Searching For New Inspiration

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."  ... Philippians 4:6

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Remember how, yesterday, I mentioned Tree Guy? Well, he's the kind of guy who, when you think of him, makes you smile. 

We've known him for ages, but only see him every few years and well, he drove up on this motorcycle with a nifty sidecar (!).  He'd just had a surprise 50th birthday party which, he said, was a huge backyard affair with his daughters' families and tons of friends. They had a blast, even gave everybody rides in his tree-cutting basket, (you know, that thing that rises way up in the air so they can reach trees' tallest parts), like a carnival ride. They zoomed tractors and 3-wheelers around his 20 acres and had a bonfire and his wife even invited everybody to take turns cutting his hair because he'd not cut it in 6 months.

The day after that, he jumped out of a plane for the first time and was still reeling from the awesomeness of that. And as always, he bubbled-over with stories about how God has blessed him and his family.

Good gracious. I wish I knew more people like Tree Guy. 

Especially these days while my Christian friends and relatives blog and post at Facebook their shock about this big, bad world. Why the surprise? I ask. Sheesh, we were warned about these days for thousands of years: 

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. .... they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone." from 2 Timothy 3

If only it was clear to everyone just what's going on! If only they'd remember we're to be full of God, not full of bitterness, anger. Or fear. Or despair. 

Anyway. Starting today, I'm going on a search for other Christians like Tree Guy! Gratitude-oozers. Full of God, full of good fruit, inspiring, positive attitude, full-of-the-joy-of-living people. 

Their inspiration keeps me going, happy, in Today's crazy world--and don't we all need that?

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Thanks for your comments about our soon-to-fall trees. I'd like to replace them with two other trees, but I can't. Our yard is small, we are surrounded by huge sycamores, as well as a tall honeysuckle hedge on two sides, our crab apple tree barely hangs-in-there for want of light and the whole chi of the yard would be thrown-off if we added a tree.

But. I am working diligently on my side yard garden, replacing what was literally just dust and I've hauled in healthy new soil bag-by-heavy-bag and have lots of vegetation planted there. 

So I'm trying! But sometimes there are only certain changes a person can make in her yard.

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"... for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."  ... James 1:3

Yes! That's to be the result of our trials. Steadfastness. Growth. A calmer knowing that God will always take care of us.

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