oh! to be found in Him

When we look at ourselves, at the littleness of our love, the barrenness of our service and the small progress we make toward perfection, how soul-refreshing it is to turn away to Him, to plunge afresh in the "fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness"; to remember that we are "accepted in the beloved"..."who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." Oh! the fulness of Christ, the fulness of Christ.

-Hudson Taylor, in a letter to his sister

We are best poised to receive from the Lord all He has to give, when we realize how great is our need of Him in all things.

reality check...

This is a very difficult and almost painful thing to say, but the simple truth is that there are no good people. I know that we often may think of ourselves as being good people, especially when we compare ourselves to other people whom we do not like. Someone came to Jesus once and said, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18). What he was saying was, "You're a good person. You're obviously going to go to heaven. What must I do? Tell me, good teacher, what are the good things that I must do so I can go, too? How do I attain eternal life?" Jesus looked at him and said, "Why do you call me good?" And then he added, "No one is good but God alone." Think about this: if you have to be good to go to heaven and only God is good, who is going? God and .... no one else. In other words, Jesus is saying, "Your application to join the Trinity has been refused."

-Michael Ramsden, from Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend

water challenge, day 2

Our 2 week water-only challenge commenced yesterday morning with little fanfare or attention. Water cups lined the breakfast table, water glasses at lunch, water bottles appeared for Rachel's cheerleading game, and clear, cold water at my parents' house for supper. There was no complaining and no turning back. Well, there was a bit of an incentive offered the day before for one who wavered: the promise of milkshakes to celebrate when we are done.

When I asked Eric and the kids what they thought at the end of the day, the answer was unanimous: giving up drinking anything but water really wasn't a very big deal. Our thirst was quenched, our bellies were full (this is easier than fasting by far!), and our end goal was in mind: helping others have access to water, with which we are so freely blessed.

The kids were very interested to add up what we've saved so far. I was able to cut out our usual 3-4 bottles of Juicy Juice, one container of orange juice, and 2 gallons of milk. We also included the two cans of soda the kids usually buy at Saturday's basketball game. The grand total saved so far this week: $18.94. That's almost 19 dollars, and enough money to provide 19 people with clean water for a year.

It makes me wonder: what else could we do without to obtain the joy of helping others? How much does it really have to take to keep a family of five going? Will this end with giving up a few beverages for a few weeks? It seems such a small thing to do on behalf of others, when we serve One who gave up all things for us.

what's the view like at three feet tall?

I had my list, my coupons, and a block of time reserved. My purpose and aim: buy groceries.

Josiah saw it differently, as usual. This was his time to practice his gallop, down the long (mostly deserted) aisles at high speed. Time to stop and admire the fish and the lobsters as he does every week. Grocery day means cookie day, one of our last stops in the store and the hardest thing of all to wait for. But most of all, getting groceries means conversations with people. He enthusiastically engages the store managers, the man who stocks Pepsi products ("What are you doing?"), and the men and women who greet us at the door. Hugs are given liberally to anyone who looks like they may need one. Nothing holds this boy back: he doesn't take height, age, girth, intelligence, ethnic or religious background, or how able-bodied they are into consideration. He simply spreads joy and love generously wherever he goes. Every single week, without fail, someone comments on his friendly ways and tells me he will go far in life.* Yesterday he found (and hugged) a 4-year-old boy who was obviously his kindred spirit in energy and character. This boy told Josiah, "You are my newest best friend." Those words easily sum up Josiah's approach to each new person he meets.

I spend most of my parenting efforts trying to get him to see things my way, but in this case, I really want to see things his way.


*Of course, we believe "how far" Josiah goes in life is entirely dependent on God's grace to him, not on his friendly personality, as much of an asset as it may be!

Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

I had a fresh view of the cross and all of my Savior's merits, (along with the emptiness of my own), when I listened to this hymn sung at our church this week.


Come, ye sinners, poor and needy
Weak and wounded, sick and sore
Jesus ready, stands to save you
Full of pity, love and power

Come, ye thirsty, come and welcome
God's free bounty glorify
True belief and true repentance
Every grace that brings you nigh

Let not conscience make you linger
Nor of fitness fondly dream
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him

Come, ye weary, heavy-laden
Lost and ruined by the fall
If you tarry 'til you're better
You will never come at all

See Him prostrate in the garden
On the ground your Maker lies
On the bloody tree, behold him
Sinner, will this not suffice?"

Lo! the incarnate God ascended
Pleads the merit of his blood
Venture on him, venture wholly
Let no other trust intrude

Refrain:
I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in His arms
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O, there are ten thousand charms

small way to make a big difference

My friend Erin over at Filling My Patch of Sky has been raising awareness about the water crisis in Africa and how to help. She has been highlighting the work of the Blood:Water Mission, which was founded by the band Jars of Clay to help in the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. Clean water was quickly found to be a vital way to support AIDS victims to lead longer, stronger lives. Now their efforts are helping many Africans who face a crisis of obtaining safe, clean water. One dollar provides one African enough water to drink for an entire year. Just a little sacrifice to help others goes a long way!

Blood:Water Mission has a campaign beginning Feb. 17 called 40 Days of Water. The challenge is to make water the beverage of choice for 40 days, and then donate the money you would have spent on milk, juice, soda, or other beverages to help provide water for those in need. Click on over to Erin's blog to find out more about it.

My husband and I talked to our kids and they enthusiastically jumped at the opportunity. After doing a little research on their website, our family decided to start with the 2 week campaign. Starting this Friday, the four oldest members of our family will be drinking only water for 2 weeks, and donating what we save to Blood:Water Mission. It's a sacrifice that will take a bit of self-discipline. However, it will help us appreciate the luxury we have in turning on a tap with clean water (not to mention the myriads of other beverage choices) while allowing us the privilege of helping others.

For more information, check out this link:

http://www.bloodwatermission.com/take-action/campaigns/2-weeks-of-sacrifice.php

Want to join in? Let me know and we'll do this together! I'll provide updates with our progress.

the task at hand, the attitude of heart

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."

Breakfast.
Brush hair.
Make beds.
Pick up morning messes.
Take kids to school.
Run errands.
Plan meals.
Groceries.
Prepare meals.
Laundry.
Ironing.
Pay bills.

"You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things."

Play with preschooler.
Discipline.
Potty train.
Doctor appointments.
Check email.
Renew library books.
Write notes.
Phone friend.
Nap time.
Quiet time.
Study.
Pray.

"Be still and know that I am God."

Clean.
Vacuum.
Dust.
Scrub.
Schedule.
Discern.
Chauffeur.
Listen.
Share.
Pray.
Meditate.

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

Homework help.
Organize.
"Remember to practice."
"Did you study?"
Give bath.
Dress youngest for bed.
Brush teeth.
Read stories.
Tuck in bed.
Clean up.
Love this family.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Try.
Fail.
Seek forgiveness and forgive.
Ask.
Trust.
Wait.
Receive.
Depend.
Thank.
Overcome.
Where would I be without Him? It's His action, not mine, that matters most.

"You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you."

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

how to keep Josiah fascinated for a month

Ingredients:
1 Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes
1 older sibling or adult to make a paper airplane for him
1-2 Steve Green Hide 'Em in Your Heart CD's as background music
Repeat daily to his heart's content

saved from this...

I recently picked up a book at the library which deals with helping children to learn social skills. This is what I read in the foreword (not written by the author of the book):

"'What do they all want from me?'
'What do I have to do so they'll like me?'
'Who do I have to be to be one of them?'
'Do I have the right stuff to satisfy and please them?'

They don't very often articulate these questions, but children and adolescents wrestle with these quandries every day as they perform for diverse audiences: their peers, their parents, important grown-ups outside their family (mostly their teachers), and their own self-assessments. They desperately want and need to get in good with these highly judgmental audiences...

Proficiency within the social arena has two striking benefits: it is a source of fun and it makes you feel like a desirable person. When you're a child, other children are your yardsticks; you keep measuring yourself against them. And you hope they will come to perceive you as worthy of their companionship and admiration. For a child, few, if any, sensations compare with the ecstacy of social acceptance. The protected and connected feeling that comes with being sought after by peers pumps fuel into the engines of growing up. Intimacy and shared recreation provide positive stimulation and a much-desired feeling of belonging, thereby averting the dark shadows of loneliness. Every child needs to feel wanted. Exchanging instant messages at a rapid clip, having a cell phone that won't cease its melodic chirping, harvesting prestigious party invitations, and feeling you are in demand at a lunch table go far to make a kid feel validated. If others want you with them, you must be special."

So...having good social skills is about belonging and "performing" right to get others to like me. It's all about me so I can finally feel great about myself!! See how many props I need to feel good: a phone that must ring constantly, lots of party invitations, and a constant demand for my presence.

Just a great reminder of how different it is to think Biblically than think like the world. The Bible teaches the shocking truth that to truly have life, we must lose it by dying to self. It teaches quiet servanthood, building others up (instead of building up self), and that we live to please God, not man. It teaches that real life is knowing we are completely accepted by God in Christ, and therefore set free to love others no matter how they may feel about us. We can be rejected and ignored and still know we are loved by Him always, and that is enough. We can tell others this truth so they can stop the crazy cycle of getting others to love them and find rest in the all-sufficient love of the God who created them, loves them, and sent His Son to redeem them for Himself.

I had forgotten just how counter-cultural and wonderful God's truth is. I'm thankful for the reminder. Now I know just what to teach my children...

pajama party!

We had originally scheduled Rachel's birthday party for last Friday night. When she woke up that morning with the stomach flu, we scrambled to make other plans. The gym membership which would have allowed us to have a swim party expired in 2 days, so that was no longer an option. I sat down on Friday afternoon and prayed about what to do instead. An idea popped into my mind. I ran it by Rachel and she enthusiastically gave it her endorsement.

Last night her friends arrived dressed in their pajamas, some with their pillows in their arms. Most were current or former 3rd grade classmates, and two were neighbors. All giggled and admired the dog (some more closely than others!) Then the party began.

The first activity was a crazy game called sixes. Each girl had a piece of paper, but there was only one pen available. They took turns rolling the dice and whenever someone rolled a six, they grabbed the pen and began to write numbers furiously. The first girl to reach 100 was the winner. They loved this game, and we went two rounds. Eric joined in and did all he could to make things even more exciting (by almost winning twice!)





Next the girls used fabric markers to write their names and create a border on a pillowcase. Then they passed them around, drawing pictures on each girls' pillowcase. They tried to think of something that symbolized what they saw in their friend, or something that friend liked. Then one at a time, the girls stood up and got hear what their friends had drawn for them and why. The smiles were heartwarming as each girl was affirmed and loved.


I talked briefly with the girls about friendship, using our activities as illustrations. They agreed that while our dice game was fun, it was stressful and felt greedy. Sometimes in our friendships we can act like that, selfishly competitive and grasping for what we can get out of our friends. But the better way to act is to pursue love, thinking of others, building them up, and affirming what is good in them. (Both of these activities are found in Dannah Gresh's Secret Keeper Girls Friendship Pak. And thanks to my friend Pam for the tips after she had her own party last week!)


At that point everyone was more than ready to have cupcakes!

Then we turned on the movie Samantha and popped popcorn. Some had seen it already and wandered off into the house to find something to do. A few asked to have a pillow fight.

The world of girls is not an easy one to navigate. Already in third grade there are struggles, and for one girl in particular, last night's activities did not come naturally. I'm thankful for the opportunity we had to give the girls some encouragement in their friendship skills. Some left hardly able to wait until bedtime when they could sleep on their new pillowcases. When everyone was gone, Rachel simply said, "Mom, that was fun!"

Yes, it was fun, and I hope meaningful as well. I need to ask God for help planning birthday parties more often!

when things are hard...

"Mom, we had the worst substitute ever today!" My daughter scowled and let her story spill out to me, telling me the injustices she had suffered in P.E. It seems their teacher had made them run 5 laps, work hard, and (gulp!) exercise! "And then," she added, "he smiled at us on the way out and said, 'See you tomorrow!'"

The complaints continued to pour forth, and I quickly thought about P.E. at the school where she is most likely heading next year. My son loves P.E. and his teacher, but it is hard work. The teacher has a passion for helping kids learn to love to exercise and stay fit.

"Rachel, have you thought about how God could be using this hard thing for you? Do you think He's preparing you for next year?" We sat and talked about this idea for awhile: how God uses hard things to make her stronger and even to help her learn to be more like Jesus.

This is not a new conversation for us to be having. Earlier this school year, she had some tough friendship problems with another girl in her class. We alerted the teacher, talked with Rachel about how to respond, did some role-playing, and prayed. She learned how to speak up when treated wrongly and that sinful behavior does at times need to be addressed directly in another person. Things quickly improved. Rachel has shared with me excitedly how that little girl has now come to Christ and undergone a transformation in her behavior. We've seen together the truth of Genesis 50: 20, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good..."

Last night, unprompted, Rachel prayed at bedtime, "God, please help me with P.E. tomorrow, that I won't complain."

And Lord, help her mother not to complain but learn to embrace hard things for Your sake, too.