Well, Paul is off to camp for the 1st time!

I do miss him though...

I am a shower!?!

OK, so I'm cleaning the shower today and I'm trying to get rid of soap scum. I had this wonderful illustration come to me (thank you Lord!).
Soap is a good thing in it's self-right? We use/need it to clean our bodies-nothing wrong with that, but soap scum is not good on the shower walls. So we try to get rid of it but scrubbing with water-doesn't work; hot water & scrub brush-doesn't get it all. We need to use something stronger-right!?! and the longer it's left unclean the harder it is to remove.
Kinda like sin in our lives. The thing may not be sinful in it's self but left on the wrong place or in the wrong place it becomes ugly and gross. Pretty soon everyone sees it and we can try to clean it up ourselves but we can't-we need something stronger...
Also, if left untreated on a daily basis, we end up back to that nasty place again be it ever so slowly.
Oh Lord, clean me daily and help me not to allow good things take the place you deserve and desire in my life. Be first and help me 'sparkle' for you!

Deep Thoughts by Dee-Dee

This weekend my hubby and I went to a wedding. Now since we had never met the bride, but have known the groom for many years, I decided to watch the groom. The bride had kept everything a secret from her beloved and he had no idea what her dress would be like or how her hair would be done, etc. We saw the groom before the ceremony and he was calm , yet ready to get things over with.
He watched his bride's friends come down the isle with smiles and nods-he laughed at his tomboy sister all dress up (she looked beautiful by the way). When the back doors of the church closed a seriousness came over his face and his eyes ever so focused --waited. As the organ started playing, "Here comes the Bride", everyone rose and the doors slowly opened the groom's intensity grew. The second he saw his Bride-his breath was literal taken away and he inhaled deeply --as he exhaled his eyes filled with complete joy (tears too, I think) and the biggest smile spread across his face. He didn't or couldn't take his eyes off her as she walked down towards him. The closer she got the bigger his smile and his eyes filled with love!
It was amazing to see this man behold his woman for the first time that day!
I started thinking how we are the Bride of Christ and He waits to be with us eternally. Are His eyes filled with joy and love? Does a smile spread across His face? Am I as the Bride focused on Christ my groom; walking towards Him?
It was a day that filled both my husband and I with many warm feelings of new love and reminders of our vows to each other and to our Lord and Savior...