking about these two simple words today.  Maturity and immaturity words that are diametrically opposed.  In our lives we have to fight off immaturity or it not only ruins the beauty of life for us but also contaminates our community.  We have to choose to strive for maturity.  I have this incredibly huge blueberry bush in our backyard and every year it lends me its bounty.  Blueberries go through stages of development not unlike ourselves.  From white to pink to red to  blue.

Here is where blueberries and people are much alike.

If you pick the blueberries before their ripe they are just bitter.

It takes sun and water and time and plain old perseverance to hang on through the stages of development before they are ready.

Isn’t it interesting that the definition for immature is unripe.

Immature – Not fully formed or developed, unripe

Today my prayers are aimed at the beauty of maturity and what a blessing we can be to others if we will just allow the work of Christ to be finished in us.

Lord I pray that you help us hang on through the storms, through the scorching of the sun, past the wind and every hardship until we are ready to be picked for your glory.

“Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself.”