An awesome study

Some excellent points in a recent study I am involved in with a couple awesome sisters in the Lord. Wonderful truths and thoughts!
The more intimately we know God, the easier it will be for us to trust Him. The more we trust Him, the more works we will give as evidence of that trust.
There is no greater evidence of what we really believe than how we behave. If what we say we believe does not affect our behavior, it is to be doubted.
We are saved by faith ALONE-but not by faith that IS alone.
God holds us accountable only for how we respond to those truths to which we have been exposed. Your walk with God and your ministry to others is directly tied to what you do with what God has revealed to you.
All of us should recognize that we stand before God always and ONLY by grace. Yet sadly though we recognize our need from grace from God, often we demand justice in our relationships with others.
We all need to experience and embrace God's forgiveness in a great enough measure to become agents of grace in the lives of others.

Careful...

Be careful what you say about the faults and mistakes of others---they may have already been to the cross about them.

-Roy Hession

Wild beat Blackhawks!

Went to the Wild game last night. Sat in the corner 3 rows off the glass. I wouldn't recommend sitting in these seats unless you have the chance to see a shootout like last nights game. I recommend checking it out. It was amazing and I was and am still annoyed they gave Rolston the "player of the game." You should've seen his lame attempt at a goal in the shoot-out. Bouchard deserved the title with his backward scoring acrobatic trickery. As my brother-in-law exclaims quite frequently "UNBELIEVABLE!" http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=261205030

A bad example

"William S. Plumer The Ten Commandments" :

"In everything he followed the example of his father." 2 Kings 14:3
Children are the most imitative creatures in the world. Parents should so walk before their children as that they may safely follow in their footsteps. Set a good example in all things. He who delivers good precepts, scatters good seed. He who adds good example, ploughs in that seed. A bad example will destroy the good which might be expected from sound instruction. "Do as I say--and not as I do," is a sentence which converts the best teaching into poison, and dreadfully hardens the heart. Precepts give the theory, but example instills principle. Words impart notions, but example carries conviction. You need special wisdom and grace to preserve you from error, and sin, and folly. If you practice any sin before your child--you cannot fail to teach him to do the same.
"In everything he followed the example of his father." 2 Kings 14:3

World Magazine article

I really found this a great article in World Magazine. Check it out-it holds MUCH truth!http://www.worldmag.com/articles/12381

An adventure

Went to the tanning booth yesterday before we went to the park and decided I'd bring Levi with. We went in there and I told him to sit in the chair next to the "coffin" and I got ready to lay down. He was like "mom, pretty cool." I then turned it on and it lit up the whole room and he goes, "mom, I'm scared. Are you going to go up in the air?" I said, "no, I just lay in here." When I layed down he was like, "oh, I get it. You just lay in there and pretend that that's the sun." I said, "exactly." When I was done with my 12 minutes we walked out and he said, "mom, that was quite an adventure!"

Hodge

'The effort is not to make the assertions of the Bible harmonize with speculative reason, but to subject our feeble reason to the mind of God."

-Charles Hodge

Zoo Boo!

Went to the Zoo Boo tonight with the rest of the state. Geez, there were a TON of people there! Murphy and I go every year and take our kiddos! It's one of the for sure ways we know we will see each other! I met her fiance tongiht. I can't believe she's finally getting married. Who would have thought? I also can't believe they are just gonna start a family and I'm done praise God. I can't imagine starting out with babies at 34 even though many do. We got all the goodies and more! They gave out a free kids pass to the Old Country Buffet-my kids favorite restaurant. Sick. That means I'm gonna have to go there.........and drop them off. Some other things they got were sodas, a throw-a-way camera(mom-2 /27 exp. for loads of sideways pics), a few little treats, coupons (Jame), cereal, bookmarks, pencils, wow! Levi was talking to every character he met and he met many batmen like himself. Even though that's who he was he requested we call him "Master Bruce." Jace was a ninja and Libs stayed home. She would have been terrified! Crowds of people and a few scary ones too! It was fun but my hands were frozen by the end of the walk. I guess that was kind of our warm-up for the big trix and treatsin' (as dad would say). Great fun! Can't wait til Tuesday!

Where!?

Where does the sock that you put into the washer and then the dryer go? I put both of them in there and washed them and dried them both. One disappears. Why? Why so often? Where do the single shoes on the road come from? Why always one and never two? Why in certain areas especially? I know....more deep thoughts.

Can you guess?

Levi is so funny. He and Jace were playing downstairs yesterday and he ended up getting mad at Jace. All of a sudden Pete heard him say to Jace, "you're just an empty-headed female!" Pete came and told me about it and we laughed. Now, before you go thinking that's the kind of name callin' that goes on around here (ha-ha) I want to let you know that line is from a movie. Do you know it?

Devil at home!

The way in which a man lives in his home is vital. It will not do to be a saint abroad--and a devil at home! There are some of that kind. They are wonderfully sweet at a prayer meeting, but they are dreadfully sour to their wives and children. This will never do! Every genuine believer should say, and mean it, 'I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.' It is in the home that we get the truest proof of godliness!

'What sort of a man is he?' said one to George Whitefield; and Whitefield answered, 'I cannot say, for I never lived with him.' That is the way to test a man--to live with him.

Yikes-ain't it the truth?!

Top 50

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/october/23.51.html

Hey, check out these top 50 books that have shaped evangelicalism.

Interesting statement

"The Gospel of Christ, in a world of sin and doubt, will cause disputing; and if it does not cause disputing and arouse bitter opposition, that is a fairly sure sign that it is not being faithfully proclaimed."

-J. Gresham Machen

Pretty bold statement. I don't know that I wholeheartedly agree with this statement but I still thought it was a good one.

Is this really happening?!

The greatest thing is happening. Jace has been journaling on behalf of Pete! He has been writing and writing about Pete being saved. He's actually writing to him about what it is to know God. He's also writing to him what it is to NOT know God. He has all this wonderful stuff written and told me he wanted to share it with Pete. I was trying to take pictures of it and show you because it is just the sweetest thing you ever did see but I can't get it together and I gave up! Anyway he has things written in there like, "why don't you come to church with us, why?-I don't want to see you in the lake of fire-you have to know Jesus-sing this song every night-read Genesis and John- I love you this is your son Jace talking to you-you will perish if you don't believe-we have been praying for you for 8 years-I don't see you read or pray-just come to the service", and on and on and on for 7 pages. It is sweet, sad, and exciting at the same time. He sat down with Pete the other night before he went to Taiwan and shared his journal with him. I went downstairs and prayed and made a lot of noise. Jace said Pete listened but he didn't get to finish and he said Pete believed in God and it's about doing the right thing and that not everybody believes the way Jace does. (Jace told me all this) I encouraged Jace not to give up and that God was going to use that seed that he planted and grow it! He then told me tonight he wanted to do a study with me starting in Genesis. I was thrilled. He said, "I don't mean just read mom, I mean go REAL deep." Am I dreaming? I was like, a son after my own heart(God's heart I pray!) How can it be?! God is so faithful! Please pray for the salvation of Pete and for a continuing of growth and depth in Jaces walk. I also pray for this study to really be something that we grow in together! Thanks!

And some more quotes

-It is not that we believe in God, but that we believe God.

-There is no smaller package that a man wrapped up in himself!

-Coincidence is nothing more than God choosing to remain anonymous.

-The sudden precious moments of life need to be recognized for the unique periods they are, not wasted by wishing for something else.

-Life is not frozen for any of us into one unchanging pattern. If a longer sweep of history is behind us, the thing that is learned is the fleetness of "time."

-Choice to do one thing with an hour is also a choice not to do several other things with the same hour!

Invincible

http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0002847.cfm
Check it out. We saw it this weekend and we thought it was a great movie! Not much out there to see now-a-days so it's good when you can recommend a good one! We also went to the Vikes game for our 10 year anniversary which was very fun. I wish they would have won but oh well- 2-1 ain't bad! Thanks for watchin the kids mom!

Kids thoughts on marriage

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY? (Written by kids)
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich.
The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?

And the #1 Favorite is........

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.

Take comfort

May we know that in private communication, in whatever form we reach out to talk to the Lord, it doesn't have to reach Him in perfect manuscript form. He has read our yellowed penciled pages, as well as our minds and hearts. He reads our written prayers on the back of envelopes, on the margins of our Bibles, on the back of weekly memo calendars or in the unwritten whispers in the middle of the night.
-Edith Scaeffer

Mmmmnnnnn.....

When scientists talk of making clones....what "perfect" human being would they want two of?

Making a difference

We do not stand alone touching no one. We cannot slide into the water and cause no ripple. We are human beings, even if we are not being human. Other people have made a difference to us, whether we can point it out or not, and we are making a difference to other people right now. However, the people who have made the most difference to us are the ones without whose existence we would not "be."
-Edith Shaeffer

Joke time

THIS IS A NONPARTISAN JOKE THAT CAN BE ENJOYED BY BOTH PARTIES! NOT ONLY THAT? It is POLITICALLY CORRECT!!
While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. "Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you." "No problem, just let me in," says the man. "Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity." "Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator. "I'm sorry, but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises... The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. "Now it's time to visit heaven." So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns. "Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity." The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell." So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?" The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...... Today you voted."

Quick comeback?

Jace was sitting on the couch the other day when dad walked by him and did something he thought was worth mentioning. "Hey mom, why was dad eating his shoe polish?" Any comebacks? Those of you who understand of course.

Absurd

"It is absurd to think that anything in us could have the least influence upon our election. Some say that God did forsee that such persons would believe, and therefore chose them; so they would make the business of salvation to depend upon something in us. Whereas God does not choose us FOR faith, but TO faith. " He hath chosen us, that we should be holy." (Eph 1:4), not because we would be holy, but that we might be holy. We are elected to holiness, not for it."
-Thomas Watson

Mercy extended

Hey! I went to talk to a hearing officer today about that ticket I got while parked at the State Fair. I went in with the clear plate that was over my license plate and asked her why these clear plates were illegal. She said, "you cannot have anything covering your plate." I said, "alright." She asked me if I had the other one with me and I said I didn't but it would be taken off. She said, "alright, dismissed." Praise God-mercy was shown! I had a friend who disagreed-they would have liked to seen me stoned right there and said they felt unsafe living where someone would let such a tyrant as me off. Thankfully, I was given a chance to remove the plates and be placed back into society where I will try to do my best to not rebel against the law.

Random notes

Here are some random notes I jotted down at church this morning

-we confuse pleasant circumstances with the peace of God

-it's better to suffer in God's path then to be at ease in satan's way

-watch my tendency to act without praying and/or to plan my own path

-faith may render us independant but doesn't render us indifferent

-when you worship you become a good witness

-where humility exists we can say, "if God saved only one it would still be mercy"

- election is the means by which we are saved-effectual calling is the end

Goals

Set your goals high, and shoot for the moon.
Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars!

Stott

"Loving everyone in general may be an excuse for loving no one in particular."
-John Stott

Sibbes quote

"Election is the highest step of the ladder; but we should begin from a work of grace wrought within from God's calling by His Spirit, and answer to His call. God descends unto us from election to calling."
Richard Sibbes

Fun puns!

1. Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony
wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.

2. A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says,
"I'll serve you, but don't start anything."

3. Two peanuts walk into a bar, and one was a salted.

4. A dyslexic man walks into a bra.

5. A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says:
"A beer please, and one for the road."

6. Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this
taste funny to you?"

7. "Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home.'" "That
sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome." "Is it common?" "Well, It's Not
Unusual"."

8. Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to
Dolly, "I was artificially inseminated this morning." "I don't believe
you," says Dolly. "It's true, no bull!" exclaims Daisy.

9. An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to
look at either.

10. DejaMoo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.

11. I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't
find any.

12. A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident. He shouted,
"Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!" The doctor replied, "I know you
can't - I've cut off your arms!"

13. I went to a seafood disco last week...and pulled a mussel.

14. What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.

15. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and
says "Dam!"

16. Two Eskimos sit ting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the
craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't
have your kayak and heat it too.

17. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing
in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour,
the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse.
"But why?," they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said,
"I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."

18. A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to
a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family in
Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his
birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she
wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds,
"They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."

19. Mahat ma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which
produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very
little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad
breath. This made him. (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good).....
A super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

20. And finally, there was the person who sent twenty different puns to
his/her friends, with the hope that at least ten of the puns would make
them laugh. No pun in ten did.

HK

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.

Helen Keller

The last time

Today was the last day 2 years ago that I saw my dad alive. It was our last earthly goodbye until heaven. My dad asked me if I thought he was a good dad and if Pete made me happy. He told me to take the kids to this secret waterfall in Hastings where he hung out as a kid-Mill creek or something? I still haven't went there. He cried and it was sad. I knew I couldn't go back the night before I had Liberty. We had a good last visit together and that's what I wanted to remember. There is a song I clung to when my dad was dying and it makes my eyes water when I hear it to this day. You probably know it.

I Still Believe

Scattered words and empty thoughts
seem to pour from my heart
I've never felt so torn before
seems I don't know where to start
but it's now that I feel Your grace falls like rain
from every fingertip, washing away my pain

[Chorus:]I still believe in Your faithfulness
I still believe in Your truth
I still believe in Your holy word
even when I don't see, I still believe

Though the questions still fog up my mind
with promises I still seem to bear
even when answers slowly unwind
it's my heart I see You prepare
but its now that I feel Your grace fall like rain
from every finger tip, washing away my pain

[Chorus]The only place I can go is into your arms
where I throw to you my feeble prayers
in brokeness I can see that this was your will for me
Help me to know You are near

Praise God for His awesome grace, faithfulnesss, truth, and His Word! It's amazing!

Consider this...

Consider Christian, that all your . . . trials and troubles, calamities and miseries, crosses and losses,which you meet with in this world--is all the hell that you shall ever have! Here and now you have your hell. Hereafter you shall have your heaven! This is the worst of your condition; the best is yet to come!

-and we all know that are hell on earth is NOTHING compared to the reality of hell itself!

Famous last words....

"It is well, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go." Geaorge Washington

"Now comes the mystery." Henry Ward Beecher

"Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something." Pancho Villa

"The best of it is, God is with us." John Wesley

"It is finished." Jesus Christ

Please Lord

Oh God quicken to life every power within me, that I may lay hold on eternal things. Open my eyes that I may see; give me acute spiritual perception; enable me to taste thee and know that thou art good. Make heaven more real to me than any earthly thing has ever been. Amen.
-unknown

Conference

Dana, aren't you getting tired of me stealing your info? GOSH! I must have this on my blog so others who may want to get signed up for this conference may get on the stick! It is always an awesome time of great learning and reflecting! They both are fantastic!
Pipers in Minneapolis
http://www.desiringgod.org/news_events/dgm_national/2006/index.html

Here is RC Sprouls in Orlando
http://www.ligonier.org/conference/orl2007/index.php

Come one come all!

Great quotes

"There is a living that is death and there is a putting to death that is life." - Murray

"No one ever made it to heaven without purpose-Christianity is purposeful." -Alister Begg

Wesley quote

If once again anger arises, its smoke will so dim the eyes of my soul that I shall be able to see nothing clearly.

John Wesley

When Christ Comes

You are in your car driving home. Thoughts wander to the game you want to see or meal you want to eat, when suddenly a sound unlike any you've ever heard fills the air. The sound is high above you. A trumpet? A choir? A choir of trumpets? You don't know, but you want to know. So you pull over, get out of your car, and look up. As you do, you see you aren't the only curious one. The roadside has become a parking lot. Car doors are open, and people are staring at the sky. Shoppers are racingout of the grocery store. The Little League baseball game across the street has come to a halt. Players and parents are searching the clouds. And what they see, and what you see, has neverbefore been seen. As if the sky were a curtain, the drapes of the atmosphere part. A brilliant light spills onto the earth. There are no shadows. None. From whence came the light begins to tumble a river of color spiking crystals of every hue ever seen and a million more never seen. Riding on the flow is an endless fleet of angels. They pass through the curtains one myriad at a time, until they occupy every square inch of the sky. North. South. East. West. Thousands of silvery wings rise and fall in unison, and over the sound of the trumpets, you can hear the cherubim and seraphim chanting, Holy, holy, holy. The final flank of angels is followed by twenty-four silver-bearded elders and a multitude of souls who join the angels in worship. Presently the movement stops and the trumpets are silent, leaving only the triumphant triplet: Holy, holy, holy. Between each word is a pause. With each word, a profound reverence. You hear your voice join in the chorus. You don't know why you say the words, but you know you must. Suddenly, the heavens are quiet. All is quiet. The angels turn, you turn, the entire world turns and there He is. Jesus. Through waves of light you see the silhouetted figure of Christ the King. He is atop a great stallion, and the stallion is atop a billowing cloud. He opens his mouth, and you are surrounded by his declaration: I am the Alpha and the Omega. The angels bow their heads. The elders remove their crowns. And before you is a Figure so consuming that you know, instantly you know: Nothing else matters. Forget stock markets and school reports. Sales meetings and football games.Nothing is newsworthy. All that mattered, matters no more....for Christ has come. (Max Lucado)

Imagine that or something close to that! Let it be today Lord!

For what?

I got a ticket on my car at the fair tonight. I couldn't add this to my other blog because it was not good news. Guess what it said? Obstructed view on my license plate -$98. What?! I was parallel parked on a city steet legally and I get this ticket that makes NO sense. I think the cop was bored and hated my W....still president sticker or my fish with a cross in it. One or the other or both. There's drunk teens running wild all over outside of the fair but no, give me a ticket because my car angers you. Mmmnnn.....I wonder.

Opening day!

Went to the fair today. It felt like an early day in March-brr! Not too cold to eat though of course. Man there are some strange ones out there hey? We saw Tonic Sol Fa-they are excellent and I would recommend them if you ever hear they're coming your way. They sing accapella and they are funny too! I seen this sweet t-shirt on a guy it said, MARRIED-GAME OVER! I want one. I noticed a lot of youth wearing death metal t-shirts and things like hellbound, my attitude sucks, Be glad I got outta bed today, wasted youth,....some real uplifting stuff you know. I think the crowd had more tats and piercings than the carnies-it gets more bizarre each year. I still like to go though- I have a lot of great family memories there. My dad used to take us every year and we would do it all-come on mom, you remember right? My sister and I are carrying on the tradition of seeing a band in the bandshell, eating lots of greasy food, and at least walking in some of those buildings no one usually goes in unless it rains-and rain it did! We always used to go to the freak shows too but they don't need them anymore. Why pay for them when they surround the place. We also visited the birthing barn and saw a sheep born-pretty sweet. I had to get Levi out before he puked right in the stall but that was alright. It's pretty much the most crowded place in the fair anyway. The greatest part of the day was just as we were leaving and the last downpour happened. We stepped outside of the grandstand and there was a beautiful rainbow! It was an awesome sight!

Crazy!

I love this. You know when you have read a section of scripture many times but then that next time you come across it it's like the first time you ever read it? The Word is Alive! In Acts 26:24 that was the case for me. "While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad!" I can totally relate. This is what it is like to be around unbelieving loved ones. They are always telling me, "you're a fanatic, crazy, a lunatic (a sky pilot!-that's my newest label). When is your spaceship coming to pick you up anyway!?"

Beware

"Remember that you breathe a poisoned atmosphere if you leave the lively and deep impressions of divine truth or fall into skepticism or even into coldness."
Archibald Alexander

Hold onto me!

I love this song by Shawn McDonald
This is my life. Praise God that He holds on to me and sustains this wretch. Amazing.

Another day gone by
And again I ask myself why
I question my sanity
Why I believe what I believe
Some might think that I am crazy
For believing in something I cannot see

So won't You nowHold on to me,
hold onHold on to me, yeah
Please don't let me go no, no, hold on'
Cause I am prone to wonder
Prone to leave this faith I know
Hold on

And now they say that the wise man
Well, he fears the Lord
And this fear, well, it's the beginning of all wisdom
And I must be a fool'
Cause I sure don't seem to fear You
'Cause the very things that You will me to do
Well, I just don't seem to get around to
The very things that You hate
Are the very things that I always stumble into

Hold onHold onHold onHold on'
Cause I am prone to leave this faith I know
Prone to leave this God I love
Won't You hold onWon't You hold on to me

Why, why, why?!

D, thanks for the blog idea!
Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries aregetting weak?
Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?
Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?
Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?
Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?
Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?
Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?
If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?
Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles arealways white?
Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?
Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?
Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?
Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?
How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?
When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shoppingcart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right?" Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That hurt, you stupid idiot?"
Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?
In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?
How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

Excellence

Excellence can be attained if you; CARE more than others think is wise, RISK more than others think is safe, DREAM more than others think is practical and EXPECT more than others think is possible.'
Phil. 3:14

Truth and Error

Satan has effectively used enemies disguised as gifts to lure people away from the truth of God and into destructive error. Today’s church is in a particularly severe state of confusion because of its weak doctrine, relativistic thinking, worldly methodology, inaccurate interpretation of Scripture, lax internal discipline, and spiritual immaturity. What is sorely needed is spiritual discernment—the skill of separating divine truth from error (1 Thess. 5:21).

Perhaps you are discerning in the everyday affairs of life. You read nutritional labels because you want to be healthy. You read the fine print of the stock market report before making financial investments. If you need surgery, you carefully select the right doctor. Maybe you’re highly analytical about politics and can accurately assess a plethora of domestic and foreign issues. Or maybe you’re an armchair quarterback who evaluates offensive and defensive strategies. All that is fine, but can you discern between divine truth and error?

Boyd article

You know I wanna know all your thoughts. Some of you have alreday read this and some may not have but it is worth a look. http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/disowning-conservative-politics-is/20060729195809990004

Seasonal friends

Wow! It's actually in the 70's right now- believe it. The humidity feels pretty disgusting but I am so thankful for the rain. I hope we get more today! Yesterday was incredibly hot huh? We had about 15 people over swimming and I tell you, I never felt the pool sooo warm. It was actually almost hot. You had to get out and sit in the sun which dried you in about point 4 seconds to appreciate the pool. The cement was so hot Carla, you could have made a superb omelete. I thought about just making dinner right there on the sidewalk! We were laughing about people coming over swimming all summer. I said, "I sure have a lot of friends in the summer-just not in the winter." Ha Ha. Someone said, "there's people that have seasonal jobs, Regan, she has seasonal friends." :o) Come on over-there's not much time left to be friends!

Wacky

Anyone familiar with that Dr. Suess book "Wacky Wednesday?" It's a great one and my kids have all loved it. So we were driving home the other day on the freeway when we happened upon this couple on a motorcylce. Well, the lady on the back of this motorcycle was wearing a halter top so her back was bare and Jace said, "I think that lady is not wearing a shirt!" Levi knew the answer to that, "looks like it's Wacky Wednesday!"

Levi clips

Liberty was laying on the couch by dad yesterday when Levi came up and said, "my turn." Liberty said, "no." Dad asked why Liberty wouldn't move and give Levi a turn. He said, "it's because of sin. She has sin in her and that's why she won't move. Even though she's a baby she has sin."
While praying the other day he said,"God, I will always worship you and I will NEVER worship a block of wood."
Also he prayed, "and thank you God for teaching that girl a lesson who was calling me a baby."

Fresh supplies of Your grace

I know not what difficulties, or trials, or temptations, may be before me this day. Prepare me whether for duty or for conflict. Knowing the treachery of the heart, I desire this morning, and each morning, to receive fresh supplies of Your grace.

Psalm 90

I listened to this awesome sermon on Psalm 90 last night. The verse that sticks out most to me is vs 12-"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to you a heart of wisdom." It teaches us to evaluate the use of my time in light of this brief life I am going to live. No matter what happens that I would measure EVERYTHING against Gods character. It never changes. Can I live in light of eternity and that because God is sovereign without fear of any circumstance that comes my way? Are my priorites set in this way or do I tend to live like tomorrow is just a repetition of yesterday? Am I prepared for tomorrow and whatever comes with it?
Lord, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; let me know how transient I am. (Psalm 39:4)
Let me live THIS way Lord.

Motives

Two things are required to make an action right. One is that it be lawful in itself. The other is that it be done with a right motive. If the thing done is itself wrong, no motives can make it right. On the other hand, the thing done may be right in itself, but the motive which governs us may be wrong, and so the act may be sinful because the motive is sinful. Bad motives in good actions are like dead flies in sweet ointments. They corrupt the whole. The motive of the heart is everything!

Right Place......Right Time

Wow! I was in the right place at the right time tonight! Levi and I decided to go on a bike ride around dusk tonight when riding along I found twenty bucks! Hurray! My grandpa always taught me to keep my eyes on the ground because sooner or later I would find some money! He had this stack of money that totaled like $36 or something folded in all these different ways because that was JUST how he found it. Well, that is a little crazy to me so I plan on just spending it on some delicious treats! Yum! Ya never know when you just may find some money laying in the road!

More quotes

"In God We Trust." I don't believe it would sound any better if it were true." - Mark Twain

On the sixth day, God created man. On the seventh day, man returned the favor."-- unknown

The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason." - Benjamin Franklin

"Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color." --Don Hirschberg

Jeremiah!

I learned from the book of Jeremiah tonight. Wow! Was it profoundly staggering! Read it up when you get a moment. Here is the part that stuck so much with me, "Listen and give heed, do not be haughty, For the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God, Before He brings darkness and before your feet stumble On the dusky mountains, And while you are hoping for light He makes it into deep darkness, And turns it to gloom. (Jer 13:15-16) How I long for the lost to repent and know Christ. Have mercy Lord!

All hang dependent on His powerful providence!

"He holds all creation together." Col. 1:17"
He sustains the universe by the mighty power of His command!" Hebrews 1:3
Jesus Christ upholds, preserves, and governs the worlds which He has made! Thus all creatures, from the smallest insect which is seen by the microscope; up to the archangel which worships before the eternal throne; all events, from the falling of a hair of the head to the destruction of nations by famine, pestilence, and war; all rule and authority, from that of a petty official, to that of thrones and principalities in heaven; the material universe, from the least particle which floats in the sunbeam to the grandest system of worlds which roll in immensity--all hang dependent on His powerful providence! And if one link in the chain of that dependence were broken, they would all rush headlong to destruction!

Do it Lord!

Lord,
Send Thy life throughout the entire Church. Lord, visit Thy church, restore sound doctrine, restore holy and earnest living. Take away from professors their apparent love for frivolities, their attempts to meet the world on its own ground, and give back the old love to the doctrines of the cross, the doctrines of the Christ of God: and once more may free grace and dying love be the music that shall refresh the church, and make her heart exceeding glad.
- Charles Spurgeon -

Lewis

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.

I believe in Christianity as I believe in the rising sun; not because I see it, but by it I can see all else.

It is hard to have patience with people who say ''There is no death'' or ''Death doesn't matter.'' There is death. And whatever is matters. And whatever happens has consequences, and it and they are irrevocable and irreversible. You might as well say that birth doesn't matter.

Salted nut roll

Ahh! I knew I might get Kristi's attention here. Dawn told me last night on our walk that John used to work at Pearsons. First of all.....LUCKY! She said you guys used to get FRESH nut rolls on Fridays or something. YUM! Don't cha miss it? I was wondering if anyone had a great recipe for salted nut rolls? Dawn said she thought she knew someone who did but she couldn't remeber who it was? Anyone? Bueller? Fry?

Deep Thoughts

Anyone remember these?

To me, it's a good idea to always carry two sacks of something when you walk around. That way, if anybody says, Hey, can you give me a hand? You can say, Sorry, got these sacks.

If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let'em go, because, man, they're gone.

If you ever catch on fire, try to avoid seeing yourself in the mirror, because I bet that's what REALLY throws you into a panic.

Jack Handy-Deep Thoughts

A couple funnies

While we were waiting to take off on our walk today we were standing next to a lady on oxygen that pricked Levi's curiosity. He was giving her the stare down as I wondered in fear what he was going to say. He said, "mom, what does she have?" "I said, "I don't know, what do you mean?" He said, "well, her eyes are closed." I said, "well, she's probably sleeping." He says loudly enogh, "well, maybe she's blind." I just kind of shrugged because Isaac was jumping around next to us yellling, "Levi, doesn't it smell like horse in here?" Great fun!

Saved

Went on another walk today at the residents abode. I told Jace this time I would like him to try to push a wheelchair on his own. Little Ann Marie (mom alongside her of course) does it I figured Jace could too. Well, he of course had to choose the largest resident there was and I knew that a red flag was going off in my head but I chose to ignore it and let him try. Wrong. We got out the door alright but as soon as we turned the corner and started going down the incline he lost control. I am not kidding you-by the grace of God did she not go down the hill. Her chair just veered left and was ready to go down the big grassy hill! I pictured her flying down the hill and flipping out of her chair (flashbacks of Little House on the Prairie)-thankfully where the grass met the sidewalk was just enough to keep her on the edge! We all couldn't let go of our residents becasue we were behind him on the hill. It's kind of a blur but Janice (all 92 pounds of her) ran down and pryed her back on the path. Praise God she was saved! She already had two broken arms from who knows what so I was glad we didn't further her injuries. The funny thing about it is that this whole time all this severe danger was going on-she was sound asleep. YIKES!

Tweels?

Check out these new tires. Think we're gonna see these around town soon? I'm thinkin' they're pretty sweet. Don't forget to check out the photo gallery on these new "tweels." This may be old news but it was new to me! Thanks D!
http://www.michelinman.com/difference/releases/pressrelease01102005a.html

Dogs

Gotta love them. Well, my kids do anyway. We were at Pete's side of the fam last night and they have 3 dogs. One old dog that has occassional seisure spasms, one 4 year old puppy=middle dog syndrome, and one that's barely a year-baby Tink. No- I don't know what kind they are- the annoying kind is what I label them all ("dog-killer"). Levi and Libs LOVE them. Levi was taking the little one by it's little leash that they keep on it at all times when I look over in the living room and he has it as high up as his arm can reach hanging in mid-air. After we told him that could choke the puppy and kill it, he laid off and didn't mess with it for a while. A bit later he was standing with it again, leash in hand so I said, "be careful with the puppy Levi." He said, "hey, gramma, I'm holding the puppy and I'm not even choking it."

Napoleon

Jane-what a silly! She game me the "Napoleon Dynamite Game" for my birthday. Looks like you gotta have drawing skills to play. Have you heard of it? I never have. The goal is this: to draw two animals combined-fast. Your teammates have to be able to guess which two they are. This is my favorite part: if they guess, you move ahead on the gameboard. Heck, yes. If you land on Uncle Rico-IDIOT--you have to draw your next animal throwing a football. On Kip-you have to draw 3 combined-yikes! I gotta go practice my drawing Liger skills!

Walking Dirt?

The more grace we have, the less we shall think of ourselves; for grace, like light, reveals our impurity.
At best, we are . . . but clay, animated dust, mere walking dirt.
But viewed as sinners, we are monsters indeed.
Let it be published in heaven as a wonder, that the Lord Jesus should set His heart's love upon such as we are!

Praise God for extending his grace to walking dirt!

Let Freedom Ring!

Yeah! It's the fourth of July- My favorite holiday. As I sit here I can hear fireworks from all different directions. It's a lovely sound. Can you imagine if we didn't have the freedom we enjoy in this country? Yikes! Thank you Lord for being born and raised in the USA! Happy Independence day!

A little sin...

"Ah!" says Satan, "It is but a little sin--a little pride, a little worldliness, a little lust, etc. You may commit it without any danger to your soul. It is but a little one; you may commit it, and yet your soul shall live." Consider, that there is great danger, yes, many times most danger--in the smallest sins. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (1 Cor. 5:6). If the serpent sneaks in his head--he will draw in his whole body after him. Greater sins do sooner startle the soul, and awaken and rouse up the soul to repentance, than lesser sins do. Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and indiscernibly in the soul, until they come to be so strong, as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul. Many are eternally killed and betrayed by the 'little sins', as they call them, that are nourished in their own bosoms.
A little hole in the ship, sinks it.
A small breach in a dyke, carries away all before it.
A little stab at the heart, kills a man.
A little sin, without a great deal of mercy, will damn a man!

I thought this was a great find!

Cabin towns

Funny how in most cabin towns there is one gas station and 4 bars right next to each other huh? Each has a car or two at it normally but on holiday weekends they pack 'em in. We were driving through one such town this weekend when Jace said, "all this town has in it is one gas station and one drinkhouse." Yep. Even the children notice.

Joke of the day

God is sitting in Heaven when a scientist says to Him: "Lord, we don't needYou anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing. In other words, we can now do what You did 'In the 'beginning'!" "Oh, is that so? Tell me how." replies God. "Well," says the scientist, "we can take dirt and form it into the likeness of You and breathe life into it, thus creating man." "Well, that's interesting, show Me." So the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil. "Oh no, no, no..." interrupts God, "Get your own dirt."

Rings true

"It's not the things that I don't understand that bother me......it's the things I do understand"
Mark Twain

Forgot to tell ya

When we were at the nursing home the other day and left Louie we got to bring Imojean back to her room. She could talk but very softly and it seemed like it took everything in her. We got to her room and Levi said, "mom, she wants to go in her chair." I said, "someone will be in to help you do that right?" She voiced, "yes", and nodded sweetly with a "thank you very much." Levi said bye and see ya next week. When we went out in the hall he looked back to her room and back to me and asked,"is she going to be alright in there?" I said, "yes, that's where she lives." He said, "why?" I said, "sometimes when you get older you need to live where someone can take care of you." He then asked, "why can't a lot of these people talk and hear?" I said. "when you get older sometimes you don't hear and talk as well as you did when you were younger." I said, "someday mom will get old and you might have to push me around in a wheelchair and take me for a walk." He said, "I can't, you're too big." I said, "when I'm older you'll be a big man." He looked at me sadly and held his hand out to mine like he wanted to hold it and walk down the hall with me. It was so sweet. It reminded me of that book "Love you forever" by Robert Munsch. If you don't have it pick it up and read it to your child! It's one for your library! Even though I knew by the end of the day he would be telling me, "you're not my best friend anymore," it was a precious moment.

The most treacherous enemy

(Richard Baxter, "Self-Denial")
"People will be lovers of self." 2 Timothy 3:2 Self is the most treacherous enemy, and the most insinuating deceiver in the world. Of all other vices, it is both the hardest to find out, and the hardest to cure.

Another walk

Yes! We got to the nursing home and we were just about to pick our resident when I had to stop and put Libs up on my back. In doing this we ended up being last to pick and that meant-sleeper. It's so sad but yet you do what you can to have conversation. Our guy was Louie! Levi went up and introduced himself, "hello Louie, my name is Levi." No response. He looks at me, "mom, he doesn't talk." Oh well, we were off. Levi chatted as much as he could but Louie never responded. I saw Levi stare him down. He had a bum thumb and Levi was quick to notice. It did look pretty bad. Levi lagged behind a bit and have to have a little gag moment. He then said, "mom, I think Louie is sad because his finger hurts." I said he could be right. We also had a little moment where Louie slid forward and almost toppled out of his chair-yikes! When we neared the end Levi spotted this huge cross up on the hill. He shouted out, "yep, that's where Jesus dies on the cross." I said, "yeah, he did die on the cross and that's why he is not on it anymore because he rose again." (Thought I would use that as an opportunity to witness to anyone listening). In the next breath he said, "AND THEN THERE"S HELL.......(at this time we were almost to the end of the walk) we're almost there," he added. Hopefully no one heard him shouting all that out. We made it inside and Louie did give us a smile and a little grunt. We said goodbye and see ya next week!

Stanley Cup

Well Carolina won the Stanley Cup-believe it. It was pretty cool at the buzzer to see them win. After that I was annoyed. Everyone walking around worshipping the "silver calf." Passin' it around-acting like weirdos. Feeling famous, adrenaline going crazy, crying, screaming, drinkin' it up. Probably gonna be some big riots in Carolina tonight-good grief.

Weekend

Jace says to me when we're at the cabin this weekend, "mom, I just figured something out. You spend time with us when you're up here." Hey, how bout that? I would tell my accountability partner that if she wasn't fired. No, actually that wasn't really a great compliment. I don't have anything to do up there though and that is helpful. We jumped on the trampoline, read books, played tetherball, went fishing, played volleyball, went four-wheeling, ate and ate some more! We had a great time together even though I feel like my body is broken in pieces. Whoever thought tetherball was fun anyway? Thing'll kill ya! Napolean has serious skills. Jamie hit Jace in the face twice and Jace hit my mom in the ear-she probably got that ear ringer sound goin' off in there. Liberty is just mad she can't get the ball of the rope. Volleyball bruised Jamies arms all up and down, my thumbs, and my stomach feels like I did 400 sit-ups-gosh! Levi and Jace caught all sorts of bugs in there bugtown thing the neighbor borrowed them. At one time Levi had like 4 deer flies in there-yikes! We found a spider so big it wouldn't even fit in the bugtown-some weird mutation of tarantula. Pete put up this hammock that is like a huge trick to get on-or off maybe. We all fell out of it like 3 or 4 times-except him of course- he thinks we're just a bunch of klutzs'. Jace also got a 4-wheeler from gramps for his birthday. He and Pete are still up there. I don't know if he'll get him to come home. I had to get back and water the grass-the yard is seeded all over and is starting to lose that "adams family" look from all the work. Well, all in all it was a good weekend and I am looking forward to the morning walk and the nursing home. Levi said we get to pick a new residient tomorrow- he requested one that can talk. We'll see.

Be Like Christ At All Times

My brethren, let me say, be like Christ at all times. Imitate him in 'public.' Most of us live in some sort of public capacity-many of us are called to work before our fellow-men every day. We are watched; our words are caught; our lives are examined- taken to pieces. The eagle-eyed, argus-eyed world observes everything we do, and sharp critics are upon us. Let us live the life of Christ in public. Let us take care that we exhibit our Master, and not ourselves-so that we can say, "It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me." Spurgeon
I want to live more realizing that there is a world watching. Believers and unbelievers alike. How can I be an example if how I am living is not a good example!!!!

Funny?

Funny how a $100 "looks" so big when you take it to church, but so small when you take it to the mall.
Funny how long it takes to serve God for an hour,but how quickly a team plays 60 minutes of basketball.
Funny how long a couple of hours spent at church are, but how short they are when watching a movie.
Funny how we can't think of anything to say when we pray, but don't have difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend.
Funny how we get thrilled when a baseball game goes into extra innings, but we complain when a sermon is longer than the regular time.
Funny how hard it is to read a chapter in the bible,but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a best selling novel.
Funny how people want to get a front seat at any game or concert, but scramble to get a back seat at church services.
Funny how we need 2 or 3 weeks advance notice to fit a church event into our schedule, but can adjust our schedule for other events at the last moment.
Funny how hard it is for people to learn a simple gospel well enough to tell others, but how simple it is for the same people to understand and repeat gossip.
Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, or to think, or to say, or do anything.
Funny how christians can know so much about the world and so little about God.
Funny how a church can do something totally unbiblical and people embrace it and call it grace.

Useless Doctrine?

Doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life.It is worse than useless; it does positive harm. Something of 'the image of Christ' must be seen and observed by others in our private life, and habits, and character, and doings. --J.C. Ryle

Our first walk

Hey the walk was good. Worrying about Levi was right on. When we got there we went into the gathering area where all the residents were lined up and waited to hear our instructions. As we were waiting this resident was calling for help. Well, Levi heard her and off to the rescue! He went over to her and put his finger right in the middle of her large galsses and knocked on them about 6 times with the tip of his finger and said, "hey, you were yelling for help!" After she realized he was pretty much sitting in her wheelchair she asked him his name which he told her about 5 times to no avail. Finally she leaned towards him and in a friendly but rough voice said, "I can't hear and I can't see. " He looked very sadly at her and said, "ohhh." He then came over to me and said, "mom, her ears hurt." We then picked a man wearing a hawkeyes cap and went up to him and introduced ourselves. When we asked him his name he said what I thought was "guess." We guessed Bill. Believe it-it was-people were shouting out to him all over on our walk. He's like a celebrity there. He was a really nice but he couldn't talk really but he did with his hands and he could say a few words. A lot of "yes sirs, thank yous, mmnn, ahhs, ya, beep." Levi didn't care he played 20 questions and talked about everything he knew. Now and then I would point out some flowers and Bill would acknowledge them in his own way and Levi said (only once), "I already saw those, duh!" Bill kept patting him on the head and shoulder. Levi really seemed to like him and thought his wheelchair was cool because it had a tray for his lunch and a mirror on it. That way he could keep his eye on Cbass behind us in case she was gonna try anything funny. It was a good experience for the kids especially-I am looking forward to more visits!

Pig Roast

Yesterday was the Noser family pig roast. I had a bloggin' moment. While watching John and Kristi unload the pig from the roaster Levi came over to check out Wilbur. I can still see the look on his face. It was of utmost disgust. As a matter of fact he said, "that is so disgusting." I said, "do you want some?" "No way!!" Later at home I was cleaning up out in the kitchen and I hear Levi yell, "Mom, could you cook me up some dinner, and don't make it pig!"

Monday morning walks

We are going to be taking walks with some of the residents of a nursing home in Hudson starting next Monday. I am excited at the thought of doing something for the kingdom but at the same time a tiny bit nervous. Jace has already been visiting there a couple times with another friend so I am not too worried about him. It's Levi and Liberty I am concerned about. I have decided that I will carry Liberty in a back pouch thing so she doesn't run off causing me to leave a resident alone with Levi. Yikes. I am already picturing the things he will be saying to the residents. The lady that showed us around already confirmed him as being the entertainment. I'm praying he doesn't say anything crazy or go to the bathroom right on the lawn. I will have to share in our first adventure with you next week. Keep us in your prayers. :o)

John Newton Quote

I am not what I once was!
I am not what I ought to be. Ah, how imperfect and deficient.
I am not what I wish to be. I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good.
I am not what I hope to be. Soon I shall put off, with mortality--all sin and imperfection.
Though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be--I can truly say that I am not what I once was--a slave to sin and Satan. And I can heartily join with the apostle and say that "by the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10

AMEN!

Schedule

I need a schedule. Can anyone relate? When the kids are done with school or out of school it doesn't take long (like a week) before they are bored silly! I've told a friend that I needed to be held accountable to sharing one uninterrupted hour of the day with my kids doing structured things. I know this sounds all "ECFE" like and "organized mommy" like but don't get the idea I'm at all like these types of people. I know an hour seems like no big deal when they are up for 14 but it is when your like me. The first day I tried this with my kids they were like "mom, are you gonna play with us?" I said, "well, yeah?" They were like,"why?" I'm really better at directing and giving orders so they were pretty shocked. It had been really good the first few days but I've pretty much fallen off that wagon and my friend has never asked me once how it was going so I'm blaming her and hoping to start over next week.

666

Everyone realize what the date is today? I was sure that something was gonna blow up or some charismatic fanatic was gonna be claming the trumpet would be blowing at dusk. I bet there are all sorts of "prophetic" crazy things going on huh? Anyone hear any good ones? I haven't turned on the tv or looked at a paper so maybe some of you have. Let me in on all the talk!

Abominable sin!

Job's sense of sin was vastly increased by the great discoveries he had of God's majesty and glory: "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes!" Increased views of God's glory had the same effect on Isaiah, and made him cry out, "Woe is me! for I am undone!" (Job 42:5-6; Isaiah 6:5). God's presence is infinite; His power is infinite; His nature is infinite; His existence is infinite; and so to sin against Him must be an infinite insult and wrong. Sin is an infinite evil.Sin is that abominable thing which He hates. He hates sin with infinite loathing.
Do we even slightly understand how much God hates sin? How He CANNOT look upon it because of His holiness. I know that I don't and that I need to. I want to. I pray that God helps me to despise my sin as He does. He is so holy and awesome!

Soundboard

Do you blogggers have this on your favorites list? You better. It's a keeper. Hope you enjoy it! I wish they had one for Kip and Uncle Rico. Maybe they do. It's flippin' sweet. http://albinoblacksheep.com/flash/ndsound.php

Spurgeon quote

"The doctrine of justification itself, as preached by an Arminian, is nothing but the doctrine of salvation by works..."
I love it. It's total truth.

Garage sales

Thanks for the idea Carla. I can't stand it when garage sales are a rip. Woodbury has to be the biggest rip-off garage sales of all time! I can't believe how packed it gets. People sell things for way too much and get offended when you bargain with them. I was at this guys house who had a Wayne Gretsgy lunch box that said 25- on it. Just like that. I held out a quarter to buy it and he about threw me out on his lawn. He's like, "that's 25 dollars!!!!!!" As if I was gonna pay that for a piece of tin that was gonna get left at some park with a moldy sandwich in it! People will fight you for stuff too. It's like the day after Thanksgiving day sale at Best Buy there. Yikes! I tried a having a garage sale last year with some friends. Never again! Way too much work to end up hauling everything away! Cheap too! People don't want baby clothes-they want junk! I'll stick to shopping the sales and of course to Value Junk Mall! :o)

Glorious days ahead!

I love this weather! "Blessed be your name, when the suns shining down on me-when the worlds all as it should be(in my backyard anyway)-Blessed be Your name!" Ah! Looking forward to a fabulous weekend by the pool. Anyone gonna be around? Swing by and take a swim! We can blog face to face. :o)

Is it time?

Jace asked me the dreaded question tonight. Well, one of them in life. "Where did I come from?" Not quite like that but he said, "Mom, how did I get here? I just feel like I came from air." Ummm.....

"Peephole, Peephole"

Levi's favorite song. It's kind of an old like bible camp song-that's how I remember it. You may know it too! "Behold, Behold, I stand at the door and knock, knock, knock...." His version: "Peephole, peephole, I stand at the door and knock, knock, knock. Peephole, peephole, I stand at the door and knock, knock, knock. If any horse hear my voice, if any horse hear my voice, I will come in.

Shocked by the thought!

I have often been shocked with the thought! I have often been shocked with the thought, that while a man's eulogy is being pronounced upon earth--his poor soul may be writhing and blaspheming in the torments of hell!
"The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him-- Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire!" Luke 16:22-24

This was a gem I received this weekend. No not a fun thought, but fearfully true!

Swimming away

I love this time of year. The pool is open and the kids aren't bored with it yet. They love each other and they play so well together. This week is proabably the 1st out of the month it's been open that they can feel their legs. Soon they will be drowning each other and bored with it and the lifeguarding will begin. I actually had to go for a swim today for fear of melting in this mugginess. Man, I just can't swim like I used to. Cannonballs don't feel right(it's like a man stunt) and my 8 year old can outswim me! I'm a failure. Last year I was training for that stupid hudson triathalon and swam 1.000 laps to make it seem like anything equivalent to swimming in the st. croix 12 laps across the beach. Now I know what a goldfish feels like in a fishbowl. I'm almost as long as the pool-gosh! We almost died huh Cbass? I think the most I got out of that was green hair from the pool and more fear of giant carp that are in that st. croix mudhole. Yikes! I love summer anyway but I think I would much rather lay by the pool on my raft and fall in every now and then. No more silly training for me, unless of course cbass talks me into it! :o)

Get me a drink!

Levi, he is so funny. Tonight we were reading the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. He was so amazed by it. He said, "that was really nice of Jesus, but couldn't he get them a drink?" After that I told him Jesus could do anything and did perform many miracles. He said, "wow, that's nice but I AM an angel." :o) Lies!

A great calling

A great quote from "When You Rise Up" by R.C. Sproul Jr. "Thinking that education is something different from discipling our children is a sure sign that we have been "educated" by the state. Education is discipleship." He finishes this chapter with this:
May we remember as parents that we are His children, and that He is about the business of changing our hearts, of repairing our ruins, of remaking us. And though He has not finished with us, he has placed in our care His children. May He in His grace keep our hearts aflame for these children. May He give us minds like steel traps that we would never be distracted, that we would not forsake our calling. May He, the great Steward, make us faithful stewards of children, the most precious gifts, of which is the kingdom of God.

Excellent article on Davinci deception

Excellent article at www.gracetoyou.org abot the davinci deception. It's called "how should Christians respond". I also recommend clicking on the link to Al Mohler's and James White. (Hey, Joey is that your uncle?) :o) Read it up bloggers!

Secret

As if it isn't enough that Levi lets my moms gross dog lick his face and hands and arms-YUCK! Tonight he was rubbing dog rudeness all over him and then I saw Levi do something really strange. It looked like he was folding his ear back and sniffin' it up. I said "what are you doing?!" He looked at me and said, "I was just telling him a secret!" I should have known.

A spider in here!

Driving down the road to Value junk the other day I forgot to tell you this funny story. Levi is in the back seat and he yells up, "MOM, THERE'S A SPIDER IN HERE!" "Alright, thanks Levi!" I yell back. "MOM,HOW DID THIS SPIDER GET IN HERE?" "Don't know Levi," I say. "MOM,WE"VE GOTTA GET THIS SPIDER OUTTA HERE!" "I'm driving Levi, He'll get out, don't worry." "MOM, PULL OVER THE CAR THERE"S A LIVE ANIMAL IN HERE!"

Families!

Everyones got one! They make me crazy sometimes! I can't figure out how to make every one of them happy all the time! Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me and my sinful being? I don't do this right, I don't say that right, I looked at that person the wrong way, I should've done this that way, I didn't do that at the right time, I can't have another chance cuz now I would be doing it because someone told me to! I QUIT!

Loathing!

I feel a vile, unworthy, unholy being. I loathe myself beyond expression. But the blood and righteousness of Jehovah-Jesus is my confidence, and here I have a place of refuge. "What a wretched man I am!" Romans 7:24"Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6"My salvation and glory depend on God; mystrong rock, my refuge, is in God." Psalm 62:7

This is how I want to feel every moment of my life. May God help me to never glory in me!

Birthday ideas?

Anyone got any birthday ideas out there that you would have your kids give to their dad? I already got Pete his gift from me but I was wondering, what do dads like to get from their kids? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Help! New insights my new bloggin' family.

My brother

Talked to my brother today via e-mail. He got the dvd and said he watched it and enjoyed it. It was so weird to imagine him sitting there looking at my dad and knowing nery little about him. He was just looking to see any resemblances and thinking he was some rockstar. He doesn't know anything but what I tell him and it's so far from who he really was. Ever try to explain someone to someone else that they never knew and are never going to have the chance to meet? He's a guy on a piece of paper to him and someone totally different to me. It's just really weird if you really think about it. I wonder if I will meet him someday (and not on Oprah) and if there will be any similarities between us? To start, he quotes Jimmy Hendrix at the bottom of his e-mails "When the power of love becomes stronger than the love of power, we will have peace." Great. We already got problems. Oh brother!

Dinner with Gloria

Tonight Janie, Cbass, and our kiddos went over to Glorias for a feast. She wanted to have us for dinner and did she make a lot of food or what? She had about 16 things on the table to eat not to mention 4 different desserts. She had us all dish up and then she just sat and watched us. Levi said, "Gloria, aren't you going to eat?" She said, "no it's just nice to see you guys eating." It was like she was so glad to have someone to cook for. Gosh-do we take things for granted or what ladies? She got so much joy of being able to have us over to cook for and us to eat her meal. Strange too because you know how kids eat, a bite here, a bite there. It was a good time and then we played ouside in her yard and visited. She also had a few vases of lilacs that she had picked for us to take home=I mean HUGE vases! Then, Jace had a baseball game at 7:15 and Gloria, Cbass, and I went to that. She was so glad to be out and about. Thank you Lord for putting her in our lives. When the Lord brings joy to us in the many ways He does- it is just so awesome to be a part of it!

Just wanted a walk-Gosh!

Gosh! Just trying to take the kids on a little bike ride to wear them out and of course get a power walk in with jane mary m and do some catch-up chattin'. If my kid didn't wipe out 14 times it could've been accomplished! See, my husband-bless him-decided to take home Jace's old bike from the cabin (for Levi) and go off to work today without putting his training wheels on. You see I got a free bike (Carla can appreciate this) from a friend that was hot pink( second child-color doesn't matter) and he loved it but Pete thought this would be a good change for him physically and mentally. This bike was also a bit bigger than the hot pink one. Well, that left me to do the job. Easy enough? Wrong! I am absolutely no good with a wrench or any kind of tools for that matter. I did put them on but incorrectly and definitely not tight enough. It didn't matter though because I would tighten them until my hands were bloody if I could just get a walk in! After they fell off the first 5 times we stopped back home to retighten them and tell Levi again, "this time they will really work." Just down around the bend from that moment his wheel went flying off and thankfully a good samaritan seen the whole thing and asked if we needed help. Well, of course we did and we got a tune-up on both bikes right then and there. We made it about another mile when Levi's "un-tuned" up side of his training wheels fell apart. That was it for him. He wasn't believing it any more-his bike was junk. He hated it and he said so. Jane then offered to push Levi's bike and Liberty sat on his lap in a small umbrella stroller we were hoping survived the big load. Then, as Jane was boasting (ha ha) about how Isaac's dad had tightened all his bike parts up his pedal went flying off and now he was without transportation also. Now Isaac hated his bike too. Jane then tried to push both of these goofy looking bikes down the road until she couldn't steer them anymore and we dumped them in a ditch temporarily until we could make it home to get her van to pick them up. As we were walking away from them Isaac got worried about somebody taking these prize bikes so we had to say a prayer that the Lord would protect them from being stolen. As we walked home, Levi in the stroller, Jane carrying Isaac on her back, and Liberty running down the middle of the road we laughed at all that had happened to us and what a sight we must have been. Next time we go out on our bike/walk/stroll/carry we will be more prepared. We will go thru a checklist and carry a cellphone. We will have extra tools and better skills. Yeah, I'm sure that we will.

Value Thrift and Petland!

I love it! Value thrift is a great place to shop. You guys shop there? I just got Jace a bunch of clothes for dirt cheap. It is 25% off Monday. What a zoo! They are so serious in there too. ONLY 3 items in the dressing room at a time and back in line soldier! Yikes! We were shopping there for a couple of hours. The kids love it too because they have tons of junk that they can play with while I am shopping away. I seen a handful of people from church there as usual. Then we went on down to the pet store to look at the animals( my kids love dogs but I will NEVER own one) and invest in some new fish. I killed all the others. Oops! As Jace and I were picking out new ones Liberty was dipping her hand in the goldfish tank and sucking away-sick! We came home with 2 neons, a white molly, and a new beta that we hope doesn't kill them all- unless of course I kill them first. :o)

Happy Moms day moms!

Hey, I just got back from a great relaxing weekend at the cabin and I wanted to wish everyone a happy moms day. Well, although you won't see this til tomorrow know that you moms are appreciated EVERYDAY! I laugh when I think about having one child. What was that like? I don't remember but I am sure my life revolved around that him. I'm sure I cut grapes into quarters and hotdogs into millions, and never let him play with a balloon by himself for fear of certain death. I was reading in the bgc mag this article written by a mother of three and had to laugh when she said, "the first child got everything boiled, the second got it rinsed off, and the third got it wiped off on my pants." That is SERIOUSLY true! I always make those, "oh, she's the third child we don't worry about that anymore." I was at a friends house recently where they have one child and I was going to wash Liberty's chocolate hands off on the washrag that was in their sink. I went to grab the washcloth and the parent said, "oh, we use the yellow washrag for that." Oops! I was reminded what it was like to be a first time parent. If I was at home I probably would've just brought her out on the deck and squirted the hose at her. :o)

Piper article

A sweet article in BGC mag this month. "Taking the Swagger out of Christian cultural influence." I thought this part was most excellent!
But Christian exiles are not pasive. We do not smirk at the misery or the merrymaking of immoral culture. We weep. Or we should. This is my main point: being exiles does not mean being cynical. It does not mean being indifferent or uninvolved. The salt of the earth does not mock rotting meat. Where it can, it saves and seasons. And where it can't, it weeps. And the light of the world does not withdraw saying, "good riddance" to godless darkness. It labors to illuminate. But not dominate. Being Christian exiles in American culture does not end our influence; it takes the swagger out of it. We don't get cranky that our country has been taken away. We don't whine about the triumphs of evil. We are not hardened with anger. We understand. This is not new. This was the way it was in the beginning---Antioch, Corinth. Athens, Rome. The Empire was not just degenerate: it was deadly. For three explosive centuries Christians paid for their Christ-exalting joy with blood. Many still do. More will.

Is that awesome or what?!

Only God knows

I was reading this article in the Minnesota Christian Chronicle where it talks about Johnny Lang being healed by Christ of his addictions. Great, I thought and then read the article. It says, something "supernatural" occurred and he began shaking in his chair. He says, "It's like somebody grabbed my shoulders and shook me forcefully back and forth. Yet at the same time, I felt total peace. I heard Jesus say to me , 'you don't have to have this if you don't want it.' This kind of stuff scares me. I grew up in a church where much shaking, barking, croppy-floppin' and other stuff went on and I really believe as the bible states that God is a God of order and not confusion ( 1 Cor. 14:33). I tend to hear this kind of thing and take caution. I try not to put God in my own little box but I get a little freaked out when I hear stories like these. If God saved Johnny Lang that is awesome and I hope to hear some new rockin' christian tunes from him soon. :o)

Check it out guys

Yesterday I watched this dvd that was made for my dad's funeral. It has lots of pictures to go with a few of his favorite songs he used to sing (he was a drummer in a band). It's pretty cool and I watched it with the kids. I just sent it Monday in the mail to my newly revealed brother. Weird huh? This guy (my brother) contacted my younger sister(I have 1 older sister too but no brothers!) and claimed that my dad was his father. Alright. I've known this for all of about 3 weeks. I just sent him the dvd so he could see what his biological father looks like. He seems like a nice guy that loves his adoptive family and really isn't "searching for a new family" but said it would be cool to meet us if it felt right. He sent us a bunch of pictures and I do think he has resmeblances to us. I also talked to him on the phone a couple weeks ago. He's 36 years old, lives in Santa Cruz,CA, and his name is John Fisher. Now THAT is something to blog about! STRANGE!

Get your bread!

My son has a business. It's selling bread. Actually it's "the bread bandit, serving manna from heaven." One day a week, I make him anout 12 loaves of bread and he goes around the neighborhood door to door and sells bread-raising his own money to go to camp. He also carries a two-way radio with him in case he needs to tell me anything. In the beginning it was like, "mom-I'm on her doorstep, she's going to get the money right now." I was like, " Jace, no need to call the get-away driver. Let me know when your down a few loaves". So now he'll call with, " 8 left, 5 left", etc... He has really built some great relationships with the neighbors around here and we have found (we started this last summer) that there are a lot of lonely people here in Lakeland. He has come home with some great stories (like the time he told me he had to give this person dressed in rags a free loaf) and has even made some regular customers. When we go out on bike rides it's not unheard of for someone to yell to him, "I love your bread," or if he sees them in the yard, "how was your bread?" It's pretty cool and he has made some friends and has almost reaches his $180.00 goal. I can't say though that this traveling salesman is always about his task. One day he made a friend and decided that he would really like to play rather than "git 'er done." He sold the bread unusually quickly that day and called me on my cell phone (mom was babysitting that day) and told me he was done and could he play with his newly found friend? I said not until I meet him and etc.. you know. Well, I got home and looked into his money bag and he had made 3 dollars. Mmmnn.....Jace? Well, Finally we got to the bottom of it and he had said that he decided that some neighbors told him that they would be fine if he would just place the bread in their mailboxes and they would pay him next time. Alright Wimpy but I don't think so. Well, he did go find a few of those loaves but since it is a federal offense to dig in someone else's mailbox we just had a consequence or two and called it a lesson learned. Kids-corrupt little sinners-do they really think...."I got this story air-tight."

Happy Birthday!

Today would have been my dad's 60th birthday! He passed away the day my "Liberty" (freedom from sin!) was born Sept 3, 2004. I miss him. I do feel a little envious, I mean him being in glory and all! Praise God! I remember when he was getting closer to dying how I would stand outside his hospital room door and listen to the "chaplain" as she would read him scripture. He would ask her questions and I would be ready to pounce on her if she twisted it at all! She was great-I'm so thankful the Lord brought her to my dad to teach him, gently. I remember when my dad asked us to baptize him in his hospital bed and I asked him why he wanted to do that? I thought he may be still believing that he needed to be baptized to enter heaven (skeptical me). I remember him saying so confidently, " the bible says, believe and be baptized." It was an awesome time . Jace says a lot at night that he thinks about my dad and what he might be doing in heaven and how he wishes he was still here of course. Providence. God's perfect plan. God's grace is truly amazing! Happy birthday Dad -we miss you!

Walking along

The kids and I took a walk this morning and as we were walking we passed a house the said "for sale by owner." Jace asked me if we were to buy that house if it came with it's own servant. I told him it just meant the house was for sale by the owner and not someone who sells houses . He said that would be awesome to have a servant in your house. I was like, you mean another one?

Say a prayer!

Hey all you fellow bloggers out there! God is doing a mighty work in my family right now as I speak! The details are long and you only have a quick second so pray for my family won't 'cha?! God knows what He's up to! I'm excited at the results! Thank you fellow sojourners and glory to God in the highest!

Confessing

Today I was cutting the grass and I noticed Levi standing in the garage with that "I am into something" look on his face. I walked up to him and asked him what he was doing. He said, "confessing." I said, "confessing about what?" He said, "am I going to get a spankin'?" I said, "it depends on what you are doing?" He brought me around he truck where he had Jace's tool box
out with all of his tools laid out. I was thankful he hadn't created anything yet or uncreated anything for that matter and let him off the hook. Phew!

neighbor

We have a neighbor down the way that the Lord put in our lives. Her name is Gloria and she lives alone and does not drive. Her husband passed away 15 years ago and her daughter and son and the grandchildren rarely visit. She is very lonely and the sweetest lady. We bring her to church and bible study and sometimes the kids pack up their stuff and hang out with her. She loves them and their company brings light to her life. Today was her birthday. No one came to visit and she made a dinner thinking someone might stop by. When 7:30 rolled around she had it cleaned up as we were coming in the door. She was so happy to see us. We spent almost an hour there and broought her some dinner and a nice fat delicious scooby sandwich for tomorrow when she will be traveling to a friends for a couple days. We gave her a simple gift that held pictures of the kids that she thought was the most beautiful thing she ever saw. At the end we sang her happy birthday and she fought tears back the entire time. It was so happy and sad at the same time. When we left the kids hugged her and told her they loved her and we would see her later this week. When walking out to the car Jace said, "I know the Lord put me in Gloria's life to show her the love of Jesus and I just love her so much." He's only known her about 3 months. He's her little buddy, although he's almost taller than her. She always says to us, " I don't know how you guys or why you guys came into my life." Levi told her, "Well Gloria, we're just here to love you."

He wouldn't do it

I bought Jace a shirt today that says "Will trade sister for video game." I thought he would think it was a funny shirt. Which he did but said he wouldn't do it. When I showed him the shirt he looked at it and then to me and said, "I'm not doing that." I said," it's just a joke." He said, "she doesn't cry like that." I was like, "hey, it's a joke. Wear it for fun." He was like, "oh, oh now I see". He got it. I guess my plan of trading Liberty for a video game won't work after all. Dangit!

Shopping

The kids and I were just doing some shopping at Kohls and I had one of those shopping carts that is a double stroller. Well, while turning a quick corner i sort of ran into a side of a clothes display (these things don't turn on a dime). Levi shouts out in the store, "geez mom, you almost killed me!" Needless to say, we made it through our shopping and I got some great deals. That place might as well be free ya know. By the way, anybody going to the Woodbury garage sales this weekend? This usually means guaranteed downpours and mudslides. Happy shopping!

No more wandering!

The last little part of a gem I read this morning was "Precious Lord, you are my rest (what is that, right?), my hapiness, and you are ALL-sufficient. Hold me to You, and let me wander no more." Could I please live like God was really my rest? All-sufficient? My contentment? Even precious? I think if I could do this that would then in turn cause me not to wander. Let's try that. :o)

Alone with God

Went on a walk tonight with my Ipod. Listened to some wonderful praise music and looked up into the shekinah glorious sun through the clouds and thought- I'm a child of the Heavenly Kingdom! I have a golden ticket! Praise God! A car came by and beeped at me. I think I might have been wandering into the middle of the road. I almost went there tonight. Dangit!

Thanks mom

My mom does A LOT for me. I don't just say that cause I know she will read this blog. She really does. This weekend she watched the kids (again) so I could go and learn about what a wretch I am - taking for granted the grace of my wonderful savior. Wow! Thanks mom. AND to top it all off- she somehow, secretly, cleaned my kitchen for me today for a SUPER bonus on top of 14 other things she did). As usual she spoiled the kids with delicious foods that they wouldn't TOUCH if I presented them. My kids will miss her til she comes back again. Hopefully they ate enough to put on reserve til the next big feast. Thanks mom! I'm grateful for all you do.

How exciting to have a new blog spot. I just want to write something every minute to keep you all interested now. I had to tell you how much I loved the play today. Since you all know God made me without tear ducts by now- I wanted to tell you my eyes were really tearing up today(shocker I know). I love to watch children sing about the Lord with reckless abandon! They don't care who is watching. They can raise their hands and shout out praises and not think twice about it. Oh to have faith like a child! They did an excellent job -way to go Robys! I'm inspired to shout praises to the Lord! AMEN!

Quote of the weekend

I went to this conference this weekend and heard a great quote. "Christianity is neither compelling or comforting. And its no wonder why people don't find grace amazing." Sad but true. Why are people as believers not compeled to live for Christ and don't find comfort in Christ? Because.......we love ourselves. :o(