June | 2012 |

A Song in My Heart

30. June 2012 · 36 comments · Categories: Gratitude Community

“Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20

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The room is filled with women, at least 3,500 of them. Eyes are closed, hands are raised, and bodies sway. The sound of all these women singing together praises to God, brings nothing less than chills across my skin. I am joined with these women in song and enjoy the preview of heaven before me. The Ghetty’s lead us in song, singing, “How marvelous! How wonderful! Is the Savior’s love for me.”

Worship is the posture of the heart overflowing with thanksgiving to God for all that He is, has done, and will do.

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Tim Keller writes that “the worship of God with the whole heart in the assurance of his love through the work of Jesus Christ is the thing (our) souls were meant to “run on.” (from The Meaning of Marriage) Giving praise to God in worship is the fuel that propels us forward in faith, joy, and obedience. Without worship, our tanks are empty, like a car that has run out of gasoline. We become immobilized, useless, and soul-starved.

This list of thanks that I write each week is a sacrifice of praise, an act of personal worship to the great Giver of all good things. As I add each item to the list, it becomes another note, added to the song of thanks written upon my heart. Giving thanks this way fuels my heart in the same way that joining thousands of women in song at the Gospel Coalition’s women’s conference did. And when we join together each week, sharing our lists in community, a beautiful harmony rises to heaven as a sweet-smelling incense, all for the glory of God.

Joining the community in giving thanks (#1644-1661)

Isaiah 6, Revelation 21

Contentment in His will

Reaching my 7 year anniversary of blogging

shade trees

finding a petting zoo to take the kids to in Atl-feeding deer, sheep, donkey’s, goats, birds, chickens, etc.

taking four boys by myself for the afternoon-no conflicts, problems, just tons of fun!

the simplicity of living these past three weeks on vacation without all our stuff

a wonderful 3 weeks of vacation-fillings, restorative, restful, fun

finishing a couple of books, starting a couple more

hundreds of photos on my camera to go through

A Handful of Everything trailmix for the long drive home

a quiet drive with no sibling fights in the back seat

my Union Jack travel pillow

My MIL’s stint surgery successful

introducing my son to Nancy Drew books:)

the way God works through and in spite of our insufficiencies

That He is all I need
Linking up with:

The Rock of Ages

29. June 2012 · 20 comments · Categories: Ploughing Hearts

“I have learned to kiss the wave that pushes me against the Rock of Ages.” C.H. Spurgeon

Linking up with:

Survive125

29. June 2012 · 7 comments · Categories: Compassion International

This month’s assignment for Compassion Bloggers involved playing a game online. Who doesn’t love the challenge of playing a game? My son and I sat down to try out the game on the 58: website. What is 58:? “58: is an unprecedented global alliance of Christians, churches and world-class poverty-fighting organizations working together to end extreme poverty in our lifetime.” Compassion International is one such organization.

We were assigned a woman from India and we were to make the decisions she makes each and everyday. Living off of $1.25 each day, we were presented with a series of choices to make in how to use our money. (My son is seven, so I edited some of the questions that had to do with topics too old for him). The challenge was to make it an entire month on our little income making choices such as: should we pull our son out of school because we couldn’t afford his uniform?, should we eat food that was covered in mold after a recent flood or starve?, should we vaccinate our children? and should we pull our child out of school once a week to walk three hours for clean water or just drink the dirty water close to home?

We only made it to day 17.

My son learned a lot from the game, and frankly so did I. It was eye-opening to the realities faced by real people around the world. Every day parents have to make tough, life or death decisions that I simply don’t have to face.

To be honest, I could not live on $1.25 a day and neither can anyone else.

Yet 1.3 billion people live in poverty around the world. Want to get involved? Learn more about 58: and its mission here. Join Compassion International’s efforts here. And see how you do at living on $1.25 a day by playing Survive 125 here.

On Wandering Hearts

28. June 2012 · 8 comments · Categories: Teach Me Jesus · Tags: gospel prayer

”I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.” Jeremiah 24:7

Father in Heaven,

I come before you frustrated and irritated. The kids are always so distracted! I send them to put on their shoes and I come in and find them doing something else. We ended up being late to our appointment today. The other day, it was all I could do to get them focused on school work. Will they ever be able to do what they are told without frequent reminders?

To read the rest of this prayer, visit When You Rise ,where I am teaming up with my friends there to write gospel centered parenting prayers.

Linking up with:

my flower!!!

A Farm, a Garden, and Life Forever

26. June 2012 · 22 comments · Categories: God's still working on me, grief, Spiritual Growth

I’ve seen both the emergence of life and the ending of how life was defined, all in the same place.

As a child, I spent many weekends at my aunt and uncle’s farm. I raced my sister to the silo, grabbing pieces of corn to the throw into the pen. The hogs would grunt and run over to us, leaving hoof prints in the slimy mud. Nudging their snouts at the cobs, they would squeal with delight and quickly gobble up their feast. “Can we get more?” we’d beg our uncle and run back again to the silo to retrieve more ears of corn.

Summers were spent running and exploring the acres of land. I’d stand on tip toes, push my face against the glass of the small wooden structure and watch the feral barn cats play in their little home. They were too wild to pet or make friends with so I simply watched them climb over the all the old furniture in their little barn, scratching and clawing to their heart’s content.

We also enjoyed chasing the dogs, searching for frogs in the pond, rolling in the grass, visiting the barn-all that makes up a childhood spent on a farm.

I remember visiting on a day when piglets were born. I walked into the barn to watch, wide eyes as my uncle helped deliver a wet, tiny, squealing baby pig. To my young eyes, it was both gory and amazing at the same time. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched him give those tiny piglets their first shots.

It was my first year of high school when I cried even more while at that farm. We were there for our typical weekend visit when I hear my aunt and my parents talking about something serious. I learned that day that my aunt and uncle were getting a divorce.

Shock and confusion filled my heart. I deeply loved both of them and couldn’t understand why they couldn’t love each other. Though I had plenty of friends from broken homes, this was my first personal encounter with divorce. I began hearing horrible things about my uncle from my angry, hurt, and bitter aunt. The air was stifling with bitterness and anger, suffocating my chest. I remember wanting to shout, “Stop it! Just stop it! This is my uncle you are talking about!”

The innocence of childhood ended abruptly that day. Sweet memories of days spent exploring the farm became tainted by relationships torn apart. My aunt soon moved out and I never again returned to that farm.

Our first parents experienced both the beginning of life and the ending of how their life was defined, all in the same place. They enjoyed days spent exploring their garden, naming animals, and taking walks with God. Their life was innocent and carefree, lived in the moment and without fears or worry.

Then sin entered the world and their relationship with God was torn apart. Life as they knew it changed forever. Never again were they permitted to enter the Garden. Never again would they know life as innocent, simple, and carefree. Sweet memories of that place became tainted by sin and shame.

We all have experiences of joyful, carefree days. And we all have seen lives torn apart by sin. As long as we live in this world, we will continue to experience the cycle of new life beginning and of life ending. But the swords that barred reentrance into the Garden did not end the story of Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:15 promised a rescue plan, a way to bring God’s people back to Himself. Jesus fulfilled that plan through His life, death, and resurrection.

It’s because of Jesus that one day we will return to that Garden and to that place of eternal joy, carefree days, and complete innocence. When that new chapter begins, we will have eternity to explore the New Heavens and New Earth. Relationships there will never be torn apart. Memories will be created that will never be tainted by sin and shame. Life as we once knew it will be changed forever and forever changed for the good.

Do you look forward to that day?

Linking up with:

Word Filled Wednesday, Always Alleluia and Intentional.Me

Resting in His Presence

24. June 2012 · 31 comments · Categories: Gratitude Community

Rest. Relaxation. Peace. Stillness.

These are the pursuits of summer vacation. With hectic daily lives, getting away on a trip can be restorative and healing.

These are also the same pursuits for our relationship with God. My verse for this year has been “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Knowing God requires being with Him, sitting at His feet, and resting in Him. Learning to be still in His presence is a life long journey built by a series of intentional moments. Most days my life is so loud, chaotic, and busy that I’ve had to learn how to be still even in the midst of the loudness.

Getting away from the distractions of life and setting aside worldly cares opens the way to His presence and a way to rest. It’s in the presence of His majesty where the senses are awakened from a deep slumber. In the quiet stillness His whispers become audible. When the fog of life’s distractions fades away, we can see Him clearly. And as our worldly cares are cast away, we feel His presence surround us.

Vacationing this past week with three other families from my church gave me an opportunity to quiet my heart to hear, feel, taste, and see His beauty in a richer way. All that is beautiful, lovely, desirable, wonderful, and exciting in this life is but a glimpse, a taste, of the wonder and beauty that is God.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” Isaiah 43:2

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

“And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” Luke 12:28

Counting His goodness and resting in His presence (#1620-1643)

Renting a house with a group of friends

A friend who is a chef who made us fabulous meals

Not having to cook all week

Kayaking on the river just after sunrise

Getting lost on a hike and finding our way back

Sitting on the deck with my husband and watching the sunset

Picnic at the park

Kids setting off rockets on the huge property

Exploring a sea of wild flowers

My husband discovering a fire truck on the property and getting permission to play with it

The kids getting hosed down, a homemade slip and slide, and going for a ride on the fire truck

Visiting old college friends

Holding a friends new sweet baby

Going for a walk and discovering an old barn

Geese covering the front lawn

No one getting poison ivy or ticks

Flying from our trip to Orlando to the Gospel Coalition’s Women’s Conference

Hearing Tim Keller, John Piper, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, and other powerful and amazing speakers share the truth of Scripture in a deep and amazing way

Buying lots of new books:)

My friends support and encouragement as I step out in faith

Meeting a book publisher and having the opportunity to tell her about my book

Her expressing interest in it and taking a copy of my proposal to read

God’s sovereign hand in all things

Linking up with:

My Rock

22. June 2012 · 16 comments · Categories: Ploughing Hearts

On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” Psalm 62:7

Linking up with:

A Legacy in a Jar

22. June 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Uncategorized

I’ve always been interested in the past. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to understand my family and the ancestors that came before me. Like a detective that solves a mystery, I have wanted to understand the mystery of how my family developed into who we are today. I’ve long probed the deeper questions of what factors shaped a person’s life, how they faced life’s challenges, and why they made particular decisions and choices.

Want to read more? I’m over at Leaving a Legacy today. Click here to read the rest of this post.

Teach Me Jesus Thursdays: Developing a Biblical World View

21. June 2012 · 5 comments · Categories: Parenting, Teach Me Jesus

Our oldest has recently made some statements recently that caused us concern. His statements reflected the post modern relativistic view of life and truth. Since we had sent him to public school last year, in some ways we weren’t surprised. But in other ways we were, after all, he’s only seven.

In an effort to arm him with proper defenses for when he is out in the world, I did an activity with him using a strainer and a can of tomatoes. I explained to him that for demonstration purposes, the strainer represents the Word of God and the can of tomatoes represents something he has learned. He poured the can of tomatoes into the strainer. I told him that whatever the strainer caught, it what is true and consistent with Scripture and what came through into the bowl was not true. We used a couple of examples of things he had learned in school last year and “filtered” them through Scripture. I also told my son that he is to use the same method with what anyone says to him, including Sunday school teachers.

Everything we learn or hear has to be filtered through the Bible. Whatever is not consistent with Scripture is false. I used this lesson to teach him that the Bible is our only rule of faith and authority; by it we determine everything else.

This is not the first time, nor the last time that we will talk about the importance of Scripture in our daily lives. This activity is something I can refer back to when I want him to practice evaluating something he has learned.

What about you? Have you had any “teach me Jesus” moments this week?

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When the Guilt Lays Heavy

19. June 2012 · 11 comments · Categories: God's still working on me, Spiritual Growth · Tags: forgiveness, grace, mercy

I step out onto our tiny wooden porch, plop down in the plastic Adirondack chair and breathe out a long sigh. We are on vacation, so why am I so tired, irritable, and frustrated?

The day had been long and my patience short. Stingy with grace, I didn’t give out what has been given to me. At dinner, my son prayed, “And God, please help mommy to be patient with us.”

Sipping my coffee, I look out over the railing. There is nothing in my view but the forest. I hear birds softly chirping, calling to one another. Opening my prayer journal, I begin to talk to God. My heart is raw and the words spill forth, overflowing onto the page.

I pause from time to time to soak in the calm serenity of the woods. The wind gently rustles the leaves and the branches sway in a slow dance. I see a pocket of light, a spotlight of remaining sun shining through the woods, highlighting a lone tree.

Wasn’t it a simple tree who carried the Light of the World? Didn’t He carry this guilt that lays heavy in my heart, heavy from a day of arguments, impatience, and frustration?

The Spirit, He moves gently, just as the breeze and causes my own heart to sway in a rhythm of thanksgiving. He reminds me of His fresh mercy and pours His abundant grace over me. The chirping birds remind me that He cares for me and always meets my every need. His promises from Scripture come coursing through my soul, reassuring and reminding me of His unconditional love. I breathe in deep the fragrance of this life and exhale praise.

He’s always there waiting. Why do I take so long to come to Him? Why do I try to walk into battle on my own? Why do I let my day go by, full of distractions, conflicts, and challenges and not stop and seek Him?

Because once I do, I see Him everywhere.