If you haven't read my post from a few days ago called "My road to Joy" yet, read it first...
I had a friend email me after my post on Joy...she said she felt bad for me because of the things I had to give and she wished she could give up more. My intent of talking about that was not for someone to feel bad or sad for me. My intent was to show that, money/contentment is not a problem for me and that I am accountable for giving up things...I guess listing things so that someone can't call me out on it. It made me remember other things I give up that don't bother me but do bother others (like she had said)...like I do my own pedicures, waxing, hair coloring...I still go to the same hair salon that I have gone to for like 15 years but I pushed back the dates I go (8 weeks instead of 6). It's not a big deal to me...it all comes down to what asked God has asked me to do, not what Brock has asked me to do. If you think of it like that, it's alot easier to give things up and sacrafice. I saw it asked this way "are you willing to suffer in order to bring about healing in the life of your husband?" and I ask this in everything I do now...I wouldn't call it suffering...it's not that deep, but you know what I mean. I thought about this and wondered, is there anything that is a big deal to me? I read something recently that said truly giving is something that is hard to give...it's a sacrafice...it hurts to give. I wondered if there were things that would be hard to give. My husband faithfully gives me money from his commission a couple of times a year. I am told to use it for me and the children for things we need/want. I buy what we need and if there is anything left over, I spoil myself and get something fun. Things I have used the money for are coach purses, ugg boats, etc. Would those things be hard to give up? Yes...yes they would. But I thought what if instead I put that extra money away towards giving to the needy or an adoption fund? Yep, that would be totally worth it!
I read in Mark this morning all kinds of things about giving such as the widow who gave all she had. It says in 12:43 "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is has given everything to the poor"...Everything...
This also Mark 10:25: "In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through an EYE OF A NEEDLE than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God" Wow, that's tough...and it goes onto say in Mark 10:29-31
"I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property-along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be greatest then"
And...Mark 10:21 "Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me".
Even last night the story I read to Reece was called "Charity Helps those in Need". It's a series of books about these character angels who help people on earth do what is right. The story starts off with a girl walking in the winter cold with her favorite scarf, hat, and gloves. The angel, Charity, tells her to give them to the poor girl waiting at the bus stop. The girl says "but their my favorite" and Charity says "Yes, I know...but the best gifts come from the heart". The little girl gives them to the poor girl at the bus stop and it deeply blesses her. Charity says at the end "When you see someone in need, do what you can to help them and you will received JOY in return".
Lots to think about...thinking about if I gave away some things that were my favorite...I would receive JOY in more ways than one...maybe not just as an emotion but in the form of a child :)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Day of the Dozer
On Saturday, I had a little date with Brody. We went to the Day of the Dozer at the Interstate Center where he could ride on different types of construction type vehicles. He absolutely loved it! It was a perfect way to prepare for his "construction" birthday party coming up next month!
He loved the construction hat and wore it the entire time we were there (an hour and a half or so)
He loved the construction hat and wore it the entire time we were there (an hour and a half or so)
The "driver" went around in circles in this thing like an amusement park ride
We waited in line for an hour to ride on the dozer...taking a milk break. Brody was so content the whole time we were there. He just sat in the stroller and watched everything.
Getting on the dozer...I had more pictures of this on my phone since my camera's battery died...guess you can't transfer those to your computer? He was all smiles on this one!
Park #12 - Ewing Park
Last year, I took the kids to a different park each week and did a little park review. I hadn't planned on doing anymore but we went to a park that we hadn't been to before so I thought I would put it on here.
We went to Ewing Park with some friends. It's a nice little park and it has a bathroom! I didn't go inside but it was an actual building and not a port a potty or a bush :) This park had a some really nice trails towards the back that we went exploring on. It's small and sweet and had plenty of shade and some sun spots too! It had a pavillion out front and also some picnic tables under the shade trees.
Here's the info I got from Bloomington Parks website - www.cityblm.org/parks
6.2 acre park located next to historic Ewing Castle in central Bloomington. Mature, native trees provide an excellent shaded area in the summer. Trail head to Hedge Apple Woods Natural Area.
1420 Towanda Avenue
•drinking fountain
•grills
•nature area
•picnic tables
•playground equipment
•restrooms
•shelter
•walking path
•6.2 acres
Pictures of us at the park
Cool stuff on the trails
A view of the park from the entrance to the trails (see, how big it is!)
We went to Ewing Park with some friends. It's a nice little park and it has a bathroom! I didn't go inside but it was an actual building and not a port a potty or a bush :) This park had a some really nice trails towards the back that we went exploring on. It's small and sweet and had plenty of shade and some sun spots too! It had a pavillion out front and also some picnic tables under the shade trees.
Here's the info I got from Bloomington Parks website - www.cityblm.org/parks
6.2 acre park located next to historic Ewing Castle in central Bloomington. Mature, native trees provide an excellent shaded area in the summer. Trail head to Hedge Apple Woods Natural Area.
1420 Towanda Avenue
•drinking fountain
•grills
•nature area
•picnic tables
•playground equipment
•restrooms
•shelter
•walking path
•6.2 acres
Pictures of us at the park
The girls walking on the trails
A view of the park from the entrance to the trails (see, how big it is!)
Leaving for McDonalds (with my piggy bank...I promise, you can ask Kim!)
My road to Joy
My road to Joy...it's not a road yet really...just a a small pathway that I know will turn into a road. Currently it is my road to Joy but am hoping that it soon will be OUR Journey to Joy. What's Joy, you ask? Not only an emotion but a name of a child...meaning being "joyful in the Lord" as an important duty. In modern times, it generally signifies the parents' joy in their new-born child, or with the intention of wishing her a happy life."
During the first week of August, adoption thoughts started flooding my head again (if you didn't know they were part of my thoughts, I recommend you reading this blog post first). I am not sure what triggered them but nonethelesss, they were there. It's not like I had forgotten about it or her...but I've been kind of sitting back and waiting to see how God works. During the last few months of just waiting on the Lord, I have been taking some time to take a good look at my life and the life of my family. God has been revealing some things that I need to change in my own life and in my household in order for us to move forward.
On Monday August 16th I woke up with a sore throat. I was feeling very overwhelmed...my house was a mess, my kids were a mess...everything was just a mess. I decided to check out my friend's blog since she put an update on facebook. Her post for that day was about how she feared the "a" word when she first felt God calling her to it. I did too...but it wasn't the adoption part, it was raising up another kid. Like her, I felt like surely He wasn't calling us to that...but the signs kept coming that this was His plan for her and that is how I feel about us. As I continued reading her post she said "adoption isn't easy but it's a joy-filled process" and she described a moment of rocking her adopted son for the first time. It dawned on me that I felt "joy-filled" back in November when I was rocking Brody and God revealed the name "Joy" to me at that time. I remember thinking J.O.Y...Jesus On You or Jesus Over You...Joy is like feeling Jesus over you...and if Joy is out there yet, I hope she feels that and knows that. (Joy is not the only name revealed so don't be surprise to hear me call her KJ).
While reading my friend's blog, she highly recommended another person's blog. So I clicked on it to check it out (http://www.buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/). As if thinking about adopting one wasn't enough, this lady has adopted 5 plus has 4 biological children. Her post for the day: "Reluctant husband part 1". What do you think that was about?? It's focus was on what role I play in my husband's reluctancy to adopt. Fortunatley for me I already knew that I had a big part in this, so it wasn't that hard of a hit for me. I was excited to see what she wrote. Here is some of it:
So let me ask you-
What if you changed?
What if instead of blaming your husband- you began to show him by your actions where your heart truly is?
What if you quit complaining about the laundry, grumbling about cleaning the house and cooking the meals? What if you quit spending money on things that have no heavenly value and started being content with the material things you have?
Or better yet, what if you downsized?
What if you learned to live on less so that you could give more?
What if YOU changed- instead of expecting your husband to?
And what if- after doing all of that- your life started looking different? What if you started being different. What if taking some of that pressure off of your husbands shoulders made your marriage stronger? What if you started not just showing up at church because you were taught you were supposed to- but started praying together as a couple and started seeking the heart of God?
And what if, after doing all of this, your husband quit feeling so reluctant?
So go ahead, sit down with your husband, take his hand and tell him how thankful you are that he is a protector and a provider. Listen to his heart and listen to his fears. Pray together, seek God and search His word. Ask Him to show you- ask Him to make His will clear.
I was thanking God for protecting me and my heart...it wasn't as bad as I thought. I was arleady on the road to doing some of these things! Phew...but there is still work to do. Luckily for me, the money/contentment is not an issue...it's not what I ask of from my husband. Sure there are a ton of things I could and probably should give up...and I am totally willing to. Many of you have seen me bring our family "piggy bank" to McDonalds just so I wouldn't have to ask my husband for more money. I ran out of the Mary Kay that I have used for 12 years and settled for some free stuff I got while couponing...my face is a mess but I did without it so I wouldn't have to ask for money. I am dying to buy a pair of sunglasses so I will stop having headaches when I play in the sun with the kids...I coupon...didn't have a cell phone for 2 years...the list could go on with the things I am willing to do without. We all have our struggles in life and in our marriages - mine is not contenment/money but there are many other things I need to work on (p.s. I have been known to complain and I'm not very good at thanking him and praising him for who he is.)
I went to bible study that evening feeling more overwhelmed. I listented to prayer request after prayer request on adoption and foster care. One lady was adopting her first and going through the process, one is adopting her 4th, others potentially adopting again. One lady shared a vision she had about children needing homes and how they are starting the process of foster care. Okay, Lord, I get it...I am suppose to do something here, right? I'm all for it...you have to MOVE in my husband though. As I was just a few minutes from home I was listening to Patty Dudley on the radio (WCIC, WIBI, etc). She's the host of What Matters Most from 7pm to midnight on family friendly radio stations all over Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, etc from what I can tell). This is what she was saying as I was pulling in the driveway (she sent me a copy via email): "Writing for Christianity Today, Pastor John Coulombe Allen Klein, notes the power of laughter and exhorts Christians to not turn into the proverbial "cranky grouch" as we age, but rather be known for our joy. After all, being saved into Christ, we—more than anyone else—have cause for joy and that joy should be a testament to the world." (thinking of this makes me think of not the emotion, but the child...how she could be a testament to the world...and we all have a cause for all the "Joys" out there...and how she is "our joy")
I sat in my car with my mouth wide open and tears streaming down my face. I laid down for bed and I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. My throat had turned from burning to scratchy and I knew those were the nights I am not able to sleep. I got up and thought I didn't want to waste any time. I searched the scriptures on the word Joy. I found this verse: "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" 1 The 5:16-18. Pray...that's what I'll do. So I prayed in the dark living room. Around 11:30, I heard Brody start to cry in his room. I figured if my throat was hurting then maybe he was starting not to feel well either. I scooped him up in his big monkey blanket and we rocked. I was so cozy wrapped up with him in the rocking chair and he was so still and peaceful. As I sat there rocking him, I remembered just 9 months before rocking him because he was sick (when the name Joy was revealed), I remember hearing....and seeing...and feeling JOY all around me. I thought of all the children out there that would love to have a blanket for comfort like Brody's...would love to have a mommy come in and rock them...would love to have someone to just care for them. I wondered what it would feel like to rock a child that wasn't biologically mine but was nonetheless given to me by God. I bet it would be just as joy-filled. I rocked...and rocked...and rocked.
I was dying to know exactly what Patty Dudley had said on the radio the night before. I couldn't stop thinking about it and how cool it would be to have it documented. On my way home from a meeting on Tuesday night, she was on the radio ago. She provided her toll free number which I called. I was prompted to leave a detailed message with phone and email address so I did. I didn't hear anything for one whole week - Tuesday August 24th. I received a call from Patty Dudley personally! She asked if she could hear my story (I had mentioned a short version on my message) and record it for use later on the air. To hear the edited version see the right hand side of my blog for the clip. There were a couple of parts left out but this is what would be played on the air.
I have had this post saved as a draft for nearly a week. I was waiting to post it until I could get the information from Patty. I just recieved the article/quote on "joy" that Patty was talking about that night and also our audio clip/interview that is on this blog post. Very excited to see what happens next!
1 The 5:16 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus"
During the first week of August, adoption thoughts started flooding my head again (if you didn't know they were part of my thoughts, I recommend you reading this blog post first). I am not sure what triggered them but nonethelesss, they were there. It's not like I had forgotten about it or her...but I've been kind of sitting back and waiting to see how God works. During the last few months of just waiting on the Lord, I have been taking some time to take a good look at my life and the life of my family. God has been revealing some things that I need to change in my own life and in my household in order for us to move forward.
On Monday August 16th I woke up with a sore throat. I was feeling very overwhelmed...my house was a mess, my kids were a mess...everything was just a mess. I decided to check out my friend's blog since she put an update on facebook. Her post for that day was about how she feared the "a" word when she first felt God calling her to it. I did too...but it wasn't the adoption part, it was raising up another kid. Like her, I felt like surely He wasn't calling us to that...but the signs kept coming that this was His plan for her and that is how I feel about us. As I continued reading her post she said "adoption isn't easy but it's a joy-filled process" and she described a moment of rocking her adopted son for the first time. It dawned on me that I felt "joy-filled" back in November when I was rocking Brody and God revealed the name "Joy" to me at that time. I remember thinking J.O.Y...Jesus On You or Jesus Over You...Joy is like feeling Jesus over you...and if Joy is out there yet, I hope she feels that and knows that. (Joy is not the only name revealed so don't be surprise to hear me call her KJ).
While reading my friend's blog, she highly recommended another person's blog. So I clicked on it to check it out (http://www.buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/). As if thinking about adopting one wasn't enough, this lady has adopted 5 plus has 4 biological children. Her post for the day: "Reluctant husband part 1". What do you think that was about?? It's focus was on what role I play in my husband's reluctancy to adopt. Fortunatley for me I already knew that I had a big part in this, so it wasn't that hard of a hit for me. I was excited to see what she wrote. Here is some of it:
So let me ask you-
What if you changed?
What if instead of blaming your husband- you began to show him by your actions where your heart truly is?
What if you quit complaining about the laundry, grumbling about cleaning the house and cooking the meals? What if you quit spending money on things that have no heavenly value and started being content with the material things you have?
Or better yet, what if you downsized?
What if you learned to live on less so that you could give more?
What if YOU changed- instead of expecting your husband to?
And what if- after doing all of that- your life started looking different? What if you started being different. What if taking some of that pressure off of your husbands shoulders made your marriage stronger? What if you started not just showing up at church because you were taught you were supposed to- but started praying together as a couple and started seeking the heart of God?
And what if, after doing all of this, your husband quit feeling so reluctant?
So go ahead, sit down with your husband, take his hand and tell him how thankful you are that he is a protector and a provider. Listen to his heart and listen to his fears. Pray together, seek God and search His word. Ask Him to show you- ask Him to make His will clear.
I was thanking God for protecting me and my heart...it wasn't as bad as I thought. I was arleady on the road to doing some of these things! Phew...but there is still work to do. Luckily for me, the money/contentment is not an issue...it's not what I ask of from my husband. Sure there are a ton of things I could and probably should give up...and I am totally willing to. Many of you have seen me bring our family "piggy bank" to McDonalds just so I wouldn't have to ask my husband for more money. I ran out of the Mary Kay that I have used for 12 years and settled for some free stuff I got while couponing...my face is a mess but I did without it so I wouldn't have to ask for money. I am dying to buy a pair of sunglasses so I will stop having headaches when I play in the sun with the kids...I coupon...didn't have a cell phone for 2 years...the list could go on with the things I am willing to do without. We all have our struggles in life and in our marriages - mine is not contenment/money but there are many other things I need to work on (p.s. I have been known to complain and I'm not very good at thanking him and praising him for who he is.)
I went to bible study that evening feeling more overwhelmed. I listented to prayer request after prayer request on adoption and foster care. One lady was adopting her first and going through the process, one is adopting her 4th, others potentially adopting again. One lady shared a vision she had about children needing homes and how they are starting the process of foster care. Okay, Lord, I get it...I am suppose to do something here, right? I'm all for it...you have to MOVE in my husband though. As I was just a few minutes from home I was listening to Patty Dudley on the radio (WCIC, WIBI, etc). She's the host of What Matters Most from 7pm to midnight on family friendly radio stations all over Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, etc from what I can tell). This is what she was saying as I was pulling in the driveway (she sent me a copy via email): "Writing for Christianity Today, Pastor John Coulombe Allen Klein, notes the power of laughter and exhorts Christians to not turn into the proverbial "cranky grouch" as we age, but rather be known for our joy. After all, being saved into Christ, we—more than anyone else—have cause for joy and that joy should be a testament to the world." (thinking of this makes me think of not the emotion, but the child...how she could be a testament to the world...and we all have a cause for all the "Joys" out there...and how she is "our joy")
I sat in my car with my mouth wide open and tears streaming down my face. I laid down for bed and I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. My throat had turned from burning to scratchy and I knew those were the nights I am not able to sleep. I got up and thought I didn't want to waste any time. I searched the scriptures on the word Joy. I found this verse: "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" 1 The 5:16-18. Pray...that's what I'll do. So I prayed in the dark living room. Around 11:30, I heard Brody start to cry in his room. I figured if my throat was hurting then maybe he was starting not to feel well either. I scooped him up in his big monkey blanket and we rocked. I was so cozy wrapped up with him in the rocking chair and he was so still and peaceful. As I sat there rocking him, I remembered just 9 months before rocking him because he was sick (when the name Joy was revealed), I remember hearing....and seeing...and feeling JOY all around me. I thought of all the children out there that would love to have a blanket for comfort like Brody's...would love to have a mommy come in and rock them...would love to have someone to just care for them. I wondered what it would feel like to rock a child that wasn't biologically mine but was nonetheless given to me by God. I bet it would be just as joy-filled. I rocked...and rocked...and rocked.
I was dying to know exactly what Patty Dudley had said on the radio the night before. I couldn't stop thinking about it and how cool it would be to have it documented. On my way home from a meeting on Tuesday night, she was on the radio ago. She provided her toll free number which I called. I was prompted to leave a detailed message with phone and email address so I did. I didn't hear anything for one whole week - Tuesday August 24th. I received a call from Patty Dudley personally! She asked if she could hear my story (I had mentioned a short version on my message) and record it for use later on the air. To hear the edited version see the right hand side of my blog for the clip. There were a couple of parts left out but this is what would be played on the air.
I have had this post saved as a draft for nearly a week. I was waiting to post it until I could get the information from Patty. I just recieved the article/quote on "joy" that Patty was talking about that night and also our audio clip/interview that is on this blog post. Very excited to see what happens next!
1 The 5:16 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus"
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Grandparents Day Lesson
Today, Reece and Brody are going to spend the day with grandma (better known as mimi and papa). So I thought it would be appropriate to do a lesson on grandparents. This was not an easy task!! How fitting though that I discovered Grandparents day is coming up on Sept 12th!
I could not find any stories about a grandparent in the bible (please let me know if you know of anything). The only thing I found was the story of Naomi and Ruth which is kind of stretching it for a story. I found this insight on Annie's site (http://www.annieshomepage.com/):
"The story that comes to mind when I think about grandparents and the bible is the story of Ruth. Grandparents don't have to be grandparents by blood to feel like family. ...in the beginning Naomi moved with her husband and 2 sons to an unknown land. The people didn't worship their God. Her two sons married women of a different culture and faith but she loved them as if they were her own daughters. It is not always the norm to have a mother in law treat her daughter in law as a daughter but it does happen and when it does it is a true blessing for both women. They were not bonded by blood but by the love of a mother for her son and the love of a wife for her husband. What an amazing grandmother she must have been!" Very much a true story in my life!
I searched and searched for a children's version of the story of Ruth and Naomi online (like 1.5 hours...good thing I get up early). I really didn't find anything I thought was age appropriate for Reece. I found this one (click here) that I thought was good but mostly because of the pictures. I knew Reece only being 3.5 that this was probably over her head but we went through it anyways...its a good routine for us anyhow and it's getting the bible (stories, names, etc) in front of her. I tried to show the comparison of Ruth to me (another long stretch) and Naomi to her Mimi. I think that was way confusing for her!
Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 1:1-7; 3:10-17
Concept: God gave me grandparents who love me and help me learn about Jesus.
We made this card (click here) to give to Mimi today and put the following verse in it:
2 Tim 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother...and in your mother...and, I am persuaded now lives in you also."
Deut 4:9. "Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them"
For adults, I thought this was a very interesting biblical sermon/speech on grandparents and their roles in our children's live (click here)!
I could not find any stories about a grandparent in the bible (please let me know if you know of anything). The only thing I found was the story of Naomi and Ruth which is kind of stretching it for a story. I found this insight on Annie's site (http://www.annieshomepage.com/):
"The story that comes to mind when I think about grandparents and the bible is the story of Ruth. Grandparents don't have to be grandparents by blood to feel like family. ...in the beginning Naomi moved with her husband and 2 sons to an unknown land. The people didn't worship their God. Her two sons married women of a different culture and faith but she loved them as if they were her own daughters. It is not always the norm to have a mother in law treat her daughter in law as a daughter but it does happen and when it does it is a true blessing for both women. They were not bonded by blood but by the love of a mother for her son and the love of a wife for her husband. What an amazing grandmother she must have been!" Very much a true story in my life!
I searched and searched for a children's version of the story of Ruth and Naomi online (like 1.5 hours...good thing I get up early). I really didn't find anything I thought was age appropriate for Reece. I found this one (click here) that I thought was good but mostly because of the pictures. I knew Reece only being 3.5 that this was probably over her head but we went through it anyways...its a good routine for us anyhow and it's getting the bible (stories, names, etc) in front of her. I tried to show the comparison of Ruth to me (another long stretch) and Naomi to her Mimi. I think that was way confusing for her!
Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 1:1-7; 3:10-17
Concept: God gave me grandparents who love me and help me learn about Jesus.
We made this card (click here) to give to Mimi today and put the following verse in it:
2 Tim 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother...and in your mother...and, I am persuaded now lives in you also."
Deut 4:9. "Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them"
For adults, I thought this was a very interesting biblical sermon/speech on grandparents and their roles in our children's live (click here)!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Teaching little hearts
It's been on my heart and mind for several months to teach my children more about God. I definitley want my children to know how important God is in my life and how we should live by His example. I have been struggling with how to do this. I have been searching high and low for a one stop shop sort of place that has what I am looking for. My ideal "curriculum" would be a short story with some sort of picture or image for them to look at, a corresponding craft/color sheet, and a life application. I still have not found it. Everything I look at is too long and overwhelming for kids my age (in my opinion). So I have started one of my own and just making it up as I go along. I am open to suggestions on things you all have used or are using. For now the plan is to do this just twice a week, but finding ways the rest of the week revealing Christ to my children. So I started today and thought I would share what we did.
I began thinking of popular bible stories and came across the good Samaritan story. I did a search online (in which I won swagbucks as well - super bonus) and found this short story which is attached to the color sheet (see here). I like this one because I could read her this short story and she had a visual. We talked about the things in the picture. Then when we were done, she could color the picture (since Brody has been getting up early still this was a great activity for them to do while I was in the shower).
Life application - I began thinking of all the people we know who are hurt. I talked to Reece about how we should take care of those who are hurt...people we know and also people we don't know. She remembered her friend Lauren who got hurt at the park on Friday. She remembered "there was blood"...and I talked to her about how people helped them at the park kind of like the story about the Good Samaritan. We found this simple card online(see here)..I had her put a band-aid on the head of the picture (where Lauren's injury was). Then I had her color the rest and put stickers on it. We glued the picture/card to a yellow piece of construction paper and folded it up like a card. We wrote to Lauren how we learned about the good Samaritan and how it is good to take care of those we know and even those we don't. We included this bible verse Luke 10:33-34 "But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him."
I really wanted to emphasis how important it is that we also take care of and love others even when we don't know them personally. So we duplicated the card, included the picture and story of the good Samaritan and sent it to the Children's Hospital. We are hoping it blesses a hurt or sick child there!
Our prayer for today:
Dear God, help me to be kind today even if
people are not kind to me. Help me to do what
You want me to do. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"Knowledge comes from the mind, but wisdom comes from the heart" ~Beth Moore
I began thinking of popular bible stories and came across the good Samaritan story. I did a search online (in which I won swagbucks as well - super bonus) and found this short story which is attached to the color sheet (see here). I like this one because I could read her this short story and she had a visual. We talked about the things in the picture. Then when we were done, she could color the picture (since Brody has been getting up early still this was a great activity for them to do while I was in the shower).
Life application - I began thinking of all the people we know who are hurt. I talked to Reece about how we should take care of those who are hurt...people we know and also people we don't know. She remembered her friend Lauren who got hurt at the park on Friday. She remembered "there was blood"...and I talked to her about how people helped them at the park kind of like the story about the Good Samaritan. We found this simple card online(see here)..I had her put a band-aid on the head of the picture (where Lauren's injury was). Then I had her color the rest and put stickers on it. We glued the picture/card to a yellow piece of construction paper and folded it up like a card. We wrote to Lauren how we learned about the good Samaritan and how it is good to take care of those we know and even those we don't. We included this bible verse Luke 10:33-34 "But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him."
I really wanted to emphasis how important it is that we also take care of and love others even when we don't know them personally. So we duplicated the card, included the picture and story of the good Samaritan and sent it to the Children's Hospital. We are hoping it blesses a hurt or sick child there!
Our prayer for today:
Dear God, help me to be kind today even if
people are not kind to me. Help me to do what
You want me to do. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"Knowledge comes from the mind, but wisdom comes from the heart" ~Beth Moore
Danvers Days
This past weekend was Danvers Days. If you don't know what that is, it's a small town less than 10 miles from us who was having their yearly parade, carnival and other festivities. In the morning, I ran my first 5K! That was pretty fun! The kids were there with daddy cheering me on as I crossed the finish line. I think I got my best time which was 24.30 (7.54 min/mile). I was shocked when I got to mile one marker and the timer shouting out times said 7:45 for my first mile. I wish I had some pictures of that but all I got was one of me after the race when I was tired and sweaty....so I'll pass on sharing that one. Maybe next time! I might do another one in the fall.
In the afternoon, the kids and I participated in the parade on the Rader Farms Pumpkin Patch float. It was HOT. Then we went over and the let the kids go on a couple of rides before going home.
In the afternoon, the kids and I participated in the parade on the Rader Farms Pumpkin Patch float. It was HOT. Then we went over and the let the kids go on a couple of rides before going home.
Singing something...
Can you FLY?
When we were outside just before nap a couple of days ago, the kids went behind the back garage. This is sort of a no, no place as we never know what is hiding back there (animals, poison ivy, etc). The kids were only back there for a second when I hear Reece say "mommy, come here...we found something...we wanna show you you something". When I got back there Reece says "look...there's a bird here. I think he's dead but I touched him". I came up slowly and could tell the bird was breathing but he had his head tucked under him. I poked him gently with a stick and he picked up his head. His beak was caught in his foot somehow and his wing appeard to be broken. Seeing us, he frantically moved about until his beak was loosened. He took a couple of steps and flew into the tree. Reece say "Look, he's not dead...he's alive! We saved him!"
Yesterday, we decided to go back and see if we could find the bird again. We wanted to be sure he was okay. We went back and looked around for a long time and we couldn't find him. We assume he is okay but we just don't know.
It reminded me of how we as Christains want to "save" the people in our lives and check it off our list. We rarely go back and check on them and see how they are living their lives...this thing called discipleship that I have been talking about. In cetain situations, this won't be able to happen. We talked to someone at the grocery store but we didn't get their name and number. We have to be okay with being a planter of the seed and know that God will bring others into their lives to help them grow. We can't help "grow" everyone but we should attempt to disciple the ones that we do know where they are (where they live, work, etc). "Saving" someone isn't just a task on our "to-do" list. But how many of us have been told or heard that all that is required is a one-time decision? And then at that point we have our ticket to heaven and can live how we want on earth and it will be tolerated and forgiven along the way? I know that is always the way I understood it. The bible says we are not just saved to be forgiven of our sins and enter eternity in heaven, but we are saved to know God. David Platt talks in his book "Radical" about disinfecting people as opposed to discipling them. David says (the next several paragraphs are all quotes)
"Disinfecting Christians from the world involves isolating followers of Christ in a spiritual safe-deposit box called the church building and teaching them to be good. In this strategy, success in the chruch is defined by how big a building you have to house all the Christians, and the goal is to gather as many people as possible for a couple of hours each week in that place where we are isolated and insulaterd from the realities of the world around us. When someone asks, "Where is your church?" we point them to a building or give them an address, and everything centers around what happens at that location.
When we gather at the building, we learn to be good. Being good is defined by what we avoid in the world. We are holy because of what we don't participate in (and at this point we may be the only organization in the world defining success by what we don't do). We live decent lives in decent homes with decent jobs and decent families as decent citizens. We are decent church menbers with little more impact on the world than we had before we were saved. Though thousands may join us, ultimately we have turned a deaf ear to billions who haven't even heard his name.
Discipling is much different.
Whearas disinfecting Chiristians involves isolating them and teaching them to be good, discipling Christians involves propelling Christiains into the world to risk their lives for the sake of others. Now the world is our focus, and we guage success in the church on the hundreds or thousands who are leaving our buildings to take on the world with the disciples they are making. In this case, we would never think that the disciple-making plan of Jesus could take place in one service a week at one location led by one or two teachers. Disciple making takes place multiple times every week in multiple locations by an army of men and women sharing, showing, and teach the Word of Christ and together serving a world in need of Christ.
All of a sudden, holiness is defined by what we do. We are now a community of fatih taking Jesus at his word and following His plan, even when it does not make sense to the culture around us and even when it costs us.
In the process we are realizing that we actually were intended to reach the world for the glory of Christ, and we are discovering that the purpose for which we were created is accessible to everyone of us...A community of Christians each multiplying the gospel by going, baptizing, and teaching the contexts where they live every day. Is anything else, according to the Bible, even considered a church?"
Wow! I have never heard it said like that in all of my life. I know it was a long quote but it is way to powerful to keep to myself. So how about you? Are you disinfecting or discipling? Are you helping others to fly and to keep flying? You never know how you could be a blessing to someone by just checking in...they might be tangled in their feet....their wing might be broken. But you are not there just to "save" them from that mess...you are there to get them on their feet, help them fly, and help them multiply!
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths will grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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: 29-31
Yesterday, we decided to go back and see if we could find the bird again. We wanted to be sure he was okay. We went back and looked around for a long time and we couldn't find him. We assume he is okay but we just don't know.
It reminded me of how we as Christains want to "save" the people in our lives and check it off our list. We rarely go back and check on them and see how they are living their lives...this thing called discipleship that I have been talking about. In cetain situations, this won't be able to happen. We talked to someone at the grocery store but we didn't get their name and number. We have to be okay with being a planter of the seed and know that God will bring others into their lives to help them grow. We can't help "grow" everyone but we should attempt to disciple the ones that we do know where they are (where they live, work, etc). "Saving" someone isn't just a task on our "to-do" list. But how many of us have been told or heard that all that is required is a one-time decision? And then at that point we have our ticket to heaven and can live how we want on earth and it will be tolerated and forgiven along the way? I know that is always the way I understood it. The bible says we are not just saved to be forgiven of our sins and enter eternity in heaven, but we are saved to know God. David Platt talks in his book "Radical" about disinfecting people as opposed to discipling them. David says (the next several paragraphs are all quotes)
"Disinfecting Christians from the world involves isolating followers of Christ in a spiritual safe-deposit box called the church building and teaching them to be good. In this strategy, success in the chruch is defined by how big a building you have to house all the Christians, and the goal is to gather as many people as possible for a couple of hours each week in that place where we are isolated and insulaterd from the realities of the world around us. When someone asks, "Where is your church?" we point them to a building or give them an address, and everything centers around what happens at that location.
When we gather at the building, we learn to be good. Being good is defined by what we avoid in the world. We are holy because of what we don't participate in (and at this point we may be the only organization in the world defining success by what we don't do). We live decent lives in decent homes with decent jobs and decent families as decent citizens. We are decent church menbers with little more impact on the world than we had before we were saved. Though thousands may join us, ultimately we have turned a deaf ear to billions who haven't even heard his name.
Discipling is much different.
Whearas disinfecting Chiristians involves isolating them and teaching them to be good, discipling Christians involves propelling Christiains into the world to risk their lives for the sake of others. Now the world is our focus, and we guage success in the church on the hundreds or thousands who are leaving our buildings to take on the world with the disciples they are making. In this case, we would never think that the disciple-making plan of Jesus could take place in one service a week at one location led by one or two teachers. Disciple making takes place multiple times every week in multiple locations by an army of men and women sharing, showing, and teach the Word of Christ and together serving a world in need of Christ.
All of a sudden, holiness is defined by what we do. We are now a community of fatih taking Jesus at his word and following His plan, even when it does not make sense to the culture around us and even when it costs us.
In the process we are realizing that we actually were intended to reach the world for the glory of Christ, and we are discovering that the purpose for which we were created is accessible to everyone of us...A community of Christians each multiplying the gospel by going, baptizing, and teaching the contexts where they live every day. Is anything else, according to the Bible, even considered a church?"
Wow! I have never heard it said like that in all of my life. I know it was a long quote but it is way to powerful to keep to myself. So how about you? Are you disinfecting or discipling? Are you helping others to fly and to keep flying? You never know how you could be a blessing to someone by just checking in...they might be tangled in their feet....their wing might be broken. But you are not there just to "save" them from that mess...you are there to get them on their feet, help them fly, and help them multiply!
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths will grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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: 29-31
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
A work in progress...
As I sit in front of this blank sheet I am thinking "where do I begin?" My head is spinning and racing with things to write. I know it has been awhile. We have been super busy and I have been very overwhelmed. I know that God does not want that for my life...He brings peace. I finally get to a point where I am not sleeping and this is when I know that God has something for me. He doesn't want that non-sleeping period to go to waste...it's a time where He wants me to seek hard after Him to find out what He wants. I use to get so irritated and mad that I was losing sleep. Now when this happens I am excited to see what He will reveal to me in the end of it all! Last night was one of those nights. I didn't fall asleep before 2am and I was up at 5:30am. As I sit here writing, my kids are napping and I plan to also. But I know I will not sleep if I do not have some release of some of the things God has been revealing to me.
Our computer caught a virus and it's times such as then that I am thankful for a blog that I can document all my thoughts, learnings, etc through His teaching. That is also the reason I haven't updated any pictures of the kids as well. Thankfully, I had just finished burning the past 3 months of pictures onto discs (something I do every 3 months), so all those are saved. I will try and update some pictures of them soon!
Since I've written last, I have finished the book "Radical" and started a book called "The Creative Counterpart". While one book was showing me how deeply I have failed as a Christian, the other one is showing me how deeply I fail at being a good wife to my husband and mother to my children. After reading these, I started feeling like I haven't been doing a whole lot right...and wondering what in the world have I been doing in my life all this time. I know it's time to do something but am getting lost at wear to start. And to add to the mix, the Lord brought adoption to me once again just last week through all this week (I'll be writing about this more very soon). Why would he trust me with some little girl's life when I can't even handle these other things He has called us all to do? There are many, many things I need to work on in my life. Although many of them will not be visable to you when you see me next, I am working on them on the inside and am hoping by doing this, you'll see the changes on the outside.
One thing that has been reoccuring lately in my life, is the need to share the gospel with others. The book "Radical" talks in depth about this and the speaker that came to our church on Sunday (Mark Cahill) also shared about this. The question we must ask is "Where am I going when I die?" or "Where are others going when they die?" And should and do we care where we all go? The bible says we should care and we should do something about it. None of our earthly treasures matter if we do not have the eternal treasure of going to heaven. Matthew 16:26 "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" There was one thing that jumped out on the page in the book "Radical" yesterday. At one time in his life, the author David Platt was struggling with whether to just send money or actually go on the mission trip to Sudan. The money it was going to cost him was more than he would be bringing with him when he went so he had to wrestle with some questions. What would they use the money for if he just sent it? What did the people there need most? The money? or his discipleship? He writes "I was immediately reminded that when God chose to bring slavation to you and me, he did not send gold or silver, cash or check. He sent himself - to Son....How will I ever show the gospel to the world if all I send is my money? Was I really so shallow as to think that my money is the answer to the needs in the world?" What I have been learning is that we can and should send money (give to the poor) but we should also go to the poor...the needy...not just poor in material needs but poor in spiritual needs...not just starvation from food but starvation from the truth of God's word...God wants us to not only share the gospel with people around us and in our own community, but he's also called us all to go to all nations. In all of my life, I have not done either of these things! And I called myself a Christian? I am a horrible example. So, I am ready for it...I want to go somewhere and share the news...and I want to go here in Bloomington/Normal and do it also! I want to set aside money for a specific purpose...pray for the world (operationworld.org). I don't have a total game plan yet, but I will be going on a mission trip in 2011 if not before! And I will be doing something radical in Bloomington/Normal! Just praying that God will make those two things very clear! Who wants to join me?!
Another quote from "Radical": "Going starts where we live, but it doesn't stop there...If there are a billion people who have never heard the gospel and billions of others who still have not recieved the gospel (and someone who dies every 2 seconds according to Mark Cahill), then we have the obligation to go to them. This is not an option. This is a command, not a calling. What is a matter of calling is where we will go and how long we will stay. We will not all go to the same places, and we will not all stay the sentlgth of time. But it is clearly the will of God for us to take the gospel to the nations."
Today at lunch when I was at an emotional high (or was it low?) for the day and about to fall asleep on my chicken wrap, my daughter started singing a song that I hadn't heard in months. It's not on the radio so I know she wouldn't have heard it there. She sings the lyrics by Travis Cottrell "I will shout...I will sing. Jesus you're my everything!" She couldn't remember all the words so I got that CD out and popped it in and cried like a baby...I am hoping this link works so you can hear the song: My Inheritance
"You''re my treasure, my inheritance...
I am rich. I am blessed.
In Your love and faithfulness.
You're my treasure and forever...you are my inheritance
What is silver and and gold
Or anything I could hold
Compared to You, Compared to You
What is fame and success, it's all vain emptiness
Compared to You, Compared to You
All that You hold in store, is all that I want, O Lord
I will shout, I will sing
Jesus, You're my everything
You're my treausre, my inheritance
I am rich, I am blessed
In Your love and faithfulness
You're my treasure and forever
You are my inheritance
My name has been changed
From sinner to saint
Because of You, because of You
Now You call me Your own
I know Heaven's my home
Because of You, because of You
All that you hold in store is all that I want, O Lord."
(Side note: When I started writing today, I thought it was going to be about adoption stuff I had on my mind and heart and it turned into this. Not at all what I saw coming! )
Our computer caught a virus and it's times such as then that I am thankful for a blog that I can document all my thoughts, learnings, etc through His teaching. That is also the reason I haven't updated any pictures of the kids as well. Thankfully, I had just finished burning the past 3 months of pictures onto discs (something I do every 3 months), so all those are saved. I will try and update some pictures of them soon!
Since I've written last, I have finished the book "Radical" and started a book called "The Creative Counterpart". While one book was showing me how deeply I have failed as a Christian, the other one is showing me how deeply I fail at being a good wife to my husband and mother to my children. After reading these, I started feeling like I haven't been doing a whole lot right...and wondering what in the world have I been doing in my life all this time. I know it's time to do something but am getting lost at wear to start. And to add to the mix, the Lord brought adoption to me once again just last week through all this week (I'll be writing about this more very soon). Why would he trust me with some little girl's life when I can't even handle these other things He has called us all to do? There are many, many things I need to work on in my life. Although many of them will not be visable to you when you see me next, I am working on them on the inside and am hoping by doing this, you'll see the changes on the outside.
One thing that has been reoccuring lately in my life, is the need to share the gospel with others. The book "Radical" talks in depth about this and the speaker that came to our church on Sunday (Mark Cahill) also shared about this. The question we must ask is "Where am I going when I die?" or "Where are others going when they die?" And should and do we care where we all go? The bible says we should care and we should do something about it. None of our earthly treasures matter if we do not have the eternal treasure of going to heaven. Matthew 16:26 "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" There was one thing that jumped out on the page in the book "Radical" yesterday. At one time in his life, the author David Platt was struggling with whether to just send money or actually go on the mission trip to Sudan. The money it was going to cost him was more than he would be bringing with him when he went so he had to wrestle with some questions. What would they use the money for if he just sent it? What did the people there need most? The money? or his discipleship? He writes "I was immediately reminded that when God chose to bring slavation to you and me, he did not send gold or silver, cash or check. He sent himself - to Son....How will I ever show the gospel to the world if all I send is my money? Was I really so shallow as to think that my money is the answer to the needs in the world?" What I have been learning is that we can and should send money (give to the poor) but we should also go to the poor...the needy...not just poor in material needs but poor in spiritual needs...not just starvation from food but starvation from the truth of God's word...God wants us to not only share the gospel with people around us and in our own community, but he's also called us all to go to all nations. In all of my life, I have not done either of these things! And I called myself a Christian? I am a horrible example. So, I am ready for it...I want to go somewhere and share the news...and I want to go here in Bloomington/Normal and do it also! I want to set aside money for a specific purpose...pray for the world (operationworld.org). I don't have a total game plan yet, but I will be going on a mission trip in 2011 if not before! And I will be doing something radical in Bloomington/Normal! Just praying that God will make those two things very clear! Who wants to join me?!
Another quote from "Radical": "Going starts where we live, but it doesn't stop there...If there are a billion people who have never heard the gospel and billions of others who still have not recieved the gospel (and someone who dies every 2 seconds according to Mark Cahill), then we have the obligation to go to them. This is not an option. This is a command, not a calling. What is a matter of calling is where we will go and how long we will stay. We will not all go to the same places, and we will not all stay the sentlgth of time. But it is clearly the will of God for us to take the gospel to the nations."
Today at lunch when I was at an emotional high (or was it low?) for the day and about to fall asleep on my chicken wrap, my daughter started singing a song that I hadn't heard in months. It's not on the radio so I know she wouldn't have heard it there. She sings the lyrics by Travis Cottrell "I will shout...I will sing. Jesus you're my everything!" She couldn't remember all the words so I got that CD out and popped it in and cried like a baby...I am hoping this link works so you can hear the song: My Inheritance
"You''re my treasure, my inheritance...
I am rich. I am blessed.
In Your love and faithfulness.
You're my treasure and forever...you are my inheritance
What is silver and and gold
Or anything I could hold
Compared to You, Compared to You
What is fame and success, it's all vain emptiness
Compared to You, Compared to You
All that You hold in store, is all that I want, O Lord
I will shout, I will sing
Jesus, You're my everything
You're my treausre, my inheritance
I am rich, I am blessed
In Your love and faithfulness
You're my treasure and forever
You are my inheritance
My name has been changed
From sinner to saint
Because of You, because of You
Now You call me Your own
I know Heaven's my home
Because of You, because of You
All that you hold in store is all that I want, O Lord."
(Side note: When I started writing today, I thought it was going to be about adoption stuff I had on my mind and heart and it turned into this. Not at all what I saw coming! )
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