November 30, 2011

The unexpected at 5am



   I have grown to love getting up at five o'clock each morning.  I brew a good cup of coffee and sit down at my dining room table to dig into God's Word.

   Since our home is usually bustling with the energy, excitement and sometimes corrective discipline of small children, I treasure the quiet hour or two I have in the early morning.  I treasure this time of no distractions, just me and God.

   But this morning, when I got up to turn off my alarm and I sat on the edge of the bed...the house was not quiet.  Instead, I heard the fussy cries of a two year old, on and off and in between the cries,  a little voice speaking as loud as it could at five am.  A little voice pleading with whoever might be listening (I guess that would be me!) saying "I get up!", "I get up!"

   My heart sank.  Manny?  Up at five am?!  Is this a bad dream?!

   I couldn't believe he was awake at this hour.  I knew he would not just go back to sleep.  What's worse, he would probably be just as grouchy as he was the day before when he woke up around six am.  And I thought that was too early!

   What transpired was a very selfish mommy walking into a needy little boy's room.  I was not happy to say the least.  I did not want my time with the Lord to be ruined.  I needed this time.  I did not want this hour of the day to be taken away from me!  

   My son was grouchy, he was crying...I wanted to cry too.  Loving, tender thoughts were far from me at the moment.  My mind raced with all the changes I may need to make.  Shorten his naps?  Set a later bedtime?  I lamented the fact that it had been so rainy the past couple of days and the kids had more pent up energy than usual.  Was this the reason he was awake so early?  My heart cried from within "Why is he awake?!"

   Feeling frustrated and by now just as grouchy as he was, I changed his diaper.  We grabbed his stuffed animals and his blankies and headed out to the living room, Javi was now awake as well and he followed behind.  My primary concern was putting on a movie to keep their attention for as long as possible.  I was determined to make this work.  Just one hour!  Please!

   Thankfully, I would have just the time I needed with God.  I didn't exactly get to dig into his Word, but it's truths dug into my heart and I realized how selfish I had been.  Honestly, I realized it from the time I sat on the edge of my bed and responded poorly in my heart to my child's cries.  Where was the love of Christ in me this morning?  I had a little time to pray and acknowledge where I had gone wrong.  First Corinthians 13 is often such a good reminder to me of what true love is like, it is the love of God, it is the love he calls me to have, to respond with and to demonstrate...


Love is patient and kind...

It does not insist on it's own way...

It is not irritable or resentful...

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things...

Love never ends.  

1 Corinthians 13

   Yes, even at five am, when my two year old wakes up way earlier than usual.  I have so much growing up to do.  Thank you Lord for the early morning reminder.

November 29, 2011

A fifteen year old is a blessing too!


Early morning giggles at the breakfast table with legos and muffins. : )






   At the doctor's office this morning, I had a little chat with the nurse who was checking my blood pressure.  She asked if I was having a boy or a girl.  After I replied that I was having a girl, she said that she had a special bond with her girls when they were growing up...that is until the teen years hit.  She then said something like "And then we got through that and I loved them again."  She was being lighthearted about it, even trying to be a little funny, but really how sad is that?  

   I understand that as children grow and change, the way that we relate with them grows and changes too.  But so often people paint such an ugly picture of the teen years.  When people hear that I have a fifteen year old, it is not uncommon to see expressions of pity on their faces.  They actually feel sorry for me and they express their sympathy. They automatically envision a rebellious, lazy, person who has no respect for authority.  When did this become the "norm" for teens in our culture?  

   I see the teen years...actually every year of life...as training for becoming an adult.  I think a big part of the problem with some teens begins very early on when parents least expect it.  The problem begins with not taking the sin of small children seriously.  It quickly becomes sin in grown children and then it's much harder to deal with.  One stage leads into another.  Small child becomes a teen.  A teen becomes an adult.  Aren't God's expectations and standards always the same no matter what our age?

   The problem is with our expectations.  I know that I cannot control how my children turn out.  But my aim is to train them to live godly lives.  I expect them to obey my authority, thereby obeying God's authority.  I will not expect the teen years to be a terrible trial.  I will expect them to be precious.  A time of life like no other.  A time when my children are on their way to becoming adults.  A time when our relationship continues to grow stronger and stronger as far as it depends on me.  A time when the bar doesn't get lowered, it gets raised.  Can I just go against the grain here and say "Expect the teen years to be full of some of the most amazing blessings you've ever experienced with your children."  There will be trials, but we don't dread these years.  Instead, we look to the Lord with unending hope that he will guide us in his truth and lead us in the way we should go.  


Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, 
who walks in his ways!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.
Psalm 128:1-4

November 28, 2011

just peachy?



   "Hi, how are you?"
   "Good!"

   Really?  It used to really bother me how we often say that we are doing good when we're not.  I've done it myself.  And even as the words are escaping my lips, I find myself questioning if the person asking really wants to know...the not so good part.  In many cases...probably not.  They are just being friendly and using the greeting that everybody seems to use these days.  Many times we keep our burdens to ourselves, but I think most of us have certain people that we are more willing to be open with.  It's probably true that there is something in each of our lives currently,  that we do not consider "good".  Should we all just share those things in the name of transparency?  Or instead perhaps, if we are having a bad morning, we are allowing God to work in our hearts and learning to rest in his sovereign will?  Couldn't this be good reason for keeping silent?

   Many people in the church are wishing that others would be more transparent, more willing to talk about their problems.  They desire to see more of a blunt honesty from people.  I too, have found myself desiring these things.  But lately as I have thought more about it, there are some things I am considering.

   The first is how prone we are to think that we are the only ones who have a godly desire for something.  Or that we are the only ones who seem to want to live godly in a particular way.  For example, we think "wow does anyone else actually spend time studying God's Word?"  We begin to wonder because people aren't talking about it, at least not as much as we would like.  We begin to deceive ourselves when we think that we are the only ones delighting in it's truths.

   What about service?  Sometimes we think about how much we are serving and when we look around it seems like others are doing far less.  Really?  Do we really know what all of their involvements and responsibilities are?  What if someone doesn't show up for an activity?  Do you question their level of spirituality?  Perhaps the decision not to attend was a wise one in their particular situation.

   My point is that we often say "People are not doing enough _______."  You fill in the blank.  I admit, I have said this myself.  And granted, sometimes it is valid.  But do we really know what everyone in the church is doing in their personal time?  Sometimes people are not as vocal as we would like about what they are doing for Christ.  Have you considered that maybe there are reasons for that?  Like a hatred for pride and the desire to be careful not to toot their own horn.  Who wants to sound like they're bragging about ministry?  I'm not saying we shouldn't talk about it, or ask for prayer concerning it, I'm just saying this could be a very legitimate reason why we don't hear so much being said about personal ministry.  My point is, just because we are not personally hearing about it, does not mean it is not happening.


   When it comes to being transparent, isn't it possible that the people we think are not very transparent are just not that way with us personally?  I used to think "People need to be more transparent.  Let's not act like we have it all together.  Let's be real."  Ok, great.  But can you really do this with everyone?  Isn't there a level of privacy when it comes to very personal matters?  Should we just unload on whoever might be standing by?  I think we need to be more careful than that.  It's good to have people you can confide in and people you can trust.  Especially people that you consider to be spiritually mature, for they may actually be able to help you to think in a godly way about your problems.

    Let's not assume that just because many people are not being transparent with us that they are not sharing their struggles with people that they trust and feel more comfortable with.  What does it really accomplish when someone we hardly know shares their struggle or even a sin issue?  Do we really desire to point them to God's Word for help?  Or does it help to validate our own struggles and sins?  Does is make us feel a little better about our sin because someone else is struggling too?  We think "I'm so glad I'm not the only one!"  And really, that may be the problem.  We should already know that we are not the only one, because the Bible teaches it.  Do we really need people talking about their sin openly to realize that no one really has it "all together" all the time?  Let's just take that as a given and stop looking around and comparing ourselves to others who never seem to fail at anything.  They are struggling just like we are, albeit in different ways.

   It's interesting how when it comes to service for Christ we tend to question "Am I the only one doing this?"  And when it comes to the struggle with sin we tend to question "Am I the only one doing this?"  The answer to both is a resounding "No."  We are not the only ones.  Let's just take it as fact.

   Are we taking our burdens to the Lord before we bring them to other people?  Being utterly honest with him first?

   Just some thoughts, perhaps you've thought about this too?  

   

   

November 25, 2011

family togetherness


   It was a lovely day, and ordinary for the most part.  The usual routine, with the exception of some added cooking and baking.  The pumpkin pie was made after breakfast so that it would have time to chill in the fridge.  Then the guys got the turkey ready, as is our tradition.  Although, we still could not convince Javi to help with applying the "rub"!  He doesn't dare touch the turkey!  But he still learned a lot as he watched  and dad taught him all about it.  


The turkey was delish...thanks to Jav's "secret" rub!

   There were hugs, there were laughs, and there was the excitement that friends, a married couple would be joining us for dinner.  We cleaned, we prepared and amazingly enough we timed it well.  That didn't come without the practice of previous years (i.e. the failures!) and learning when it's best to begin.  I like to keep things as low-key as possible and just enjoy ourselves.  Time spent together is the main thing, not stressing over food.  I have to say, it really was fun getting everyone involved in one way or another.

Makin' our favorite rolls with Brienne.  Kids love getting their hands in flour and dough!  I do too!


Amera added some art to a verse I wrote on the board

Relaxing with a book is always a joy.



The kids love to peel apples with Amera, they ate the apple peels like candy!



It dawned on me that Amera has never made a pie crust.  This was the year to learn!
She did a great job at it.  : )


   The day was full of blessings.  I am certainly thankful for my many helpers that made preparing for a special dinner a whole lot easier for a very pregnant momma.  I definitely had to pace myself, doing a little here a little there and resting in between.  But it was all good, I managed to avoid getting completely exhausted.  This morning, I was up early with kiddos, there was a mixture of tidying up as well as playing, and being tempted to have a slice of pumpkin pie for breakfast...deciding instead to have it for a mid-morning snack. : ) 

   I started another blanket to practice the crinkle stitch I had learned.  I've made a lot of progress, but I'm sad to say I don't like it.  It's too tight and bulky.  Maybe it's the yarn I used?  I have mixed emotions about it.  I'm not sure if I'll ever finish it.  Amera had learned the waffle stitch the other day and today she taught it to me.  It's pretty easy to do and I really like the results.  I think I'll stick with the same kind of yarn I used on the first blanket, only a different color. 

   Looking forward to a slow-paced evening at home, spending time with family, and glad that dinner is already made, thanks to the leftovers in the fridge.  : )

   




    

November 23, 2011

Thankful...for Him.


   "I love you mommy!  You're the best mommy in the whole world!"

   Recently, my son exclaimed these words to me and gave me a great big hug to go along with them.  All of this in response to my saying "yes" to his request.  It was sweet, it felt good to hear him say that, but it only took a moment for me to wonder if he would feel the same way if I had said "no".  

   I looked into those big, brown, happy eyes of his and held him close.  

"I love you too.  So very much!  
And son, I hope that you would love me just as much if I had said no instead of yes."

   

   I've been thinking a lot about God's goodness to me.  How even when he doesn't say "yes", he is still good.   He is always good.  And we can always be thankful.  Not just for what he gives or for what he is doing, but most of all for what he has already done.  

More than that, we can be thankful for who he is.

   No matter what we have or don't have on this earth, we have abundant riches in Christ!  No one can ever take that away.  

   There have been times where I have attempted to motivate gratitude in myself or in my children by turning their thoughts toward how good they have it.  If they don't like their shoes for example, I have said "You should be thankful, some children don't even have shoes.  Some children walk around barefoot!  Be thankful you don't have to!"  I confess I have been frustrated with ingratitude.  It grieves a mother's heart to hear her children complain.  But I am seriously doubting my methods.    

   Should I look to others who have it worse than I do to motivate gratitude in my heart?  Shouldn't all people across the face of this earth be thankful unto God and bless His name?  Shoes or no shoes.  House or no house.  Cell phone or no cell phone.  Whatever we have or don't have, God is still God.  And he is still good.


You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy; 
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11

   And I'm thinking long and hard about what it means to be truly thankful.  And I think back to the beginning of it all.  To the first man and woman who experienced the goodness of God.  Everything they had was beautiful and precious.  Most of all their relationship, their sweet communion with the very Creator of their souls.  Yet Eve was deceived, she thought there was something better.  Something that God was withholding from her.  This is where thankfulness ceased and doubt came in.  Exchanging the truth of God for a lie.  The created thing being adored and loved, the God who made them being forgotten. (See Romans 1:18-25) 

  
  And so it is today.  Not much has changed.  We are deceived when we think that there is anything better than to worship and serve our Creator.  Just like Eve, who reached for the fruit that would be the death of her, we too reach for things that harm us.  We also reach for things that, though they may seem good and pleasant, are a serious hindrance in our relationship with God.  The most important and crucial relationship we will ever have.  This covetousness, this lust for more than what he has given us...it's idolatry (Col. 3:5).  

   This Thanksgiving season has been a time for me to consider how I can be more thankful to God  throughout the coming year.  To evaluate my day to day life and ask myself if I am living a life of gratitude toward God.  

   Being thankful is so foundational in our daily walk with God.  To live with the understanding that all the riches we have in Christ Jesus are enough, to trust that what he has given us is what he has decided we should have.  And to trust that he is perfect in wisdom and in power.

   Have you ever said "I'll be happy when...________" ?   You fill in the blank.  This is ungodly thinking.  Shouldn't we be thankful to our God who never changes, and who has placed us in the right here and now?  Who desires for us to honor him in every circumstance?  Are you finding all your joy and satisfaction in God? If not, you are looking to other things for the joy that only he can give.  Many people are deceived and think that "the grass is greener on the other side" but they fail to realize the best place to be is in close fellowship with God, with a clear conscience.  Never doubting his goodness, but rather loving him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and loving our neighbor as our self (Luke 10:27).  That is where true peace, joy and happiness lies.  


 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, 
for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.  Keep your life free from
love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said,  

"I will never leave you nor forsake you."

So we can confidently say, 

"The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?"

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Through him then let us continually offer up 
a sacrifice of praise to God, 
that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

{Hebrews 13:4-6, 8, 15}


  

November 22, 2011

moments to hold on to



   Our days are filled with the constant endeavor to make sure that each child completes their schoolwork, and that our home is clean and tidy.  It takes constant effort, and perseverance.  And in the middle of it all, I am learning to hold on tight to those little opportunities for closeness that could all too easily pass my by.  Yes, there are many things that need to be done in a day, but I find that I rarely regret it when I make the time to connect with the ones I love.  It's possible to go through an entire day, busy about what must get done and not really busy about connecting with the people I love most.  I want these days to be fewer and fewer in number.  I try to take advantage of even the smallest opportunities to connect and show my love.

   I do find that sometimes it is hard for me to achieve balance.  My children are with me just about each and every day, sometimes I feel tugged in so many directions.  Sometimes I need time to just be alone and not talk for a little while.  I have to be careful to discern when I really need this and when there might be a need they have that I should be meeting instead.  I remember to think of Jesus, who didn't see people as interruptions, especially not children!  Still, there are times where it is good for them to learn that sometimes they might just have to wait for mommy's undivided attention.  


   But then, there is the other side of the coin...I read somewhere (I think it was in one of my parenting books) that when a child is talkative and open to sharing things with you, you should take the time to listen to them.  Right there in that moment, not letting it pass you by.  I am learning to heed this advice and not put off talking about it, if at all possible.  It's better to talk to them about things when those things are pressing on their hearts and minds than to try and get them on the topic later in the day.  I've put off talking just because I was feeling the pressure to hurry up and get my kitchen clean and then found that my child was not as open to talking when I got around to it.  I am learning to be a better listener to them.  I am learning to give them more of my attention when they speak to me.  To pause what I am doing and make eye contact.  I am teaching them to do the same with one another.  It's one of the ways that we show our love.

Clara's baby dress that will soon be Isabel's

   I guess with both aspects considered, it's really comes down to mutual respect.  Each situation will have a unique approach.  The questions are, will I handle it with Christ-like love when I am interrupted and aim to put my loved ones first?  And, will my family handle it well when because of the circumstances, they have to wait for my attention?  We are each learning mutual respect and love in our own unique ways.  Day by day, we are growing to together as a family.  Oh, to be like Christ in every way!



   Yay!  I completed my first crocheted blanket!  This is the blanket that I started several months ago for Isabel.  It is so wonderfully soft and most of us have had our turn snuggling with it.  : )  I've already begun my next project...more on that later.  

   

November 21, 2011

Making Him known


"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, 
and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions 
for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 
of which I became a minister 
according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, 
to make the word of God fully known..."  Colossians 1:24-25

   The Lord Jesus Christ was the most kind, loving, compassionate, person to walk the face of this earth.  The sinless Son of God is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature (Heb. 1:3).  Yet people hated him then and they hate him now.  Why?  

   He was ridiculed, he was mocked, he was vehemently hated, spat upon, cruelly beaten and nailed to a cross.  Why such cruelty?  Because of the gospel.  

   What is the gospel?  The good news that God has sent his Son Jesus to pay for our sins.  The message of the free gift of grace extended to lost and dying sinful people.  Isn't it a wonderful message?  Why do people hate it's messengers so much?  Why do people hate the message?

   Paul, who wrote the letter to the Colossians, was imprisoned and beaten for making the word of God fully known.  He suffered for the sake of Christ (2 Corinthians 11: 25-27).  We may think that's fine for Paul, and thoughts of being so harshly treated seem so distant and foreign to us westerners.  Even today, across the world, Christ's people are severely afflicted.  They are imprisoned, beaten, tortured and killed for their faith in Christ.  It is happening today.  Yet still, this seems so far from our understanding.  So detached from our daily thinking.  

   The Bible tells us that indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).  Has this verse ever caused you to sit and think?  How am I persecuted?  You may call yourself a Christian, the question is, do you desire to live a godly life?  That is what causes the division.  You are either someone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus or you're not.  

   Persecution comes in different forms.  It is defined this way: to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve or afflict; to cause to suffer because of belief.  

   People will not always appreciate the good news that Christians want to share with them.  Being confronted with the gospel means being confronted with the authority of Christ.  It causes people to take serious look at their sin.  Sadly, many people want to continue thinking that they are just fine the way they are.  The gospel will require of them a change in the way they think and a change in the way they live.  It will require them to yield themselves to the authority of Christ.  Yes, there is forgiveness of sin, full and free, such wonderful forgiveness!  But a person must see the ugliness, the heinousness of their own sin before they can genuinely turn to Christ for the remedy.

   Going back to the verse above, how are we persecuted here in the United States of America?  Have you ever considered this?  Well, it may not be to the degree of suffering that Jesus or Paul experienced, and it may not be as harsh as the treatment that Christians across the lands are experiencing.  But have you ever not wanted to speak up about Christ because you're afraid people will think less of you?  Yes, people in this country look down on Christians.  Are you willing to endure that?  To be ridiculed, lowly esteemed by the world, maybe even considered to be a "religious fanatic" and narrow-minded.  Do you desire to live a godly life regardless of what other think or say?

   It's not easy is it?  Most of us desire to have people like us and think highly of us.  We want to be esteemed as intelligent, yet the world considers Christians utterly foolish.  We want people to think we are cool and we watch and listen to things that we ought not so that we can relate to them better.  Are we willing to suffer because we cannot talk about things that are shameful to speak of, and are we too ashamed to talk about Christ for fear we won't be accepted?

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the 
loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain
Christ and be found in him...that I may know him and the power of 
his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings"...Philippians 3:8-10
{see entire passage: Philippians 3: 1-16}

{Jesus said} "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they
exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account
of the Son of Man!  Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, 
your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
Luke 6: 22-23

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but 
because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, 
therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you:
'A servant is not greater than his master'.  If they persecuted me, they 
will also persecute you."  John 15:18-20

November 19, 2011

music to my ears


   As a mom, I often wonder if I am getting through to my children.  Each and every day is filled with opportunities to train them to think, and act in a way that honors God.  I try to be patient when I must teach the same lessons to them over and over again.  It can be frustrating at times, but it is definitely worth the effort.  

   Recently, one of the things I have been stressing to the kids is that how you obey your parents matters.  If they go and do the thing I told them to do, but they do it with slumped shoulders and pouty face, that shows a lack of submission and a lack of willing obedience.  

   In Brienne's "Health" book this week, the lesson was about helping your mother, particularly in the kitchen or with setting the table and things like that.  I took the opportunity to help her to see the difference in responses she might have to being given a task.  We acted it out.  I demonstrated to her how sweet it sounds to say "Sure mommy, I'd be glad to!"  It shows a willing obedience, an attitude of service and it shows love.  

   She must have thought on this a bit, because yesterday when I told her to do something, she responded this way.  In two separate instances she cheerfully said "I'd be glad to mommy!"  Wow!  I love it!  I admit, it is not always easy to teach children to respond in the right ways or say the right things at the right time.  It is a constant work in progress.  And we have sooo much work to do.  But it was neat to see how she took this to heart.  

  

   Yesterday, I was sitting on the couch folding laundry.  Brienne came over and sat next to me.  Much to my surprise, Brienne began matching up the socks and tossing them into the clothes baskets.  I sat there smiling to myself and thinking "Wow, this is great, I didn't even tell her to help."  
   
Then she spoke up and cheerfully stated "I'm doing what my teacher said to do."
To which I replied "Oh?  What's that?"
"I'm taking initiative!"

God bless Sunday School teachers for laboring to back up what we are teaching at home!   


November 18, 2011

just Him and I.


   The morning had begun that day with precious time with God.  As I went about my daily activities, thoughts of my Lord consumed me.  It was like that wonderful feeling you have when you receive a very meaningful letter or card from someone very special.  The words touch your heart.  You want to read it over again and you ponder it's words with every still moment the day spares you.  You are lost in your thoughts and your soul is elated...just to think that you are so...loved.

   I am so in awe of God's love!  That he would go to such great lengths to show me just how much he loves me just astounds me.  There is no sweeter subject than this for a sinner saved by such marvelous grace.  

    After dropping off my husband at work, I had a few errands to run before going home.  The rain came down in drizzles as I drove along.  The words of a song playing in my van struck chords in my heart that caused tears to well up in my eyes.  The beautiful, musical expression of what I had been reading in his word...of what I had been thinking about most of the morning.  It was a wonderful moment for me.  A time of worship in my van.  I sang along with overflowing heart.  Just me and God.  Don't worry, I drove safely, I paid attention to the road too...we women are very good at multi-tasking!  But it was like no one else in the world was there.  

   I know that in heaven someday, I will worship him forever.  But I don't have to wait until I get there.  I can praise and adore him with every fiber of my being, right here and now.


Come boldly to the throne of grace

Come boldly to the throne of grace,
Ye wretched sinners, come,
And lay your load at Jesus' feet,
And plead what He has done.

"How can I come?" Some soul may say,
"I'm lame and cannot walk.
My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth.
I sigh, but dare not talk."

Come boldly to the throne of grace,
Though lost and blind and lame,
Jehovah is the sinner's Friend,
And ever was the same.

He breaks the power of canceled sin!
He sets the prisoner free!
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me.

He makes the dead to hear His voice.
He makes the blind to see.
The sinner lost He came to save 
And set the prisoner free!

Come bankrupt souls who feel and know
The hell of sin within
Jehovah is the sinner's friend,
And He will take you in,
He'll take you in.


from: "Come boldly"  Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team
words: D. Herbert and Charles Wesley

   

November 16, 2011

rainy day reflections


Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.  Luke 23:32

   Two criminals hung on crosses on opposite sides of Jesus.  Both of them having committed crimes deserving of death.  But Jesus had never committed any crimes, not even one.  Yet he hung there dying, just as these two criminals did, and even in the agony of his suffering, he pleaded the Father's forgiveness...

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

   And what were they doing?  Crucifying the very God that had created them.  Mocking and hating the One who had given them life and breath.  The God of eternity who had come to save them.  The God who loves and longs for the closeness of relationship...

People stood by watching.

The rulers scoffed at him   ...such verbal abuse...such unbelief...

"He saved others: let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying,

"If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, 

"Are you not the Christ?  Save yourself and us!"

But the other rebuked him saying, 

"Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds;

but this man has done nothing wrong."

And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today, you will be with me in Paradise."


   Each of us, though we are different in so many ways, are so much alike and so much like the two criminals that died with Jesus that day.  Utterly helpless and unable to save ourselves.  Rightly deserving of death..."the due reward of our deeds."

   The first criminal who spoke only seemed to want what would benefit him at that moment.  He approached God in a way that people often do.  Like "Hey, if you're really there God, then why am I having to deal with this?  Why am I hurting?  Why are bad things happening in my life?  Why don't you fix it?!  Make things better for me!"  This criminal did not realize that God was doing the very thing he needed most.  Atoning for his sin.  Offering eternal life, if he would only by faith receive it.  That is why Jesus came, to save helpless, sinful, needy people.

  In contrast, the other criminal recognized that he deserved to be condemned, he knew that justice was being served.  His faith was beautifully simple...

I deserve death, but He has done nothing wrong.

   Then he addresses the Lord by name..."Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom..."  Even as Jesus hung there on the cross, he was able to redeem a soul from sin and to truly and completely set him free. Not one of them got down from their crosses that day and went on with life on this earth.    They all died, but only one went to be with Jesus in Paradise forever.  It was the criminal who had faith in who Jesus was and in his power to save.

   Jesus did not have to evaluate whether or not this man's "good" deeds outweighed his bad.  This criminal, bleeding and dying on a cross, had nothing with which to impress God.  Nothing at all.  The truth is, not one of us does.  What pleases him most is when a sinful soul realizes he cannot save himself.  He simply calls us to believe in Jesus who lived a sinless life and died a sinner's death...in our place.

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
                                                                                                     Romans 10:13






November 15, 2011

maybe just a little quirky?



Manny's "big boy" bed that took some getting used to for him.  
At least he stays in it and he sleeps well...



Even under his beloved toys!

This is how we found him after his nap...at least he didn't get out of his bed!
Maybe we shouldn't store these within his reach while he's in bed!




   When Manny gets up in the morning, there are five precious belongings that he insists on carrying out to the living room.  "Bear", "wolfie", "monster", red blankee and blue blankee.  Though it may be difficult for him to walk while carrying his precious cargo, no matter!  They are essential contributors to the happiness of our two year old.  It's funny, he'll stand in the doorway and request each one as I stuff it all into his arms.  We also have to find seating arrangements for his "friends" somewhere near the dining room table.  They must be within sight!


   This little blue monster has generated more laughs from Manny than I can count.  He cracks up when we shake it to wiggle the eyes and say in deep tones "Hey!, whatdya think your doin' mister!" and "grrrrr" as we put monster's big mouth on Manny's arm.  He laughs hysterically.  Thankful for the friend who got him such a...unique gift. :)



Building with blocks is fun too...



   

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