On Advent and Waiting

29. November 2011 · 5 comments · Categories: Spiritual Growth · Tags:

I look forward to Advent every year. It is a special time of year for slowing down and remembering the Christ child born to save. I like to have a special devotional and activity for my children each day during Advent to teach them about a humble Prince leaving His palace above to lie in a cattle’s trough.

The word “advent” means arrival or coming of something anticipated. The weeks preceding Christmas is a time of waiting. We prepare our hearts for His arrival. I am not very good at waiting. In fact, I’m a rather impatient person. Our culture thrives on instant gratification. We don’t tolerate lines, slow computers, and saving before we buy. Like a fruit picked well before ripeness, rushing through life leaves sour and bitter taste.

The most important and beautiful things often come from waiting. Seeds planted, watered and provided sun grow full and healthy in the Spring. Nine months of pregnancy results in the birth of a precious child. A friendship nurtured over time results in deep trust. When the heart is quiet and meditates on God’s word, the waiting results in a soul filled full and satisfied.

“Not everyone can wait; neither the sated nor the satisfied nor those without respect can wait. The only ones who can wait are people who carry restlessness around with them and people who look up with reverence to the greatest in the world. Thus Advent can be celebrated only by those whose souls give them no peace, who know that they are poor and incomplete, and who sense something of the greatness that is supposed to come, before which they can only bow in humble timidity, waiting until he inclines himself toward us-the Holy One himself, God in the child in the manger. God is coming; the Lord Jesus is coming; Christmas is coming. Rejoice, O Christendome!” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I pray that we are those who can wait. May our hearts grow still and listen for the sound of the Christ-child. May our souls be filled this season with the joy that can only come from those who know their Savior has come and is coming. “He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 21:6

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To Go Deeper

29. November 2011 · 1 comment · Categories: Spiritual Growth · Tags:

Have you ever had a dessert that you wanted to savor? You slowly taking each bite, enjoying the taste and texture, and try to make it last as long as you could.

There are many ways to feast on the Word of God. We can read it in large chunks, we can read bits and pieces scattered throughout, and we can take our time and slowly savor it. It can be compared to enjoying a city view from the top of a hill. From the top, the view of the city is beautiful and it gives you a great perspective of the entire city. Then you leave that hill and walk along the streets. Going inside the museums and shops brings an even deeper experience of what the city has to offer.

In the same way, digging deeper into the Word can be like exploring a city, street by street. Selecting a book to read and going through it verse by verse can take a while, but it is worth it. When you visit a city, you don’t want to just see the overall view. You also want to experience all the tastes, smells, and experiences it has to offer. Those experiences will remain with you forever. In a similar way, digging deeper into scripture can feed and transform your soul in ways you hadn’t before experienced.

To begin, you’ll need a few resources. The Bible is always THE final and authoritative word. Yet reading what other people have discovered in Scripture can be helpful. When you study, do it as the Berean’s did: “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)

To read more of this post, visit Bible Study for Her.

Thanksgiving

28. November 2011 · 6 comments · Categories: Gratitude Community

1001-1010

New Thousand Gifts app on my phone

Thanksgiving at my in-laws

Watching Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with the whole family

Taking pictures with the boys on grandma’s dock

Pineapple casserole-a favorite!

Getting Christmas stuff down and starting to decorate

Planning for my Advent box and Advent activities for the boys

Experiencing His grace anew each day

Meditating on His word this Advent

Photography session with a friend at the beach

Count His Graces with me!

Ask, Seek, Knock

26. November 2011 · 4 comments · Categories: Ploughing Hearts

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

“When you pause to consider that God is infinitely strong and can do all that he pleases, and that he is infinitely righteous so that he only does what is right, and that he is infinitely good so that everything he does is perfectly good, and that he is infinitely wise so that he always knows perfectly what is right and good, and that he is infinitely loving so that in all his strength and righteousness and goodness and wisdom he raises the eternal joy of his loved ones as high as it can be raised—when you pause to consider this, then the lavish invitations of this God to ask him for good things, with the promise that he will give them, is unimaginably wonderful.” John Piper

As you prepare your heart to worship, remember that you have a Heavenly Father who desires to lavish you with good things. His love is unmeasureable and His power beyond imagination. Kneel before Him, ask, seek and knock.

More for you heart: my latest devotional at Devotions for Moms.

Teach Me Jesus Thursdays: Thanksgiving

24. November 2011 · 2 comments · Categories: Teach Me Jesus

In past Thanksgiving celebrations, I’ve provided our guests with a copy of Abraham Lincoln’s speech where he declared the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day. It is too long to include in a post but I’ve included part of it. Perhaps, consider reading it to your children (those of age to understand). In the full speech, he pointed out how God had continued to bless this country despite the Civil War. It gives one a lot to think about and reflect on this Thanksgiving.

“To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God….No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

For the rest of the speech, click here.

On this Thanksgiving, may we all reflect with gratitude on the numerous blessings He has provided-all because of Grace.

Happy Thanksgiving!

When Life Doesn’t Seem Fair

23. November 2011 · 8 comments · Categories: Spiritual Growth · Tags: , ,

“That’s not fair! You can’t change the rules on me!” yells my oldest. I had taken away watching television because of behavior that was becoming a chronic problem . This was a new consequence; he believed I had changed the rules. I reminded him that the behavior had always been wrong. Yet, his mind follows rules he’s created.

His emotional response reminded me of my own heart’s response to the discipline of the Father.

I have my own unconscious rules for what I expect God to do. While I expect discipline for sin, I often don’t expect the suffering that comes with the way He chooses to transform me. Mentally, I know it’s true. I know the truths from Romans 8:28, Job 1:21, and 1 Peter 1:7, but how I respond in my heart is different. David’s sin, punishment and repentance fits well with my rules. When we obey, we are blessed. When we disobey, we are disciplined.

In my deepest depression, when I didn’t think I could make it one more day, my heart reflected these rules I’ve created. Rather than realizing God was providing me an opportunity to grow and change, I complained and grumbled about the pain. I focused on how awful my life was and how couldn’t handle it. “This isn’t fair!” I cried out to God.

I’ve found that my heart too often struggles with how to deal with the suffering and pain in this life. I think of my dear friend whose body is even now being attacked by cancer-while a babe grows inside. My heart often responds like my son, “That’s not fair. You can’t change the rules, God!”

But He reminds me, those are not His rules. Larry Crabb in puts it this way in 66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God That Invites You into His Story, written from God’s perspective, “The greatest danger My people face today is prosperity, blessings that reinforce the false hope that nothing serious will ever go wrong in their lives if they just keep believing, expecting, trusting, and smiling…When every expectation of how your life should turn out is shattered, when I seem to you like an indifferent, cold sovereign, a promise-breaker, a useless God, an abandoning parent, rejoice! You are ready for the unveiling, to meet Me as I AM.”

I truly want to know God as He really is. The path to truly knowing Him requires that I rid myself of all my rules and notions about God. I’ve been learning to face the fact that life will never work out the way it was designed to until the day of Christ Jesus. Until then, God is preparing my heart for eternity. I am being emptied of everything that keeps me from Him. I have to see that only He is the manna that will sustain me in this life. He is the cloud and pillar of fire I must follow because my own sense of direction will lead me the wrong way.

I often want to live the good life here, free of pain and suffering. I want my life to run smoothly. I have to be reminded that my love for a better life now will only corrupt my love for Him. Larry Crabb puts it this way, again from God’s perspective “Suffering is necessary until evil is finally banished. Suffering opens the holy space in your soul that will be filled only when you’re dancing with Me at My party…Suffering without explanation creates the opportunity for faith in Me, the kind of faith that sees My heart. Suffering with explanation allows you to maintain the false hope of control. In My plan, I remove all sources of hope but Me, thereby revealing the narrow road to holiness, the only road that leads to My party.”

Yes, in many ways, life is unfair. At least from our perspective. From the perspective of eternity, God is lovingly doing what it takes to change us and prepare us for life in His eternal presence. I will probably continue to hear my children complain that I am unfair. They don’ t yet know what I know about life and what is necessary to train them for life on the narrow path. Each time my own heart wants to complain about suffering, I have remember these encounters with my children. I have to remember the love and wisdom with which God uses to transform me. And that the true joy that I seek can only be found in Christ alone.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9 NLT

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Book Review: Different: how God uses parenting to transform us wholly

22. November 2011 · 1 comment · Categories: book reviews

It’s amazing how bringing a little person into the world can change you. Not only are you forever connected by blood to this new eternal soul, you are also responsible for the raising and training of that soul. Parenting has changed me in countless ways. I’ve often remarked how God has used parenting to reveal my sin-and depths of sin I never knew existed.

A blogging friend of mine, Wick Anderson, has written a book titled “Different: how God uses parenting to transform us wholly.” He too has experienced the major changes that parenting brings. Upon reflecting on those changes, he points out how God uses those changes to bring about spiritual growth in our walk with Christ. From changes in commitments and priorities to growth in relationships, humility and forgiveness, our daily lives as parents give us many opportunities to learn and be transformed. Wick challenges us to look at the areas in our life where we need to grow in our walk with Christ.

Providing humorous and lighthearted examples of life with three daughters, Wick uses these examples to point out how parenting changes us. This is not a how-to parenting book, but rather an honest look at the unique ways in which being a parent can move us forward in our faith. Instead of looking back on life with young children with a sense of regret for what we didn’t do, we need to seize each moment and use it as an opportunity for change. Children not only hold up mirrors to reflect our sin to us, they also reveal to us the heart of the Kingdom. Their quick forgiveness, excitement about life, and eagerness to try new things remind us of what Jesus said about needing faith like a child.

I hope you’ll visit Wick’s blog to learn more about him and his heart. Interested in reading the book? You’ll find a link to purchase the book on his blog.

One Thousand Gifts!

21. November 2011 · 8 comments · Categories: Gratitude Community

When I began this list in June of 2010, one thousand seemed like a high number. Each week, one grace at a time, I’ve listed all the ways God showers His love on me. I guess it’s fitting that I should reach one thousand this week of Thanksgiving.

Those who are keeping their own list of graces know the way it changes the direction of your heart. For me, keeping this list has helped in my battle with depression. Reflecting on the goodness of God turns the heart from facing inward to facing upward. I notice increasingly more the beauty of my surroundings: the shape of a cloud, the cool breeze, the butterfly on a flower and other simple pleasures. The spiritual blessings I have in Christ are numerous, as I’m coming to realize. I also have been able to increasingly count the difficult things in life, the pain, disappointment and trials as a gift from God. It’s not been easy and sometimes is just plain hard to keep counting. But it’s in the counting, remembering and reflecting where true joy is found.

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given” 1 Chronicles 16:8-12

Rejoicing to one thousand:

976. Finishing the study I’ve been leading through the book, Because He Loves Me. It was a great journey with my beautiful bible study ladies.
977. My accountability group: knowing they are there to pray for and support me
978. Conviction by the Holy Spirit
979. Safe return of my husband from time away
980. That he was able to be a blessing to hurting friends
981. A lesson for my children that our sacrifice was for the benefit of others
982. Strength to parent alone
983. Ethan receiving his first badges at Cub Scouts:)
984. Ian’s enthusiastic prayers
985. Receiving unexpected flowers
986. Time to Christmas shop by myself
987. Listening to Christmas music
988. Opportunities to apply scriptures the kids have learned in their daily life
989. My parents have a moving date
990. A few good friends
991. No tv for a few days
992. Homemade Scottish shortbread in honor of what we’ve been learning about the Scottish Covenanters
993. Ethan’s enjoyment and eagerness during morning devotions
994. Finishing a big writing project-not sure what to do next and praying for direction
995. Fried pickles
996. Hearing “Please” and “Thankyou”
997. Having a good homeschool group
998. Writing a letter to our Compassion Child
999. Focusing my heart on Advent
1000. Reaching 1,000 gifts!

Want to join in on the joy? Link up below:

Open Your Heart

20. November 2011 · 1 comment · Categories: Compassion International

When we decided to sponsor a child through Compassion, we chose a boy from Kenya. Some of our best friends are from Kenya and we knew that one day we would go and visit the country with them. When I talk with the boys about our Compassion child, Ambrose, I try to explain to them that the life he leads is very different from their’s. Their biggest worry is whether they will get the lego set they’ve wanted for Christmas. I remind them of the thank you note we received from Ambrose not that long ago. We had sent him money for his birthday. What did he receive? Flour, sugar, beans and a pair of pants. My kids ask, “Why did he get that?” “Because, that’s what he needed” I tell them.

I often think about what his home looks like, his neighborhood and where he plays ball. I recently watched a video of a man who went to visit a Compassion project in the Philippines. During the trip, he got to meet the boy he sponsors. I couldn’t help but cry as I saw the homes in which the children live. I think of what it must be like for the parents, knowing they can’t provide for their children. Could any American parent imagine their child living in houses amidst flood waters? The children swim around the houses in the bacteria ridden water. No parent wants that for their children. If it breaks my heart, I know it must break theirs as well.

For anyone unfamiliar with the work Compassion does for children around the world, please click here to watch the video. Consider opening your own heart to a child whose only hope of a future outside of poverty is the love of a sponsor.

Homeschool Highlights: Weeks 14-15

19. November 2011 · 2 comments · Categories: Homeschooling

We are enjoying our adventures through U.S. History! The past couple of weeks we finished up our in-depth study of the Revolutionary War. Ethan especially enjoyed learning about the spies during the war. We learned how to read secret codes and wrote our own message in invisible ink. We also continue to make our way through the states, learning some history and basic information about each one.

We made a bird feeder during science. We’ve hung it up but since our neighbor has had a bird feeder in his yard for a long time, I doubt the birds will want to try something new. Ethan read a book about the SandHill cranes which are everywhere in our neighborhood. We also made edible birds nests. Any excuse to use chocolate is good for me!

In language arts, we’ve been studying nouns, pronouns and verbs. He enjoyed coming up with a list of verbs. He’s started learning a new poem as well.

We are really enjoying reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s book, Farmer Boy. The main character talked about putting popcorn into a glass of milk and we tried it. None of the milk overflowed:) Since then, he’s come up with other ideas from the book he wants to try out. I continue to search for books for Ethan to read on his own. He reads at a very advanced level but he’s not mature enough to read books at that level. This week we tried the old-fashioned Hardy Boys series (as a huge Nancy Drew fan I was excited!) and he loves them. This is good because there are plenty of them!

Lastly in my list of updates, since we’ve been talking about the Scottish Covenanter’s during our morning devotions, we decided to make Scottish shortbread this week. So easy to make and all the ingredients we had on hand. And yum!

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