This weekend, I was attempting to help Troy in the yard. This in and of itself is laughable. Though my mother was an accredited flower judge and landscape design critic, I didn't inherit that gift.
Sadly this weekend, I was being defeated by a small container of petunias. I was sitting on my steps pretty much in tears, because I wasn't schooled in planting and so forth. Lamenting that my mother was gone and I hadn't taken advantage of her wealth of knowledge while she was living.
My good friend whom my boys call Grandma Coo, tried to comfort me and guide my planting, but it just wasn't working. Then Troy and the boys came to my side and offered me hugs and kisses.
Then Carson uttered the sweetest and gentlest words... "Let's do a pat-ter-ren (pattern), Mama!". There we had it, a pattern would indeed do. A simple "AB" pattern of purple, pink, purple, pink along the side walk. That was all it took to put the flower planting into perspective anyway.
What a comfort the Bible is to me, because it gives us a pattern to live by. Now, it isn't a simple "AB" pattern, yet, we can trust Christ to lead us every step of the way. We have a super natural power available to us through the Holy Spirit. Pretty amazing! I'm looking forward to studying the book of Ephesians with Troy and the boys this summer. A small book in the Bible which gives the pattern to live by.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Free... Free... Free! No, Really! It is Absolutely FREE!
I've been pretty excited about my new cell phone. My sister and I searched and debated and haggled for a few weeks trying to find the perfect "free" phone. If you know me at all, you know I love a great price. I want to get the best deal for the least amount of money. The only thing better than my 75% off clearance items from Target is something for free.
Anyone can tell you that nothing is ever truly free. Even the free phones I found were after rebate and with the addition of another costly service. Now, I know that the phone company has to make money because as we say at my house the phone company is Troy's (and our) "bread and butter", but I really did want to be a savvy consumer.
So when, I found a phone at Sam's Club for "free" with no rebate, and no costly additional services, I was thrilled. I did still have to pay the customary $18 upgrade fee, but Troy is working on getting that taken off our bill. I've been sharing my excitement about the phone deal with just about anyone that will listen. I guess I wanted to be sure and spread the word about the good deal I got, so they could benefit too.
Made me stop and think. After I read my devotional this morning, I was already convicted of the urgency to share the Good News. The Good News that Jesus died for me, and rose again that I might be saved from the punishment of my sin. The Bible tells us in Matthew 10:7-9: "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Free, His Gift of Salvation is truly FREE! I can't do anything to earn it, there are no hidden fees, I don't have anything to add to it. It really is the best deal around. You can't beat it. So, while I want to share my savings tips with others, I certainly want to remember to have an even greater enthusiasm for the Saving Grace of Jesus. If you haven't accepted your FREE gift, now is the time.
Anyone can tell you that nothing is ever truly free. Even the free phones I found were after rebate and with the addition of another costly service. Now, I know that the phone company has to make money because as we say at my house the phone company is Troy's (and our) "bread and butter", but I really did want to be a savvy consumer.
So when, I found a phone at Sam's Club for "free" with no rebate, and no costly additional services, I was thrilled. I did still have to pay the customary $18 upgrade fee, but Troy is working on getting that taken off our bill. I've been sharing my excitement about the phone deal with just about anyone that will listen. I guess I wanted to be sure and spread the word about the good deal I got, so they could benefit too.
Made me stop and think. After I read my devotional this morning, I was already convicted of the urgency to share the Good News. The Good News that Jesus died for me, and rose again that I might be saved from the punishment of my sin. The Bible tells us in Matthew 10:7-9: "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Free, His Gift of Salvation is truly FREE! I can't do anything to earn it, there are no hidden fees, I don't have anything to add to it. It really is the best deal around. You can't beat it. So, while I want to share my savings tips with others, I certainly want to remember to have an even greater enthusiasm for the Saving Grace of Jesus. If you haven't accepted your FREE gift, now is the time.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
This House
After a full morning at Bible Study, Ephraim and I like to just relax a little before we go to pick up Carson from school. Today a thunderstorm has interrupted our normal and cozy routine. Ephraim did pretty well at the start, but a loud clap of thunder had him shaken. He was headed downstairs to get a puzzle, when it happened.
He ran back to me and the safety of my arms. I held him close and he said to me, "This house will be okay, cause it is built on the LORD. Right Mama?". "Yes, of course", I responded. Yep, that Ephraim is listening even when you think he isn't. So be encouraged all you mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, Sunday School teachers and Bible Study leaders. When you give out God's WORD, It does not return empty. Just as God promises in His Holy Bible.
He ran back to me and the safety of my arms. I held him close and he said to me, "This house will be okay, cause it is built on the LORD. Right Mama?". "Yes, of course", I responded. Yep, that Ephraim is listening even when you think he isn't. So be encouraged all you mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, Sunday School teachers and Bible Study leaders. When you give out God's WORD, It does not return empty. Just as God promises in His Holy Bible.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
His WORDs Not Mine
Complaining and arguing are among the hardest habits to break; for me anyway. This year we have had plenty of opportunity in Bible Study to hear about the "grumbling Israelites" in the desert. Always wanting to take advantage of a "teachable moment", Troy and I will use what we learn at Bible Study to help the children and ourselves see things from God's perspective.
One of the Bible verses we studied this year was from Philippians 2:14 which is: "Do everything without complaining and arguing". We use the verse quite a bit in our house. It also happens to be part of Carson's verse that we gave him at birth. Ephraim even quoted it in his own way when he thought my 18 month old goddaughter was "complaining" about not getting her yogurt fast enough. "Everything without complaining or arguing, Philippians...", he said indignantly.
About a month ago, I was picking up Ephraim after tape time at Bible Study. He was playing happily on the swings and did not want to leave. I explained it was time to go and tried to speak lovingly and calmly. He kept protesting, I said to him "Remember your Bible verse... Do everything without complaining or arguing, Philippians 2:14". I kept saying it over and over. Ephraim finally relented, but it was a struggle. All of this was happening as one of the child care volunteers was looking on. I have to admit, I hadn't felt like a very good mother when I had to coax and convince a very disobedient Ephraim to leave that day.
Today, I ran into that same child care volunteer. I was certain she questioned my abilities as a parent. But, this is how God works, that same volunteer, stopped me and asked me what Bible verse I had quoted to Ephraim that day. She said she really liked it that I was using God's WORDs to encourage obedience. She said she thought she would try it, because they would have more weight with her children, because they weren't her words, but from The Bible.
Yep, His WORDs are always better than mine. It is a very comforting thing to know that they are His WORDs not mine.
One of the Bible verses we studied this year was from Philippians 2:14 which is: "Do everything without complaining and arguing". We use the verse quite a bit in our house. It also happens to be part of Carson's verse that we gave him at birth. Ephraim even quoted it in his own way when he thought my 18 month old goddaughter was "complaining" about not getting her yogurt fast enough. "Everything without complaining or arguing, Philippians...", he said indignantly.
About a month ago, I was picking up Ephraim after tape time at Bible Study. He was playing happily on the swings and did not want to leave. I explained it was time to go and tried to speak lovingly and calmly. He kept protesting, I said to him "Remember your Bible verse... Do everything without complaining or arguing, Philippians 2:14". I kept saying it over and over. Ephraim finally relented, but it was a struggle. All of this was happening as one of the child care volunteers was looking on. I have to admit, I hadn't felt like a very good mother when I had to coax and convince a very disobedient Ephraim to leave that day.
Today, I ran into that same child care volunteer. I was certain she questioned my abilities as a parent. But, this is how God works, that same volunteer, stopped me and asked me what Bible verse I had quoted to Ephraim that day. She said she really liked it that I was using God's WORDs to encourage obedience. She said she thought she would try it, because they would have more weight with her children, because they weren't her words, but from The Bible.
Yep, His WORDs are always better than mine. It is a very comforting thing to know that they are His WORDs not mine.
Monday, May 4, 2009
2:30am False Alarm and A Wake Up Call
Long time no blog. Don't know if you missed me or not, but I've been in one of those moods. I know I've blogged about it before so I won't bore you with a rehashing of my "If I am not close to God, I don't have much to say" explanation.
I think Beth Moore captured it best when she wrote: "If my relationship with God is current and lively and I am continuing to see His activity and marveling at His greatness, I have something living and active to testify about... When He and I are close, I can hardly stand for someone else not to know the joy of loving Him".
So, I'm back. I have been doing my Bible Study and have gone intermittently with my prayer time. Of course I have been going to church and Sunday School, but somehow, the fresh passion the "marveling" wasn't as present.
On Sunday morning at 2:30am, the shrill sound of the fire alarm permeated our home. No smoke present, no fire visible, but the voice in the alarm kept calling out "Fire, Fire, Fire". Troy jumped from the bed and I followed within moments. We found nothing on the first floor. I suddenly realized the boys (who were asleep in our bed) might be frightened. I returned to find them laying quietly in the bed with their hands covering their ears, trying to muffle the sound of the intentionally loud and annoying alarm.
I snuggled close to them fairly certain there was no real threat of fire. I told them it was going to be okay. Then I met with the reality that I needed to lead them in prayer. Not a long drawn out verbose prayer, but a short "God keep us safe and help us trust You" kind of prayer. When we had had enough of the alarm's persistent sounding, I told the boys we would wait in my car. I grabbed a throw, a pillow and Ephraim. Carson followed behind.
I backed the car a little bit out of the garage and looked to make sure I didn't see any flames shooting out the top of the roof. A few short minutes later, Troy came to the garage door and let us know it was safe to enter. Some kind of malfunction he remedied with a 9 volt battery. It was more to me though. It was my wake up call. I had not been depending on the LORD as I usually do. I hadn't been approaching Him in humble prayer that came as naturally as breathing.
When we met with a friend for lunch later on Sunday, the boys were recounting our whole 2:30am Fire Alarm story and Carson very matter of factly said "We didn't panic, we prayed". Yep, that is what we did. That is what we should always do. Something so simple, yet sometimes too allusive because we want to make it more. I've been coming to the LORD in prayer more often on my knees lately. Asking His forgiveness for making it all more complicated then it needs to be.
I don't want anymore unnecessary 2:30am sirens waking me from my desired slumber, but I am glad for the wake up call to draw closer to the LORD, so close, that He is the first thing I think of when I am facing anything, trauma or triumph.
I think Beth Moore captured it best when she wrote: "If my relationship with God is current and lively and I am continuing to see His activity and marveling at His greatness, I have something living and active to testify about... When He and I are close, I can hardly stand for someone else not to know the joy of loving Him".
So, I'm back. I have been doing my Bible Study and have gone intermittently with my prayer time. Of course I have been going to church and Sunday School, but somehow, the fresh passion the "marveling" wasn't as present.
On Sunday morning at 2:30am, the shrill sound of the fire alarm permeated our home. No smoke present, no fire visible, but the voice in the alarm kept calling out "Fire, Fire, Fire". Troy jumped from the bed and I followed within moments. We found nothing on the first floor. I suddenly realized the boys (who were asleep in our bed) might be frightened. I returned to find them laying quietly in the bed with their hands covering their ears, trying to muffle the sound of the intentionally loud and annoying alarm.
I snuggled close to them fairly certain there was no real threat of fire. I told them it was going to be okay. Then I met with the reality that I needed to lead them in prayer. Not a long drawn out verbose prayer, but a short "God keep us safe and help us trust You" kind of prayer. When we had had enough of the alarm's persistent sounding, I told the boys we would wait in my car. I grabbed a throw, a pillow and Ephraim. Carson followed behind.
I backed the car a little bit out of the garage and looked to make sure I didn't see any flames shooting out the top of the roof. A few short minutes later, Troy came to the garage door and let us know it was safe to enter. Some kind of malfunction he remedied with a 9 volt battery. It was more to me though. It was my wake up call. I had not been depending on the LORD as I usually do. I hadn't been approaching Him in humble prayer that came as naturally as breathing.
When we met with a friend for lunch later on Sunday, the boys were recounting our whole 2:30am Fire Alarm story and Carson very matter of factly said "We didn't panic, we prayed". Yep, that is what we did. That is what we should always do. Something so simple, yet sometimes too allusive because we want to make it more. I've been coming to the LORD in prayer more often on my knees lately. Asking His forgiveness for making it all more complicated then it needs to be.
I don't want anymore unnecessary 2:30am sirens waking me from my desired slumber, but I am glad for the wake up call to draw closer to the LORD, so close, that He is the first thing I think of when I am facing anything, trauma or triumph.
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