Turtle Tuesdays: The Padded Box

If you are a frequent visitor to my blog, you know I'm truly a turtle girl: ) All you have to do is scroll through my posts and see a sampling of Tuesdays to get the picture. I have more turtles in my collection than I can count. (Not really, but close) What you don't know though is I rarely buy turtles. Most of my turtles have been given to me and today is no exception.
Meet B, the gifted turtle.

My daughter Megan's BFF, Lauren(left) gave me this turtle Sunday. She purchased it on vacation in Greece. I was touched to tears when she gave it to me. I immediately knew this turtle contained an important message that traveled around the world to reach me. As I gazed at B, the gifted turtle, I noticed the message was sent not in a bottle but in a box!

I couldn't decide how to display B in my collection. She looked so comfy in her padded box. It even matched her shell. I also loved the outside color of her box. Red. (Everyone needs a splash of red in their life!) My dilemma: Should I leave B in the box or take her out? As I pondered the thought, the message became clear. B, the gifted turtle's container reminded me of a word I received in a sermon by John Ortberg months ago "It all goes back in the Box!" The message was about life. When the game of LIFE is over...it all goes back in the box. B's box started looking like a coffin to her. B, the gifted turtle didn't belong in the box yet. She was alive. She had no business hanging out in comfortable places. B has places to go, people to share God's love with. She was not supposed to b in a box. This message was clearly from her bff. Jesus. It was like He was saying, 'Hellooooo turtle girl...what are you doing????'

B's life is about walking by faith. She is supposed to b 'out there' in the world bringing light to dark places. You are too! We can't go forward if we live in a box. It restricts us and limits our impact on the world. Sometimes we don't even realize we are stuck because our box has padding. It may even look pretty, like something out of a magazine. It can b comfy and cozy like a cocoon, but it is also mundane and boring. It is LESS than what's planned for our life. The Lord always tells this turtle girl to ..."B MORE." Look at this photo I found on my computer screen a couple of weeks ago left by my son who plays basketball. William had no idea what this photo would mean to me. I printed it to put in my God Calling devotional. The caption said 'Barton continues to shine.' I think B'ing More is about shining my light.

B remembered what the Lord said to Joshua when he became a leader. "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses." The same ground applies to us when we walk by faith. Every place we set our feet. That means we have to b moving. There is MORE ahead if we press on. The Lord also told Joshua to 'Be strong and courageous' three times before he started walking in the Promise Land. (Sometimes we need to hear a word several times before it sinks in. Thank you Lord for repeating yourself.)

B, the gifted turtle is not to store up treasures for herself. She can't take them with her upon her exit from this world. She is supposed to open up and share. B is a gifted turtle for a reason.

My dilemma has been solved. B, the gifted turtle is now on display 'out of the box' . Her box has been put away for a day unknown to her. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

B believes.

B His Girl
PS. A note to the graduates: God has great things in store for your lives. He has places for you both to go. Stay 'out of the box' and walk by faith. There really is MORE ahead, more than you can ask or imagine. Love you!

Turtle Tuesdays: Closed

Sorry to post so late. Turtle Tuesday is officially closed today. B just peeked in to let you know she's on vacation and it is her B day! Really. Hope all of you are doing well. I will b back soon!

Blessings ,
B His Girl

Turtle Tuesdays

Today B, the hanging turtle feels the pull in her life to b a 'Martha'. You know the Martha B is talking about. Mary's sister. Martha is known for b'ing a busy b on an occasion when Jesus was a guest in her home. (Luke 10:38-42) Martha was worried about all the work she had to do. She even complained to Jesus about it. The King of Kings was in her house and other things, lesser things captured her attention.

Well, this B is b'ing distracted by MANY things but she is determined to chose what is better like Mary. How is today working for you?

Choose this day who you will serve.


Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:4

B His Girl

Turtle Tuesdays: Read The Signs

B wasn't seeking a sign, but she found one a few weeks ago. She was walking along her path on an ordinary day, doing what she was supposed to b doing and there it was. A Sign planted with B's name all over it! DARE TO DREAM! B gave the Lord a big 'cheesy' smile just like the one she is showing you today. In fact, she couldn't wipe the smile off her face. B knew she was supposed to read the sign and share the message with others. Meet B, the dreaming turtle.

If you are a frequent visitor on the B Log, you have heard some of her lofty dreams. She calls them 'lofty' because her dreams are a gift from above. Now, that may sound like B is trying to b 'all special and everything' but hear this ....B knows her dreams are NOT ABOUT her. Dreams are always connected to God's heartbeat for His world. They are about OTHERS. If our focus is on 'us' in the dream, the Lord will give us lots of growing time in the Son so we can understand His purpose for our dream. Joseph, known as a dreamer in the Bible could testify to that.

B wonders today if you have a 'lofty' dream also. The words below are from 'The Message' and they are a message for you today. B's just delivering them as she runs her race at a turtle's pace.

This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming. It aches
for the coming — it can hardly wait!And it doesn't lie.If it seems slow in
coming, wait.It's on its way. It will come right on time. Hab 2:3
Dare To Dream...With God ALL things are possible!

B His Girl

Turtle Tuesdays: In the Garden Praying

B's all mushy today. The pictures tell the story.

Lord, I pray Megan's life will be a sweet fragrance unto you. I know you have great plans for her. I thank you for her special gift and love of working with children. I pray she is able to help children around the world, giving you all the glory. We love her so much Lord! Thank you. May she always walk with you in the garden. I pray she will B your girl in her generation. In your name Jesus I pray these things.

B His Girl

The Eyes ....What Do You See?

I need a little bloggy insight today. You see, a God story is unfolding before my eyes and I can't read the writing on the wall. How long have I been with Him and I still don't understand!!!!! I shutter at the enormity of those words. That statement is a whole post in itself. But today we are sticking with the facts, just the facts. Here goes....

I am on the worship design team for our weekly service on Pensacola Beach. I work with Jack, the pastor of the service. If you haven't noticed on my blog, I have a creative, ok 'goofy creative' way of seeing things. Jack is allowing me embellish the setting at our worship service with creative stuff. I kid him about being 'Jack...out of the box!'
(That is an example of how my 'goofy brain' constantly works .)
Yesterday the message was about 'Jesus Questions-What do you see?' The passage was from Mark 8:22-26. In this passage Jesus healed a blind man using spit and His touch. When Jesus first touched his eyes, he asked "What do you see? The formerly blind man saw men 'walking around like trees'. Jesus touch his eyes a second time and his sight was restored perfectly. He saw everything in twenty-twenty focus.

As Jack and I were talking about the upcoming service, he shared the songs the worship leader selected for the service. The song, "In the Blink of an Eye" would be the last song in the service. I was a little stunned to hear that. Earlier in the week, I had taken a picture of the words...In The Blink Of An I. They were quickened to me when I saw them on the High School yearbook. Was this a coincidence??? I thought not. I knew God was talking. On the drive home after my meeting with Jack, I saw 'googly eyes' in my mind. I knew I was supposed to do a visual for the tables using eyes...I's. I told Jack my idea. He liked it and his message would tie in 'In the blink of an I'.

Saturday, I cut out 65 I's and glued on the Googly eyes for the tables. I prayed as I cut with my scissors, "Lord, it's taking a LOT of time to do this. (groan) I believe this idea is from you. I pray you use it." After the beach service, I had to return money to the church bookstore. As I was counting the money, I saw this.
I was stunned. I could not count anymore. I knew there was more to b seen in this defaced $10. Maybe one day I will get a second touch and clearly see the message here.

I have to ask...."What do you see?"

B His Girl