Friday, January 30, 2009
A joy-filled conversation…
A week ago I was taking my son to the orthodontist and on the way home I learned that my upcoming appointment with my dear friend (at Starbucks) was unexpectedly canceled. Not being one to let something like a canceled appointment stop me, I decided to take Aidan to Starbucks instead since we were both in the van driving by the very place! So we went through the drive-thru, got our Double Chocolate Chip Frapaccinos and parked to enjoy our drinks. While I sipped my first drink, I thanked God with a quick and heartfelt “Thank you Jesus for tasty treats!” This got me thinking. What a great time to delve into the understanding of my 13 year old. So I asked him, “Aidan, can unbelievers enjoy this drink as much as believers can?” To which he replied, “No.” I asked him to explain why that was so and he told me, “Because unbelievers don’t know that everything good we have is because of Christ. So they think that they deserve the treats because they’ve worked for them.” I thought that was a great answer especially for a 13 year old. I went on to add to that truth by saying that they missed the fact that all good things are gifts of God which has been purchased by Christ. I also talked to him about how Christians can enjoy the same things as unbelievers but more, because as Christians we don’t need the treat to fill our hearts with joy. We have Jesus to fill our hearts with joy so while we enjoy the treat our hearts are all the more drawn to worship the Gift-Giver more than the gift and as such our joy is made full… it is complete because it comes from Jesus and ends with Jesus. There are so many more reasons why I can enjoy that Starbucks more than the unbeliever. I am sure that people more godly than me could list pages full of reasons (people like John Piper could write a book on it and may have already!), and honestly we could talk even more about how we believers can do something even harder like have joy in a trial because of Jesus; but what I praise God for is that He has shown me and is showing my son that in Jesus lies all our hope for true and lasting joy, for all eternity to the praise of His glory! Now that’s something to think about and talk about.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Witty Wednesday
I found this a while back ago on Girl Talk. They did this for a Ladies night out. It was funny and very well done. The only way to share it with you is to link to their site and then let you go there and enjoy!
Have a great Wednesday!
Have a great Wednesday!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Noelle
My daughter Noelle just turned 7. I can hardly believe that 7 years have passed since my baby girl was brought into this world. I praise God for every minute.
When she was born we called her Snow White because of her snow white skin and coal black, thick hair. She was alert and aware from the moment she took her first breath outside of the womb. She was just learning to talk when she told me that she wanted to be 'bellious. Her mind was inquisitive from the get go. She was fascinated with words like repentance and worked at learning what it meant and by the time she was two thought she had it down. One day after she was disciplined and I was talking to her, she kept turning her face from me, when I finally asked what she was doing she said she was repenting, turning away from Satan and sin and turning to God! Lol! :)
She has changed and grown much since she was 2. She thinks a little better, she's a reader and writer (she saw my book on 50 essential writing strategies and asked if when I was done reading it, she could borrow it... nerd just like her dad!), and she is much more self-controlled. She went from wanting to be 'bellious, to being sensitive to her sin and spending time in prayer and confession.
I am praying for the Lord to give her a genuine heart change that only He can give. No inquisitive mind can move a person to truly repent. I am thankful that God has given me one little girl to live out my life with, showing what a gracious and compassionate God we serve. I am thankful, and trembling at the same time. Titus 2:3-5 says, " Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." I want to honor God and to raise up a little woman who loves God with all her heart, soul, mind and strength. I want her to know that God is her greatest good and He is everything. Maybe it's good I only have one daughter! :) So this is the prayer of my heart:
A little girl who follows me
A careful mom I want to be, A little woman follows me; I do not dare to go astray For fear she'll go the self-same way I cannot once escape her eyes. What e'er she sees me do she tries Like me, she says she's going to be That little girl who follows me. I must remember as I go Through summer suns and winter snows, I am building for the years to be That little girl that follows me.
~author unknown
Monday, January 26, 2009
Trusting God
Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"
This week in Sunday School, my class and I discussed trusting God in all circumstances. As usual, the lesson I was teaching served to convict me as I studied and prepared to present it. I read many verses, such as the one above, and was struck over and over again by the fact that the only part of me that it lasting is my soul. The only part of me that is eternal is my soul. The most important and valuable part of me is my soul.
And I have trusted Jesus to save my soul.
How can I not freely trust Him with all other things?
If you are anything like me, you struggle with worry and anxiety on a daily basis. It can be something as small as worry that you won't arrive to class on time (even though you left the exact same time you do every day, and every day you arrive fifteen minutes early) or something as big as a health issue that is getting worse or a personal financial crisis.
If you are anything like me, you find yourself worrying about these things as though God does not have any control over them, or as if God has control but lacks the time or willingness to act. We need to be daily reminding ourselves to trust in God. Because, if we truly believe that He has given us His own Son to die for us to save us from our sins - then how much more will He freely provide for our needs!
Luke 12:6-7 "Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."
There are a myriad of ways that we can apply this to our daily lives. I will list a few of them here for your (and my) consideration and prayer:
1. Do you trust God enough to submit to your husband/father even when you disagree?
2. Do you trust God enough to respond to those around you in a loving manner?
3. Do you trust God enough to love others without being sure of receiving love in return?
4. Do you trust God enough to witness to friends, co-workers, and family?
5. Do you trust God enough to stand up for those being mistreated?
6. Do you trust God enough to do the right thing even in situations where you could get in trouble, made fun of, etc.?
This week in Sunday School, my class and I discussed trusting God in all circumstances. As usual, the lesson I was teaching served to convict me as I studied and prepared to present it. I read many verses, such as the one above, and was struck over and over again by the fact that the only part of me that it lasting is my soul. The only part of me that is eternal is my soul. The most important and valuable part of me is my soul.
And I have trusted Jesus to save my soul.
How can I not freely trust Him with all other things?
If you are anything like me, you struggle with worry and anxiety on a daily basis. It can be something as small as worry that you won't arrive to class on time (even though you left the exact same time you do every day, and every day you arrive fifteen minutes early) or something as big as a health issue that is getting worse or a personal financial crisis.
If you are anything like me, you find yourself worrying about these things as though God does not have any control over them, or as if God has control but lacks the time or willingness to act. We need to be daily reminding ourselves to trust in God. Because, if we truly believe that He has given us His own Son to die for us to save us from our sins - then how much more will He freely provide for our needs!
Luke 12:6-7 "Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."
There are a myriad of ways that we can apply this to our daily lives. I will list a few of them here for your (and my) consideration and prayer:
1. Do you trust God enough to submit to your husband/father even when you disagree?
2. Do you trust God enough to respond to those around you in a loving manner?
3. Do you trust God enough to love others without being sure of receiving love in return?
4. Do you trust God enough to witness to friends, co-workers, and family?
5. Do you trust God enough to stand up for those being mistreated?
6. Do you trust God enough to do the right thing even in situations where you could get in trouble, made fun of, etc.?
Friday, January 23, 2009
One of our hot water pipes that runs to our downstairs sink burst today. It was an impressive break. It actually burst right in the middle of a CPVC 90 degree elbow. (Not at the seam where it joins to the CPVC pipe, but right in the crux of the elbow... WOW!...) In this trial, I see God's gracious hand in a lot of ways. Here's a few...
1. It burst beneath floor level so it caused no damage to the drywall.
2. Though the pipe was pouring water like a waterfall directly onto a Rubbermaid container in the basement which contained such precious items as my wedding dress, Aidan's dedication gown, baby blankets, an heirloom wedding quilt, my wedding headpiece, etc... not a drop of water got into it and God kindly kept them all safe and dry.
3. The burst pipe was relatively quickly discovered due to the fancy schmancy clothes washer that we have because it registered the lack of water pressure and kept giving us an error when I was trying to do laundry, which caused me to check the basement and as such the Lord used it to lead me to the waterfall...
4. Here is the perfect opportunity to fix that leak in the sink drain that I've been putting off for the last...(cough) 4 years
5. Here is the perfect opportunity to insulate the new pipes so that they will not freeze over every time the temperature drops below 10 degrees (that is: every other month year round and every other day, during the winter.)
6. Here is also the perfect opportunity to move the pipes from their experimental placement in the northern exterior wall of the house (it seemed like a great idea to me at the time!) to come up through the floor of the vanity (protected by the aforementioned pipe insulation.)
7. It certainly gave me good incentive to clean out under the sink and get rid of stuff. Maybe after I re-attach everything, I can store towels down there!
8. It gave me an opportunity to share the way God blessed our family with some unsaved friends that were at my house scrapbooking tonight as well as with all of you!
9. It showed me the tender compassionate understanding of the Lord who would care enough about me to take care of silly sentimental things that I hold onto, though they have no eternal value - which causes me to rejoice in Him more than those things.
10. It gave Ryan and I an opportunity to be a witness of peace and joy in the midst of trials to our three boys (and God supplied the grace to keep us peaceful and joyful in the midst of the trial too!)
So I guess the moral of the story is: in everything, be thankful! God is doing good stuff and showing us His lovingkindness! May we all see His kindnesses even in the trials of life!
(... Post script: God was also so kind to allow us to get our pipes fixed on the very next day, with very little hassle and all is back up and running now! )
1. It burst beneath floor level so it caused no damage to the drywall.
2. Though the pipe was pouring water like a waterfall directly onto a Rubbermaid container in the basement which contained such precious items as my wedding dress, Aidan's dedication gown, baby blankets, an heirloom wedding quilt, my wedding headpiece, etc... not a drop of water got into it and God kindly kept them all safe and dry.
3. The burst pipe was relatively quickly discovered due to the fancy schmancy clothes washer that we have because it registered the lack of water pressure and kept giving us an error when I was trying to do laundry, which caused me to check the basement and as such the Lord used it to lead me to the waterfall...
4. Here is the perfect opportunity to fix that leak in the sink drain that I've been putting off for the last...(cough) 4 years
5. Here is the perfect opportunity to insulate the new pipes so that they will not freeze over every time the temperature drops below 10 degrees (that is: every other month year round and every other day, during the winter.)
6. Here is also the perfect opportunity to move the pipes from their experimental placement in the northern exterior wall of the house (it seemed like a great idea to me at the time!) to come up through the floor of the vanity (protected by the aforementioned pipe insulation.)
7. It certainly gave me good incentive to clean out under the sink and get rid of stuff. Maybe after I re-attach everything, I can store towels down there!
8. It gave me an opportunity to share the way God blessed our family with some unsaved friends that were at my house scrapbooking tonight as well as with all of you!
9. It showed me the tender compassionate understanding of the Lord who would care enough about me to take care of silly sentimental things that I hold onto, though they have no eternal value - which causes me to rejoice in Him more than those things.
10. It gave Ryan and I an opportunity to be a witness of peace and joy in the midst of trials to our three boys (and God supplied the grace to keep us peaceful and joyful in the midst of the trial too!)
So I guess the moral of the story is: in everything, be thankful! God is doing good stuff and showing us His lovingkindness! May we all see His kindnesses even in the trials of life!
(... Post script: God was also so kind to allow us to get our pipes fixed on the very next day, with very little hassle and all is back up and running now! )
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Witty Wednesdays
'The Price Of Gas In France'
A thief in Paris planned to steal some Paintings from the Louvre.
After careful planning, he got past security,Stole the paintings, and made it safely to his van.
However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas.
When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such an obvious error, he replied,'Monsieur, that is the reason I stole the paintings.'
'I had no Monet
to buy Degas
to make the Van Gogh.'
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
It's All About........
"It's all about me!" I don't ever recall saying something like this, but is this indeed how I live?
How much time do I spend thinking about how what others say and do effect me?
The reason I complain, whine, fight, and speak out arrogantly against others because I am the center of my world and in reality I am saying: It's all about me!
But the truth is, it's about God! We are willing to say that. We proclaim it loudly, and sing about it and try to lead others to think that way, but is that the way we live? Is it really what we are saying? An illustration/story from a book I'm reading, Crazy Love, was helpful to me and has me thinking. I'd like to share it with you.
Francis Chan, the man who wrote this book, says, so many of us think and live like the movie of life is all bout us....... Now consider the movie of life............
God creates the world. (Were you alive then? Was God talking to you when He proclaimed "It is good" about all He just made?)
Then people rebelled against God (who, if you haven't realized yet, is the main character in the movie), and God floods the earth to rid it of the mess people made of it.
Several generations later, God singles out a ninety-nine-year- old man called Abram and makes him the father of a nation (did you have anything to do with this?).
Later, along come Joseph and Moses and many other ordinary and inadequate people that the movie is not about. God is the one who picks them and directs them and works miracles through them. In the next scene, God sends judges and prophets to His nation because the people can't seem to give Him the one thing He asks of them (obedience).
And then, the climax: The Son of God is born among the people whom God still somehow loves. While in this world, the son teaches His followers what true love looks like. Then the Son of God dies and is resurrected and goes back up to be with God.
And even though the movie isn't quite finished yet, we know what the last scene holds. It's a scene Fracis Chan describes in chapter one of his book: the throne room of God. Here every being worships God who sits on the throne, for he alone is worthy to be praised.
The author goes on to say, that from start to finish, the movie is obviously about God. He is the main character in the movie. How is it possible that we live as though it is about us? Our scene in the movie, our brief lives, fall somewhere between the time Jesus ascends into heaven (Acts) and when we will all worship God on His throne in heaven (Revelation). We have only our two-fifths of a second long scene to live. Then he challenges us to ask whether we are going to make our two-fifth of a second about us or about God?
It is after all about God. It is God's movie, His world, His gift.
Who is your life about? Is your life lived like God has captured your heart , soul, mind, and strength? Are enamoured with Him or yourself? What does a life captivated, thrilled, and wrapped up in God look like?
These are things I am evaluating and ask that you join me on this journey.
What are you doing to purposefully cultivate a deeper love for God? Please feel free to share how you are doing this and perhaps we can encourage one another to make much Him.
How much time do I spend thinking about how what others say and do effect me?
The reason I complain, whine, fight, and speak out arrogantly against others because I am the center of my world and in reality I am saying: It's all about me!
But the truth is, it's about God! We are willing to say that. We proclaim it loudly, and sing about it and try to lead others to think that way, but is that the way we live? Is it really what we are saying? An illustration/story from a book I'm reading, Crazy Love, was helpful to me and has me thinking. I'd like to share it with you.
Francis Chan, the man who wrote this book, says, so many of us think and live like the movie of life is all bout us....... Now consider the movie of life............
God creates the world. (Were you alive then? Was God talking to you when He proclaimed "It is good" about all He just made?)
Then people rebelled against God (who, if you haven't realized yet, is the main character in the movie), and God floods the earth to rid it of the mess people made of it.
Several generations later, God singles out a ninety-nine-year- old man called Abram and makes him the father of a nation (did you have anything to do with this?).
Later, along come Joseph and Moses and many other ordinary and inadequate people that the movie is not about. God is the one who picks them and directs them and works miracles through them. In the next scene, God sends judges and prophets to His nation because the people can't seem to give Him the one thing He asks of them (obedience).
And then, the climax: The Son of God is born among the people whom God still somehow loves. While in this world, the son teaches His followers what true love looks like. Then the Son of God dies and is resurrected and goes back up to be with God.
And even though the movie isn't quite finished yet, we know what the last scene holds. It's a scene Fracis Chan describes in chapter one of his book: the throne room of God. Here every being worships God who sits on the throne, for he alone is worthy to be praised.
The author goes on to say, that from start to finish, the movie is obviously about God. He is the main character in the movie. How is it possible that we live as though it is about us? Our scene in the movie, our brief lives, fall somewhere between the time Jesus ascends into heaven (Acts) and when we will all worship God on His throne in heaven (Revelation). We have only our two-fifths of a second long scene to live. Then he challenges us to ask whether we are going to make our two-fifth of a second about us or about God?
It is after all about God. It is God's movie, His world, His gift.
Who is your life about? Is your life lived like God has captured your heart , soul, mind, and strength? Are enamoured with Him or yourself? What does a life captivated, thrilled, and wrapped up in God look like?
These are things I am evaluating and ask that you join me on this journey.
What are you doing to purposefully cultivate a deeper love for God? Please feel free to share how you are doing this and perhaps we can encourage one another to make much Him.
Monday, January 19, 2009
God's Grace
One of the points in Bruce Roeder's sermon yesterday really struck me and I have been thinking about it since then. How do we portray ourselves to the non-Christians in our lives?
For those of us in the workplace, do our co-workers know that every good quality we claim is because of Christ's work in us? Or do they see us as hypocrites who tell them that they are sinners and need salvation even as they watch us sin ourselves? Remember ladies, these people see us every day - they know that we are not perfect! It is so important to speak of the grace of God in our own lives.
For those of you at home with children, do you speak this way to your kids? Do they think that there is a certain way they are to act so as not to embarrass you? Are they turning into little legalists who think its okay to act one way at home so long as they never act that way at church? Is their only initiative to obey to please you? Children know that their parents are sinners. This is one of the awesome opportunities that parents have to preach the gospel to their children - by being willing to admit when they have sinned and seek their child's forgiveness and then speak of the forgiveness that God has given them even though they don't deserve it.
All of us who have received God's gift of salvation did not do anything to deserve it. We were dead in our sins and God chose to show His mercy and make us alive in Himself. It is important that we not only say that this is true, but believe that it is true, remind ourselves that it is true, and make it known to others that this is true.
For those of us in the workplace, do our co-workers know that every good quality we claim is because of Christ's work in us? Or do they see us as hypocrites who tell them that they are sinners and need salvation even as they watch us sin ourselves? Remember ladies, these people see us every day - they know that we are not perfect! It is so important to speak of the grace of God in our own lives.
For those of you at home with children, do you speak this way to your kids? Do they think that there is a certain way they are to act so as not to embarrass you? Are they turning into little legalists who think its okay to act one way at home so long as they never act that way at church? Is their only initiative to obey to please you? Children know that their parents are sinners. This is one of the awesome opportunities that parents have to preach the gospel to their children - by being willing to admit when they have sinned and seek their child's forgiveness and then speak of the forgiveness that God has given them even though they don't deserve it.
All of us who have received God's gift of salvation did not do anything to deserve it. We were dead in our sins and God chose to show His mercy and make us alive in Himself. It is important that we not only say that this is true, but believe that it is true, remind ourselves that it is true, and make it known to others that this is true.
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Invisible Mother...... Author Unknown
It all began to make sense: the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids would walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, “Can't you see I'm on the phone?” Obviously, not.
No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more. “Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?” Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, “What time is it?” I'm a satellite guide to answer, “What number is the Disney Channel?” I'm a car to order, “Right around 5:30, please.”
One night, a group of us were having dinner celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, “I brought you this.” It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: “To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.”
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. 2. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, “Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.” And the workman replied, “Because God sees.” I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, “I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.”
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder, as one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the friend she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, “My Mom gets up at four in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.” That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want her to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to her friend, to add, “You're gonna love it there.”
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot see if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more. “Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?” Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, “What time is it?” I'm a satellite guide to answer, “What number is the Disney Channel?” I'm a car to order, “Right around 5:30, please.”
One night, a group of us were having dinner celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, “I brought you this.” It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: “To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.”
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. 2. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, “Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.” And the workman replied, “Because God sees.” I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, “I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.”
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder, as one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the friend she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, “My Mom gets up at four in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.” That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want her to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to her friend, to add, “You're gonna love it there.”
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot see if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Witty Wednesdays
I got this from my dad... how funny!
A lady was saying the other day that she saw a man driving down the I- 35 and a dog was hanging on to the tail gate for dear life. She said if he hadn't been going so fast in the other direction she would have tried to stop him. A few weeks later her son sees this truck at the Bass Pro Shop! The truck belongs to a taxidermist!
A lady was saying the other day that she saw a man driving down the I- 35 and a dog was hanging on to the tail gate for dear life. She said if he hadn't been going so fast in the other direction she would have tried to stop him. A few weeks later her son sees this truck at the Bass Pro Shop! The truck belongs to a taxidermist!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
My New Years Resolution
Whenever the New Year approaches I like asking what people are resolving to do this coming year. It is always interesting, you hear everything from losing weight, to more consistent Bible reading, to renewing relationships lost or you may get a little " bah, I don't do resolutions because nobody actually keeps those anyway" response. But I remain interested in where people feel the need to improve or where interests are picked up or renewed.
For me when I use this time of reflection on the past year my sins and weaknesses seem overwhelming so I am often battling that with remembering the cross especially around this time. I then resolve to read "The Cross Centered Life" again. And hence my journey begins in reminding myself and preaching the gospel to myself everyday for the next year. I start my Bible reading plan yet again and I realize that in general I have the same resolutions every single year. Some kept, some not, like the " I'm going to run every single day all year long" resolution. But the constant ones that I can't help but resolve to do, and then do, is read the word and meditate on the gospel. I hope that many of us will be encouraged and keep in mind Betsy's post on the value of being daily in the Word as we battle against our flesh.
I am also still reflecting, evaluating and losing/ winning in areas that I reflected on last year on my Xanga, so I am not going to be giving a huge list of personal resolutions when I am still working on the same stuff from last year! :)
The one new thing I am determined to do this year though is do a more thorough study on love in the Bible. I do not want to study it for the sake of more knowledge, but I do want my love to abound more and more.(Phil.1:9) And I want the Lord to increase my love for others.(1Thess.3:12)
One Bible commentator said, The Christian may not rest in any measure of attainment, however great, but must always be stretching out after a closer approximation to the standard, which is Christ. Hence, I wish to become more intimately acquainted with the love of Jesus so my heart can all the more sing: More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee! I am moved by the words of Maurice Robert, Then let every Christian take up the duty of Christian love with tenfold seriousness. Our life's work must be to call down heaven's help upon ourselves that we may bend towards the great command to love one another. So there you have it, I want to learn about and pray for more love. I plan on doing this through marking what I read on love during my normal Bible reading as well as reading some good books that take up this subject. I am already almost done with Love or Die by Alexander Strauch, which has a short study guide with it that I am going to use.
What about you? I am interested in your reflections and resolutions. I am also interested in any suggested reading on the subject of love, or any thoughts from those who have done more study in this area. Thank you!
For me when I use this time of reflection on the past year my sins and weaknesses seem overwhelming so I am often battling that with remembering the cross especially around this time. I then resolve to read "The Cross Centered Life" again. And hence my journey begins in reminding myself and preaching the gospel to myself everyday for the next year. I start my Bible reading plan yet again and I realize that in general I have the same resolutions every single year. Some kept, some not, like the " I'm going to run every single day all year long" resolution. But the constant ones that I can't help but resolve to do, and then do, is read the word and meditate on the gospel. I hope that many of us will be encouraged and keep in mind Betsy's post on the value of being daily in the Word as we battle against our flesh.
I am also still reflecting, evaluating and losing/ winning in areas that I reflected on last year on my Xanga, so I am not going to be giving a huge list of personal resolutions when I am still working on the same stuff from last year! :)
The one new thing I am determined to do this year though is do a more thorough study on love in the Bible. I do not want to study it for the sake of more knowledge, but I do want my love to abound more and more.(Phil.1:9) And I want the Lord to increase my love for others.(1Thess.3:12)
One Bible commentator said, The Christian may not rest in any measure of attainment, however great, but must always be stretching out after a closer approximation to the standard, which is Christ. Hence, I wish to become more intimately acquainted with the love of Jesus so my heart can all the more sing: More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee! I am moved by the words of Maurice Robert, Then let every Christian take up the duty of Christian love with tenfold seriousness. Our life's work must be to call down heaven's help upon ourselves that we may bend towards the great command to love one another. So there you have it, I want to learn about and pray for more love. I plan on doing this through marking what I read on love during my normal Bible reading as well as reading some good books that take up this subject. I am already almost done with Love or Die by Alexander Strauch, which has a short study guide with it that I am going to use.
What about you? I am interested in your reflections and resolutions. I am also interested in any suggested reading on the subject of love, or any thoughts from those who have done more study in this area. Thank you!
Monday, January 12, 2009
A Thought On Worship
The last two weeks in Sunday School, my class and I have discussed how we are to worship God. The lesson was near the beginning of a series we are doing on sanctification - the process of being made holy, becoming more like Jesus. We learned from John 4:24 that "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and in Truth."
So what does this mean, to worship in spirit and in truth. Briefly, in order to be worshiping God we must be recognizing a truth about Him and responding to it emotionally. We learned that it is not enough to simply experience some emotions or to know various 'facts' about God. The truths about God must spark a heartfelt response in order for worship to occur. For example, after the Israelites were released from their enslavement in Egypt and then pursued by the entire Egyptian army to be brought back, God parted the Red Sea, allowed the Israelites to pass through, then destroyed the entire Egyptian army by releasing the Sea as they were crossing. Right after this account, we read a beautiful song that the Israelites sang. In it, they recognized that God was mighty, powerful, and good. They responded to these 'facts' by singing in excitement, joy, and thanksgiving.
An important note to make here is that this song could easily have been sung by a person who was not worshiping as she sang. If an unbeliever sings a hymn praising God for His holiness and forgiveness, it is not worship because she does not believe that what she is saying is true.
Another example of worship can be found in Job. After Job has received news that everything he owns has been stolen or destroyed and that all of his children have died, he falls to the ground and says, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the Name of the Lord." Job recognized that God was in control over everything that had happened and that He had the right to allow whatever He wished. He responded in submission.
Although both these examples look very different, they are both examples of true worship. I urged my kids - as I urge you now - to take these things to mind this week as we go about our daily lives. Be on the lookout for opportunities to worship God. As you look for ways you will be amazed at the number of times in the day that He will reveal Himself to you in a multitude of ways. Remember, we were created for the purpose of glorifying God and we glorify Him by worshiping Him. If we are looking for opportunities to worship, we will never run short for we will be trying to do the very thing we were created for the express purpose of doing.
So what does this mean, to worship in spirit and in truth. Briefly, in order to be worshiping God we must be recognizing a truth about Him and responding to it emotionally. We learned that it is not enough to simply experience some emotions or to know various 'facts' about God. The truths about God must spark a heartfelt response in order for worship to occur. For example, after the Israelites were released from their enslavement in Egypt and then pursued by the entire Egyptian army to be brought back, God parted the Red Sea, allowed the Israelites to pass through, then destroyed the entire Egyptian army by releasing the Sea as they were crossing. Right after this account, we read a beautiful song that the Israelites sang. In it, they recognized that God was mighty, powerful, and good. They responded to these 'facts' by singing in excitement, joy, and thanksgiving.
An important note to make here is that this song could easily have been sung by a person who was not worshiping as she sang. If an unbeliever sings a hymn praising God for His holiness and forgiveness, it is not worship because she does not believe that what she is saying is true.
Another example of worship can be found in Job. After Job has received news that everything he owns has been stolen or destroyed and that all of his children have died, he falls to the ground and says, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the Name of the Lord." Job recognized that God was in control over everything that had happened and that He had the right to allow whatever He wished. He responded in submission.
Although both these examples look very different, they are both examples of true worship. I urged my kids - as I urge you now - to take these things to mind this week as we go about our daily lives. Be on the lookout for opportunities to worship God. As you look for ways you will be amazed at the number of times in the day that He will reveal Himself to you in a multitude of ways. Remember, we were created for the purpose of glorifying God and we glorify Him by worshiping Him. If we are looking for opportunities to worship, we will never run short for we will be trying to do the very thing we were created for the express purpose of doing.
Friday, January 9, 2009
A Modern Day Parable about Life and Trials…
Once there were two ladies: Ruthie and Sue Sue. Ruthie’s husband bought them new carpet as did Sue Sue’s husband. Both ladies were so thrilled with their new carpet that they had many friends and family over to see their new carpets and share in their excitement.
Ruthie was so pleased with her carpet, that she vacuumed it often and tried to keep it nice and clean. Ruthie welcomed visitors into her home and showed her guests her fine new carpet and they all were very happy for her. On one particular day Ruthie had some family over and during desert, a small child dropped chocolate ice cream on her new carpet. “Hmmm…” said Ruthie, as all stopped in a panic at the potential damage done to her fine new carpet, “Don’t worry. I’ll clean it up!” And off she went to get a rag. She worked for a little while and cleaned it up as best as she could, but then she decided that the carpet could wait and she enjoyed her guests. Often times, as Ruthie and her husband enjoyed guests, spills and accidents would happen but each time Ruthie took it all in stride and cleaned up the mess. Over time, Ruthie learned by necessity how to clean up all sorts of stains and spills in order to keep her carpet looking clean. And the skills that she had learned through cleaning up the spills and messes on her carpet actually allowed her to be able to help other ladies who had spills and stains on their carpets, too!
Sue Sue was so fond of her carpet that she would stand around looking at it and thinking how magnificent her carpet was and how diligent she would be to take good care of it so that it would always look as good as new. To that end, Sue Sue came up with a plan. She decided that the best way to keep her carpet clean and free of stains was to not let careless people eat on it and to not let anyone walk on it with wearing shoes. Sue Sue also welcomed guests into her house and showed them her fine new carpet. They were very happy for her. One day a guest was over and since this person was a very careful person, Sue Sue allowed them to eat in the room with her new carpet. However, her guest accidentally dropped her plate and spilled food all over the fine new carpet. Sue Sue immediately gasped and went to work cleaning up the mess. It was a nasty red spill and Sue Sue worked hard and long to prevent any possible stains to her wonderful carpet. She even forgot about her guest in all of her effort. After a while she sighed with relief as she had gotten out most of the stain, and it was hardly visible; but she resolved to be even more careful about who she let come into contact with her beautiful (slightly stained) carpet. Through the years, Sue Sue was ever vigilant and kept “would-be-carpet-stainers” at bay; but it seemed that accidents still happened and her carpet would get dirty. When those things happened Sue Sue did her best to clean the carpet, but she really didn’t have much experience with taking care of stains and so her efforts weren’t always very effective. Sometimes she would call Ruthie and ask her for carpet cleaning advice.
At the end of ten years, Sue Sue was over at Ruthie’s house and she noticed how fine Ruthie’s carpet looked. She had watched Ruthie clean up many spills and stains (even some of Sue Sue’s!) and so she wondered at how curious it was that after all of Sue Sue’s efforts to keep her carpet clean and lovely; that in the end, all of the spills on Ruthie’s carpet, along with her diligence and persistence in learning how to clean up those messes , had kept Ruthie’s carpet looking cleaner and more lovely than Sue Sue’s. She also noted that Ruthie was relaxed and hospitable to her guests, putting them at ease when accidental spills happened, rather than escalating their panic and embarrassment, like Sue Sue unintentionally did when her guests (or children) spilled on her carpet. And in this Sue Sue learned something and grew wiser. Accidents will happen, no matter how hard we work to prevent them or how well we try to maintain our carpet. The important thing is to not see the spills as something to be afraid of and hostile toward, but see them as an opportunity to grow and learn more about carpet cleaning and maintenance.
Similarly: We can desire our life to work out in a particular way so strongly that we fight against the trials and changes that God brings our way, rather than learning and growing through them. And in the end, it is the person who has weathered the storms and submitted to the Lord and His lessons, who turns out to have more peace, contentment and joy in the Lord!
Ruthie was so pleased with her carpet, that she vacuumed it often and tried to keep it nice and clean. Ruthie welcomed visitors into her home and showed her guests her fine new carpet and they all were very happy for her. On one particular day Ruthie had some family over and during desert, a small child dropped chocolate ice cream on her new carpet. “Hmmm…” said Ruthie, as all stopped in a panic at the potential damage done to her fine new carpet, “Don’t worry. I’ll clean it up!” And off she went to get a rag. She worked for a little while and cleaned it up as best as she could, but then she decided that the carpet could wait and she enjoyed her guests. Often times, as Ruthie and her husband enjoyed guests, spills and accidents would happen but each time Ruthie took it all in stride and cleaned up the mess. Over time, Ruthie learned by necessity how to clean up all sorts of stains and spills in order to keep her carpet looking clean. And the skills that she had learned through cleaning up the spills and messes on her carpet actually allowed her to be able to help other ladies who had spills and stains on their carpets, too!
Sue Sue was so fond of her carpet that she would stand around looking at it and thinking how magnificent her carpet was and how diligent she would be to take good care of it so that it would always look as good as new. To that end, Sue Sue came up with a plan. She decided that the best way to keep her carpet clean and free of stains was to not let careless people eat on it and to not let anyone walk on it with wearing shoes. Sue Sue also welcomed guests into her house and showed them her fine new carpet. They were very happy for her. One day a guest was over and since this person was a very careful person, Sue Sue allowed them to eat in the room with her new carpet. However, her guest accidentally dropped her plate and spilled food all over the fine new carpet. Sue Sue immediately gasped and went to work cleaning up the mess. It was a nasty red spill and Sue Sue worked hard and long to prevent any possible stains to her wonderful carpet. She even forgot about her guest in all of her effort. After a while she sighed with relief as she had gotten out most of the stain, and it was hardly visible; but she resolved to be even more careful about who she let come into contact with her beautiful (slightly stained) carpet. Through the years, Sue Sue was ever vigilant and kept “would-be-carpet-stainers” at bay; but it seemed that accidents still happened and her carpet would get dirty. When those things happened Sue Sue did her best to clean the carpet, but she really didn’t have much experience with taking care of stains and so her efforts weren’t always very effective. Sometimes she would call Ruthie and ask her for carpet cleaning advice.
At the end of ten years, Sue Sue was over at Ruthie’s house and she noticed how fine Ruthie’s carpet looked. She had watched Ruthie clean up many spills and stains (even some of Sue Sue’s!) and so she wondered at how curious it was that after all of Sue Sue’s efforts to keep her carpet clean and lovely; that in the end, all of the spills on Ruthie’s carpet, along with her diligence and persistence in learning how to clean up those messes , had kept Ruthie’s carpet looking cleaner and more lovely than Sue Sue’s. She also noted that Ruthie was relaxed and hospitable to her guests, putting them at ease when accidental spills happened, rather than escalating their panic and embarrassment, like Sue Sue unintentionally did when her guests (or children) spilled on her carpet. And in this Sue Sue learned something and grew wiser. Accidents will happen, no matter how hard we work to prevent them or how well we try to maintain our carpet. The important thing is to not see the spills as something to be afraid of and hostile toward, but see them as an opportunity to grow and learn more about carpet cleaning and maintenance.
Similarly: We can desire our life to work out in a particular way so strongly that we fight against the trials and changes that God brings our way, rather than learning and growing through them. And in the end, it is the person who has weathered the storms and submitted to the Lord and His lessons, who turns out to have more peace, contentment and joy in the Lord!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Adoption and Evangelism - Part 2
I promised you three more arguments for adoption/foster care on Tuesday and here they are, for your consideration:
1. Opportunities to witness to the families of the children. This is especially applicable in the instance of foster care. You will usually have contact with the child's parents and siblings. This is a huge reason, especially as our church continues to seek for ways to be outward facing.
2. Opportunities to witness to social workers. These men and women will have much interaction with you and there will be ample opportunity to speak of the Lord and His gospel. The social worker that Pastor Rick and Jasmine talked to told them that (although she didn't know why) people who went to church consistently usually made the best foster parents, which was one of the reasons she was so eager to have a group from our church get certified.
3. Opportunities to witness to unsaved family, friends, and neighbors. People tend to have very strong feelings about foster care and adoption. I am reminded of the scene from Anne of Green Gables, when Marilla announces to her neighbor that she and her brother are going to adopt a little boy, and the neighbor begins to rattle off reason after reason about why this was a terrible idea. People will ask you why and it will be the perfect opening to discuss your own adoption into God's family and how you are taking the opportunity to show the love of God to young children who have not experienced it.
Please prayerfully consider this opportunity to have an immense impact on the life of a child, and on countless others that you will interact with along the way. God has commanded us to look after the widows and orphans and to show them the love of God. These children will not be orphans in the Webster's dictionary definition of the word, but they are orphans in the truest sense of the word. I hope to see you all in the certification classes coming up. God bless.
1. Opportunities to witness to the families of the children. This is especially applicable in the instance of foster care. You will usually have contact with the child's parents and siblings. This is a huge reason, especially as our church continues to seek for ways to be outward facing.
2. Opportunities to witness to social workers. These men and women will have much interaction with you and there will be ample opportunity to speak of the Lord and His gospel. The social worker that Pastor Rick and Jasmine talked to told them that (although she didn't know why) people who went to church consistently usually made the best foster parents, which was one of the reasons she was so eager to have a group from our church get certified.
3. Opportunities to witness to unsaved family, friends, and neighbors. People tend to have very strong feelings about foster care and adoption. I am reminded of the scene from Anne of Green Gables, when Marilla announces to her neighbor that she and her brother are going to adopt a little boy, and the neighbor begins to rattle off reason after reason about why this was a terrible idea. People will ask you why and it will be the perfect opening to discuss your own adoption into God's family and how you are taking the opportunity to show the love of God to young children who have not experienced it.
Please prayerfully consider this opportunity to have an immense impact on the life of a child, and on countless others that you will interact with along the way. God has commanded us to look after the widows and orphans and to show them the love of God. These children will not be orphans in the Webster's dictionary definition of the word, but they are orphans in the truest sense of the word. I hope to see you all in the certification classes coming up. God bless.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Witty Wednesdays
How cold is it outside?
60 Californians put on sweaters (if they can find one)
50 Miami residents turn on the heat
40 You can see your breath, Californians shiver uncontrollably, Wisconsinites go swimming
35 Italian cars don't start
32 Water freezes
30 You plan your vacation to Australia
25 Boston water freezes, Californians weep pitiably, Wisconsinites eat ice cream, Canadians go swimming
20 Politicians begin to talk about the homeless, New York City water freezes, Miami residents plan vacation further South
15 French cars don't start, Cat insists on sleeping in your bed with you
10 You need jumper cables to get the car going
5 American cars don't start
0 Alaskans put on T-shirts
-10 German cars don't start, Eyes freeze shut when you blink
-15 You can cut your breath and use it to build an igloo, Arkansans stick tongue on metal objects, Miami residents cease to exist
-20 Cat insists on sleeping in pajamas with you, Politicians actually do something about the homeless, Wisconsinites shovel snow off roof, Japanese cars don't start
-25 Too cold to think, You need jumper cables to get the driver going
-30 You plan a two week hot bath, Swedish cars don't start
-40 Californians disappear, Wisconsinites button top button, Canadians put on sweaters, Your car helps you plan your trip South
-50 Congressional hot air freezes, Alaskans close the bathroom window
-80 Hell freezes over, Polar bears move South
-90 Lawyers put their hands in their own pockets
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Adoption and Evangelism
"Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved," Ephesians 1:4-6
I love these verses. They are short and account for a very small percentage of the Bible as a whole, but they are so rich and full and I could go on and on about them for hours. Trust me, just ask any of the nine or ten year olds running around church. :) You can also ask them what, besides salvation, justification, and the start of sanctification, happens at the moment of conversion. If they are not too shy to answer, they should all be able to reply, "Adoption!"
Adoption is a beautiful, rich, and often overlooked part of salvation. As Christians we have not simply ceased to be the enemies of God, but we have become His adopted sons and daughters. We are free to come to him as a child comes to her father, full of love and confidence. Although we often refer to ourselves as "children of God" we very rarely take the time to consider what this means. I was struck by this fact a few years ago when I received the new curriculum for my Sunday School class, which has a couple lessons near the beginning of the semester that focus on adoption. It has been on my mind greatly since then and I can honestly say that I have grown much (and am continuing to grow) in love for it since then. This is one of the main reasons that I have, in the past year, become very fixed on the idea of adoption here on earth.
Those of you who know me well are thinking, "Oh no, she's on her soap box again!" But our church has been given a very unique opportunity to participate in a close relative of adoption - foster care - and I want to do my part to help convince you to participate in it.
The biggest and most important argument for foster care and adoption that I have is evangelism. We have a huge opportunity to reach out to young children in our community who desperately need someone to care for them. And what better care can they receive than from Christians? Where are you going to find a better or easier opening for evangelism? You will be taking a child (or children) in, loving them, treating them as your own, caring for their needs, etc. They will have less than perfect parents, otherwise they wouldn't be in foster care, and you can preach to them of the perfect Father who never disappoints, always forgives, and can never leave or abandon His children.
We have an awesome opportunity here to have great impact on the lives of children. Foster homes are not good places in general to grow up in. I have a friend who spent most of her life in foster homes and she has told me some pretty heartbreaking stories. We can give these children a safe place to live, food to eat, love to experience, and the hope of the gospel that will follow them even after they are no longer with us. Yes, this will mean making great sacrifice on our end, as Jasmine pointed our for us yesterday, but as she also said (and I whole-heartedly concur), Girls, its worth it!
Now, I firmly believe that children should have both a father and a mother, or I would have gone out and adopted a child by now. However, this will have to wait until (if) the Lord provides me with a husband. In the mean time, He has given me the opportunity of foster care. Again, I cannot take in a child myself, for one, I still live with my parents! However, I am getting certified, partly to get my foot in the door and make myself known to the social workers and judges, and also in order to help anyone else who has decided to get certified. I will be able to babysit and assist in any way you need. So there you go folks, if you become foster parents you already have a babysitter lined up. :)
I urge you to prayerfully consider the possibility of foster care with your families. Thursday, I will give you three more arguments for foster care.
I love these verses. They are short and account for a very small percentage of the Bible as a whole, but they are so rich and full and I could go on and on about them for hours. Trust me, just ask any of the nine or ten year olds running around church. :) You can also ask them what, besides salvation, justification, and the start of sanctification, happens at the moment of conversion. If they are not too shy to answer, they should all be able to reply, "Adoption!"
Adoption is a beautiful, rich, and often overlooked part of salvation. As Christians we have not simply ceased to be the enemies of God, but we have become His adopted sons and daughters. We are free to come to him as a child comes to her father, full of love and confidence. Although we often refer to ourselves as "children of God" we very rarely take the time to consider what this means. I was struck by this fact a few years ago when I received the new curriculum for my Sunday School class, which has a couple lessons near the beginning of the semester that focus on adoption. It has been on my mind greatly since then and I can honestly say that I have grown much (and am continuing to grow) in love for it since then. This is one of the main reasons that I have, in the past year, become very fixed on the idea of adoption here on earth.
Those of you who know me well are thinking, "Oh no, she's on her soap box again!" But our church has been given a very unique opportunity to participate in a close relative of adoption - foster care - and I want to do my part to help convince you to participate in it.
The biggest and most important argument for foster care and adoption that I have is evangelism. We have a huge opportunity to reach out to young children in our community who desperately need someone to care for them. And what better care can they receive than from Christians? Where are you going to find a better or easier opening for evangelism? You will be taking a child (or children) in, loving them, treating them as your own, caring for their needs, etc. They will have less than perfect parents, otherwise they wouldn't be in foster care, and you can preach to them of the perfect Father who never disappoints, always forgives, and can never leave or abandon His children.
We have an awesome opportunity here to have great impact on the lives of children. Foster homes are not good places in general to grow up in. I have a friend who spent most of her life in foster homes and she has told me some pretty heartbreaking stories. We can give these children a safe place to live, food to eat, love to experience, and the hope of the gospel that will follow them even after they are no longer with us. Yes, this will mean making great sacrifice on our end, as Jasmine pointed our for us yesterday, but as she also said (and I whole-heartedly concur), Girls, its worth it!
Now, I firmly believe that children should have both a father and a mother, or I would have gone out and adopted a child by now. However, this will have to wait until (if) the Lord provides me with a husband. In the mean time, He has given me the opportunity of foster care. Again, I cannot take in a child myself, for one, I still live with my parents! However, I am getting certified, partly to get my foot in the door and make myself known to the social workers and judges, and also in order to help anyone else who has decided to get certified. I will be able to babysit and assist in any way you need. So there you go folks, if you become foster parents you already have a babysitter lined up. :)
I urge you to prayerfully consider the possibility of foster care with your families. Thursday, I will give you three more arguments for foster care.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Meditation on Love and Foster Care
Pastor Matt just preached a sermon on Love out of 1 Cor. 13, known as the love chapter. ( It isn't on sermon audio yet, but I hope to see it there soon) We have heard much about love over the years in sermons including a few from Rick. This one comes to mind as one I would like to listen to again. The difference this time for me is having an outlet for discussion in small group. It allowed me not only to listen to, but interact with and take to heart and examine much more carefully the areas that I can see where I struggle to live out Corinthians 13. Notice I said the areas I can see. I am sure that there are more that I am not seeing, but I have been able to reflect on a few things and be challenged a bit at a time.... praise God.
Recently Rick has been promoting foster care here at TBC and many of my thoughts lead me right back to this very subject. Rick and I have never actually done official foster parenting, so we have no real experience and can only go by what we are told by those who have been heavily involved. But much to my shame, when I think of foster care I think of how hard it might be. You see I love myself too much. Back when we only had two kids and were pregnant with our third we had what is called a "voluntary placement" and my friends, it was one nightmare after another. Much effort, time, and tears were put into this young lady and her family both before and after her time living with us and from start to finish it was an emotional, physical, and spiritual roller coaster that was anything but exciting. And, though to this day I think and care for this family, it left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. So much put in, nothing in return but heartache! Then I think, are we crazy to try to become foster parents??? What about my 4 going on 5 children? I won't be able to parent foster children the same way I do my own; there are rules and guidelines which must be followed. These are extremely self- focused thoughts, not loving at all. True love acts with expectation of nothing in return. Fostering isn't about building your family. It is a way Rick and I, if the Lord wills, desire to impact our community with the gospel and it will have to be done with real gospel love. It will have to be done in a Corinthians 13 manner. Rick has convinced me through his self-sacrificing example and hopeful attitude that this is something we should be doing, again if the Lord permits. And, I would like to encourage any of you that perhaps brushed it out of your mind because it might cost you and your family too much, to reconsider. Please don't pursue it for your own sake. It won't work, because it isn't going to be a real family building experience, it might hurt emotionally and be physically draining. Remember that sacrifice even unto death doesn't matter if love isn't present; but for the glory of God and in genuine love might this be a way to evangelize Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine? We have talked much in our church recently about becoming more outfacing and some of you are much more active in evangelizing than I am, but how are we at TBC loving our community in such a way that it spotlights Jesus? I have admired Dave Fantl's involvement with the handicapped at Shepherds Ministries (I mention this because he is one I know that has established a witness in the community through something tangible like this) and it seems to me that fostering is another way (for Rick and I anyway) to love like Jesus and give good news to a hopeless community. I plead with you again to consider if this may be a way to love for sake of Jesus Christ. Remember that if you commit to the meeting to learn more about foster care it is not a commitment to do foster care. In fact, getting certified doesn't mean you have to take children, so please consider this opportunity and join the many who have gone before us to help other families in our community. God bless!
Please come back tomorrow for more thoughts on foster care from Nichole.
Recently Rick has been promoting foster care here at TBC and many of my thoughts lead me right back to this very subject. Rick and I have never actually done official foster parenting, so we have no real experience and can only go by what we are told by those who have been heavily involved. But much to my shame, when I think of foster care I think of how hard it might be. You see I love myself too much. Back when we only had two kids and were pregnant with our third we had what is called a "voluntary placement" and my friends, it was one nightmare after another. Much effort, time, and tears were put into this young lady and her family both before and after her time living with us and from start to finish it was an emotional, physical, and spiritual roller coaster that was anything but exciting. And, though to this day I think and care for this family, it left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. So much put in, nothing in return but heartache! Then I think, are we crazy to try to become foster parents??? What about my 4 going on 5 children? I won't be able to parent foster children the same way I do my own; there are rules and guidelines which must be followed. These are extremely self- focused thoughts, not loving at all. True love acts with expectation of nothing in return. Fostering isn't about building your family. It is a way Rick and I, if the Lord wills, desire to impact our community with the gospel and it will have to be done with real gospel love. It will have to be done in a Corinthians 13 manner. Rick has convinced me through his self-sacrificing example and hopeful attitude that this is something we should be doing, again if the Lord permits. And, I would like to encourage any of you that perhaps brushed it out of your mind because it might cost you and your family too much, to reconsider. Please don't pursue it for your own sake. It won't work, because it isn't going to be a real family building experience, it might hurt emotionally and be physically draining. Remember that sacrifice even unto death doesn't matter if love isn't present; but for the glory of God and in genuine love might this be a way to evangelize Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine? We have talked much in our church recently about becoming more outfacing and some of you are much more active in evangelizing than I am, but how are we at TBC loving our community in such a way that it spotlights Jesus? I have admired Dave Fantl's involvement with the handicapped at Shepherds Ministries (I mention this because he is one I know that has established a witness in the community through something tangible like this) and it seems to me that fostering is another way (for Rick and I anyway) to love like Jesus and give good news to a hopeless community. I plead with you again to consider if this may be a way to love for sake of Jesus Christ. Remember that if you commit to the meeting to learn more about foster care it is not a commitment to do foster care. In fact, getting certified doesn't mean you have to take children, so please consider this opportunity and join the many who have gone before us to help other families in our community. God bless!
Please come back tomorrow for more thoughts on foster care from Nichole.
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Blessing for 2009
Today as I read my bible I was reminded of how much/often/easily I sin and how thankful I am for the Bible. I wish that I weren’t so accomplished at sinning, but sadly I am a professional. I speak coarsely sometimes. I am quick to see sin or foolishness in others (and NO that is not a well developed gift of “discernment!”) I lack consistent temperance and self-control with regards to my eating habits. I am often lazy or focused on the wrong task or priorities. I could go on and on with this list but I won’t. As I read God’s word the Spirit is faithful to convict me of all of these things and more; but I am glad.
I am glad because I would rather be able to see my sin clearly and as such be able to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as He guides me back to the path of righteousness; than to be blinded to my situation (that of having strayed from the narrow way and wandering merrily along thinking I’m doing pretty good or am better than the next guy- meanwhile walking toward the cliff of God’s gracious discipline.) I would rather see that I have strayed from the footprints of Jesus than be blind to my peril.
And to that end, I see that the distinct difference between the two “places” I could be is that God has convinced me through the Spirit (and the godly counsel of His people) that I need to be prayerfully, diligently, and consistently reading through His word - the Bible, everyday. I see and talk to lots of people who by their own admission are constantly struggling and seeing little victory; and the most consistent mark in all of their lives is that they don’t consistently read the bible or pray from the bible.
I also see in my own life that when I am not taking scripture specific to my ongoing areas of temptation and spending time praying it, memorizing it, and meditating upon it, that I do not have victory over the daily wars against sin.
So again - I am glad that God has not left us without clear guidance (His Word) as well as the Holy Spirit/Helper to teach us to understand it and to follow it. I’m glad that He loves me enough to save me through the blood of Jesus and then draw me out of my habits of sin through His convicting work of the Spirit as He uses the Word of God. I’m glad that He has so worked in my life to bless me daily through His word which brings life and peace.
This year may we all be blessed to be daily in God’s word and may our lives reflect the holiness of Christ.
Colossians 3:16-17 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
I am glad because I would rather be able to see my sin clearly and as such be able to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as He guides me back to the path of righteousness; than to be blinded to my situation (that of having strayed from the narrow way and wandering merrily along thinking I’m doing pretty good or am better than the next guy- meanwhile walking toward the cliff of God’s gracious discipline.) I would rather see that I have strayed from the footprints of Jesus than be blind to my peril.
And to that end, I see that the distinct difference between the two “places” I could be is that God has convinced me through the Spirit (and the godly counsel of His people) that I need to be prayerfully, diligently, and consistently reading through His word - the Bible, everyday. I see and talk to lots of people who by their own admission are constantly struggling and seeing little victory; and the most consistent mark in all of their lives is that they don’t consistently read the bible or pray from the bible.
I also see in my own life that when I am not taking scripture specific to my ongoing areas of temptation and spending time praying it, memorizing it, and meditating upon it, that I do not have victory over the daily wars against sin.
So again - I am glad that God has not left us without clear guidance (His Word) as well as the Holy Spirit/Helper to teach us to understand it and to follow it. I’m glad that He loves me enough to save me through the blood of Jesus and then draw me out of my habits of sin through His convicting work of the Spirit as He uses the Word of God. I’m glad that He has so worked in my life to bless me daily through His word which brings life and peace.
This year may we all be blessed to be daily in God’s word and may our lives reflect the holiness of Christ.
Colossians 3:16-17 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
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