October | 2010 |

What’s your story?

29. October 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Compassion International

His name was Pete. As with most adolescents, I struggled with peer pressure, desires to fit in, and had a wrong self image of myself. Add to that a struggle with depressive thoughts that often threatened to overtake me. I honestly wasn’t sure I would make it through adolescence. But thanks to God’s use of other people in my life, such as Pete, here I am.

I was a lone teen in my church and didn’t know anyone else my age who was a believer. Then God brought Pete into my life. He was in his early 20′s and new to our church. He wanted to get involved with youth but I was the only one, so he offered to take me to another church’s youth program. That’s where I began to find love and acceptance and truly experience the community of The body. Pete remained a youth leader throughout my adolescent years. I learned much from him about scripture and God’s unconditional love for me. I remember times of feeling intense despondency and was able to call him at any time for a listening ear. He truy was an older brother in Christ. I really believe that God brought him and my youth group into my life at a crucial time. Without it, I would not be where I am today. His influence encouraged me to go to Christian college where I studied counseling. I then went on to get my Masters in psychology and ultimately I ended up working with children with similar aches and pains as my own.

Compassion International has asked their bloggers to share their stories of how an adult in their life spoke
hope into their world at an important time in their life. My friend, mentor, youth leader and brother in Christ, Pete was the one who God used in my life. Who influenced you in your life and spoke hope into your heart? And to whom are you speaking hope to today?

Compassion International’s mission is to bring hope to children around the world through education, food, clothing, and the hope of Christ in the gospel. Our families compassion child is in Africa and supporting him has opened our heart to someone half way around the world. Our children have learned more about the area he is from and learned that most children do not have tha advantages they have. We pray for our child and his family and teach our children about how Jesus loved those who were considered less fortunate, poor, and weak in the eyes of the world and has given us that calling as well.

So, what is your story?

Dog-Eared Mommy

27. October 2010 · 1 comment · Categories: God's still working on me

I was reading a book recently and every time I came across a section I wanted to remember, I folded down the pages, thinking that I would copy the quotes into my quote book. By the end of the book, I had so many folded down pages there was no way I was going to be able to write it all down. Looking at all the folded pages made me think about being a “dog-eared mommy.”

Some people think you shouldn’t fold down pages in a book. But I believe books are to be used, read again and again. Folding down a page or underlining something helps us remember something that stood out to us when we read the book. And sometimes I feel like a mommy who has been dog-eared. Weary, worn, and tossed around. The pages of my life are folded down to remind me of where I’ve been and what God has done in my life. God likes to use dog-earred people rather than those who are like coffee table books that are put on a table just for looks. Coffee table books are not used or haven’t any life experiences. It’s through the challenges in life that God molds us into what He is creating us to be. And like a good book that gets passed around to friends, we share with others what God has been doing in our lives and teach them about the road of faith.

I own many books and when my shelves are overflowing, I have a difficult time getting rid of them. Each one holds a memory of what I was going through when I read it and what I learned. Often when I need a reminder about a particular topic, I know just the book to pull out so I can reread it. And some books on my shelf remind me of such difficult and painful times in my life that I may never pull them out, but they are still on the shelf because they are part of my story. Each of us has a story that God has written and each day we live out one more page. Some of the pages in our life may be more worn than others, some we may want to rip out completely, and others have never been read yet.

But we are not alone. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to hep us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14,15. Our Lord is part of this world’s story. He knows the challenges and difficult times we go through in this sinful world. He came here knowing how his story would end…and that it would begin again. In the garden, he prayed three times asking God to change the plan but willingly submitted to his Father’s will. Jesus, “being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!” Phil 2:6-8

One of the pages in my dog-eared book puts it this way, “Anyone God uses significantly is always deeply wounded…We are, each and every one of us, insignificant people whom God has called and graced to use in a significant way…On the last day, Jesus will look us over not for medals, diplomas, or honors, but for scars.”
(Ruthless Trust: The Ragamuffin’s Path to God)

“If all my years were summer, could I know what my Lord means by His “made white as snow?” If all my days were sunny, could I say, “In His fair land He wipes all tears away?” If I were never weary, could I keep close to my heart, “He gives His loved one sleep?” Were no griefs mine, might I not come to deem the eternal life but a baseless dream? My winter, and my tears, and my weariness, even my griefs maybe His way to bless. I call them ills, yet they can surely be nothing bu love that shows my Lord to me.” Amy Carmichal

So when I look at my life and see the worn pages of past pains, tears, worries, and problems of this life, may I also see the hand of God as he carried me through each page of my history. And may I pass on what I have learned of God and His great love for us by sharing His story.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:16, 17.

3 Years

25. October 2010 · 1 comment · Categories: Uncategorized

My baby is no longer a baby. Ian turned 3 yesterday and as it happens, we are also in the process of taking down his crib. So he’s officially all grown up:)

I’ve seen a light bulb go off in recent months with Ian. He is increasingly interested in reading and has been learning his sight words. He’s mostly reading small three letter words but he’s making steady progress. He also recently asked me to teach him subtraction. He found some of Ethan’s flashcards and asked me to help him with them so we’ve been doing those. He caught on quickly to the concepts. He’s also been learning to write his name. It took him a while to be willing to sit down and practice writing it. He kept saying “I’m aweful at writing my name!” I think his teacher has been encouraging him at school to write his name as well as other letters and numbers. He’s also started drawing people.

Ian continues to love sports and is very naturally athletic. (Have not figured out where he got that from). He’s also kind of a ham and is pretty dramatic. He makes great faces and dramatizes about everything. Ian is also very cuddly and is a momma’s boy. He still hangs on to my legs and acts shy around people. He adores his big brother and can’t wait to pick Ethan up from school every day.

Happy 3rd birthday Ian!

Pumpkin Patch

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

Which one should I get?

This is the one!

Look here everyone!

I said smile, not stick your tongue out!

That’s better.

There’s the smiles I was looking for!

Give Thanks to the Lord

22. October 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Gratitude Community

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. Psalm 107:1

And so the list continues:

151. Dear friends of ours from college days came to town to visit.
152. Smiles and laughter from their daughter.
153. Cooler mornings.
154. God’s never ending forgiveness
155. The wonderful ladies in my bible study.
156. The community of believers in my church.
157. Seeing God’s work in my husband.
158. The best chocolate cake I’ve ever had with the best icing in the world-thanks Karen!
159. Seeing Ian’s excitement about turning 3 on Sunday.
160. Dinner out with a friend to a nice restaurant.

Ready to do Christmas Cards yet?

22. October 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Uncategorized

Well it’s that time of year again when I start thinking about Christmas cards. The past few years I’ve been doing photo cards. It is usually challenging to get cute pictures of the boys where they are both smiling so I start early so I have plenty of time to take tons of pictures. (Because truthfully, everyone wants to see pictures of the kids, not the parents). I’ve been using Shutterfly for photo cards and have really found the site to be user friendly with a large variety of designs to choose from.

I’ve even used the site for Christmas party invitations (I’ve had fun including party pictures from previous years of various friends). This year, I’ve been considering using this Christmas card design to mail out with pictures of the boys. What’s neat is that there’s an area to include a little letter of what your family did during the year. They are currently running a special: 20% off all holiday cards which is a great deal.

So I guess there won’t be any suprise for those on my Christmas card mailing list-you already know what they might look like!

In His Love

21. October 2010 · 1 comment · Categories: poetry

Long before the stars lit the nite sky
and the planets danced around the sun;
before I made my very first cry
and learned about all your love had done

In your love, you planned for me.

Your crazy love stretches far beyond
the distance from the east to the west.
It is brighter than the morning dawn;
stronger than any empire’s conquest.

In your love, you chose me.

You rest your feet upon the planets
and are dressed in brilliant light.
The sun obeys when to rise and set
and by your breath the mountains ignite.

In your love, you draw me close.

You are the King without a shadow
and you invite me before your throne.
Ashamed and guilty of all you know;
yet you changed me and call me your own.

In your love, you saved me.

When I stumble and flee from you to hide,
your Spirit can always find me.
Even when I sin, you’re by my side.
Humbled, I delight in your mercy.

In your love, you heal me.

When I close my eyes in that final sleep,
and walk through the gates of gold.
The beauty of your Glory makes me weep,
for you are a wonder to behold.

Because of His love, I will live.

And no one threw tomatoes

21. October 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Uncategorized

This morning I made a presentation to a class at the local college on the field of psychology. A friend of mine teaches a class on the health care field and asked me to come and speak. I haven’t worked in six years and was suprised she asked. I really don’t like public speaking but I have improved over the years. In fact, I wasn’t nervous and I expected that I would be. Anyway, no one threw tomatoes so it wasn’t that bad of a presentation. Of course my husband followed me in presenting the fire/ems profession. His job is a lot cooler than mine so there was a lot of interest in what he does. It did get me thinking though that it would be fun to teach psychology at the college level. Hmmm….

Scripture Memorization

20. October 2010 · 2 comments · Categories: Teach Me Jesus

I am frequently amazed at the memorizing capability that children have. A long time ago, I met a two year old girl whose parents had taught her the shorter catechism. I couldn’t believe that one so young could learn something so complicated. I never forgot it and when I had children of my own, I began as soon as they could talk having them learn God’s word.

In our kitchen, next to the table where we eat all our meals, is a bulletin board. We post our family rules as well as verses and catechism questions the kids are learning. Every morning we review the verse during our morning devotions. Even after the kids have learned a verse, I frequently reference it during teaching moments to ensure they continue to remember it.

Another way I’ve found our kids learn verses is through music. When my oldest was a toddler, I purchased a few of Steve Green’s cd’s for children including: Hide Em in Your Heart Vol 1 & 2 and Hide’em in Your Heart Praise & Worship for Kids. He and a group of children sing scripture that he has turned into songs. There have been times when we are in the car and I have the cd playing and my oldest will say “Hey, they’re singing the verse we are learning!”

An added benefit is that I too am learning the verses and often when I’m reading my bible and I come across a passage that I have learned in song, I can’t help but hum it in my head. I often remind the kids, as well as myself, the truth that David wrote in the Psalms, “Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (119:11). I’m finding this verse to be more true for me as I have grown in my faith. The more I read and learn in scripture, the more the Spirit uses it to remind me of God’s loving plan for me and convicts me of sin. We know that the “word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12).

I pray that as I learn scripture and am changed by it, this will in turn teach my children, setting an example for them of a walk lived by faith and fed by the very word of God.