The way to true and lasting happiness

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners, 
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD, 
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree 
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, 
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, 
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 1

What is more important to you, what people say or what God says?  What you think or what God thinks?  Which do you rely on more?  Do you believe that you will be happier if you figure life out on your own or with your friends and just leave God out of it?  What is the primary influence in the decisions you make on a daily basis?

Many people like to call themselves Christians.  But to them it is just a name that sounds good.  Maybe they call themselves that because they assume it goes right along with being an American?  Maybe it's because their parents took them to church when they were little?  Maybe it's because they go to church themselves and so they believe that constitutes being a Christian.  When in reality, they have never turned away from their sin and received Christ.  It is possible to go to church every Sunday and never take one step toward following Christ because truly following Christ begins with a heart yielded to his will.  It begins with a heart that is deeply sorrowful about it's sin.  It begins when the eyes are opened to see that Christ's suffering and dying for all the sins he never committed, is the only way to pay for all the sins that we committed.

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners, 
nor sits in the seat of scoffers...


There are some who read these verses and might think that we should completely avoid being around ungodly people.  To some degree we do need to be careful about how others influence us.  But I think the greatest concern should be centered on ourselves.  As long as we live in this world we will hear and see and observe the world around us.  How are we interpreting those things?  Do we question the messages that we hear?  Have we forgotten that there is truth and there is falsehood and it shouldn't take us long to figure out which one should be rejected?  The way that we live begins with the way we think.

If God is your consuming passion you will not allow the world to chew you up and spit you out with its false and ungodly philosophies and ideologies.  If you have an unwavering commitment to the unchanging truth of the Word of God you can have the spiritual strength of the three men in Daniel chapter three.  These men were taken from their homes, probably from a godly environment, and in the midst of what we might call "peer pressure" in the extreme, they still chose to honor God.  They would not bow down (literally) to falsehood and lies.  Even when it meant the loss of their lives here on this earth!  They would do no less than worship the One true God of heaven and earth!

This begs the question, would our kids be equipped with such a love for God and confidence in him and the truth of his Word that they would refuse to bow down?  Would we?  I know it's difficult to answer those questions and to imagine ourselves in a situation like that.  But I hope that it motivates us to see our need to be equipped and to be focused on the Word of God each and every day.

What we think will lead to what we do.  What we do will lead to who we become.  Here is a good description of a scoffer:

"Scoffers have rejected God and his Word.  They now seek to justify themselves by openly deriding that which they've rejected.  Scoffers think they know more than God.  They're too smart to believe in the Bible.  Many scoffers come from church backgrounds, but they've cast if off as 'repressive'.  

Although they almost always hide under an intellectual smoke screen, invariably scoffers have cast off the Bible because they want to be their own god so that they can follow their own lusts.  They don't want God interfering in their sinful lifestyles."  (Stephen Cole)

And now, let's look at the contrast.

but his delight is in the law of the LORD, 
and on his law he meditates day and night.

If we are going to avoid being swayed by the deceitfulness of our own hearts and the influence of the world around us, it is imperative and essential that we delight in God's rules.  Yes, I said rules.  If we are thinking rightly about his Word, we will recognize that his law is pure, good and right.  We will not see it as oppressive or taking away our "fun".

To delight in God's Word is to find our joy in it, to be satisfied in it, and to derive pleasure from reading it, knowing it and thinking about it.  Does this describe you?  Or could it be that you are delighting in the wrong things?  Do you know the plot of your favorite TV show better than you know your Bible?  If you are getting to know the Bible, great!  But are you delighting in it?  Knowing it is not enough.  Do you consider it something that you simply could not live without?  Do you see it as something that quenches your thirst and satisfies your soul?

If so, you will be like this...

He is like a tree 
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, 
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

If we are going to be nourished and if we are going to grow and thrive, we need to be delighting in God's Word and thinking about it continually.  This may sound like a silly question but have you ever thought about what you think about?  Seriously, think about it for a moment.  What are all of the things going through your mind on a daily basis?  Is God's Word a major part of those thoughts?

In conclusion, we do need to be careful about "outside influences" in our lives and in our children's lives.  But complete withdrawal and avoidance of them is not always the answer.  What we need is to take the time to "store up God's Word in our hearts so that we might not sin against him." Psalm 119:11

Maybe you sense a need to delight more in God's Word.  Maybe you are going through a time in your life where many thoughts seem to crowd out thoughts about God, his truth, his love and his ways?  Would you like to change that?

I want to encourage you to begin reading the Bible.  Don't get overwhelmed, just start small.  If you're not reading anything at all, wouldn't one verse be better than nothing?  You could write out one verse on an index card and read it from time to time, throughout the day, until you have it memorized.  It's really not as difficult to memorize verses as some people might think.  Don't tell me that you can't do it, three year olds can do it.  It's all about repetition.  Your goal is to think about God's Word.  To "meditate" is to think deeply, consider, reflect, and to mull it over in your mind.  This is what God wants you to do with his Word.

God's Word will help you, strengthen you, equip you, challenge your thinking, grow you, transform you and bless you!

Do you want more of that?  Go ahead and get started, what's stopping you?

A little more perspective

I recently finished reading "Family Driven Faith" by Voddie Baucham Jr..  There is much in this book to be praised and commended.  What parent doesn't need all the encouragement they can get to live out the gospel and to teach it to their children on a daily basis?  Sometimes we need to be shaken up a bit and rise up out of our comfort and complacency to fulfill our God-given responsibilities.

I appreciate his exposure of the wrong thinking of the culture around us as well as popular church culture.  As Christians, we are can be prone to go with the flow of what is happening around us without questioning if it is good, right or biblical.  The author points out that when it comes to marriage, some see it as an entrapment to avoid as long as possible or at least until they have experienced what life "really" has to offer.  When it comes to children, they are seen as a burden to prevent or minimize.  There is much ungodly thinking that has affected us even more than we sometimes realize.  And he points out our flawed thinking in the book.

There is also much encouragement in this book to be a strong, God-centered family.  I appreciate that.  We need more of that.  He encourages regular family time spent worshiping God together.

The chapter on love was very well thought out.  He takes a good look at the incorrect view of love that is so prevalent in our culture.  While many are so focused on romance, feelings and falling in and out of love, God calls his people to a much higher standard.  He says "Love is proved by our efforts.  If I say I love God, there should be evidence in the things I do (or the way I expend my energy and effort).  By the same token, if I say I love my wife, that should be evidenced by my actions.  If my actions are self-centered, I am demonstrating love for me.  However, if my actions are directed toward meeting her needs, then she truly is the object of my affections."  Now that is biblical.

It wasn't really until I got to chapter seven that I began to run into some issues with what I was reading.  I have already addressed my concerns with his take on schooling options for our kids and church nurseries here: Different perspectives.  But as I finished reading the book I came across some other areas of concern.

First, his beliefs concerning raising godly children are very deterministic.  Here is a quote from page 164: "Parenting is a tough job, and we have a limited amount of time to accomplish a lifetime of work.  As I write this chapter, my daughter is finishing her last year of high school, and my oldest son has about three years left (the babies haven't started yet).  When that time comes, it will be nearly impossible to undo the things that were done badly or redo things that were missed.  Sure, I will still have a relationship with my children, but for the most part the die will have been cast."  I cringed when I read this.  While I do understand the significant responsibility that we have as parents to teach our children about God and to teach them right from wrong, this kind of thinking puts all the weight on the parents.  And often, especially once the children have grown, many parents are unnecessarily laden with guilt if their children turn from the Lord.

I did not grow up in a Christian environment.  My mind was, in many ways, saturated with ungodly thinking and as I grew I made my own choices and I am responsible for those choices.

"Nearly impossible to undo the things that were done badly"?  "For the most part the die will have been cast"?  God, by his grace, can overcome any obstacle to pointing out the path to faith and obedience to his word.  Yes, as parents we do our part, but it is not completely up to us to make our children Christians.  That will depend on God's gracious work of mercy and their turning to him in faith and repentance.

There are many examples in the Bible of parents who had a strong faith in God and their children went their own way.  There are also examples of children who completely turn from the lifestyle of wickedness exemplified by their parents and yet the children turn wholeheartedly to God to serve him and love him all of their days.  Is it best to have parents who love God and teach their children about him every chance they get?  YES!  But I believe that we can encourage parents to do this without using the language used in the book.  There is always grace, there is always forgiveness, and there is always hope.  All parents are flawed and have their weaknesses and struggles.  To adopt this mindset that my actions will set in stone how my child relates to God and others is leaving God out of the picture.  I can have a huge impact in their lives and what I do as a parent matters for eternity.  I am doing the best I can to honor God with how I parent my children.  And as parents we should continually aim to do better as we grow in grace.  But that's just it.

We are growing in grace.

Secondly, I would like to give some perspective to his points about youth ministry.  His main concern is that parents are not discipling their youth in their own homes.  He is right that some have the highly errant philosophy that it is the job of the church (and only the church) to teach their children about God.  He gives many worst case scenario examples.  For example, in the book the author quotes a youth minister from North Carolina who said "If I become too pastoral, the kids won't be entertained, and they will go down the street to the guy with all the bells and whistles.  If I become too evangelistic, I get complaints about the shallowness of the group and the post-youth ministry dropout rate.  I can't win."

The author goes on to say that "This explains why parents who take their disciple-making mandate seriously are beginning to be skeptical about turning their children over to the youth ministry.  How does a mother build truth into her daughter's life, nurture her, guard her, and encourage her toward the application of that truth, then send her into an environment that will oftentimes by its very nature be hostile or at least ambivalent toward that truth?  How does a father raise his son to respect young women and protect their purity only to send him off to the youth building with exposed midriffs, low-cut tops and skin tight jeans?  Again, this is not universal.  However, it is prevalent."

Ahem.  I will not sit here and attempt to make the claim that I have a perfect youth group in my church.  There are no perfect youth groups and there are no perfect churches for that matter.  That is primarily what concerns me with this book.  The family integration model is presented as if it does not have any flaws.  I have never seen it in action so I cannot speak for it.  But I do have one question to pose.

The author's main objection to having a "youth ministry" is that we should not hand over our youth to be discipled by someone else.  It is our job and we should be doing it.  Yes, I agree we should be the primary disciplers in our homes but I have a question here.  What happens in a family integration setting?  Do they follow the biblical model of hearing the Word of God preached by a pastor when they go to church?  If so, wouldn't that constitute having someone else teaching your children about God, even if they are sitting right there next to you?

I understand, there are flaws in some youth ministries.  Youth ministry aside, there are flaws in churches.  But we don't abandon the ministry all together.  We seek to improve it.  I believe there is a way to do it right and in a way that honors God without abdicating our role as parents.  Interaction between all ages should be regularly encouraged and opportunities can be provided to encourage this.  To say that the best way is to have every age sitting in a church service together is not necessarily the only way.  We teach our children according to age in so many other aspects of learning.  I am not so sure that we should avoid doing this when it comes to instruction in the Bible.  But I am not professing to be an expert either.  My point is that I may not attend a family integration church but that does not mean that because we have a church nursery and a youth group that we are failing to honor God as we ought.

My children go to the nursery and they go to classes that are geared toward their age.  But that does not mean that they never interact with our church family or that they cloister with their peers avoiding anyone who is not their age.  Does this happen in some cases?  Yes.  But it can happen in any environment if young people are not focused on being used of God in whatever age group they cross paths with at church.  Again, it goes back to what is taught at home combined with the heart of that young person.  Those things will always affect what we bring to the world around us and to the church.

A youth ministry can have a God-centered, God-honoring focus.  I appreciate the ministry we have at our church.  Amera (17 years old) sits with us in the service and she goes to a classroom with the other teens during Sunday School.  They are taught God's Word by other people who love the Lord like we do.  She also sits with us on Sunday evenings and every other Wednesday night.  I think this is a very good balance.  During Sunday School, we as parents have the opportunity to interact with other men and women and the Word of God.  We have opportunities to share our struggles in times of discussion without our children sitting right next to us, listening.  I think that these are valuable times that are edifying.

Yes, there will be fun activities for our teens, just the same as there are fun activities for adults.  But when it comes to Sunday School, the goal is not to entertain them, it is to support what the parents should be doing at home and teach them the Word of God.  In reality, all believers should be encouraging and supporting each other in our efforts to look to Christ ourselves and then to point our children to him as well.  We may not be in a church setting where our children are always at our side but then again, we do have them the whole week through do we not?

Different perspectives {writing prompt}

When I opened my email this week to see what the writing prompt was, a smile spread across my face.  I've been thinking a lot about "different perspectives" lately.  I've spent time reflecting on my own perspective toward things like parenting, schooling options, and the way that we do things in church and outside of church.  And I find that, though we can have a very strong stance on some of our preferences, what works for one may not work for another.  And it's usually when our perspective clashes with a perspective different from ours that we really have to evaluate our attitude about it.

One thing that can motivate pride in our hearts is that we have found something that works so well for us...shouldn't everybody else do it the same way?  We have found a great way to achieve what we believe to be God's best and others ways of doing things become second rate or even unacceptable.

I have to admit, I get a little uncomfortable when a new parent comes to me for parenting advice and I feel as if they think I am some sort of parenting guru and I know all of the right answers to every unique situation.  I have not faced every situation. I have been at this parenting thing for a while but I am not an expert, nor will you be.  I only know what I have done and the results that I have experienced.  But that is with my kids.  I fear that though some of the parenting philosophies out there have been helpful to some, other parents end up frustrated and feeling guilty because it's not working for them.  It's ok if one thing doesn't work, you can try another approach and not feel like you are a bad parent.  Read books, think, evaluate, pray and consider your personal situation.  What will work for you?  Of course, I am speaking on matters of preference.

Being in a big family has given me even more perspective than what I had before because I find that what worked with one child does not work with another.  How much more from family to family?

If something has worked well for me, I'll share it.  But I'll say "This is what I did/do"  and maybe they can try that if they are inclined.  But I am not going to put forth my way of doing things as the be all and end all in parenting.  I have to stay humble and remember that though I've learned much, there is still more to learn.  Each of us lives in a different context and stage of life.  Our personalities differ and so do the personalities of our children.

As for schooling?  There is much to consider and the decision shouldn't be made lightly.  There is a great need for parents to step up to the plate and make the discipleship of their children the primary focus.  But that does not always mean homeschooling.  Homeschooling is not even an option for some.  And it may not always be the best choice.  Homeschooling doesn't even guarantee discipleship.  Even with my kids with me all day I can still get too busy with life and neglect to disciple them.  I understand the public schools and even Christian schools pose their challenges but I really think we are putting our own limitation on God when we say that homeschooling is the only way.  "Public school" doesn't necessarily mean "bad" and "Christian school" doesn't necessarily mean "good" either.  Do your research and think and pray through your options carefully.  I could be wrong on this but I'm pretty sure that God leads people in different ways.  It's true that there are many parents who send their kids off to school and don't spend any time discipling them in the ways of the Lord.  But there are others who do.  Homeschooling is not the only way to live in obedience to Deuteronomy chapter six.  I am certainly not trying to discourage homeschooling.  I am just saying please be careful about developing a perspective that thinks that it is the only option.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our current context that we forget that there are other God-honoring ways of doing things.  I was just talking with a friend the other day about the way we used to think.  She went through a time in her life where she felt that the only way to be modest was to wear a long and full skirt.  Everywhere.  Even while skiing.  I can also remember a time in my past where I might not have been that serious about it but I was buying into the thinking that stresses that a skirt is the only way to be the most feminine and godly as possible.  I don't think so anymore.  I think that a woman can be very feminine and modest in pants.  And in many situations it is the most practical and comfortable thing to wear.  It is often when our perspective comes face to face with another that we begin to reevaluate things.

Recently, in a book I am reading, the author talked about "family integrated church".  This is a church that practices keeping their children with them in a church service.  They do not have nurseries and he spoke very negatively about them and the parents who use them.  He believes that the nursery is "one of the greatest crutches in the church".  He also said that "Parents who have neglected to train their children have very little encouragement to do so when there is a place to hide them." (Voddie Baucham Jr., Family Driven Faith, pg. 147)

Ok, I get it.  There are parents who are neglecting to train their children to sit still.  Some have seen the need for it but perhaps they don't think it is possible for one so little.  We are dealing with imperfect people here who need hope and encouragement that it is possible.  He gives that in the book but I found some of his words to be offensive.  From my perspective, I am someone who trains my children at home.  I am in a context where we do have a church nursery.  My child goes there and is lovingly cared for and I can focus on hearing the message that God has for me that day.  And I am not unspiritual, neglectful, or irresponsible for putting my child in a nursery.  I am also freeing others from the potential distraction that could come as a result of bringing my small babies/children in the service.

I am glad that family integration is working for some it definitely sounds like it has its benefits.  But that is one context among many.  There are people struggling with parenting.  There are parents who would not feel they could sit through a church service with their kids.  There are parents who are training them at home and it just so happens that the child is not "getting it" as quickly as another child did.  And there are so many occasions for pride if we are not careful.  This is ministry and we cannot cookie cut everyone.  Especially when there are people who have just come to Christ and just walked through the doors of the church.  Are we going to tell that struggling, needy for hope and encouragement mom that we do not have an place to care for her little ones while she listens to the Word of God?  I am sorry, but looking back to when that was my case I think I might have turned and ran.  It's going to take time, discipleship and God working in her heart to get anywhere close to having her children sit still through a service.  Shouldn't we consider her perspective?  There is much to appreciate and agree with in this book.  The importance of a strong family unit and taking ownership of discipling our kids.  But in different families, places and situations that doesn't always play out exactly the way we think it should.  (You can read another review on the book here: A little more perspective)

What about you?  Have you ever found that you have held to a strong perspective on something but another perspective made you think twice?

(About the photo above: Brienne and I are learning to play guitar together.  Fun!  My "HP" laptop died yesterday.  Not fun.  It seems we are never a two laptop family for long.  Thankfully, I can use my husband's laptop.  The thing is, the only pictures I have on here are of Brienne with her guitar.  It doesn't exactly have anything to do with this post but I hope you enjoyed it anyway! :)

Linking up for the writing prompt here: http://www.ellenstumbo.com/different-perspectives/

Expectations for Mother's Day can be maddening (for both of us)

{my husband made some crazy faces the evening that we took pictures 

in the parking lot of California Dreaming.  Love him!  We had so much fun!}

On Mother's Day, our husbands (and our children too) are put to the test, are they not?.  It's as if they have to prove on this day how much they really love and appreciate us.  Some are really good at planning and come up with great ideas that are sure to impress.  Others don't seem to plan at all.  Maybe it overwhelms them, maybe they're not good with surprises and romance, maybe they've been so busy with life at full speed, maybe they don't have any ideas, maybe they don't have the money...for whatever reason it may be, I think that many of us women find ourselves in a pretty sad state if our expectations aren't met on a day that should be just as joyous as any other.

There is so much pressure put on our husbands for Mother's Day (and Valentine's Day for that matter) that  I really have to question if we have missed the mark.  It's almost as if we demand our goodies.  We want him to concoct unique, thoughtful, impressive plans.  We might even be willing to settle for chocolates and a card...a single rose maybe?  SOMETHING!  And we feel unloved if he doesn't deliver.  This is not a day to feel unloved and depressed when we don't get goodies.  This is a day to thank the Lord for moms.  Shouldn't that be our focus?  If you have one, thank him.  If you are one, praise him.  If neither is the case, God is still good and his love is infinite.

I hope that, as moms, we will continue to be more focused on giving than on getting...and yes, that should also be our attitude on Mother's Day!  That is the NOT the message that we tend to hear or believe.  The message in our minds goes something like this..."If he loves and appreciates me he'll either buy something for me or do something for me."  The bar is raised so high on this day.  Of course, we hear all of the news about what other men did for their wives.  One friend gets breakfast in bed and doesn't have to lift a finger all day.  Another friend gets a box of chocolates and a poem written from the heart.  And another friend's kids went all out and made her special hand-made gifts.  These are very sweet things and I am not saying they are wrong.  But what is wrong is our attitude when we don't get them.

Are we discontent?  Are we missing out on an opportunity to love our husbands (yes, it will feel sacrificial) when we don't get what we were expecting?  Are we falling into the trap of comparing ourselves with others?  I wonder how many tears were shed in homes across the world yesterday because of dashed expectations.  I wonder how many hurtful words were spoken because mother's didn't feel loved enough.

Please ladies, don't allow bitterness to eat away at you.  God has given you a husband to love, as is.  He is flawed ( I know this because all men are) and he is learning to love you, just like you are learning to love him. Don't allow the messages of what "you should be getting" on Mother's Day overshadow the message of God.  Focus on how you can honor and love God in the secret place of your heart on this post-Mother's Day and every Mother's Day that God allows you to experience after that.

God is good, he has given you a man to love, you are a servant of God in your home...none of that has changed.  Be thankful to the Lord for all that he has given you.

May I suggest pulling out a pen and paper and considering all the things you have to thank God for, especially concerning your husband, and write them down as they come to mind.  It's an amazing exercise and you will be so glad you did.

And so will he.

Please take these verses to heart...

...Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.  1 Peter 3:4

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.  Proverbs 31:11-12

...(If I) have not love, I am nothing...
Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.  1 Cor. 13:2b, 5

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thess. 5:18

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Col. 3:17

Running {writing prompt}

[The cleanest and tidiest my kitchen has ever been was for this photograph...it doesn't look this way now!]

All of this packing, painting, cleaning, and moving things around can really wear a person out!  You've probably experienced it...when after you've been working hard all day long you decide to sit down for just a few minutes suddenly you feel as if you are glued to the chair!  It's not a very good feeling when you realize that you can barely move and maybe you could if only you had a little motivation.  There comes a point when your mind and body are exhausted and even though you know there is so much to do, you just don't know what to do next.

I love diving into things and tackling a project.  I love the satisfaction of improving things and making things look better.  The thing is, I get so "in the zone" with what needs to be done and I get so focused on seeing it accomplished that I might overlook other important things.  I can get so "Go, go, go!" and "Let's do it now" that I have a hard time setting aside the work to just enjoy life.

You know, it's that moment when it hits you that you have not hugged your oldest daughter in three days because she is rarely demanding attention.  And the thought occurs to you that she has been doing so much to help and you haven't even let her know how much you appreciate her.  I cannot get so wrapped up in the work I need to accomplish that I don't do that.

It's difficult for me to pull away from "work mode".  Even if it means going out for a bit and having some fun!  Thankfully, I have a husband who knows when I need to step away and who won't take "no" for an answer ;)   But my first reaction (in my mind) is to refuse to leave the house because I have to keep working!  I have a mental checklist in my mind of all the things I feel suddenly pressured to accomplish.  I know the time it takes.  But I also know that even though these things need to be done, I still have a husband who needs me to just stop, look into his eyes and slow down for a bit.  I have children who need me to tell them something else besides what to do next.  To laugh and enjoy their company and to take the time to teach them about God.  Isn't that the thing that we always move to the back-burner when we get busy?  For shame.  I let it go for a while, but enough was enough.  Thank you, Lord, for reminding me to slow down and get my priorities straight.

Things are flowing pretty smoothly at this point.  Just a few more things to do today and then it's pretty much back to normal.  Slowing down a bit will be good...at least for a little while.  :)


Linking up for the writing prompt here: http://www.ellenstumbo.com/nina-runs-with-her-mama/

Coming Home {writing prompt}

Lately, we have been getting our house ready to sell.  Not very long after our trip to California the plans were made to build a closet in the boy's room.  To think!  That we were actually planning on preparing for this closet to be built while we were gone on our trip.  We realized we were in over our heads when we considered all of the books and furniture that we had to move and get out of the way for this project.  And all of that would take place at about the same time that I needed to pack for the trip!  Thankfully, we decided to postpone until we returned.

Beginning the project after we returned also had it's challenges.  A family of nine coming back to a house with all of their suitcases that needed to be unpacked as well as carry on with the every day stuff of life seemed like such a mountain to climb.  And after over a week of having meals made for us and/or delivered hot and ready...well let's just say it took some adjusting.  ;)

I am beginning to get rather accustomed to having things out of place.  First the closet, then the packing, now the painting...and more packing.  The painting has had it's enjoyable moments.  Singing along to music while everyone pulls together to get the job done.  Everyone is assigned tasks that they are capable of doing and there is always plenty of work to go around.  I strategically approach the painting of walls with small children in the house.  We have had some rainy weather which means I can't send them outside.  So we start by painting all the high spots that little hands can't reach and by the time we finish that, Isabel is about ready for her nap.  And guess what we scramble to get done while she is sleeping and the others watch a movie?  I am actually enjoying the satisfaction of painting.  The trim looks whiter and shinier than ever.  I really wish we had done this a long time ago...or do I?

I have to wonder...because there is also the stressful side of things.  We have been busy at work from the time we finish eating breakfast until close to bed time.  The children are getting breaks...really they can only do so much.  Yet, I think they feel that more often than not they are being put to work.  It's the nature of things right now.  We have to work together to pull the load.

There have been some frustrations.  And there have been tears to go along with them.  Resolving conflicts between children...wondering who's crying and why?  Is that the cry of a child in serious physical pain or the cry of a child that didn't get their way?  Usually it's the latter.  Sometimes it is the former.  There are often interruptions to my moments of reverie while gently applying brush strokes to the baseboards.  All of this just makes the quiet moments all the richer and the happy times of laughing together all the sweeter.  We have had our challenges but we are learning to work together as a team.

Honestly, I think that what lies ahead will pose an even greater challenge.  When we get a phone call informing us that someone wants to look at the house, we may not have much time to tidy up and get out the door.  But get out the door we must.  The particular challenge I envision will be pulling Isabel out of her crib during her nap.  She takes a long morning nap and an afternoon nap.  Somehow I doubt that those calls will always come in between those naps.  Our goal is to have a game plan in place so that everyone will know what to do in case of "the call".

I know it sounds stressful and it probably will be.  We will need God's help.  We will pray like we did last night, asking him for help and to continue working in our self-centered hearts to teach us to love one another more.  At times we need to regain our focus and remember to thank him for his goodness.  I anticipate that at times "the call" will feel like both a blessing and curse.  I don't relish the idea of having to pack everybody up and leave at a moments notice.  But I have to remind myself that God is with us and it is what he has given us to do right now.  He will give grace to walk through unpleasant and undesirable circumstances.  And hopefully, through it all, we'll learn to be more like Jesus.

Linking up for the writing prompt here: http://www.ellenstumbo.com/coming-home/

The things that are on my mind

1.  My husband was ordained this weekend!
What a joy!  To finally come to this point after years of preparing.  I still remember the years when my husband was a full-time student and a full-time employee.  That meant that every bit of time we had with him was precious.  We were both stretched and brought to the end of ourselves.  There were tears of exhaustion and questioning whether or not we could go on living like that!  Other people thought we were crazy...WE thought we were crazy!  But we learned so much about turning to God for strength and not giving up when it's hard.

The service will always be something that I treasure in my heart.  All of those years of hard work and preparation seemed to culminate at that point.  Javier shared his testimony of salvation and call to the ministry and our pastor's message from the book of 1 Timothy 4:11-16 was encouraging and edifying.  It was wonderful to share in the moment with Javier's parents who have always supported us over the years and have been a source of encouragement and love.  As well as our pastor from Missouri that showed us the way to find forgiveness in Christ and took the time to disciple us.  We can't thank him enough!  We were also blessed to have a couple there that has worked with Javier in the hospital over the years and has had the opportunity to see his ministry firsthand as he has faithfully pointed them to Christ and the salvation he freely offers.  We praise God that they have come to know Christ!  And lastly, another couple that came all the way from Yuba City, CA!  Their support meant so much to us.  What a blessing to have them all there along with our church family.  Believe me, I could hardly stop smiling.

2.  We know where we are going!
It seems so hard to believe that we are actually going to move to Yuba City, CA.  No longer is it "maybe" or "we'll see what God has" or "if we go, then..."  We have direction.  We can plan!  We can get really excited! It almost makes me feel like Jell-O inside.

We thank God for a vote of 93% from the church.

We thank God for the assurance that he is with us and will continue to be no matter what.

We thank God for the understanding that this is first and foremost HIS church and HIS people and we are merely HIS servants who hope and pray to bring him honor and glory in Yuba City.  He has the power to change lives and heal all the broken places as people turn to him.

3.  Packing and fixing up
Isn't it sad that our homes undergo so much improvement just as we are preparing to leave them?!  :)
We are busy about getting our house ready to sell and last week that meant building a closet with the help of our friends.  My house has been a construction zone lately!  And since I had to move stuff around for the project and things were already out of place, I decided that I may as well start packing.  Amera and I have been quite a team!  Actually she has probably done most of it, especially since I had to keep so many other balls rolling.

This week we are preparing to do some painting.  Our walls are looking so lovely with the blue stripe effect of the paint tape Amera put up yesterday!  There is much to accomplish and I am doing my best to do what I can in the hours that God gives me.  I admit, I wish I had more!

Please join us in praying that our house sells quickly.  We know that nothing is too hard for our God and he knows that our desire is to begin serving in Yuba City as quickly as possible.  All the details are in his hands...right where they need to be.

4.  Baby number eight!
God has blessed us with a little one that we will be so excited to meet at the end of November.  It's too early to know if it is a boy or a girl but at this point we're not too concerned about it!  God fits families together perfectly and he knows exactly what he is doing.  We have no control over it and God has already decided it.  Boys and girls are both blessings and gifts from God.  We have had the joy of experiencing that over and over again.

5.  To read or not to read, that is the question!
I confess, lately it's hard not to feel like I should be doing a million others things when I sit down to read.  The laundry never seems to end and there always seems to be something that needs to be done.  But I am squeezing in a chapter here and there.  I tell myself "Just one chapter and then I'll _______."  It works fairly well and it gives me something to ponder while I do the task.  Lately I am still working through the books I have already started as well as some others that I probably shouldn't be adding to my reading list yet....but I was too interested in the topic to resist.  What's that topic you ask?  Music.  I found a few books that I just couldn't wait to dig into.  As a family, it has been a topic that we have had many discussions over and many questions in our minds as well.  I believe it is an area that each of us should be thoughtful and careful about, recognizing that our choices matter a great deal to God for the sake of his honor and glory.  What a blessing to benefit from the careful thought and study of others as they have sought to base their convictions on the Word of God.

Maybe I'll write more on that later but for now, I have some work to do!