Masks - What Are We Afraid Of?

The lesson for today's family worship was about wearing masks - the premise is that we all do it. We heard about three types of masks - reasons we wear masks:

     1) To try to emulate others to be what WE WANT to be, 

     2) To "fit in" to our society and what other people want us to be,

     3) To look more spiritual than we are...

The challenge was to think of which mask I am wearing, and get rid of it this week; be who GOD wants me to be - who He created me to be, because God doesn't make junk! He designed me perfectly and has a plan for my life. That plan and purpose doesn't necessarily come without pain and discomfort as he sculpts me perfectly for the work He has prepared just for me!

God’s Chisel « Videos « The Skit Guys

Gifts received today - 

386. Family Worship Service at Life Fellowship Chapel.

387  God's chisel at work in me - He loves me and cares enough for me to change me.

388. Removing masks today at home...life is just plain hard, right now, but it's ok. We have each other and Jesus walks with us.

389. Ladies' LIFE Monday night - new study, Living Free by Beth Moore. No coincidence that what we get in worship complements what we study in LIFE Group.

390. A relaxing afternoon at home.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

God's Plan NOT My Plan

Well, life is quite different these days, since I started back to work full time, as a permanent employee for the NEW General Motors. This wasn't in my plan - it wasn't in my wildest dreams - to be back to work as a Materials Engineer for a large company after 20 years as a stay-at-home mom. No, it wasn't my plan, it was God's plan, and I am beginning to see some of the work He has prepared for me;
     it's scary,
          it's exciting,
               it's exhausting,
                    it's humbling,
                         it's challenging,
                              it's overwhelming
                                   it's in HIS hands!

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." Proverbs 19:21

I can't begin to relate all the blessings I've experienced these past few months, but here are a few...

386. All expense paid travel to places I've never been.
387. Experiencing restaurants I would never step in on my own - the price tag would keep me at a distance.
388. A dinner cruise around Manhattan.
389. The awe of seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time...and then again all lit up at night.
390. The beauty of the New York Skyline lit up at night, understanding how it got it's nickname, "the city that never sleeps" (and being Glad that I don't live there!).
391. Meeting fun people from all over the world - everyone say, "We're GLOBAL!"
392. Feeling those "professional" skills starting to come back.
393. Confidence building.
394. Helpful suppliers.
395. Coming home to dinner on the table. (Role reversal!)
396.  Awed anew by blazing fall colors against a clear blue sky.
397. Coming home from a long week away on business to find a cozy fire, dinner cooking, and open arms waiting for me!
398. Having an opportunity to get to know my co-worker who comes from a very different culture and has very different beliefs than me.
399.  "Knowing that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28