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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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July 24, 2011

Simply Sunday…”Never”



Vanessa’s post originally appeared on the {in}courage website.  We wanted to share it again in it’s entirety here…we also want to say a big THANK YOU to {in}courage for allowing us to have a small part of such an incredible ministry!



Never
 


I will never have it all together.


“Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
Psalm 100:2-3

I will never have the most perfectly clean home without toys strewn about and cracker crumbs ground into the carpet.


“A woman who fears the Lord, shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Proverbs 31:31

I will never have all the answers.

“Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”
Romans 11:33

I will never know just the right thing to wear for every occasion, have the cutest haircut or be a trendsetter.

I will regularly leave the house in yoga pants, even though I don’t do yoga, and my hair will be in a pony-tail.

Hopefully I will have showered.


Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
1 Peter 3:3

I will never enjoy doing laundry and cleaning toilets, especially ones that are used by little boys.


“In all the work you are doing, work the best you can.
Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.”
Colossians 3:23

I will never have a body that does not have dimples in all of the wrong places.


“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made,
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.”
Psalm 139:14-15
I will never be a perfect mother. And I will never be a perfect wife.
I will make mistakes.


“A soft answer turns away wrath
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.”
Proverbs 15:1-2


I will probably never be viewed by the world as a success in my chosen role of Homemaker.

“She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
Proverbs 31:27-29

I’ve never been someone who looks at the world through “rose-colored” glasses. But I’m pretty sure that I look at myself through “world-colored” glasses. I put them on and walk around looking through lenses that reflect all of my faults and flaws. It’s a miracle I don’t bump into things more often with such distorted vision! But, what if I took them off? What if I saw myself as He sees me instead of how the world sees me? Perhaps my vision would be restored and I would see that I am…


Always beautiful to Him
Always loved by Him
Always the daughter of the King!

My prayer is that you will join me in leaving behind the land of the “never” and choose instead to dwell in the “always” of His mercy and grace.


That is a place where we will never be more welcomed!

Thanks for joining me for this Simply Sunday at the Fence,

Imparting Grace

23 Comments Filed Under: Devotionals, Good Thoughts, Simply Sundays

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Comments

  1. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    July 24, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    Oh this post is so perfect. We all need to see ourselves and others the way the Lord sees us. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  2. Pam@OurAdventuresInHomeImprovement says

    July 24, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    Great post! I love it.

    Happy Sunday!
    Pam

    Reply
  3. Michele says

    July 24, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    we all need a little reminding–thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    July 24, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    Vanessa, when I read your great post, a quote my husband used on the Hope blog this week came to mind: Frederic Huntington said, “It is not scientific doubt, not atheism, not pantheism, not agnosticism that in our day and in this land is likely to quench the light of the gospel. It is proud, sensuous, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperity.”

    “World-colored glasses” … definitely a hindrance. Thanks for the reminder – and encouragement!

    Reply
  5. Jedbel @ The Pear Tree Cottage says

    July 24, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    Vanessa,
    I now always look forward to your Sunday posts :). This one was just what I needed before starting another crazy, busy week. How easily we forget that what He values is what we should value. Thank you for the reminder…

    Reply
  6. Vikki Nay says

    July 24, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    Thanks for the reminder that none of us is perfect, but we all are special in the eyes of our Father in Heaven. I too don’t like to clean toilets used by little boys! I raised five of them.

    Reply
  7. Val says

    July 24, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    As always, you post things that truly speak to me. Great stuff!

    Reply
  8. Paula Jo @ Home and Garden Decor says

    July 24, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    What a wonderful post, and so much of it is true.

    Reply
  9. Kelli@MoreBangforYourBucks says

    July 24, 2011 at 7:14 PM

    Oh wow, That just about brought tears to my eyes. Thanks so much for sharing this.

    Reply
  10. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    July 24, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    Great post Vanessa… and so true!

    Reply
  11. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    July 24, 2011 at 1:57 PM

    Beautiful post! Thanks for sharing it again 🙂

    Reply
  12. Judy says

    July 24, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    That is a very powerful post. It’s like you are speaking about me. Thanks so much for sharing that.

    Reply
  13. Coley says

    July 25, 2011 at 12:08 AM

    thank you for the humbling post. It is hard not to get wrapped up in things that don’t really matter.

    Reply
  14. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    July 25, 2011 at 2:30 AM

    Vanessa, This post touched my heart. Sometimes I walk around in those same glasses so this really hit home. Thanks for sharing.
    xo,
    Sherry

    Reply
  15. The Summer Porch says

    July 25, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    So well said! A reminder for one and all.
    Thank you ladies so much for allowing me the opportunity to share what I love to do with you!
    Hugs Rosemary…

    Reply
  16. Richella says

    July 25, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Yes! YES!! Oh, that we could all look through God-colored glasses and see ourselves as He sees us. Imperfect, yes, but so beautiful to Him, just as we are! What an outpouring of grace He makes available to us!

    Thank you so much for linking to my party!

    Reply
  17. Jane says

    July 25, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    Thanks for this message. I’m right there with you-sounds like we should be friends. (Love the “world glasses” vs. God glasses idea…makes me think of the Brandon Heath song “Give me your eyes”.)

    Reply
  18. Tanya@takesix says

    July 25, 2011 at 11:55 PM

    What a fabulous post, Vanessa. Thank you so much for sharing this. We can all relate too well!

    Reply
  19. Heaven's Walk says

    July 26, 2011 at 2:37 AM

    Vanessa – this was such an encouraging and supportive post. One that alot of us gals need to hear – and remember. I think we tend to be too hard on ourselves – forgetting that God is loving us right through all the lumps and bumps in the road, and on us. 🙂 Thank you for this sweet and gentle reminder. I’m truly enjoying and am blessed by Simply Sundays. Bless you!

    xoxo laurie

    Reply
  20. Resume Writing says

    July 26, 2011 at 7:55 AM

    I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me. Thanks for sharing a informative information with us. It is totally unique, as well as simple but stylish stuffs collection.

    Reply
  21. kerrie of sea cottage says

    July 27, 2011 at 6:35 PM

    It is so important to see ourselves as beautiful. That we are His desired ones. When we see ourselves the way He does and believe in how much He loves us our lives are at rest and our hearts are happy. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  22. Gail says

    July 29, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    Thanks for your words to remind each of us to treat ourselves with the balm of kindness – afterall, although our Father is Divine, we’re only human.

    Reply
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