Giving thanks, 26 - 35

26.  Being the safe place for my boys.
27. sweet smiles and “talking”, even if it is a 4:30 AM
28. dancing and clapping at the Veggie Tales theme song.
29. Sweet curly hair on my youngest
30. Pepto bismol.  No further comment.
31. Amy, from Mom’s Toolbox
32. The community of Believers worldwide
33. Skype - reuniting me with a dear friend from college, and keeping me connected with dear friends in Asia
34. Veggie Tales -- quality kids programming that teaches Biblical truths-- with catchy, adorable songs!
35. Snuggles, even if they interrupt my planned quiet time.

Blogging through the #Gospels: John 12- No one is beyond redemption.

Blogging through the Gospels with Amy, from Mom's Toolbox.

Reading:  John 12

Scripture:  John 12: 4-6

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

Observations:


Judas is called a thief by John.  For him it was hindsight.  After the betrayal it all made sense.

But Jesus knew exactly who Judas was.
Think about his chosen 12.  He had a tax collector, someone that he knew was a thief, and would eventually betray him.  Many of them were simple fishermen.

Application:


I find it so comforting that Jesus used ordinary people in his ministry.

And I find it so convicting that he deliberately chose  the people that everyone else counted as beyond significance, beyond redemption.

Help me, Lord, to see people with your eyes, and not my own.

Prayer:


Lord,
You are so overwhelming.
Give me patience with my sons today.
Give me the eyes to see their hearts in the middle of the struggles.

Help me remember the truths that you showed me today when I encounter people.  No one is beyond redemption.


Amen.

Giving thanks, 1 - 25

This is something that I have always intended to start doing, but never started.  I think the reason is that many bloggers that I follow post their "thanks" on Mondays, and I am so ridiculous when it comes to schedules.  So....  I am going to try to do it often. Whenever I am motivated.

It is all because of Ann Voskamp, and my friend Valerie.

1. The internet.  No really -- so many inspiring things to read, people to meet, resources.
2. Nap time that goes as planned.
3. Matchbox and Hotwheels cars that keep an almost 5 year old entertained.
4. L's that still are pronounced W's
5. My Mimi's ring:

6. And also from the picture - my favorite Starbucks coffee mug.
7. Our fabulous deck.
8. Our new home, which feels more like home every day.
9. The ability to cry out of gratitude, when life is beautiful.
10. Internet radio
11. Coffee.
12. Having my bookshelf right out in the open
13. Watching my youngest son dance (in rhythm) to Veggie Tales and Thomas
14. The way You speak to me...
15. Sunrises -- I have seen every one this week!
16. Accountability.... a dear friend calling to see if I had been getting up early to get my time in the Word before the bustle of the day begins.
17. The joy-filled laughter of my 15 month old
18. Ticklish legs, ribs, feet, necks, tummies....
19. Imagination
20. Sharing the end of my "pray time with Jesus" with my snuggly big boy
21. My pink nalgene water bottle
22. Realizing that I can pray for a heart to enjoy the things that I don't enjoy. (Cleaning being #1!)
23. My mom and dad.
24. Being able to put our artwork back up on the walls
25. Local bakery that is also our local Vietnamese restaurant = yummy pastries this morning, and a delicious dinner last night

Blogging through the #Gospels: True Compassion. John 11

Blogging through the Gospels with Amy, from Mom's Toolbox.

Reading:   John 11

Scripture:


 While I spent a good deal of time researching verse 51 -- Caiaphas "prophesying," and all of that, it was not the verse that spoke to me again today, as nearly every time I read this chapter.

John 11: 35

Jesus wept.


Observations:


Mary and Martha are like sisters to Jesus.
Lazarus was like a brother.
Yet, he stayed away two more days after receiving the word that Lazarus ill.
By the time He and his disciples actually arrived back in Judea, Lazarus had indeed passed away, and had been in the tomb four days.

Separately the sisters run to Him, mourning and crying out that if He had been there, Lazarus would still be alive.

Even knowing what He was about to do -- even though He knew that in moments the tears of mourning would become tears of happiness, His heart still moved for the pain of His people.

Application:

When we lost our second child in the early stages of pregnancy, through the worst sequence of events that I could have ever imagined, I felt Him.  I prayed for Him to spare my child.  I prayed for everything to miraculously be set right.  I wept. Oh how I wept.   And when the dust settled after the words "ectopic pregnancy" were introduced, I could feel Jesus sustaining me.  And when the tears came again, I knew that He was weeping with me, for my grief, wishing that He could take it from me.

When a loved one suffers from cancer- Jesus is there.

When a baby is a victim of SIDS - Jesus is there.

When natural disasters strike, and all is lost - Jesus is there.

We can understand being comforted in situations beyond our control.
But when we are the reason for the difficulties we are facing?

As human beings with "free will," we often get into situations that are our own fault.
And since we have a Just and Holy God, we have to deal with the consequences of our sin.  And sometimes it gets really painful.

I John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us, and purify us from unrighteousness.

And Romans 8:1 tells us that there is no longer any condemnation from sin that has been forgiven.

But Jesus is more than just a forgiver of sins.
He is the sympathetic friend, the compassionate listener.
Even forgiven, we still have to live in and dwell in the circumstances we created by our sin.

He can wipe the slate clean, but it is not a magical reset button that affects everything around us.  And since He can't take it all away, He weeps with us.

Oh how blessed we are!
Thank you, oh my Father - for giving us your Son!

Prayer:


Lord,
Thank you for the reminders of how you carry us through the storm.

You are so much more than we deserve.
I am in awe.

Amen.

Blogging through the #Gospels: John 10

Blogging through the Gospels with Amy, from Mom's Toolbox.


Reading:  John 10

I could barely keep my eyes open when I first got downstairs.
We had a rough night with the 15 month old. Up for a couple of hours.... twice.

And then, armed with my coffee in one hand, and Mom's Toolbox on the screen in front of me, I saw that the reading today was John 10!

This is my favorite chapter of the whole Bible!
So, I read it a few times, savoring the messages of love, protection, and ownership.
And then I read it again, with ears to listen and a heart to heart to hear what the Lord has for me today.




Scripture: John 10:16


16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.



Observations:


He came for all who would believe.

Application:


When I read through this verse, I sensed the quiet assurance that  He meant this one for me this morning.
It was another confirmation of the work He is preparing us for.

There are people in this community that are lost....  He has brought us here for them.  And Jesus will include them, and be their Shepherd as well.

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord -
for the subtle, yet definite confirmation that we are here because You have brought us here, and that the work to be done has been ordained by You.  In Your time  (not ours), You will guide us, and lead us in the path that You have chosen.

Help us to not get ahead of you.
Help us to wait.


And in the mean time....
We will pray.

Thank you, Lord.
Amen.

Blogging through the #Gospels: John 9

Blogging through the Gospels with Amy, from Mom's Toolbox.

Reading:  John 9

Scripture:  John 9: 30 - 33

30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”


Observations:


The man was blind, and had been since birth.
His friends and neighbors, rather than embracing a miraculous healing,  a marvelous gift in the life of their friend, dragged him to the Pharisees because he had been healed on the Sabbath.
His own parents left him to face the Pharisees by himself, rather than admitting the truth and being permanently removed from fellowship.

But he knew.  It was no ordinary man that healed him.
He had felt power from God.


And even though he was not a disciple of Jesus yet, when the Pharisees derisively made that comment (verse 28), it seemed like a pretty good idea.

Application:



Help me not to dismiss things that are from You just because they are happening in ways that are different than I expect.

Help me not to assume that my knowledge of you, and my experiences, are the only ways that you would reveal Yourself.

Help me to recognize Your handiwork, in the mundane and the marvelous.

Prayer:


You are amazing.
How does your heart not explode from the love that you feel for everyone, and the sadness at the ones who are lost?

Lord, give me Your heart to see everyone that I encounter.

Help me to accept the miraculous as part of the every day.

Amen.

A Lesson on Waiting. Blogging through the #Gospels, John 7

Blogging through the Gospels with Amy from Mom's Toolbox.


Reading: John 7

Scripture:  John 7: 6-8

6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.”

Observations:

In the preceding verses, we learn that Jesus' brothers are goading him to go to the Festival of the Tabernacles in Judea.  They are taunting Him - "if your such a Big Man, then why aren't you seeking the fame and attention, and showing the world what you can do?"

Even His brothers didn't believe Him.

But He remained calm, and simply told them that there was a plan, and they were not privy to the details. He assured them that when His time came, He would go public.

The most important part of His ministry might just have been the waiting.


Application:


Oh wow.

These verses, these observations are exactly where we are right now.

Over the past two weeks, the Lord has been revealing little pieces of the ministry that He is going to do here.  He gave us the name of the future church.  He has put contacts in our life for these certain purposes.

And then there have been things that seemed like they were from God, but.... well- let's just say they were from the Lord, but not for the purposes that we thought.

Let's talk about waiting for a second.

Noah received the word to build an ark.  He then built the ark for 100 years before the redeeming work was done.

Abraham was given the promise of a son, and then waited for twenty five years --- long enough for a son to grow up and be an adult in the mean-time, before Isaac was born.

Jesus was born to Mary, and then waited thirty-three years before starting to reveal His ministry.

And then there were Randy and Meredith. We received the call less than a year ago. Yes, things are moving forward. Yes, we have a monthly prayer meeting with people that are invested in this church plant.  Yes, the Lord has blessed us with a home in  the town that he has called us.  Yes, the Lord is working (overtime, we sometimes think) in our hearts, minds and lives.

But -- the truth is, we don't have a clue what it means to wait. 

This is such new territory for both of us. Randy has experience in short-term missions, and I have no missions experience at all.

Short term missions are about planning, planning, planning, and then BOOM, you act and serve in a very short period of time.  There is a sense of urgency because of the short length of the visit.

Full-time or long-term missions are completely different.  Much of the work is laying a foundation.  Simply living your lives as a person who loves Jesus, and letting the people in the region see that you are trustworthy, honest, kind, compassionate, and most of all, loving.

There is a saying in education that I have heard many times, and it definitely applies here.

"Kids (people) don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

Prayer:


Lord,
We have experienced the beautiful way that you reveal Truth to both of us before moving us forward.
Help us to continually seek confirmation, so that we do not do things out of your timeline.

We are grateful for the gentle rebuke. We are grateful that you care enough to put us back in our place.

Thank you so much for not giving up on us, and for stopping us before we went down the wrong path.

Help us to wait.  Teach us to listen with discernment.

And thank you. We are truly humbled.

Amen.