Unplugged, Replugged, Redirected

I cannot believe the last post I did was September 12! I was way out west in New Mexico for a watercolor workshop/extravaganza/adventure...blah, blah, blah! It was absolutely incredible! To paint the very vistas that the famous Georgia O'Keefe painted from views in her home at Ghost Ranch and from her Abiqui home was almost surreal! This was my 4th time to Ghost Ranch, and every time I am reminded again of just how much the Creator of the Universe loves us, and wanted us to enjoy the world in which we live. You will see in a few photos below (more on my facebook site) the handiwork of the Master Artist. It takes my breath away!

Psalm 8: 3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

I stand in awe of the Giver of Life, and Author and Finisher of our faith, the Alpha and Omega, the Lover of our souls, our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord, our Master, our Friend...who am I that He would care enough for me to create such beauty for me to enjoy? How dare anyone think of destroying His handiwork! How dare we take any of it for granted! Remember the words to the song "Oh How He loves you and Me"?........

"Oh, how He loves you and me,

Oh, how He loves you and me.

He gave His life, what more could He give?

Oh, how He loves you...

Oh, how He loves me...

Oh, how He loves you and me!"

Oh, that I would always remember His love for me and offer Him the sacrifice of praise that He simply asks for ~ not "requires", just "requests"....it's a matter of the will. It's a choice! And I choose this day to give Jesus all glory, honor, power, and praise for giving me THIS day and all that comes with it!

You know, having been unplugged from the Internet, the cell phone (for the most part); having no TV or radio for 10 days...has shown me that I needed the respite. I also learned that I can choose to re-plug, but I need to re-direct my priorities. I love blogging, I like twittering, I get a kick out of Facebook...yet, none of that need ever replace the intimate, personal human relationships in my life. Technology is amazing and is needed! However, it need not consume our lives; for that matter, it shouldn't even necessarily be a dominant force in our lives. It should be a convenience used only as is absolutely necessary. We were created in God's image. We are told in His Word that He created us for fellowship ~ with Him and with one another. Tapping a keyboard and reading a screen cannot take the place of the hug, touch, kiss, or simple presence!

That being said, over the next few weeks I will be re-evaluating my reason(s) for blogging, my desires in blogging/tweeting, and above all I will be seeking God's will for me in the entire process. For it is my only desire to honor Him through these outlets; it is not for my glory, to gain hundreds of followers, to self-promote....I would like it to serve as a catalyst for encouragement, creativity, prayer and fellowship. I ask you to join me in praying for His guidance in this endeavor, and welcome any suggestions/ideas you may have to help me along the road. Also, please feel free to leave any prayer requests under the prayer tab, and know that I will be praying with and for you.

I must get back to searching for my paddles, as it has been raining 15-straight days in Tennessee! No deficit of rain this year to be sure!

Be blessed today!