He is Risen!

I haven't blogged for so long!  My life have been absolutely nuts, but probably so has everyone else's.     I want to get back into blogging, but we'll see;-)
  I have had the most amazing Easter Sunday.  This morning while I was reading the scriptures, I noticed that in Mark's gospel, the angel told the women to go tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus would be coming to them.  As many times as I have read this, I never noticed the "and Peter" part.  God must have known that Peter was feeling lower than a snakes belly and he needed that extra word from God.  He had denied Jesus three times!  So have I.  Peter ran away when times got tough!  So have I.  Peter lived by fear and not by faith.  So have I!!!
  Sometimes, I need that extra word from God.  I need to know that I am not unforgivable.  I need to know that I still matter to the one who matters most.  What comfort I receive from knowing that Jesus has indeed risen and he wants me to know that I am included in His future.

Brain Power????

It seems like we have had so many injuries and illnesses lately.  Katie was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease in the spring.  She has not been able to get her medication under control so she has been miserable for many, many months. I'm so used to seeing her able to do all sorts of things and she used to have enough energy for two people but that's changed now.  We are praying that the Lord will completely heal her!  


Josh has had one head injury after another for a couple of years now.  He has been dealing with post concussive syndrome for over a year from a quad accident.   He also took a pretty hard fall back in September that gave him another concussion.  He ended up with something called "intercranial hypertension" which is a fancy word for too much spinal fluid around his brain.  He has has EEG's, MRI's, CT's, lots of lab work, and worst of all lumbar punctures to relieve some of the pressure from his brain and his optic nerves.  The pressure has begun to cause his vision to deteriorate, but we are hopeful that when the pressure is down consistently, his vision will return to normal.  I honestly hate watching the doctor drain his spinal fluid.  What a painful procedure!  We are praying that the Lord will completely heal him, too! 

I am trying desperately to learn the lessons God is trying to teach me through this really tough time.  I don't want to have to relearn them.  I want to be wise enough to see God's hand and acknowledge him in this.  Did He just want us to slow down?  Did He want to show us who our true friends are?  Maybe God just wanted us (maybe me especially) to see that even though we try our hardest to control everything around us, we are not really in control.  God controls our lives and we can trust him with it!!!  So, please pray for us when  you remember to.


On a totally different note, I am really wanting to get back to regular blogging!  I am going to try to start putting up my weekly menus again and some new recipes.  Believe it or nor, even with everything going on, we have tried some new recipes.  Families still need to eat even when it feels like everything is falling apart.  God has been so good to us and amidst the turmoil, He has enabled us to continue to live our lives somewhat normally.  We are still homeschooling, although I am the first to admit that it's been really tough this year.  But, we'll keep on keeping on;)

Lonely, but not alone

When will Christians begin behaving like Christians?  What a disappointment to the Father we must be at times.  Believers tear each other down instead of building each other up.  This ought not to be! 


Why do fellow Christians look at me like I've lost my mind, when I speak of my love for Christ?  I cannot compartmentalize my Christian walk from the rest of my life; they are one and the same!  When I am serving my family, I am doing it because I love Jesus.  When I am exercising, I am attempting to take care of this body the Lord has given me.  When I am singing, I can't help but sing songs to Him.  When I am studying his Word, I am desperately trying to feed this hunger that resides so deeply in me that I have to be filled.  


So, I am sometimes lonely.  Aside from my family, I only have a few friends who really understand this need I have to spend time with my Lord.  Could you imagine if all the Christians developed a hunger for the things of God?  Can you imagine what life would be like if all the Christians stopped nit-picking at each other and truly lived the lives God intends them to live?  


Today I can't.  But I have hope!  My God is able to do way beyond whatever I can ask or even imagine.  God will have to act before the church/God's people become really effective and relevant again.  Lord, send revival!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday.  I am so thankful to God for another year.  I pray that this year I will glorify God with my actions and with my thoughts.  I pray that God will renew my strength and that I will mount up with wings like eagles.  I pray that I will run and not be weary and that I will walk and not faint.  I
 know that God gives power to the weak, and I have felt weak many times this past year.  I know that "to those who have no might, He increases strength".  


I am so looking forward to seeing what God will do in my life in this year.  He has given me the privilege of growing older and watching my children grow in Him this year.  He has given me grace.  Thank you God, for your grace!

Old Fashioned Homemaking

Exactly what is it about old-fashioned homemaking that makes some women feel like kids in a candy shop and makes others feel like they're losing their minds?

We (me included) have so many time-saving gadgets that are supposed to make our lives easier, but do they really?  Are you saving any time with your gadgets?  We may save a few minutes here or there, but instead of looking for ways to make our tasks easier and quicker, maybe we need to ask God to change our hearts so that we enjoy serving our husbands and children.  A pleasant attitude can make most tasks, whether enjoyable or not, much easier to do.  

I would much rather be thankful for the blessings God has given me than to be bitter about the work I must do.  I am thankful my hands work and I can do the things that need to be done. I am thankful that my eyes can see the mess that needs cleaned up.  I am increasingly thankful for the feeling of satisfaction that the Lord puts in my heart when I have done something to serve my family.

Psalm 121

I have been studying the Psalms of Ascent.  Today I worked on Psalm 121.  What an incredible piece of God's word.  All eight verses touch my heart deeply. but verse five especially spoke to me. "The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side." (HCS)  This is it from the Hans-Joachim Kraus commentary:  "Yahweh is your keeper, Yahweh is your shade above your right hand!"


God is my protector.  He is my keeper.  He guards my life.  God is the caretaker of his people.  He formed us with his own hands.  He tends to us and watches over us.  He doesn't leave the job of caring for us in anyone else's hands.  God doesn't take his eyes off us .  We need to remember this as we keep our eyes on him.  Our God is the maker of heaven and earth.  Surely he can keep us safe in the palm of his hand.

Spiritual Schitzophrenia

Why does the world laugh at Christians?  I'm convinced it's because we don't live out our lives as Christians.  If we truly lived what we say we believe, this world would be turned upside down!


We say the Bible is the word of God and the most important book ever in existence.  Then we let it sit on a shelf collecting dust.


We say that our true home is in heaven but we are attached to earthly things as if we were super-glued to them.


We say we are led by and filled with the Holy Spirit, then we live for the world, the flesh, and the devil.


We speak out against everybody's sin, then we try to justify our own sins.


We tell ourselves that our salvation is by God's grace, then we work like crazy to be worthy of it.


We say that worship is important, but we're thinking about the pot roast in the oven.  


We say the Bible is 100% without error, then we pick and choose the verses that pertain to us.


We say that God knows and sees everything, yet we have "secret" sins.


We say that God is sovereign but we act like he needs us.  He loves us, but he doesn't need us.


We praise God on Sunday morning, then live like the devil the rest of the week.


We say that "it's all about God" then live self-seeking, selfish lives.


We believe there is a judgement to come, yet we sin daily.


   I am as guilty of these things as the next person.  It breaks my heart to see what a hypocrite I am sometimes.  I am praying that I will be more pleasing to God as I seek to live for him.  I don't want to be a spiritual schitzophrenic!  I want my life to honor Jesus.  I want him to own my heart.  

Tradition or Godliness

As a family, we are studying the gospel of Luke right now.  We had a really good study last night.  We read about the faith of the centurion and the questions from John the Baptist's disciples.  Throughout the book of Luke, we have seen Jesus do many miracles and restore life wherever he went.  


Somehow during our discussion we took a bunny trail and started talking about the Pharisees and how they compare to the the "religious" people of our day.  We were sad to see that at times in all of our lives, we have been much like the Pharisees.  Sometimes the thought of our religiousity appalls me.  


Jesus is so much more interested in where our hearts are (just as he was in the  gospel of Luke) than in what committee we are on, or what the church voted to spend on renovations, etc.  As for me, I just want to please God!  I don't mean that to come across as self-righteous or judgmental.  It's just the truth.  The deep desire of my heart is to know God better and to please him more.  


I fail in this so much.  I constantly have to pray that God will keep me from meaningless traditions.  I want to get caught up in God not in rituals.  I know without a doubt that there has to be more to Christianity than what we are seeing in churches on Sunday mornings.  I don't want to be part of the club, or the clique.  I want more of Jesus.  


Does anybody understand what I'm talking about, or am I just rambling???

What's Wrong With Human Effort?

Human effort will only give us human results.  If we are looking for supernatural, God-sized things to happen, we must look past our own fingertips.  Although it may seem like foolishness to us to sing and pray and praise God instead of "doing something" sometimes we just have to let go and trust that God's plans and ways are much higher than ours.
Psalm 86:11
Teach me your ways O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

First Love: A Historic Gathering of Jesus Music Pioneers

I bought myself a present.  No, it's not my birthday but I wanted it really, really bad.  This is what I got:

And here is where you can get it:

http://www.explorationfilms.com/exploration-films-first-love.html

Beautiful Creatures that Defy Evolution

When we went on vacation in September, these gorgeous blue birds were almost constantly out our windows.  Every where we looked, there was another reminder of our Creator.  It seems impossible to me to deny the existence of Almighty God, when I see just a few of the things he has created.

Things I Have Done (and not done)

I found this on Candy's blog.  It looked like fun so I tried it.  Below is a list of things people have done in their lives. I bolded the ones I've done. There is a lot I haven't done, but there is also a lot I don't have any desire to do!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been inside an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee


I may not have done much to write about but the Lord has blessed me with the life he called me to.  I am forever grateful that God, in his mercy has saved me from my own sin.  He has given me abundant life and extended his grace to me. My greatest accomplishment will be to stand before him and hear him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Happy Hunters

These are two of my "manly men".  It seems like they live for hunting season.  So far, they haven't had any luck, but they live in hope.  For their sake, I hope they get something soon.  The lazy part of me hopes they don't.  I would have to do some serious freezer cleaning (again!) to make room for meat.  

I'm so grateful for Godly men who have a deep desire to provide for their family.  In this day of feminized men, it is refreshing to see men who will do what is necessary to care for their loved ones and who take their responsibilities to heart.  Even though their hunting escapades make a lot more work for me, I am truly thankful for their sense of responsibility and family.

Ugly Comparisons and Discontent

Sometimes stay-at-home women start to get down on themselves. I guess this would also be true of career women. Maybe it's more accurate to say that all women tend to get down on themselves at times. We compare ourselves to others and begin to feel less valuable. Comparing ourselves to others is so destructive to our lives. It leads to discontent.

I know that when I compare myself to other women, I will always either think too highly of myself or too lowly. This is madness! If I think too lowly of myself I am forgetting who I am in God's eyes. I am forgetting that he has called me to be his child. If I think too highly of myself, I am forgetting the holiness of God! I have to stop comparing myself to others just so I can feel good about myself. I can always find someone who I think is worse than me. I am pretty sure this is not what God wants for me to do.

The only person I need to compare myself to is Jesus Christ. And boy, oh boy, do I not measure up! This is the only way to keep my attitude in perspective. When I think of how obedient I am to God, I must then consider how obedient Jesus was to the Father. I fail tremendously in my actions and even more importantly in the motivation behind my actions. At times, I find myself trying to manipulate God. How desperately wicked my heart is!

"Create in my a clean heart oh God, and renew a right spirit within me."
(Psalm 51:10)
I know I need a new heart. Daily I seek the Lord with this prayer. I am so thankful that God has mercy on me. He has made me a new creation. The things that used to not bother me about myself (self-centeredness, manipulative tendencies, etc) now grate away at me. I am not better than anyone else. I am just being showered with his new mercies every morning. He is daily making me a new creation and creating in me a clean heart. Hallelujah!

Calm Like the Ocean

I love to look at the ocean. I don't get the opportunity very often, but when I do I am amazed at God's wonderful creation. Sometimes I listen to ocean sounds when I want to relax and fall asleep. But the ocean is not always relaxing. It can be violent and unpredictable.

It sounds a little like life, doesn't it? When life is going smoothly, we are grateful that God is in control of everything. When life gets chaotic, sometimes we wonder where God is. He's right here! When the ocean is raging, seemingly out of control, God is there in the midst of it. When my life is not following my carefully orchestrated plan, God is still in the midst of it.

I'm so thankful that our Lord understands the storms of life. We really do have problems. We really do have pain. But we are not alone. Thank you, Lord Jesus!

Only for His Glory

It's not all about me.  I am here on this earth for God's glory alone.  Sometimes I live like everything is all about me.  I am so grateful that God's mercies are new every morning.  He reminds me that everything is about him.  When I am cooking or cleaning or teaching my kids, I am really serving Him.  When I am talking to someone who is feeling lonely, I am serving Him.  Service to God is not only for Sunday mornings when people are watching.  As a Christian, I need to be a walking example of the grace of God.