Is it grace or works?

I love Christian blogs.  More importantly, I need them.  With no second car and a husband outside the home 67 hours a week (partly commuting hours), I am isolated.  Blog reading and writing make me feel connected.

But, there's a caveat.  Have you noticed that Christian blog hopping can make your head spin?

One minute you're reading about should-dos, like spending your time wisely and blessing your kids with your presence, and acting se*y to bless your husband, and the next you're reading about how it's all grace, all the time.

So which is it?  Works or grace?

You probably think I'm going to say it's both, right?  Because faith without works is dead?

James 2:14-18 (source here)
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Well, yes, faith and works go hand in hand.

But I've noticed something in my fourteen years as a Christian.

It all depends on where you're at.  God always meets you where you're at.  He never overburdens.  

Are you battling something big, like a cancer diagnosis, a job loss, a miscarriage or infertility?  The loss of a child, spouse, or extended family member?  Do you have full care of a special-needs child or adult?  Did you just become a Christian?  Did you just find out your husband is cheating?  Do you have a hormonal imbalance?  Did you just move across the country?  Are you depressed?  Did you just have a baby?  Is your husband abusive?  An alcoholic?  Is your husband away and you're parenting solo?  Are you a single mom...or a very young mom?  Are you isolated?  Do you deal with chronic pain or insomnia?

The Lord knows what's on your plate.  He put it there, or at the very least, he hasn't taken it away.

So the answer is, cling to Jesus.  You'll find your way, through Him.

Your Worth, Momma

Favourite quote from devotional time:

God never wastes parents.  He doesn't inadvertently "dump" kids haphazardly into homes.  Nor does He deliver "accidents" into our lives.  It is exceedingly important that families place the same significance on children that God does...It is axiomatic.  Healthy, well-disciplined, loving homes produce people who make a nation peaceful and strong.  As the family goes, so goes the nation.  When you boil it down to the basics, the pulse of an entire civilization is determined by the heartbeat of its homes.

Taken from WISDOM for the way, Charles Swindoll, 2001, p196

My contributing thoughts:  Think you aren't significant, Momma?  Think again.  You were uniquely chosen, whether you gave birth, or whether you lovingly welcomed a child into your home.  You were chosen.  


"The pulse of an entire civilization is determined by the heartbeat of its homes."

What makes the "heartbeat" life-giving?

Do you think you're failing because you can't stop yelling about the shoes and coats and toys not put away?  Or because the clutter you can't stay on top of steals the peace you've worked so hard to steady?

Think again.  It isn't unfailing patience that makes you useful to God.  It is your desire for Him, your hunger for Him, that gives your children sustenance.  Let them see you sing to the Lord, pray to the Lord, repent before the Lord, rejoice in the Lord.

Yes, repent in front of them. Don't keep this part of your life a secret.  Let them see the joy that comes from releasing your guilt, your sin burden.  Let them see your joyful, forgiven self, not your perfect self.

Holding on to sin through guilt or depression--over failing yet again--further steals our peace.  It's the worst thing we can do.  Release it as fast as you can, as though it were poison.  It is poison.  The longer you keep the guilt, the more power you give the enemy.

Our children aren't going to stop sinning.  Sometimes we get fixated on their sinfulness, even more so than our own.  Discipline as appropriate, but also show them what to do with their failures.  Show them how to sit at the foot of the Cross, trading shame for joy.  Stop what you're doing and show them, right then.

There's nothing more important than leading them to the foot of the cross, over and over again.

When you give them that, you give them life.

It doesn't matter what they become, so long as they do it for the Lord.  Your worth as a parent isn't measured by how successful the world deems your children, though it's easy to fall prey to that thinking.

Your worth comes from this:

Did you give them life?

Praises!

So much to be thankful for!

Wednesday Gratitude

- Praises for the Word of God!  Several in the dentist office were intrigued by the book I had in my hand--Ann Voskamp's.  So powerful, so personal and beautiful.  I'm simply amazed that Ann found the time to create such wonder, while still mothering and teaching her brood of six, and caring for her home and living off the land.  I don't have that many hours in my day! God surely wrote that book through her.  He wanted it written.  I suspect Ann is getting her share of persecution, as is often the case when so powerful a God-themed book hits the bestseller list.  About 2 weeks ago a Google search hit my blog, with the words "Ann Voskamp dangerous".  I found that chilling.  I've no idea why my blog would come up in such a search.  I'm certain I've never used Ann's name along with the word dangerous.  Anyhow, praise God for the impact Ann's words have made.  Everywhere I take that book, people stare.

- Praises that Miss Beth also uses /f/.  I had forgotten until tonight that when we count in the bathtub, she says, "un, two, fe, fo, fi, eigh, te (one, two, three, four, five, eight, ten).  Did you get that?  :)  Thank you for my little girl--so full of life and joy, Dear God!

- The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare.  This book has me on the edge of my seat.  It's fabulous! Very action packed, and for the first time I really understand why the disciples and the Jews wanted Jesus to defeat the Roman rule and establish a free Israel.  This book helps you understand--as though you were there--the politics of Jesus' day.  I find this author amazing.

- Praise God that Peter's leadership skills are becoming more mature.  He leads Paul and Mary as they clean the playroom--demonstrating organizational skills as well.  Being paid a little for the job really helps him apply himself.  He keeps coming up with better ways to organize their things, so that clean up is faster.  And no more shoddy work, such as things crammed in the corners.  He really cares.

- I still have to sit with Peter while he does math with the new program, Teaching Textbooks.  However, I don't have to prepare anything.  Praise God that something has gotten easier!  I just observe and have him stop when he needs more explanation.  I take out paper and pencil and manipulatives, if necessary, and teach a little here and there. Paul does it independently and loves it.

- Praise God for preschool songs and rhymes.  Miss Beth loves any song or rhyme that involves hand motions.  She gets so involved and is just as happy as a lark when we're doing the motions together.  Thank you, Father, for her exuberance!  She doesn't have much patience for playing on the floor, which, come to think of it, is probably why we haven't done it much in the past.  She is still so active, flitting here and there, just exploring and enjoying life.  She can say more than she lets on.  For example, today we were playing with the Barney stuffed animal, and I noticed she said "Bar" instead of "Bar-ney".  I clapped the syllables and was able to get her to add the second syllable.  Could she just be lazy, verbally speaking?  No incentive?  I need to require more of her, while still being cheerful and light about it.

- Praise God for new perspective on my sons.  Paul is very bright and struggles with pride; everything is very easy for him, compared to his siblings.  I noticed that he gloats a lot, though very subtlely, about having better scores on spelling, etc., than Peter.  They use the same materials.  I took Paul aside and explained that we must give God the glory for everything--even our spelling--rather than taking that glory for ourselves.  Every single thing is a gift.  He took this hard, as he does any correction.  I really appreciate the contrast this week, in ways I couldn't before.  Those given much struggle with pride--thinking they've made themselves.  Those with nothing remarkable, in terms of talents, cling to God out of necessity. Who has the better hand in life? The one who is first or the one who is last?  I have both in this house.  The one side has more earthly comfort, the other more passionate faith.  How can those who rarely fail, like my Paul, not believe in themselves so strongly?  The temptation to do so is great.  I see my mission as Paul's mother more clearly now.  He needs me to be proud of him, yes, but at the same time, I need to set his gaze toward his Gifter, and encourage a humble heart of thanksgiving.

- Peter said while they were cleaning their playroom, "Praise God that we have so many toys.  Others have none!"  I said that I loved his attitude of gratitude!  He was very happy to hear me say this, after hearing plenty from me about his complaining ways.  Has a seed been planted?  May it sprout and flourish, Dear God!

- My husband's steadfast love

- My Mary suddenly getting all the words exactly right for every song we've ever sung together.  She belts them out now, whereas even last fall she left out words, phrases, and lines, from various songs.  She reminds me more and more of a sweet little kindergärtner, with her precious paintings, her rhymes, her songs, her letter sounds.  It's so fun!

- Giggling at the dinner table with my four kids, over a squirrel's frantic antics and amazing tail talk.

- More fun at the dinner table tonight.  I identified a bird for Paul--a mourning dove, far away in a neighbour's tree.

Mary says, incredulous, "You know what a mourning dove looks like?"

Daddy is usually the walking bird book around here, not Mommy.  Although, being married to my husband has made a bird lover out of me.  I can identify my fair share now.

I said to Mary, in a kidding voice "Why, yes!  Can you even believe how smart I am?  It's amazing the things that come out of my mouth, isn't it?" I'm no comedian, but Paul laughed hard at this, shooting his milk across the table.  Fun times, minus the mess!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

kids bowl free / your area

This message came through my homeschool group.  Sounds great.  Check the website for a bowling alley near you!




Hi All!
 
The Kids Bowl Free program is now accepting registrations for the summer at www.kidsbowlfree.com  Visit the site for a listing of participating centers and their individual program dates.  This will be our second year participating, and it is a great summer program.
 
Just to give you an example, from May 1 - Sept. 3, each child in our family age 15 and under may bowl two free games each time we visit, as often as every day!  We are also offered an unlimited shoe rental card with the program that gets the kids their bowling shoes each visit for only $15 for the entire summer.  So for a total of $45 we have unlimited bowling all summer for three kids.  


There is also an unlimited family pass available for $24.95 that allows all children over 15 yrs and adults in the family to bowl as well.  Shoe rental is extra.  But the $24.95 is a one time charge to cover up to four older children and/or adults in the household.
 
Any additional questions can be answered at the website, if you are interested in this deal.

 
Happy Bowling!
 
Leigh
 

Thrifting fun

During my thrift store trip the other day, I also worked on Mary's spring and summer wardrobe.  Peter scored a couple pairs of jeans, but I couldn't find anything new looking for Paul.  I knew he'd be downcast, so I was delighted to find a fabulous Little Tykes truck perfect for hauling things.  They've been pretending to be farmers and truck drivers, taking farm products from the farm to the factory to the grocery stores.

Daddy needed nice t-shirts for work and I found four brand-new ones, including one featuring a sports team from our area.  Unfortunately, on the back of the shirt, it featured the name of a player who went to play for the Miami Heat, which upset the fans here, who apparently expect absolute loyalty.  The man is hated here, which is probably why the shirt was given to Goodwill, still brand new.  :)  When my husband saw the back of the shirt with the name James, he said he would get a lot of heat from the men at work.  He's tough though--he can take it.  He also wore the sports shirt I bought that said, "Property of Jesus."   

Here are the girls, fresh out of the bath and ready for night church, with their new dresses.

 My silly Paul, being a ham.

Paul and Peter also scored this neat book that teaches kids all about using compasses.