Momma Monday

Funny that I posted a picture of myself for Momma Monday :)  However, it does make sense!  A couple of weeks ago I was making a newborn owl hat, I finished it on a Wednesday evening while I wasn't at home.  Thursday, the kids did their school work in the morning, then the afternoon was a bit of free time until we had to leave.  About 2 PM the boys got so excited and said that Rachel had a surprise for me!  They were jumping all around and just overwhelmingly excited and proud of this mysterious surprise.  I thought, maybe she made me a card, or ...something along those lines, I was shocked!  when she gave me this crocheted hat!  It was unbelievable! Literally!  She didn't use a pattern, had never made a hat before, and had only watched me make hats!
Titus 2 is a very cool chapter in the Bible that talks about how important it is that we teach the younger generation, and that we learn from the older generations.  Also, how important it is that we do what is right for Christ.  In verses 3-5 it says,

 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

I didn't really teach Rachel how to make a hat, but she did learn by watching, and also by a lot of wisdom in what she had been previously taught, and God must have given her some wisdom as well.  She whipped up 4 hats in a few days, the boys were more than anxious to have one of her creations, and she made one for herself.  She sure is a super talented and beautiful young lady!

Foooood :)

We really love food.  Of course I guess most people do :)  But we love making food, trying new recipes (if it sounds/looks good)  and of course, eating it!  Last week we made the most delicious sweet potato fries!  The problem with things like this is .... haha...the kids find out they like it!  That shouldn't be a problem I know, but when  we've been to a restaurant with my mom, and she's ordered sweet potato fries and offered them, the kids have always declined thinking it wouldn't taste very good (which of course they were wrong!)  But sometimes, in my selfish nature I'm ok with them not trying so that I can have more!  But, when we made them at home, I said everyone should try some, as we always try to do...and they found out they are DELICIOUS!  Click here to see the website we looked at when first making them.  We've since made them a few times and they never let me down...mmmm so good!  I think we'll make some more again today.  Thinking about the kids not wanting to try things I remember a story Tim always tells about when the kids were younger and he would serve bacon, they would turn their nose up at it and refuse to eat it.  They thought it didn't look too appealing and so they wouldn't try it.  Now it doesn't last on the plate very long and there isn't extra for Daddy anymore :)

Hebrews 6:4-6 is a pretty hard passage to swallow - nice word play ha- but it relates so much to this illustration of a child's unwillingness to try new things, and then the transformation that happens once they have tasted the goodness.

 ⁴ It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age ⁶ and who have fallen^[c] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 

Once you've had the bacon, or the sweet potato fries, you can't deny how good they are, nor will you be likely to refuse them when they are offered to you.  As with Christ, when we have heard/read/seen his goodness we can't deny who He is.  And when we think of it as with kids and foods....it makes it seem really silly that with Christ sometimes we tend to deny or doubt Him, when we have tasted and seen that He is good.  There are eternal consequences, let's be careful in the choices we make, and remember that God is good.

Cleaning...ugggh

Here I am posting twice in one day!  Can you say procrastination? :)  My house needs to be cleaned, we were away for a couple of days...and the house shows, Christmas Concert time is here and all that comes with it.  A while ago, I bought this e-book  31 Days to Clean and it has been amazing in our home.  It can be really easy to not have time to clean my house, but the way that Sarah Mae writes helps make it a little easier, and doesn't make you feel awful about yourself if you get a little behind.  You can take cleaning your own pace, but really feel great when you see what you've accomplished, I know I do anyway!  Some of those things I just don't remember on a daily basis are put in throughout the 31 days.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who might need that little encouragement with cleaning, and with having a "Martha home, the Mary way."  She challenges the heart as well as helping organize the home.  The great thing is it doesn't have to end in 31 days, you can do it over.  I know when I did it, it was longer than 31 days, since I took it at my own pace.

31 Days to Clean

Luke 10:38-42 shares the story,

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

   ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴²but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

It is important to keep our house in order, but so much more important to spend time with Jesus :)

Purity

How is your life in terms of purity in devotion to God?  This is a question that was in my devotional book this morning.

It really made me think.  I know often when I think of the word “purity”….it’s not in terms of my relationship or devotion to God.  But I guess, when I think about it, keeping myself from other things would be having a pure relationship with Christ.  I was doing a youth devotional last night and talking about not serving God our leftovers, referring to the verse in Mark 12:30 that says,

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

The same passage is in a few of the Gospels.  Anyway, we were talking about how we have a tendency to give our time, talents, money, ect. To other places and things first, then remember, oh yeah…God…um…here God I’ve got a few minutes left, or a few dollars left, here ya go!  But God wants all of us.  I wouldn’t have a good marriage with my husband if I gave him my leftovers.  I wouldn’t have good friendships if I only gave what was left.  We all set our priorities, and I think we do this sometimes without really thinking about what we’re leaving out…oftentimes God. 

You know those purity rings, the one our daughter has says this, “Today, I promise I will wait agreeing to stay pure, because I know God loves me and His blessing is in store.”  When you think about it, it can really be relevant in our relationship with Christ as well and our devotion to Him.  Our heart should not be shared be other influences, by TV, internet, other medias, temptations, cravings, desires, God should be the one we are devoted to. 

So, purity in devotion to God.  Hmm.  I’m going to make it more of a thought-out goal.  I challenge you to as well.  Put God first, purely, wholly. 

Momma Monday

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Ryan's love of basketball is very strong.  What I love to see is that his love for God is growing even stronger each day.  He is learning how to use the gifts that God gives for God's glory, and thanking God for them.  He is also learning how to be a light where God places him.  He is, I think my most focused child.  He knows what he likes, and he does it.  He practices, alll day long, or as long as he can anyway.  He tries drills over and over, shoots baskets over and over, loves every part of the game.  He's been blessed to be able to do a competitive league that continues into the New Year.  He was so thankful to God and to us for this opportunity, and that we said we would make the time.  It was sweet seeing my boy mature and see how important this is to him, to play the game he loves :)

Broken.

God has plans.  His plans are good.  I've got that part.  Now...how exactly does this work.  It doesn't mean that everything works out, even  if we try to follow Him, and think we're following Him.  sigh.   Ok.  Ahhh...just had to get that out, and maybe there's a bit more to get out here.

I have the tendency to get involved, full heartily, with most things.  It can be good of course, but this week...it was bad, very bad.  It's kind of like just before vacation, you get all ready, you're packing, imagining yourself on the beach, the waves lapping, ahh isn't it nice...and then, you get to the airport and...they cancelled your flight, they will not be rescheduling done. over. go home.

Doesn't that just make your heart sink.  My heart. sank. broke. And over more than a vacation.

Through it all I try to remember...God know's what's best.   He has plans.  Good plans.  In fact, in Psalm 18:30 it says...  

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. 

He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

So.  I will continue to try putting this in my heart.

mmmmm

Chocolate fondue, best way to eat lots and lots of fruit!