tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38141147317864618122024-03-13T03:17:13.869-04:00Glory to GodChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.comBlogger1437125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-26971766027648149292021-03-05T17:36:00.005-05:002021-03-05T17:36:52.594-05:00The Counting of Blessings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTPf90oXavi7jDOmpOpFIh0uNe-wCdAiMb4xKxO81BZAYuXX1yqgyBiTwbthYFBd5mbwVu24lcOAYdQM7Md8pQvqgmVU3NZWWwnwKeKndtva2RdEDJgUWFhAHDwoR3lN1XSpd25oh9Itt/s2048/count+your+blessings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTPf90oXavi7jDOmpOpFIh0uNe-wCdAiMb4xKxO81BZAYuXX1yqgyBiTwbthYFBd5mbwVu24lcOAYdQM7Md8pQvqgmVU3NZWWwnwKeKndtva2RdEDJgUWFhAHDwoR3lN1XSpd25oh9Itt/s320/count+your+blessings.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We've been through $8000 in plumbing issues during the last three months with more to come, so I thought it was time to make a concerted effort to list my blessings not just in my head, but in hard-copy form. Because plumbing and money out the window? Definitely the cares of this world that will pass away.</p><p><u>My blessings in no particular order:</u></p><p>1. I told you in my last post about listening to the Bible and lately it has been such a blessing. I am either cleaning up after a plumbing project, or getting ready for plumbers to come, it seems. Listening to the Bible has been so helpful and I've covered the Gospels and James, sometimes listening to chapters twice if people interrupt me.</p><p>2. Sunshine! Yes! Ohio doesn't get much of it and this week we've had 3 glorious days.</p><p>3. The nice plumbers who replaced the water heater today.</p><p>4. A yard to play in.</p><p>5. Teens and a tween who still like to talk to mom every day.</p><p>6. Talking to my kids about literature and history.</p><p>7. Gardening around the corner.</p><p>8. Flowers coloring our world soon.</p><p>9. I'm old and wrinkled at 55 (skin not very elastic in my gene pool) but my husband is gracious and loving so it could be a lot worse. </p><p>10. Son very happy with his ACT score and happy the test went on as planned, finally!</p><p>11. Kids are getting exercise again now that the snow melted and a little mini-spring arrived. (Homeschool gym, which was a major workout, got canceled this year and they were getting out of shape.)</p><p>12. I subscribed to a scheduling website for homeschooling last fall, and my planning is much more organized and streamlined! What a blessing! (homeschoolplanet.com)</p><p>13. Friday!</p><p>14. Okay, overalls ya'll. I used to wear them when I was single and young and they are back in style, apparently. I bought some for my 12-year-old and she looks so sweet and cute in them! She styles her hair in pigtails when she puts them on. I just can't stand not squeezing her and smiling.</p><p>15. A youth pastor my kids really love.</p><p>16. A pork loin roast for dinner that I just pop in the oven after seasoning, thank goodness--or I wouldn't have time to write this.</p><p>17. Pictures of their childhoods so I can remember because they are so grown up now. Big sigh.</p><p>18. The Lord is my strength and my shield. In Him my heart trusts.<b> Thanks be the God.</b></p><p>What are <i>you</i> thankful for today?</p><p><b>Have a wonderful weekend!</b></p>“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy and with my song I praise him” <b>(Psalm 28:7).</b><div><br /></div>“Do not be anxious about anything, but by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” <b>(Philippians 4:6).</b><div><br /></div>“Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” <b>(Ephesians 5:19-20).</b>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-405158985505038012021-02-24T02:51:00.000-05:002021-02-24T02:51:43.287-05:00The Christian Mother's Guide Part 2<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKcj7MfqyeQq315BSxhy_fPcJIpkoEle7pxY9niIv2F3biPZFjCeJjbG2_lYESBy0gpt6LCgTjXZhzBBIPdIqik2ieatACZZXOTQtIAd3QT45DqaHHcGUs3xJfFHZ7aZ7Fcf4rJ_CV-yV/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="682" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKcj7MfqyeQq315BSxhy_fPcJIpkoEle7pxY9niIv2F3biPZFjCeJjbG2_lYESBy0gpt6LCgTjXZhzBBIPdIqik2ieatACZZXOTQtIAd3QT45DqaHHcGUs3xJfFHZ7aZ7Fcf4rJ_CV-yV/" width="315" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In my last post I indicated we would delve into the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bible for a picture of what Christian motherhood should look like. If you're a first-generation Christian mom like me, you're hungry for direction and encouragement. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">No matter our background, if we study the heart of God through the relevant verses, and commit our way to Him, our mothering will honor God and strengthen the Church. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">God chooses to give to many woman the role of motherhood. Maybe we'd like to think <i>we've</i> <i>chosen</i> <i>motherhood</i>, but this isn't true. Those struggling with infertility can painfully attest to this fact. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">As mothers chosen by God, our response to God's calling should be: gratitude, humility, sacrifice, commitment--not unlike our response to salvation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Today's Verse: Titus 2:4</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each time we meet we'll look at a different scripture. Today I've chosen T<b>itus 2.4:</b> ..."<i>and so train the young women to love their husbands and children."</i> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, a little background on the Book of Titus. P</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">aul introduced Christianity in Crete when he and Titus visited there, and when Paul moved on, Titus stayed behind to organize the converts and lead the new church. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">In New Testament times morality in Crete had sunk to a deplorable level. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The island was inhabited by natives and Jews who did not know the truth of Jesus Christ. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The letter from Paul to Titus gave Titus authority and guidance, encouraged him to develop leaders within the church, and to commit everyone to sound doctrine, and to give </span>instructions to all age groups for right living pleasing to our Lord.</p><p><b>Titus 2:3-5</b> : 3 <i>Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.</i></p><b>Titus 2:2</b> <i>Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. <b>Titus 2:6-8</b> Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.</i><div><br /></div><div>Notice in verse 2:5 it says: ...<i>"so that no one will malign the word of God.</i>" The New American Standard version says "so that the word of God will not be dishonored." </div><div><br /></div><div>Everything we do as Christian mothers matters to God because as wives and mothers we are part of Kingdom-building. We are chosen for reasons higher than ourselves and our family--our husband and children are gifts, but they aren't just for our pleasure. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've told myself during the rough patches of my 22-year Christian marriage that we would finish the race not just because we made a promise, but <i>because our marriage matters to God and to the Church</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Likewise, our Christian children matter to God and to the Church. They help build it and grow it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The commandment here in Titus 2:4 specific to mothers is that we are to <u><b>love our children</b></u>. </div><div><br /></div>In Titus 2:4 the Greek word <i>philoteknos</i> appears in reference to mothers loving their children. Think of: <div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>- caring for their day-to-day physical needs</b></div><div><b>- nurturing their spirits </b></div><div><b>- embracing them with hugs</b></div><div><b>- meeting their emotional and spiritual needs</b></div><div><b>- tenderly taking them under your wing </b><div><br /><div>In order to love in this way, which sounds all-encompassing--we need God on our team. God never <i>burdens</i> us with any role, so we need not feel overwhelmed. Motherhood is a privilege and we can experience joy in it when we have God by our side.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have the benefit of God in three persons: </div><div><br /></div><div>- God the Father, who gives us good gifts and cherishes and loves us and wants fellowship with us</div><div><br /></div><div>- God the Son who is our Lord and Savior and example of sacrificial love</div><div><br /></div><div>- The Holy Spirit who is our Counselor and Teacher and the one who intercedes for us in prayer. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, we are never alone. If we feel alone it's often because we've failed somewhat in our personal relationship with God, and that's easy to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>Who wants us to fail in our devotion to God and family?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Who is the enemy of the Christian family, since the Christian family is so important in building up the Church?</b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Satan</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>- He wants us to get distracted by the things of this world, so that the needs of our children don't seem as pressing as our own desires.</div><div><br /></div><div>- He wants to make Sunday the official day of disasters so we'll miss church.</div><div><br /></div><div>- He wants us to get bogged down in perfectionism so we lose track of the big picture. (The house is probably not going to stay clean until the children leave home. Do what you can and keep loving, and don't get discouraged if "what you can" is barely the laundry and dishes. Delegate when they're ready for chores.)</div><div><br /></div><div>- He wants us to get in debt so we have to spend more time away from home or more time worrying. </div><div><br /></div><div>- He wants us to buy more stuff so we have to spend more time taking care of <i>things</i>, rather than people.</div><div><br /></div><div>- He wants us to stew about the irritating things people do, so we'll spend time arguing with or punishing people, rather than loving them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus warns his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane that "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." He wants them to watch and pray with him because he's feeling exceedingly sorrowful about the events about to unfold.</div><div><br /></div>He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26:40), and then afterward told them all to watch and pray in order to avoid temptation.</div><div><br /></div>The word for “spirit” in this passage is the Greek word pneuma, which in this context refers to the soul of man or the mind. The word for “flesh” refers to the human body and nature, with its moral and physical frailties.<div><br /></div><div>The story of the disciples here rings true for all of us. We are all subject to the weakness of the flesh.</div><div><br /></div><div>No matter how much we may want to be wonderful mothers and follow Jesus, we may "fall asleep" on the job unless we heed Jesus's advice to "keep watch and pray".</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Prayer</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>We know that we can ask God for whatever we need. Jesus made a special point that whatever we ask “in His name” He will do (John 14:13). The phrase in His name means “according to His will.” </div><div><br /></div><div>Is praying for the strength to love our children well, praying "according to God’s will"? Absolutely! Jesus will answer the prayer for spiritual strength to overcome the flesh. When we feel the weakness of the flesh about to overpower us, we can always pray.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Keep Watch</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div>The apostle Paul said, <i>“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it”</i> <b>1 Corinthians 10:13</b>. <div><br /></div><div>We should watch for the “way out.” Being spiritually watchful, we will see the temptation coming and pray for strength and victory. <i>“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty”</i> <b>Proverbs 22:3</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our spirits can keep watch by being washed regularly with the Word of God. This keeps us in tune with the very <i>heart</i> of God. </div><div><br /></div><div>Busy mothers might benefit from listening to the Word. Particularly with littles, you might be in a season where you'll soak up more Bible using Bible Gateway on audio using your phone. Whatever it takes, wash your mind with the Word. </div><div><br /></div><div>You'll run into people who are snobby about Bible on audio--like it doesn't really count for devotions. But there are advantages to both reading and to listening. When you listen you are more in tune to the context of the passages because you go through more passages at once. It's also easy to go through the whole Bible in a year this way.</div><div><br /><b>Psalm 46:1</b> <i>God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.</i></div><a class="full-chap-link" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+46&version=NIV" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; min-width: 0px;" title="View Full Chapter"></a><div><br /></div><div><b>Hebrews 4:16</b> <i>Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>God chose us specifically to love our unique children and fulfill their needs, and as much as some days we may feel ill-equipped or mismatched with their temperaments, this is nonsense--a lie from the Enemy. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are perfect for our children, as God is the perfect parent for us.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have to engage Him as our partner, asking for what we need, knowing humbly that without him we are nothing. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is a lot more to cover, including, what do we teach our children and how do we nurture them? Have a blessed day!</div></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-87123709836110692102021-02-19T17:00:00.005-05:002021-02-19T17:00:55.788-05:00The Christian Mother's Guidebook Intro<p><span style="font-family: arial;">I've been a mother for over 19 years now and mistakes? I've made my share. Two of my four children overflow with grace for me and the other two might be harboring ideas about my mothering that would haunt me, if I knew the whole of it. They happen to be the stubborn two, if you must know.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Contemplating my mistakes at the end of the day, sometimes unable to sleep, I sometimes wish I wasn't a <i>first-generation</i> Christian mom--saved only five years before my first child was born. How much better would I be doing as a mom if I had the benefit of Christian modeling? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I confess I'm also guilty of wondering how much better my mothering would be if mental illness hadn't been in the mix for some of my kids--something I've felt ill-equipped to handle. Things became so complicated that I quit blogging some years ago. The teen years mixed with mental illness left me so stretched that I had nothing to say. I've needed ministering to, but mental illness represents territory little understood by my fellow Christians. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Holy Spirit doesn't let me get too far with grumbling--this why-couldn't-it-have-been-this-way complaining. I'm aware it <i>is</i> grumbling, rather than trusting in His divine plan, and I'm ashamed when my thoughts turn thus.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I am a Christian, due only to God's divine grace. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I get to skip a fiery, forever suffering, through no merit of my own, therefore no complaining allowed. The Creator gets to be sovereign and doesn't suffer any back-seat driving. Isn't that what Job was told in no uncertain terms, when he thought things were a little unfair?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My daughters are 12 and 14, my sons 17 and 19. I have a ways to go, yes, but I have miles to look back on also. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Let me assure you--God's grace has been with me, every one of these 19 years. If you, too, have trouble sleeping due to mothering mistakes, take heart. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">When upset some nights over my lack of mothering patience, or skill, or grace, I would finally get around to what I should have started the night with.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Prayer</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My spirit calmed in the quiet darkness after I prayed that God would cover my sins and mistakes with his grace. I thanked him for my beautiful children and for beautiful motherhood, and asked him to take what little I had to offer and make much of it--with his power, his wisdom, his love, his grace.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The kids are all old enough now <i>that I can see it</i>. The Lord has been faithful. He's answered me and his answer is YES! Though needing plenty of guidance yet, my children show wisdom and discernment in making decisions for themselves. They express gratitude for what God has given them in salvation and truth, and they mourn for the lost they encounter at their workplaces and elsewhere.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Bible is my guidebook as a mother, but I recognize there could be more for mothers in my shoes. I found the Church was not much help because s</span><span style="font-family: arial;">tay-at-home motherhood? As a topic it remains controversial in the modern church, so the issues that arise for mothers home 24/7 aren't addressed. No one wants to start any mommy wars and who can blame their local church, honestly? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I know in my own church, there aren't enough stay-at-home moms to form a group at all. There are two Women's Bible studies--one run by a grandmother and one run by two working mothers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All Christians sin and we all need God's grace over and over again. We have more in common than we have differences, so do we really need Bible Studies or groups that cater to different lifestyles?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes and no.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">When I was younger in my homeschooling journey, I read an excellent Titus 2 book by a homeschooling mother and it spoke to my overwhelmed heart in just the right way. It met me right where I was at and I still remember the relief and joy I felt in reading this mother's life-giving words.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I want to write a book that will do that for first-generation Christian moms, and for Christian moms who are parenting children with mental disorders. I want to fill them with joy, confidence and grace in their journeys. It <i>is</i> hard to step into a role for which you had no modeling--no picture in your head for what it's supposed to look like. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Guess what many of us do when we have no picture? We strive for perfection and crash and burn often. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">What does the Bible say about our role as Christian mothers? Can we form a picture with scripture that will help all moms? I think we can. We'll be delving into the Bible in the next weeks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There may be no readers left out there, which is to be expected. But should this reach anyone, let me say I hope you and your family are well and staying sane during this pandemic. God bless you!</span></p>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-8002444507628842842018-12-30T12:53:00.000-05:002018-12-30T12:56:51.356-05:00Christmas Letter 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Family and Friends,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope you enjoyed a merry Christmas with your loved ones.
Today, December 26th, I’m finally stealing time from children, chores, and
ministry to reflect on 2018. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For our own family and for some of our relatives, there was
loss and grief. My husband’s father passed away in January. He was 95 and
lived a life that was hard, grief-filled, but faithful to the God he met as a
young man. He suffered mental illness but despite that, I heard him quote a
line from Scripture he obviously took to heart. Philippians 4:11 “I have
learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” His wife died 44 years ago,
and their first child, a baby daughter, died at 8 months old. His mother and
sister suffered mental illness and he lost them to a mental institution a very long
time ago, so his was a lonely life. Though he was not a perfect father, he did
his best with the tools a broken world handed him; he improved on the previous
generation, securing for my husband and his sister more stability and faith, and even more
love, than he had in his own youth. In death he left behind my husband and our
children, my husband's sister and her son. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My aunt E, my dad’s sister, lost her husband, D, 76,
in September, after 58 years of marriage. My aunt Dorothy, my mom’s sister,
lost her husband, R, in later fall, at age 83, after 63 years of
marriage. Both men had large families and their lives touched many; both
suffered painful deaths from cancer and fought courageously, thinking of the
families they were leaving, and the legacies they wanted to bless them with.
Their long marriages, their faithfulness to their children and families spoke
volumes to the present and coming generations. Please pray for my aunts as they grieve and find strength for new routines, new inspirations. Incidentally,
they are good friends, having met in the early 90’s because their mothers were
roommates in the same nursing home. Their mothers died a couple days apart, and
their husbands two months apart--once again, they are a comfort to each other. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My husband and the kids took trips twice to Pennsylvania to see his
Aunt D and Uncle B and Cousin Shawna and her family, meeting up with his
sister also, and staying with good friends Jim and his wife in Allentown,
PA. A great time was had by all. Peter has struggled psychologically for most
of the year and I needed a break from that, so I stayed behind to deal with
home repairs and homeschooling paperwork. Peter started a new, safe medicine
last month which is for bipolar (though he may or may not have that). The med
has been a game changer and an answer to prayer. He still has bad days, just
fewer of them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My house full of children is changing. All are in
adolescence and becoming their own people; my job is now about guiding while
staying out of God’s way, as he molds them into who He wants them to be, and as
He prepares them for the work he has for them. Our church’s high school youth
group is offering the teens a week-long mission trip to Costa Rica,
encompassing a few hours of morning construction work, followed by running a
daily Vacation Bible School for an inner-city church. The emphasis is on the
teens running it all, not merely helping the adults. It’s about learning to be
leaders, as well as expressing God’s love and mercy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Imagine the flags that went off in our parental heads at the
mention of a Central American country, though Costa Rica is not one of the most
dangerous. The mission organization employs armed guards to protect the teens
while they work, but nevertheless as a mother I fought hard to come to yes
regarding this trip. Something Peter said finally decided it; while I was
Googling San Jose, Costa Rica for as much information as I could gather, he
commented, “Well, those kids have to live there, so it has to be safe enough
for us to visit.” Oh. I can’t tell you how those words hit me. Immediately, I
imagined another Christian mother, sitting in Costa Rica, praying. If God saw
fit for another mother’s children to live in those conditions, and for her to
pray with faith every day for His protection and blessing, I could certainly go
out of my comfort zone to share my children’s love and talents, and my prayers,
with that faithful mother and her children. I tell other people and my children
how big of a God we serve--how powerful and faithful he is--all the time. So
how could I say no to an opportunity for God to demonstrate that power in a
tangible way? God willing, they are both going. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The drug lords are winning in Central America, corrupting
the politicians, the police, crippling the countries, causing significant
migration. I know it’s only God’s power that can eclipse the evil. Addiction
and trafficking threaten to steal our worth. The message of both is that we are
worthless--God’s message is that we are priceless. Our Creator gives us our worth.
He, who knit us in the womb and knew us before we were born. He, who thought we
were so priceless and beautiful He was willing to give it all for us. I want my
children to be part of His message of love and worth. Some problems require a
spiritual lead first, not a political one. Without the one, the other will
fail.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were changes in ministry this year. I helped in middle
school AWANA for three years, and while that wasn’t my area of giftedness, I
did learn to love those kids, after discovering you need to connect one on one.
In their mob, they’re less than pleasant, but the true person comes through
when you get them away from their peers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the AWANA year closed in May, I
asked the AWANA commander for younger kids, and ended up taking a co-director
position for the 3rd-5th grade AWANA club in Sept. It was a more ambitious
position than I really had time for (the other co-director is burned-out after
many decades of ministry), but I didn’t want another year in middle school. I
teach most weeks and send out weekly newsletters to parents and volunteers,
work individually with kids, and plan reviews. It’s a bit like a part-time job
and the books we use change every year for a three-year cycle. But it’s so
fulfilling! The kids look up at you with eager faces and hearts, hungry for the
teachings of God. Beth is in my club, Mary is in the middle school club,
Paul is a verse leader/occasional teacher in my club, and Peter is in his
third year as a leader in the preschool club. He loves it. Paul and I both
think the 3rd-5th kids are such a blessing. I hope we pour as much love into
them as they pour into us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There have been changes with our Compassion International
children; we now have two--one young girl in Uganda and a teen boy in Columbia.
We used to have more, but a few moved into areas that Compassion doesn’t serve,
one moved out of the program because her family was doing better, and one,
sadly, (our first-ever Compassion child, Divya) became a victim of India’s new
leader, Modi, who cracked down on Christian ministry in India. In March 2017,
Compassion International was forced to pull out of India entirely after 48
years, closing 589 Child Development Centers serving 145,000 of the country’s
poorest children. India has since moved to number 11 on the Open Doors World
Watch List (annual list of top 50 countries where it’s most dangerous to follow
Jesus). In 2017 they were number 15 on the list, and in 2018 they moved to
number 11, so it’s very alarming. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It used to be that outside of North Korea--number
1 on the list for 18 years--that the worst areas for persecution and violence
against Christians, and particularly Christian women, were Islamist extremist
areas, but now Hindu/ethnic extremists, like Modi, are also a major problem.
Please pray for Divya and her family, who we and Compassion no longer have any
contact with. She has our personally-written letters, which all Compassion
children treat like gold because of the hope and love they contain. She
participated not only in vocational, health, and tutoring classes, but in Bible
studies before Compassion shut down. Her personal letters to us indicated a
relationship with God. Whatever they might do, they can’t take Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now for the kids here at home. Mary is a soulful,
passionate child and music is her spiritual language. She loves a lot of
Christian music, but the Australian-American band For King and Country produces
great content that she adores--and they’re not too bad on the eyes to a
12-year-old girl, either. They sing, do lots of concerts (not near us this
year), write their own music, do music videos, and the song/book/movie
Priceless, about trafficked women. She hasn’t seen the movie due to
mature/emotional content, but when she’s older she will. It’s outstanding. She
likes to hear the stories behind every song they’ve written. Each story is
compelling. I hope her love for music will inspire her to manage her storm
phobia, which is still a very serious problem in her life. Overcoming fear is a
common theme in Christian music.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mary also loves to
read--I can’t keep enough literature in the house for her! Missionary stories
are favorites, as well as adventure novels with inspiring, courageous
characters. She still reads a lot of historical literature as part of our
curriculum, too. She loves the power of story and I believe someday she’ll
harness the power of story to charge hearts and lives. I bought her Katie Davis Major's two books for Christmas, which are really impacting her <i>(Kisses for Katie</i>, and <i>Daring to Hope</i>).<br />
<br />
She loves fishing, and
card and board games with her siblings. She loves her middle school church
class and gets along well with boys, since her two brothers were her first
companions. She usually has one girl she likes in each class. If you asked her
what she wants to do with her life, she’d probably say, “Go on adventures.” She
has prayed about becoming a missionary to China or another land. More recently
China is cracking down on the underground house-churches, which have been very
successful in growing a very large Christian population.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul is 15 and a hardworking student, blessed to have
many things come easily to him. He excels at writing--essays, narrative and
expository, and occasionally poetry, while still finding math second nature. He
wavers between career choices, sometimes wondering about journalism, or being a
pollster or statistician, or an engineer. He enjoys politics in a Carl Rove
way, but he doesn’t engage in an emotional way. He read a large volume of
articles and checked the stats every day of the midterm election season and
could tell you who was running in each toss-up state for what race and what
their chances were, and what scandals were brewing. He gauged the day to day
chances of a Senate or House takeover and would tell me all about it; I majored
in political science and, thankfully, although I never used the degree, I never
lost interest. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a teacher does, I considered that a future president or other
major leader might be in my class, so I shared bits of wisdom to shape the
journey forward. Mainly, that politics shouldn’t be taken over by a we’re
right/they’re wrong dynamic, but be a civic practice aimed at achieving balance
in our republic, with the respective branches of government staying true to
their charters. I told my future voters to read every quote from candidates
before voting, looking for the one who serves God--not a faith borrowed in time
for the election, but a true faith, because a leader needs strength most of
all, and true strength doesn’t come from man, but from God. Man’s strength is
borrowed, begged, or stolen, and always withers with enough pressure, but God’s
strength is bestowed and then managed by God. And then, look for humility,
because with that comes gratitude, and together they’re the foundation for a
lot of other virtues. Also, that in the political process there is no room for
bitterness, because ultimately, God is sovereign, and he gives and takes away
power from man for purposes not known to us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul still enjoys chess, gardening, baking, cooking, board
games and card games with his sisters, going to local college football and
basketball games with his dad and sometimes his brother, going to high school
youth group, playing Christmas Carols and a few other songs on the piano,
practicing basketball outside with a friend or his brother, but more often
making baskets by himself to blow off steam. Paul is the quickest to offer
help and sympathy when my day has been difficult; in short, he’s a giver, while
still being able to compartmentalize stress and get necessary things done. He
relies on the Lord for strength and hope.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peter will be 17 in a couple weeks. He enjoys nature, many
types of Christian music, fishing, and chess. His favorite school subject is
history. In fact, he’s always detailing for me what he’s reading in history,
expressing amazement at something from the past. He says he was born in the
wrong era, except for the advancement of antibiotics and the abolishment of
slavery (though we still have trafficking, he knows). A gentler time, when
people honored God more, is his desire. His is a tender, very old soul.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peter is unsure what he wants to be. Missionary work fits
his gifting, as demonstrated by his work with his friends and at church, and he
hasn’t given up on that idea, but his OCD obsessions obscure his real desires
and he hasn’t taken control of his illness. I can’t help him beyond praying for
him (we’ve done therapy). It’s harder for him to concentrate on his studies due
to obsessions, but he’s a capable student and could do well in college,
otherwise. Right now, he’s considering vocational work, which keeps his mind
clearer. Entering a vocational high school might be a good idea for him next
fall, so he can be employable right out of high school, while he matures and
hopefully finds the inspiration to take control of his illness. Your prayers
for him would be appreciated. Mental illness is heartbreaking and takes
acceptance of/responsibility for the burden first, and then courage for the way
forward.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beth just turned 10 and had a rough year with her arthritis.
She was doing so well in February that her doctor gradually took away one
medicine at a time to see if she had grown out of her autoimmune disease (JIA).
In June, the disease came back worse than before. She’s on three
immunosuppressants right now. We’ll drop the prednisone in about five weeks,
but the Orencia and methotrexate she’ll be on indefinitely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beth, like Paul, works very hard in school. She’s
serious, but tenderhearted, always ready with a smile and hug. She loves
writing and is always working on a story. The sentences come together naturally
for her and she’s a good storyteller, even researching her settings online. She
dreams of seeing her name on the cover of a book someday. She loves reading as
well. It gets stressful around here, and Beth’s escape is to go outside,
enjoying fresh air and God’s creation, which is a reminder of His presence and
love. She loves studying different animals and learning about conservation, and
enjoys hiking with Daddy in the summer, while the other children fish. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My husband and I will reach 20 years of marriage next July. We got
married July 3, which means we almost always forget our anniversary. I will try
to dissuade my children from getting married near a national holiday! The days
have been long, but the years have passed by so quickly. I’m excited for my
kids because they’re excited about becoming adults, but there are tears, too,
when I remember all the little-kid times that have passed away. My husband, for his
part, just wants his wife back. He’s still at his same two jobs working 55-60
hours and he keeps very busy as a father, taking the children individually on
outings to speak love and value into their hearts. He’s a keeper! We are both
growing old and not finding it easy, but God’s loving message of our worth
helps, especially in our youth-obsessed culture. May God’s strength and
blessing be with you all in 2019. Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-23777673749501949012017-12-30T11:01:00.000-05:002017-12-30T11:01:26.469-05:00Reflection Time: 364 Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A new year is more than just another holiday--it's a new beginning too, a fresh start, even for those resistant to self-reflection. Can you really put 365 days behind you without some meditation on the trials and triumphs experienced?<br />
<br />
What purpose did God have for them, we have to wonder? Did I drift farther away from Him, or grow closer?<br />
<br />
Sometimes it's so messy, complicated, <i>hard</i>.<br />
<br />
We put it off and convince ourselves it's just cliche anyway.<br />
<br />
I don't want to, but I think the Holy Spirit is forcing me.<br />
<br />
I lost my voice a year ago. Nothing seemed appropriate to say here; I knew what ailed me, but I was ashamed to admit it.<br />
<br />
Discouragement had taken root and I couldn't put one foot in front of the other anymore to rid my heart of it. I still did devotions with my family, and still read my Bible, but I didn't work on my discouragement through writing, which is what always worked for me. Writing is a hard process whereby I would only start with an idea and the Holy Spirit would then take over, and by the end, I felt lighter, more at peace with the Lord and with my walk and with my circumstances.<br />
<br />
Unsaved family can't be a support because they can't understand my choices or circumstances, and my husband already has enough on his plate with a 55-hour workweek and the mental disorders our kids face. Any personal discouragement was always something I had to deal with on my own with the Lord alone--and anonymously, I suppose, with anyone reading here (but really, the words were for the Lord).<br />
<br />
Part of the reason, too, that I stopped writing was this: I felt like I'd written the same types of things over and over and how many times could I keep repeating them ad nauseum?<br />
<br />
My answer today is: <b>As many times as my heart needs them!</b><br />
<br />
I commune with the Holy Spirit much more efficiently through writing than through prayer. This year confirmed that. Writing is my authentic personal prayer, I suppose, minus the supplications.<br />
<br />
Remember that prayer is the Holy Spirit communing with our spirit? It's not just us telling God what we want. The Holy Spirit does much of the work involved--although we think all the work comes from us.<br />
<br />
Have you ever noticed that the hardest part of prayer is <i>starting the first word</i>?<br />
<br />
After that He is sitting right there with us, happy we chose to spend the time (or that is what I imagine). Each word after the first flows better and better.<br />
<br />
The chromebook died in March and that made it more difficult to even think about writing. The PC is used for four children to complete math and spelling, and the two boys to complete Spanish and writing. Soon, though, we get another one and I can write at night again. For now, I can write on the weekends.<br />
<br />
<b>Isaiah 40:30 </b><br />Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; <br />but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Happy New Year! May you grow ever closer to Him, reflecting this weekend on what might be standing in your way in 2018.</div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-32468570031977863312017-12-21T23:15:00.000-05:002017-12-21T23:15:18.446-05:00Merry Christmas Letter 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Friends,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We hope 2017 brought
abundant blesses, new friends and more love into your lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve had blessings and challenges in another whirlwind
parenting year. Having four kids was a real physical challenge 9 years ago when Beth was born; I had four kids ages 7 and under. I’m not sure which is more
challenging—that phase or having two teens and two tweens and being emotionally
wrecked. Someone once told me you don’t get any more sleep when they’re older
because they need to talk…a lot. We have some of those heart to hearts during
the school day, thankfully, but yeah--parenting isn’t for sleep lovers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peter turns 16 January 11<sup>th</sup>; Paul is 14; Mary is 11; Beth is 9. I’ll fill you in on what we’ve been doing collectively and
then tell you a little about each child. Homeschooling eats up traveling money,
but this year we did, with husband’s sister’s help, make it over to Lemar, Pennsylvania
for the 4th of July to see my husband’s aunt and uncle, with his sister meeting us there. Adding our four to their cousin's grandkids, there
were eight children in all, making it a blast getting reacquainted with my husband's family. We’re praying we can take the drive more often. Aunt Dot took us to
see her delightful Amish friends, where a large litter of puppies and kittens greeted
us. Every child’s dream! Peter and I talked farming with the homesteader while
Mary and Paul took pictures of the animals, later entering them in a
library photo contest and winning $75 between them, with Mary taking the first
prize! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve continued with the AWANA program this year, which runs
from September until early May. Peter is in his second year of helping in the
preschool class, and Miss Jill, the teacher, loves him. He’s gaining valuable
experience in how to control a group of squirrelly kids by staying a few steps
ahead of them, and he delights in the funny things they say and do. Peter has
always appreciated children—it’s an unmistakable love that comes from a
person’s core and causes the spirit to lighten whenever children are near. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul is in his last year of the AWANA Trek club (grades
6-8); Mary is in her last year of the Truth and Training club (grades 3-5),
and Beth is in her first year of Truth and Training. I help with the middle
schoolers, which uniquely connects me to what kids are going through in the
public schools as the kids share their prayer requests and their trials and
triumphs. I still love working with kids of any age really. This experience,
though, helps confirm that homeschooling is still the right choice for each of
our children going forward, although for a time we were considering putting
Peter in a career vocational high school for his last two years, partially because
his OCD gives him so little peace and working helps with that. We’ve all
decided against that approach, however.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All four children work with me as door greeters at church,
which is part of a push to have whole families serving together as much as possible;
my husband works the information booth between services. The elderly people especially
enjoy my girls opening the door for them, and will ask where they are when it’s
the boys’ turn. If you have a picture in your mind of my girls standing there
like model citizens, smiles awaiting, erase that picture. Beth twirls around
like a graceful ballerina and Mary looks for bugs in the flowerbeds while they
wait for people to arrive. I often have to cue them that someone is coming.
Sometimes the overly heavy door gets in the way of remembering to smile, but
still, they charm the socks off the cheerful people. And the grumpy people? After
six months of door greeting and seeing the same families/people continually,
I’ve decided that grumpy people probably don’t know another way to live.
They’re the people who harbor irritation over the whole concept of door
greeting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who knew how telling this job would be! The most joy-filled
people who come through my door? They’re the kids and parents of kids ages
birth through 12 years…and the more kids in the family the happier they are.
Society sells lies about kids—they’re too expensive, they’ll make you slaves,
you’ll lose your identity, you’ll have no retirement—and for the first time
ever, Americans are having less than 2 children per family. That’s a lot less
joy all around. According to statistics, I predict that quality of life and health
will suffer in the long term.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This school year has the boys immersed in Spanish 1,
Classical Literature and Composition, History of the Christian Church/Medieval
History, Geometry/Algebra II (Paul), Algebra I/Geo (Peter), Biology with Lab,
Career & College Readiness. In high school my lab partner (who I might have
had a crush on) did most of the dissecting and this year my husband (who after
eighteen years I sometimes still crush on) will be supervising the dissecting. Our
literature class, always my favorite, encompasses some poetry, <i>Romeo and Juliet</i>, <i>Jane Eyre</i>, <i>The Merry
Adventures of Robinhood</i>, a biography of Pontius Pilate, <i>Pilgrim’s Progress in Today’s English</i>, <i>Robinson Crusoe</i>, <i>A Christmas Carol</i>, <i>Oliver
Twist</i>, <i>Pride and Prejudice, Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde</i>, <i>Twelfth Night</i>,
<i>The Screwtape Letters</i>, and ten other
less famous works.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The girls, also taught together, are finishing a long (2.5
years) study of American history. In March they’ll begin a yearlong study on
Eastern Hemisphere literature and history, followed by two years of world
history. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last Spring we used Wednesdays for a Homeschool Co-op, but
in the teen years mental illnesses often worsen. This fall we declined Co-op to
concentrate on seeing a counselor for Peter’s OCD, ADHD, and new disorder
developed in March, called Trichotillomania, which is a subset of OCD (a hair
pulling disorder). By June, Peter didn’t have many eyebrows left and was
pulling out his eyelashes and through the summer was working on small bald
spots in his head. Mary’s had a storm phobia for a number of years and this
year, instead of improving, it worsened. She started seeing a counselor in
August, and Peter in September, after being on a waiting list for a few
months. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we found these two counselors, I thought things would improve for us. Maybe Peter’s counselor could
at least help with ADHD life coaching and the hair pulling, I surmised (OCD
therapists are $100+ an hour). I’d become stressed and worried about so many
things, including suicide because anxiety is extremely draining and kids don’t
tolerate it as well as adults, which our culture doesn’t understand; I knew I
had to keep a very close eye on them. Mary’s counselor, although pleasant,
planned things that were more appropriate for a younger child. Mary didn’t
improve and claims she got nothing out of it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And Peter? I sat in on those meetings per the counselor’s
request. I got an upfront view of the process, which was not the case with Mary.
The counselor ending up knowing less than I did about some of Peter’s issues
and had nothing to add, other than to ask Peter each week what worked when he
experienced this or that symptom. He then wrote the things Peter narrated on a
notecard and sent it home with Peter. He didn’t teach. As an educator, that
irritated me. If you really want to help people with emotional disorders, you
want to teach them about the mind, don’t you? How is your mind tricking you? What
must you do to counter it so you can go on with your life? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, Peter still does therapy, but at home with me and
Mary and Paul. They’re learning that anxiety is nothing more than your
brain telling you lies. And their job? To practice catching the lies and
replacing them with truth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I watch them closely and no one is ever left home alone, but
I’m learning to give them over to the Lord, knowing he has every hour of their
lives planned according to his purposes, and that I can’t save anyone. The best
parental move is not healing your own children, but introducing them to the
Healer. We replace the lies in the brain with His truth…that he loves us with a
perfect love, that we are worthy because he gave us our worth, that he is
mighty to save, that he doesn’t make mistakes, that he is working all things
according to the good of those who love him. I can see the peace in my children
now after one of our counseling sessions, which marry Christian counseling with
what man has learned about the mind. Biblical counseling sites provide storehouses
of valuable materials for free online. While I provide sound advice for their
souls and minds, it’s still up to them to make choices for themselves going
forward. Ultimately, for my own peace, I have to remove myself from their
choices and keep on praying. Wellness from emotional disorders is always a
choice—it’s a daily choice, a fighting choice, but still a choice. Anxiety
takes many victims and <i>I choose hope</i>.
I have warned them of the pitfalls—that people will tell you, take this or that
to relax--that America has an addiction crisis primarily because of untreated
anxiety and don’t ever say yes to artificial relaxation. Go to the Prince of
Peace.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beth, at 9, is very loving and affectionate. Just this
morning she declared she’ll be a librarian or a teacher. While skilled at
writing, she says it’s not her favorite. She enjoys dancing, reading, drawing,
stuffed animals, swinging at parks, hiking, talking to her friend Isabelle on
the phone, and playing make believe with her sister, who only sometimes obliges
now that she’s eleven. What stands out about Beth every morning is that she
starts school immediately, even before breakfast, and stays focused until she’s
done. I asked for a new rheumatologist for her several months ago—a young
doctor from Turkey who is fabulous. Previously on three drugs for her rheumatoid
arthritis, she is now on only one (Orencia administered via IV once a month)
and so far, there are no problems associated with dropping the other two. She
requested a guinea pig for Christmas and Daddy compromised with a hamster, who
will be joining our family shortly—one just like her sister’s long-haired
Syrian hamster. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mary, at 11, became a real bookworm this year. She enjoys
reading, hiking, inventing new things using motors from discarded toys (pleads
with Daddy to take her to the junkyard for raw materials for her inventions),
and caring for her hamster. Fishing has become a real summer highlight for her!
The children go fishing with Daddy (who hates fishing but likes birding) nearly
every weekend in late spring through the fall. Sometimes Paul stays with me,
but often he goes fishing; Mary always catches the most fish. Mary’s an able
athlete and fierce competitor in sports and in board games with her siblings.
The boys are heavily into chess and she goes to a chess club with them once a
month, just starting to improve her game.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mary’s greatest storm fear is that the roof will blow off
the house and she’ll die. Every bad storm or threat of a storm is like the last
day of her life; it’s a huge weight to carry and distraction is all that works
at the present time. The hardest thing is if I’m on a grocery run and a storm
brews up, my husband calls me to calm down what looks like a panic attack starting in
her. The breathing exercises work, but she needs to learn to do them solo;
Peter is good at working with her if we’re driving and a storm brews. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul loves chess, attending and following our local university's basketball and football games with his dad (who often gets free tickets),
playing basketball in the driveway, attending youth group and AWANA, math,
cooking and baking, playing Christmas songs on the piano (for fun; he doesn’t
take lessons), and somehow he enjoys taking practice SAT tests wherever he can
find them. He wants to do something with engineering someday. Paul and I are
partners in trying to stay sane around here; he encourages my heart and always
has something nice to say, even though he has struggles of his own. I’m careful
to remind Paul that God’s got my back. It’s easy to feel like a huge failure when
you have kids with mental disorders. I have to drown out a lot of noise to hear
the truth…that God loves me, that I am not a failure as a mother, that God has
a purpose for our struggles, a purpose bigger than we are, a purpose that will
bring Him glory and our hearts closer to Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think of Martin Luther, Father of the Reformation, who
suffered from OCD, Bipolar Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder, none of
which God healed. No one knew about OCD (he had the same type as Peter) or Bipolar
in the 1500’s (Luther was accused of a lot of things due to his peculiar
behaviors). God used him mightily, flawed, sinful man that he was. He was no
hero, just God’s instrument. The OCD that tortured him from an early age? It
was the catalyst for his rebellion against a saved-by-works heresy, against
indulgences and a rich Church that used poor believers mercilessly. The big
picture was that God wanted the Bible in every home and Luther was the man he
chose to do it—though it was the Church’s greatest fear: that the common people
would know Truth. The Bible, which Luther took ten years to translate into the
common language, then became the catalyst for literacy. God loves us perfectly,
scandalously, yes, but we exist for his glory and that’s a hard concept when
you just want your healing prayers answered so you can live comfortably. Living
joyfully as God’s instrument is a desire the Holy Spirit grows in us over time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peter loves fishing and chess equally—one to occupy summer
and the other, winter. He enjoys fixing things and career assessments point to
technician, or agricultural worker, etc. He’s had his own lawn-mowing business since
age 13, now working with five neighbors. He keeps a used lawn mower going, ordering
and paying for his own parts. Farming is something he keeps coming back to in
terms of career, but it’s hard to say what he’ll choose. Ohio State offers two-year agricultural degrees, which is a current goal, with
the aim of working toward owning his own farm.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've been absent a long time from this blog, and I haven't read any blogs, but I've thought of you and I've wanted to get back here. I just lost my voice, so to speak. I wish you and your family a blessed 2018! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Merry Christmas!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 Corinthians 12:9 <b><i>But he said to me, "My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I
will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may
rest on me. </i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-24930651054651887592016-12-04T13:05:00.000-05:002016-12-04T13:53:29.692-05:00Persevering Mom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My girls went to a birthday party last night. It was held in a tiny starter church and the theme was Finding Dory, which they showed on a "big screen" (aka the screen for worship music lyrics). They asked the girls to dress in pajamas and bring sleeping bags and teddy bears. Oh the excitement!<br />
<br />
Party hours were 4 PM to 7 PM, during which pizza, cake, ice cream and a snack table were available. Apparently, Mary had some of each because at exactly one in the morning she vomited big time and it was 2:30 before I got to sleep.<br />
<br />
The sick ones always sleep in the king bed with me just in case they need assistance again in the middle of the night. I didn't know if this was a virus or a junk food hangover. Hubby set an alarm and slept elsewhere, waking us up at 6:50 as he got ready for church and spoke loudly in the hallway with Paul about the awesome Penn State football game.<br />
<br />
Imagine my irritation.<br />
<br />
I feel like a zombie and have to clean the house ahead of the daycare week, wash a bunch of linen plus the regular daily loads, and you're waking me and our sick daughter up because of football?<br />
<br />
I got up, helped everyone but Mary get ready for church and later got the computer set up to listen to the live sermon broadcast. We watched that, while I observed to see if Mary could hold down sips of water.<br />
<br />
The whole time I'm feeling like I'd just studied all night long for an 8 AM final exam. They don't tell you in college that much of your first 18 years parenting a child will mimic that feeling, except for a few summer months when viruses slow down. <br />
<br />
Of course it isn't just the viruses. You'll stand in the kitchen and by the washer and dryer for much of the next 18 years, come rain or shine, sickness and in health, especially if you homeschool. The floor will need sweeping and the carpet a vacuuming when you're not by the washer, dryer, dishwasher or stove.<br />
<br />
Relentless is the only word that covers it and yet moms don't quit. We persevere with some super human strength I am grateful for, but will never understand. Even us older moms. Even grandmas who are moms to their grandchildren. If we're bedridden, we find a way to mother and delegate from the bed.<br />
<br />
Sometimes while sweeping the same floor hours later we feel like Cinderella, who works herself to exhaustion while the evil stepmother and stepsisters live active lives, well-rested and vibrant, always looking forward to something. Other people live life, it seems, while we enable their pursuits. We give things up day after day. The feeling of being passed by, of being unimportant, can be so strong sometimes.<br />
<br />
Our Heavenly Father sees us and is well pleased. We work for Him and he says this is good work and I bank my life on that. The servant is blessed in the kingdom of God. The last shall be first. All the more reason to press on without complaining, rejoicing in the growth and beauty in our children's hearts and minds. Sometimes when they're being selfish it seems like we're going backwards, but persevere and trust. Together with the Lord, we're not just cleaning messes, but building a legacy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-40985305747590307202016-12-03T12:56:00.001-05:002016-12-03T22:02:49.330-05:00Crucial Situation for Compassion in India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
They asked us not to mention this on social media for most of this year, but now that negotiations have failed, I can share that Compassion International's program in India is in jeopardy, affecting our long-time correspondent child, Divya, now age 13 and vulnerable as a teen in her society. Compassion now encourages sponsors to share the situation with friends on social media, asking friends to do the same.<br />
<br />
Leadership changed in India early in the year, giving the government more control over which charity groups can work in the country. They put a block on Compassion's funds many months ago, but some Compassion Development Centers were able to keep operating until now.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Personally I can say if we lose contact with Divya, it will be devastating for us, as well as for her family of four. We have written her since she was eight years old and she feels like part of our family.<br />
<br />
On Dec. 6, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives will hear testimony from Compassion about the situation with the Indian government. Please use the link below and five minutes of your time to write your local congressperson. The letter is written for you and putting in your zip code, electronically signing, and hitting submit sends the letter to your local congressperson. You can change the wording if you don't sponsor a child in India by just deleting a sentence about that and writing that you are concerned about Compassion's predicament in India. 130,000 of India's poorest children will be affected if Compassion has to shut down services in a country they have helped for decades under many different Indian governments. The statement and links below were penned by Compassion: <br />
<table bgcolor="#FFFFFF" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv6065551135body" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1480786000367_3465" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 100%px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1480786000367_3464" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; width: 602px;">
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1480786000367_3463" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><td align="center" colspan="1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1480786000367_3462" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; border-spacing: 2px;"><br />
<i><span style="color: red;">Today I will be short and to the point. I need your help. Compassion needs your help. Children in India and their families need your help.<br /><br />To get the background on why we need your help, please <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001AgvqPOGLnR8RMwK9QSBQEctLLKGDGoI9_K71Lx-VDRYRvhe1CF-pfpZmFLDrwjNSXSpXVSL7YL15YplE4EXye2V1LcqwSWjy-Rv8ij9BrWDbL2LAK10JpFmIFnp2CaQelBNyU3Wrdb-BzqiFXi1jGQKmA0sB3LzdIJuyUF1PbPHhDMqiky50x4SsedZBdUAQMj0uibfs890QEag5sncFz0wHTONR5OSr5igrVP9nsy3JrtmgF8Un10sIBw7JAH2ahtO1NQaSSx_v7uujhVKuzw==&c=Hysk2Mu1mBz1mvqHNKEwbDU7zqok4NF2RdGCBfqvmBJq-d43gvsEXQ==&ch=VFnBRxZ6kOrrEvGixafb5OhXMWyxIJtJh1_axzTlWZCLMZHCFdDTYg==">read this post</a> from the Compassion Blog. <br /><br />Here's a quick snippet from that post,<br /> <br />"...as of today, many of our remaining partners in India have run out of funds entirely and don't have the benefit of our financial support and resources for their ongoing child development efforts.<br /> <br />We have been working closely with the Indian and U.S. governments and have respectfully complied with all requests from the Indian government. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke on our behalf with a key official in India. However, the restriction on our funds remains in place.<br /> <br />If a resolution is not reached soon, we will no longer be able to fund the child development centers operating in India. The ripple effect would not only impact the lives of more than 130,000 babies, children and young adults but also the lives of their family members and their communities."<br /> <br />There are two ways that we are asking people to take action.<br /> <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001AgvqPOGLnR8RMwK9QSBQEctLLKGDGoI9_K71Lx-VDRYRvhe1CF-pfpZmFLDrwjNSAJroqBhDkX-sZTurE6zrcdloF9Gz7mRXJ7oMg9028J1LerLdITzibd-Rwz3LWc-jLRvhWXYA0FnKDbsWMjEW02GteauCPL2fve9xn0add2Yl-tSkdIraZP7NHGVms4JWuB7aoHxArJm6CKaFHRIIEhoLXA11qLWM&c=Hysk2Mu1mBz1mvqHNKEwbDU7zqok4NF2RdGCBfqvmBJq-d43gvsEXQ==&ch=VFnBRxZ6kOrrEvGixafb5OhXMWyxIJtJh1_axzTlWZCLMZHCFdDTYg==">Contact</a> your Congressperson<br />Raise awareness on social media<br /> <br />Will you take five minutes out of your day to contact your representative and ask friends and family to do the same? On Dec. 6, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives will hear testimony from Compassion about the situation with the Indian government so the timing of this is urgent.<br /><br /><br />Lastly, when you share about this situation, we are asking everyone to please be sensitive to all parties. Any questions about what to say or not say, do not hesitate to <a href="mailto:jacquie@compassionbloggers.com">email me</a> or ask in our Facebook group.<br /><br />As always, thank you for acting on behalf of children in poverty!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-29546423181911404732016-12-01T12:14:00.001-05:002016-12-01T13:24:18.195-05:00Food Pantries and America's Poor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've participated in canned food drives since my childhood, but it's only in the past year my eyes have been opened regarding food-insecure households. There's a better way to help then donating expired or nearly-expired cans--the undesirables from your pantry.<br />
<br />
Before I give recommendations, let me explain what a "food pantry" is. It's an inspiring story worth reading.<br />
<br />
John Arnold van Hengel (1923-2005) is the “Father of Food Banking.” In 1967 van Hengel, a grass roots activist and entrepreneur, founded the world’s first food bank in Phoenix, Arizona. His efforts were blessed, as you will read in the following history, from <a href="http://www.feedingamerica.org/">Feeding America's website</a>:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">"For 35 years, Feeding America has responded to the hunger crisis in America by providing food to people in need through a nationwide network of food banks. <br /><br />The concept of food banking was developed by John van Hengel in Phoenix, AZ in the late 1960s. Van Hengel, a retired businessman, had been volunteering at a soup kitchen trying to find food to serve the hungry. One day, he met a desperate mother who regularly rummaged through grocery store garbage bins to find food for her children. She suggested that there should be a place where, instead of being thrown out, discarded food could be stored for people to pick up—similar to the way “banks” store money for future use. With that, an industry was born.<br /><br />Van Hengel established St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix, AZ as the nation’s first food bank. In its initial year, van Hengel and his team of volunteers distributed 275,000 pounds of food to people in need. Word of the food bank’s success quickly spread, and states began to take note. By 1977, food banks had been established in 18 cities across the country.<br /><br />As the number of food banks began to increase, van Hengel created a national organization for food banks and in 1979 he established Second Harvest, which was later called America’s Second Harvest the Nation’s Food Bank Network. In 2008, the network changed its name to Feeding America to better reflect the mission of the organization.<br /><br />Today, Feeding America is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization—a powerful and efficient <a href="http://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/how-we-work/food-bank-network/?s_src=W16CORGSC&s_referrer=google&s_subsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.feedingamerica.org%2Fways-to-give%2F">network of 200 food banks across the country</a>. As food insecurity rates hold steady at the highest levels ever, the Feeding America network of food banks has risen to meet the need. We feed 46 million people at risk of hunger, including 12 million children and 7 million seniors. Learn more about how we get food to people in need in our "<a href="http://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/how-we-work/?s_src=W16CORGSC&s_referrer=google&s_subsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.feedingamerica.org%2Fways-to-give%2F">How We Work</a>" section. Support Feeding America and help solve hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.</span><br />
<div class="promos" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
It's far more efficient and sustainable for private citizens like Van Hengel to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots, than for our government to do so. Millions of single mothers would be hard pressed without the nation's food stamp program, but if we--especially Christians--could innovate a way to help needy families through a non-profit organization, the country would be stronger both spiritually and financially. Families could be holistically assisted using a model similar to the highly successful programs <a href="http://www.compassion.com/">Compassion International</a> runs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mental health issues, for example, are common among the poor and without donated medical services many are never helped. The nation's Medicaid program is a blessing but very few doctors and dentists and therapists take the insurance, and eye glasses are not covered, leaving many children suffering poor vision through their school years. (FYI: Walmart Vision Centers allow you to donate discarded eye glasses).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A better medical solution would be a non-profit organization of doctors who donate a day per week or month seeing needy patients for free. Understandably, younger doctors are paying back hefty student loans, but older, established, or retired doctors would be ideal for such a program.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With innovation and dedication wealth can be shared voluntarily, blessing both the givers and receivers. Tax-payers are not blessed to give, correct?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Over the past year we've needed to visit our local food pantry several times, so I'm very grateful for Mr. Van Hengel's dedication and innovation. All it takes for some payday-to-payday families to become food-insecure is a major car repair or paying for those eye glasses Johnny broke in the latest bike crash or wrestling match. Sometimes, it's simply that essential toiletries or replacement clothes compete for food money. Every fiscal month has enough trouble of its own.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Local businesses, such as Starbucks and Panera, use Feeding American to distribute food they would otherwise throw away. A visit to many local food pantries includes fresh, delicious Panera bread--from a restaurant the poor could never frequent. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Meats nearing their sell-by date are discounted by grocery stores, and if they still aren't sold, they are frozen and distributed to the nearest Food Bank (one of 200 across the country). Each food bank serves many surrounding areas, distributing the bounty as needed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We've received quality food mixed with some clearly rotten food--things that would have sickened us, if we dared eat them. Nevertheless, my children never had to really wonder if there's something for dinner. There was always something I could throw together, thanks to the food pantry.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, how can you help?<a href="https://secure.feedingamerica.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app213b?df_id=15040&15040.donation=form1&set.Value=&utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&online_promo=WaysToGiveHeroSpace&NONCE_TOKEN=40D314FC50CB68FFE7D79A95885974F7"> Give money</a> to Feeding America, not food, when you can. For every $1 donated, 11 meals can be distributed (including soup kitchens) because Feeding America has amazing buying power. They make your ten dollars stretch far further by working with off-brand food companies and local farmers, allowing needy families to receive fresher foods that don't make them feel worthless and discarded. Believe me, expired food cans given as gifts make the receivers feel crushed. Their thin clinging to hope is dashed when they're given the message they already suspected...that they don't matter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you're spearheading a donation effort ask for money or staples like peanut butter, jelly, tuna, dried or canned beans, oil, condiments, and other alternative protein sources, etc. Needy families have to make meat stretch so they can always use alternate protein sources. Toiletries are expensive and always needed too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The actual money you spent on that generic peanut butter at Walmart would go further than the one jar of peanut butter, however. This is crucial to share with the people you are soliciting help from.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Another blessing would be to donate your time toward cooking classes through your local food pantry so families can learn how to use bagged dry beans and rice to maximize their nutrition. Sometimes they're given donated meats they may not choose to buy themselves, or know how to prepare, such as chicken sausage or roasts. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Whatever you do, don't forget your local food pantry this holiday season. You may even be able to sponsor a local child for Christmas through your pantry. Food pantries do more than just provide food, depending on who is running the local efforts. When we visited the local pantry in October after a $200 essential car repair, they asked each of our children what they wanted for Christmas. Local people in our community pick ages and genders to help bless with new merchandise. The giving is anonymous so children are not embarrassed by anyone personally knowing their situation. Anonymous giving is a unique blessing because accepting help is excruciatingly hard, and yet parents have to make practical decisions that bless their children, rather than constantly working to preserve their own pride. Love is like that sometimes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Local people helping local people is the best model for spreading the love of Christ. Needy people fit in with the crowd pretty well, often wearing decent, even designer clothes from local thrift stores. You can go to church with or stand behind a food-insecure family in your community and not even know it.<br />
<br />
And if you are aware, don't begrudge them that Netflix subscription, okay? Books and cheap movies at home are often the <i>only</i> entertainment low-income people have. Everyone needs to be distracted from their problems for a time. Vehicle gas always has to be figured into entertainment costs, too, and internet service? It's essential for keeping on top of job offerings.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The reasons people become food insecure vary wildly, but underemployment is common. Some, like me, are desperately clinging to an ideal--that of raising and pouring heart and mind into my own children so they can be lights to the world--valuable, capable contributors...life-changers even, for a hurting world desperate for sustainable solutions to both spiritual and practical problems. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My reasons for accepting help (and not working) will undoubtedly be judged, but my heart is and has always been soft for children--my own first, and then all others. Someone has got to pour into the nation's children. Jesus is our first and eternal hope. Children are our second hope, but their spiritual and emotional needs are often put last in our culture. Sometimes well-meaning parents pour into their kids financially, forgetting that a child's spiritual and emotional needs are easily crowded out because kids can't always tell us where their lives are lacking. A supportive extended family helps safeguard many children, but not all children have that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Children are resilient", people like to quote.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Not so much, really. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Proverbs 22:9</b> Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Acts 20:35</b> In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”</span><br />
<div class="verseundefined" style="background-color: white; font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;">
</div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-79184148109244620012016-11-22T00:45:00.000-05:002016-11-22T00:45:40.554-05:00Eight Years <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>Eight long years.</i><br />
<br />
That's how long my 58-year-old husband has been underemployed. Anyone over fifty years old who loses a job faces an uphill battle. Sometimes, these people end up working a few part-time jobs to make ends meet--never again obtaining full-time work. They're overworked, under-paid, with no paid vacation, holidays, or sick time, precious little leisure time, and little to no money going into retirement accounts. What's more, their Social Security will ultimately be reduced by the underemployment, because your disbursement is mostly based on what you earn in the final years.<br />
<br />
In all this time, I have persevered, believing my role is clearly defined by the Lord. My children and the home are my primary work. What's more, I believe marriage is for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, no matter how hard those predicaments are. If my husband suddenly became brain-injured, I wouldn't be looking for another husband.<br />
<br />
Just more grace.<br />
<br />
Our children are growing, needing more and more food, so last April I started babysitting. Still, we were barely making it to the next payday, despite visiting the local food pantry once a month.<br />
<br />
Suddenly, change teased from the horizon.<br />
<br />
My husband got a first and second interview for a very good job and I began to hope, feeling that surely now the Lord would bless us. Eight years is long enough to endure priceless lessons in humility, gratitude, and reliance on God.<br />
<br />
Surely, right? It must finally be our time.<br />
<br />
Despite fasting and relentless praying, they chose someone else.<br />
<br />
I was so devastated, you know? I have another family member desperately searching for full-time work after fifty, and I feel her pain keenly. She's been searching for over three years, going on many interviews, working very hard to prepare each time. And still nothing. They always choose someone else.<br />
<br />
How do you keep hope alive? How do you keep on keeping on, searching for work and fetching expired cans and rotten lettuce and stinky potatoes from the food pantry, without completely losing it? How do you smile for the children and quote uplifting scriptures? (We are not hungry. Do not gift us...just let me share my path and how I attempt to navigate it for His glory...okay?)<br />
<br />
The truth is, the Christian life is like this.<i> </i>Couples pray for babies and remain barren. Sick and mentally-challenged people pray for healing that never comes. Workers pray for jobs that don't materialize. Pastors pray for a large flock...one that never arrives.<br />
<br />
Some no answers are temporary, and some for a lifetime.<br />
<br />
That's not to say that prayer is a waste of time. Prayer--communing with the Holy Spirit--reminds us of His power and our humble state. Communing with the Spirit is a gift in and of itself.<br />
<br />
Jesus didn't die to become our bottled Genie. The Bible tells us that God gives his children good gifts, but a fat bank account isn't necessarily a good gift. We are what we focus on and most of us focus on material needs. We spend a lot of time acquiring and planning to acquire, because to have nothing or not enough seems inconceivable.<br />
<br />
When we focus on the material, we'll never have enough.<br />
<br />
But when we focus on spiritual gifts? We find a goldmine within our own souls.<br />
<br />
I have a choice. I can adjust my gaze, either squarely on my self and my perceived lack, or on Him and his spiritual brilliance and abundance.<br />
<br />
The fleshly me sometimes exits the grocery store wishing for a different husband. One who can provide all the food we want, handily. The highest quality available, no less. These are fleeting thoughts that I hold captive quickly, having decided a long time ago that I wouldn't hold my husband accountable for my happiness. Happiness--or joy, rather--is between me and my God, not between me and my husband. My husband has his own battle for joy, and yours does too. We can't add to that burden.<br />
<br />
Life, and marriage, are unspeakably hard. Life has always been hard, for every generation, at every historical point. The reasons it's hard may change over time, but no human ever had an easy life.<br />
<br />
In the past people died often and young from disease; loss was commonplace for everyone. In the past people depended on good weather for an adequate harvest, and going hungry or eating only the same couple foods over and over was expected at times. War and injustice have ravaged hearts and lands for generations.<br />
<br />
Adam and Eve are the only humans who had it easy....until they got cocky and wanted more. Gratitude is the cure for a perceived lack.<br />
<br />
But it's not enough to give thanks for your home and family, for your food and clothes. That's shallow gratitude. To feel really full, give thanks for Him. Give thanks for who you are in Christ Jesus.<br />
<br />
Take time to dwell there, in His presence. He is your prize. He is the gift. He is the answer. He is the yes you were waiting for. Wrap yourself in His eternal promises. Be quieted by His love.<br />
<br />
Happy Thanksgiving to you!</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-63435685775458018692016-10-30T12:18:00.000-04:002016-10-30T12:18:54.491-04:00Empowered<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When you are down, what's it really about?<br />
<br />
<i>Satan.</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>He is either accusing you...</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Revelation 12:10</b> And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Zechariah 3:1</b> Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>...or enticing you to serve yourself.</b> </span><br />
<br />
<b>Luke 4:13</b> When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.<br />
<br /><b>Genesis 3:1</b> Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”<br /><br />When you succumb to temptation (to Satan) and you end up serving yourself, he's telling you how rotten you are, and how you better just give up this Christian thing you've got going on, because you're no good at it.<br />
<br />
What is the message of the Gospel? What is the message of Grace? I can tell you what it's not, first of all. It's not about condemnation. It's not about dis-empowering you.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What the Gospel does is empower. </span><br />
<br />
As Christians, we have incredible power in this world. Satan is defeated every time we worship God, every time we share God, every time we love one another, every time we surrender our will to God. Satan loses every time we say thank you to God, for his never-ending grace.<br />
<br />
The answer to our shortcomings is not despair. It's not shame. It's not agreeing with Satan that we're no good at Christianity.<br />
<br />
The answer to our sin is...<br />
<br />
<i>Thank you.</i> Thank you for Your blood, Jesus, that covers me now and forevermore.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Thank you</b></i> is a loaded uttering here. It means we know that without God, we are nothing. We can do nothing. It is a surrendering of our will, of our desires, and a heartfelt wish that God would give us his eyes, his will, going forward. Thank you means we understand our position before our God. It means we love Him first and foremost, and we're willing to follow Him anywhere.<br />
<br />
Such simple words...<i>thank you</i>...but so powerful too...so beautiful.<br />
<br />
The last thing Satan wants is for you to say <i style="font-weight: bold;">thank you for the Cross. </i>Because in that uttering, you have crushed the enemy.<br />
<br />
Nothing can separate us from our God. Nothing can dis-empower us as His heirs.<br />
<br />
<b>Romans 8:35-39 </b><br /><br />Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:<br /><br />“For Your sake we face death all day long;<br /><br />we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”<br /><br />No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. </div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-13581186379723831552016-10-28T14:48:00.000-04:002016-10-28T14:48:16.970-04:00Appreciating Mom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm on my third day in bed with the flu.<br />
<br />
Can you imagine what the house looks like?<br />
<br />
Today I told the kids to catch up on the house first, and then do school with whatever time was left. I intuitively knew that if I didn't call a housekeeping day, then the house would be too far gone for me to clean up on Sunday night, ahead of the Monday daycare day. I'm sure my being off has incredibly inconvenienced the family I work for, but it couldn't be helped.<br />
<br />
The boys made dinner the last two nights. Tacos by Paul, and gingerbread pancakes by Peter. They were delicious. I am not a failure as a mother; my children are doing alright with this sudden domestic nightmare. Our job is to work ourselves out of a job, and nothing tests that notion like consecutive sick days for Mom.<br />
<br />
To save money, we don't buy many snacks. We bake our own, or make popcorn. There are no-bake cookies for afternoon snack, thanks to Paul. Peter is going to put a whole chicken in the oven at 4 PM, and four loads of laundry were folded and put away at Peter's direction to his siblings.<br />
<br />
Peter rose to the occasion nicely. At first though, he knocked on my bedroom door and asked me to please give the kids jobs to do, because the cleaning wasn't getting done. I told him the first step is always the decluttering. An hour later he came and shared this with me:<br />
<br />
"All I've been doing for an hour is walking around and putting a ton of little things away. I don't know how you do this everyday. Your job is a lot harder than I thought."<br />
<br />
As much as I feel really lousy, and am shocked to have the flu in October--before we even got our flu shots--I can see the value in Mom being down for a week. Housekeeping is a thankless job. Rarely does anyone remember to say thank you for the many small acts of service we do.<br />
<br />
And yet, so much of life rides on our shoulders. We're not engineering $25,000,000 stock deals, or meeting to discuss the next president's first 100 days in office, but we are the glue that holds it all together for the next generation. We're significant in immeasurable ways. Our contributions are astounding.<br />
<br />
And you know what makes it beautiful, rather than just the work of cooks, maids, and executive secretaries?<br />
<br />
It's the love. The self-sacrifice. Our services are free of charge, paid for with precious energy and time and heart. We could be doing so many wonderful things with our time, yet we choose to serve in lowly ways--to do the seemingly insignificant work of ensuring everyone has clean pants and shirts, and available Cheerios and oatmeal for breakfast. When it's time for a meal, the food is there. When it's time for a change, the fresh clothes are there. When it's time to be somewhere, Mom is on the case, five steps ahead of everyone.<br />
<br />
When Mom is down, everything is down. When Mom can't go to the store, it's a crisis. When mom can't do the socks and underwear, all of life stops and there's scurrying around. Confused people wonder what to do first and next, because we make it look so easy.<br />
<br />
It's beautiful what we do. We literally give our lives to serve others, with no promise of repayment, no promise of a nest egg waiting for us in retirement.<br />
<br />
If you devalue what you do...if anyone devalues what you do, just wait. Your sick days will come too and you'll see the value of your contribution. You will be newly thankful that you have the energy and the love and the legacy-minded vision to get up and do the same thing every day, because you want to. Because you love to. Because you <i>get</i> to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-68064533547431136052016-10-22T14:26:00.000-04:002016-10-22T15:46:42.309-04:00The Real Reason for Discouragement<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After a particularly hard week with too little sleep and too much turmoil, I had nothing left.<br />
<br />
Just. nothing.<br />
<br />
Most days I'd gone to bed utterly discouraged, feeling guilty that as a parent and wife, I was out of patience and ideas and grace. The stresses of my son's mental illness depleted my hope for the future, or even for the next day. Aggravating it was my sleep deprivation, hormones, and financial stress. Just like everyone else, I had multiple problems.<br />
<br />
Pining for heaven, I understood once again what it meant to be broken. It's hard to grasp, isn't it, that the Lord <i>wants</i> us broken? Christianity can be a pretty hard sell.<br />
<br />
Hey everyone...become a Christian <i>so you can identify with Jesus' suffering in your daily life</i>. Grace is a beautiful Christian word, but can <i>suffering</i> be beautiful? When witnessing to people we leave that detail out in favor of the enticing parts, like peace and joy and hope.<br />
<br />
I became a Christian at age 31, but it wasn't until I lost my first child at 20 weeks gestation that brokenness entered my consciousness I was 34 and it was the first time I'd wanted the Lord to take me home.<br />
<br />
Three of my children tell me they don't want to go to heaven yet; they want to grow up and have families. Already they understand that the best part of an earthly life is loving and being loved, in the context of family. They know intellectually that heaven is better than marriage and kids, but they still can't imagine foregoing these perks of being human.<br />
<br />
Peter alone perhaps, due to his OCD, knows what brokenness feels like. Inasmuch as his condition is a tragedy, understanding brokenness at an early age is a gift. It clarifies early that it's not about us. We aren't supposed to wake up each day expecting a smooth transition through the hours. We can't jump from one self-indulging ritual after another, expecting low resistance to our selfishness.<br />
<br />
Instead, each day begs for self-denial. Joy does exist in self-denial, in following Christ, in embracing the messiness of life, but it's not a worldly joy.<br />
<br />
John 14:27 tells us: <b>Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I would have to describe the peace He gives as <b>the best kind of fellowship we can ever experience</b>. The peace He gives is a taste of heavenly joy. <i>Peace is to be filled with His love</i>. Family love is wholly insufficient for our souls. It will always leave us wanting, searching. Though beautiful and a gift from God, a healthy family can't be all that we hope for or pursue.<br />
<br />
Our souls crave Him. He conceived and designed our souls and only He can fill them.<br />
<br />
The Holy Spirit reminded me this week that my exhaustion and emptiness weren't actually because of OCD or ADHD or hormones or sleep deprivation or economic insufficiency, although they certainly made a compelling argument and defense.<br />
<br />
The real source was too little time with Peace the Person...with the Lord my God, who promises to quiet me by his love.<br />
<br />
I went to the Lord and read about his truth, his love, his faithfulness, his majesty, his grace, his love...and I was filled to overflowing, ready to dig deep for the patience, grace and love my family and community need from me. We give to others out of the abundance we receive from the Lord. If you're empty, it's because you're not filled. It's obvious, but also easy to forget.<br />
<br />
These three gifts--peace, joy, hope--are not a mirage or a sham, but neither are they automatic.<br />
<br />
Christ died for us so we could have life--so He could enjoy <i>relationship</i> with us. Believing on Him is our ticket to heaven, but not necessarily our ticket to peace, joy, and hope. Those come from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ--a relationship that is <i>ongoing</i>. They come from bathing in His Word, from crying out to Him in prayer, from worshiping him through song and from a quiet and receptive heart.<br />
<br />
<b>Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.</b></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-22629818594685409992016-10-19T00:27:00.000-04:002016-10-19T00:27:56.464-04:00A Quiet Spirit Talk...And What's Been Going On<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello Internet of Long Lost Friends. I hope you have been well. Here's what's been going on...<br />
<br />
~ We go to homeschool Co-op every Wednesday now. My four kids take 5 classes each (i.e. drama, choir, art, PE, Home Ec, Math is Fun, Creative Creations), while Chase (the 3-year-old boy I babysit) and me sit with other preschool moms and play and talk. I help in one class and will most likely be asked to teach something next semester. My kids are over the moon excited about Co-op, and Mary has made a precious friend already (a friend of every mother's dreams, literally. The young lady is a true treasure).<br />
<br />
Most of the Co-Op families have 3 to 5 kids each, so it's quite a large group.<br />
<br />
~ Yes, I still babysit. Chase will be four in November. We also had his 5-year-old sister until she started kindergarten last month. Things are a little easier around here with only one daycare child, but with Co-op and AWANA both on Wednesdays, the weeks can still feel like marathons.<br />
<br />
~ I'm 50-and-a half-years old, and I hate being the oldest mom everywhere I go. Currently more women in their forties are having babies than women in their twenties, but that doesn't seem to be happening in my area.<br />
<br />
Other yucky aging news...The hot flashes, which had only come and gone for short periods before, have now been with me about six weeks. Some days I'm intensely frustrated and I don't know how I'll handle the hotness for another day. I'm afraid winter won't make a difference with this kind of heat. About 85% of women get hot flashes in the year or so after menopause; only about 45% of women get them prior to menopause, in the period called perimenopause. I'm one of the lucky 45% getting them in perimenopause. Does this mean I'll have fewer of them later? Here's hoping.<br />
<br />
I take two showers a day now, but the relief they provide is short-lived. Another hot flash (intense heat, not just a little warmth) inevitably comes within an hour of my last shower. I have to stop whatever I'm doing and go stand in front of a large fan for 3 minutes, 10 to 15 times a day. Sometimes I sleep on the couch with the fan next to me, although I have fewer hot flashes at night.<br />
<br />
This has changed my life enough that thinking about blogging usually seems like too much trouble, even though I miss the intellectual part of it and the interacting part. I'm kicking around the idea of a Twitter account, because you write in smaller chunks and you can have private conversations, versus interacting through blog comments which are public. Anyone on Twitter that reads here? <br />
<br />
~ Mary still has her anxiety about the weather, and Peter still has fairly serious OCD--the weight of which also make blogging seem like too much trouble. I feel like I have nothing positive to share, so why burden people with my whining? Some stages of life you have something to share, and other stages are for hankering down and trying to run the race with as much grace as you can muster.<br />
<br />
~ <b>1 Peter 3:4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.</b><br />
<br />
Our pastor is doing a serious on marriage and went over this passage last weekend. He reminded us women that this doesn't mean we have to refrain from talking much. We don't need to change our personality to live up to this. It isn't about whether we're shy or gregarious, whether we're witty or the life of the party, or quiet and mousy.<br />
<br />
Rather, it's about an inner stillness--a lack of inner turmoil. It's a gentleness, and a sureness that everything is going to be okay. It's a calmness, more than a quietness, though it's true that if your inner spirit isn't ruffled, you won't shout or argue or complain or speak harshly. So, yes, maybe you'll talk less as your inner spirit quiets.<br />
<br />
Our Bible time and prayer can accomplish this calming of spirit, but we can't forget taking the time to just be quiet before the Lord also. A busy mom may carve out 30 minutes a day a few times a week for devotions, but she'll probably find it isn't enough. Try turning off the radio, the TV, the devices, and go to a quiet room to just sit and listen to anything the Holy Spirit sends your way.<br />
<br />
He'll say things like....you put that pressure on yourself...it wasn't from Me...focus on the Kingdom of God and all these things will be given to you as well...give your children's futures over to me...give the health of your marriage over to me...come to me all you women who are heavy laden...I will quiet you with my Love.<br />
<br />
So, what do you think? Is your spirit ruffled? What are you doing to quiet it? What is the source of the ruffling?<br />
<br />
Often, it's Satan, you know. He is our accuser. He is the master of distraction and confusion. Most ruffling comes directly from his playbook.<br />
<br />
I am learning. <i>Live one day at a time</i>. Hardest. Life. Lesson. Ever.<br />
<br />
My gracious Lord holds it all, and he wants me to rejoice in the day he has made. Today. He gives me today, with no guarantee of tomorrow. Therefore, I offer Him my day, my hours, my minutes, holding the outcome loosely, not questioning Him about tomorrow.<br />
<br />
When I regard each day as an offering back to Him, suddenly, the hot flashes and the kids' anxiety and the burden of having to babysit (though I love little Chase dearly) all become insignificant. They only carry the weight I assign them. They feel heavy only when I make them my focus. It's like Peter walking on water brilliantly, until he took his eyes off the Prize. I'm not supposed to focus on the details of my life, except when I'm expressing gratitude for them.<br />
<br />
The gentle and quiet spirit? It comes from shifting your focus, your gaze, onto the person of Jesus Christ.</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-61106657674122367842016-08-14T17:08:00.002-04:002016-08-16T00:59:56.219-04:00Of Great Worth in His Sight<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I go to church service first and then a "small group" Sunday School class of about 50 people. The small group consists of women and men who range in age from 40 to 70, with most well over 50.<br />
<br />
Thus, most of the women have raised their families and they have time and money to buy beautiful shoes, pay for great hair cuts and flawless manicures, buy nice clothes, etc. They look stylish and put-together, to put it another way.<br />
<br />
I, on the other hand, buy thrift store clothes, get my hair cut far too infrequently, and have chipped, thin nails from chronic housework. I feel like a poor servant in comparison, especially when I'm seated next to a women with flawless toenail polish. I try to pull my long skirt over my sandaled feet as far as I can, and wish I'd taken an extra ten minutes to redo my toenail polish.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, on my less-than-stellar emotional days, it's enough to make me want to become a hermit and forgo small groups. They're messy after all, compared to sitting in a large church service and then going home. No investment and no risk. Right?<br />
<br />
But I know better.<br />
<br />
I know when my thoughts need to be held captive, and I'm quicker to lasso them than I ever was before. By the grace of God.<br />
<br />
I know that my worth doesn't come from my outward appearance--I know it with my head and my heart. I know that the finely dressed only give the illusion that they're put together. They aren't better off spiritually. The Kingdom of God doesn't care about their $100 outfit. God is not impressed. We're all messy people with messy problems, and stylish clothes and perfect manicures don't change that.<br />
<br />
This seems to be limited to women, these silly comparisons on dress and nails and hair. I know it's silly, and yet at first I recoil, feeling less-than for five or ten minutes.<br />
<br />
Do you know of a family who drives away from church in a $40,000 new car, bound for a leisurely restaurant and looking forward to the cleaning lady coming on Monday? They don't have it better than you. Really.<br />
<br />
Live involves pain for everyone, no matter what they do for a living, no matter what they wear or drive or look forward to doing next. The pain is well hidden for some, but rest assured, pain is universal. The need for compassion and understanding, rather than comparison, is universal.<br />
<br />
If it's respect we want, we're wrong if we think it comes from a stylish outfit. Better to be that person who smiles, who welcomes, who listens non-judgmentally, who is not afraid of the messiness that comes with relationship. The second part of the greatest commandment speaks of relationship. <i>Love your neighbor as yourself</i>.<br />
<br />
Our humility earns respect as well. Not only do we need to behave compassionately toward others, we also need to seek compassion by sharing our burdens without shame. A rich relationship involves give and take, and we hopefully can be people and will find people who are capable of mature relationship within our churches.<br />
<br />
Some groups are more troubled than others. Some are hungry for compassion and spiritual guidance, without being capable of a give and take. We would do well to make sure we have a little of both in our life. People to minister to, and people to minister with.<br />
<br />
We are all equal in Christ. Our worth comes from his love for us. We are precious in His sight. That is enough, my friend. To be precious to Him means we don't need to hide anything. We can live joyful and free. Free from the confines of social class. Free from the pain of the past. Free from shame.<br />
<br />
If we perhaps already have respect and it's beauty we desire, we need to know there's a beauty that far outshines any outward feature. No matter how plain our face or form, it all transforms to beauty if we're gentle with a quiet spirit, which carries great weight in the Lord's sight. This is a rare kind of beauty. A rare beauty we should all covet.<br />
<b><br />1 Peter 3:4</b> Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
Do you ever feel less-than? What triggers it and how do you counter your distorted thoughts? Do you recognize them as distorted? </div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-20778327704745883902016-07-31T17:04:00.000-04:002016-07-31T18:22:28.864-04:00Life Lessons Relearned<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A couple people have written to see if we're still alive. It's not that I've lost my writing/reflecting voice, just that every time I think I need or want to reflect and write something, there's never time.<br />
<br />
I'll just jump in and write about a hodgepodge of things that have happened, hopefully some that will help others.<br />
<br />
1.We had our end-of-year portfolio review last week and we're on day four of the new school year. I have two ninth graders now, and two fourth graders, though everyone is at their own pace with writing. I've learned the hard way that kids (and Mom) thrive when there's on-going routine, with days off here and there, or half-days off when necessary, rather than an extended break. The neurological problems such as the OCD and ADHD do far worse with lack of routine.<br />
<br />
2. I had my second routine mammogram and they called me back again for a diagnostic mammogram (next month for what looks like calcifications), which can include more pictures and an ultrasound. I got the same form letter saying I have dense breast tissue, which basically makes it harder to see things clearly. Last time I was fearful of this "diagnostic" mammogram, but this time I've barely thought about it, except to accept the fact that they'll probably call me back every time, because my paperwork indicates my mom had breast cancer at age 65. The dense breast tissue will get less dense as I age. Now that I do daycare, every appointment is a hassle to arrange.<br />
<br />
3. If you subscribe to Netflix DVD, please rent <b><i>The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry</i></b>. It's a fantastic Christian movie that will spur your children on in their faith and in their Bible reading. I found it heartwarming, inspiring, wholesome, featuring a culture reminiscent of the 1950's. We also rented <b><i>God's Not Dead</i></b>, which I loved. The Christian movie choices are pretty good through the Netflix DVD program.<br />
<br />
4. I have learned to love the two children I babysit. The five year old will go to kindergarten in about five weeks and we will all miss her. Previously I mentioned that the mother is having a baby in December, and that I said yes to watching the baby and the three year old, but I recently reconsidered that due to the little boy's challenging behavior. He is a nice boy, but stubborn and prone to fits like most 3-year-olds. I told the mother I could handle either the baby or her preschooler full-time, or both of them half-time, but not both of them for 45 hours a week. She is thinking of staying home after the baby comes, anyway. She is the main breadwinner, so it will not be an easy decision for them.<br />
<br />
The five year old has learned how to pray, and she enjoys our morning devotions. Because I am an ex-Catholic and she goes to a Catholic church, I regularly tell her that we do all things through His strength, not through our own. I missed that as a Catholic and my experience was that it is primarily a good works philosophy of religion and salvation. She asked me recently what a Christian is and among other simple things, I mentioned that it means we understand we cannot be good on our own. We need the Lord to shine in any way. He makes us who He wants us to be, as opposed to us trying and failing again and again. I felt defeated by my own nature when I was going to Catholic churches. Now, I understand that I need the Gospel everyday. Not one day any less than another. I embrace His nature in me, rather than hating my own. Does that make sense? God sent these particular kids for a reason. They are hard work, but I know it is good work I'm doing. Loving a child is always good work, meaningful work. Introducing children to Jesus is such a privilege. We may only plant a seed with some of them, but every effort is beautiful.<br />
<br />
5. My girls will be doing Sonlight Core D this year, which is American History Part 1. They can do all the readings themselves now for all subjects, which has been a blessing and a pleasure to see. I loved this core when the boys did it, and I am looking forward to it with the girls, too. My husband will have to share the read-aloud load with me, though. Sonlight usually assigns as many read-alouds as they do student novels.<br />
<br />
I believe I already wrote about our choices for the boys' first year of high school, but since then we did decide on horticulture as their first elective class. We're reaping the benefits right now of their countless hours of research and time spent planning and planting. The garden is the best we've ever had, even though we've been in a sort of drought here in northeast Ohio. They already have a good head start on their horticulture knowledge.<br />
<br />
6. I had a varicose vein stripping surgery on one leg and will schedule the other leg for sometime this calendar year. It wasn't an easy recovery, but there is far less pain in the treated leg now, and he tied off a golf-ball sized blood clot that formed after one of my miscarriages (lower inner thigh..a benign area for a blood clot). The scars take about a year to flatten and heal, but I am so grateful!<br />
<br />
Here's the main thing I wanted to share, which might help someone:<br />
<br />
Sometimes we have to wait on things we've prayed for, and in the meantime we can be very uncomfortable. This is a given for the Christian, but when it happens to you, it ain't so easy. Right?<br />
<br />
Our culture doesn't like to wait, but learning to do so builds character, perseverance, and faith, especially when the wait is very uncomfortable--such as physically or emotionally burdensome, on top of the everyday burdens. Everyday of the struggle, we're reminded that we're still waiting for an answer. Some days, we wonder where God is and whether he cares at all. As I write this I'm aware that America-style burdens are of course much different than most of the world experiences. Our burdens are pretty light compared to the third world's.<br />
<br />
And indeed, the less you have, the less you have to be burdened about. We worry about car repairs and they worry not so much about possessions, but about daily bread. A downed vehicle is nothing compared to a hungry stomach gnawing at you, but it's still possible for one to lead to the other here in America.<br />
<br />
As soon as I started doing daycare, one thing after another broke around here, at a pace fiercer than before. If were were thinking that my job would end all our financial problems, we were dead wrong. Teens eat a whole lot, after all. By November I'll have two that need more and more calories, <i>and calories are expensive! </i><br />
<br />
The used washer we bought three months ago started leaking in the bottom front. First a trickle, than a whole bucket-full of water during each load! The used appliance place kept promising to come and fix it for a fee, but they never showed and the 30-day warranty was up. With no hope of another one right away, my husband built a pallet and we put it up on that, catching the water with some tupperware and changing it often. Even looking online at videos, we couldn't fix it ourselves.<br />
<br />
This went on for four or five long weeks and even though sometimes I wanted to cry at the level of inconvenience and waste, I couldn't do anything but persevere. If I didn't get there soon enough and the tray overflowed, I had a huge mess each time with six kids underfoot.<br />
<br />
Finally, my husband found another washer for $75 from a Habitat for Humanity Restore. It's high efficiency, which I've never used, but it's a Maytag washer, used, for $75 versus the $200 we paid for the other used one. It works but it's loud on the spin, even though it's advertised as a quiet model. I don't know how long it will last, but my discomfort in doing laundry is over for now. I'm so relieved and my experience proves once again that God's grace is sufficient.<br />
<br />
Every time I think I'm going crazy, I somehow bounce back and find blessings to count.<br />
<br />
That's His grace at work.<br />
<br />
I'm sure it seems like this is all so minor, but to a mom with four kids and two daycare kids, laundry is never minor.<br />
<br />
Our lives aren't supposed to be easy and comfortable, as Christians. How does anyone grow when things are comfortable? Our journey as Believers is not about moving up in the world, or even having a smoother path, but about moving closer to Him. That's necessarily a lifestyle that should look different than the way your typical American lives.<br />
<br />
If you aren't different, why?<br />
<br />
Embrace your own discomfort, whatever it is, because God has a plan. Keep praying and believing and listening to the Spirit as to what you should do next.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, the answer is just......wait.<br />
<br />
Your spirit will want to fight that. It seems so passive and wasteful, this waiting. But putting your trust in God is not passive. It's an active endeavor to rest in Him. It's <i>work</i> to rest in Him.<br />
<br />
Around the same time the washer started leaking, the $2000 water softener we bought 11 years old quit working. Because two major car repairs hit us in the same period, along with a broken garbage disposal, we had to let the broken water softener just sit, even though it's likely that the extremely hard water will ruin the dishwasher, which is only a couple years old. It ruined our drinking glasses within a week.<br />
<br />
For the first week after the water softener quit, I was incredibly frustrated and depressed, while still believing that God is always good, always faithful. At that point I was just done being long-suffering. I was done with hassle, after two and a half months of babysitting and working my rear off keeping the house up, with only a couple hours on Saturday for relaxation. It seemed there was nothing to look forward to but more broken appliances and more car repairs and more cleaning.<br />
<br />
The stress brought worsening OCD and anxiety in the kids, so I knew I had to learn to stay joyful and hopeful.<br />
<br />
Devotions became my salvation. Praying with my family brought the only relief from problems and disorders. Discomfort sends us running to the Lord and loving our time with Him. He purposely, I think, contrasts that time with all the other hours of the day. With kids there are always interruptions, but it's still rich. As they get older, it gets even richer to pray together.<br />
<br />
My overall predicament made me appreciate women of the past, who worked even longer hours without the modern conveniences we take for granted. They had so much to do they were primarily workhorses, and I don't say that disrespectfully, but with admiration. They weren't sissies. They weren't weak or impatient. They couldn't be. Their kids weren't sissies, or weak, or impatient, either. There was still the upper-class who used servants, but I'm talking about your every-day American mom from over a hundred years ago and longer.<br />
<br />
I'm interested in the history of modern household inventions, but if you aren't skip this entire washing machine section below.<br />
<br />
Some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washing_machine">background</a>: <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Before indoor plumbing, the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housewife" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Housewife">housewife</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">also had to carry all the water used for washing, boiling, and rinsing the laundry; according to an 1886 calculation, women fetched water eight to ten times every day from a pump, well, or spring.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-digital_1-0" style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washing_machine#cite_note-digital-1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">[1]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Water for the laundry would be hand carried, heated on a fire for washing, then poured into the tub. That made the warm soapy water precious; it would be reused, first to wash the least soiled clothing, then to wash progressively dirtier laundry.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Removal of soap and water from the clothing after washing was originally a separate process. First, soap would be rinsed out with clear water. After rinsing, the soaking wet clothing would be formed into a roll and twisted by hand to extract water. The entire process often occupied an entire day of hard work, plus drying and ironing.</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Margaret Colvin invented the Triumph Rotary Washer, which was exhibited in the Women's Pavilion at the </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_International_Exhibition" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Centennial International Exhibition">Centennial International Exhibition</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">of 1876 in Philadelphia.</span><br />
<div class="thumb tleft" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #252525; float: left; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 1.4em 1.3em 0px; width: auto;">
<div class="thumbinner" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size: 13.16px; min-width: 100px; overflow: hidden; padding: 3px; text-align: center; width: 222px;">
<a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PostcardAdvertisingHappyDayWashingMachineCirca1910.jpg" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" data-file-height="427" data-file-width="672" height="140" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/PostcardAdvertisingHappyDayWashingMachineCirca1910.jpg/220px-PostcardAdvertisingHappyDayWashingMachineCirca1910.jpg" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/PostcardAdvertisingHappyDayWashingMachineCirca1910.jpg/330px-PostcardAdvertisingHappyDayWashingMachineCirca1910.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/PostcardAdvertisingHappyDayWashingMachineCirca1910.jpg/440px-PostcardAdvertisingHappyDayWashingMachineCirca1910.jpg 2x" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); vertical-align: middle;" width="220" /></a><br />
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: none; font-size: 12.3704px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px; text-align: left;">
<div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;">
<a class="internal" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PostcardAdvertisingHappyDayWashingMachineCirca1910.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url("data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%20standalone%3D%22no%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2011%2015%22%20width%3D%2215%22%20height%3D%2211%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3Cg%20id%3D%22magnify-clip%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20stroke%3D%22%23000%22%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22bigbox%22%20d%3D%22M1.509%201.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cpath%20id%3D%22smallbox%22%20d%3D%22M-1.499%206.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%20%20%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A"); color: #0b0080; display: block; height: 11px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 15px; white-space: nowrap; width: 15px;" title="Enlarge"></a></div>
1910 advertisement</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Electric washing machines were advertised and discussed in newspapers as early as 1904.</span><span style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 11.2px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Alva J. Fisher has been incorrectly credited with the invention of the electric washer. The US Patent Office shows at least one patent issued before Fisher's US patent number 966677 (e.g. Woodrow's US patent number 921195). The "inventor" of the electric washing machine remains unknown.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
US electric washing machine sales reached 913,000 units in 1928. However, high unemployment rates in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Great Depression">Depression</a> years reduced sales; by 1932 the number of units shipped was down to about 600,000.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Washer design improved during the 1930s. The mechanism was now enclosed within a cabinet, and more attention was paid to electrical and mechanical safety. <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin_dryer" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Spin dryer">Spin dryers</a> were introduced to replace the dangerous power mangle/wringers of the day.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
By 1940, 60% of the 25,000,000 wired homes in the United States had an electric washing machine. Many of these machines featured a power wringer, although built-in spin dryers were not uncommon.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bendix_Corporation" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Bendix Corporation">Bendix Corporation</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> introduced the first domestic automatic washing machine in 1937,</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">having applied for a patent in the same year.</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"> In appearance and mechanical detail, this first machine was not unlike the front loading automatic washers produced today. Although it included many of the today's basic features, the machine lacked any drum suspension and therefore had to be anchored to the floor to prevent "walking". Because of the components required, the machine was also very expensive. </span></div>
<br />
It appears that it was after the 1950's before in-home washing machines began to resemble something like we use today. Poorer Americans waited even longer, and of course many apartment dwellers are still using laundromats, at about $2.00 per wash load! Sometimes they simply don't have that money and go without clean clothes.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's astounding how easy a woman's life is now, in comparison. What do we really have to complain about? We lose our babies to diseases and infections far less often, and we have medicines to treat our own diseases. We know less inconvenience and less heartache. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Our biggest problem is our attitude, I would think, and that we've lost a sense of what God wants from us, as women.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I still have a broken garbage disposal; I'm used to not having one now. The water softener still sits in a closet, unused, but I no longer lament about the dishwasher rotting away from hard water. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've learned to wait. I've learned anew that we must squeeze what joy we can from each day, like it's a juicy lemon. We're not promised our next breath, much less our next 24 hours. I've learned that God promises daily manna, not weekly or monthly or yearly manna. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Or rather, I should say I have <i>relearned.</i> Such lessons are on repeat from the Lord, aren't they?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A woman who rests in the Lord, who trusts in the Lord, lives a 24-hour day. She laughs at the days to come.<br />
I'm so grateful for the Lord's wisdom and love. He knows what lessons we need and He's faithful to provide.<br />
<br />
So rejoice in your trials. Rejoice!<br />
<br />
Our children are watching and learning from us. Let's pray that we can model strength, faithfulness, perseverance, and a heart full of gratitude and charity and joy.<br />
<br />
When we fail for a day or for a season, he's there waiting to move us forward.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.</span><br />
What exciting adventures have come your way this summer?</div>
</div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-30108844934444247152016-06-12T20:28:00.000-04:002016-06-12T20:28:36.046-04:00A Glimpse of the Empty Nest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear Internet,<br />
<br />
Help. I'm a mother with a one-fourth empty nest and I feel it keenly.<br />
<br />
My boys worked hard to apply for Christian Camp scholarships, keeping up with deadlines and gathering all the required recommendations. God honored it with a huge blessing--an experience none of my children have ever experienced before: A week at camp.<br />
<br />
We dropped Peter off at high school camp two hours ago, and I'm a basket case. I feel like my heart has been ripped out. I just miss him terribly. I've never been away from him for more than a few hours since 2005, when I flew to Ohio for a two-day trip looking for a new home. He was three and a half then.<br />
<br />
I am praying harder than I've ever prayed...that his OCD will not ruin his time...that he doesn't fall off the zipline and get hurt...that he won't get a sunburn...that he will be a blessing to a lonely boy in his cabin...that he will make a good friend...that all my years of discipling will make him a world changer in cabin #12.<br />
<br />
I trust him and I'm so proud of him, and I know he is ready to be sent out, to make disciples of every nation.<br />
<br />
This is what the empty nest will feel like at first. Like my heart is being ripped out. Oh, mothers. Soak up every moment and speak Christ with every pore. We can't go backwards...<br />
<br />
Signed,<br />
<br />
A drippy-eyed mother</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-43487701946800824962016-06-11T19:08:00.002-04:002016-06-11T21:00:52.511-04:00Teaching Prudence to Girls <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm catching up on news today and read three letters written in regard to the Stanford rape case--the victim's, the defendant's mother's, and the defendant's. In some ways, each letter appalled me. The victim's letter was outstanding. She knows how to show and not tell--something even successful authors sometimes fail to master--so that we the readers could feel as though we were right there with her, experiencing it as well. It was very powerful and I hope it's widely read, especially by men. Her suffering can't be fully comprehended by most of us, but we can come as close as possible through reading her words. She worked unselfishly in this case, enduring more pain through the trial to pursue justice, partially to give other women a voice and some validation. I salute her courage.<br />
<br />
However, in trying to empower women and tell them they have worth, she failed in a most obvious way. What about..."You have worth. Take care of yourself in every way, including not consuming alcohol at coed parties. You are too valuable to feel you are entitled to drinking, just because it's a party and everyone is doing it, and you want to have fun."<br />
<br />
The man who violated this woman is a criminal with no excuse. He <i>should</i> spend the six years in prison the prosecution tried to get. Not everyone is capable of such evil just because they are drunk. His actions were beyond horrible; he's morally bankrupt.<br />
<br />
But in regard to all the women involved in these rapes I ask this: When are we as a society going to start advising women to avoid drinking at coed college or high school parties? Or with a man you can't absolutely trust? Isn't it obvious that this puts you at risk? Isn't it obvious that we live in a society where athletes are put on a pedestal, which appears to morally bankrupt them as they develop a sense of entitlement? Acknowledging this and warning girls is just smart, not sexist or victim-blaming. I don't blame the victim for the evil criminal mind of the predator. But how many girls' lives are going to be destroyed before we say publicly to girls--stay away from coed drinking parties? Why is this not okay to say, publicly? It's not politically correct and that is just tragic.<br />
<br />
This, the victim's words: <span style="background-color: white; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 22px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; line-height: 30px;">.</span><i>..Again, you were not wrong for drinking. Sipping fireball is not your crime....Alcohol is not an excuse. Is it a factor? Yes. But alcohol was not the one who stripped me, fingered me, had my head dragging against the ground, with me almost fully naked. Having too much to drink was an amateur mistake that I admit to, but it is not criminal. Everyone in this room has had a night where they have regretted drinking too much, or knows someone close to them who has had a night where they have regretted drinking too much. Regretting drinking is not the same as regretting sexual assault. We were both drunk, the difference is I did not take off your pants and underwear, touch you inappropriately, and run away. That’s the difference.</i><br />
<br />
She is right that there was a difference, but she doesn't go far enough to empower other girls to avoid her fate. "Having too much to drink was an amateur mistake that I admit to, but it is not criminal." Does this fully communicate to college girls and women about how dangerous alcohol use is in coed environments? Sadly, it doesn't, as inspiring as it may read.<br />
<br />
If we want to empower girls, why not tell them they are worth too much to take such risks? For example, I don't put my girls in short shorts or short skirts because pedophiles exist and they are turned on by skin, and as an adult, I am supposed to accept that reality and protect my girls accordingly, at church, at the store and in my own yard and home. I am their protector and I take it very seriously, as I do the importance of teaching them to protect themselves. I know the world and I have to make decisions on their behalf, so they can remain children.<br />
<br />
We shouldn't live in fear of criminals, but we should teach our children that they exist in all parts of society. Love yourself enough to exercise great care. Learn to survive in the society <i>you do live in, not the one you wish you lived in</i>. Evil boys and men exist and you'll find them in every college and at every party, and beyond.<br />
<br />
Do my girls have a right to wear whatever they want? Yes. Should they assert that right? No. Wisdom says no. Do girls have a right to go to coed parties and drink? Yes. Should they assert that right? No. Wisdom says no. Whatever happened to raising girls with wisdom?<br />
<br />
Don't misunderstand me. However much a girl drinks, or however much skin or curve she shows,<i> she is still not responsible for someone else's criminal actions. </i>And even a conservatively-dressed girl or women can be victimized, surely. Dressing appropriately is like sunscreen. It's a precaution not a guarantee. Never going out alone at night is a precaution, not a guarantee. But I will still preach the wisdom of both, over and over again.<br />
<br />
This young woman will undoubtedly be stronger for what she has had to endure, but this pain is not what God intended for her life. It was avoidable and could have been avoided if in our politically correct society, <b>we were honest with girls</b>. <i>Some men are predators, period</i>. Living wisely is a virtue. Can we call prudence a virtue? Can we go back to teaching prudence as a regular part of parenting both girls and boys?<br />
<br />
A whole other post needs to be written about teaching boys to respect women, but many other writers have already written it, including the victim in this case, who described the respect we are after pretty well, though with a secular flare. Whether or not a woman respects herself as thoroughly as she should, a boy should always be taught to respect<i> all women</i>. While it's true that not all women are worthy of becoming our son's wife, they are all worthy of respect, earned or unearned. Every human being is created in the image of God, worthy of respect as His child.<br />
<br />
The victim's mother's letter was disturbing because she spent most of it bragging about her son's achievements, as though they excused his actions, or as though they in and of themselves deserved to be given a chance. She appears to be a mother after the things of this world, mostly. She mentioned toward the end that she was proud of how her son treated the disabled, but that was all negated by how he treated the woman in question, who was disabled by alcohol.<br />
<br />
It was a hollow, shallow letter, and seemingly one on which the judge put too much emphasis in making his decision. It made me want to weep for this mother, reading about how hollow her life is. She said they would never be happy again, as though it's only through achievement that we can gain happiness. This is a family without hope because they were without depth to begin with, not to mention without the One who is Hope. I hope her son doesn't commit suicide, but it's a possibility if they brought him up to value achievement and nothing more. Suicide is sometimes the result of mental illness, but it can also result from an upbringing that emphasized the things of this world, as opposed to the things of the soul.<br />
<br />
Pray for the country and its young people, for they've been sold a bag of soiled goods from a country seeped in sin. We're failing them.<br />
<i><br /></i>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-1214937127249717232016-06-07T18:42:00.001-04:002016-06-07T18:42:09.978-04:00My Daycare House<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My house has changed now that it's also a business. You can see here what we've been doing. My girls appreciate that we're doing more art projects now. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I just heard today that a new baby sibling will be born in December, whom I will be watching! How blessed is that? The whole SIDS thing terrifies me, but I love babies and I'll try to get past that fear as a daycare provider. The five-year-old sister starts kindergarten August 31, and then I'll have just the 3-year-old brother until their new sibling arrives.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8YAnMoed54Je6SDcdh40OZCw9zP6V_h3mn6L1s8i7XPQVvn4J4914IFpR1lo33YN9blEzld2eo7ns-Wd8xPgxPWV_745iX-HLgWe62K6kKp3phdkPlcK24Emoiwsqk7p2Mtf_YZKYIP5/s1600/art+wall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8YAnMoed54Je6SDcdh40OZCw9zP6V_h3mn6L1s8i7XPQVvn4J4914IFpR1lo33YN9blEzld2eo7ns-Wd8xPgxPWV_745iX-HLgWe62K6kKp3phdkPlcK24Emoiwsqk7p2Mtf_YZKYIP5/s320/art+wall.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FCnhV6nDuhDo0wiEzrqPooCKmXwPR5aONqwC5fvarWKAKS4TwMTV6a7HO_Y8UKMaO67H_0P2rjmPlRnfxr3vIrbWlibGF01j4vjkUXhVONfCLcftlew6ncOrH735QQ-CxoKSZLRJqAHP/s1600/daycare+books.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FCnhV6nDuhDo0wiEzrqPooCKmXwPR5aONqwC5fvarWKAKS4TwMTV6a7HO_Y8UKMaO67H_0P2rjmPlRnfxr3vIrbWlibGF01j4vjkUXhVONfCLcftlew6ncOrH735QQ-CxoKSZLRJqAHP/s320/daycare+books.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAPoii-vzOCMJpRD2YYgurosdq0rHJPLVBcXVv65w3CV_vAe5vXDahNhZ7oLagfgtuUwz6qhuvUsdhtX7StuXftpsOQhe9PtwTqPuFPlo5t5M232q2fUsavdgZ7hXUGUGvswF9X5aYRLK/s1600/daycare+door.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAPoii-vzOCMJpRD2YYgurosdq0rHJPLVBcXVv65w3CV_vAe5vXDahNhZ7oLagfgtuUwz6qhuvUsdhtX7StuXftpsOQhe9PtwTqPuFPlo5t5M232q2fUsavdgZ7hXUGUGvswF9X5aYRLK/s320/daycare+door.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i-bGa6YmP_9WuScJYEQslYh_5bA-fxwaAYiz9ywTzzTdsVJPKkjCPfels04E3iy_z5sqoWdx5gvI4dBSKZD6RhRWW2ll2nHEkI-7D27cCUPSOFHjciBGbgTuGl8BkyxlKWQqlEQpP5WP/s1600/daycare+house+wall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i-bGa6YmP_9WuScJYEQslYh_5bA-fxwaAYiz9ywTzzTdsVJPKkjCPfels04E3iy_z5sqoWdx5gvI4dBSKZD6RhRWW2ll2nHEkI-7D27cCUPSOFHjciBGbgTuGl8BkyxlKWQqlEQpP5WP/s320/daycare+house+wall.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZbGVnom8VF2hqFgObrAXoWTq8UGSto9AoQYhJ2aGmFLzFME5z9ShvhXIMy1kYRZH2_mceLAbJX00WOsuCMKBh84mtwnLLv8z1dS_Rte0_T6OiLAAnLpLDsawHQE31mtWPqHy3DtYIql3/s1600/daycare+house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZbGVnom8VF2hqFgObrAXoWTq8UGSto9AoQYhJ2aGmFLzFME5z9ShvhXIMy1kYRZH2_mceLAbJX00WOsuCMKBh84mtwnLLv8z1dS_Rte0_T6OiLAAnLpLDsawHQE31mtWPqHy3DtYIql3/s320/daycare+house.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzVtzny_ezWz7FnZVq0T2jW-Ix1_hy7s_AH8tk-mJ-iQzJXikRh1WatktGEGCJxFWjcL86V03xk2qCZkZyA7XcaH4IeUsFWOzRhCotWANnJs7an7AFnJzNiYmSR9UW5VPYBU1FDphoVaY/s1600/daycare+plant+board.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzVtzny_ezWz7FnZVq0T2jW-Ix1_hy7s_AH8tk-mJ-iQzJXikRh1WatktGEGCJxFWjcL86V03xk2qCZkZyA7XcaH4IeUsFWOzRhCotWANnJs7an7AFnJzNiYmSR9UW5VPYBU1FDphoVaY/s320/daycare+plant+board.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEzlwaVU4J5v67Tx30an0FrWoMedrR6llTKRBU0F-kYAYiGcXRnu2qKqCzAAwx4NpnTJIYfXQH28FDicx1oiPfxd3QUZMzo43cqSbUT11TpImUKd6ZWZZjLNKzCNrAv55fX8dEkbjeeWq/s1600/mary++mary+quite.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEzlwaVU4J5v67Tx30an0FrWoMedrR6llTKRBU0F-kYAYiGcXRnu2qKqCzAAwx4NpnTJIYfXQH28FDicx1oiPfxd3QUZMzo43cqSbUT11TpImUKd6ZWZZjLNKzCNrAv55fX8dEkbjeeWq/s320/mary++mary+quite.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYDSyoN4GpyNod9X185zkVCtQn46JQnjPqrHwrXuKp1cFbIF7zlRALGNEovmDquYfmh8zkNznM9ojdgzZe_xZ_rTdd7_yiVKgVDtDpO8zwqhdo37FnnCWtIxdAgbXAUi8AzoGwYD7ho0R/s1600/mother%2527s+day+wall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYDSyoN4GpyNod9X185zkVCtQn46JQnjPqrHwrXuKp1cFbIF7zlRALGNEovmDquYfmh8zkNznM9ojdgzZe_xZ_rTdd7_yiVKgVDtDpO8zwqhdo37FnnCWtIxdAgbXAUi8AzoGwYD7ho0R/s320/mother%2527s+day+wall.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-67722578749544758692016-06-05T00:57:00.000-04:002016-06-05T00:57:09.693-04:00A Housewife Gone Astray<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's Saturday morning. A few hours of heaven on earth in my life. Yes, I still have chores, shopping, and cooking weighing on me (ain't that the truth even on our birthdays and on Mother's Day?), but there is no exact deadline, other than hungry stomachs.<br />
<br />
As a homeschooling mom, Saturday did have perks for me, but it's different now. Now it's a <i>huge</i> relief, like the last contraction of an unmedicated childbirth, or like the last hundred yards of a marathon.<br />
<br />
Yippee!<br />
<br />
And Sunday afternoon and evening? They've changed too. The stress starts to build as I run around, getting the house ready for the next day, knowing that if I don't use my time wisely, I could be up until 2 AM cleaning and planning lessons or crafts. I used to get the Sunday blues as a public school teacher, too, toward the end when I had a lot of behavior problems and dreaded the weeks.<br />
<br />
Because non-paycheck moms don't live under intense time pressure (excepting those with kids in a lot of programs) it's easy to get too relaxed and <i>waste</i> time. Poor time management makes it difficult to be a blessing to our families. If we fail to listen to the Holy Spirit's prodding on this, God will correct us in uncomfortable ways.<br />
<br />
He<i> promises</i> to make us a spiritual success so we can finish the race. <i>He promises.</i> We need only respond.<br />
<br />
I'm about to reveal a sin in my life and encourage you to avoid the same path and stay on higher ground.<br />
<br />
Are you ready?<br />
<br />
I would recommend every stay-at-home mom make a list of her typical daily pursuits--not how the days would <i>ideally</i> go, but how they <i>actually</i> go. Then, analyze the list to check on your time management. Did you spend two hours on Facebook or surf the Internet too long each day? Did some other guilty escape occupy too much of your time?<br />
<br />
Don't be ashamed, but do give this to the Lord. He doesn't ask us to be perfect, but he does desire a responsive heart.<br />
<br />
Prior to being forced into this babysitting job, I was spending too much time reading political Internet news. It became a habit that I justified in the name of being a responsible voter in an election year. But really? I was failing to put things in God's hands, and I admired one political person too much, reading everything I could find on him. Twenty to thirty minutes of news a day was probably appropriate, but I let it get out of hand and I didn't respond quickly enough to the Holy Spirit's prodding, or I responded inconsistently--doing better one day and falling "off the wagon" the next.<br />
<br />
I'm ashamed before God. I served myself, not my family. It haunts me that my having to babysit is somewhat of a punishment or a correction. I didn't appreciate enough my status as a stay-at-home mom. And in a sense I didn't <i>fear </i>the Lord.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Staying at home to care for a family is a privileged position, not a right.<i> </i></b><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>To whom much is given, much is required.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I feel utterly exhausted most days and there's not much pleasure in my life right now. There's a lot of dread. I'm not bitter, but I am very, very sorry. God is using this time in my life, creating in me a purer heart, giving me a greater desire to be a godly mom and wife, instead of one who feels entitled and eats the bread of idleness.<br />
<br />
Dealing with hard physical or emotional issues can cause us to seek guilty escapes, and those escapes, unchecked, can prove costly. Sin is <i>always</i> costly. It is forgiven, but still costly.<br />
<br />
God promises to give us an escape route when we're tempted, but first, <i>we have to recognize and acknowledge our sin.</i> <b>Escape routes mean nothing to a person in denial. </b><br />
<br />
<i>Live in the light,</i> God commands. Don't hide sin, acknowledge it and let yourself be purified.<br />
<br />
God knows women. He knows what reminders we need. Our culture would have us believe men and women are the same, with the same capabilities and faults, but God doesn't seem to teach that.<br />
<br />
<b>Titus 2:3-5</b> <span style="color: red;">Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.</span><div>
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="verse visible" style="visibility: visible;">
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif; margin-top: -1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-top: -1em;">
<b>Proverbs 31:26-31</b><span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="color: red;">She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. ...</span></div>
</div>
<div class="verse" style="background-color: white; font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Proverbs 31 woman, by the way, is not<i> one </i>woman. We can't all be great at everything. It's more of a list of admirable qualities we should pray into our lives. If you read it as a description of one woman, you'll surely get discouraged and give up.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A godly woman keeps a quiet time to center herself on Him. She gives the day's troubles to her Master. Like Mary, she says "Let it be to me as you say. I am the Lord's servant." She is unselfish and generous. She takes care of herself, but she doesn't indulge herself. She doesn't feel entitled, but grateful. She loves with her time, with her prayers, with her words and with her body.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When referring to God, godliness means perfection. But in humans, godliness is a submission, a humility...an acknowledgement of our complete dependence on the Savior and Master.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Our behavior is telling, though. It's an accurate picture of our spiritual state. We are told to look for fruit. When our time here is up, we won't be judged on the way we <i>wanted</i> to behave, but on how we <i>actually</i> behaved.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's why I advise...take an inventory of how you spend your time. If you find error, there's a heart issue that needs revealing and cleansing. Every sin starts with the wrong attitude of heart.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Working moms are forced to be more time-efficient (unselfish with their time). They have a boss and multiple deadlines, at home and at work. A stay-at-home mom can potentially get more done, spiritually and relationally, but only if she lives each day as though God were watching.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>1 Peter 1:14-16</b> <span style="color: red;">As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”</span><br /><br />I trust God in this, and I don't believe life will be this intensely hard forever. I thank Him for not giving up on me, and for loving me enough to die for me and remake me into His image. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the meantime, there are two children who come here for 45 hours a week. If my heart is right, I can introduce the Lord to them and encourage their parents, who really have their hands full with some high-needs children. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Has the Lord ever corrected you with a major life change? Did you recognize it as such, and how did it come out?<br /></div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-46550040273309603202016-06-01T18:46:00.001-04:002016-06-01T23:03:27.590-04:00Still Here...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been working full-time as an in-home preschool/daycare provider since April 11. I remember this exhaustion and hard work, having done it once before, prior to the girls' births. Using your house as a place of business is an intense practice. There's no relaxing of standards, no leaving things out, no waiting for cleaning until you feel better, or are more rested. There's no going to bed with messy floors or carpets or stray laundry.<br />
<br />
There's no sleeping in late, or even getting adequate sleep for that matter.<br />
<br />
I care for 3- and 5-year-old siblings who are both handfuls in their own way. I'm struggling to love the 5-year-old, who is extremely strong-willed and snippy. "Please" and "thank you" are not in her vocabulary, and she uses put-downs and sarcasm. While she could never be called sweet, she is fun-loving and sometimes my girls enjoy her company. Often they yearn for the quieter time, before daycare, but at the same time they feel less stressed because we're more likely to make our bills each month.<br />
<br />
My kids help a lot and I've taken to giving each of them an allowance.<br />
<br />
There are positive things inherent in our new situation. One is that I do enjoy teaching and I'm doing more of that, with two new students on board. Much of what I've done with the preschoolers in science, my own girls have participated in albeit at a higher level. We've done a weather unit, a rainforest unit, and we're now learning about plants and pollinators.<br />
<br />
Another positive aspect is that my children are gaining more leadership experience. They're also sharing their faith, their possessions, their food and their home.<br />
<br />
The three-year-old has a lot of speech issues, but he's learning his letter sounds, nevertheless. Puzzles are his favorite activity. You might roll your eyes at this notion, but he has what appears to be OCD. He lines up his shoes just so, can't stand any messes, and cries to have his clothes changed when they get even a drop of water on them (for example, from washing his hands). I often feel no wetness anywhere on his clothes. I try to help him realize how dry his clothes really are, but he has fits about this and demands to be changed. There could be other explanations, but even the parents suspect OCD, though for the most part they don't discuss anything about their kids, possibly so as to keep their caregivers.<br />
<br />
I have worked hard in the past few weeks to remember boundaries, in that these are not my kids and most of my energy must go to my own children and my husband. It's not my job to transform these kids. or correct what I might perceive to be parenting errors. I'm only making $4.30 an hour, and some goes to food (2 snacks, drinks and lunch) and a bigger portion goes to craft and art supplies. I also had to purchase from thrift stores more preschool toys, since I had given my own away.<br />
<br />
Though working on boundaries, I'm still mindful of being a good employee and a loving mentor to them. I'm hugging these kids when they need it in the absence of their own parents, I'm praying for them, nursing their cuts and bruises, filling them with good stories, and reading character-training books in the mornings (from Proverbs this month), followed by daily prayer.<br />
<br />
They come from a Catholic family and attend Mass, but they came to us with no concept of prayer, even at meals. The first time the 5 year old heard us pray before lunch, she said:<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> "Why are you thanking God, when he didn't even make the sandwiches?"</i><br />
<br />
Her comment made me so grateful that I've been home all these years to disciple my own children. Here was a five year old with little to no knowledge of God. It made me devastated for her and her little brother.<br />
<br />
During the first month, she was snippy and irritated every time we prayed. Now, all these weeks later, she often adds requests to our morning prayer time.<i> She looks forward to devotions!</i><br />
<br />
God is using their time here in ways I'm probably unaware of--both for their benefit and ours. My job is to submit and be the Lord's servant. I trust His plan, even if it's exhausting, remembering that many Christians over the centuries have experienced physical exhaustion. What I'm experiencing is nothing novel, and I daresay it's keeping my body fit, being this active.<br />
<br />
His promises me everything I need, and I believe Him.<br />
<br />
I still want to count my blessing on this blog on a regular basis, but I'm realizing outside of that practice, I can't keep up here anymore. I've tried several times to write in the last 7 weeks, but each time something more pressing weighed on me. I was faithful to the people counting on me here. I need to shift my blogging to shorter blurbs, or give it up. If you're still around checking this blog, I thank you and I appreciate you.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Luke 21:19 Stand firm, and you will win life.</span><br />
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-46111170837370367342016-04-14T00:20:00.001-04:002016-04-14T00:20:35.241-04:00Guess What?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Guess what I've been doing? Working my tail off! I have two sibling children "enrolled" in my in-home daycare and preschool. They're three and five years old. We will only have the sister until fall, at which time she starts kindergarten.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWGjP-tMeO-tdCGJc7lWSdIxQ42w3fqniRS2RCfDwWVzH7s4kTRGjN3WBvOdtxwpJ8EfhmAzVAQ4NqBGXM1Er8NvTSkdi5MVOea6z8IPVNBFS1hiH-5arkqjbfu3dWPm1moVUBoCaGBTp/s1600/20160411_114632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWGjP-tMeO-tdCGJc7lWSdIxQ42w3fqniRS2RCfDwWVzH7s4kTRGjN3WBvOdtxwpJ8EfhmAzVAQ4NqBGXM1Er8NvTSkdi5MVOea6z8IPVNBFS1hiH-5arkqjbfu3dWPm1moVUBoCaGBTp/s320/20160411_114632.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
Here is the little guy with the stuffy he brought from home. We are all in love with him already. The sister is nice and fun, but not quite so sweet as her brother. They are both bright and teaching them is easy. Speech is a challenge for the three year old, and we are still learning what sounds he is missing and what the substitutions are. One is /k/ and I'm trying to help him, but that's not an easy one to describe or show mouth position for.<br />
<br />
My living room has become the playroom, the family room has become my children's school room, and half the dining room is the preschool room. Fortunately, my girls now read all their own social studies, science and literature, so that makes running a daycare easier than it might be. I have the girls narrate their assignments to me after they finish, and after the daycare kids leave at 5 PM (they're here full-time), I do writing and spelling with my girls. They boys just need me to check their assignment sheets and listen to them narrate, and of course I have to go over their writing assignments via regular writing conferences.<br />
<br />
It isn't easy, and after three days I'm still getting the hang of it, but it's a blessing to have this necessary income. All my children love kids and they've been such a big help to me. They are learning how to run a business and be professional, and what hard work feels like. It's been a positive experience thus far, though I'm so busy I can barely check email once before bed. I've worked on this post a few minutes over three days, and don't expect to get back here very often.<br />
<br />
And how are you, my friends? Anything new in your lives?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4Fm87lrQZ-YgIEs7vobkegS4E42gFcFKD0kxmnVV2DIpHaXqmq3n0aW1FkZu64rYVApfGE3trFKOXFqZZE18ECQJr6OBFviCmEbDAcMDuxiEbj3QuICT8WPDn3896Fk7_STlVRY-6VkW/s1600/20160411_134722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4Fm87lrQZ-YgIEs7vobkegS4E42gFcFKD0kxmnVV2DIpHaXqmq3n0aW1FkZu64rYVApfGE3trFKOXFqZZE18ECQJr6OBFviCmEbDAcMDuxiEbj3QuICT8WPDn3896Fk7_STlVRY-6VkW/s320/20160411_134722.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FR4qLIBWZK_G86OS-NHesvLYEeGbbEsKg6zNyZBCOemwYnbzwWxmw1Mm8mDLOykRPNnACON8Kp4wHUUihWij_KdgDfjURyhc3lstuOycUF0DDsrb6G-bLHcI55PviRMCf4HfEe-zrd5X/s1600/20160411_105849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FR4qLIBWZK_G86OS-NHesvLYEeGbbEsKg6zNyZBCOemwYnbzwWxmw1Mm8mDLOykRPNnACON8Kp4wHUUihWij_KdgDfjURyhc3lstuOycUF0DDsrb6G-bLHcI55PviRMCf4HfEe-zrd5X/s320/20160411_105849.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUMrmuTcPTn6I8KXFa5huq5iwCExz4VleOpQ1HK4zjppj8byjFNNENOz7QTzIRpYjL-1PQrv1Hh94xG2-jHlyzyNdZrKNwZfXtg2blGKGVUndpRepOL7Y_ZmmuqGwHhyKN6mI3HKOtfRR/s1600/20160411_154510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUMrmuTcPTn6I8KXFa5huq5iwCExz4VleOpQ1HK4zjppj8byjFNNENOz7QTzIRpYjL-1PQrv1Hh94xG2-jHlyzyNdZrKNwZfXtg2blGKGVUndpRepOL7Y_ZmmuqGwHhyKN6mI3HKOtfRR/s320/20160411_154510.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmo6gfEJMLkrMNTXQMN1XXGoIPHHMrhVM66GD2q2cK_QTe6AlKUfhQT1wHsEd0380YICumoaahTgsvkEvRBe4SF2tJ_lrT3WNPcb8Qqa0AcCWRkQFlxM-VfbDvESZqKIknrTBxG4ZFw-d/s1600/20160411_151448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmo6gfEJMLkrMNTXQMN1XXGoIPHHMrhVM66GD2q2cK_QTe6AlKUfhQT1wHsEd0380YICumoaahTgsvkEvRBe4SF2tJ_lrT3WNPcb8Qqa0AcCWRkQFlxM-VfbDvESZqKIknrTBxG4ZFw-d/s320/20160411_151448.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-26485110633247725232016-04-02T15:30:00.001-04:002016-04-02T16:07:03.523-04:00When You Need to Wait<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToCyWwcnS-R8ZefkjNFrLB3WRdldrBz5yI41V4vwCYCOkWEEuaDAUzqnD31FGE25YoUDoy3VDvHp-PF2eo9fw1LYg_HMCiW1L2KiAEWTzI4dzmu9RBiQhBAt_QuCOaMH2ej-rgMPg9XMr/s1600/waiting+on+the+lord+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToCyWwcnS-R8ZefkjNFrLB3WRdldrBz5yI41V4vwCYCOkWEEuaDAUzqnD31FGE25YoUDoy3VDvHp-PF2eo9fw1LYg_HMCiW1L2KiAEWTzI4dzmu9RBiQhBAt_QuCOaMH2ej-rgMPg9XMr/s1600/waiting+on+the+lord+.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting on the Lord</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I have advertised my childcare services for a couple weeks now, and the only response has been attempts by three people to scam me (but I had been warned and was ready).<br />
<br />
Oh, Lord Jesus, come. Evil is everywhere and that part is so discouraging.<br />
<br />
I have done my mother and teacher and homemaker duties all these days, somewhat anxious but fighting those feelings because I know they lead only to folly.<br />
<br />
Food prices have risen steadily and kids keep putting holes in their socks and shoes and growing like mad, and my husband hasn't had a raise in three years. Homeschooling all four children formally now, has also increased expenses, as we try to share resources and still be efficient.<br />
<br />
Not to mention, I unnecessarily tightened things further by sponsoring a third child--which I do not regret and for which my husband doesn't begrudge me. We are encouraged in God's word to give back a portion of our incomes, and that goes for us, the low-income people as well. No matter how much we have, it comes from God and giving it back to Him is not scary.<br />
<br />
Please don't wonder if we're eating well, because we are, definitely. We're not behind on bills so we aren't desperate, but tell that to my heart, will you?<br />
<br />
I need a job and God knows I need a job. We've prayed for other options, but babysitting is the only option that still allows me to invest my whole heart into my children. About employment I've always felt that if one does his or her part, if laziness is not present, if consistency in looking is there, if hope doesn't die and despair doesn't cripple--making it difficult to keep on looking--then the hard work will pay off...and this even more likely for the Christian, whose hope is in God.<br />
<br />
Oh, but the waiting. Is there anything other than pride that can cause a Christian to stumble so wretchedly? Yes, I think it's impatience.<br />
<br />
I looked for a sermon on impatience before continuing with my Saturday chores, and I found it on a David Mathis Desiring God <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-waiting-is-the-hardest-part">post</a>. Here is an <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-waiting-is-the-hardest-part">important excerpt:</a><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red;">Patience is the companion of humility and the enemy of pride. “The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Eccles%207.8">Ecclesiastes 7:8</a><span style="color: red;">). It is the appropriate posture of the creature illumined enough to say, “God is sovereign, and I am not.” And it is not our own production, but “the fruit of the Spirit” (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal%205.22">Galatians 5:22</a><span style="color: red;">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Galatians%205.5">5:5</a><span style="color: red;">).</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span>
Three pointers were given in the article to help us when we're in a period of waiting on the Lord:<br />
<br />
1. <b>Renew faith and hope</b><br />
<br />
2. <b>Pray and give thanks</b> (I especially love this one. Giving thanks and praying for others takes the focus off of ourselves, and since that self-focus is part of the problem in fretting, a love-your-neighbor focus is just what we need. (And what our neighbors need!)<br />
<br />
3. <b>Remember the patience of God</b><br />
<br />
It's an outstanding article and better than anything I can write, so please, <b><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-waiting-is-the-hardest-part">read it </a>if you are waiting on the Lord for anything at all.</b> Maybe you're waiting on a job, for the healing of a relationship or illness, for a child to love, or for the salvation of a loved one or neighbor or friend. God uses our waiting to build us up in Him, for his glory.<br />
<br />
The Holy Spirit reminds me that the reason I'm struggling is because I think I know all the answers, and I'm wondering why God isn't catching up to my thinking.<br />
<br />
And as always, I have it backwards. <b>God is waiting for me to catch up to his will, not the other way around</b>.<br />
<br />
Bless you, friend, as you wait, and here are verses to help.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Verses on waiting and steadfastness:</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Psalms 27:13-14</b><span style="color: red;"> </span>I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>Psalms 37:34</b> Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.<br />
<br />
<b>Proverbs 3:5-6</b> Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.<br />
<br />
<b>Isaiah 30:18</b> Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.<br />
<br />
<b>Isaiah 40:31</b> but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.<br />
<br />
<b>Lamentations 3:25</b> The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.<br />
<br />
<b>Micah 7:7</b> But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.<br />
<br />
<b>Acts 1:4</b> And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>Romans 12:12</b> Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.<br />
<br />
<b>Colossians 1:11</b> May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,<br />
<br />
<b>1 Corinthians 15:58</b> Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.<br />
<br />
<b>James 1:12</b> Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which <a href="http://http//www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/the-promises-of-god-10-powerful-bible-verses-1/">God has promised</a> to those who love him.<br />
<br />
<b>James 5:11</b> Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-33367536239316062752016-03-30T14:39:00.000-04:002016-03-30T14:52:05.423-04:00Testing Your Bible Knowledge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CBQd0srZksImSSuwMtNtofYpCfHk5uRcu1vQsHwhNAGH5YAdFy-Uz-U4yYXpfMT3T9Hnzl2cLfchDsnRYeQCM43vlm8o0dDYDp_tEdSJufQ-O46sfWBca39cp-PTduWmn9PhzqkQ7eNl/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CBQd0srZksImSSuwMtNtofYpCfHk5uRcu1vQsHwhNAGH5YAdFy-Uz-U4yYXpfMT3T9Hnzl2cLfchDsnRYeQCM43vlm8o0dDYDp_tEdSJufQ-O46sfWBca39cp-PTduWmn9PhzqkQ7eNl/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Trek AWANA, my middle-school church class, is coming to a close. It has been a great experience for a number of reasons, but also a big stretch on my time because the Trek leader book did not contain any lesson plans. I had to extensively research each passage we studied until I understood it like a Bible scholar, and then I had to synthesize it all into a coherent, relevant lesson for middle schoolers. It was like writing a sermon each time and gave me new respect for what pastors go through in writing sermons once a week (I only had to teach every third week).<br />
<br />
For this, my last lesson, I wrote a final exam of sorts that I'll use as trivia-type questions. It only includes what I taught from Luke (and other Gospels as needed to clarify events) not what my co-teachers covered. Take it for fun to test your Bible knowledge?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Some Final Exam Questions (for fun and review) - Trek Class 2016</b></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-c73f5121-c8cc-3f4b-325d-8844934d7c69" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. What two books of the Bible did Luke write? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Which Gospel writer was like an investigative journalist?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Which Gospel writer was a doctor?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. What is the path to greatness in God’s Kingdom?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Finish this verse: Matthew 20:28 Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his ________ ____ ____ _________ _____ __________.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. John the Baptist told the people to repent. What does repentance look like?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Name two unusual things about John the Baptist. Can you think of a reason why God may have wanted John to be so unusual?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Who put John the Baptist in jail?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Sharing in Jesus’ greatness involves sharing in his _____________.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. Of the biblical couples we learned about, which one had trouble conceiving a baby? What was their attitude in regard to their inability to have a baby?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11. What happened to Zechariah before his son John the Baptist was born. Why did it happen?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12. Mary’s famous lines in the Bible are: I am the Lord’s_________________. Let it be ____ ___ ___ _____ _______.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13. Joseph belonged to the house and line of _______________________, so he had to go to _______________________ to be registered for the census. Why is it important that Joseph and Mary were from the line of David?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">14. Finish this statement from John the Baptist: (Luke 3:16) I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not ___________ ___ _______. He will baptize you with ____ ______ _______ ____ _______ ______.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15. What is the main need of every person, and what was the main need of the paralytic man Jesus healed? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16. When Jesus healed the paralytic, who was lowered down by his four friends, the Pharisees had an attitude that prevented them from appreciating the miracle. How would you describe their attitude, and is it still here today in our churches? In what form?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17. What city was known as the headquarters of Jesus? Hint: It’s also the city in which the most miracles occurred. Jesus said of it: “And you, __________, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.” (Luke 10:15)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18. When we die and have to give an account to God for our lives, God will specifically want to know what we did with ____________?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">19. What can you tell me about the Roman Centurion who wanted Jesus to heal his servant? (We went over four details about him, but you don’t need to detail all of them.)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">20. Jesus was very impressed with the Roman Centurion. Why? (Luke 7:9) When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "____ ____ ___, ___ _____ ___ ____ _____ ____ ______ ______ _______ ____ .</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">21. Who was the unknown man who walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">22. What did Jesus discuss with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">23. Finish this verse (today’s memory verse): Luke 24: 25-26 ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to _____ _______ _____ ______ ______ _____ ____ ____.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">24. “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked?” What lesson is this from? What makes your own heart burn within you, and why do you think this is so?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Statement about today’s lesson</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: The story of the disciples on the Emmaus Road is important for many reasons. It provides an </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">emphasis</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on the Old Testament prophecies related to Jesus, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">evidence</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> regarding an additional appearance of Jesus, and a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">connection</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> regarding the many eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus. Luke 24 is often seen as a model of the journey that Jesus makes with many of us today, as He</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> opens </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our eyes, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">points</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> us to the Word, and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reveals</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Himself along life’s walk as the resurrected Savior and Lord. (Got Questions.org)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why do you think all of this is important for the faith--the emphasis on the Old Testament prophecies, the evidence regarding an additional appearance of Jesus, and a connection regarding the many eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">26. During the triumphal entry of Jesus seated on a donkey, the people were very excited and the crowds were large. They worshiped Jesus as a king. What kind of a king did they want, and how did Jesus disappoint them?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">27. How was Jesus’ triumphal entry different than what you would expect for a King? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">28. Why did Jesus weep during the triumphal entry, as he looked out over the city? What was coming that caused the compassionate tears?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">29. What was God’s 70 A.D. judgement on the people who crucified him? Can you name a figure from history who was important in the judgement (starts with a T)?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">30. What 18-hour and overnight event starkly contrasted the tremendous majesty of God with the depth of man’s sin? What is the purpose of this contrast?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">31. Who were Annas and Caiaphas? What do you remember about either of them?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">32. What was the name of the body of people which had 71 members, with a high priest serving as leaders, and including the Sadducees, Pharisees, priests and scribes? What part did this body take in Jesus’ trial?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">33. The scripture mentions that prior to Jesus’ trial, Pilate and Herod were distrustful of one another. After the trial they became friends. Can you think of a reason why scripture includes such historical details like this, that at first seem irrelevant? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">34. Annas was guilty of a certain practice in the temple courts, which made him rich. What was it? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">35. Can you think of any reasons Annas and Caiaphas would want Jesus dead? What did they stand to lose in regards to Rome, or way of life as they knew it?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">36. Jesus was given an illegal trial. Can you remember anything about it that was illegal? (He was asked to testify against himself, death wasn’t supposed to be ordered until 2 days after conviction, and there were to be no night-time trials).</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">37. We went over three Herods: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herod the Great, Herod Antipas</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and lastly, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herod Agrippa I</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--who was the grandson of Herod the Great (Acts 12). It was Herod Agrippa I who persecuted the church in Jerusalem and had the apostle James, the brother of John and son of Zebedee, put to death by the sword. By the hand of Herod Agrippa I, James became the first apostle to be martyred. What are </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herod the Great </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herod Antipas </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">known for?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">38. Jesus actually had more than one trial. He had two trials with 3 phases each--the whole ordeal lasting eighteen hours, overnight, and including many beatings. Why did it have to be so?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To ask everyone: How did going through the gospel of Luke--from learning that Mary was pregnant through the Holy Spirit, to reading about the resurrected Jesus appearing to two disciples on the Road to Emmaus--change your life? How do you think that reading the Bible systematically, versus just opening it anywhere and reading, can change someone’s life, and why?</span></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814114731786461812.post-90900147173109201872016-03-28T18:05:00.000-04:002016-03-28T18:29:16.602-04:00My Baby Has Hair on His Legs, Oh My<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJWKWejilj3bC313N0GUQYYl7N0slzjmMOSsi-AU8jGIo4Itsa3qIpIs9VoW_DFiNhNip4H4yFkTSq2cYTDrQ9ug-5o3oqIKeY75BkIpBNHX_DM4VKYNYJzRYPxXnse5kep502mUpgRlb/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJWKWejilj3bC313N0GUQYYl7N0slzjmMOSsi-AU8jGIo4Itsa3qIpIs9VoW_DFiNhNip4H4yFkTSq2cYTDrQ9ug-5o3oqIKeY75BkIpBNHX_DM4VKYNYJzRYPxXnse5kep502mUpgRlb/s320/IMG_1342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Do you see this cute little boy? Don't you just want to squeeze the stuffing out of him, he's so cute? I sure do.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVslA9HFvDT0mjcdSZLJw47WphDC7mf3CRvBdJEKB0D5VkHlXEjeAovKIiaDi4X6tzSxGXF583dFeGhz5jRQRyNSL72iEv1P5yO7RcERJ69IXJhX0UmHO-J_rbPZGy6PsTHwg3x8jIWcXf/s1600/IMG_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVslA9HFvDT0mjcdSZLJw47WphDC7mf3CRvBdJEKB0D5VkHlXEjeAovKIiaDi4X6tzSxGXF583dFeGhz5jRQRyNSL72iEv1P5yO7RcERJ69IXJhX0UmHO-J_rbPZGy6PsTHwg3x8jIWcXf/s320/IMG_0098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There we were today, sitting in the pediatrician's office for a routine check, and my 5' foot 7'' boy--who just yesterday was a downy-haired newborn--sat waiting on the examining table for the doctor, while playing "I spy" with his sisters. He had on ankle socks and I couldn't help noticing the manly leg hair peeking out from his jeans--all quite shocking to this Momma. His whole childhood flashed through my mind during their three rounds of I spy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Exactly <i>when </i>did he become a man? How did my newborn, in a flash, morph into a hairy-legged creature with a definite mustache? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Am I ready to let him go? Am I successfully working myself out of a job, <i>and is it supposed to hurt this much? </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm so proud of my young man!</span> He loves the Lord and cares deeply about the salvation of each child in this neighborhood. Twice a month or so he'll ask them...<i>How are you doing with God this week? </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He lives each day to please the Lord and he fiercely loves his family. He protects his sisters, prays about their stubbornness, looks after his brother, and tells me thank you for raising my children to love the Lord. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Becoming his mother 14 years ago was the happiest day of my 35-year-old life. He's driven me insane more times than I can count, but he's also filled my heart with an inexplicable love that forever changed me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Indeed, no one else has grown me or stretched me like he has. He's humbled me. He's matured me. He's taught me the intricacies of love and hope and endurance and grace. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thank you, Lord, for my baby boy. Thank you for my young man. Thank you for his life and his love and his loyalty. May he live true and bring many hearts to your Throne of Grace.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
May he fiercely love you and follow you all the days of his life, and dwell in your House forever. Amen.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741646073555849828noreply@blogger.com0