Tying for Spring and An Evening at the Spa, Getting Out of the Box

Fishing Report 16/Feb/2009; my youngest son caught several bullfrog tadpoles and that is it, the stream is clear of ice but the weather is still cold. We are ready for spring.
We are trying to get started tying flies for the spring but I am not making much head way.
So here it is. Valentine’s Day came and went and it was probably the best thing I have ever given my wife. I gave of myself. As most of you know, we here on the Big Walnut are working our way out of some tough times. I prayed “God what can I give my wife for Valentine’s Day to show her I love and cherish her.” The God Idea I got was…well let’s just say out of my comfort zone. I am a guy who loves to fly fish, hunt and has been known to butcher his own meat. The Idea “Give your wife a day at the spa”, I thought to myself, #1 I don’t have that in the budget and #2 if I don’t have it in the budget how do I do any of those things they do at a spa. I mean I have never even been in a spa. So I had no choice I started reading how to give facials and massage, got the DVD on foot massage and shopped in an area of the super center that I didn’t even know what all things did or why I needed them. I compiled nail polish, oils and various creams, and what ever else you need for a spa experience. I fancied the house up with classical music, candles, and cleaned, hung gauzy drapes over the large windows for privacy; I even lowered the wattage and color of the light bulbs for atmosphere. I made all kinds of foods to have out, purchased some wonderful sleep wear for her, and collected more women’s magazines than a library to have for her reading enjoyment. But I am not done, I also printed out an invitation to an evening at the spa with the details of what lay in store and a card with a poem I found that was very much how I thought about my wife. Last but not least I got some wonderful chocolate. She followed all the instructions and called from the church, kids were there for parent’s night out. I directed her to the invitation hidden under the seat in her car. She arrived home and got ready for an evening at the “Spa”. I did all the things that I knew she longed for, her “Love Language” is acts of service, we did it all manicure, pedicure, a facial (that I made), and a full body massage. She was thrilled and I was content, I had showed her how I loved her.
I tell this story not to brag or boast; because it wasn’t me, it was God leading me to serve. I am sharing this for all of you out there that did not step out of the box maybe you have never stepped out of the box, well it is time to get up and step out. Men do something totally unexpected for your wife take her out; shower her with something you know she would love. Ladies surprise your man, let him know how you feel, show him that you love him. I know that it is extremely uncomfortable “to paint your wife’s nails” like I did but it is so worth the effort, you will feel a great contentment knowing that there is no doubt that you love your spouse.

Spring from the Snow

No Fishing Report; sorry. Everything is blown out, 13 inches of snow melt and 3.5 inches of rain all in 5 days. Wow what a mess.
A week ago or so we had 13 inches of fresh snow on the ground and it been flawless, beautiful. As I was cutting wood earlier in the month and the ground was frozen hard and everything was brown, dead or dormant. Then the snow fell and hid all of the hard, frozen, brown and dead. What a transformation, the earth now looked spotless with not even a blemish. It was a pure scene not a mark on the surface of the snow. Then it happened the world came alive, dirt, kids and life happened and the snow began to look a little worn. The sun came up just a day or two later and the wind blew out of the south and just like that the blemish free covering was gone. But something changed the ground had thawed and some of the early spring plants began to push through the moist soils along the stream where we play in the summer. The earth was springing forth new life and so begins the new season of growth. This story reminds me of another story. Years ago I was hard, dirty and dead to Christ. Then I was covered by His blood and left blemish free no more dead life but a reborn life. I was seen by God blemish free, glorified creation. But just like in the story above living in the Son I began to melt and my life began to spring forth and now is bearing fruit not unlike the small wild onions I saw growing along the stream yesterday.
Take time this season to take in the change from blemish free snow to the cool dampness of new life, for soon the life will grow and bear fruit.

Unconditional Love; Try it you might like it.

No Fishing Report; every thing still frozen. Although I am planning a family trip and went to the fly shop and figured out what patterns we will need.

Love is an interesting thing. Have you ever had trouble accepting that someone loves you for you and for no other reason? Is your spouse fully devoted to you? Do you believe they are? You should. If you are in a solid Christian marriage your spouse should love you as God does. In Ephesians 5 Paul tells us (men) to love our wives as Christ loves the Church. I want to extrapolate on that thought; I believe that the picture we see here is that of a marriage like no other. Christ accepts us because we have accepted the gift of His love and for not for what we have done or haven’t done. In a true marriage within Christ this is how our love should be toward our spouse one that is unconditional. It should not be a love that says “I love you because you…” or should not ask “I will love you if…” it should be one of I love you. We need to accept our spouse with their flaws and shortcomings. We all have things that are not perfect about us and things that drive our spouse nuts, so we must look beyond those things in our spouse that our spouse looks beyond in us.

Now back to the original thought “Do you have trouble in accepting love from someone?” If you have this problem (I think that this is very common), you need to accept God’s love first once you come to grips with that then you will be able to accept the love of your spouse and your kids. I have been reading H. A. Ironside lately, his First John commentary. Quite clearly I am as we all are a desperately wicked creature and only because of His grace, a free gift, am I able to stand in his presence. Through God’s wonderful plan we can experience His love through our spouse here on earth. Try it, this week; act as if unconditional love is all you know and all you are receiving, see if that changes your perspective.