Spiritual PRK

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that my husband was having eye surgery. This procedure, PRK, went a bit like this: He had a thimble like thing stuck on top of his eye ball. Imagine the pressure felt because of it sitting upon his eye. Alcohol was poured onto his eye to eat away the top layers and was then wiped clean. They then used a laser to burn away and reshape his cornea. He is not seeing perfectly clear at the present time but his eyesight has been corrected. Although he is experiencing a bit of blurriness; things will become clearer over time.

Many times in our Christian walk we endure trials. We feel the pressure of the Potter’s hands and the stinging and burning of the Lord’s refining fire. Layers are eaten away and cleaned. We are to remain steadfast and let the testing of our faith have its full effect; that is, to reshape us into the image of Christ. During trials we do not always see clearly or understand. Through this process though, our understanding is corrected and our vision becomes increasingly clear. This is the process of sanctification, our spiritual PRK.

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Jeremiah 18:4 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.

Laced With Grace Giveaway

Laced with Grace is having a New Year’s giveaway. As 2008 approaches, they wanted to thank their readers with this little giveaway. We pray that God will continue to use the team blog to encourage you in your walk with Him.

The package will include a Women of Faith study Bible (NIV/Hardcover); Lisa Whelchel’s Bible study tool for busy moms; a coffee mug from “Mugs of Truth“; the DVD “The Nativity Story“; the book “Love and Respect“; and a music CD by Becky Knight, who just released her first CD.

You can sign up to win this package through January 1st. They winner will be announced on January 2nd. To see the rules of participation and to enter, visit Laced with Grace.

Contest for Carnival of Homeschooling Graphics

Why Homeschool is having a contest for Carnival of Homeschooling graphics. Henry and Janine Cate from Why Homeschool write:

Over the last two years several people have suggested we have a graphic or two for the carnival. I haven’t followed up on these suggestions. I’m not a very artsy person, so I didn’t feel confident in my ability to generate a cool graphic for the carnival.
Here are some great carnival graphics. I’ve really enjoyed the graphic for the Homeschool Blog Awards. It recently occurred to me that one way to get some cool graphics for the Carnival of Homeschool was to invite others to generate candidates for a contest. This is taking advantage of the The Wisdom of Crowds. What we are going to do is have a two stage contest.

For the first stage people can generate and submit icons for the carnival. They can post the icon on their blog and use Mister Linky to generate a link back. Or they can leave a comment telling us how to get the icon. We want to make sure people have enough time to be creative, so the first stage will last until the 28th of January, 2008. I am hoping for a couple dozen entries for each category.

For the second stage we’ll have a vote on which images people like. Janine and I will select the four to seven graphics we like best in each category, and then everyone can vote.

There are three categories of images: small, medium, and whatever.

The rules for the contest are:
1) The graphics have to be available for others to use. The only options I can think of are a) you created the graphic or b) the graphic is public domain.
2) There is a limit of two images per category, per person.

Are there any other rules we need?

Put on your thinking caps and see what kind of cool graphics you can come up with!

God the All-Terrible!

I sang this hymn for the very first time a few weeks ago. I really enjoy it because it shows us some of the attributes of God that many have tried to forget or put on the back burner. It brings back the fear of the Lord that so many have neglected.

God the all-terrible! King, who ordainest
Great winds thy clarions, the lightnings thy sword,
Show forth thy pity on high where thou reignest:
Grant to us peace, O most merciful Lord.

God the omnipotent! mighty avenger,
Watching invisible, judging unheard,
Doom us not now in the day our our danger:
Grant to us peace, O most merciful Lord.

God the all-merciful! earth has forsaken
Thy ways of blessedness, slighted thy word;
Bid not thy wrath in its terrors awaken:
Grant to us peace, O most merciful Lord.

God the all-righteous One! Man hath defied Thee;
Yet to eternity standeth Thy Word;
Falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside Thee;
Grant to us peace, O most merciful Lord.

God the all-wise! by the fire of Thy chastening,
Earth shall to freedom and truth be restored;
Through the thick darkness Thy kingdom is hastening;
Thou wilt give us peace in Thy time, O Lord!

So shall thy children in thankful devotion
Praise him who saved them from peril and sword,
Singing in chorus from ocean to ocean,
‘Peace to the nations, and praise to the Lord.’

To participate in the Saturday Psalm & Praise just follow the link.

Severe Pruning

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
GALATIANS 5:22-23

FROM THE FATHER’S HEART
My child, do not be discouraged when you feel barren. Each of the seeds I have planted within you I prune, feed, and tenderly nurture to its full potential. Soon you will yield the beautiful fruit of love, joy, and peace – all the qualities of My nature that I have given you. The more you abide in Me, the more fruit you will bear. My Spirit is the One working through you. You can never bear fruit alone. Rest in Me today.

A GRATEFUL RESPONSE
Where else could I find a tree with perfect fruit? You, Lord, are the fruit of the spirit. You are the picture of perfection, and every good fruit we need is found in You. Thank You for planting seeds within my heart that I, too, might bear luscious fruit for You.

SIMPLE TRUTH
Fine tuning often requires severe pruning.

Short Devotion from: Daily in Your Presence by Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Absolutely One of the Best Carols!

If you are in a reader, take a moment to click over and watch/listen to this!