May | 2010 |

The Rooster Crowed

30. May 2010 · 1 comment · Categories: poetry

He looked out over the water
having no fear, he obeyed
with each step, a hardened path
but looking down, it then gave way

And the rooster crowed.

A basin filled with water
a servant with gentle hands
he told his Lord not to wash him
not knowing what God had planned

And the rooster crowed.

Promising more than he knew
that he’d never leave His side
but the word would be fulfilled
three times his Lord he denied

And the rooster crowed.

I sing in my heart praises
and say I’ll love Him always
but I deny the love He gave
when each day I disobey

And the rooster crowes.

Grace was extended to Peter
three times his love he professed
Jesus does the same for me
and offers me forgiveness

Sin Nature vs. Spirit

28. May 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Teach Me Jesus

Ethan had a huge meltdown on me yesterday, George was at the FD so I was on my own. Before he had his surgery, he had meltdowns all the time and boy were those two years torture but since his surgery he’s been great. He’s sick now so we’ve had a couple of outbursts recently. I was making them a smoothie yesterday when my blender broke so I told them I couldn’t make any and he exploded. “I want a smoothie!” I swear he shouted it a 1,000 times. It took forever to get him calmed down and I tried every intervention possible. So in the evening we talked about the importance of wearing the armour of God everyday in our battle against sin. This morning when I was having my quiet time, it just so happened that my devotion was on Galations 5:17. (just so happened? Nah. Any good Calvinist doesn’t believe in coincindences:) So I shared what I had studied with Ethan during our devotions at breakfast. We talked about the battle that always rages between our sinful nature and the spirit as long as we are on this earth and how we resist the sinful nature. My devotional by Martin Luther said “It’s as if Paul was saying “It’s impossible to follow the Spirit as your leader in all situations without the sinful nature interfering. The sinful nature will get in the way so that you can’t do what you really want to do. At that point, it’s enough to resist the sinful nature so that you won’t gratify its desires. Follow the Spirit, not the sinful nature, which quickly becomes powerless because it’s so impatient. It doubts, complains, seeks revenge, hates God, fights against him, and despairs.”
I read this to him and discussed what it meant for his life. His heart seemed open to discussing it and we talked about strategies to help him when he gets upset so that he does not give into sin.
Without struggles in our life we will not know about our need for Christ’s redemptive work for us so while I would like to protect him from the problem he has with intense feelings, I know that God is using this to show Ethan his need for him. God takes us all down different roads to bring us to himself and to refine us and at this point in Ethan’s young life, his intense emotions are a big struggle for him. I pray each day that the Spirit will make his heart tender to what God is teaching him and that he would learn to rely on the Spirit when he is upset rather than give in to his sinful nature.

“For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”
Galations 5:17

From the Mouths of Children

26. May 2010 · 1 comment · Categories: Uncategorized

Tonight we were talking about the concept of redemption during our dinner time devotions. We usually focus our devotional time on Ethan since Ian is usually running around or doing something wild and crazy. But tonight after our discussion, we had prayer time and Ian started praying “Thank you God for the redemption of Ian, thank you God for the redemption of Ethan.” I’m pretty sure my mouth was hanging open! Lesson learned: you never know when they might be listening and learning!

“From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.” Psalm 8:2

ENT

26. May 2010 · 1 comment · Categories: sinus/ear infections

Today I took Ian to the ENT. it took him 30days to get better from his recent infection. The doctor wants to wait and see the results from blood work to test the immune system and see if Ian requires a pnuemovox vaccination or not. If that is not successful then he recommended that we have Ian’s adnoids removed. I wasn’t surprised at his recommendation but was surprised that I was calm and didn’t get upset about Ian needing surgery. Could it be because this has become so normal to me?

Sick

23. May 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Uncategorized

I’ve said this before and I’ll keep saying it, if you ever meet someone who does not believe in sin or the Fall, send them to me. I often feel like our lives are a living testimony of the effects of the Fall and we groan along with all of creation, waiting for Christ’s return. I have been extremely tired, which not only triggers depressive symptoms for me but also pushes my sinus’s over the edge so that now I have another infection. If you don’t have allergies, it’s like your body’s immune system is confused and thinks that something innocent like animals or plants are actually a virus or illness that it needs to attack. So for someone like me who can’t escape their allergies, my sinuses are always inflamed and irritated and I always feel tired and all the other symptoms my body produces to attack the allergens. Sometimes it just takes one little thing to break the camel’s back so to speak and it pushes me into an infection, which is quite tortuous. So I’m sick and longing for the day when there will be no more sickness and no more tears. Since God is sovereign over everything, including our chronic illnesses, there is something I am supposed to be learning in all of this. One I think is to remain strong in my faith and also to remain consistent in my walk with Him no matter how I am feeling. I also think God is working on refining me in my chronic sin of impatience with others. Being sick and tired makes this sin more apparent in my life and I perhaps God is using it as a mirror to show me this sin so that I will turn to him, repent, and ask the Spirit to change me. Some might say I’m being overly dramatic and not to read too much into being sick but I truly believe this. Our society would have us believe that other things are to blame for illness be it our diet, the air we breathe, lack of excercise, etc. And while all those things are helpful to change, ultimately, if God wants to use illness to refine us to make us more like Christ, there is no amount of medicine or supplements that is going to change that. So while I sit in this fire and contemplate these things, I’m praying for perseverence and that I would have the same attitude Paul had about his thorn in his flesh.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me….For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 1Cor 12:9,10

Welcome to a Reformed Church

22. May 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: book reviews

Note: This post is a review about the book “Welcome to a Reformed Church” by Daniel Hyde. These comments and opinions are my own. The publishing company provides me with a free copy of this book for completing this review.

Are you a recent member of a Reformed church and not sure that you understand what being Reformed is all about? Do you have friends or family who attend a Reformed church but you have no idea what “Reformed” means? This new book, “Welcome to a Reformed Church” will help to answer many of those questions. The author does an excellent job in summarizing how Reformed churches came to be, what they believe, how they live the Christian life and how they worship. Because Reformed churches are confessional churches, in this book you will learn about all the Reformed creeds and confessions, how they originated and how they shape the beliefs and practices of Reformed churches. Some of these creeds and confessions include: The Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dordt, and the Westminster Standards. Since Covenant Theology is also central to the Reformed churches understanding of God’s story of the redemption of his people, the author includes a chapter on how covenant theology is integral to the Reformed church. There are many misconceptions about Christianity and especially about what it means to be Reformed. The end of the book provides a list of common questions that people ask along with the author’s answers. I was amazed at how much history and doctrine could be packed into a small book and still be engaging and readable. This is an excellent introduction to the beliefs and practices of reformed churches for anyone who has ever wondered just what they are all about.

“We are not our own; therefore, neither is our own reason or will to rule our acts and counsels. We are not our own; therefore, let us not make it our end to seek what may be agreeable to our carnal nature. We are not our own; therefore, as far as possible, let us forget ourselves and the things that are ours. On the other hand, we are God’s; let us, therefore, live and die to him (Rom. 14:8). We are God’s; therefore, let his wisdom and will preside over all our actions. We are God’s; to him, then, as the only legitimate end, let every part of our life be directed!”John Calvin

Tortured Victims

20. May 2010 · 1 comment · Categories: Uncategorized

George and I have decided that being shot would be less painful than having two sick kids. Ethan is acting out and Ian screams half the night. I feel like I’m being held hostage and am being slowly tortured by being kept awake at night and during the day having two wild kids to deal with when I really would rather sleep. At the doctor’s yesterday, they were both trying to jump off the exam table, pretending they were helicoptors. And at the chiropractor’s yesterday, while I was face down on the table, they were fighting over one of those desk chairs that spins around. They were both up a while the night before last and instead of making up for lost sleep, they both got up at 5:30am this morning. What sane person does that? That alone is proof that they are crazy!:)

Maybe too much fun?

19. May 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: asthma

Ethan and George got back last night from their day of fun. I was a little apprehensive letting him go out with George because he is recovering from a sinus infection. At 2am this morning, Ian did his usual wake up call for me and shortly after I put him back to bed, Ethan came into our room with an asthma attack. So the four of us were up early this morning-fun family time:) Ian of course, wanted to be up too, especially because he hadn’t seen them all day. So I had to console him and convince him to go back to sleep. We were up with Ethan for a long time doing nebulizer treatments, hot water with honey, hot shower, etc. He was wide awake from his medicine so it took him a while to go back to bed. So it looks like his body probably wasn’t ready for such a fast paced day and his asthma was triggered. But he did have a great time and pictures of he and George on Splash Mountain to prove it.

Training in the way they should go

18. May 2010 · 2 comments · Categories: Teach Me Jesus

All Christian parents are familiar with the scriptures command for parents to train their kids in the word. This is something we’ve taken very seriously and have been quite humbled by the task. There is no perfect way to do this of course and we continue to stumble our way through it. Ethan has been irritable as of late because he’s been sick and we recently had problems with his behavior. After numerous consequences becasue of his escalating behavior, I sat down with him and had him write Eph 4:26 a few times and then I read the whole passage with him and discussed it. The passage at one point basically says that if you let your anger get out of control you are giving the devil and opportunity to influence you or get a “foothold” as our version says. Ethan said that sounded scary and asked what it meant. I grabbed ahold of his foot and wouldn’t let go as he tried to pull away from me. I told him that when the devil has a foot hold, it’s hard to shake him loose. That really scared him but I reminded him who is stronger than the devil and that the Spirit can help him get ahold of anger so that the devil won’t have an opportunity. Normally, because Ethan is easily scared, I would not have talked with him about something that would scare him but I believe that it is a healthy fear to recognize the hold sin and the devil can have on us if we are not trusting in God. After this discussion, George told Ethan that he wanted to demonstrate to him what God has done for us by taking our sin and pouring his wrath on Christ. He extended grace to Ethan and took back a consequence we had given him (tv time). The opportunities for teaching scripture to the boys are endless and I pray every day for the wisdom to make the right choices and that we will take those teaching opportunities that God gives us.

We started doing formal “devotions” with Ethan when he turned about 18 or 20 months and at about two we started the catechism. We’ve been working with Ian on the catechism as well and so I thought I’d list some of our favorite resources for teaching that we’ve found so far:

1. For toddlers and early preschool:
The Read Aloud Bible Stories series by Lindvall
The “My Favorite Verses” series by Mackall
My ABC bible verses by Susan Hunt

2. For preschoolers and up
3 in 1 A Picture of God by Marxhausen
Sammy and His Shepherd by Susan Hunt
The Lightlings by R.C. Sproul
The Princes Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul
Big Truths for Little Kids by Susan Hunt
Discovering Jesus in Genesis by Susan Hunt
Big Book of Bible Truths 1&2 by Sinclair Ferguson
Discovering Jesus in Exodus by Susan Hunt
Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones

3. For elementary
Training Hearts, Teaching Minds by Starr Meade
Big Book of Questions and Answers by Sinclair Ferguson
Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware
Our 24 Family Ways by Clay Clarkson

Some of the books listed are stories and some are designed as devotionals and many of the stories have a question and answer section for discussion after the story is read.

Hope you got something out of the list and feel free to comment with a list of your own to share:)

Recent Pictures

15. May 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Uncategorized

All tuckered out. Ian fell asleep doing his nightly nebulizer treatment.

Silly boys

The boys have been having a blast swimming every afternoon. Ethan has played the lifeguard and helps Ian when he can’t swim all the way across the pool.

The boys learned about electricity and wired up a light switch to a light bulb and put the light bulb into a piece of drywall.