Well, by the looks of my living/dining room, I am home and halfway unpacked! My washer and dryer don't believe me yet... still doing a weeks worth of laundry for 4 people. This could take a while. Nevertheless, we had a wonderful time; both my mother and I, oh and my children too. God was ever present on this trip, from the drive to and from Daytona and during our stay. My children were wonderfully behaved, yes, even Laura. She didn't get in serious trouble the whole week. I know you find that hard to believe, but it is true. She had her moments, don't get me wrong, we did have a few "come to Jesus" moments, but overall, she was great!
Before we left on the trip, I was developing some photos at Walmart using the little photo machine. Laura was with me and we were talking about how I was enhancing a few pictures (red eye, color, etc..) We came to a picture of her on graduation night and she was not smiling (she was in a mood that night and wouldn't smile). She said "Well mom, why can't you just enhance that picture and make me smile?" Oh I had to laugh! Of course I couldn't do that... but it did open a door of opportunity for me to talk with her about her attitudes. I shared with her how her bad attitude that night would forever be remembered by a picture and that she should be more careful how she acts. God sees and knows all our attitudes, even after we have forgotten. But through his grace and love for us, He forgives us when we ask and then He will never remember our sin. Maybe she will think about that the next time she starts to have an attitude.
We are off to our last soccer game of the season today! I am a little sad to see it all come to an end, yet having my Saturday's back will be very nice! I can't even remember what I used to do on Saturday before soccer? hmmm.....
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Vacation
Well, we are off to Daytona Beach this morning. I guess I am excited. I think more or less, I am just tired from getting ready for vacation - I just want to sleep!!! haha! Maybe I can do that on the way down there. This vacation was made possible by my mother - God bless her soul! She and I have a very interesting relationship - definitely not the typical mother/daughter thing. God is using our relationship to teach me many things: self-sacrifice, patience, grace, mercy, patience, love beyond our faults, patience, did I say patience? I love my mother and am so thankful for her in my life. My own legalislm, immaturity, self-proclaimed rightness, has lead to many tumultuous years. God has seen fit that our relationship persevere through such inadequacies on my part. I have learned that I can love someone whom I don't necessarily agree with on every issue. I can graciously over look some things, and lovingly disagree with others and still have a love in my heart for them. It has taken many years of my own maturing, before our relationship has come to a semblance of normalcy. Although highly disfunctional, God has seen fit that we are mother and daughter - so I will trust His plan! Thank you mom for this wonderful vacation -I hope that we can be a blessing to you on this trip.
Sun and Fun
Here we come!
Sun and Fun
Here we come!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
You Know You're Really A Mom When...
1.You hide in the bathroom to be alone.
2.You have time to shave only one leg at a time.
3. Your child throws up and you can catch it.
4.You consider finger paint to be a controlled substance. (I'm craft challenged)
5.You mastered the art of placing food on a plate without anything touching. (this would be JA)
6.You hope ketchup is a vegetable because it's the only one your child eats. (They get this honestly from their mother :-)
7.You can't bear to give away baby clothes--it's so final.
8.You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you.
9.You read that the average-five-year old (and in my case, also a six-year-old) asks 437 questions a day and you feel proud that your kids are "above average."
10. You go to bed exhausted every night since their birth and willing get up and do it all over again...
2.You have time to shave only one leg at a time.
3. Your child throws up and you can catch it.
4.You consider finger paint to be a controlled substance. (I'm craft challenged)
5.You mastered the art of placing food on a plate without anything touching. (this would be JA)
6.You hope ketchup is a vegetable because it's the only one your child eats. (They get this honestly from their mother :-)
7.You can't bear to give away baby clothes--it's so final.
8.You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you.
9.You read that the average-five-year old (and in my case, also a six-year-old) asks 437 questions a day and you feel proud that your kids are "above average."
10. You go to bed exhausted every night since their birth and willing get up and do it all over again...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Laura
I was doing Brain Quest Cards with Laura last night... they are math, language and life skill cards that have questions for kids. Not that my kids need to be any smarter! They keep me on my toes already... nevertheless, it helps me slow down and spend individual time with each of them, and they think it is great fun.
One of the questions on Laura's card was " In what country did Pizza originate? " She answers emphatically,"That's easy, Rincon!"
I love that my kids make me laugh!!
One of the questions on Laura's card was " In what country did Pizza originate? " She answers emphatically,"That's easy, Rincon!"
I love that my kids make me laugh!!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The Remedy of Self-Sacrificing Service
The Ministry of Susannah Spurgeon.
I have long been a fan of many women of the faith. Women who were wives to great men of God. You have heard it said that behind every great man is a great woman? Well, I don't think a man has to have a woman to be great, but God did give Adam a "helper" and I definitely find joy in helping other Godly men, in serving the Lord. (Genesis 2:18 “And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:20-23
“And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”)
Susannah Spurgeon, among others, such as Martin Luther's wife, Susannah Wesley have fascinated me with their depth of courage and devotion to the Lord, through their marriages to mighty men of faith. God truly did use them to "help" their husbands, to bring honor to their ministries and give them the stability of a spouse. It is a great example to us, as women today, to see such self-sacrifice. It is told to young girls often, you should go out and do your own thing and don't worry about a man. Well, I would beg to differ a bit on that. I do believe that God has created woman for the man. Not that she cannot have her own job, hobby, opinions, etc. But that she can find joy and fulfillment in being a helper to her husband.
Having been married for 8 years, I can speak from experience. After getting past the whole "submission" thing, I was truly able to enjoy the role God had created for me. I set about learning how best to be a blessing to my husband and family. It was some of the most joyous times of my life. Even after my divorce, I have sought the Lord in how I could minister to my pastor and others that God would put in my path.
Having said all that and gotten a little off track, I wanted to share portions of an excerpt from Susan Verstraete's writings on Susannah Spurgeon, wife of Charles Spurgeon.
" It was an odd courtship. Charles had little free time to devote to Susannah. One of their regular dates consisted of Susannah quietly minding her own business while Charles edited his weekly sermon for publication. Susannah once accompanied Charles to a speaking engagement in a crowded venue. As they walked in, Charles was preoccupied with the message he was about to deliver. He turned into a side door, completely forgetting about Susannah, who found herself abandoned in the crushing crowd to find her own way to a seat. Miffed, she left the building and took a cab home to her parents' house.
Mrs. Thompson, Susannah's mother, was not as sympathetic to the perceived slight as her daughter expected her to be. Wisely, she urged Susannah never to try to make herself an idol in her fiancee's heart. Charles was God's servant first and foremost, and she warned Susannah that she must never hinder his ministry. Susannah wrote, "I never forgot the teaching of that day; I had learned my hard lesson by heart, for I do not recollect ever again seeking to assert my right to his time and attention when any service for God demanded them."
Later in their marriage Susannah became chronically ill. For long seasons, she was unable to accompany her husband to church and was often confined to bed. Discouraged and confused, Susannah cried out to God. Later, she would write "... the moment we come into any trial or difficulty, our first thought should be, not how soon can we escape from it, or how we may lessen the pain we shall suffer from it, but how can we best glorify God in it..."
Wow, what wisdom! I had to stop and read that last quote several times for the full effect to sink in. I have had my fair share of grief in my life, probably more than most, but to have the attitude of how best to glorify God in it, wasn't one of the top priorities, I can assure you.
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." I Corinthians 6:20. What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
"Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." I Peter 4:16
Just think, enduring the trial, no not enduring, but being truly thankful for the trial - James 1:3 “Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”..... hmmmmm, something to think about.
I have long been a fan of many women of the faith. Women who were wives to great men of God. You have heard it said that behind every great man is a great woman? Well, I don't think a man has to have a woman to be great, but God did give Adam a "helper" and I definitely find joy in helping other Godly men, in serving the Lord. (Genesis 2:18 “And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:20-23
“And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”)
Susannah Spurgeon, among others, such as Martin Luther's wife, Susannah Wesley have fascinated me with their depth of courage and devotion to the Lord, through their marriages to mighty men of faith. God truly did use them to "help" their husbands, to bring honor to their ministries and give them the stability of a spouse. It is a great example to us, as women today, to see such self-sacrifice. It is told to young girls often, you should go out and do your own thing and don't worry about a man. Well, I would beg to differ a bit on that. I do believe that God has created woman for the man. Not that she cannot have her own job, hobby, opinions, etc. But that she can find joy and fulfillment in being a helper to her husband.
Having been married for 8 years, I can speak from experience. After getting past the whole "submission" thing, I was truly able to enjoy the role God had created for me. I set about learning how best to be a blessing to my husband and family. It was some of the most joyous times of my life. Even after my divorce, I have sought the Lord in how I could minister to my pastor and others that God would put in my path.
Having said all that and gotten a little off track, I wanted to share portions of an excerpt from Susan Verstraete's writings on Susannah Spurgeon, wife of Charles Spurgeon.
" It was an odd courtship. Charles had little free time to devote to Susannah. One of their regular dates consisted of Susannah quietly minding her own business while Charles edited his weekly sermon for publication. Susannah once accompanied Charles to a speaking engagement in a crowded venue. As they walked in, Charles was preoccupied with the message he was about to deliver. He turned into a side door, completely forgetting about Susannah, who found herself abandoned in the crushing crowd to find her own way to a seat. Miffed, she left the building and took a cab home to her parents' house.
Mrs. Thompson, Susannah's mother, was not as sympathetic to the perceived slight as her daughter expected her to be. Wisely, she urged Susannah never to try to make herself an idol in her fiancee's heart. Charles was God's servant first and foremost, and she warned Susannah that she must never hinder his ministry. Susannah wrote, "I never forgot the teaching of that day; I had learned my hard lesson by heart, for I do not recollect ever again seeking to assert my right to his time and attention when any service for God demanded them."
Later in their marriage Susannah became chronically ill. For long seasons, she was unable to accompany her husband to church and was often confined to bed. Discouraged and confused, Susannah cried out to God. Later, she would write "... the moment we come into any trial or difficulty, our first thought should be, not how soon can we escape from it, or how we may lessen the pain we shall suffer from it, but how can we best glorify God in it..."
Wow, what wisdom! I had to stop and read that last quote several times for the full effect to sink in. I have had my fair share of grief in my life, probably more than most, but to have the attitude of how best to glorify God in it, wasn't one of the top priorities, I can assure you.
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." I Corinthians 6:20. What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
"Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." I Peter 4:16
Just think, enduring the trial, no not enduring, but being truly thankful for the trial - James 1:3 “Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”..... hmmmmm, something to think about.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
As if I didn't have enough to do...
Well, intellectual post will have to wait at least another 3 1/2 weeks, until I am out of school. And if you were wondering why I didn't have a chance to think, let alone write anything of great interest - allow me to clue you into my crazy life!!!
Sunday - 9am Practice with Choir and Praise Team
9:30 Sunday School
10:45 Church
12:00pm Lunch with friends
4:45pm Choir practice
6pm Church
7pm After church social
Monday - 8:00 - 3pm School
3:15 Faculty Meeting
5pm Supper
6pm Laura's Soccer Game
Tuesday - 8:00 - 3pm School
3:30 - 4:45 Piano Lessons
5:30pm Supper
6-7:30 Abigail's Soccer Practice
Wednesday - 8:00 - 3pm School
11:15am Kindergarten Drama (Laura's Class)
3:30 - 4:30 Piano Lessons
3:30 Laura's Soccer Pictures
3:45 - 4:45 Laura's Soccer Practice
6pm Piano Lessons
7pm Church
Thursday - 8:00 - 3pm School
5:30pm Supper
6- 7:30 Abigail's Soccer Practice
Friday - 8:00 - 3pm School
3:30 - 4:30pm Laura's Soccer Practice
4pm Baby Shower for Teacher at my school
6:30 - 7:30 JA's Soccer Game
Saturday - 10am Laura's Soccer Game
1:45pm Abigail's Soccer Game
Sometime in between all of this I will shop for groceries, do laundry, prepare for class, get gas, do homework, spank children, clean house, make supper, go to church, practice music, spank some more children, love my children, put them to bed, do some more laundry, love my kids some more...... and pray I can make it to May 21st!!! So when you see me with that tired, glazed over look and wonder what in the world is going on.... just know I will be back to normal soon.... hopefully...
See you then.......
Sunday - 9am Practice with Choir and Praise Team
9:30 Sunday School
10:45 Church
12:00pm Lunch with friends
4:45pm Choir practice
6pm Church
7pm After church social
Monday - 8:00 - 3pm School
3:15 Faculty Meeting
5pm Supper
6pm Laura's Soccer Game
Tuesday - 8:00 - 3pm School
3:30 - 4:45 Piano Lessons
5:30pm Supper
6-7:30 Abigail's Soccer Practice
Wednesday - 8:00 - 3pm School
11:15am Kindergarten Drama (Laura's Class)
3:30 - 4:30 Piano Lessons
3:30 Laura's Soccer Pictures
3:45 - 4:45 Laura's Soccer Practice
6pm Piano Lessons
7pm Church
Thursday - 8:00 - 3pm School
5:30pm Supper
6- 7:30 Abigail's Soccer Practice
Friday - 8:00 - 3pm School
3:30 - 4:30pm Laura's Soccer Practice
4pm Baby Shower for Teacher at my school
6:30 - 7:30 JA's Soccer Game
Saturday - 10am Laura's Soccer Game
1:45pm Abigail's Soccer Game
Sometime in between all of this I will shop for groceries, do laundry, prepare for class, get gas, do homework, spank children, clean house, make supper, go to church, practice music, spank some more children, love my children, put them to bed, do some more laundry, love my kids some more...... and pray I can make it to May 21st!!! So when you see me with that tired, glazed over look and wonder what in the world is going on.... just know I will be back to normal soon.... hopefully...
See you then.......
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Idols - part 1
IDOL - 1.a representation or symbol of an object of worship; broadly : a false god.
2.an object of extreme devotion.
3.a false conception.
Idol, now there is a word for the modernity of today, such a word holds "old" connotations. Maybe not so old - with the hit show "American Idol," but to think of an idol as an object, seems rather obscure. When I think of an idol, I remember back as a child watching the Ten Commandments movie that came on around Easter and seeing the dramatic interpretation of the children of Israel dancing wildly around as Aaron and others melted gold and molded a golden calf for the Israelites to worship. Having grown up believing in the Lord as my Savior, I always laughed at how they could have thought a solid structure, such a the golden calf, could ever have delivered them from anything. My heart felt great sadness when I saw the Pharaoh placing his first born son, whom had died from the plague of death, in the arms of the giant blackened statue. I remember asking my dad, "Does he really believe that statue can do anything?" My dad sadly answered that "Yes, they truly believed in idols and many religions today still believe and worship them." As I grew and learned of other religions, I became more curious still how faith in an inanimate object could bring someone joy, fulfillment, or that the belief in that object could establish purpose and hope in a person's life.
Yet, somehow human beings are constantly looking to establish purpose and hope in our lives. We continually strive to "Hold Onto" an object that can bring us joy and fulfillment. All through the scriptures, God is constantly warning his people to remove themselves from the idol worshippers, to remove the idols that they worshipped and to do away with foreigner's because of their influence. And still, they never seemed satisfied to have God as their lead.... always seeking a physical idol to worship - whether that be an inanimate object or a king in headship only. They constantly worshipped what they could see and rarely what they could not. Even though God has written his law on every man's heart - our hearts are extremely wicked and our fleshly desires sometimes run over the controls of conscious placed by our Creator.
Exodus 20:4-6 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. "
The Old Testament is filled with scriptures telling God's children to do away with idol worship and those who worship idols. The New Testament continues that warning, especially with the temple worship in Ephesus and around Asia Minor. God tends to add to that warning with an attribute toward the heart. The focus shifts to a condition of the heart, and the outward pouring from that, our mouths and actions. Do we live idolatrous lives? Do we worship things, all be it, silently, quietly but fervently in our hearts? Things apart from God, apart from the worship of Him and He alone? I dare say, with sadness and conviction in my own heart, that we do. As Christians of today, we worship a mired of idols. Sometimes those idols are actual objects or people, and other times it can be the idea of something or someone - an imagination or dream.
2.an object of extreme devotion.
3.a false conception.
Idol, now there is a word for the modernity of today, such a word holds "old" connotations. Maybe not so old - with the hit show "American Idol," but to think of an idol as an object, seems rather obscure. When I think of an idol, I remember back as a child watching the Ten Commandments movie that came on around Easter and seeing the dramatic interpretation of the children of Israel dancing wildly around as Aaron and others melted gold and molded a golden calf for the Israelites to worship. Having grown up believing in the Lord as my Savior, I always laughed at how they could have thought a solid structure, such a the golden calf, could ever have delivered them from anything. My heart felt great sadness when I saw the Pharaoh placing his first born son, whom had died from the plague of death, in the arms of the giant blackened statue. I remember asking my dad, "Does he really believe that statue can do anything?" My dad sadly answered that "Yes, they truly believed in idols and many religions today still believe and worship them." As I grew and learned of other religions, I became more curious still how faith in an inanimate object could bring someone joy, fulfillment, or that the belief in that object could establish purpose and hope in a person's life.
Yet, somehow human beings are constantly looking to establish purpose and hope in our lives. We continually strive to "Hold Onto" an object that can bring us joy and fulfillment. All through the scriptures, God is constantly warning his people to remove themselves from the idol worshippers, to remove the idols that they worshipped and to do away with foreigner's because of their influence. And still, they never seemed satisfied to have God as their lead.... always seeking a physical idol to worship - whether that be an inanimate object or a king in headship only. They constantly worshipped what they could see and rarely what they could not. Even though God has written his law on every man's heart - our hearts are extremely wicked and our fleshly desires sometimes run over the controls of conscious placed by our Creator.
Exodus 20:4-6 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. "
The Old Testament is filled with scriptures telling God's children to do away with idol worship and those who worship idols. The New Testament continues that warning, especially with the temple worship in Ephesus and around Asia Minor. God tends to add to that warning with an attribute toward the heart. The focus shifts to a condition of the heart, and the outward pouring from that, our mouths and actions. Do we live idolatrous lives? Do we worship things, all be it, silently, quietly but fervently in our hearts? Things apart from God, apart from the worship of Him and He alone? I dare say, with sadness and conviction in my own heart, that we do. As Christians of today, we worship a mired of idols. Sometimes those idols are actual objects or people, and other times it can be the idea of something or someone - an imagination or dream.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
