"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for....By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death....These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised."
Hebrews 11:1-2, 17-19, 39
This week I'm thankful for:
River Vineyard Church and it's mission. Tony has been doing an awesome sermon series based on it--to experience and extend the life, love, healing and hope of Jesus Christ. Two things that stuck with me from this last week are "Faith is spelled R-I-S-K" and "The seven hardest words to say--"Can I pray with you right now?"
Abraham's story. He moved from not really trusting God (trying to pass Sarah off as his sister) to trying to fulfill God's promises through human means (God, you promised me ancestors but aren't delivering, so we'll take things into our own hands and have Ishmael) to not only believing that God would fulfill His promises but also living them out--in being willing to offer his only son as a sacrifice, even though it didn't make any sense in the context of the promise he had been given. I'm thankful for that model of faith--that even when it all doesn't make sense, that God is working and doing things in his way.
Henry and Harmony's preschool/daycare and the teachers there. They really love the kids, and really model kind interactions.
And thanks to Iris for hosting Thankful Thursday, and for all of your thankful hearts! Please visit her and share your thanks...and read everyone else's. It's amazing to see how God is working.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Yadsendew em rof skrow
If the title stumped you (it sure was hard to type!), it's ok! This week is "Works for Me Wednesday" in reverse--you post a problem, and see if anyone can solve it for you, or at least have suggestions!
Henry (age 5.5) rarely spends the entire night in his own bed. (He still has occasions of bedwetting, but this it's getting better, knock on wood...but the night wandering continues). This wouldn't be a problem, except I can't sleep when he's in bed with us--there isn't enough room, and it's hard for me to fall back asleep once I'm awake.
We've tried sticker/reward charts, new beds (they'd be bunk beds but we can't have him getting out of them at night!), talked about bigger kids that he admires staying in their own bed all night, praising him for staying in his own bed, punishing him for getting out of bed, and pretty much it's the same as it's been ever since we moved to NY and he was able to get out of bed on his own.
Suggestions??
And if you're looking for an answer to a practical problem, try posting it at WFMW!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Melodic Monday Jeremy Camp-Let it Fade
Have you been walking on a surface that's uncertain?
Have you helped yourself to everything that's empty?
You can't live this way too long.
There's more than this, more than this.
Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?
You can rest, you will find rest.
You can rest, you will find rest.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.
Have you been holding on to what this world has offered?
Have you been giving in to all these masquerades?
It will be gone, forever gone.
It will be gone, it will be gone
Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.
Let it fade.
Are you carrying the weight too much?, are you running from the call?
Let it fade, Oh yeah.
You can rest, you will find rest.
You can rest you will find rest.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?
Some days I think I live on another planet
It's spring break--woo hoo! Too bad I'm up to my eyeballs in grading and neglected resesarch...so the "break" part of spring break means getting to fully enjoy the weekends and a little more relaxed schedule.
Today I had the pleasure of watching a friend's three girls while she went to the doctor. This is when I had the realization that I live on a different planet.
Actually, probably two different planets.
When I got there, the three girls were calmly coloring pictures and listening to stories. Their mom left without a fuss, and we continued coloring, doing puzzles, listening to stories, and eating a snack until she returned.
It was so calm! Nothing compared to my two "Mom, play crashing cars into the walls with me! No, play princesses with ME!" No chasing around the house, no tattling (for the most part), no kidnapping of the princesses by the pirates...definitely a different planet. I think part of the difference is having testosterone around...Henry is 110% boy and it shows in his play style. He'll sit down and color, but it's usually a scary dinosaur or the latest, greatest space ship for a Star Wars character...and he'd much prefer something more active.
The other planetary difference was staying at home. I read people's blogs about their day, and it's hard not to get jealous of extended times with their kids, meeting friends at the mall for lunch and "control journals" to make sure all of their household tasks are getting done. I'm happy if lunch gets made in the morning and eaten at noon, and our laundry mountain is tackled on occasion :) On the other hand, I was itching to go do something--either working on a household task or going somewhere. Rare is the moment when I can just "be" with my kids--even when I make time to do it, there is usually a do to list a mile long spinning in my head.
It definitely makes the decision to not have summer students this summer so I can spend more time with the kids feel like the right one.
Lord, help me be content with my career. I know you've put me in it for a purpose and I see how you are using it, but some days I'd rather just be at home!
Today I had the pleasure of watching a friend's three girls while she went to the doctor. This is when I had the realization that I live on a different planet.
Actually, probably two different planets.
When I got there, the three girls were calmly coloring pictures and listening to stories. Their mom left without a fuss, and we continued coloring, doing puzzles, listening to stories, and eating a snack until she returned.
It was so calm! Nothing compared to my two "Mom, play crashing cars into the walls with me! No, play princesses with ME!" No chasing around the house, no tattling (for the most part), no kidnapping of the princesses by the pirates...definitely a different planet. I think part of the difference is having testosterone around...Henry is 110% boy and it shows in his play style. He'll sit down and color, but it's usually a scary dinosaur or the latest, greatest space ship for a Star Wars character...and he'd much prefer something more active.
The other planetary difference was staying at home. I read people's blogs about their day, and it's hard not to get jealous of extended times with their kids, meeting friends at the mall for lunch and "control journals" to make sure all of their household tasks are getting done. I'm happy if lunch gets made in the morning and eaten at noon, and our laundry mountain is tackled on occasion :) On the other hand, I was itching to go do something--either working on a household task or going somewhere. Rare is the moment when I can just "be" with my kids--even when I make time to do it, there is usually a do to list a mile long spinning in my head.
It definitely makes the decision to not have summer students this summer so I can spend more time with the kids feel like the right one.
Lord, help me be content with my career. I know you've put me in it for a purpose and I see how you are using it, but some days I'd rather just be at home!
What do you leave out?
We've been using Danielle's Place for our Kid's Church curriculum. It's been perfect for us--it engages the kids in fun and creative ways, our oldest child until recently was 5 (most of the lessons are for preschool-grade 2), is easy to use, and is inexpensive ($50/YEAR!). We've been using it for a year and a half, and still have lots of lessons to do.
We're now making our way through the Old Testament. I was surprised that Danielle's Place didn't really have any lessons on Abraham or Issac, so we've been supplementing with resources from Mission Arlington. It doesn't have the same level of activities (like no craft templates), it's in the same spirit as Danielle's place--very active learning oriented and child appropriate.
This week's lesson was on the birth of Issac. To simplify things, we left out the part about Ishmael. Even though it explains a lot about why the world is the way it is today, it didn't seem appropriate to talk about it with 3 and 4 year olds.
When I was talking with my mom about ideas for the lesson (got any good games, Mom?), she said, "you're not going to talk about Abraham sacrificing Issac, are you?"
My first response was, "why not?" I thought about Revelation 22:18-19--I don't want to be guilty of adding to or taking away from the Bible (though this passage refers specifically to Revelation). I don't want to omit major ideas from the Bible just because they're not appealing.
And then I thought about it from a kid's perspective--it is pretty scary. I can see why Danielle's place doesn't have a lesson on it--even the Mission Arlington's preschool version is sanitized--the putting Issac on the altar is left out.
It is a hard lesson. How do we teach that God wants us to put Him first, above EVERYTHING--family, work, hobbies, even the things he's promised us--without scaring the kids?
It also made me think--are there portions of the Bible I "leave out" because they make me uncomfortable or are scary?
God, guide us in what is appropriate for us to teach our children...while teaching them the whole truth.
We're now making our way through the Old Testament. I was surprised that Danielle's Place didn't really have any lessons on Abraham or Issac, so we've been supplementing with resources from Mission Arlington. It doesn't have the same level of activities (like no craft templates), it's in the same spirit as Danielle's place--very active learning oriented and child appropriate.
This week's lesson was on the birth of Issac. To simplify things, we left out the part about Ishmael. Even though it explains a lot about why the world is the way it is today, it didn't seem appropriate to talk about it with 3 and 4 year olds.
When I was talking with my mom about ideas for the lesson (got any good games, Mom?), she said, "you're not going to talk about Abraham sacrificing Issac, are you?"
My first response was, "why not?" I thought about Revelation 22:18-19--I don't want to be guilty of adding to or taking away from the Bible (though this passage refers specifically to Revelation). I don't want to omit major ideas from the Bible just because they're not appealing.
And then I thought about it from a kid's perspective--it is pretty scary. I can see why Danielle's place doesn't have a lesson on it--even the Mission Arlington's preschool version is sanitized--the putting Issac on the altar is left out.
It is a hard lesson. How do we teach that God wants us to put Him first, above EVERYTHING--family, work, hobbies, even the things he's promised us--without scaring the kids?
It also made me think--are there portions of the Bible I "leave out" because they make me uncomfortable or are scary?
God, guide us in what is appropriate for us to teach our children...while teaching them the whole truth.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Getting it right
So there have been distinct times in my life that God puts me through similar experiences so that I *finally* learn the lesson He's got for me.
I think I'm going through that again. A grad school friend, who will be 40 in May, called this afternoon to tell me she's pregnant.
This continues the one pregnancy announcement a week pattern that's been happening since Jan 6...God definitely has a sense of humor, or He's definitely trying to show me something and I'm being slow in getting it.
Lord, show me what it is you're trying to teach me, so I can get out of this Groundhog's Day (the movie) pattern...
I think I'm going through that again. A grad school friend, who will be 40 in May, called this afternoon to tell me she's pregnant.
This continues the one pregnancy announcement a week pattern that's been happening since Jan 6...God definitely has a sense of humor, or He's definitely trying to show me something and I'm being slow in getting it.
Lord, show me what it is you're trying to teach me, so I can get out of this Groundhog's Day (the movie) pattern...
Friday, February 29, 2008
Cleaning out the cupboards
Last night for life group, we had a party at one family's house. Besides the usual chili and conversation, we reorganized the kitchen. The mom was afraid to open some cabinets, because it would result in a shower of pots and pans landing on the floor.
It's one of those overwhelming to the point of "let's eat out instead" problems...and hard to figure out where to start. But with five of us each doing a drawer or cabinet or two, it went quickly. We narrowed the six frying pans (including one with no handle) down to three, and discovered she didn't need to buy a 9x13 cake pan--she had several already.
We found some treasures, too--a pair of earrings the mom wore at her wedding, some special artwork by her daughter, and $15.
It was a fun job, and totally rewarding.
I think sometimes we have spiritual "cabinet" jobs--what old and broken things are cluttering the way to us being productive? What treasures are buried and lost? And sometimes it takes a friend or five to help us sort everything out and find a place for everything.
Thanks, Lord, for our awesome life group and for opportunities to serve each other. Help us be the kind of friends that people will know we must be Christians by how we love each other--and not just for our physical cluttered cabinets, but our spiritual and mental ones, too.
It's one of those overwhelming to the point of "let's eat out instead" problems...and hard to figure out where to start. But with five of us each doing a drawer or cabinet or two, it went quickly. We narrowed the six frying pans (including one with no handle) down to three, and discovered she didn't need to buy a 9x13 cake pan--she had several already.
We found some treasures, too--a pair of earrings the mom wore at her wedding, some special artwork by her daughter, and $15.
It was a fun job, and totally rewarding.
I think sometimes we have spiritual "cabinet" jobs--what old and broken things are cluttering the way to us being productive? What treasures are buried and lost? And sometimes it takes a friend or five to help us sort everything out and find a place for everything.
Thanks, Lord, for our awesome life group and for opportunities to serve each other. Help us be the kind of friends that people will know we must be Christians by how we love each other--and not just for our physical cluttered cabinets, but our spiritual and mental ones, too.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thankful Thursday
Today I've had this song in my head:
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and He hears me when I call.
This week I'm thankful that:
--God not only knows my name, he knows everything about me. This is especially amazing to me, as it's half way through the semester and I'm still working on learning all of my student's names!
--He kept Harmony safe when she wandered out on Saturday...and me safe while my thoughts went wandering outside of my Father's house.
--the power of prayer. I definitely have seen and experienced it this week, both in preparing a message for chapel today and with the person who had the pants in the dryer vision. Glad to know I'm in the heat right now, and God will make everything fit :)
--Harmony starting every prayer with "thanks", even for things that haven't happened yet. So thanks, God, for finishing the test that has to be done by tomorrow morning and the lecture for tomorrow morning that I haven't started.
--next week is spring break!
For more thankfulness or to share yours, please visit Iris. Thanks for hosting--what a wonderful and uplifting meme!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Works for me Wednesday--fast breakfast!
Tuesdays are long days--I have class from 8-11 and lab from 1-4...and somewhere in the middle I need to get grading done and a lecture written for Wednesday. I'm also out of the "getting up early" groove, so between packing the kids' lunches, finding their clothes (both of which I try to do the night before), and getting their breakfast, mine is usually eaten on the way to work.
But I've discovered a fast, healthy, portable breakfast!
--Put piece of bread or english muffin in the toaster
--crack egg in small bowl and scramble; microwave 25 seconds
--Slide egg onto bread (add a piece of cheese if you like) and walk out of door!
voila! A homemade egg McMuffin sandwich in less than 2 minutes!
Calorie count: less than 200, yet has protein to hold me through lunch.
What's you're "works for me Wednesday"? For more ideas, visit Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer
Monday, February 25, 2008
Melodic Mondays--Hold Me, Jesus by Rich Mullins
Well, sometimes my life just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees
And this Salvation Army band is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin
I'm singing hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees
And this Salvation Army band is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin
I'm singing hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wandering around outside
Yesterday as I was sitting in the car, getting ready to leave for "Learning to Listen", there was a little knock on the car door window. It was Harmony--her little nose was red, and she was crying.
I opened the door and gave her a big hug. She had slept in that morning, and I figured that she woke up, was upset that I left without saying goodbye, and Patrick sent her out to say it.
That wasn't the story.
I brought her inside, and Patrick said, "where did you find her?" Uh...I started putting the pieces together.
Henry woke up when I did this morning, and was very unhappy that I wasn't participating in "stay at home" day. So Patrick proposed that he and Henry make a quick run to the new donut shop about three blocks from our house. So they scurried to get dressed and left, while Harmony continued to sleep and I got ready.
As I was in the laundry room looking for clean underwear (blush--nope, I haven't stayed ahead of the laundry), I heard the door click. We have a common front door with the apartment upstairs, and it's normal for the kids not to close our inner door, so I figured it was one of the upstairs guys closing it. But I didn't hear feet on the staircase. Oh well.
Then as I was getting in the car, I saw a girl down the street, wearing a pink coat. I don't know who lives in that house right now, but there have typically been elementary school aged kids who live there, so I thought nothing of it and made a mental note to double check before backing out.
The story that emerged through Harmony's cries is that she heard Patrick and Henry left, and figured that we all did. She didn't want to be left behind, so she put on her boots, hat, scarf, mittens and coat and went to join them...but they had already pulled out (I needed to leave in 10 minutes, so they had to make it a quick trip instead of walking). She thought she had been left behind, but really I had been in the house the whole time.
I comforted her that we would never leave her alone; if we went somewhere, we would tell her and someone would stay with her. She was so upset I didn't scold her for going outside by herself, but clung tightly to her, thinking about all the bad things that could have happened, and praising God that they didn't.
I think I went wandering out of my Father's house yesterday. And unlike Harmony, I got attacked, and hard.
Lord, keep me in your house, in your word and your truth instead of wandering off on my own.
I opened the door and gave her a big hug. She had slept in that morning, and I figured that she woke up, was upset that I left without saying goodbye, and Patrick sent her out to say it.
That wasn't the story.
I brought her inside, and Patrick said, "where did you find her?" Uh...I started putting the pieces together.
Henry woke up when I did this morning, and was very unhappy that I wasn't participating in "stay at home" day. So Patrick proposed that he and Henry make a quick run to the new donut shop about three blocks from our house. So they scurried to get dressed and left, while Harmony continued to sleep and I got ready.
As I was in the laundry room looking for clean underwear (blush--nope, I haven't stayed ahead of the laundry), I heard the door click. We have a common front door with the apartment upstairs, and it's normal for the kids not to close our inner door, so I figured it was one of the upstairs guys closing it. But I didn't hear feet on the staircase. Oh well.
Then as I was getting in the car, I saw a girl down the street, wearing a pink coat. I don't know who lives in that house right now, but there have typically been elementary school aged kids who live there, so I thought nothing of it and made a mental note to double check before backing out.
The story that emerged through Harmony's cries is that she heard Patrick and Henry left, and figured that we all did. She didn't want to be left behind, so she put on her boots, hat, scarf, mittens and coat and went to join them...but they had already pulled out (I needed to leave in 10 minutes, so they had to make it a quick trip instead of walking). She thought she had been left behind, but really I had been in the house the whole time.
I comforted her that we would never leave her alone; if we went somewhere, we would tell her and someone would stay with her. She was so upset I didn't scold her for going outside by herself, but clung tightly to her, thinking about all the bad things that could have happened, and praising God that they didn't.
I think I went wandering out of my Father's house yesterday. And unlike Harmony, I got attacked, and hard.
Lord, keep me in your house, in your word and your truth instead of wandering off on my own.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Just say no...
someone please talk me out of making this cake!
Gooey chocolate will not make me feel better...gooey chocolate will not make me feel better...gooey chocolate puts me farther from my weight loss goal...gooey chocolate will not make me feel better...
Gooey chocolate will not make me feel better...gooey chocolate will not make me feel better...gooey chocolate puts me farther from my weight loss goal...gooey chocolate will not make me feel better...
Answer shopping
"Mom, can I have a cookie?"
"You may have an apple, some grapes, a banana, or some carrots--they're appetizers. Cookies are dessert, and dessert is after dinner."
"Dad, can I have a cookie?"
That would be answer shopping...luckily they usually do it when we're in earshot of each other, so we know to support the other's decision.
But sometimes I wonder if I "answer shop" with God, too. I'd much rather believe Harmony's request for a baby and my friends who say what you're asking for is fine, rather than my mom's litany of reasons why it's good that I don't have more kids.
Help me not to "answer shop" with you, God. Help me hear and obey your first answer...but it would be nice if you spoke in a clear voice!
The pants in the dryer, part 2
I went to the "Learning to Listen" class today, and stayed for the whole thing...that in itself was victory. I was pretty much a mess the whole time. Sarah from our life group noticed, sought me out and prayed for me at one of the breaks--which was really good.
By the time I got home, I was able to sort out what exactly it *was* about the "pants in the dryer" vision that was upsetting. The answer I came up with was this: without the vision, the miscarriage can be just another part of living in a fallen world. With it, it becomes something God intentionally did.
I have a hard time wrapping my head around that. It's not like we didn't seek after God before getting pregnant, or that we concieved out of wedlock. We have ample resources (especially when you compare on a global scale) to support a larger family. Why our family "fits" better when smaller isn't obvious by any measure.
It is the case that I have learned and grown leaps and bounds though the miscarriage experience. I think what I'm struggling with is understanding if this means we're to be "done" with our family. If that's the case, we should be taking permanent measures against conceiving...but I just can't. Not yet. There are too many words going both directions--that's what makes this hard.
God, I don't understand. Please give me wisdom and understanding.
By the time I got home, I was able to sort out what exactly it *was* about the "pants in the dryer" vision that was upsetting. The answer I came up with was this: without the vision, the miscarriage can be just another part of living in a fallen world. With it, it becomes something God intentionally did.
I have a hard time wrapping my head around that. It's not like we didn't seek after God before getting pregnant, or that we concieved out of wedlock. We have ample resources (especially when you compare on a global scale) to support a larger family. Why our family "fits" better when smaller isn't obvious by any measure.
It is the case that I have learned and grown leaps and bounds though the miscarriage experience. I think what I'm struggling with is understanding if this means we're to be "done" with our family. If that's the case, we should be taking permanent measures against conceiving...but I just can't. Not yet. There are too many words going both directions--that's what makes this hard.
God, I don't understand. Please give me wisdom and understanding.
Friday, February 22, 2008
((Fingers in my ears))
Remember when you were a kid and you didn't want to hear something? It didn't really work, you could still hear what your parent/teacher/used-to-be-best-friend was saying, but you could pretend you didn't hear.
Sometimes I feel that way about my attitude towards God. About a year and a week ago, we were at a church membership class, and one of the women had a vision for me of God taking something in my life that was too big for me, like a pair of pants, and putting it in the dryer and shrinking until it fit right.
I was wearing Patrick's pants that day--I was 8-9 weeks pregnant with twins. It was a week before the first ultra sound when we found out things didn't look good, and a month before I had a D&C.
The person who saw it said she thought it was about our role at church, and didn't think it had to do with our family size. But given that our church says prophecy is never to be applied to marriage or babies (which I'm not sure I agree with--why wouldn't God speak about topics as big as those?) as well as occurances of the year, what else could it be? I'm still really struggling with the "why"...Guess I need to go back to Job. Why not?
Our church is having a "Learning to Listen like Jesus" mini-conference tomorrow, and I think I have my fingers in my ears. I'm MAKING myself go--I'm ready for my spiritual life to be less a willful obedience and something that I desire to do, but right now it's lots of "little engine that could", making myself do the right thing. And in general, it's been fruitful...
Take the fingers out of my ears, Lord, and make me ready to listen to whatever you have for me...even bad news is good when it comes from you.
Sometimes I feel that way about my attitude towards God. About a year and a week ago, we were at a church membership class, and one of the women had a vision for me of God taking something in my life that was too big for me, like a pair of pants, and putting it in the dryer and shrinking until it fit right.
I was wearing Patrick's pants that day--I was 8-9 weeks pregnant with twins. It was a week before the first ultra sound when we found out things didn't look good, and a month before I had a D&C.
The person who saw it said she thought it was about our role at church, and didn't think it had to do with our family size. But given that our church says prophecy is never to be applied to marriage or babies (which I'm not sure I agree with--why wouldn't God speak about topics as big as those?) as well as occurances of the year, what else could it be? I'm still really struggling with the "why"...Guess I need to go back to Job. Why not?
Our church is having a "Learning to Listen like Jesus" mini-conference tomorrow, and I think I have my fingers in my ears. I'm MAKING myself go--I'm ready for my spiritual life to be less a willful obedience and something that I desire to do, but right now it's lots of "little engine that could", making myself do the right thing. And in general, it's been fruitful...
Take the fingers out of my ears, Lord, and make me ready to listen to whatever you have for me...even bad news is good when it comes from you.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Thankful Thursday--God answers
Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:6-7
This week I'm thankful that:
--The Lord is trustworthy! He saves us and provides for us and is stronger than an army...even today's armored tanks and rocket missiles.
--The Lord still speaks today. This weekend our church is having a special "workshop" on learning to listen like Jesus. While I was running, I was confessing that I don't want to go, because life is easier if you don't listen and just carry on your merry way. So of course God revealed an entire Sunday School curriculum I'm supposed to write...luckily we won't get to it for a year, but I better get hopping on it!
--That God uses my exercise time as prayer time.
--How God works everything together for his good purposes. Last fall Patrick sensed he should be doing something different with his job, and God has worked it out...not in the timing *I* thought things should happen, but in His good timing.
--God chooses children to speak to and through--both my own kids, and in the Bible.
--I'm able to work with a great group of people--both coworkers and students.
What are you thankful for this week? Visit Iris to share your list and read other people's!
Works for me Wednesday--inaugural edition
I lost my digital camera a couple of years ago between Thanksgiving and Christmas...and I now have no memories of the event. I'm lost without pictures to jog my memory!
So when I got my new camera, I stole a "works for me" idea from my mom. I cut down an address label so that it fits on the top of my camera and added my phone number, so that if it's ever found (by a nice person), it has a chance at being returned. I'd take a picture, but well, it's on my camera!
The label has also been helpful at family gatherings--several of us have similar cameras, and it's easy to figure out which one is mine.
For more Works for Me Wednesdays, visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer (and read about her trip with Compassion to Africa while you're at it!)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
God, grant me patience...
Tonight at dinner:
Henry: Mom, can I have some juice?
Me: Yes. (gets up from table).
Henry: Mom, can I have some juice? some punch juice?
Me: Yes, Henry. (gets glass out of cabinet)
Henry: Mom, can I PLEASE have some juice?
Me: Yes, Henry. I'm working on it! (Opens fridge)
Henry: (sighs). I don't think I'm ever going to get a drink.
Me: (sighs and pours juice). Patience, please. (I think I was asking for me, not Henry!)
Henry: (guzzles juice) I didn't think I'd EVER get some juice!
This sequence is fairly common in our house...even when I'm NOT doing something at the time of a request, I never seem to be quite fast enough.
Once again, God uses my children to teach me about me...how many times am I bugging Him about what He's already working out?
God, please give me patience, both with my children and with your timing...and send it now :)
Henry: Mom, can I have some juice?
Me: Yes. (gets up from table).
Henry: Mom, can I have some juice? some punch juice?
Me: Yes, Henry. (gets glass out of cabinet)
Henry: Mom, can I PLEASE have some juice?
Me: Yes, Henry. I'm working on it! (Opens fridge)
Henry: (sighs). I don't think I'm ever going to get a drink.
Me: (sighs and pours juice). Patience, please. (I think I was asking for me, not Henry!)
Henry: (guzzles juice) I didn't think I'd EVER get some juice!
This sequence is fairly common in our house...even when I'm NOT doing something at the time of a request, I never seem to be quite fast enough.
Once again, God uses my children to teach me about me...how many times am I bugging Him about what He's already working out?
God, please give me patience, both with my children and with your timing...and send it now :)
Monday, February 18, 2008
In training--chafing
Today I had to stop running early. The shirt I was wearing was rubbing under my arms, and it hurt! I tried putting some Body Glide, but it was too late. Like their web page says, prevention is better than a cure...next time I'll put it on first.
I'll also choose a different shirt. Sometimes it's the same way in my spiritual life--what am I choosing to wear? Am I putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience? Or selfishness, anger, pride, harshness and impatience? The latter definitely chafes.
In the last month, I've been hit hard with pregnancy announcements. Six friends have recently become pregnant--it's been one a week at church for the last month. I thought I was done mourning the miscarriages, but I guess I'm not, because it chafes. But I have a choice: I can celebrate with my friends, or host a pity party. I'm voting for the former--it chafes less.
Lord, help me be clothed in your selections of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. They're much better than my yuckky rags of self centeredness and impatience.
I'll also choose a different shirt. Sometimes it's the same way in my spiritual life--what am I choosing to wear? Am I putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience? Or selfishness, anger, pride, harshness and impatience? The latter definitely chafes.
In the last month, I've been hit hard with pregnancy announcements. Six friends have recently become pregnant--it's been one a week at church for the last month. I thought I was done mourning the miscarriages, but I guess I'm not, because it chafes. But I have a choice: I can celebrate with my friends, or host a pity party. I'm voting for the former--it chafes less.
Lord, help me be clothed in your selections of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. They're much better than my yuckky rags of self centeredness and impatience.
In training--Trust and Obey
Trust and Obey popped into my head as I was running today. I really didn't want to go--it was too cold to run outside, so I was back on the treadmill. I didn't want to, but my training program is ramping up, so I did it anyway. I want to be able to finish the race, so whether I feel like it or not, I do it anyway. I'm trusting that the trainer knows what they're talking about, and if I want to be able to walk the week after the race, I'll follow their directions.
Somedays I wonder if I treat God, the ultimate trainer in my spiritual race, as well as I do someone I've never met. Do I trust Him that He knows what's best for my family? Am I going to obey Him and not covet other people's pregancies? Am I going to turn to God or turn to food when I'm frustrated, angry, or otherwise upset? It's a choice, and it'll determine whether I finish the race well.
Lord, I want to trust and obey You. Show me where I'm not, and help me to do it, even when I don't want to.
Somedays I wonder if I treat God, the ultimate trainer in my spiritual race, as well as I do someone I've never met. Do I trust Him that He knows what's best for my family? Am I going to obey Him and not covet other people's pregancies? Am I going to turn to God or turn to food when I'm frustrated, angry, or otherwise upset? It's a choice, and it'll determine whether I finish the race well.
Lord, I want to trust and obey You. Show me where I'm not, and help me to do it, even when I don't want to.
Melodic Mondays--Trust and Obey
One of Grandma Holm's favorite songs was Trust and Obey by John Sammis and Daniel Towner in 1887.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Compassion
Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer (I love that title, especially since it's happened to me!) is blogging about her visit to meet her Compassion Child in Uganda. What an amazing experience!
We have a compassion child, Nattapol. He lives in Thailand, and is exactly the same age as Henry--they share a birthday so we can't forget it. It's been a great experience. Henry's placemat is a map of the world, and we often find Thailand on it and pray for him. As he gets older, I'm hoping he'll be a penpal with Nattapol, and we'll be able to make global events seem more real or see them from Nattapol's point of view.
We had a different little boy, from Nicaragua earlier--but he dropped out of the program. I can't help but wonder what happened to him and his family--it was a bit disconcerting when we got the letter.
Sunday, April 13 is Compassion Sunday--an opportunity for your church to talk about Jesus' care for the poor and give people the opportunity to sponsor a child. Check with your pastor--are you observing Compassion Sunday? If not, volunteer to organize it. We did it last year for our church, and it was really easy. They sent packets about children, inserts for the bulletin, and materials to set up a booth. All you need to provide is people to stuff the bulletins and staff the stand!
What a great opportunity to share the love of Jesus in a tangible way!
Friday, February 15, 2008
In training--ask and you shall receive
I'm training for the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon in May--I ran it last year, and it was a great experience, God taught me lots through it.
Last year I "trained" in six weeks total--needless to say, I couldn't walk up stairs for a couple of weeks afterwards. This year I'm planning ahead, and started a 17 week training program after Christmas. I'm not following it to the T, but I am trying to stay somewhat on track (hah! that pun wasn't intentional!) with the distance runs.
It's been cold enough that I've been doing most of my running on a treadmill. While it's good training for speed and pace, it isn't the good prayer time I need. The combination of people around me, Obama and Clinton on CNN, and watching the clock makes for not quality prayer running.
So today I headed outside. The goal: six miles and some good God time. I used gmaps pedometer to come up with a route--it was actually 5.75 miles, but good enough for me today. I need to figure out the "what to wear in 30 degree weather" thing, but did ok--I just need a wind jacket with some ventilation and I'll be good. The coat I had on was too toasty, while my face was cold. Maybe I'll try a hoodie next time.
It takes about 3 miles to get the grumbles out, then the good God time begins. I'm sure I'll have more to say about the spiritual training analogy another day. In about the final mile, God was talking to me about "ask and it shall be given unto you" (Luke 11:9) and "You do not have, because you do not ask God" (James 4:2b). God was pointing out to me the reason I haven't been given some things is because, frankly, I'm afraid to ask for them! I'm afraid of another miscarriage, or having a baby with birth defects (we're old, ya know). I'm afraid of what another child would do to our relationships with our older children and our marriage. Where would we put another child? Would there be enough money? Would we be able to do a good job parenting? Isn't this just me being jealous and self-centered? I don't really buy the "God doesn't give you more than you can handle" saying--I think He DOES give us more than we can handle on our own, so that we're FORCED to turn to Him for help. So I prayed that we'd turn to Him *without* needing a crisis.
God showed me this is really a trust issue--do I really trust Him to provide for my and my family's needs? Do I trust Him to not give us a child if it's outside of His will? The hard thing is reading the signs--do the miscarriages mean "not now" or "not never"? What kind of no is this?
This week I've also had two friends speak the same message to me--one said there's nothing wrong with wanting another child, you're not asking for something outside of God's will. And when I was telling another friend about Harmony's desire for a baby, her comment was that there are much worse reasons to have one, like to keep a marriage together, to have someone love you, etc.
So God, I'm trusting you with our reproductive life. I trust that you'll be with us through whatever is in store for our family.
Last year I "trained" in six weeks total--needless to say, I couldn't walk up stairs for a couple of weeks afterwards. This year I'm planning ahead, and started a 17 week training program after Christmas. I'm not following it to the T, but I am trying to stay somewhat on track (hah! that pun wasn't intentional!) with the distance runs.
It's been cold enough that I've been doing most of my running on a treadmill. While it's good training for speed and pace, it isn't the good prayer time I need. The combination of people around me, Obama and Clinton on CNN, and watching the clock makes for not quality prayer running.
So today I headed outside. The goal: six miles and some good God time. I used gmaps pedometer to come up with a route--it was actually 5.75 miles, but good enough for me today. I need to figure out the "what to wear in 30 degree weather" thing, but did ok--I just need a wind jacket with some ventilation and I'll be good. The coat I had on was too toasty, while my face was cold. Maybe I'll try a hoodie next time.
It takes about 3 miles to get the grumbles out, then the good God time begins. I'm sure I'll have more to say about the spiritual training analogy another day. In about the final mile, God was talking to me about "ask and it shall be given unto you" (Luke 11:9) and "You do not have, because you do not ask God" (James 4:2b). God was pointing out to me the reason I haven't been given some things is because, frankly, I'm afraid to ask for them! I'm afraid of another miscarriage, or having a baby with birth defects (we're old, ya know). I'm afraid of what another child would do to our relationships with our older children and our marriage. Where would we put another child? Would there be enough money? Would we be able to do a good job parenting? Isn't this just me being jealous and self-centered? I don't really buy the "God doesn't give you more than you can handle" saying--I think He DOES give us more than we can handle on our own, so that we're FORCED to turn to Him for help. So I prayed that we'd turn to Him *without* needing a crisis.
God showed me this is really a trust issue--do I really trust Him to provide for my and my family's needs? Do I trust Him to not give us a child if it's outside of His will? The hard thing is reading the signs--do the miscarriages mean "not now" or "not never"? What kind of no is this?
This week I've also had two friends speak the same message to me--one said there's nothing wrong with wanting another child, you're not asking for something outside of God's will. And when I was telling another friend about Harmony's desire for a baby, her comment was that there are much worse reasons to have one, like to keep a marriage together, to have someone love you, etc.
So God, I'm trusting you with our reproductive life. I trust that you'll be with us through whatever is in store for our family.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Thankful Thursday
My heart is full but my list is short and my arms feel empty--this week I'm thankful for:
--new life all around me. Somehow I expected when I had miscarriages, births on the planet would stop, but I'm glad God keeps blessing people with the miracle of babies--four new pregnancies announced/discovered in the last three weeks.
--Having a washer and dryer at my house. A couple of Sundays ago we stopped by the local gas station/laundromat to get a paper and warm up from a long walk. It brought back memories of having to haul our laundry somewhere, and especially now with kids, it made me sooo glad to have our own!
--That God loved us when we were unlovable--what an amazing thing to celebrate this Valentine's Day.
For more Thankful Thursdays, please visit Iris!
--new life all around me. Somehow I expected when I had miscarriages, births on the planet would stop, but I'm glad God keeps blessing people with the miracle of babies--four new pregnancies announced/discovered in the last three weeks.
--Having a washer and dryer at my house. A couple of Sundays ago we stopped by the local gas station/laundromat to get a paper and warm up from a long walk. It brought back memories of having to haul our laundry somewhere, and especially now with kids, it made me sooo glad to have our own!
--That God loved us when we were unlovable--what an amazing thing to celebrate this Valentine's Day.
For more Thankful Thursdays, please visit Iris!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Wordless Wednesday--Valentines for the teachers
Henry's (age 5)
Harmony's (age 3):
The note Henry wrote me at school last Thursday:
Harmony's (age 3):
The note Henry wrote me at school last Thursday:
Top Ten things I love about my kids right now
I think part of my (not as bad as it sounds on my blog) angst is a Peter Pan syndrome...for my kids. This age is just too fun, and I can see the end in sight, and that's sad :( So here's the list of stuff that I love about where they are right now that I don't want to forget:
10. Racing to get dressed in the morning as a motivational technique.
9. Counting before we pray--where did that come from anyway??
8. Playing at the park--underdogs are well loved.
7. Harmony painting and making wonderful creations.
6. Henry building intricate Lego ships.
5. "Mom, play with me!"
4. Enthusiastic greetings when I pick them up from their preschool or meet them at home.
3. Bath time--Harmony likes to make Santa beards with her bubbles.
2. Snuggle time in the morning...usually ended by a round of tickling.
1. Story time. Every night we read too many books, with Harmony on my right side, Henry on my left, the cat on my lap, and the books tettering somewhere. I usually can barely breathe and my feet usually fall asleep, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
10. Racing to get dressed in the morning as a motivational technique.
9. Counting before we pray--where did that come from anyway??
8. Playing at the park--underdogs are well loved.
7. Harmony painting and making wonderful creations.
6. Henry building intricate Lego ships.
5. "Mom, play with me!"
4. Enthusiastic greetings when I pick them up from their preschool or meet them at home.
3. Bath time--Harmony likes to make Santa beards with her bubbles.
2. Snuggle time in the morning...usually ended by a round of tickling.
1. Story time. Every night we read too many books, with Harmony on my right side, Henry on my left, the cat on my lap, and the books tettering somewhere. I usually can barely breathe and my feet usually fall asleep, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Melodic Monday--God Watches over His Children at Night
We're still on the John Hirt CD...
Henry really loves track three, Mary had a little lamb (Jesus=Lamb of God), but track 4 is the one that makes me tear up:
God Watches over His Children at Night
She pulls back the covers and slips out of bed
Her baby's cries still ring in her head
it's been almost two years since she's passed away
she misses her more with each passing day
She busies herself with her unending chores
thinking the while that there's got to be more
And then she remembers He'll always be there
God watches over His children at night
Softly and gently He holds them tight
Fears melt away in His glorious light
He promised to those who believe in Him
He enters the room where his father lay still
the passage of time has left him so frail
the man that he knew when he was a young boy
is now just a memory of time filled with joy
he looks at his face and he sees himself there
Would his family love him, would anyone care?
Would hearts be left broken, apologies unspoken?
Would his final hours leave him darkness and cold?
God watches over His children at night
Softly and gently He holds them tight
Fears melt away in His glorious light
He promised to those who believe in him
Now I lay me down and I go to sleep
I pray to God my soul to keep
If I should die before I awake
God watches over His children at night
Softly and gently He holds them tight
Fears melt away in His glorious light
He promised to those who believe in him
She pulls back the covers and slips out of bed
Her baby's cries still ring in her head
Henry really loves track three, Mary had a little lamb (Jesus=Lamb of God), but track 4 is the one that makes me tear up:
God Watches over His Children at Night
She pulls back the covers and slips out of bed
Her baby's cries still ring in her head
it's been almost two years since she's passed away
she misses her more with each passing day
She busies herself with her unending chores
thinking the while that there's got to be more
And then she remembers He'll always be there
God watches over His children at night
Softly and gently He holds them tight
Fears melt away in His glorious light
He promised to those who believe in Him
He enters the room where his father lay still
the passage of time has left him so frail
the man that he knew when he was a young boy
is now just a memory of time filled with joy
he looks at his face and he sees himself there
Would his family love him, would anyone care?
Would hearts be left broken, apologies unspoken?
Would his final hours leave him darkness and cold?
God watches over His children at night
Softly and gently He holds them tight
Fears melt away in His glorious light
He promised to those who believe in him
Now I lay me down and I go to sleep
I pray to God my soul to keep
If I should die before I awake
God watches over His children at night
Softly and gently He holds them tight
Fears melt away in His glorious light
He promised to those who believe in him
She pulls back the covers and slips out of bed
Her baby's cries still ring in her head
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Harmony's prayer tonight
My ulcerative colitis is acting up a bit--not as awful as it could be, but enough to be annoying. So at prayer time tonight, Patrick asked everyone to pray for my tummy. Here is Harmony's prayer:
Make mommy's tummy have a baby in it, and for her to feel good while it's in there.
THIS is why it's hard to hear about newly pregnant people (discovered another one at church today...) While I'm (mostly)fine with our family size, Harmony most definitely isn't. And she's making it known on a more regular basis these days...
Give Harmony her heart's desire, Lord--either change the desires of her heart, or make reality match her desire, in your timing!
Make mommy's tummy have a baby in it, and for her to feel good while it's in there.
THIS is why it's hard to hear about newly pregnant people (discovered another one at church today...) While I'm (mostly)fine with our family size, Harmony most definitely isn't. And she's making it known on a more regular basis these days...
Give Harmony her heart's desire, Lord--either change the desires of her heart, or make reality match her desire, in your timing!
Friday, February 8, 2008
I am 36, going on 37...
Remember this Sound of Music song?
Rolf:]
You wait, little girl, on an empty stage, For fate to turn the light on
Your life, little girl, is an empty page, That men will want to write on
[Liesl:]
To write on
[Rolf:]
You are sixteen going on seventeen Baby, it's time to think
Better beware, be canny and careful Baby, you're on the brink
You are sixteen going on seventeen Fellows will fall in line
Eager young lads and rogues and cads Will offer you food and wine
Totally unprepared are you To face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared are you Of things beyond your ken
You need someone older an wiser telling you what to do
I am seventeen going on eighteen I'll take care of you
[Liesl:]
I am sixteen going on seventeen I know that I'm naive
Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet and willingly I believe
I am sixteen going on seventeen Iinocent as a rose
Bachelor dandies, drinkers of brandies, What do I know of those
Totally unprepared am I to face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared am I Of things beyond my ken
I need someone older and wiser telling me what to do
You are seventeen going on eighteen I'll depend on you
Alrighty, I'm not sixteen, but I am thirty six. And just like Liesel, I need help with this getting older thing! It's definitely hitting, and I'm feeling it. The other night, Harmony said, "Mommy, what are those lines on your face?" Ugh...
I am not ready to be old. I know, just like Paul, that I must diminish as my kids get older. But I am not ready to be old, ugly and useless...but that's definitely how I feel.
So if you're older and wiser (even if it's 37 going on 38 :)) and have some advice to give, I'd appreciate it. I am completely serious when I say that we're one of the oldest at our church, so there aren't "real life" mentors available...so I'm looking in the bloggy world!
Rolf:]
You wait, little girl, on an empty stage, For fate to turn the light on
Your life, little girl, is an empty page, That men will want to write on
[Liesl:]
To write on
[Rolf:]
You are sixteen going on seventeen Baby, it's time to think
Better beware, be canny and careful Baby, you're on the brink
You are sixteen going on seventeen Fellows will fall in line
Eager young lads and rogues and cads Will offer you food and wine
Totally unprepared are you To face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared are you Of things beyond your ken
You need someone older an wiser telling you what to do
I am seventeen going on eighteen I'll take care of you
[Liesl:]
I am sixteen going on seventeen I know that I'm naive
Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet and willingly I believe
I am sixteen going on seventeen Iinocent as a rose
Bachelor dandies, drinkers of brandies, What do I know of those
Totally unprepared am I to face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared am I Of things beyond my ken
I need someone older and wiser telling me what to do
You are seventeen going on eighteen I'll depend on you
Alrighty, I'm not sixteen, but I am thirty six. And just like Liesel, I need help with this getting older thing! It's definitely hitting, and I'm feeling it. The other night, Harmony said, "Mommy, what are those lines on your face?" Ugh...
I am not ready to be old. I know, just like Paul, that I must diminish as my kids get older. But I am not ready to be old, ugly and useless...but that's definitely how I feel.
So if you're older and wiser (even if it's 37 going on 38 :)) and have some advice to give, I'd appreciate it. I am completely serious when I say that we're one of the oldest at our church, so there aren't "real life" mentors available...so I'm looking in the bloggy world!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Persistence in prayer
This is a blog that has been brewing for a while. Sometimes we wonder, "why doesn't God answer my prayers RIGHT NOW? I need him NOW, not later!" While I don't imagine that I have the answer to this question, I do want to share what I've learned.
The story people usually point to is the death of Lazarus in John 11--Jesus could have shown up before Lazarus died, but instead he waited. And John is even good enough to tell you why he waited--so that we may believe (v 15), see God's glory (v 40), and know that God sent Jesus (v 42).
The problem I have with this story is that if you're Lazarus, it's no fun being dead. And to be honest, his sisters probably weren't praying for Lazarus to be raised. Martha had faith that Lazarus would be raised when the ressurection came, but she had given up for the time being. So it's more a story about God's timing vs our timing, than about persistence in prayer.
The story that struck me recently was Jonah. We all know he was in the belly of the whale for three days, but do you know what he was doing down there? Yup, praying. So why didn't God have the whale/fish spit him out immediately?
I've heard some people say that Jonah's heart was so hard that it took him three days to start praying. Somehow I doubt that--I have a feeling he started sending up prayers as soon as he was thrown in the sea. And there is support for that from the grammar--the verb tense of "prayed" in 1:17 is imperfect, which means it was continuous or unfinished....I tend to think of it as continuous!
I think there were a couple of reasons God waited. First, so that Jonah could realize how he got himself in this mess to begin with. Now, not all of our situations are due to our own sin like Jonah's was, but our situations do have a history.
Secondly, I think it helped Jonah realize that his only salvation was God, and that he didn't deserve it. Jonah knew he had done wrong; 2:4 shows that he knew he was banished, and he still looked to the "holy temple."
There are times when I think we think (how's that for convoluted) that we DESERVE something from God, yet in all honesty, we're sinners and deserve nothing. It's kind of like at the end of Jonah--God gave him a vine to shelter him and it made him happy, but he didn't thank God, and was angry when God took it away. I know I'm tempted to give God a list of reasons of why he should give me what I want, but really the only good reason is because God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (Jonah 4:2). It's not about me; it's all about God.
But wait, there's more! Jonah 2 has two more reasons. Verse 8 says, "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." Wow. That's convicting. So I guess when I'm waiting on God, I better examine for logs in my eye--is there something I'm putting in front of God in my own life? Is there something God's asked me to do (like giving a message to someone (cough, Ninevah, cough)) that I haven't done? The "worthless idols" is "lying vanities" in the King James--am I being too self absorbed and vain?
The last element in Jonah's prayer is thanksgiving: "But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving, I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” I don't think this was Henry and Harmony's "and thank you for this day and for this morning" kind of thanksgiving; rather it was a SACRIFICE of thanksgiving. Really turning your heart over to God and giving him thanks for the circumstance, even when it's ugly and definitely not what we want. It's giving thanks in the hard times, in all circumstances.
So while hanging out in the belly of a whale at the bottom of the sea for three days and nights is not my idea of fun, I do think God uses that time to grow our faith--to show us the bigger picture of our circumstance, to help us realize that God is really our only salvation and there is nothing we can do to deserve his mercy, to give us a chance to clean our junk, and to show us what sacrificial thanksgiving looks like. None of those are "fun" lessons at the time, but discipline shows us that God loves us and cultivates wisdom.
Man, that was a novel! But it was good for me to work through that. Thanks if you made it all the way through ;)
Lord, thank you that you do answer prayer, that you are slow to anger and abounding in love. Thanks for the example of Jonah, and help me to do what you ask of me without having to spend time in a stinky whale belly. Thank you that you discipline your children whom you love, and help us to accept it and grow from it.
The story people usually point to is the death of Lazarus in John 11--Jesus could have shown up before Lazarus died, but instead he waited. And John is even good enough to tell you why he waited--so that we may believe (v 15), see God's glory (v 40), and know that God sent Jesus (v 42).
The problem I have with this story is that if you're Lazarus, it's no fun being dead. And to be honest, his sisters probably weren't praying for Lazarus to be raised. Martha had faith that Lazarus would be raised when the ressurection came, but she had given up for the time being. So it's more a story about God's timing vs our timing, than about persistence in prayer.
The story that struck me recently was Jonah. We all know he was in the belly of the whale for three days, but do you know what he was doing down there? Yup, praying. So why didn't God have the whale/fish spit him out immediately?
I've heard some people say that Jonah's heart was so hard that it took him three days to start praying. Somehow I doubt that--I have a feeling he started sending up prayers as soon as he was thrown in the sea. And there is support for that from the grammar--the verb tense of "prayed" in 1:17 is imperfect, which means it was continuous or unfinished....I tend to think of it as continuous!
I think there were a couple of reasons God waited. First, so that Jonah could realize how he got himself in this mess to begin with. Now, not all of our situations are due to our own sin like Jonah's was, but our situations do have a history.
Secondly, I think it helped Jonah realize that his only salvation was God, and that he didn't deserve it. Jonah knew he had done wrong; 2:4 shows that he knew he was banished, and he still looked to the "holy temple."
There are times when I think we think (how's that for convoluted) that we DESERVE something from God, yet in all honesty, we're sinners and deserve nothing. It's kind of like at the end of Jonah--God gave him a vine to shelter him and it made him happy, but he didn't thank God, and was angry when God took it away. I know I'm tempted to give God a list of reasons of why he should give me what I want, but really the only good reason is because God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (Jonah 4:2). It's not about me; it's all about God.
But wait, there's more! Jonah 2 has two more reasons. Verse 8 says, "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." Wow. That's convicting. So I guess when I'm waiting on God, I better examine for logs in my eye--is there something I'm putting in front of God in my own life? Is there something God's asked me to do (like giving a message to someone (cough, Ninevah, cough)) that I haven't done? The "worthless idols" is "lying vanities" in the King James--am I being too self absorbed and vain?
The last element in Jonah's prayer is thanksgiving: "But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving, I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” I don't think this was Henry and Harmony's "and thank you for this day and for this morning" kind of thanksgiving; rather it was a SACRIFICE of thanksgiving. Really turning your heart over to God and giving him thanks for the circumstance, even when it's ugly and definitely not what we want. It's giving thanks in the hard times, in all circumstances.
So while hanging out in the belly of a whale at the bottom of the sea for three days and nights is not my idea of fun, I do think God uses that time to grow our faith--to show us the bigger picture of our circumstance, to help us realize that God is really our only salvation and there is nothing we can do to deserve his mercy, to give us a chance to clean our junk, and to show us what sacrificial thanksgiving looks like. None of those are "fun" lessons at the time, but discipline shows us that God loves us and cultivates wisdom.
Man, that was a novel! But it was good for me to work through that. Thanks if you made it all the way through ;)
Lord, thank you that you do answer prayer, that you are slow to anger and abounding in love. Thanks for the example of Jonah, and help me to do what you ask of me without having to spend time in a stinky whale belly. Thank you that you discipline your children whom you love, and help us to accept it and grow from it.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Thankful Thursday--Love and Playmobil Knights and Pirates
Henry is completely obsessed with his Playmobil sets. They have gone to school with him a couple of days this week, as well as to Harmony's dance lesson and pretty much anywhere he goes. I've been a little bit frustrated with him, partially because his favorite aspect is shooting/killing/knocking over the "bad guys". We've been very into non-violence--we talk about how killing breaks God's law, and we don't even want to pretend to do that.
I had a revelation last night--what a great way to teach him about Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." We are all "bad guys". We all deserve to die. Yet Christ died in OUR place, that we could live, not just now, but with Him, in heaven, for eternity.
Now I just need a chance to play knights with him again!
So this week I'm thankful for:
--Christ dying for me and all the other sinners out there.
--That there is nothing we can do to earn it
--The promise of eternal life, where Christ where wipe every tear away
--The opportunity to teach about God through Henry's favorite playthings
--For little boy's dreams of slaying the dragon and little girl's dreams of dancing at the ball
--That my kids WANT to play with me
--Biblememory.us This verse was one of the ones I've memorized--after using the program for six months, I really can see the fruit of it. I love that you don't move on until you have the verse exactly right, and there are opportunities to review the verses you've learned
--finding our W2 statements--they got misfiled.
Thanks to Iris for hosting this week's Thankful Thursday--complete with a give away! Talk about grace upon grace!
I had a revelation last night--what a great way to teach him about Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." We are all "bad guys". We all deserve to die. Yet Christ died in OUR place, that we could live, not just now, but with Him, in heaven, for eternity.
Now I just need a chance to play knights with him again!
So this week I'm thankful for:
--Christ dying for me and all the other sinners out there.
--That there is nothing we can do to earn it
--The promise of eternal life, where Christ where wipe every tear away
--The opportunity to teach about God through Henry's favorite playthings
--For little boy's dreams of slaying the dragon and little girl's dreams of dancing at the ball
--That my kids WANT to play with me
--Biblememory.us This verse was one of the ones I've memorized--after using the program for six months, I really can see the fruit of it. I love that you don't move on until you have the verse exactly right, and there are opportunities to review the verses you've learned
--finding our W2 statements--they got misfiled.
Thanks to Iris for hosting this week's Thankful Thursday--complete with a give away! Talk about grace upon grace!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Top Ten Tuesdays--Signs it's time to clean house
Matilde hasn't come to clean our house since before Christmas, and I miss her! Patrick is reducing his hours at work, so we're trying to cut back, but this is one place that it might be worth it to not cut the corner!
Top ten signs it's time to clean the house
10. Your bathrooms are inhabited by dinosaurs, lego men, ponies, and other random things that don't belong in the bathroom.
9. Children under the age of 2 require close supervision, for fear of what they'll find to eat off of the floor (pirate heads? Knight swords? Princess shoes? Legos? Old cereal?)
8. There are Christmas presents (and a tree!) still waiting to be put away
7. Countertops? What countertops! They're clutter collectors.
6. The kids are sleeping in their clothes because their favorite jammies have gone AWOL.
5. In case of emergency, the back door is not accessible--it's blocked by baskets of clean laundry (at least they're clean!)
4. Finding clothes to wear means digging through said baskets
3. The cat looks longingly at the litterbox, and informs you there's work to be done
2. "Put it in the trash" is a challenge, since every trash can is overflowing...
1. Go barefoot at your own risk!
Needless to say, I collected and took out the trash, folded all the laundry and cleaned the bathrooms tonight...but the floors still aren't completely safe :) I think vacuuming and decluttering round 10 will be tomorrow's project :)
What's on your top ten list this week?
Top ten signs it's time to clean the house
10. Your bathrooms are inhabited by dinosaurs, lego men, ponies, and other random things that don't belong in the bathroom.
9. Children under the age of 2 require close supervision, for fear of what they'll find to eat off of the floor (pirate heads? Knight swords? Princess shoes? Legos? Old cereal?)
8. There are Christmas presents (and a tree!) still waiting to be put away
7. Countertops? What countertops! They're clutter collectors.
6. The kids are sleeping in their clothes because their favorite jammies have gone AWOL.
5. In case of emergency, the back door is not accessible--it's blocked by baskets of clean laundry (at least they're clean!)
4. Finding clothes to wear means digging through said baskets
3. The cat looks longingly at the litterbox, and informs you there's work to be done
2. "Put it in the trash" is a challenge, since every trash can is overflowing...
1. Go barefoot at your own risk!
Needless to say, I collected and took out the trash, folded all the laundry and cleaned the bathrooms tonight...but the floors still aren't completely safe :) I think vacuuming and decluttering round 10 will be tomorrow's project :)
What's on your top ten list this week?
Monday, February 4, 2008
Melodic Monday--Give you all I've Got by John Hirt
Patrick bought a bunch of CD's from CD Baby before Christmas--mostly lesser known artists, but some really good stuff! This is one of Henry's favorites--it's strange to hear a five year old singing a song about marriage! You can listen to a clip here...and if you like it, you can buy it at http://cdbaby.com/cd/hirt (and I didn't get anything for that endorsement!)
Give You All I’ve Got By John Hirt
I’ve been around a lot of women, they seemed to come and go
There were some I cared for but there were some just for show
Then you came into my life with your arms open wide
You were everything I needed and I had to make you mine
Chorus:
I’ll give you all I’ve got to give,
I’ll give you my last breath
Take my hand, let’s walk towards heaven
And make our union His.
It seems like only yesterday that you gave us your first son
The angels all came down from heaven and stood around this little one
They started singing Hallelujah, a sound so sweet and clear
Reach out your hands towards heaven, you’ve got nothing to fear
(Chorus)
I though for years I had everything a man could ever want
I had all the money but none of the love
Then you came into my life with your arms open wide
I pray to God that you’ll never leave my side
(Chorus)
Give You All I’ve Got By John Hirt
I’ve been around a lot of women, they seemed to come and go
There were some I cared for but there were some just for show
Then you came into my life with your arms open wide
You were everything I needed and I had to make you mine
Chorus:
I’ll give you all I’ve got to give,
I’ll give you my last breath
Take my hand, let’s walk towards heaven
And make our union His.
It seems like only yesterday that you gave us your first son
The angels all came down from heaven and stood around this little one
They started singing Hallelujah, a sound so sweet and clear
Reach out your hands towards heaven, you’ve got nothing to fear
(Chorus)
I though for years I had everything a man could ever want
I had all the money but none of the love
Then you came into my life with your arms open wide
I pray to God that you’ll never leave my side
(Chorus)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
How much longer?
...until I can say "congratulations" the first time someone tells me they're pregnant? Yes, my response to someone at church who was wretching because of morning sickness was a sinking sadness....I really am fine with our family size staying at four, but man, another out of left field pregnancy announcement left me with at best shallow response and a hollow feeling.
Enough already! At least I've gotten past having that feeling every day, and being ok with our family being the way it is. But being in the middle of a baby boom is just fodder for not ideal responses from me (at church, there are two people in their third trimester, at least one in the second, and this early one I found out about this morning...). One of these days I'll have a heart-felt, joyful response...but not today :)
Enough already! At least I've gotten past having that feeling every day, and being ok with our family being the way it is. But being in the middle of a baby boom is just fodder for not ideal responses from me (at church, there are two people in their third trimester, at least one in the second, and this early one I found out about this morning...). One of these days I'll have a heart-felt, joyful response...but not today :)
Saturday, February 2, 2008
And the winner is....
Here are your random numbers:
158
Timestamp: 2008-02-02 16:16:16 UTC
So the winner is TX Mom! Congrats!
158
Timestamp: 2008-02-02 16:16:16 UTC
So the winner is TX Mom! Congrats!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Thankful Thursday--Compassion
I am very tired tonight--H&H haven't slept through the night all week, and being up for an hour or two in the night is just something I'm not up to right now. So I figured I'd go with Iris's theme for Thankful Thursday this week--compassion. Then I thought, no, I should make myself do the next chapter of Colossians...and lo and behold, compassion showed up there too!! Funny how God works that out... :)
Colossians 3:11-15
Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Thanks that we live in a society that we don't even fully know what it means to be Greek or Jew, Scythian, slave or free.
Praise be to God that he doesn't discriminate based upon nationality, outward appearance, position in society. Thanks for my experiences in graduate school, living and working with a diverse group of people (ok, so we were all smart) so that I could learn how much skin color doesn't matter. Thanks for the research exchange to Korea, so I could learn what it means to be a stranger in a strange land.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Thanks for choosing us, God! Thanks for the compassion that Jesus modelled--he didn't just see need, but he had compassion, sending out his disciples to shepherd them, heal them, and fed them. Thanks for organizations such as Compassion International that raise our awareness of needs around the world and give us an opportunity to make a difference.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Thanks that you forgive us! The previous verse is so convicting--how many times have I not had compassion, been kind, shown humility, used gentle words, and been patient?? Too many to tell. Thank you for friendships that survive the years and the instances of forgiveness.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Thanks for Patrick and the rest of our extended family. Thanks that you loved us to send your Son, even when we didn't deserve it. Thanks for marriage, and the opportunity to show and receive that same kind of love, sometimes on a daily basis.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
Thanks for peace amid the storm, the kind of peace that can only come from you. Thanks that our church distinguishes between the fundamentals of the faith and the things that Christians can disagree about, and promotes unity and peace in the body.
And be thankful.
Thanks for all the ways you've blessed us this week. Thanks for protection from the storm, a warm house, and provision beyond our needs. Thanks for working things out exactly as Patrick envisioned them for his job. Thanks for computers, and that I don't have to do our taxes by hand (I wish I could be thankful that they were done, but maybe next week!)
Colossians 3:11-15
Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Thanks that we live in a society that we don't even fully know what it means to be Greek or Jew, Scythian, slave or free.
Praise be to God that he doesn't discriminate based upon nationality, outward appearance, position in society. Thanks for my experiences in graduate school, living and working with a diverse group of people (ok, so we were all smart) so that I could learn how much skin color doesn't matter. Thanks for the research exchange to Korea, so I could learn what it means to be a stranger in a strange land.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Thanks for choosing us, God! Thanks for the compassion that Jesus modelled--he didn't just see need, but he had compassion, sending out his disciples to shepherd them, heal them, and fed them. Thanks for organizations such as Compassion International that raise our awareness of needs around the world and give us an opportunity to make a difference.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Thanks that you forgive us! The previous verse is so convicting--how many times have I not had compassion, been kind, shown humility, used gentle words, and been patient?? Too many to tell. Thank you for friendships that survive the years and the instances of forgiveness.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Thanks for Patrick and the rest of our extended family. Thanks that you loved us to send your Son, even when we didn't deserve it. Thanks for marriage, and the opportunity to show and receive that same kind of love, sometimes on a daily basis.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
Thanks for peace amid the storm, the kind of peace that can only come from you. Thanks that our church distinguishes between the fundamentals of the faith and the things that Christians can disagree about, and promotes unity and peace in the body.
And be thankful.
Thanks for all the ways you've blessed us this week. Thanks for protection from the storm, a warm house, and provision beyond our needs. Thanks for working things out exactly as Patrick envisioned them for his job. Thanks for computers, and that I don't have to do our taxes by hand (I wish I could be thankful that they were done, but maybe next week!)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Learning to play the game
Henry and Harmony got some new games for Christmas--Henry got Electronic Battleship, and Connect 4 (in a cool travel case) was a present for both of them.
They love both games. Henry was begging to play Battleship this morning, and again the instant we walked in the door. His favorite part is the exploding sound when you have a hit.
Unfortunately, they don't really know how to play either game. I need to do all the setup for the Battleship (which is more complicated than I expected), and he's not good at putting the pegs in the grid to mark where he's shot. He also likes to move his ships around, which isn't bad when you're playing a computer, but very confusing otherwise. Connect 4 is a similar story--so far they think the main objective is to fill the grid with the disks, and turn taking is a challenge.
Once again, I'm more like my kids than I'd like to admit. While spiritual life isn't a game, sometimes I think I've missed part of the point. The verse to consider in our devotional today is John 10:10: "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." The accompanying passage in "Naturally Supernatural" talked about this--that somehow Christians have made Christianity about the future, "when we get to heaven."
But there is definitely Biblical support for God intervening in the here and now--He loves us just the way we are, but loves us enough to not just leave us where we are. The "abundantly" in the verse above is perissos, which means "over and above, more than is necessary; exceeding abundantly, supremely; superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon." I don't view God as a candy machine who will give us whatever we want if we just push the right buttons, but He is our loving Father who WANTS to give his kids good gifts, Matthew 7:9-11 makes it clear.
So one thing I'm learning is to act like those things are true--that our faith DOES make a difference in the here and now, and that God likes to answer his children's prayers.
God, grow our faith!
They love both games. Henry was begging to play Battleship this morning, and again the instant we walked in the door. His favorite part is the exploding sound when you have a hit.
Unfortunately, they don't really know how to play either game. I need to do all the setup for the Battleship (which is more complicated than I expected), and he's not good at putting the pegs in the grid to mark where he's shot. He also likes to move his ships around, which isn't bad when you're playing a computer, but very confusing otherwise. Connect 4 is a similar story--so far they think the main objective is to fill the grid with the disks, and turn taking is a challenge.
Once again, I'm more like my kids than I'd like to admit. While spiritual life isn't a game, sometimes I think I've missed part of the point. The verse to consider in our devotional today is John 10:10: "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." The accompanying passage in "Naturally Supernatural" talked about this--that somehow Christians have made Christianity about the future, "when we get to heaven."
But there is definitely Biblical support for God intervening in the here and now--He loves us just the way we are, but loves us enough to not just leave us where we are. The "abundantly" in the verse above is perissos, which means "over and above, more than is necessary; exceeding abundantly, supremely; superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon." I don't view God as a candy machine who will give us whatever we want if we just push the right buttons, but He is our loving Father who WANTS to give his kids good gifts, Matthew 7:9-11 makes it clear.
So one thing I'm learning is to act like those things are true--that our faith DOES make a difference in the here and now, and that God likes to answer his children's prayers.
God, grow our faith!
Bloggy Giveaway--$13 Starbucks gift card
Generosity is a great thing! Rocks in My Dryer is hosting a Bloggy Give-Away Carnival Until February 1st--so far there are over 500 participants, so there is probably a giveaway for you!
This giveaway is for a $13 Starbucks gift card. I'm not sure how it ended up being that amount--it was a gift, I don't drink coffee and there isn't a Starbucks in my town. So it just seems right to share the caffeine with someone else!
To enter the contest, post a comment on this thread and include an e-mail address if you don't have a blogger id. I'll use a random number generator on February 2nd to select the winner. This contest is limited to US residents--I can put an envelope in the mail, but I don't think I could figure out international postage!
So if you're feeling the need for caffeine, enter below!
THIS CONTEST IS OVER. THE WINNER IS TX MOM.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Eagles Wings
Today Henry and I went with some friends from church to an Eagle viewing day at a power plant about an hour away. Security was tight--there were police officers and trained dogs inspecting the cars. It was pretty cool--the American Eagle Foundation did a "Birds of Prey" show, and showed several different types of birds, including owls, vultures, falcons, hawks, and eagles. We got there shortly before the show started, but were lucky to get seats fairly far up. When they walked the birds through the aisles and had some of them fly from one trainer to the other, they went basically to our aisle and stopped, so we had a fairly good view. Afterwards, we took a bus ride to a viewing site, and saw a couple of eagles across the river, in a tree.
While it was fun to see the birds in their natural habitat, it was cold and unimpressive to a five year old--all they did was sit in the tree. They did have hot chocolate and cookies at the next bus stop, as well as reasonably priced (!) souvenirs. Henry really wanted a shirt, and I also got an stuffed animal eagle, initially for Harmony...but Henry has completely claimed it as his own. He brought it to his bath tonight(to hunt for fish in the tub) and made a nest for it out of an upside down pirate hat, lined with one of Harmony's baby blankets.
It got me thinking about the analogy between the eagles we saw today and our faith, especially in the context of our Life Group discussion on Thursday. The birds we got to see up close and personal were ones that couldn't make it in the wild--either they had been so permanently injured that they wouldn't survive (such as Oseola, who lost a wing due to a gunshot wound) or they had imprinted with humans and lost their ability to hunt and make wise decisions about people. The ones that were free and able to hunt were far off and distant--I couldn't see them with my naked eye or even the binoculars I borrowed from another friend, and even if I had, I'm not sure I would have known they were eagles. And Henry's eagle was just a toy, a plaything under the command of a five year old.
All those eagles can be where our spiritual life is. Are you wounded so badly that you're living in captivity? Have you been so strongly imprinted that although you're healthy, you're stuck? Does God seem far off and distant, or just a plaything?
Personally, I think I've recovered from a spiritual "gunshot" wound over the course of the last year, and have been released back into the wild. The question is, can I remember how to feed myself? Can I figure out how to fly with a different wing?
God wants us to soar! Isaiah 40:31 says, "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." I think the key part of that is the first line--"those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." To soar, you need to have hope, and have it in the right thing, or person--God, not your spouse, your job, your kids, or your stuff. It's probably not an instantaneous process--it takes a while to heal from the spiritual equivalent of a gunshot wound, but that doesn't mean healing doesn't come. You can be freed from the imprinting of this world--Romans 12:2 makes that clear. And if God seems far off or that he's just using you as a plaything (or vice versa), there's no better way to learn about Him than an up close and personal encounter--seek that out.
Thanks, Lord, for making majestic creatures like eagles. Thank you that we can soar when we put our hope in you.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Thankful Thursday
This week our Life Group is starting “Naturally Supernatural” by Gary Best. There is an accompanying Bible study, and the passage we’re studying this week is John 14:9-12:
What a challenging passage! But it gives me lots to be thankful for. So this week I’m thankful for:
--Our Life Group—that it’s a safe place for people to be known, to grow, to support each other and to be challenged. I pray for fruitful discussion tonight and the next six weeks, and similar discussions that are happening in other Life Groups.
--That Jesus came so that we could see the Father, not just with spiritual eyes but with physical ones. Thanks that he took on human flesh and knows our trials and weaknesses.
--That the Father is doing his work in us—that He loves us just as we are, yet remodels and shapes us if we’re willing and malleable.
--For real life miracles that do happen, both small and personal as well as big and global.
--That God chooses to use us to show himself to the world and as his change agents…if we’re willing to be the cracked vessels he shines through.
--Faith—what an amazing and awesome gift. May we grow in it through this study.
--That God’s promises are true—that He will continue to do amazing things in us and through us.
And thanks to Iris for hosting Thankful Thursday! What a joy it is to read how God has been working in everyone’s lives!
Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
What a challenging passage! But it gives me lots to be thankful for. So this week I’m thankful for:
--Our Life Group—that it’s a safe place for people to be known, to grow, to support each other and to be challenged. I pray for fruitful discussion tonight and the next six weeks, and similar discussions that are happening in other Life Groups.
--That Jesus came so that we could see the Father, not just with spiritual eyes but with physical ones. Thanks that he took on human flesh and knows our trials and weaknesses.
--That the Father is doing his work in us—that He loves us just as we are, yet remodels and shapes us if we’re willing and malleable.
--For real life miracles that do happen, both small and personal as well as big and global.
--That God chooses to use us to show himself to the world and as his change agents…if we’re willing to be the cracked vessels he shines through.
--Faith—what an amazing and awesome gift. May we grow in it through this study.
--That God’s promises are true—that He will continue to do amazing things in us and through us.
And thanks to Iris for hosting Thankful Thursday! What a joy it is to read how God has been working in everyone’s lives!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Wordless Wednesday
I have no idea what he did...it's just what I found in the shower! Ask Henry, I guess...
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Top Ten Tuesday--Predictions for 2008
I got this in an e-mail...
Top Ten Predictions for 2008
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.
Top Ten Predictions for 2008
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Melodic Mondays
Right now, the most common words I hear from my kids are "Play with me!" --usually both at the same time, while both telling me stories. While mind boggling at times, I love that they want to spend time with me--a few more years, and they'd rather be with their friends.
So the songs I've been singing this week is "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce...we sang it in high school choir (am I dating myself??). They're not a perfect fit, but I'd be saving up these days for later...
If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that Id like to do
Is to save every day
Till eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you
If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
Id save every day like a treasure and then,
Again, I would spend them with you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
Ive looked around enough to know
That youre the one I want to go
Through time with
If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
Ive looked around enough to know
That youre the one I want to go
Through time with
So the songs I've been singing this week is "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce...we sang it in high school choir (am I dating myself??). They're not a perfect fit, but I'd be saving up these days for later...
If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that Id like to do
Is to save every day
Till eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you
If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
Id save every day like a treasure and then,
Again, I would spend them with you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
Ive looked around enough to know
That youre the one I want to go
Through time with
If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
Ive looked around enough to know
That youre the one I want to go
Through time with
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Parenting insecurities
Today we had a guest preacher at church, Jim Egli (thanks, Jonell!). He gave a great sermon about the phases of life of a Christian, and challenged us to keep growing. It was a great sermon, and lots of people came up for prayer afterwards, including me.
He outlined the phases of life, including supporting scriptures to be:
-- Baby
-- Teenager
-- Parent
-- Grandparent
A "baby" is a new Christian, whose only job is to grow. A teenager's job is to start taking responsibility. If you find yourself saying, "I can do that better," then God is probably calling you to do it (better is another question). A parent's job is to reproduce--to nurture spiritual babies and teens into parenthood. And a grandparent's job is to lead the leaders of the church.
As someone in the parent phase of life, both literally and spiritually, all I can say is it's draining. I was having "life group insecurity" last night, saying how much I stink at it and how others in our group should be the ones leading...one of them has a "day job" of being a spriritual grandparent, and another couple were "parents" at another church. So our group is well past the age of bottles and diapers, which you'd think would be easier, but I think it leads to greater feelings of parental insecurity. But it's where God put us for now...if we manage to grow by a couple more couples, we may be ready to "multiply" next summer, and maybe those leaders will be leading. So until then, I'll keep to the task in front of us...
He outlined the phases of life, including supporting scriptures to be:
-- Baby
-- Teenager
-- Parent
-- Grandparent
A "baby" is a new Christian, whose only job is to grow. A teenager's job is to start taking responsibility. If you find yourself saying, "I can do that better," then God is probably calling you to do it (better is another question). A parent's job is to reproduce--to nurture spiritual babies and teens into parenthood. And a grandparent's job is to lead the leaders of the church.
As someone in the parent phase of life, both literally and spiritually, all I can say is it's draining. I was having "life group insecurity" last night, saying how much I stink at it and how others in our group should be the ones leading...one of them has a "day job" of being a spriritual grandparent, and another couple were "parents" at another church. So our group is well past the age of bottles and diapers, which you'd think would be easier, but I think it leads to greater feelings of parental insecurity. But it's where God put us for now...if we manage to grow by a couple more couples, we may be ready to "multiply" next summer, and maybe those leaders will be leading. So until then, I'll keep to the task in front of us...
Saturday, January 19, 2008
And you never know who God is gonna use
The chorus of one of my favorite Rich Mullins songs goes:
And you never know who God is gonna use
A princess or a baby
Or maybe even you or me
I was amazed to see that in action on my trip. I was traveling with a lapsed reformed Presbyterian and an atheist. You wouldn't expect God conversations to happen, but they did.
As we were driving there, we talked about the atheist's daughter choosing a college--she's chosen a Christian school and has been attending a non-denominational church with a friend! Praise God :) It was interesting to hear him describe the Holy Spirit at work without using that term--but it's easy to see in action.
Then the lapsed reformed Presbyterian said they had started going to an Episcopalian (sp?) church and was singing in the choir. I don't want to get into a big discussion about denominations, but I'm happy to hear that he's moving towards God.
Finally, the school we were visiting was named after a major player in the reformation. After seeing a statue of the guy, we had a long discussion about the Heidelberg Catechism...every time we were in the car. The reformed presbyterian was telling about the principles and things he had learned as a teen in Catechism--directed to the atheist, who was interested and asking questions. Too cool!
The amazing thing to me was that the only conversation I started was "so, has your daughter chosen a college?" Now, I don't know that I'd meet either of these colleagues in heaven if Jesus came back tomorrow, but it was encouraging to see God working in their lives, and with their families, especially since they're heavy hitting academic types.
Guess it totally reinforced the Veggie Tales movie we saw on Thursday!
Thanks, Lord, that you're moving in ways we don't even know about, and that someday every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!
And you never know who God is gonna use
A princess or a baby
Or maybe even you or me
I was amazed to see that in action on my trip. I was traveling with a lapsed reformed Presbyterian and an atheist. You wouldn't expect God conversations to happen, but they did.
As we were driving there, we talked about the atheist's daughter choosing a college--she's chosen a Christian school and has been attending a non-denominational church with a friend! Praise God :) It was interesting to hear him describe the Holy Spirit at work without using that term--but it's easy to see in action.
Then the lapsed reformed Presbyterian said they had started going to an Episcopalian (sp?) church and was singing in the choir. I don't want to get into a big discussion about denominations, but I'm happy to hear that he's moving towards God.
Finally, the school we were visiting was named after a major player in the reformation. After seeing a statue of the guy, we had a long discussion about the Heidelberg Catechism...every time we were in the car. The reformed presbyterian was telling about the principles and things he had learned as a teen in Catechism--directed to the atheist, who was interested and asking questions. Too cool!
The amazing thing to me was that the only conversation I started was "so, has your daughter chosen a college?" Now, I don't know that I'd meet either of these colleagues in heaven if Jesus came back tomorrow, but it was encouraging to see God working in their lives, and with their families, especially since they're heavy hitting academic types.
Guess it totally reinforced the Veggie Tales movie we saw on Thursday!
Thanks, Lord, that you're moving in ways we don't even know about, and that someday every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Thankful Thursday
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
I give thanks for all the wonderful things we are IN CHRIST--read Collosians 2:6-13 and look for all the "in Christs".
I'm thankful for safe travel. The last two times I've traveled for this type of work I've had a missed miscarriage (the date the babies stopped developing) and a miscarriage. This time the only medical thing happening is a painful ingrown hair.
I'm thankful for my wonderful husband--Happy 40th birthday yesterday!
I'm thankful to be able to explore the administrative side of college life and how other institutions work.
I'm glad to be home.
I give thanks for all the wonderful things we are IN CHRIST--read Collosians 2:6-13 and look for all the "in Christs".
I'm thankful for safe travel. The last two times I've traveled for this type of work I've had a missed miscarriage (the date the babies stopped developing) and a miscarriage. This time the only medical thing happening is a painful ingrown hair.
I'm thankful for my wonderful husband--Happy 40th birthday yesterday!
I'm thankful to be able to explore the administrative side of college life and how other institutions work.
I'm glad to be home.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Wordless Wednesday--the slumber party while we're gone
If you want to read more about their adventure, visit my amazing friend Jen. Thanks for the picture, Jen!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Top Ten Tuesdays--things I love and hate about traveling for work
So I'm cheating--I've got two lists today
10 things I love about traveling for work:
1. I get to take a long, relaxing bath...and someone else cleans the tub!
2. The chance to work with very bright people and learn from them
3. Cable TV--Harry Potter is on :)
4. The chance to eat foods not found in my town--Monday night was sushi and Korean food
5. Free frequent flyer miles
6. Time to process and pray
7. Opportunities to see how other schools work
8. Chances to network with like minded people
9. An uninterrupted night sleep
10. The chance to improve education for potentially thousands of students, not just the fifty or so I meet with in classes each semester
5 things I don't like about traveling for work:
1. Missing the kids and Patrick
2. Being the most junior person in the room, and wondering what exactly I bring to the table
3. Missing my classes, especially at the beginning of the semester
4. Having to ask others for help
5. Trying to figure out how to get the room to a comfortable temperature
10 things I love about traveling for work:
1. I get to take a long, relaxing bath...and someone else cleans the tub!
2. The chance to work with very bright people and learn from them
3. Cable TV--Harry Potter is on :)
4. The chance to eat foods not found in my town--Monday night was sushi and Korean food
5. Free frequent flyer miles
6. Time to process and pray
7. Opportunities to see how other schools work
8. Chances to network with like minded people
9. An uninterrupted night sleep
10. The chance to improve education for potentially thousands of students, not just the fifty or so I meet with in classes each semester
5 things I don't like about traveling for work:
1. Missing the kids and Patrick
2. Being the most junior person in the room, and wondering what exactly I bring to the table
3. Missing my classes, especially at the beginning of the semester
4. Having to ask others for help
5. Trying to figure out how to get the room to a comfortable temperature
Melodic Mondays--Tickle my toes by Justin Roberts
We've been singing this song a lot lately--we had morning snuggle/tickle fests both on Saturday and Sunday morning. It's from the Yellow Bus CD--we haven't found one of his CDs yet that hasn't been a hit! The lyrics and chords can be found at http://www.justinrobertsmusic.com/music_bus.php
Tickle My Toes
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
And don't play this little piggy went to that little town
While the other little piggies were just fooling around
This little piggy something to eat
That little piggy just a tickle just a tickle my feet
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Don't tickle my tummy, nose my ankle my thigh
Momma don't ya tickle my ticklish eye
whatever you do watch the knee
and momma don't tickle my ticklish ticklish feet
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
And don't tickle me there
You know mama I think I've had my fair share
Why don't we give someone else a chance in the ticklish seat
Like let's say sis over there, you know she's got those really nice feet
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Tickle My Toes
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
And don't play this little piggy went to that little town
While the other little piggies were just fooling around
This little piggy something to eat
That little piggy just a tickle just a tickle my feet
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Don't tickle my tummy, nose my ankle my thigh
Momma don't ya tickle my ticklish eye
whatever you do watch the knee
and momma don't tickle my ticklish ticklish feet
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
And don't tickle me there
You know mama I think I've had my fair share
Why don't we give someone else a chance in the ticklish seat
Like let's say sis over there, you know she's got those really nice feet
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Momma don't you tickle, don't you tickle my toes
Momma don't you tickle my ticklish toes
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Speeding warning
I got pulled over Saturday night--I was late for something, driving on an unfamiliar road, and both kids were talking at me while the radio was blaring. 49 in a 40...luckily the police officer gave me a warning.
I think we need a spiritual speeding warning--our life has been going too fast this weekend, and I definitely felt it on Saturday--thus the speeding. The kids had friends over Friday night (actually relaxing), then on Saturday we ran a bunch of errands (which took longer than planned), then made some meals at a friend's house, dropped Patrick off at a worship team get together while the kids and I went to another friends house (and got the speeding warning en route), and got home too late for needing to be at first service.
The question is always what should go?
Lord, help us give our calendar and to do lists to you for editing first...
I think we need a spiritual speeding warning--our life has been going too fast this weekend, and I definitely felt it on Saturday--thus the speeding. The kids had friends over Friday night (actually relaxing), then on Saturday we ran a bunch of errands (which took longer than planned), then made some meals at a friend's house, dropped Patrick off at a worship team get together while the kids and I went to another friends house (and got the speeding warning en route), and got home too late for needing to be at first service.
The question is always what should go?
Lord, help us give our calendar and to do lists to you for editing first...
Friday, January 11, 2008
Substitutions
Last night I made craisin white chocolate chip oatmeal cookies for life group. One person in our group needs to be on a low fat diet, so I was going to substitute applesauce for half the butter. But...we didn't have any applesauce, so I used low fat cream cheese instead. Then I didn't have any oatmeal, so I used crushed cornflakes. And the white chocolate chips? Gone, so I used butterscotch chips instead.
The cookies turned out ok, but nothing like the recipe I was trying to make. If I had thought about it (or realized it before the craisins were already in) I could have used dried cherries and chocolate chips...then it would have been cherry chocolate chip cheesecake cookies :)
It made me wonder--are there places in my life where I'm substituting something for Jesus?
Lord, search me and show me any places where I'm substituting something worldly in your place.
The cookies turned out ok, but nothing like the recipe I was trying to make. If I had thought about it (or realized it before the craisins were already in) I could have used dried cherries and chocolate chips...then it would have been cherry chocolate chip cheesecake cookies :)
It made me wonder--are there places in my life where I'm substituting something for Jesus?
Lord, search me and show me any places where I'm substituting something worldly in your place.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Thankful Thursday
Di Lehman from the Champaign Vineyard gave a really powerful powerful sermon at our church using Colossians. I had forgotten how much I love Colossians, so I picked it back up as the text I've been studying in depth. How rich it is! So Colossians 1:3-8 is the basis for my Thankful Thursday this week..
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—
Thanks for the prayer warriors who are out there, praying for me and I don't even know it. Thanks that faith and love go together--if we truly have faith, we will show it in our actions. And thanks for the friends who show this in amazing ways in our everyday lives--loving our kids like their own and being just awesome friends. The most amazing thing that's happened since we've been back from sabbatical is that we have friends--something we would have had a hard time saying five years ago, and especially ten years ago when we first moved here.
the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you.
Thanks that you give us hope, and thanks for the amazing renewal of my spirit that has happened over the last three weeks. Thanks for pastors that speak your truth in love, proclaiming the gospel in ways we can understand. Thanks for Christian radio stations that enrich our travels and our days, and the Christian artists who dedicate their lives to praising you and leading us into worship.
All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our[c] behalf, 8and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Thanks for the persecuted Church, and I pray for their protection tonight. Thanks that the darkness will not overcome your light. May seeds that have been sown be watered and take root in fertile soil. Thanks especially for our friends who are missionaries, both here and abroad, especially Carol, who was so instrumental in my learning to study the Word for myself and who is now in the Ukraine.
This week I am also especially thankful that school has started and I am back in the classroom! I had forgotten how much I love, love, love teaching--it is definitely a ministry, not a job, whereas the research I was doing last semester is not something I'm called to do (which God is making more and more obvious to me).
And thanks to Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage for hosting this week! Please visit her to share your own thankfulness and to read other's.
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—
Thanks for the prayer warriors who are out there, praying for me and I don't even know it. Thanks that faith and love go together--if we truly have faith, we will show it in our actions. And thanks for the friends who show this in amazing ways in our everyday lives--loving our kids like their own and being just awesome friends. The most amazing thing that's happened since we've been back from sabbatical is that we have friends--something we would have had a hard time saying five years ago, and especially ten years ago when we first moved here.
the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you.
Thanks that you give us hope, and thanks for the amazing renewal of my spirit that has happened over the last three weeks. Thanks for pastors that speak your truth in love, proclaiming the gospel in ways we can understand. Thanks for Christian radio stations that enrich our travels and our days, and the Christian artists who dedicate their lives to praising you and leading us into worship.
All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our[c] behalf, 8and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Thanks for the persecuted Church, and I pray for their protection tonight. Thanks that the darkness will not overcome your light. May seeds that have been sown be watered and take root in fertile soil. Thanks especially for our friends who are missionaries, both here and abroad, especially Carol, who was so instrumental in my learning to study the Word for myself and who is now in the Ukraine.
This week I am also especially thankful that school has started and I am back in the classroom! I had forgotten how much I love, love, love teaching--it is definitely a ministry, not a job, whereas the research I was doing last semester is not something I'm called to do (which God is making more and more obvious to me).
And thanks to Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage for hosting this week! Please visit her to share your own thankfulness and to read other's.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
I AM Bible study--Instrument of Wonders
The Preacher's Wife, Lisa, has an AWESOME Bible study for Women on the life of Moses called I AM. If you haven't checked it out yet, please do! I am (ha, ha, get it?) on lesson eight, Instrument of Wonders, which is looking at the beginning of Exodus 4.
Moses begins a litany of "yes buts"--but what if they don't believe me, but I'm not an eloquent speaker, PLEASE send someone else...as one prone to yes-buts, I have complete sympathy for Moses. God met addressed his every concern, but by the end was losing patience. My favorite one is the first one--God tells Moses to throw down his staff. It turns into a serpent, a symbol of power in Egypt, and Moses runs away! From his OWN staff! God tells him to pick it up by the tail, and it turns back into a staff. Very cool. By not running away from his "problem", it goes back to being a plain ol' piece of wood.
It's also interesting to look at the progresion--first Moses says others won't accept him, then he says he isn't well enough equipped, and then he finally cuts to the chase and says, PLEASE choose someone else! Moses would rather continue herding sheep in the desert than do what the Lord God has equipped him to do--no wonder God's anger burns against him. One thing that shows me is that if God asks me to do it, He will take care of preparing other people's hearts and He will equip me--I just need to be willing to accept the assignment. Although I'm sure I'd be scared and nervous, I'd rather deal with people's reactions than with God's anger burning against me!
I bet part of Moses's unwillingness to go is that he had already tried to save his people--and was totally unsuccessful. Not only did he not succeed, he was rejected by the Israelites themselves. And now God was sending him right back, to the same place. That's a pretty big piece of humble pie to swallow. But God knew that--and I'm sure that contributed to Moses's humility, there was no mistaking that saving Israel was God's doing, not Moses'.
And God has not only empowered Moses to pick up the serpent (our old problems we'd rather run from than face), he's empowered us, too. 1 John 2:14 says, "I have written to you young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one." That's pretty cool! I can't think of any situations I'm avoiding or running from, and I'm trying to be better about just saying "Yes, Lord" instead of "yes, but..." but this lesson was a good reminder of how God does use us, ESPECIALLY in our weaknesses and failures.
Moses begins a litany of "yes buts"--but what if they don't believe me, but I'm not an eloquent speaker, PLEASE send someone else...as one prone to yes-buts, I have complete sympathy for Moses. God met addressed his every concern, but by the end was losing patience. My favorite one is the first one--God tells Moses to throw down his staff. It turns into a serpent, a symbol of power in Egypt, and Moses runs away! From his OWN staff! God tells him to pick it up by the tail, and it turns back into a staff. Very cool. By not running away from his "problem", it goes back to being a plain ol' piece of wood.
It's also interesting to look at the progresion--first Moses says others won't accept him, then he says he isn't well enough equipped, and then he finally cuts to the chase and says, PLEASE choose someone else! Moses would rather continue herding sheep in the desert than do what the Lord God has equipped him to do--no wonder God's anger burns against him. One thing that shows me is that if God asks me to do it, He will take care of preparing other people's hearts and He will equip me--I just need to be willing to accept the assignment. Although I'm sure I'd be scared and nervous, I'd rather deal with people's reactions than with God's anger burning against me!
I bet part of Moses's unwillingness to go is that he had already tried to save his people--and was totally unsuccessful. Not only did he not succeed, he was rejected by the Israelites themselves. And now God was sending him right back, to the same place. That's a pretty big piece of humble pie to swallow. But God knew that--and I'm sure that contributed to Moses's humility, there was no mistaking that saving Israel was God's doing, not Moses'.
And God has not only empowered Moses to pick up the serpent (our old problems we'd rather run from than face), he's empowered us, too. 1 John 2:14 says, "I have written to you young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one." That's pretty cool! I can't think of any situations I'm avoiding or running from, and I'm trying to be better about just saying "Yes, Lord" instead of "yes, but..." but this lesson was a good reminder of how God does use us, ESPECIALLY in our weaknesses and failures.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Top ten reasons I shouldn't have a cell phone...
I have a disposable cell phone, the $1/day you use it, $0.10/min to "non plan" people, free to other AT&T cellular users, kind. So if you don't have Cingular/AT&T, I probably won't call you...in fact, I think I've called a grand total of three people on my cell phone, and two of them are Patrick and the preschool director.
Today confirmed that I shouldn't have a cell phone--even though there were two occasions when I could have used it wisely (traveling to Indy alone and going to the grocery store), I managed to do several things on this top ten list...in one day!
So without further ado, the top 10 reasons I shouldn't have a cell phone:
10. I forget it at home.
9. When I bring it with me, it isn't charged.
8. I regularly lose the charger.
7. When it is charged, I forget to turn it on.
6. When it's on, it's on vibrate and I don't hear it in my purse.
5. When I put it in my pocket, I still don't feel it.
4. When I turn the ringer on, I can't find it.
3. When I do find it, it's already gone to voice mail...
2. Which I don't have set up or know how to get to.
1. And if I manage to do all of the above...there is no signal.
For a more substantial top 10 list, check out Jen's blog. If you have a top ten today, please post a link in the comments!
Today confirmed that I shouldn't have a cell phone--even though there were two occasions when I could have used it wisely (traveling to Indy alone and going to the grocery store), I managed to do several things on this top ten list...in one day!
So without further ado, the top 10 reasons I shouldn't have a cell phone:
10. I forget it at home.
9. When I bring it with me, it isn't charged.
8. I regularly lose the charger.
7. When it is charged, I forget to turn it on.
6. When it's on, it's on vibrate and I don't hear it in my purse.
5. When I put it in my pocket, I still don't feel it.
4. When I turn the ringer on, I can't find it.
3. When I do find it, it's already gone to voice mail...
2. Which I don't have set up or know how to get to.
1. And if I manage to do all of the above...there is no signal.
For a more substantial top 10 list, check out Jen's blog. If you have a top ten today, please post a link in the comments!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
A Day in the life...
Kathleen Marie is organizing "A Day in the Life" today, Monday January 7th. It can be a story about a day, or a typical day, or the blow by blow...I'm doing a typical Monday, since this Monday is a wierd one (school hasn't started yet and I have a doctor's appt). We'll need to be adjusting these times, since I'm teaching at 8 am on Tuesday/Thursday this semester, and preschool now starts at 8:30, not 9! But it is what Mondays will look like this semester...
7:30 alarm goes off; press snooze but the cat won't have it--even though she has plenty of food, she wants some pets by her bowl before she eats. Potty break and a few minutes to collect my head
7:45 Get Henry up--we usually snuggle for a few minutes before he gets out of bed. Help him get started on breakfast.
7:55 Repeat with Harmony.
8:10 Eat my breakfast while packing kids' and my lunches
8:25 Get myself dressed; encourage kids to dress themselves (clothes laid out the night before)
8:35 Brush my teeth; try to get Harmony to do her own, but I usually end up doing it.
8:45 Put on coats and head to the car...somehow this always takes longer than it should
9:00 drop off at preschool; hang out there for 15 minutes
9:15 park car at home; grab my lunch, gym bag and school stuff and head to work
9:30 check e-mail, read daily Bible reading and do memory verse
9:45 Work...write lectures, grade papers (usually doesn't happen at work), do research in lab (won't probably happen on Mondays this semester, but maybe Thursday afternoons), look for stuff, set up labs, write letters of recommendation, meet with students
11:10 teach class until 12:10
12:10 talk to students after class, drop my stuff back in my office (and hopefully file it appropriately!) and head to the gym; stop by office and check my mail on the way
12:30 Run
1:00 cool down; shower and head back to the office
1:20 inhale (I mean eat) lunch--usually a Lean Cuisine, leftovers, or whatever the kids are eating
1:45 Set up lab stuff for Tuesday's labs; office hours; grading papers; getting lecture ready for tommorow morning; committe work; advising students; meeting with speakers and/or faculty candidates
4:00 Every other Monday--go and pick up the kids; get them an "appetizer" (usually fruits or veggies); play outside or inside; start dinner
The other Mondays--Faculty meeting until 5:30; Patrick does pickup on these days
5:45 dinner (either out or leftovers on the weeks I have faculty meeting)
6:20 clean up kitchen
6:30 read mail, play with kids, meet a friend at the park or the gym with the kids
7:30 bathtime for the kids; one has a snack while the other is in the tub
8:00 bedtime snack for the kids; brush teeth and potty break too
8:15 story time
8:45 prayer time; lay with kids for a few minutes
9:00 Us leave room; Henry pops out to go potty and try to get "bonus time"
9:15 Patrick meet Charlie to walk, talk and pray; I talk to Jenn on the phone :) or grade papers, write lectures, and do all the stuff that generally doesn't done
10:00 Clean up from evening; lay out clothes for morning, other household errands
11:00 check e-mail and read blogs; post my own
12:00 head to bed
This is a "no extras" Monday--Patrick will have City Council meetings 2 of 4 Mondays per month, and I often have a committee meeting at 1:30 on Mondays (we'll see when it is this semester). Oh yea, and one of the 2 Mondays that Patrick doesn't have City Council, we have small group leader meeting, so that will wipe out the 6:00 to 8:45 time block.
7:30 alarm goes off; press snooze but the cat won't have it--even though she has plenty of food, she wants some pets by her bowl before she eats. Potty break and a few minutes to collect my head
7:45 Get Henry up--we usually snuggle for a few minutes before he gets out of bed. Help him get started on breakfast.
7:55 Repeat with Harmony.
8:10 Eat my breakfast while packing kids' and my lunches
8:25 Get myself dressed; encourage kids to dress themselves (clothes laid out the night before)
8:35 Brush my teeth; try to get Harmony to do her own, but I usually end up doing it.
8:45 Put on coats and head to the car...somehow this always takes longer than it should
9:00 drop off at preschool; hang out there for 15 minutes
9:15 park car at home; grab my lunch, gym bag and school stuff and head to work
9:30 check e-mail, read daily Bible reading and do memory verse
9:45 Work...write lectures, grade papers (usually doesn't happen at work), do research in lab (won't probably happen on Mondays this semester, but maybe Thursday afternoons), look for stuff, set up labs, write letters of recommendation, meet with students
11:10 teach class until 12:10
12:10 talk to students after class, drop my stuff back in my office (and hopefully file it appropriately!) and head to the gym; stop by office and check my mail on the way
12:30 Run
1:00 cool down; shower and head back to the office
1:20 inhale (I mean eat) lunch--usually a Lean Cuisine, leftovers, or whatever the kids are eating
1:45 Set up lab stuff for Tuesday's labs; office hours; grading papers; getting lecture ready for tommorow morning; committe work; advising students; meeting with speakers and/or faculty candidates
4:00 Every other Monday--go and pick up the kids; get them an "appetizer" (usually fruits or veggies); play outside or inside; start dinner
The other Mondays--Faculty meeting until 5:30; Patrick does pickup on these days
5:45 dinner (either out or leftovers on the weeks I have faculty meeting)
6:20 clean up kitchen
6:30 read mail, play with kids, meet a friend at the park or the gym with the kids
7:30 bathtime for the kids; one has a snack while the other is in the tub
8:00 bedtime snack for the kids; brush teeth and potty break too
8:15 story time
8:45 prayer time; lay with kids for a few minutes
9:00 Us leave room; Henry pops out to go potty and try to get "bonus time"
9:15 Patrick meet Charlie to walk, talk and pray; I talk to Jenn on the phone :) or grade papers, write lectures, and do all the stuff that generally doesn't done
10:00 Clean up from evening; lay out clothes for morning, other household errands
11:00 check e-mail and read blogs; post my own
12:00 head to bed
This is a "no extras" Monday--Patrick will have City Council meetings 2 of 4 Mondays per month, and I often have a committee meeting at 1:30 on Mondays (we'll see when it is this semester). Oh yea, and one of the 2 Mondays that Patrick doesn't have City Council, we have small group leader meeting, so that will wipe out the 6:00 to 8:45 time block.
One year later...
A year ago I found out I was pregnant. What a year! I've learned a lot and grown a lot, and I'm glad to say the "downs" aren't as far down as they were. I never imagined that a year later, I wouldn't have a new child in my life--even after the miscarriage I was pretty confident that I'd be pregnant again by my due date, or at least by the end of the year. I've grown into the idea that we might only have two kids in our family, that Emily's vision of God putting something that was too big for me into his giant dryer and shrinking it to be just right (at a time when I was wearing a pair of Patrick's jeans because mine were too small, the weekend before the first US where we found out things weren't going well), was probably about our family size. We've been blessed with two awesome kids, and I don't want to miss anything because I'm living in the land of "what could have beens".
But it stung last night when an unnamed friend told me she was pregnant and my period arrived within 10 minutes of each other. I can handle them separately, together, not so well. I'm glad I found out directly from the person, but I pretty much shut down the rest of the evening. So if you're that person, sorry if our conversation seemed surface-y. It somehow triggered this whole cascade of only-ifs...only if I hadn't fixed Harmony's broken butterfly wing on her ring holder and spilled superglue on my fingers, maybe I wouldn't have miscarried in October (even though I can find no link between superglue and miscarriage). Only if...you name it. There's a point where you just have to rebuke that thinking, and say, no, God knows the plans he has for us, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. I'm just feeling sympathy for Sarah, Hannah and Elizabeth...though I have the advantage of having two great living kids. (That's the other "get over yourself" reminder...I don't live in a society where my worth is decided by my reproductive prowess, and I HAVE two kids! Many people don't have any!)
So I don't know what those plans God has for us are, but I do know that He has them, and that they're supposed to give me hope, so I will put my hope in the Lord...and love and enjoy the great kids I already have.
But it stung last night when an unnamed friend told me she was pregnant and my period arrived within 10 minutes of each other. I can handle them separately, together, not so well. I'm glad I found out directly from the person, but I pretty much shut down the rest of the evening. So if you're that person, sorry if our conversation seemed surface-y. It somehow triggered this whole cascade of only-ifs...only if I hadn't fixed Harmony's broken butterfly wing on her ring holder and spilled superglue on my fingers, maybe I wouldn't have miscarried in October (even though I can find no link between superglue and miscarriage). Only if...you name it. There's a point where you just have to rebuke that thinking, and say, no, God knows the plans he has for us, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. I'm just feeling sympathy for Sarah, Hannah and Elizabeth...though I have the advantage of having two great living kids. (That's the other "get over yourself" reminder...I don't live in a society where my worth is decided by my reproductive prowess, and I HAVE two kids! Many people don't have any!)
So I don't know what those plans God has for us are, but I do know that He has them, and that they're supposed to give me hope, so I will put my hope in the Lord...and love and enjoy the great kids I already have.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Thankful Thursday--New beginnings
From Psalm 90:14-17:
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Thank you, Lord, that your mercies are new every morning and that they do not fail. Thank you for the power of prayer; thanks that you were faithful to answer our prayers for renewed joy for me. Patrick mentioned earlier in the week that my mental health seems much better--and it is! Thanks, Summer, for praying with me--God totally answered that one!
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
Thank you for all the lessons you taught me this last year--about faith and prayer and trust and hope. Thanks for David and Job, and how they so elegantly expressed the range of emotions we feel.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
Thank you for your servants, especially those who willingly and happily serve others. Thanks for our children, and all the things they teach us about you.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Thank you for the new year and all the great things you will do this year. Thank you for my job and the opportunities you give me to show you to others. Thanks for our Children's ministry and how its grown this last year. You have been so faithful in drawing families to you and raising up workers; we look forward what you'll do at RVC this year! Thanks for the opportunity to teach in Children's Church and help plan out the curriculum--I think I learn as much from Kid's Church as I do from the adult version!
And thanks to Iris for hosting Thankful Thursday this week! Visit her to read more or to share your own Thankful Thursday!
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Thank you, Lord, that your mercies are new every morning and that they do not fail. Thank you for the power of prayer; thanks that you were faithful to answer our prayers for renewed joy for me. Patrick mentioned earlier in the week that my mental health seems much better--and it is! Thanks, Summer, for praying with me--God totally answered that one!
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
Thank you for all the lessons you taught me this last year--about faith and prayer and trust and hope. Thanks for David and Job, and how they so elegantly expressed the range of emotions we feel.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
Thank you for your servants, especially those who willingly and happily serve others. Thanks for our children, and all the things they teach us about you.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Thank you for the new year and all the great things you will do this year. Thank you for my job and the opportunities you give me to show you to others. Thanks for our Children's ministry and how its grown this last year. You have been so faithful in drawing families to you and raising up workers; we look forward what you'll do at RVC this year! Thanks for the opportunity to teach in Children's Church and help plan out the curriculum--I think I learn as much from Kid's Church as I do from the adult version!
And thanks to Iris for hosting Thankful Thursday this week! Visit her to read more or to share your own Thankful Thursday!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, everyone! I'm not big into resolutions, but I do have goals for the next year.
1. Corny, but the first one is the old Nike slogan--Just Do It. Instead of letting the mail pile up, deal with it when it comes in. Put away the laundry when its done, not when I need the baskets to do laundry again. Grade stuff as soon as it comes in, not later. Pray for or with someone at the moment when I first sense that I should, not later. In other words, just do it.
2. Take better care of me. Go to bed at a reasonable time (I'm pushing it tonight!), eat as healthy as my kids do, get exercise on a regular basis.
Nothing earth shattering, but hopefully doable!
1. Corny, but the first one is the old Nike slogan--Just Do It. Instead of letting the mail pile up, deal with it when it comes in. Put away the laundry when its done, not when I need the baskets to do laundry again. Grade stuff as soon as it comes in, not later. Pray for or with someone at the moment when I first sense that I should, not later. In other words, just do it.
2. Take better care of me. Go to bed at a reasonable time (I'm pushing it tonight!), eat as healthy as my kids do, get exercise on a regular basis.
Nothing earth shattering, but hopefully doable!
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