I may not be able to celebrate another year of my dad's life today as I would have a couple years ago. Still, I'm grateful that I can look forward to "with the ransomed in glory [God's] face I at last shall see". It's a sweet moment to anticipate. For now and through eternity, "it will be my joy through the ages to sing of [God's] love for me".
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
Singing how marvelous!
how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous!
How wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!
He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.
And with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
It will be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.
(by Chris Tomlin)
I just shared with Nikelle the following verses in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The result was a giggle of joy. She knows the "dead in Christ" include Papa and Grandpa. Being able to be reunited with them as we meet Jesus just adds to the sweetness. I think that response from a child is a good one for me to remember. How often is it that I cannot hold back a giggle of joy when I think of Christ coming back for us?
"13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words."
Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Romance after 13 years
After almost 13 years of marriage, it's easy to overlook romance in our relationship. With three little girls and all of life's responsibilities, we forget or simply don't make the effort to do the little things that demonstrate love. Today my husband did something out of the ordinary which warmed my heart in a big way.
I can't tell you the last time I got an uninterrupted night of sleep. Last night was no different and it's taking a toll on my attitude and behavior. I'm walking around in a fog again. "Stupid" is the way many of my actions could be categorized lately.
Rod called me today from work at lunchtime (which is not the norm). He was calling to check on the girls because they have runny noses. More importantly, he was calling to find out what he could do specifically to help me get some rest. He even offered a suggestion.
That, my friends, is what I consider romantic.
I can't tell you the last time I got an uninterrupted night of sleep. Last night was no different and it's taking a toll on my attitude and behavior. I'm walking around in a fog again. "Stupid" is the way many of my actions could be categorized lately.
Rod called me today from work at lunchtime (which is not the norm). He was calling to check on the girls because they have runny noses. More importantly, he was calling to find out what he could do specifically to help me get some rest. He even offered a suggestion.
That, my friends, is what I consider romantic.
Taming the Tongue
JAMES 3
1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
I talk too much and I'm tired of the trouble it gets me into. I am finding more and more that people take the words I say in a meaning completely different from what I intended. I'm grateful for relationships where people are willing to clarify things before a grudge grabs hold of their heart.
1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
I talk too much and I'm tired of the trouble it gets me into. I am finding more and more that people take the words I say in a meaning completely different from what I intended. I'm grateful for relationships where people are willing to clarify things before a grudge grabs hold of their heart.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Kids say....
I made the mistake of going to the grocery store today. Actually, my mistake was procrastinating. I could have gone last night after Rod got home from work by myself and for some reason decided not to. Serves me right to have this cold, windy, rainy day to take my little girls shopping in.
There was a bright spot in my day, however. We passed some flowers in the store when Jaycie, 3 1/2-years-old, decided to share her thoughts with me. "Mommy, I wished I could give you some flowers next time you get married."
Sweet.
There was a bright spot in my day, however. We passed some flowers in the store when Jaycie, 3 1/2-years-old, decided to share her thoughts with me. "Mommy, I wished I could give you some flowers next time you get married."
Sweet.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Finding rest in the stillness
I've been trying to elminiate hurry from my life lately. It is not an easy accomplishment. I think this world is wired to be in a hurry and naturally, I've followed suit. The difficult thing for me is I don't want to feel left out. When friends are getting together, I want to be a part of it. If someone asks me if I'm free to hang out, my first impulse is to agree. I reason that I cannot impact the lives of others if I'm never involved in their lives. God, however, has been showing me that I cannot impact lives without time to simply "be still".
It is so easy to get wrapped up in the daily grind. There is so much to do. My mind spins. Everyone needs something. I have to be completely intentional if I am going to find time to "be still". And yet, it is so vital to my very being.
A huge part of why I lack self-control is for this very reason. I am a firm believer that self-control is an oxymoron. In and of myself, I cannot exercise control. The only way I can show self-control is when I am obedient to God and allow His Holy Spirit to control my actions. (Could that possibly be why it is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit?) On the days where I cannot rummage up enough food to satisfy my desires or fly off the handle at the smallest thing, I know I am in desperate need of God. I must find time to be still.
I'm learning that I cannot possibly hear His voice if I don't take time to listen. I'm learning that in order to listen, I cannot constantly have noise. The television blaring. The radio playing. The kids yelling. My own voice speaking. My thoughts whirling. I must spend time reading His Word. I must talk to Him and then spend time in quiet.
Last week I actually had a day where the little girls took a nap at the same time while my oldest was at school. My inital response was to grab a snack, flip the boob toob on and lay down on the couch. Having just had conversation with a friend the day prior about this very subject, however, I stopped myself. I felt physically exhausted, so I did plop myself on the couch. However, I listened to the quiet and thanked God for it. Then I closed my eyes and talked to my Creator. I was rested when them time came to answer the calling of "Mommy" again.
Finding rest in the stillness... I could use some more of it.
"Be still and know that I am God." ~ Psalm 46:10
It is so easy to get wrapped up in the daily grind. There is so much to do. My mind spins. Everyone needs something. I have to be completely intentional if I am going to find time to "be still". And yet, it is so vital to my very being.
A huge part of why I lack self-control is for this very reason. I am a firm believer that self-control is an oxymoron. In and of myself, I cannot exercise control. The only way I can show self-control is when I am obedient to God and allow His Holy Spirit to control my actions. (Could that possibly be why it is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit?) On the days where I cannot rummage up enough food to satisfy my desires or fly off the handle at the smallest thing, I know I am in desperate need of God. I must find time to be still.
I'm learning that I cannot possibly hear His voice if I don't take time to listen. I'm learning that in order to listen, I cannot constantly have noise. The television blaring. The radio playing. The kids yelling. My own voice speaking. My thoughts whirling. I must spend time reading His Word. I must talk to Him and then spend time in quiet.
Last week I actually had a day where the little girls took a nap at the same time while my oldest was at school. My inital response was to grab a snack, flip the boob toob on and lay down on the couch. Having just had conversation with a friend the day prior about this very subject, however, I stopped myself. I felt physically exhausted, so I did plop myself on the couch. However, I listened to the quiet and thanked God for it. Then I closed my eyes and talked to my Creator. I was rested when them time came to answer the calling of "Mommy" again.
Finding rest in the stillness... I could use some more of it.
"Be still and know that I am God." ~ Psalm 46:10
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