Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy Birthday, Micah!!


Today, our New Year's Eve "baby" turned 11.
Micah bounded out of bed to open his present. He was not at all disappointed to receive six books! It was fun to shop the Newbury award section at Barnes and Noble to find good books for him. He immediately dove into Across Five Aprils, a story set in the time of the Civil War.








Micah's love for dragons runs long and deep. He prefers lemon cake to any other flavor.







We somehow fit 24 family members in our home for a family party. It was good to have so many who were able to come! Aunt Michelle gathered a crowd of children around her as she taught them how to play a new game, Labyrinth. Five-year-old Asher took the lead.
It seems like only a few days have passed since I held this dear baby in my arms for the first time. These days of childhood are sweetly treasured and pass far too quickly. Yet I love the young man Micah is becoming: compassionate, kind, generous, and tender to the things of God. He's a blessing to our family in many ways! Happy birthday, son!!!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

a special ray of sunshine

After battling an undetected (though certainly not symptom-free!) medical condition for three months and undergoing treatment for two more months, our little girl finally feels better. It's amazing how much more she smiles now that she's feeling well! Here's a special moment shared with Kit.

Monday, December 28, 2009

it's back

Shortly after beginning the book Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World, I began to post a weekly "compassion challenge" to be completed by our family. After a couple of months, I removed this from my blog. However, months later I still see the effects of these challenges in myself, my husband and our children. Seeing that it helped us to take our eyes off ourselves for at least a moment, and perhaps even made us a bit more like Jesus, I'm reissuing the challenge. Join us if you see ways you'd like to challenge yourself!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

more than a New Year's resolution...

ABANDONED

Utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost!
Seeking all His fulness at whatever cost;
Cutting all the shore-lines, launching in the deep
Of His mighty power--strong to save and keep.

Utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost!
Oh! the sinking, sinking, until self is lost!
Until the emptied vessel lies broken at His feet;
Waiting till His filling shall make the work complete.

Utterly abandoned to the will of God;
Seeking for no other path than my Master trod;
Leaving ease and pleasure, making Him my choice,
Waiting for His guidance, listening for His voice.

Utterly abandoned! no will of my own;
For time and for eternity, His, and His alone;
All my plans and purposes lost in His sweet will,
Having nothing, yet in Him all things possessing still.

Utterly abandoned! 'tis so sweet to be
Captive in His bonds of love, yet so wondrous free;
Free from sin's entanglements, free from doubt and fear,
Free from every worry, burden, grief or care.

Utterly abandoned! oh, the rest is sweet,
As I tarry, waiting, at His blessed feet;
Waiting for the coming of the Guest divine,
Who my inmost being shall perfectly refine.

Lo! He comes and fills me, Holy Spirit sweet!
I, in Him, am satisfied! I, in Him, complete!
And the light within my soul shall nevermore grow dim
While I keep my covenant--abandoned unto Him!

-Author Unknown, taken from Streams in the Desert

Saturday, December 26, 2009

this one says it all...

One of Rachel's bitty twins, adopted by Josiah and renamed "baby Jesus," and his new firetruck. Perfect Christmas sleep companions! (No, he didn't fall out of bed.)

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6-7

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

sharing Christmas with children

I've been reading a book recently that was first published in 1890, called Hints on Child Training. The author is H. Clay Trumbull, great-grandfather to Elisabeth Elliot. More thoughts from this book will be coming, but for now I will simply quote a few lines from his chapter on giving added value to a child's Christmas:

"He who would make children happy must do for them and do with them, rather than merely give to them. He must give himself with his gifts, and thus imitate and illustrate, in a degree, the love of Him who gave Himself to us, who is touched with the sense of our enjoyments as well as our needs, and who, with all that He gives us, holds out an expectation of some better thing in store for us: of that which passeth knowledge and understanding, but which shall fully satisfy our hopes and longings when at last we have it in possession."

It seems fitting that Christmas would be a time of hopes and longings satisfied, as the hope for a Savior had occupied the hearts of God's people from the time He first hinted at the Promised One in Gen. 3:16. And it is a season of surprises, as the Son came not as expected by the people but yet exactly as God Himself had planned from the beginning. So we, as parents, may instill a bit of this expectation, longing, and excitement in our interactions with our children in this Season of seasons, the advent of the Christ Child.

We didn't plan on making Santa pancakes a part of our family tradition. Santa is not the centerpiece of our celebrating, but he is tolerated and winked at in a good-natured way. After making these for the kids one year, they insisted they make a comeback year after year. They are easy to make: Reddi-Whip, cherry pie filling, a banana, a few chocolate chips, and of course pancakes.

Josiah was obviously surprised and delighted!!

A friend made these adorable snowmen with her niece and nephews, and then shared her craft instructions and materials with us. The kids had a ball making these even though it meant a lot of waiting while Mom manned the hot-glue gun.

Since the older kids were preschoolers, we've made a paper chain, pulling off one link each day to count down the days until Christmas. Micah always adds 6 more links to count down to his New Year's Eve birthday. I thought perhaps this year the older kids might be getting too old to want to do this, but Micah was the one who asked to assemble the chain.

This year we chose to reenact the Christmas story with this tool from Family Life. Every night the kids open a present with one of the characters from the story, and we read the corresponding Bible verses. This has been a wonderful way to get the very active 3-year-old involved.

Another great tradition for most families is riding around town, looking at Christmas lights. This activity took on added meaning a few years ago when we began to share with the kids that Christmas lights help us remember Jesus is the light of the world, and His people shine a beautiful light in a dark world when they live their lives for Him.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

managing emotions

Emotions...they are powerful, motivating, and a part of the human experience. When managed properly, they can lead to great good, and when managed poorly, they can tear lives apart. Often the way we respond to life's circumstances has its root in our emotions. What is the secret to managing them well?

I've been pondering these things for some time. Over the past several years, our family has been through a series of events that have brought out some of the deepest, most hidden emotions of my heart. I've glimpsed the good, the bad, and the ugly of my soul and sense that it is only the tip of the iceburg. As I heard wisely taught recently, our trials do not make our character, but reveal it. It seems I've been found out, and I see I'm sorely lacking. But hallelujah, the story God is writing in my character is not yet done!

One of my older children has currently reached a time in life when emotions threaten to rule. In an attempt to help that child, I recently wrote out a step-by-step response to handling emotions. What I penned has been what I've been learning throughout these past years and personal struggles, now for the first time captured in words. I quickly recognized my own need to walk through these steps in a systematic way. I then rewrote them with myself in mind, promising my child this was something Mom needed to work on, too. I share our steps here only hoping to help others as well.

Steps to wisely handling emotions:

1. Time out. Get alone before I say or do something I will regret. (Life doesn't always allow us to run to another room...this may mean a mental time out while I think through how to respond!)

2. Talk to God. Ask Him to give me a new attitude as I obey Him.
Ps. 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

3. Think. Fill my mind with right thinking from God’s Word.
Phil. 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

2 Cor. 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Quite often, right thinking leads to right emotions, which leads to right action. This is the most important step in handling our emotions. It is best to fill our minds with appropriate scripture that will transform a response of the flesh to a response of the Spirit.

Some examples of right thinking:
(for my child)
*Mom loves me and she doesn’t want me to grow up having a bad attitude toward others.
*I need to learn to be less selfish, and God is giving me an opportunity to learn this.
*I’m learning to be responsible when I help out.

(for myself)
*God loves me enough to correct my pride, selfishness, and wrong attitudes toward others.
*I’m learning to be a godly mother (also insert wife, friend, etc.) and servant of God as we go through these things together.
*I need to learn to express my anger (fear, love, frustration... insert emotion) in a more God-honoring way. How would He have me respond?

4. If I have hurt someone, tell the person I offended that I am sorry. Talk out any hurt feelings.
James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other…”

5. Try again. Grace means I am able to try again and again as I grow to be more like Jesus.
James 1:4 “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”


Saturday, December 19, 2009

on a completely different note

Thanks to a tip from my parents, we took the kids out to gawk at this light display tonight. It was definitely worth the peek and the wait! It was my children's second trip, and they saw things they hadn't noticed the first time. For those in town, this is 204 Robert Drive, not far from Parkside.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

to be like this mom

It is interesting to note the Bible is so quiet regarding the years of Jesus' upbringing. There seems to be much wisdom in this. As the mother of our Lord, wouldn't it be wonderful if moms could know her methods? Certainly we would long to copy them in bringing up our own children! Yet instead, we are left not with a record of methods but one of attitude. This is the most instructive word from God for any mother: to have Mary's heart of acceptance for God's will and a love for Jesus that makes the humble, ordinary tasks required of us most sacred.

Title: The Mother of the Lord

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

We see her first, that little Mary (may I say little? I think she was a teenager), as a simple village girl in a poor home in an out-of-the-way place. She is bending over her work when suddenly the light changes. She raises her eyes. A dazzling stranger stands before her with a puzzling greeting. He calls her "most favored one" and tells her the Lord is with her. She is stunned. I don't believe her thought is of herself (Who am I? or Am I ever lucky!). Mary is troubled. She discerns at once that this has to do with things infinitely larger than herself, far beyond her understanding. What can it mean?

The angel does not weigh in immediately with the stupendous message he has been sent to deliver. He first comforts her. "Don't be afraid, Mary." Mary. She is not a stranger to him. He is assuring her that he has the right person. He explains what she has been chosen for--to be the mother of the Son of the Most High, a king whose reign will be forever. She has one question now--not about the Most High, not about an eternal king--those are things too high for her--but motherhood is another matter. She understands motherhood, has been looking forward to it with great happiness. Her question is about that: "How can this be? I am still a virgin." He does not really explain. He simply states a mystery: "The power of the Most High will overshadow you." He goes on to tell her of another miraculous pregnancy, that of her old cousin Elisabeth, well past child-bearing age. "God's promises can never fail," he says. They won't fail for you, Mary. Rest assured.

How will the girl respond? She is at once totally at the disposal of her Lord (she sees that the visitor is from Him). Whatever the mystery, whatever the divine reasons for choosing her, whatever the inconveniences, even disasters (broken engagement? stoning to death--the punishment of a fornicator?) which she may be required to face, her answer is unequivocal and instant: "Here I am. I am the Lord's servant; let it be as you have told me." Anything, Lord.
We see her next with Elisabeth, who, by the manner of Mary's greeting and by her own baby's sudden movement in her womb, knows immediately that God has chosen Mary to be the mother of the Lord. They don't sit down over coffee and chatter about the gynecology or the practical logistics or what people are going to say. Mary sings her song of gladness, of thoroughgoing acceptance of the gift, of trust in the Mighty One.


We see her sweating in the cold of the stable, putting her own life on the line, as every mother must do, in order to give life to somebody else. We see her with the tough shepherds, breathlessly telling their story of the glory of the Lord and the singing of the angel choir. Everyone else is astonished (a word which comes from "thunderstruck"), but Mary does not join the excited babble. She is quiet, treasuring all these things, pondering them deep in her heart. We see her with the mysterious travelers from the East bringing their lavish gifts. She says nothing as they kneel before the baby she holds in her arms. We see her on the donkey again, on the roundabout journey to Egypt because her husband has been given a secret message in a dream. She does not balk, she does not argue.

We see her in the temple handing over her baby to old Simeon, to whom the Holy Spirit has revealed the child's amazing destiny: a revelation to the heathen, glory to Israel. But to Mary he gives the far deeper message of suffering, for there is no glory that is not bought by suffering: her son will suffer--he will be a sign which men reject; she, his mother, will suffer, will be pierced to the heart. No question or answer from her is recorded. Again we know only her silence.

We see nothing of her for twelve years--days and nights, weeks and months, years and years of caring for the infant, the toddler, the little boy, the adolescent. There is no mention of any of that. Mary has no witness, no limelight, no special recognition of any kind. She is not Mother of the Year. Hers is a life lived in the ordinary necessity of their poverty and their humanity, no one paying attention to her attention to Him. Whatever the level of her comprehension as to the nature of this boy, she knows He was given to her. She remembers how. She treasures all this. She ponders things in the silence of her heart. Did she share any of them with Joseph? Could she? Could he receive them? We know next to nothing of the dynamics between them. She was content to be silent before God.

The apostle Paul tells us we are "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3, NIV}. There is mystery there, but when I think of the life of Mary, I see some facets of that mystery that I missed when I read the apostle. Hers was a hidden life, a faithful one, a holy one--holy in the context of a humble home in a small village where there was not very much diversion. She knew that the ordinary duties were ordained for her as much as the extraordinary way in which they became her assignment. She struck no poses. She was the mother of a baby, willing to be known simply as his mother for the rest of her life. He was an extraordinary baby, the Eternal Word, but His needs were very ordinary, very daily, to his mother. Did she imagine that she deserved to be the chosen mother? Did she see herself as fully qualified? Surely not. Surely not more than any other woman who finds herself endowed with the awesome gift of a child. It is the most humbling experience of a woman's life, the most revealing of her own helplessness. Yet we know this mother, Mary, the humble virgin from Nazareth, as "Most Highly Exalted."

I am thanking God that unto us a Child was born. I am thanking Him also that there was a pure-hearted woman prepared to receive that Child with all that motherhood would mean of daily trust, daily dependence, daily obedience. I thank Him for her silence. That spirit is not in me at all, not naturally. I want to learn what she had learned so early: the deep guarding in her heart of each event, mulling over its meaning from God, waiting in silence for His word to her.
I want to learn, too, that it is not an extraordinary spirituality that makes one refuse to do ordinary work, but a wish to prove that one is not ordinary--which is a dead giveaway of spiritual conceit. I want to respond in unhesitating obedience as she did: Anything You say, Lord.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

the boys

Josiah still talks about playing with buttons, an activity from our first week of preschool. I recently found a container of buttons at the store. (I returned our borrowed buttons to my mom, that way they can be a special thing to do at her house.) We sorted by color, number of holes, favorites, and then found Josiah's favorite way to play: bulldozing a road.

Micah, heavily armed while practicing piano. You never know when you might encounter an ambush.



Today I had the opportunity to try out the video feature on my camera. Josiah loves fingerplays and learned both of these at BSF. (He's pointing to a snowman on the tablecloth while he sings.) He learned how to count to three from Dora the Explorer. I think this is a post that will be most loved by grandparents, and perhaps an aunt or uncle who live far away...

Monday, December 14, 2009

thanking God for the hard things

Taken from Streams in the Desert, compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman

Thankful for the Thorns
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:10).

The literal translation of this verse gives a startling emphasis to it, and makes it speak for itself with a force that we have probably never realized. Here it is: "Therefore I take pleasure in being without strength, in insults, in being pinched, in being chased about, in being cooped up in a corner for Christ's sake; for when I am without strength, then am I dynamite."

Here is the secret of Divine all-sufficiency, to come to the end of everything in ourselves and in our circumstances. When we reach this place, we will stop asking for sympathy because of our hard situation or bad treatment, for we will recognize these things as the very conditions of our blessing, and we will turn from them to God and find in them a claim upon Him. --A. B. Simpson

George Matheson, the well-known blind preacher of Scotland, who recently went to be with the Lord, said: "My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross; but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory.

"Teach me the glory of my cross;
teach me the value of my thorn.
Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain.
Show me that my tears have made my rainbows."
"Alas for him who never sees
The stars shine through the cypress trees."

Saturday, December 12, 2009

a good read

This is a great article by John Piper on teaching unregenerate children to be good.

Friday, December 11, 2009

great website for truly good food!

Last night I attended a cookie exchange for the women in our neighborhood. The hostess served this wonderful dip, taken from the website http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/. This recipe may not appeal to every taste bud (I doubt anyone else in my house would touch it) but there are many other "healthified" recipes to try. The gal who made this left out the olives and only used 1/4 cup of the feta cheese, so you can tweak it to your tastebuds' delight!

Greek Layered Dip

2 whole wheat pita (pocket) breads (6 inch)
Cooking spray
1 container (7 or 8 oz) plain hummus
1 container (6 oz) fat-free Greek plain yogurt
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 medium plum (Roma) tomato, seeded, chopped
1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, quartered
1/3 cup finely chopped seeded cucumber
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (2 oz)
1/4 cup chopped green onions (4 medium)
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 medium cucumber, sliced
1 medium green or red bell pepper, cut into strips

1 Heat oven to 350°F. Split each pita bread horizontally to make 2 rounds. Cut each round into 6 wedges. Arrange on ungreased large cookie sheet, rough surface up. Spray with cooking spray (about 5 seconds).
2 Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown and crisp; cool.
3 Meanwhile, spread hummus on shallow serving platter or in pie plate. In small bowl, mix yogurt, parsley, lemon juice and pepper; spread evenly over hummus. Top with tomato, olives, chopped cucumber, feta cheese and onions. Drizzle with olive oil.

Nutritional Information: 1/4 cup dip, 2 chips and 4 veggies: Calories 100 (Calories from Fat 40); Total Fat 4 1/2g (Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 5mg; Sodium 270mg; Total Carbohydrate 12g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 3g); Protein 4g % Daily Value Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 20%; Calcium 6%; Iron 4% Exchanges 1/2 Starch, 1/2 Skim Milk, 0 High-Fat Meat, 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices 1

Thursday, December 10, 2009

a hymn of longing for the Spirit

"'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within in him.' By this he meant the Spirit..." John 7:38-39

Thy mighty Love, O God constraineth me,
As some strong tide it presseth on its way,
Seeking a channel in my self-bound soul,
Yearning to sweep all barriers away.

Shall I not yield to that constraining power?
Shall I not say, O tide of Love flow in?
My God, Thy gentleness hath conquered me,
Life cannot be as it hath hither been.

Break thru my nature, mighty, heavenly Love,
Clear every avenue of thought and brain,
Flood my affections, purify my will,
Let nothing but Thine own pure life remain.

Thus wholly mastered and possessed by God,
Forth from my life, spontaneous and free,
Shall flow a stream of tenderness and grace
Loving because God loved, eternally.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

called to play; called to serve

My heart began to race as I read the email from our church's choir director. He was asking for volunteers to play in an ensemble for our annual Christmas program. The musical score called for strings, flutes, and an oboe. My response was not one of excitement, but fear. I love playing (and hiding) in our orchestra when I can, but this was an ensemble, with fewer instruments and more exposure. That would mean, gulp, that people could hear me.

The oboe is a quirky instrument. The double reed mouthpiece makes playing difficult as the sound is hard to control and breathing tricky. As far as I know, it is the only instrument that requires the player to breathe out extra air before taking a quick breath in, which can result in a lot of light-headedness while playing. An oboe played poorly sounds much like a quacking duck crossed with a dog's squeak toy. Played well, however, it has a warm, haunting sound that is easily heard even over the rest of the orchestra.

Not many people play oboe, so when the instrument is needed, I feel fairly obligated to say yes. On the other hand, it is a difficult instrument to play and I'm far from accomplished. Multiply this high-maintenance instrument with a quiet personality and a love for playing, and you have my oboe complex.

After a couple of weeks of practice and armed with a new reed, I ventured out to the first rehearsal. The first time through the piece, I was alarmed to hear my instrument sound hopelessly out of tune. A check of the score revealed that my part was written for the English Horn, so we quickly transposed the notes and tried again. Much better...and I had a grand total of 36 notes. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

The choir assembled and the real rehearsal began. An acoustic guitar, violin, viola, flute, and choir voices combined to form a rich, full sound that made my heart sing along. There were a few small measures where my oboe chimed in, warmly carrying melody and harmony, picking up where others left off and weaving its part in the song of Mary's Magnificat. The beauty of it all took my breath away.

No matter how quirky our personalities may be, how much we wonder if we have anything to add to the cacophony of the lives sounding around us, when we trustfully put our lives into the hands of the Master Composer, He has a place for each willing life. Whether you sound notes of warmth, order, creativity, or precision, whether quiet or loud, there is no one else who has quite the part you can play in God's symphony of the redemption of man. It will take sacrifice, practice, and a life that is in tune with the will of God. Don't miss it for fear of making mistakes or being exposed for who you truly are. The Composer of the ages knows where to place you in the score. It may take your breath away when you see how He has woven your life together with that of others to produce something beautiful for His sake and glory.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Romans 10:11 "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

This post was written as a response to Creative Stretch #5, "something that makes your heart sing." See Erin's light-hearted post here.

Friday, December 4, 2009

food for thought from Elisabeth Elliot

This is too good not to share...for adults and children alike. "Lord, help us not to be squeezed into the world's mold when we are raising our children."

Title: Teaching Children

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

How many times between the ages of three and ten do children have to answer the only two questions adults can think of to ask them: How old are you? and What are you going to be when you grow up?

The second question may seem innocuous, but is it? In the first place, many children may be distressed at being required to make a choice which is far beyond them. In the second place, it implies that the choice is theirs. This can lead to great confusion later on. The child will grow up physically, but spiritually he will not have begun until he learns that Jesus died not only to save him from sin but in order that he should live not for himself but for Him who died (see 2 Corinthians 5:15 and l John 3:16). If a young person has been taught from childhood that he ought to "be something" without at the same time being shown that nothing is better than being God's servant, he may be preoccupied with ambitions and ideals he has gotten solely from the world. If his conception of "where it's at" has nothing to do with the Kingdom of God, he is in for trouble when it comes time to discern the Will of God. He will be setting limits to his obedience, defining the terms of his service. "For My sake" is a concept children can grasp much earlier than we generally suppose. A little boy wrote to me that he was learning to lay down his life for others. To him this meant that sometimes when he would rather play he lay down beside his little sister to help her go to sleep.

Pray that God will show you how to teach your children that life is meant to be lived for God. "You are not the owner of your own body. You have been bought, and at what a price! Therefore bring glory to God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:20, PHILLIPS). Help your child to understand that the Lord is his Shepherd, and he is a little lamb. The Shepherd will gladly show him the right pathway if he is willing to follow.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

check this out

While there are plenty of things I'm mulling over, it seems I am hitting a bit of a writer's block lately. I'll let my friend Erin save the day and share something she wrote with you. Click here to be challenged and stretched! Thank you, Erin, for this lesson, one I've referred to often after reading it the first time.

Friday, November 27, 2009

playing the oboe is...

I recently said yes to once again picking up my oboe and playing in an ensemble and orchestra for our church's Christmas concert. Because I actually have a few important parts and feel like the weakest player in our otherwise talented orchestra, I'm quite motivated to practice hard and often. I tried to do a search on any information that might help my technique, and stumbled across this humorous entry on the internet. The writer (Esther Wheaton, an oboe player much more accomplished than yours truly) lists some results found on the internet, followed by her own comments. Please note I did not write any of what follows, but I do concur! If you do not understand an entry, you might be because you've never tried to play the oboe...

So I did a Google search on the phrase “Playing the oboe is”… The results are interesting! Some are normal and I would expect them, some are funny, some are wildly misinformed. Anyway, here are some of my favorites:

playing the oboe is having a good supply of reeds on hand.
But it is more of an adventure when you don’t.

Playing the oboe is one of those talents which not many people can say they have accomplished
True!

playing the oboe is harder than it should be
Yes, playing the oboe is unique. Although it seems many of the other sources liken it to swimming underwater and cross country running.

playing the oboe is not an easy thing and you will be physically tired

Playing the oboe is not brain surgery. Making a reed on the other hand…Jim always says making a reed is not brain surgery, but I’m pretty sure it’s close.

playing the oboe is an expensive proposition
Hurrrrrrgh

playing the oboe is very attractive at the moment
This was a result from someone looking to take up a second instrument. Oh the surprise they have in store.

Playing the oboe is a little crazy and masochistic at times, but it is also wonderful.
This is a result that I wrote! Aww. This is how I feel about the oboe.

playing the oboe is to be a good musician
Well, more often than playing the violin, anyway.

playing the oboe is easy once you’ve got a good reed
I wouldn’t say easy, I would say easier and also more fun.

Playing the oboe is like living on the edge
Like the edge of a knife? Of a SHARP knife?

Playing the oboe is possibly one of the easier options for the dyslexic pupil
I don’t know how this works, precisely.

Playing the oboe is an unnatural thing to do,” says symphony oboist James Gorton

Playing the oboe is almost like blowing into a straw all day. It does something to your brain
SOMETHING TERRIBLE

Playing the oboe is a life long journey
Down a road plagued by wolves.

Playing the oboe is never going to look as cool as strumming a bass, but the oboe player is doing amazing things with music
Whereas that bass player…

Playing the oboe is like trying to play with your lips pressed flat against a brick wall

playing the oboe is that we just look weird when we play
I always get multiple chins. It is awkward.

Playing the oboe is pure prayer
Like a crashing plane, but without a wing.

playing the oboe is that you get dizzy alot because you have to blow like really hard to get the sound and when you play a high note you have to blow really fast and I get light headded alot. [sic]
This is my favorite result, I think.

Playing the oboe is not a practice; if the oboe had never been invented, we could still, somehow, live full lives
LIES AND HERESY

Playing the oboe is fine, but being a musician and a music student in particular are not my favorite things

Playing the oboe is not that different from using a computer

playing the oboe is good for lung function and for strengthening mental processes
STRENGTHENING?

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

filled to overflowing

In light of Thanksgiving, I thought I would begin to literally count my blessings and name them one by one. I tried to look past the obvious (but no less meaningful) things like family, friends, and material possessions to some of the things that might otherwise get overlooked. Here's a sample of my list...

Things I could live without but am nonetheless thankful for:
-coupons, consignment shops, and sales at Kohl's
-flannel sheets
-the produce section at Meijer
-automatic doors on our van
-the sun shining in our family room windows in the winter
-free cookies at the grocery store which motivate my youngest to behave while we shop
-a purring cat on my lap
-that I still have my oboe and sort of know how to play it

Things my children have opened my eyes to:
-the hard work of construction workers and farmers
-fantasy
-bedtime after a long day
-the color black
-Wii
-the Aunt Millie's bread man
-dogs
-how many sources of protein there are besides meat
-not crying over spilled milk

Little things that really do matter:
-an encouraging word at just the right moment
-friends who say they will pray for me and really do
-people who say thank you
-smiles of understanding at a child's misbehavior
-a child who tells me, "You're the best, Mom!" when I least deserve it
-my husband taking over the kids and ordering me out of the house for some time alone after a particularly trying day

From our church:
-17 years of shaping and learning under our departing pastor
-the most recent EWO mission conference
-the book of Colossians and women who wanted to study it as badly as I did
-seeing the MOMS group in action
-praying again with prayer corp members

Especially this:
-3 days and nights away alone with my husband for our 15th wedding anniversary
-homiletics every week for BSF
-watching my daughter learn from and overcome a difficult situation at school
-absolute truth
-hard situations which cause me to depend desperately on God and know Him as never before
-breakthroughs in prayer
-conviction of sin
-the lavish love of God and forgiveness of sin in Christ

I somehow feel like the richest woman on earth, but then I am a daughter of the King. Enjoy counting your blessings and have a blessed Thanksgiving!!!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

gladdening the heart of a child



Happy third birthday, Josiah!! He couldn't even wait to get out of his pajamas this morning to commence the birthday celebrations. He wanted cake and candles but had to settle for a few presents to start the day. All he asked for was a digger and a helicopter. It wasn't hard to satisfy his simple requests.

A birthday cake was created with all his favorites, and lots of love.

Now comes the hard part...waiting for the party to begin! That's when my camera fell into the dog's water dish, so my picture-taking ended abruptly, though we did manage to get this shot:


We're grateful to everyone who made his day so special!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

bedtime

When Micah and Rachel were little tykes, they both slept with their blankies and numerous stuffed animals. You can see below where Josiah stashes his stuffed animals at bedtime...under the bed!Here's his usual sleep friends: a helicopter, various diggers and construction equipment, airplanes, and trains. And yes, as of last week, Puff the Magic Dragon.
Sweet dreams! We pray you don't get poked or incinerated! (Who needs bedbugs?) Perhaps his blankie offers some kind of protection we don't yet understand?

Friday, November 6, 2009

cousins and yummies


Josiah and cousin Elliana are just a few months apart, and really enjoy it when they get to play together!
Tonight Rachel tried a recipe from an American Girl book we picked up last week. It was a hit! (And yes, that is a sword tucked into her belt.)

Cream Soda Floats
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
cream soda
garnish with vanilla cookie

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

that the world may know

This hymn was introduced to me at our missions conference recently as a favorite of many on staff with New Tribes Missions, an agency that takes the gospel to unreached tribal groups. The words are powerful, and as I ponder them, do I really dare to think of what God may do if He answers such a plea for His people? Do I dare contemplate what He may do through me?

Set My Soul Afire
Set my soul afire, Lord, for Thy Holy Word,
Burn it deep within me, let Thy voice be heard;
Millions grope in darkness in this day and hour,
I will be a witness, fill me with Thy power.

Set my soul afire, Lord, For the lost in sin,
Give to me a passion as I seek to win;
Help me not to falter, never let me fail,
Fill me with Thy Spirit, let Thy will prevail.

Set my soul afire, Lord, in my daily life.
Far too long I've wandered in this day of strife;
Nothing else will matter but to live for Thee,
I will be a witness for Christ lives in me.

Chorus
Set my soul afire Lord, set my soul afire,
Make my life a witness of Thy saving power.
Millions grope in darkness, waiting for Thy Word.
Set my soul afire, Lord, set my soul afire.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

room for two?


Snuggling on the couch and sharing a pillow is always a treat. Here's a rare picture that actually includes Mommy...

Saturday, October 31, 2009

trick or treat?

Here they are...Bolt, Diego, and Megatron

Bolt with her dragon pumpkin...

Diego with a smile as wide as the one on his pumpkin...

Megatron with his Decepticon symbol...

Trick or treating with cousins who were also adorable.

Friday, October 30, 2009

what my youngest have been up to

Sometimes it seems Josiah and Rachel are two peas in a pod, even with 5 (almost 6) years between them. It helps that they enjoy the same activites...like...coloring, cutting, and creating at the table!

Last Saturday Rachel wasn't feeling well, so the three of us were home together. She and Josiah pulled up to the table and created artwork to send off to grandparents who live far away. They LOVED it and stayed at the task well over an hour.

Never mind that stickers are supposed to go on paper...
Cutting jack-o-lanterns is always a hit. I've never seen a child love to scrape out the insides quite the way Josiah goes at it. Sorry, this is my only picture of Micah this time around. That's his sock. He's sitting in the chair, reading a book.

And of course, Josiah makes friends with his pumpkin, which had to have a smile.

Off to Nana and Papa's to spend the night. "I carry my suitcase!"

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

fellowship on the staircase

It was the end of a long, rather frustrating day. I had been home alone most of the day with a sick child and a wild 2-year-old who, in spite of my best efforts, didn't seem to mind beating up on the invalid lounging on the couch, the dog, and anything else that crossed his path. I was more than ready to head for bed. After sinking into a nice doze, I was startled awake and groaned inwardly. Once I miss that first wave of sleep, I have learned I may as well get up and find something to do before trying again.

I stumbled out into the hall and down the steps, stopping to rest at the bottom, head in hands. All the trials of the past day, week, and month seemed to pounce on me at once. Crying out to the Lord was uppermost on my mind, yet I worked to keep God at arms' length. I've never been very good at allowing Him to draw near when my biggest frustration is really with myself. Why would He want to be close to me at a time like this anyway?

Yet God, in His ever-pursuing love, would not let me go. I thought of John 4, the passage I was studying that week, where we read the account of the woman at the well. For the first time ever, I wondered what was going through the woman's mind as she came to draw water in the middle of the day? She was an outcast, despised by Jews for her mixed-up religious heritage but also by her own Samaritans for her immoral lifestyle. Was she feeling empty, frustrated, and wondering if the path her life had taken would ever change? Yet Jesus was not deterred from initiating a conversation with her. In fact, He seemed to have a special place in His heart for people like this, and had come to the well especially to meet with her. (I believe this is why verse 4 reads, "Now He had to go to Samaria.") He said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" Then He went on to draw her into a conversation that would change her life for eternity.

Did He know all about her? Did He know the rejection, the emptiness, the immorality? Absolutely! After offering her living water, piquing her interest in Who He was and what He had to offer, He pinpointed her sin problem. "Go, call your husband and come back." Not only did Jesus know she had no husband, He went on to reveal His knowledge that she had been through a series of husbands and now had a live-in boyfriend. Yet this woman left Jesus' presence not condemned, but set free.

Jesus knows all about us, our failings, our weakness. As I sat on those steps, I sensed the Lord Himself was near and ready to minister to my weary, sin-sick soul. He already knows all about us and draws near to the frustrated, the broken-hearted; the empty, leaky vessels who are the objects of His grace. These are some of His favorite times. He comes to tell us that He has something to offer that will quench our thirst, cleanse our sin, replenish our empty resources, and give life to others. That something is Himself. The next time you feel yourself keeping Him at arms length, will you pause and consider this to be the moment of His pursuing love and allow Him to draw near?

John 4:10 "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

Friday, October 23, 2009

stumbling across a treasure


While working through the curriculum Before Five in A Row with my 2-year-old, we came across this gem of a book after digging it up on an inter-library loan. If Jesus Came to My House, by Joan Gale Thomas, was first published in England and then in the U.S. in 1951. The story begins, "If Jesus Came to My House and knocked upon the door, I'm sure I'd be more happy than I've ever been before..." Thus begins a little boy's imaginitive description of a visit with little boy Jesus. The boy shares his best toys, offers Him the best seat, and gives Him the prettiest flowers from his garden. After his imaginings he wistfully concludes Jesus cannot truly come and play in this way, but the boy can still act on Jesus' very real presence in his life by doing these kind acts for others. Part of his conclusion is "I still can share with Jesus the nicest of my toys by lending them or giving them to poorer girls and boys. And though He may not visit me as I have wished He would, yet even so He'll bless my house if I am kind and good."

This story is so sweet and poignant, I cried the first time I read it through. I quickly looked the book up online to see if I could purchase my own copy of the book and found that indeed, collectible copies are available from $65-$200 on Amazon!!! There are a few cheaper options floating around, and a book with new pictures was published more recently and is available on CBD. With such a great story, you can't go wrong either way. However, I have to admit to being a bit of a purist myself with this older book, since my little guy has already taken a great liking to the pictures.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Betty Stam

At the missions conference at our church this week, I learned the story behind the woman whose quote is included in my blog. Betty Scott Stam did indeed surrender everything to her Savior at any cost. This young woman and her husband lost their lives while ministering in China in the early 1900's when their infant daughter (who miraculously escaped) was just 3 months old. Read about the Stam's martyrdom here. I ran across Betty's quote in one of Elisabeth Elliot's books. How many Christian missionaries went forth as a result of this couple's sacrifice for the gospel? We wonder how they could give up so much for Christ. Perhaps the real question is how we could bear to miss out on all He offers to a life fully surrendered to Him.

Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever.-Betty Scott Stam

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Indian summer


The rain finally quit falling, the temps warmed up, and the kids got well. It's Indian summer in Central IL!

We have no trees in our yard, but plenty in the park just behind the fence. Grab a rake, make a pile, jump, and throw!

A church family opened their farm as a destination spot for kids and families this year, a great place to pick out a pumpkin and play. Josiah and I met his good friend Tyler and his mom Heather and spent a glorious morning just outside of town. Check it out for yourself at http://www.raderfamilyfarms.com/. We used to live on the Rader farm...sweet memories! Now we get to add more with our children.

Josiah must have spent half an hour playing in the corn.

After getting help from Mommy the first few times, Josiah got brave enough to jump himself. That took care of another half an hour.
Don't grow up too fast there, little boy.


Sunday, October 18, 2009

contentment, part 3

III. The Challenge of Contentment

With Jesus the Source of true satisfaction, we come to the epistles, where believers are both challenged and commanded to “be content.” What does it truly mean to be content? Let me give you a few definitions. The first is from Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary. He defined the word “content” as “rest or quietness of the mind in the present condition; satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, restraining complaint, opposition, or further desire, and often implying a moderate degree of happiness.” Next from the Bible dictionary: Contentment is a positive assurance that God has supplied one’s needs, consequently releasing one from unnecessary desire. Warren Wiersbe has written the word content actually means “contained.” It is a description of the man whose resources are within him so that he does not have to depend on substitutes without.

The apostle Paul models true contentment when he says in Philippians 4:11-13, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” I like the Amplified Translation which adds, “I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.” The writer of Hebrews commands, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

What are some practical ways we can learn contentment, especially when the world around us seems to conspire to create a constant sense of dissatisfaction? Well, first let me encourage you to take time to develop contentment. It is an active, not passive, process that is learned not in a week or two, but over a lifetime. I have three challenges to get us started.

A. Learn to satisfy your soul in God, not His gifts.

What is the least satisfying place you can think of? Wouldn’t it be hell? Do you realize that to the degree you seek to be satisfied in the things of this world, your soul is going to be getting a taste of what hell will be like? Remember the verses we read in Ecc. about wealth leading to misery and dissatisfaction? That Jesus warned a man who seeks to gain this world may lose his soul? On the other hand, what is the most satisfying place you can think of? Isn’t it heaven? Have you ever thought that to the degree in which you seek to be satisfied in God, you will experience a taste of what heaven will be like? Are you making time to meet with God each day? Do you bring your needs first to Him, seeking how He may fill them? I’m talking about real, deep needs such as significance, companionship, rest, power, wisdom, and forgiveness. Do you talk over with Him the material, spiritual, and emotional needs of yourself, your children, your family? Is your soul willing to wait on Him to see how He will supply? Are you so filled up with God Himself that one look at the world and you are ready to say, “No thanks, I’m satisfied” as you may pass on dessert after a hearty meal? Take note of an areas where you recognize compulsion and write down what need you are trying to satisfy. Then take it to God and ask Him to fill that need.

B. Learn to give.

The best way to combat a passion to acquire is to cultivate a passion to give. Listen to God’s promise in Isaiah 58:10-11. “If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” What can you do to develop a passion for giving your money and your life to things that are eternal? What are some ways we can develop the habit of giving in our lives and the lives of our family? Let me offer just a few ideas, and hope they are a springboard to creativity in your own family.

-Develop a passion for people and find a way to minister to them in a way that makes an eternal impact.

-Set aside money in an account that is designated for giving. As needs arise and are brought to your attention, you are prepared to meet that need. When you have a bump in income, make it first priority to bump up your giving. I’ve been challenged by the example of George Muller, the director of orphan houses in the 1800’s. Over his lifetime he served over 10,000 orphans and in a typical year, gave away 92% of his income. He knew how to be content!

-Hold a garage sale and give the proceeds to a charity or cause your children have chosen. Get them into the act: they can have a lemonade stand, help price items, make change, etc. The more ownership they have, the more excited they become about the outcome. It is so freeing to know every dollar you make is going to someone who needs it more than you do!

-Let each family member give to the mission of their choice. We did this over a year ago and it was wonderful to see how God used the interests of each person to bless another ministry. My son enjoys playing basketball so he chose to give to Above the Rim, which runs basketball camps in New York City for inner city children. My daughter chose the African Children’s Choir, I gave to Voice of the Martyrs, my husband Ministry and More, and on behalf of our youngest who was still a baby, we donated to the Pregnancy Resource Center. Those ministries continue to have a special place in my heart, I think because Matt. 6:21 is true: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

C. Leave your children a legacy of contentment.

One of the greatest motivators for me to change is to look into the eyes of my children and picture their future if I continue on the current course of my life. Do you and I want to leave them a legacy that leads to emptiness or one that leads to contentment and satisfaction? What are your current spending habits teaching them about money and its use? What would they think if they saw their parents make radical, heart-altering changes while they are still young?
I found a great book called Raising Unselfish Children In a Self-Absorbed World, and would highly recommend if you’d like more ideas for building contentment into your children. In that book I read a story of a father who was raising his children in an affluent section of London. Concerned about his son’s attitude toward wealth, he planned a trip to the country to visit relatives who lived modestly on a farm. There was little complaint from his son as he dashed off to join his cousins in exploring the countryside and helped out with chores. When they got home, the father asked how he enjoyed his visit. “Very good, Dad,” the son responded. “Do you see how poor people can be?” his father asked. “Yes, sir,” said the son. “I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool in the middle of the garden, but they have a creek that has no end. We have fancy lamps in the garden, but they have stars. Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!”

What are your current lifestyle choices teaching your children:

-about helping those in need?

-about the True source of contentment: Jesus?

-about living a life of eternal rather than temporal impact?

What are you hungry for this morning? Where are you seeking to satisfy that hunger? Let me challenge you and challenge myself, to look to the only One who truly satisfies our soul: Jesus. In Him we will find true contentment.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

contentment, part 2

II. The Source of true Satisfaction

Because the Bible only uses the word content or contentment a handful of times, I traced the concept of satisfaction (which leads to contentment) through the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament speaks at length about satisfaction. I looked at 24 references that point to God as the One who satisfies the needs of His people. Often those references speak of physical satisfaction, but a few go further to show God uses His satisfaction of physical needs to point to the way He Himself satisfies our spiritual needs. Let’s look at some passages that point to the way God satisfies our souls. First Psalm 63:1, 5, 8 “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods, with singing lips my mouth will praise you. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” The Psalmist knew what it was to find satisfaction in God. He learned to fill his soul-hunger with God Himself! Let’s look now at God’s invitation to be satisfied found in Isaiah 55:1-3, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.”

This was the backdrop of the Old Testament, one the Jewish people would or should have understood well: it is God who satisfies the needs of His people, whether physically or spiritually. We turn to the pages of the New Testament, and find the word “satisfy” used there as well. In the feeding of the 5000 and of the 4000, we see again and again in the gospels, “They all ate and were satisfied.” Matt. 14:20, 15:37, Mark 6:42, 8:8, Luke 9:17…“They all ate and were satisfied.” “They all ate and were satisfied.” I read that over and over and thought it seemed a bit redundant. Then I realized what God was revealing: The God of the Old Testament has come in the Person of Jesus Christ to satisfy the needs of His people. The feeding of the crowds pointed to Christ as the one who was given to satisfy the soul-hunger of man. Jesus knew most of them did not understand this. In John 6:15, after feeding the 5000, Jesus withdrew from the crowd, knowing they intended to make him king by force. In John 6:26 He says, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” In essence Jesus was saying, “I have miraculously supplied you with bread to point to the way I can satisfy the life-hunger of your soul.” Then as Jesus goes on, you can almost hear Isaiah 55 ringing in your ears as He says, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty…I am the bread that came down from heaven…I am the bread of life…I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” God created man with a desire for satisfaction that can only be met in Jesus Christ.

Friday, October 16, 2009

contentment, part 1

I had the privilege this morning of presenting a devotion to the moms group at our church. This is a lovely group of young moms who are meeting twice a month to encourage one another in the ways of the Lord. I thought I'd post the devotion in three parts, so come back again if you want to read the rest!

I thought I’d start by asking you a question. Do your kids ever get hungry? Is anyone saying no, because if so, I want to learn your secret. It could save me bundles on groceries! If our children are hungry, we serve them nourishing (most of the time!) food that will sustain life, grant energy, and promote growth. Once our children have eaten, they are content, hop down from the table, and off to their next adventure.

What about you? Are you hungry, spiritually speaking? Is there something lacking in your life that you want so badly you can almost taste it? Perhaps there is a material need that has demanded all your attention and resources…perhaps there are not even resources enough to cover it. Perhaps there is a longing for a deepened relationship, for peace in the midst of strife, or for resolution of a difficult situation. We all have hungers, desires in life that require satisfaction. Our trouble is so often we have an appetite for steak and potatoes and we are trying to satisfy it with cotton candy. Then we wonder why we feel so lifeless, empty, and discontent.

I’ve been searching the scriptures these past weeks trying to discover what God has to say about the satisfaction of our souls and true contentment. As I share those discoveries with you, I’d like to talk about three things: the problem of possessiveness, the Source of true satisfaction, and finally the challenge of contentment. I want us to learn what the Bible teaches: true contentment is experienced in the soul that is wholly satisfied in Jesus.

I. The Problem of Possessiveness

We all live in America so...tell me, where do Americans look for satisfaction? “Let’s go shopping!!” The truth is we live in a consumer culture. We are constantly bombarded by advertisers who make it their business to create in us a sense of need and dissatisfaction. The solution to this sense of emptiness and need is to fill it: with their product! Research has determined the average American has seen 1 million commercials by the age of 20. That averages to 137 a day if you begin at birth! Add in advertisements we see in newspapers, magazines, on the internet...can you picture what this constant bombardment of advertisements is doing to our minds in creating a sense of discontentment and a need to obtain stuff to maintain or boost our sense of well-being? We constantly live with a heightened awareness of our hunger.

If more stuff is really the answer to our desire for contentment, America should be the happiest place on earth to live. Shouldn’t we be living with great joy, with families that are wholly satisfied and intact, and lives that have meaning? Yet that is not what we see. A study done in the 1980’s found that starting with the baby boom generation, when our country began to experience its greatest days of economic growth, Americans experienced a ten-fold increase in depression compared to earlier generations. Since that survey was done in the ‘80’s, I can’t help but look around and feel we are facing a depression epidemic, with every person in this room touched by it in some way. When we look around we see men and women, perhaps even ourselves, who are struggling to find meaning in their lives, families that are increasingly torn apart, and an increasing sense of not only discontentment, but utter despair.

What does the Bible say about possessiveness, this quest we have launched to satisfy our desire for happiness with things? Last summer I studied the book of Ecclesiastes, and wow, if you want a glimpse of what the hearts of people are experiencing in our culture today, read that book! Let’s start there in Ecc. 4:8 “There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless—a miserable business.” Ecc. 5:10 which says, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” The more we get, the more we want. We are not satisfied! And again in 6:7, “All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.” Working hard to obtain wealth, income, and enjoyment in material things is going to lead to misery. Jesus puts this even more bluntly in the gospels when he warns in Mark 8:36, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Luke actually uses the words, “forfeit his very self.” The attempt to fill our emptiness with material goods actually destroys our soul.

As I have studied the subject of contentment, one thing has become crystal clear: God has created man with an earnest, voracious appetite for satisfaction. Man seeks to quench this appetite in all manner of ways. He seeks to satisfy himself through wealth, but also through things like good reputation, relationships with others, good health and wellness, excellent medical care…we pursue satisfaction in any and every way except the one way it was truly meant to be satisfied: in God Himself.

As we consider the problem of possessiveness, let’s do some self-assessment. Is there an object or person you are grasping too tightly as your source of satisfaction? When you find yourself growing discontent, what do you do to cope? Do you grab another cookie? Call a friend? Turn on the computer? Do you look for the boost that material things may supply to fill your need for satisfaction? After my youngest son was born we went through a trying time in our family, and I often found myself discontented. We lived in a small house and I was able to talk myself into deciding the solution to all our problems would just be a bigger place to live so we wouldn’t constantly be tripping over each other and our stuff. Yet I have to admit that although God was gracious to supply us with a lovely and needed new home, it didn’t solve my problems of discontentment. I was the same irritable and worn out mom (perhaps even more so!) in my new home as I was in the old. What I needed to do was bring my weary soul before God and seek His power and strength to meet my trying circumstances. The change that needed to take place was inward, not outward. That is where true contentment is found: in the inner man, not in outward circumstances or material things.

Monday, October 12, 2009

some experiences have no price tag

I stumbled across this little paragraph by Rachel today, on a folded up piece of paper on my counter.

Grandparent day is awesome. You have half of a day plus 2 days off. Then the weekend is a blur when you love Grandparent's Day. Then, it's school again. But when I grow up to be a grandparent I'll go to school on Grandparent's Day. Have breakfast with my grandchildren. And have a good weekend with them. I'll go to the Discovery Museum with them. Fun will never end. When you are a grandparent with grandchildren it's a happy time. But when it's time to go home you'll say goodbye and you will leave until you want to come back to see your grandchildren.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

indescribable

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" Ps. 8:4

Our family watched this DVD today from our church library after hearing it highly recommended for months. If you want to have a glimpse, just a glimpse, of the enormity of God...we'd highly recommend it, too. One warning: you may begin to grasp how small man is, but you may also begin to experience the wonder of the love of God for His people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV1ZpSMHIQw

Friday, October 9, 2009

grandparents' day

Micah and Rachel both had Grandparents' Day at school this week. They are among a very blessed few who had both sets of grandparents in attendance, and they always love it. Eric's parents spent the better part of two days with us, and we accomplished much while they were here!
Marge just started a class to learn how to knit at her church. Both kids found her knitting and were interested in learning more.
Micah was especially intrigued to know how to knit! Where did that come from?
We attempted to make Rachel a Bolt costume for Halloween. We didn't have a pattern, but Marge knows how to sew and I can sort of draw. In spite of ourselves we think her costume turned out darling. Rachel sure loves it!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

the challenge of a lifetime

Mark 8:34-35
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."

"Taking up our cross daily means to form the habit of going through our day with a certain orientation and attitude, namely, with a passion to give up our right to make ourselves the center of concern that day. Rather we live for God's kingdom, finding our place in His unfolding plan and playing our role well as we give our life away to others for Christ's sake."
-J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler, from The Lost Virtue of Happiness

Saturday, October 3, 2009

wanting to know more of God's love?

A friend shared this book title with me. I'm intrigued!
http://crazylovebook.com/

Thursday, October 1, 2009

when whispers become shouts

"i love you..." whispered my two-year-old, almost inaudibly. "i love you, too," I whispered back to him, taking a moment to adore his light blond hair, blue eyes, and baby-turning-little-boy features. "I LOVE YOU!!!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "I LOVE YOU, TOO!!!" I shouted back. He giggled at hearing his mommy practically scream his favorite words at him. Then he started over again. "i love you," came the whisper. It has been a delight this week to play this new game with my son. I can't help but note that no matter how softly or loudly his words come across to me, his heart of love for me is the same.

Do we know this to be true of our relationship with our Father? There are times His love comes to us in whispers. Flowers bloom just outside the window..."i love you." A close call with another vehicle and we realize for a moment that our lives are not our own to protect but held firmly in the hands of Another. Gently sustained through difficult times, God's love is at times barely perceived by a weary, troubled heart. Sometimes life is just so hectic and loud all around us we barely notice the whispers.

Then there are times when all is still and the Voice of the Father is heard loud and clear. Curiously enough, this happens most often for me when I am quietly sitting, my Bible before me, taking time to listen and hear what He has to say. As I have read through the gospel of John the past two weeks, it is as though the Person of Jesus has leaped off the pages and taken me into the Father's arms. "I LOVE YOU!!" the words fairly shout at me. Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17 contains phrase after phrase indicating His own people are those who have been given to Him. I find the words "given by God to Jesus" stamped across my life. Comparing John 1:1-5 with Col. 1:16 I see I am created both by and for Christ, the Eternal Creator-Redeemer and architect of my life. John 1:12-13 and 3:8 insist I am a child of God, born of the Spirit. I suddenly understand that though I often come to God with twisted thinking that He is begrudgingly allowing me into His presence, God has done something so much more wonderful than I had imagined or thought. He set His gaze on me in love long before I could or would return it, and bids me to draw nearer. "I LOVE YOU!!!"

It is too easy to keep God's love at arm's length, leaving the Bible closed thinking He is glad to have a break from us another day, not realising it is really us who are taking a break from Him. It's not that His love is not enough but that at times it is too intense, calling forth changes in our love we are not willing to admit we need. Open the pages and His word and you will discover the true heart of our Father. Whether heard in whispers or shouts, His unfathomable love is waiting to be communicated to those who will lean in to listen. When you hear it, you will never be the same. And perhaps your heart will begin to whisper back, "i love you" in response to the greatest Love the human heart will ever know.

Monday, September 21, 2009

a parent's prayer

Lord, please make me the kind of person I want my child to become.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

the stack on my nightstand

This summer I took advantage of paying only one private tuition and began to buy parenting books from CBD. Here's a sampling of what I am reading; as usual, I tend to have my fingers in several books at a time.

Not So Fast:Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families by Ann Kroeker
I told myself and my husband I would read this book slowly but will admit I'm tearing through it faster than I ought. Ann shares biblical and often counter-cultural insights into slowing our families down to savor childhood rather than sign everyone up for myriads of activities. We practiced this for many years in our family, but I have to admit that it's been harder to stay slowed down now that our oldest is approaching junior high. There is a lot in this book to ponder. I hereby commit to grabbing a pen and a journal to work through the slow down notes at the end of each chapter. My somewhat-harried husband will appreciate it.

The Princess and the Kiss and Life Lessons from The Princess and the Kiss by Jeanie Bishop
Today I began working through this favorite book with my 8-year-old daughter. Its purpose is to plant seeds of purity in young hearts. The book tells the story of a young princess who is given her first kiss (representing her purity) by her parents who help guide her to make the right choice in a husband. The thoughtful consideration of the princess in the selection of a mate contains many lessons, and the life lesson book lays out ideas for mothers who want to talk through these lessons with their girls, ending with a sweet "princess ceremony." Right now, before puberty hits, I have my daughter's ears and heart. I'm wanting to make the most of these years! Eric has the version for boys titled The Squire and the Scroll. Micah is anxious to get through it so he can be knighted in the squire ceremony!

Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge
An excellent book discussing sexuality for preteens and teens. The first half is for moms to read, the second half is for moms and daughters to read together. We're not quite ready to tackle all of the content, but the first half raises many issues I need to start bringing up with my daughter. Everything I have read on this subject says to start talking earlier, not later, to lay a foundation for the teen years on sexuality and other issues. Again, Eric has Preparing Your Son For Every Man's Battle to read with our son.

Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World by Jill Rigby
I have already written about this book here, but it is worth another mention. A great resource and tool for raising compassionate children who want to make a difference for Christ in the world.