Sabbath.....Rest....
This topic came up in my small group tonight.
Lots of local businesses are closed. Fareway, Hobby Lobby, and
Chick fil a.
What does it mean to us? How do you use your day of rest?
I am guilty of doing "things" on Sundays. Cooking and laundry are really the only laborious things I do on Sunday. Am I being to legalistic?
How picky is God?
Does he not want my family to be cared for?
Then it was like the spirit brought to my mind that these business I mentioned earlier are INTENTIONAL with their "day of rest".
Am I?
Do I intentionally prep my meals ahead. YES!
I only cook 1 meal on Sunday. (usually noon) and then try to rest and refresh myself and my family the rest of the day.
Then for the evening meal we call it "fend for yourself". Popcorn, ice cream or whatever you make for your own dinner.
What the spirit reveled to me is that in doing this I am prepping my son to not expect his future wife to wait on him on a Sunday evening. And my daughters are being taught that it is okay to slow down and take time to not only prepare one meal but that it is more important to prepare your heart.
I may not be doing nothing.......
But the spirit showed me I AM DOING SOMETHING.
Kids
The reason I do what I do!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Taking the time...
Some things take time.
You usually do not walk up to someone and talk to them and they are instantly your best friend.
There are different levels of intimacy. Finding that with each person in your life is sometimes trial and error.
There are things I will tell an acquaintance like..... my washer is broke.....
To telling your sister she hurt your feelings when she made a comment about your child.
As your level of trust with a person grows so does your intimacy with them.
I have come to appreciate the difference of intimacy I have with different individuals.
Sometimes I get caught in a pickle (as my Grandma would say) because I expect my level of intimacy to be the same with all people.
I share everything with my husband. I share an intimacy (obviously) with him that I share with no one else. And for marriage to be strong it needs to be continual and on going. Not the same I share with other family or friends.
When a level of intimacy is broken or challenged by friends or family it can rock my world. I am seeing though that it can be rebuilt and grow again.
God desires that same intimacy with me.
How often am I too busy? To distracted?
I too break intimacy with him because it is not convenient or my to list is too long.
There is a restoration that takes place when I run back to him and ask for him to restore me.
In Luke 3:19 it says a time of refreshment comes from the Lord when we repent.
I am so THANKFUL for that UNCONDITIONAL LOVE that is there every time I turn to him.
You usually do not walk up to someone and talk to them and they are instantly your best friend.
There are different levels of intimacy. Finding that with each person in your life is sometimes trial and error.
There are things I will tell an acquaintance like..... my washer is broke.....
To telling your sister she hurt your feelings when she made a comment about your child.
As your level of trust with a person grows so does your intimacy with them.
I have come to appreciate the difference of intimacy I have with different individuals.
Sometimes I get caught in a pickle (as my Grandma would say) because I expect my level of intimacy to be the same with all people.
I share everything with my husband. I share an intimacy (obviously) with him that I share with no one else. And for marriage to be strong it needs to be continual and on going. Not the same I share with other family or friends.
When a level of intimacy is broken or challenged by friends or family it can rock my world. I am seeing though that it can be rebuilt and grow again.
God desires that same intimacy with me.
How often am I too busy? To distracted?
I too break intimacy with him because it is not convenient or my to list is too long.
There is a restoration that takes place when I run back to him and ask for him to restore me.
In Luke 3:19 it says a time of refreshment comes from the Lord when we repent.
I am so THANKFUL for that UNCONDITIONAL LOVE that is there every time I turn to him.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Our family will be growing....
God is up to something. Adding a new person to our lives and changing us. I thought I was ready for this, going from 1 to 3 children in 17 years was a breeze. What could come along and shake me to my core?
A boyfriend....
Don't get me wrong. We love him so far! But with adding someone in to our mix has challenged us. In so many ways. Ways I never even imagined.
We have lost sleep. Like having a newborn, teens like to stay up late, watch movies and talk and do a whole lot of nothing.
Feedings on demand- I have made 20 quesadillas, malts at midnight, and double batches of cookies not even get one taste.
Energy and movement like toddlers. Always going, going, going, like energizer bunnies.
It has been amazing what God has been showing me.
How has this CHALLENGED me?
How is it CHANGING me?
I am seeing I am set in my ways. Things can be done in another way and just because it is not MY way it is not wrong.
I am seeing that I do not have all the answers, but God does and
HE HAS THIS COVERED.
I am seeing all the virtues we have instilled in our daughter come to life in this relationship, and with God's help, we have not done too bad.
I am seeing my daughter change from a girl who love Jesus, to a young woman who seeks to follow God.
I am seeing that even though this means my daughter might leave our home someday with this young man, (or another God provides) God will be the balm for my aching heart.
I see my family is growing. I have another person to love. I never thought I could love an "outsider" as one of my own children. But God is showing me I can.
God is showing me what He sees.When a non believer comes into His family. He sees US ALL as adopted and heirs to his throne.
He has room for US ALL.
As for the future for my daughters relationship, it is in God's hands.
But what I do see are His hands, gently cutting and pruning MY branches during all this....
A boyfriend....
Don't get me wrong. We love him so far! But with adding someone in to our mix has challenged us. In so many ways. Ways I never even imagined.
We have lost sleep. Like having a newborn, teens like to stay up late, watch movies and talk and do a whole lot of nothing.
Feedings on demand- I have made 20 quesadillas, malts at midnight, and double batches of cookies not even get one taste.
Energy and movement like toddlers. Always going, going, going, like energizer bunnies.
It has been amazing what God has been showing me.
How has this CHALLENGED me?
How is it CHANGING me?
I am seeing I am set in my ways. Things can be done in another way and just because it is not MY way it is not wrong.
I am seeing that I do not have all the answers, but God does and
HE HAS THIS COVERED.
I am seeing all the virtues we have instilled in our daughter come to life in this relationship, and with God's help, we have not done too bad.
I am seeing my daughter change from a girl who love Jesus, to a young woman who seeks to follow God.
I am seeing that even though this means my daughter might leave our home someday with this young man, (or another God provides) God will be the balm for my aching heart.
I see my family is growing. I have another person to love. I never thought I could love an "outsider" as one of my own children. But God is showing me I can.
God is showing me what He sees.When a non believer comes into His family. He sees US ALL as adopted and heirs to his throne.
He has room for US ALL.
As for the future for my daughters relationship, it is in God's hands.
But what I do see are His hands, gently cutting and pruning MY branches during all this....
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Come CLOSE
Today has been one of those days....
Where there is no house for me to run off and clean, no one to run anywhere, not one appointment till 5pm.
So Yes I admit I am still in my pj's.
I have done a lot! Bible study, watched Wuthering Heights, and made a meatloaf.
And I do not have guilt about it yet!
Funny thing is while I was making my meatloaf listening to Third Day Christmas offerings ,Born in Bethlehem,
The lyrics that struck me was"Baby Jesus, lying in a manger. Crying for the world.
The second that that baby cried, it was for ALL OF US. His ultimate gift was to be born and then die.
Another time in Matthew 23:37 Jesus Cries for Jerusalem, which is US,
37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Your people have killed the prophets and have stoned the messengers who were sent to you. I have often wanted to gather your people, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you wouldn’t let me.
WE WERE THE ONES HE CRIED FOR!
He LONGS for us to come CLOSE to the manger.
He LONGS that we gather CLOSE like chicks.
Take the time to do that TODAY!
Where there is no house for me to run off and clean, no one to run anywhere, not one appointment till 5pm.
So Yes I admit I am still in my pj's.
I have done a lot! Bible study, watched Wuthering Heights, and made a meatloaf.
And I do not have guilt about it yet!
Funny thing is while I was making my meatloaf listening to Third Day Christmas offerings ,Born in Bethlehem,
The lyrics that struck me was"Baby Jesus, lying in a manger. Crying for the world.
The second that that baby cried, it was for ALL OF US. His ultimate gift was to be born and then die.
Another time in Matthew 23:37 Jesus Cries for Jerusalem, which is US,
37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Your people have killed the prophets and have stoned the messengers who were sent to you. I have often wanted to gather your people, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you wouldn’t let me.
WE WERE THE ONES HE CRIED FOR!
He LONGS for us to come CLOSE to the manger.
He LONGS that we gather CLOSE like chicks.
Take the time to do that TODAY!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Seeing the forest from a tree
Reading Luke 19 this morning and the account of Zacchaeus is saying somethings to me.
First this dude was loaded, short, but loaded. Which shows me you can't have it all.
But the crazy thing is he was still searching for something. He had a job as a tax collector, which I am sure he profited from greatly. But he also had something else pulling him along......a curiosity about Jesus.
So being short he climbed into a tree. Now that took some effort and planning, not your everyday biblical workout I am sure.
But I ask WHY??? Just to see Jesus?
I see God preparing a heart to be CHANGED.
Not sure how long he was up in the tree but it was long enough that when Jesus got close, stopped and told him to come down, HE OBEYED! I am sure this was not on Zacchaeus agenda for the day.
Not only that Jesus said," I am coming over to your house" so get ready. I hear that as a preparatory calling. Zacchaeus has some heart changes that need to happen.
His human nature could have said no thanks, or come next week. But immediately, as other people were hopping on the gossip train, Zacchaeus repented of all he had done in over charging people. He was going to settle accounts with man and in doing so he SETTLED HIS ACCOUNT WITH GOD.
All of this got me thinking....
Am I curious?
Do I long and look for ways to see Jesus?
Sometimes I am so worried about my agenda and making sure my kids learn biblical lessons I overlook my need to get out of the tree and obey, or even to repent and change.
Jesus did not barge his way in to Zacchaeus life, wag his finger at him, and tell him what to change. He made himself available.
He is there waiting for us to climb down and bow down to our own will.
I want to be changed like Zacchaeus.
First this dude was loaded, short, but loaded. Which shows me you can't have it all.
But the crazy thing is he was still searching for something. He had a job as a tax collector, which I am sure he profited from greatly. But he also had something else pulling him along......a curiosity about Jesus.
So being short he climbed into a tree. Now that took some effort and planning, not your everyday biblical workout I am sure.
But I ask WHY??? Just to see Jesus?
I see God preparing a heart to be CHANGED.
Not sure how long he was up in the tree but it was long enough that when Jesus got close, stopped and told him to come down, HE OBEYED! I am sure this was not on Zacchaeus agenda for the day.
Not only that Jesus said," I am coming over to your house" so get ready. I hear that as a preparatory calling. Zacchaeus has some heart changes that need to happen.
His human nature could have said no thanks, or come next week. But immediately, as other people were hopping on the gossip train, Zacchaeus repented of all he had done in over charging people. He was going to settle accounts with man and in doing so he SETTLED HIS ACCOUNT WITH GOD.
All of this got me thinking....
Am I curious?
Do I long and look for ways to see Jesus?
Sometimes I am so worried about my agenda and making sure my kids learn biblical lessons I overlook my need to get out of the tree and obey, or even to repent and change.
Jesus did not barge his way in to Zacchaeus life, wag his finger at him, and tell him what to change. He made himself available.
He is there waiting for us to climb down and bow down to our own will.
I want to be changed like Zacchaeus.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
More than good... Godly
This should not have happened and I am still wrestling with God on this one.
A 42 year old husband and father of 4 gone in an instant......
This man was a hard worker.He had a full time job and also managed a family farm and cattle. His work ethic was so strong.
He took his family to church each week. Helped start prayer groups and was an elder and a deacon at his church.
He was an amazing husband and father in leading & loving his family.
He was a praying man. He prayed continually for people in his life and people on the college campus he worked on. If you had a maintenance issue at the dorms on the ISU campus and he was on call, know you were prayed for.
He was a honest and loyal son. Helping his parents on their farm. And he always there to lend a hand in whatever way possible in the small farming community.
All of these things are what society looks as as "GOOD".
But God looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
His heart was pure and for the Lord. He gave his life to the Lord as a teen and never looked back. He lead his family and others with wreckless abandon to the CROSS because he knew that all the "GOOD" he did meant nothing unless they first surrender themselves at the cross.That is being GODLY!
In my study today I was reading Romans 3. Verse 22 stuck out to me....WE ARE ALL THE SAME..... Unless we have the Righteousness of Christ, WE ARE ALL THE SAME!
So I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
So I'll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours
Thank you Noel Shepley for living your life with arms high and heart abandoned for all to see.
See ya in Heaven my friend.
A 42 year old husband and father of 4 gone in an instant......
This man was a hard worker.He had a full time job and also managed a family farm and cattle. His work ethic was so strong.
He took his family to church each week. Helped start prayer groups and was an elder and a deacon at his church.
He was an amazing husband and father in leading & loving his family.
He was a praying man. He prayed continually for people in his life and people on the college campus he worked on. If you had a maintenance issue at the dorms on the ISU campus and he was on call, know you were prayed for.
He was a honest and loyal son. Helping his parents on their farm. And he always there to lend a hand in whatever way possible in the small farming community.
All of these things are what society looks as as "GOOD".
But God looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
His heart was pure and for the Lord. He gave his life to the Lord as a teen and never looked back. He lead his family and others with wreckless abandon to the CROSS because he knew that all the "GOOD" he did meant nothing unless they first surrender themselves at the cross.That is being GODLY!
In my study today I was reading Romans 3. Verse 22 stuck out to me....WE ARE ALL THE SAME..... Unless we have the Righteousness of Christ, WE ARE ALL THE SAME!
So I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
So I'll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours
Thank you Noel Shepley for living your life with arms high and heart abandoned for all to see.
See ya in Heaven my friend.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Christmas Letter
Christmas is here! Thanking God for His many BLESSINGS this year. He has given us good and bad this year, but all have helped mold us into who He wants us to become to GLORIFY HIM!
Hannah is a spirited & joy filled child who always keeps us laughing. Her outlook on life is so positive it causes me to pause and reassess my attitude sometimes. She loves music and playing the violin. She paints her fingernails near everyday, I tell her she might work at OPI someday. She loves I Dream of Jeannie and I Love Lucy DVDs. Drawing and art is a secret passion of hers. What a JOY our Hannah B Jones!
Rachel is a dedicated & faithful woman of God. She is so witty and intelligent I am often taken back. She has had the most change this year with a dating "relationship" which God is using to challenge and change her. Her year is going to be a whirlwind as she is going to Germany in March and graduating in May. There will be a lot of "lasts" and preparations for her future. She works at Lutheran Church of Hope on the admin team. She is a very talented oboe player and tried out for all state and SCIBA. She has passion for cake decorating, sewing, cooking & baking! You can find her watching any CSI, Criminal Minds, & Body of Proof shows. I tell her she should be a medical examiner. A true BLESSING our Rachel Bren!
I am the same girl you have always known, doing for others and volunteering as much as I can. I am still homeschooling the kids, but I have taken on cleaning more houses this year as I have had more free time. (Just typing that made me laugh!) I am loving my time with my kids as they are growing up and helping mentor them in the ways of the Lord. I have just discovered the art/freedom of blogging. If you catch me watching tv it's usually a Downton Abbey episode.
Swimming. When people ask what we did this summer we said SWIMMING. We swam so much that we retired the pool this fall. Check out https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3078305256155&set=vb.1819486171&type=3&theater to see how it all came down. (Nice job, Dan!)
Todd is an AMAZINGLY hard worker who has provided for our family for years by working at EMC Insurance. His free time is very limited but is very involved in Boy Scouts with Micah and his men's bible study and accountability groups. He loves to watch ANY sport on tv, Dr. Who with the kids, and Red Green just to annoy me! He is the LOVE of my life, my STABLE Todd.
Micah is a curious and fun loving kid! He is always building, testing, & constructing something. If it is broke he will tear it apart to try and fix it. If it is not broke he usually tears it apart to see how it works.... then it is broke. He loves baseball and wrestling and is thinking he might like to try football next year. He finished piano and has started playing the bass which is 2 times his size, but I am sure he will catch up soon. He enjoys scouts and says someday he wants to get his EAGLE. You can catch Micah on the Wii or watching Dr. Who, Top Gear & How It's Made. LOVE our inquisitive Micah James!
Adventures for us were limited this year, but we did have a few. In June, the girls went on Mission Navajo with the church & the boys went to a scout camp in Wisconsin. I hated that we went 2 different places the same week, but that is how it all fell out. Each trip was a blessing and a challenge to our faith. In July, we did the usual Sonshine concert week with our family from Minnesota. That week is always a BLESSING to us!
Savor this time with the Christ child in the manger. Share HIM with your family and spread HIS love where ever you go this Christmas.
Hannah is a spirited & joy filled child who always keeps us laughing. Her outlook on life is so positive it causes me to pause and reassess my attitude sometimes. She loves music and playing the violin. She paints her fingernails near everyday, I tell her she might work at OPI someday. She loves I Dream of Jeannie and I Love Lucy DVDs. Drawing and art is a secret passion of hers. What a JOY our Hannah B Jones!
Rachel is a dedicated & faithful woman of God. She is so witty and intelligent I am often taken back. She has had the most change this year with a dating "relationship" which God is using to challenge and change her. Her year is going to be a whirlwind as she is going to Germany in March and graduating in May. There will be a lot of "lasts" and preparations for her future. She works at Lutheran Church of Hope on the admin team. She is a very talented oboe player and tried out for all state and SCIBA. She has passion for cake decorating, sewing, cooking & baking! You can find her watching any CSI, Criminal Minds, & Body of Proof shows. I tell her she should be a medical examiner. A true BLESSING our Rachel Bren!
I am the same girl you have always known, doing for others and volunteering as much as I can. I am still homeschooling the kids, but I have taken on cleaning more houses this year as I have had more free time. (Just typing that made me laugh!) I am loving my time with my kids as they are growing up and helping mentor them in the ways of the Lord. I have just discovered the art/freedom of blogging. If you catch me watching tv it's usually a Downton Abbey episode.
Swimming. When people ask what we did this summer we said SWIMMING. We swam so much that we retired the pool this fall. Check out https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3078305256155&set=vb.1819486171&type=3&theater to see how it all came down. (Nice job, Dan!)
Todd is an AMAZINGLY hard worker who has provided for our family for years by working at EMC Insurance. His free time is very limited but is very involved in Boy Scouts with Micah and his men's bible study and accountability groups. He loves to watch ANY sport on tv, Dr. Who with the kids, and Red Green just to annoy me! He is the LOVE of my life, my STABLE Todd.
Micah is a curious and fun loving kid! He is always building, testing, & constructing something. If it is broke he will tear it apart to try and fix it. If it is not broke he usually tears it apart to see how it works.... then it is broke. He loves baseball and wrestling and is thinking he might like to try football next year. He finished piano and has started playing the bass which is 2 times his size, but I am sure he will catch up soon. He enjoys scouts and says someday he wants to get his EAGLE. You can catch Micah on the Wii or watching Dr. Who, Top Gear & How It's Made. LOVE our inquisitive Micah James!
Adventures for us were limited this year, but we did have a few. In June, the girls went on Mission Navajo with the church & the boys went to a scout camp in Wisconsin. I hated that we went 2 different places the same week, but that is how it all fell out. Each trip was a blessing and a challenge to our faith. In July, we did the usual Sonshine concert week with our family from Minnesota. That week is always a BLESSING to us!
Savor this time with the Christ child in the manger. Share HIM with your family and spread HIS love where ever you go this Christmas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)