Heart of the Home

God, the master weaver

2012-02-04T15:29:00.000-08:00

This is my friend Jane. It's her birthday!

In less than 10 minutes from my house,

just down the road, turn left, another left, drive a bit and turn right and take another left, there she's lived for years and years.

And I never knew it.

My precious friend Lisa, who's birthday it is not, because facebook has not informed me so, introduced us one day. And there was a day I didn't know Lisa either. I don't remember how I first met her.

God weaves lives, adding friends like stitches that keep your life not only together, but lovely.

Inch by inch, I haven't the foggiest idea of the picture that he's weaving of my life but I am so thankful. How rich life is.

I'm glad God saw fit to expand our living of life with Friends.

The Start of a new year

2012-01-16T15:57:00.000-08:00

Starting over has the context of "again" and "another time" implied. It's used and reused. And sometimes that's the way I look at the turn of the calendar year. Regretful with the past days and as I try to pull myself up by the bootstraps, I start over.
Determination is one thing, but it has nothing to do with the joy of life and being given wings to soar.
Spiritually new? This is a supernatural phenomenon and supernatural knows no bounds. It can be fresh and it can be new.
If you are a child of God, this video is to encourage you. And me.

A new year, A fresh start

2012-01-09T10:25:00.000-08:00

Last month at least one home school mom was given Heaven for Christmas.

In late December Denise Sproul, woman of God, wife of RC Sproul Jr., and mother of nine wonderful children, walked into the loving arms of Jesus. I did not know her personally, but I have read about her struggles. She has known sickness and pain firsthand, along with long days of no answers, and the weight of crucial decisions. And then a day came where I believe she felt the warm light of eternity, the surge of new energy throughout her weary body and heard the gentle voice of her master, rising to know no longer the strains of this world. Her battle with cancer has ended and her legacy will continue that of loving her Lord, her husband, her children, her friends and relatives.

And she waits for us on the other side. Imagine.

This is where we are going, if we know this Savior. It is a matter of minutes, years, or decades away from here and now, left in the hands of a loving Heavenly Father, but indeed a day will come for us as well. There will come a time when pencils and books, appointments and calendars, lists and schedules will cease. The bills, the deadlines, the sicknesses, and all burdens we know will loosen and fall to the ground. We have this moment now: not to wish for, but to prepare for. Anything that doesn’t fit must go. Insecurity, discontentment, anger, selfishness, it is time for these to leave. Laziness, materialism, judgmentalism, we need make room for those no more. January is known as a month where the norm is to pick up and start new with the New Year. The most important thing to get into gear is our hearts.

Isaiah 26:3–4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.

2012-01-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

Some insight I read recently from ElisabethElliot -

"My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:29 AV).

He is willing to bear our burdens with us, if only we will come to Him and share the yoke, His yoke.

I saw this principle in operation when I visited the Dohnavur Fellowship in India. There, day after day, year in and year out, Indian women (most of them single) care for little children, handicapped children, infirm adults, old folks. They don't go anywhere. They have none of our usual forms of amusement and diversion. They work with extremely primitive equipment--there is no running water, for example, no stoves but wood-burning ones, no washing machines. In one of the buildings I saw this text: "There they dwelt with the King for His work." That's the secret. They do it for Him. They ask for and receive His grace to do it. I saw the joy in their lovely faces. “

Do you think perhaps that joy is not in possessing all the strength but in knowing who to ask for it? I think it is. My strength bucket is fairly shallow and when it's gone, it's gone. But if I know who can fill it, who fills it easily and has a vast supply to fill again and again, I will be but a blink away from having superb strength. What hope there is when this is the perspective and practice. Hope is linked to this joy that comes from serving God and striving to please him. Dwelling with the King, to please him.

Making things look Nice

2011-12-30T08:07:00.000-08:00

Straightening Up is a wonderful thing!

Like Pasta, you can't live on it,

but it sure helps the morale!!

Worldview

2011-11-19T21:50:00.001-08:00

2011-09-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

Choosing good things for your family

Our lives are full of choices every day.

Not everything is good for your family.

Depending on your family’s values, what another family deems as good and what you deem as good may be two different things indeed.

Something is not simply good because it’s free,

or because it doesn’t take very much time,

or because it’s easy to do.

These are not the definition of Good.

What is valued? What is profitable? What will bring true delight? A Good Thing is an item or an activity that is worth the cost in time, money, and energy.

Good isn’t necessarily defined by the desire of the children. We could all testify to desiring things that are not good for us. How blessed it is when we have developed an appetite for the truly wonderful and not settling for less than God intends. Our appetites are developed by what is regularly set before us. We can also be guilty of choosing the first things to fill a slot, perhaps afraid of boredom, rather than waiting on the Good Thing.

Be picky, not panicky.

How can we consistently choose Good Things for our family?

Recognize the Good Things,

Wait for the Good Things,

and Siege the opportunity.

May your home be blessed with the richness of Good Things handed to you from the Father above.

2011-09-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

Do what you can,

with what you have,

where you are.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

2011-08-24T20:26:00.001-07:00

2011-08-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

7 questions to Ask Yourself / part 4 of teaching your children the value of work

2011-08-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

Life presents itself with many "not so pleasant things". Children can be taught how to deal with the difficult things in life by learning to master undesirable tasks.
When you think about Chores as a training, you are giving them the following valuable treasures:
-They'll learn how to stick to something and see it until the end.
-They'll learn that they can accomplish big things that seemed impossible.
-They'll learn how to regard others as more important than themselves.
-And they will learn how to be comfortable with work as part of Real Life.
These kind of treasures are a rarity in a society full of luxuries.

For parents, character development needs to be the priority over task completion. Training is not to "get your stuff done", but it's about your children. So, that means your measure of success is based on Are they learning as opposed to what's checked off a list.

Here are 7 questions to ask yourself to keep your child as the real priority:

1- Is this job a necessity?
Prioritize. Choose necessity jobs first.
Model this for them when you perform a task of your own.
Choose what needs to be done first. Pray out loud while you're doing your task in their view; sing a hymn while you work and you find that they will make music as they work also. Do the things that are needed for today before you go on to things for tomorrow. Lead in example. Choose jobs that are needed the most.

2- Can you equip them with all the tools to do the job right?
There's nothing more frustrating then trying to do something with your hands tied behind your back. Check your workspace, check your tools, are they easy to work with or are they so delicate, or wopper-jawed that only you could do it just right? This is a big one for me.   If it's set up where only you can do it, then only you will be doing it. Set them up for success!

3- Can you give them adequate time to teach them the correct "way"?
Training takes time. Pleasantly show children the steps in doing a task correctly at the very beginning. For this to happen, it is key to plan ahead. Not all the children can be learning all different tasks at the same time.
The other children need to read, play, or something with little intervention needed while you teach a new task to another. Then at other times the roles are reversed.
We are teaching valuable character. "For everything there is a season," that's a wonderful lesson. The picture is everyone pulling some weight at some time during the day. Once they know how it's done, consistently, then everyone can be working at the same time.

4- Do you have a set time limit on each task?
Tasks should have a time limit, for your sake as well as theirs.
Our days are not all work. A healthy day consists of work, play, and rest.
At any age. If there's not a time limit on your work, you will become weary. If there's not a time limit on work for children, they will stretch out the task to last a whole day, not realizing that they are giving up mind-enriching and entertaining activities. (Provide mind-enriching and entertaining activities, not just work, into each day. If there's nothing to look forward to then there's no reason to move forward -Kids are smart, they know!) Think through what a reasonable time would be for each task. Teach the philosophy "get it done and go on".

5- Are you allotting a rest time and a play time?
Build into the work ethic the need for adequate rest and play as well as work.
A mom that's a work-a-holic may want her kids to be the same, but no one should be a holic anything. That's an obsession, isn't it? Honorable work is balanced; inhale and exhale. Reward your team for work well done.   Create a satisfaction with "it is finished!" Celebrate the completion of an assignment, not the end of work in general.

6- Have you told yourself, and then your children, that work is not the end all?
Work is a small fraction of life. Life is not work. Life is not real living without work, but work isn't the goal in life. What is your main goal in training your children? It is communicated in what you put your time into doing. Life is not a prison camp of busy work loading bricks into a cart to dump out and fill again. Work is for a purpose, work is a service.

7- Am I willing to give when it's not expected?
Training in task management is a tool to train their hearts. Every once in a while, after mastery and practice of a skill, surprise a child by doing their task for them in plain sight.   It's a gift of grace, it's undeserved. They will appreciate work being done for them because now they know the work that goes into that task.    Why would you do this? Because they've been good or because they are so special? No. This is an opportunity to teach about grace; grace is neither deserved or a reward for work. Grace stands alone. It brings beauty into real living.

What a privilege it is to teach our children. Walk hand in hand through a journey of discovery. I encourage you to extend to them an opportunity to experience real life, which is composed of stretching, strengthening, enduring, and patience-building challenges.

Training your children to work/ part 3

2011-08-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

graphic courtesy of wolfescape

The concept of a work assignment was God's original idea.

Man was to subdue the earth. This was before sin entered the picture, so work is not associated with punishment. Work was to be a good thing. The work got harder when... man didn't obey.

There are workers, and then there are workers.

Everyone needs a job to do; not a specific job but the job of being a worker.

There are the slothful workers, who s t r e t c h out their task in order to not have anything else assigned to them.

There are the rebellious workers that !refuse! to work.

And then there are the good workers, who effort mightily at whatever task their hand finds to do.

Just about any age can work.

It takes consideration in determining each child's capability in adding to the welfare of the family. A baby or special needs child may have to use nearly all his energy just to digest his food. Can he be expected to have additional responsibilities? Of course not. This is the concept of the strong helping the weak. Those who are stronger are the ones who are able to help those who are weak. Likewise, those who are healthy minister to the needs of the sick. This is service; this is love in action. How blessed is he who can serve. In fact, if a parent finds that their child has been given to laziness, often the kick start to a new way of living is to assign the child to do a task for one who is weaker.

Inch by inch, keep on climbing.

Training your child to work is just that: training. A bicycle with training wheels will not need those training wheels forever but only for a time of skill learning. When the skill is mastered, off come the wheels!

"Well Done!"

The Well Done standard must be met for a job to be considered learned and completed. Children know when you are settling for half-baked and they will only rise to that level unless there is patient and consistent direction. After training in specific tasks, after recognizing what is considered as "well done", then the child can take his turn in doing the task by himself. Whether it is taking out the trash or dish washing or ironing, training shouldn't last forever. Let them master it! Praise the accomplishment, celebrate and then move them on to another task.

Your time says how much you care.

It is a noteworthy saying, "you can't EXPECT what you don't INSPECT." Taking the time to go and inspect what the child has done pays the dividend. The efforts of your children are not to save you time, but their efforts are to please our Heavenly Father, building good habits to last their entire life. It sends a message of Respect and Worth when you take time to come alongside and appreciate the work that is being learned.

If it is valued by you, in your words and in your actions, it will be valued by your children.

If you are interested in 7 questions to ask yourself to help develop good workers in your children, follow the blog in a few days for Part 4 in training your children to work.

Teaching Your children about work--The Why/part 2

2011-08-05T17:40:00.000-07:00

We all secretly wish that work was more fun. A tactic that many child training experts advocate is assigning chores to children that they enjoy doing.

The theory is that if they start doing something fun, they will enjoy "working" so much that they won't have to be quibbling and fussing and by this glorious experience they will branch out and take on more challenging tasks, evolving into hard working people.

Hmmm.

The problem is that although there are some children that will dig right in, when they want to dig right in, real work ethic doesn't just happen and it's not based on fun. This theory goes against a basic biblical principle.

By only teaching fun things, what does it teach our children?

Fun is not the measure for worth. What makes a work a valuable work? When it's a work done unto God. When it's a service that fills a need. Real life consists of tasks nobody would choose to do on their own. Work is service. Real service isn't when you "wanted to do that anyway". True service is a sacrifice that costs something.

In disciplining our children, we are teaching them the ways of God. One of the very first things that we will come across as parents is that there is within the child a desire to go his own way. What is this? It is the natural nature, common within us all, that the Bible calls our Flesh. It is by self-discipline, saying no to ourselves, that we can say yes to what God wants us to do. One doesn't wake up one morning and instantly have self-discipline; it is a training over time kind of thing. As parents we get the opportunity to teach a child to say no to himself, something that he will need all of his life. What a valuable lesson!

By mastering the undesirable tasks, children learn to work with a happy and contented heart. Our restful, stable enjoyment is not based in the task itself. It is really flip-flopped to what one might think. Anybody can be temporarily happy doing something that they find fun. Just as anyone can love their friends, the rich kind of love is expressed in kindness to your enemy. When the heart is right, the happy reward of hard work comes from the act of service..

Teaching kids to work--part one/the Why

2011-08-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

There is a temptation to do things yourself.

It takes more effort to get the kids to work. It would be easier to do it yourself and be done with it!

I remember the story of The Little Red Hen.

Her mantra was, "I'll do it myself!" because nobody else wanted to help. I think, though, a do-it-all mom could be selfishness disguised as martyrdom. No fingers pointing, I only suggested that it could be. There is no doubt about it, getting them to work can look like just extra work for you.

Mothers can get busy, and it's easier to whiz through on many things. Without thought, we can plow through on our own jobs just to hurry up and get it done; while they......are doing something else, forgotten, out of the way/ off to the side, reading a book, or playing with a toy.

We aren't really operating wisely when we take it all on ourselves. Could it be that we are putting a love for stuff before a love for our children when we do it ourselves instead of training them to do it?

Could it be that doing it ourselves seems easier in the moment but it inadvertently promotes laziness in our children?

I think so. When I start seeing a lazy attitude I'm convicted myself that I haven't been consistently training in how to work or conveying the love for work, the delight in seeing that I've done a job well.

If you are interested in hearing thoughts and tips on training your children in the value of work, follow the blog in a couple of days for part two.

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts, Is one of your priorities to teach your children to work?

5 things to Teach your Toddler

2011-07-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

"the branch is easily bent when it is green..."

Mathew Henry

Biblical parenting will frequently come in juxtaposition to the current cultural trend. Modern culture will say "Wait". Don't instruct until a little later;the babes need to feel they have the power to explore. But early training is the key to building a trust with your children. Here are five lessons that I was thinking about this morning:

Lesson 1) God is in charge.

He's the one that says what we can and cannot do and He's the one that gives definition to what is good, what is right, and what is fair.

This is true at age 1 and age 101.

Lesson 2) Real is always better than Imitation.

Real apple filling is better for you than imitation apple-tasting filling. Real smiles are better than grin-n-bare it smiles. Real games are better than video games. Real play in the back yard is better than watching someone play on TV. Real sunshine is better than lamp light. Real hugs are better than saying the word, "hugs!"

Lesson 3) There is a right place for everything.

Crayons mark on paper, not walls, chairs, tables, or sisters. We sit on couches, We stand on the floor, We put food in our mouths. We put trash in the trashcan, books on bookshelves. Sand in the sandbox.

Lessons 4) Obedience brings life.

Doing what your parent says to do should bring peace. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Obey quickly and live. Rewarding ill behavior and scorning obedience brings a bitter heart. A Rule made but not kept breeds confusion and bitterness of heart. Obedience and a happy heart go hand in hand with justice.

Lesson 5) Work comes first, then play

Habits are what you do without conscious thought. If happy times come after work, there will soon be a habit of clean-up. If work comes first then more work, you'll find frustration results. If play comes first, work will seldom come when called.

Life makes sense when it's rules make sense, from the very beginning.

Video games and Divorce

2011-07-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

15% of divorced women said their trouble was that their husbands chose video games over their marriage.

Twenty years ago I wouldn't have imagined that video games had a connection with divorce. I mean, video games, those were something for the little boys not even old enough to look at girls. And the decent boys didn't do virtual football, they went out, on real dirt and played football.

This is a good watch; stay with it until the 2nd half which is really good.

Captivated by Media from Kevin Swanson on Vimeo.

More on the Value of Life

2011-06-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

I am still soaking in thoughts about how we value life as a culture at large. I've bathed in this for almost a year. Who are we to think that we have a say on what kind of life is a valuable life? My heart is heavy...

One out of Ten

2011-06-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

There's a story about ten people.

Referred to as outcasts; they were lepers. Does this sound familiar?

Skin peeled away from their faces, their arms, their legs. Their dying flesh laid open, dangling off the bone; perhaps their nose or ears had lost their shape.

Ten. Ten needy people called out to Jesus.

Luke 17:14-17
''When he saw them he said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went they were cleansed.
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now, he was a Samaritan.
Then Jesus answered, 'Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?' And he said to him, 'Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.' ''

What makes one grateful? Would it be because he has been given more?
No, that wasn't the case in this story; All were given the same wonderful gift. The gift was cleansed skin, miraculously smoothed, and flesh formed before their eyes into wholeness. All had reason to celebrate! All were relieved of their painful suffering.

But One -saw that he was healed.

One- halted his run to the priest.

One turned around. One fell on his face. One gave thanks. One was the exception of the ten.

Exceptional people are the exceptions to the majority. Exceptional people do what others do not. They break up the hardened ground of their hearts, the normally stiff pale dirt that comes from focusing on oneself and his need. Exceptional people make effort to see what they have, realizing anew that it was given. They stop their forward motion and in the midst of their relief they remember. They turn around to fall at the feet of the giver of all good gifts.

That is how thanks is given. When we are mindful of the fullness of Jesus, all that he is, full and complete, in contrast to our humble state of being, we are able to offer up a heart that knows its bounty.

May I live the exceptional life. Jesus, help me be one out of ten.

*grammatically edited from November 2010 and re-posted from the heart--

Yes to Him, No to me

2011-06-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

For those that are new to the concept of dying to your own desires so that Christ's desire is recognized and exalted, it comes from the scripture of Philippians 1:22.
I read an article by Elisabeth Elliot that spoke to the heart of this issue and I'd like to share it with you today.

Title: Death is a Gateway to the Palace

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

To be a Christian is to be a subject--subject to a king--that is, to welcome the rule of God in one's life.

Jesus Himself became subject to the Father--"Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God" (Heb 10:7 AV). This meant that He had come to this world, not to gain, but to lose; not to get, but to give; not to be served, but to serve; not to obtain bread but to be bread, the Bread of heaven, broken for the life of the world.

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...He humbled Himself" (Phil 2:5-8 AV).

That puts it in very simple terms.

If you want to be a Christian, see that your mind is made up as his was: be humble, be subject, be obedient--even to death.

It will mean death.

Be sure of that. Death to some of your desires and plans at least.

Death to yourself.

But never forget--Jesus' death was what opened the way for his own exaltation and our everlasting Life. Our death to selfishness is the shining gateway into the glories of the palace of the King.

Is it so hard to be his subject? Is the price too high?

To this question I answer, No, not too high; He's the King of kings, he has rescued me from the pit of hell, He paid the price that was too high. But is it so hard? Yes. It's hard. There is a desire within to survive, to rise above, to look to one's own interest. While He died once for all, I attempt to die daily to my way of thinking, my plans, my will. I keep forgetting and need reminding that for "real life living" He must have all and every part of me.
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship

Does Everything have to be equal?

2011-06-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

You can spend an awful lot of time trying to make things Equal and Fair in parenting.
You can drive yourself crazy, eventually. Why? Because the quest to be fair is a losing battle. It will never really be fair.

A mom knows she's spent too much time in attempting to measure life out equally for her children when she finds one saying, "eh! I didn't Get One! I want one too!" They are assuming that things will always be equal. They are assuming that it is their place to correct the injustices of portion. They have been led to a false conclusion. Life isn't packaged out equally in the lives of God's children.

Have you heard the story of the mom who had been the expert on fairness? One morning her daughter said to the mother, "On Friday we are having a quiz on the moon." Supposedly that is when the little brother piped in, "Are you going to let her go, Mom?" Jumping to conclusions that whatever she has, either she shouldn't have it or I should have it too.

Children can seem to be looking for an opportunity to "tattle" or an opportunity for whining about how they always have the worst situations. Those little moments of sible rivalry, or when jealousy rears it's ugly head, those are good teaching moments on principles that God desires for us all to learn.

Principle #1 : We don't always get what we want when we think we should have it. In fact, that rarely happens. There is value in knowing we are not in charge of the universe. It's a principle that will have to get use to.
Principle #2: We don't always get everything at the same time as everyone else. There is value in Waiting. One will use this lesson frequently. Teeth are lost at different times, jobs are attained at different times, success and failures are built uniquely for you.
Principle #3: We are not always first. There is value in putting others before myself. "That's okay, it's your turn right now." This is kindness put into action.
Principle #4: I do not always know what is best for me. The principle of God choosing what is best for us at any given moment is a lesson that builds our trust in God.

Parents, look at these opportunities to teach patience, grab the opportunity to not receive when others are receiving, give the opportunity to practice putting others before oneself.

This can be hard to do if you haven't started when they are young. And sometimes it will feel like it's breaking your heart as well. But if we can resolve in our hearts and minds that truly childhood is a playground for learning bite-sized lessons of the kingdom of God, then we can permit our hearts to welcome the learning.
We are training them for a life with God and one aspect of this life is to accept what God gives and allow him to create in us a grateful heart of trust and peace.

Having An Attitude Of Gratitude -- Ann Voskamp -- 2/2

2011-05-30T15:45:00.000-07:00

The Butterflies Fly while I try to stay on target

2011-05-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

The butterflies flew off to freedom.

Before decision of release took place, there was some in-house contemplation.

One day we found the butterflies mating. Considering that we are keeping them in captivity, I don't know why I found this surprising. It was amazing to watch. How often does one come upon butterflies mating? After some time, I began thinking about larvae. New life. Some internet research stated that the eggs could be in the hundreds. Yes, the hundreds.

We thought about keeping them through the life cycle. Wouldn't it be exciting, watching it all happen from the beginning.
We thought about all the people out there that might want to buy butterflies.
Somebody somewhere had an earthworm farm and they were doing quite well.

Quickly images formed in my mind of countless tiny shipping boxes stacked along a wall, steady but nervous clock watchers, and, no doubt like anything else in life, just stuff you gotta store!

Whoa!
"To everything there is a season."
My family is in the season for a lot of things, but a butterfly business isn't one of them.

Many "new" things are inviting simply because they are new. They call to us, "Come Away over here", "Oh, this could be fun," and "Here is something more Lively."
But there is a richness in staying on course, finishing what you have started, and plowing your current field.

Having An Attitude Of Gratitude -- interview with Ann Voskamp -- part 1

2011-05-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

"God must own all of us, not part...Surrender is needed, again and again." Amy Carmichael

2011-05-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Queen Victoria's Dog's Legacy

2011-05-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

-A little history, an interesting tidbit, and a bit of admonishment.

Queen Victoria was known to love dogs. It is said that her favorite King Charles dog died in 1840.
This especially loved dog was buried and his grave site was marked.

But further interest lies in what the queen chose to write upon the memorial she erected:

Here lies

DASH

The favourite spaniel of Her Majesty Queen Victoria

In his 10th year

His attachment was without selfishness

His playfulness without malice

His fidelity without deceit

READER

If you would be beloved and die regretted

Profit by the example of

DASH

2011-05-10T19:51:00.001-07:00

I bear witness that never servant had such a master as I have;
never brother such a kinsman as He has been to me;
never spouse such a husband as Christ has been to my soul;
never sinner a better Saviour;
never mourner a better comforter than Christ hath been to my spirit.
I want none beside Him. In life He is my life, and in death He shall be the death of death; in poverty Christ is my riches; in sickness He makes my bed; in darkness He is my star, and in brightness He is my sun; He is the manna of the camp in the wilderness, and He shall be the new corn of the host when they come to Canaan. Jesus is to me all grace and no wrath, all truth and no falsehood: and of truth and grace He is full, infinitely full.

Charles Spurgeon

The story of Noah. 120 years in the making. He was not able to see it immediately; he was working for the long haul and in obedience

2011-05-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

In a culture speeding downward,
experiencing only sunshine but growing more cold and wicked with each day,
God called a man to stand alone.

For a very long time.

Lord, give us the resolve of Noah.
-where we have a job to do, but the outcome is up to you.

Being Aware...

2011-04-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

I don't twitter.
But if I did, I would have twittered this today:
I'm listening to a butterfly drink.

It's true.
Who knew?
Surely someone that's observant to insects. But I never knew it was possible.

A few weeks ago we were delivered 5 live, teeny, tiny, caterpillars in which to raise as our very own painted lady butterflies. We took extra time to watch each day, to slow down and peer into their netting. The day they became lovely butterflies was quite exciting. Everyday we have had to find fresh flowers and dribble sugar water on them so that the "flutterbys " could eat. They have batted their wings quite noisily, climbed on our fingers and escaped a few times.

Today we were not so aware. We were busy. Busy taking a morning walk, busy with breakfast, busy thinking thoughts "I bet the beach would be lovely today." And off we went to find the beach. We completely forgot about butterflies needing our artificial dew.

I came home this evening and a sadness crept up my heart. Were they still there? Had they shriveled up and stopped their batting? They were very still, but to my relief they were just waiting. I dribbled the dew on the flowers and I heard, "slurp, slurp, slurp."

How to Disciple

2011-04-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

Luke 12:1-8

Previously, the scribes and the pharisees, were trying to get him to say things, waiting to catch him, waiting to step in and make their move to prove their point.
In the middle of this, comes verse 1-8.
While the scribes and pharisees were in the thick of it,
at the time when many had gathered, piled up on one another,
Jesus started talking to his disciples first.
He said, Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees; that is hypocrisy.
I think this says something of discipleship.
While the problem was right there, he started teaching his disciples about this problem.
In common speech, it might have been like this,
"Look here"
"See what's happening? Beware of this- the hypocrisy."

He didn't wait for another time.
His concern was for who it could damage. His priority was to teach the truth.
He pointed to the problem underneath the hypocrisy.
"It is deceptive."
"Watch out for it; mark it as dangerous."

This is discipleship in action.
This is my model.
Want to know what to teach your children, when to teach your children, how?
Live and walk together and teach as situations present themselves.
And don't be shy on the "Bewares." Jesus wasn't.

Simple Faith...God is not expecting me to have all the answers

2011-04-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

God is not expecting me to have all the answers,

to think of the plans,
to make things happen.

God desires a willing soul to
cut along a dotted line,
sometimes printed instantly before me at the last minute.

I am his servant.

The Existence of God

2011-04-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

Amy Carmichael once referred to in one of her books the constant of mountains and stars regardless of a cloudy night, when human visibility was low.

Totally separate from whether she could see the mountains or not was the fact that they were there.

The existence of God is truth eternal you don't have to feel him for him to be there.
He just is.

Worry...as a termite to joy within the spirit

2011-03-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Worry has a way of gnawing down a path and eating away at Joy.

Like a termite would chew it's way through a wood beam.

I have been reading from a journal of mine, I believe written more than 10 years ago.

...remembering Corrie Ten Boom's analogy of the grace and strength that comes in time of great need. Miss Ten Boom's father, when she was a small child, would stand at the train depot with her. This is how they traveled in those days. He would wait with her for the train to come. He never gave her the train ticket until it was time for her to climb aboard. When the time came, she received just what she needed to make the trip. She spoke about this when people said things like "I could never do what you did," or "if terrifying times come, how will I know that I'll survive?" She would recall the memory and verify that this holds true for the heavenly Father.

I have thought on this before. For me, I struggle to be one who rests and patiently waits for "the ticket." I've fretted and searched for "tickets". I've pleaded with God to give it to me ahead of time. I've sat and worried about how I would probably lose it anyways, brow-beating myself over events that might, possibly happen.

I've been tied up in knots and worried myself into a frenzy. This seems to come so naturally. But what a waste! A waste! Worry for nothing. I get aboard and slump into exhaustion from the workout, ride until my next stop, and fret all the same at the next boarding. I'm only realizing this now. He is faithful every time to give me the faith, grace, strength, endurance that I need in the time of battle.

I'm only realizing now that I've missed the joy of standing in the waiting line.

I spoke there years ago, of the joy that was missed. I had missed the conversations with my Father, my heavenly Father, about important things while waiting to go where I was to go. I had missed the tender moments of shared affection and new discoveries and pleasant surprises, all because I was busy talking and pestering him about the ticket.

Oh Lord, Thank you for the times of waiting.
I desire to see them truly as part of the journey. I rest in quiet confidence in your ability to be faithful.

This encourages me

2011-03-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

The Promise of spring

2011-03-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

We returned from an extended trip "Out West" to our Japanese Magnolia in full bloom.

Spring had come while we were gone.
When we were packing, we were wearing sweaters. We packed for every climate as our trip would be taking us across nearly 5,000 miles.
It was a matter of faith to pack short sleeves and dead of winter snow jackets and scarves all on the same day. Sunscreen but also gloves. Sandals but also thick socks and shoes.

Sure enough, we needed all those things along the way.

And we came home to blooms.

The promise of seasons changing goes back as far as Noah in the Bible. There was a promise of seed time and harvest. After complete devastation, after hearing the crashing of waves and the silence of voices, and feeling the rock of a boat, it was good to come out of the Ark. But then to hear God promise that it was over and from here on out there would be seasons of planting and harvesting, that was saying among many things that life would continue.

This is the promise of spring.
Bare branches have a beauty of their own. They tell part of the story of a tree. Their twists and turns and knobby parts charm us with their character if we are willing to look close.
Yet, oh the jubilation in the seeing the first new green leaf pop out!

Delights of Spring!
A reminder of the Faithful God!
Keeper of my soul.

Beauty in all Seasons

2011-03-09T09:48:00.000-08:00

I was in my twenties before I ever saw any beauty in a tree without leaves.
When I saw trees without leaves, I looked away. Nothing here, keep moving.

We visited my husband's grandmother in Tennessee one winter weekend.
Several of us went in one vehicle to visit the cemetery. It was very cold and just the two of us, she and I, stayed in the car while the others got out and walked around.
We sat for a while, just she in the front seat and me in the backseat. The sky was sunless, the gravestones were gray, the wet ground was a drab brown. I thought it quite all together dreary.
There was nothing to look at and nothing to say.

She broke the silence, "Molly" in a whispered southern drawl, " Aren't the trees beautiful?"
I looked up. Did she see the same trees I saw? "Well..." I paused. I wanted to be respectful and truthful at the same time. She began to slowly teach me to look closely at a tree, to drag my gaze from branch to branch, to see the curves and turn of direction, to see the knobs and limbs that were once there. "One can't see that beauty when the leaves are the trees."

Beauty isn't just in the budding season, nor in the summer green,
It isn't only then again as the leaves turn red or yellow or orange.
The beauty isn't only in the leaves. The tree itself can stand stately and sure, resting in it's arched frame.

Laundry Room Smiles

2011-01-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

The other day as I was doing my routine, hamper to washer, washer to dryer, dryer to table for folding. I smiled as I folded a newly cleaned tablecloth.

I lined up the edges, smoothed and folded it in half, lined up the edges, and more folding until it reached the size that would fit into the cabinet. My hands and arms did the physical work but my thoughts were on the little faces around the table that weekend. My mind replayed the clip of seeing little feet dangling over the edge of chairs and smiles with crumbs from a brownie in the corners of their lips. Small fingers were grasping spoons, giggles and chatter abounded. Hmmm...I could see them all here again as I folded this tablecloth.

The act of doing laundry isn't about fabrics,soaps,and water. It isn't about staying clean and cleaning up. It's about preparing for more happy memories. It's about helping those you love have an enjoyable experience as they walk through this life.

2010-09-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

Amazing creation, proclaiming the God of the impossible!
The God that proves himself justly to be God indeed.
I know he has taken into consideration the smallest detail in his design of me when I see the thought he put into a small little bug like this.....

Relating to this culture

2010-06-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

How do we speak to this culture?

kevin swanson:
"Point out that people love dry wall more than relationships,
in a place where the birth rate was cut in half while the square footage of the average home doubled in size (from 1900-2000).
Suggest that parents don't love their children enough
in a nation where they have killed 120 million of them in abortion clinics and with abort-ifacient birth control since 1973.
Teach parents to love their children more,
and teach children to honor their parents more. It's really that simple!"

Pleasing God

2010-05-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

Faith is regardless of what we see with our eyes, we have a trust in our heart that God will take care of us.
God will. That is faith.

The Bible says that without faith, it is impossible to please him.
Impossible is a strong word.
That would mean you can do service for him, but without practicing faith you cannot please him.
It would be an impossibility.

God is pleased by faith.

The other night when we were at party, my husband brought a plate of food to me from among many foods available.
I'm not where I can serve myself right now, so because he cares for me, he took my plate and filled it.
I smiled as he brought it to me; I was looking forward to eating.
When I saw it, it had four or five large pods of okra with stewed tomatoes,
a scant of chips, and a piece of meat the size of a quarter.
In ratio, the plate was okra.

He's lived with me for over twenty years; He knows I don't like okra.
Surely he heard the cheers when a family brought in a crock-pot of Barbecue and buns.
I heard there was soup there.
I may be in a wheel chair, but my ears work; there was food there.
Honey!
"Do you not like this?"
No, Honey, you know I don't like okra.

Granted, I could have settled with the okra, but I'm not a martyr.
And he wanted to please me, so he took the plate back and hunted down the BBQ.
Regardless of the sacrifice, okra didn't please me.
He was a little distracted, but he did want to please me.

For true believers, pleasing Christ is the most important thing in life.
I must want to please Him.
I must want to do what He says pleases Him.

Without faith, it's impossible to please God.
He enables us to please him by putting us in situations that require faith.

Being the weaker one

2010-04-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

"That is just something we do. We care for one another.
That is part of being a family.
Families take care of each other.
The stronger ones reach out and give, the weaker one receives, and smiles."
( link on Stronger and Weaker)

Receives, and smiles.
I have been challenged as I've needed to play the weaker family member role lately.
I could write more before on the role of taking care of others, as I was more familiar with its nuances.
But God has allowed me to be on the receiving end.

It's been about six weeks since the mysterious back episode happen. It just got worse and worse with each day. There were times when I screamed with pain, and in fear clutched my husband's neck collar and cried "what am I going to do?" I couldn't sit, stand, lie, walk, exist! I could barely breathe and no quicker had I passed out than I awakened with pain.

It has gotten better. We've learned that I cannot lie down and have found almost comfortable positions in an office chair that can tilt and swivel and a coffee table with a pillow for my feet.
Recently the last couple of weeks I am able to slant on a couch with many pillows behind my back and a pillow under my knees and I can sleep at night that way. I am still in pain but I guess I just fall asleep anyways. A Blessing!

So the Living Room is truly my living room.
People help me out of my chair or couch and take me to the bathroom.

How shall we then live, as the weaker member of a family?
I don't want to be a burden on people.
I would so rather be a blessing.
Of course I would, who wouldn't?
But if this is out of my hands, and here I sit, then I want to be as sweet as possible to those who carry my burden.
I need to smile when I don't feel like smiling.
I need to be patient while others have so many other things to do.
Remembering and practicing this has helped me.
I have had to write "return to sender" on my invitations to pity parties.
I feel sometimes that I can't give much, but I can at least give smiles; I can choose to give smiles.

My compassion has swelled for others who daily have their socks put on and their shoes tied by somebody else.
It's not just the humbling part.
It actually hurts to have some toes go one way and some toes another when they are stuffing your legs into pants.

I've also seen the sweetness in watching neighbors or birds out my window.
All busy about the details of life.
Life is sweet with all its chores and routine.
My value is not tied up in what I can do.
I can do nothing, really nothing - how can I be worth anything?

God has placed the determined value of people. He deems them very valuable, and not due to what they can do for him, as they can do nothing.
It is my calling to offer up my nothingness,
up toward the heavens open-armed and allow Him to fill me.
Then as He chooses He reflects His light, beaming outward in different directions to so please Himself.
So my value?
The same as when I'm bustling around and "productive".
Our bodies are to be a living sacrifice, offered up to be burned,
and as the smoke rises He finds this a pleasing aroma.

2010-03-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

Acts 20:24

I consider my life worth nothing to me,

if only to complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.

In a task oriented world, it's easy to think that you are what you do.

But our biggest doing cannot compare to His glory.

When we are in a place where we can do nothing, it reminds us of our true state before God.

When we are in a place where we can do nothing, He is not disappointed in us.

Our main task is our life, burning like a candle before God.

Our task is glorifying Him in whatever state we are in.

Acts 20:24

I consider my life worth nothing to me,

it's not my life but His.

Living in a family

2010-03-07T09:23:00.000-08:00

Time flies when You aren't.
Are we in the month of March?
Could I have my birthday later, I don't feel well...

Somewhere I did something to my back. I'm quite foggy on when and where by now. Quite foggy on a number of things. I've been 'not quite right' for several weeks, and 'purty bad' for two. It hurts when I sit, while I sit, and when I get up.
It hurts to stand for long, but walking is minor after I've begun. As for lying down, that is just painful.

I've recently given up and saw a chiropractor but everything still hurts so far and very little of my mind has returned.

I think my emotions and my "thinker" are connected to my back.
I'm not sure which went south first, but I know that it seems I can't do a whole lot of anything, and it's starting to affect my smile, not to mention my eyebrows.
It's taking effort.
My husband is the most long suffering, kind man I know and I am thankful.

It makes me think about caring for one another, young or old, energetic or sick.
That is just something we do. We care for one another.
That is part of being a family.
Families take care of each other.
The stronger ones reach out and give, the weaker one receives, and smiles.

Change your Name

2009-12-12T17:23:00.000-08:00

nick names.

I think the adjectives and comparisons hurt worse.

Dummy, wimp, skinny, chubby, fat, well-endowed, ugly, clumsy...

"you're like your cousin so-n-so" (and they didn't mean it in a good way.)

People put labels on people.

It's not just you, all sorts get put down and trampled on without a bat of the eye.

And all sorts are guilty of pushing others down to make themselves seem taller.

A number of years ago, I dealt with this and what a relief I feel still, I'd like to pass it on.

If you're burdened with memories of labels put upon you, write them down.

Don't strain, just whatever is right there quick to memory.

Think of who said these names.

Then forgive them.

Actually, by name Forgive them, they were wrong. It wasn't good or right, they were wrong.

I think part of the hurt is when you are afraid that they're right.

But they're wrong. They don't know the whole picture.

and then,

Release them to Jesus and don't hold it against them anymore.

It was taken to the cleaners and you've lost the ticket.

Ask the Lord for his incredible love to go to them on your behalf. It's amazing how love heals pain.

Ask Jesus to come and make your forgiveness a reality and to help you let go.

Ask Him to give them love, and mercy, and grace.

Then let God change your name.

child of God, beloved, treasured one...

Show me their friends...

2009-12-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

Several months ago I read a sweet book about a family and their journey with God leading them to parent children. I have reflected upon a childhood story that the father wrote.

He recalled an event, at age four, where he had been caught stealing with another little boy. I believe it was his mother that said to this four year old,

"Jim Bob, show me your friends and I'll show you your future."

At age four!

I was impressed that this mother would care so much to express to such a young boy that although this was naughty, he would have misery to look forward to if he chose the kind of friends that would do such a thing.

The company we keep at any age affects us, but during the developmental years there is a tenderness that is impressed and conditioned all the easier.

The Bible says that a child left to himself is a shame to his mother, and a man left to go whatever way seems right to him will go down the path toward destruction.

The company they keep needs to be reinforcing what we've taught them.

They need to learn the principles from God's word,

they need to observe those principles being lived out,

and they need to practice those godly principles, as your disciple.

Manners

2009-11-20T15:26:00.000-08:00

Surely they are there, somewhere.

Perhaps they have simply slipped, working themselves down deep and out our character,

like a coin in the corner of a pocket where we've not taken the time to sew; out and gone from this rushed world.

Some way somehow, here we are in this common life, many of us without Manners.

Manners are those little things that put others above ourselves.
It's Kindness applied intentionally.
Good manners become a part of a person that in time, are not plotted-out intentional actions but flowing habits of behavior.

What a blessing to be taught appropriate behavior.
We aren't imprisoning our children when we don't accept ill behavior.
We are granting them a future freedom.

Freedom to be able to extend gentleness to others.
Freedom to reflect, because they've learned how to listen.
Freedom to speak truth graciously so that it may sink into others' hearts.

Manners.
Kindness practiced so often that it flows out even when we're not thinking about it.
But in the beginning,
we have to think about it.

Teaching appropriate behavior

2009-11-16T17:11:00.000-08:00

Here are some simple things to help teach children appropriate behavior.

We sit on chairs. Chairs are for sitting, not standing.
We write on paper. We don't tear paper.
Books are for looking at, not throwing or kicking.
When we want to speak to someone, we talk. We don't yell. Yells are for fires.

Dolls are for holding, not dragging or pulling apart.
Shoes are for our feet, but on the floor.
Dirt is for the ground.
Pillows are for cushions, not for throwing.
Beds are for lying down, not jumping.
Food is for our mouths. Not the walls, or the floors.

Don't these things sound obvious?

I remember many years ago watching some young children and for the first time noticing some strange behavior, very inappropriate. I thought, "Good Grief!" But I saw that the parent's response was to roll her eyes and keep visiting with another, and then at the next offense to grab the child quickly instead of talking about the behavior and reproving. She was embarrassed most likely, but not corrective and proactive.

I am convinced to this day that large inappropriate behavior stems from neglect of correcting the small things early on.