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| Apparently Gracie didn't get the memo about fingers in the mouth! ;) |
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Speechless
How do you document the speechless moments in your life? I guess I'll just paint a picture and hope that what my heart was feeling will jump out of the page to communicate for me.
This morning, the fire was blazing, I was baking cranberry-orange muffins with my favorite worship station playing through the T.V. Carter was kickin it in his little walker, stand and play thing, happy as a clam, Darth Vader (Hayden), Luke Skywalker/Yoda (Noah), and Cinderella (Gracie), were dancing around in circles, spinning and singing along when they knew the words. Levi was moving from scene to scene, enjoying each diversion.
I was home with them in a warm, clean house. I stopped to give God thanks that I did not have to beg on a street corner or shiver with my children in the cold or scavenge trash cans for food to give to them. We live in such luxury, such comfort. I have the "burden" of piles of laundry (think: we have ample clothes to keep us warm and dry). I have the "chore" of washing and making up all the bedsheets (think: we all have comfy beds off the damp floor in which to get good rest each night). I have the "tiresome trip" to Costco to stock up on, what we think are, basics (think: we have so many options, a stocked pantry, and fridges, and freezers - full of foods that we get to CHOOSE). It's all in our perspective, isn't it? I don't want my children to think this is normal. I don't want them to take this comfort, these blessings, for granted. I want them to want to share. I want them to see what "normal" is for themselves.
In that moment, I was speechless. I ask myself (or God rather) over and over again: "Who am I that You chose to bless me so greatly?" Luke 16:10 says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much..." I doubt my "trustworthiness." But I can't help but wonder... I am just continually struck by God's favor on me.
I know, God, that You are the reason I have all that I do, and I pray that I will prove myself faithful in your eyes. Give us direction and lead us in conversations and in training our children about the needs of others, those hurting close to us and on the other side of the world. Lord, when our kids think of generosity, love, and grace towards others, may they think of us, their parents, as models of Jesus. This is one of my greatest desires! This is the me I want to be...
This morning, the fire was blazing, I was baking cranberry-orange muffins with my favorite worship station playing through the T.V. Carter was kickin it in his little walker, stand and play thing, happy as a clam, Darth Vader (Hayden), Luke Skywalker/Yoda (Noah), and Cinderella (Gracie), were dancing around in circles, spinning and singing along when they knew the words. Levi was moving from scene to scene, enjoying each diversion.
I was home with them in a warm, clean house. I stopped to give God thanks that I did not have to beg on a street corner or shiver with my children in the cold or scavenge trash cans for food to give to them. We live in such luxury, such comfort. I have the "burden" of piles of laundry (think: we have ample clothes to keep us warm and dry). I have the "chore" of washing and making up all the bedsheets (think: we all have comfy beds off the damp floor in which to get good rest each night). I have the "tiresome trip" to Costco to stock up on, what we think are, basics (think: we have so many options, a stocked pantry, and fridges, and freezers - full of foods that we get to CHOOSE). It's all in our perspective, isn't it? I don't want my children to think this is normal. I don't want them to take this comfort, these blessings, for granted. I want them to want to share. I want them to see what "normal" is for themselves.
In that moment, I was speechless. I ask myself (or God rather) over and over again: "Who am I that You chose to bless me so greatly?" Luke 16:10 says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much..." I doubt my "trustworthiness." But I can't help but wonder... I am just continually struck by God's favor on me.
I know, God, that You are the reason I have all that I do, and I pray that I will prove myself faithful in your eyes. Give us direction and lead us in conversations and in training our children about the needs of others, those hurting close to us and on the other side of the world. Lord, when our kids think of generosity, love, and grace towards others, may they think of us, their parents, as models of Jesus. This is one of my greatest desires! This is the me I want to be...
Friday, November 11, 2011
Our first stop in Ireland is... Santa Rosa?
Now that Disneyland is pretty well taken care of for our twins' 5th birthday celebration/extravaganza, my planning mind is 95% wrapped up with Ireland. The past few days during naptime and after bedtime, I have been at the computer with about six different website tabs and my Rick Steves guidebook open, and 3-4 pages of notes going as I plan our itinerary. I am dreaming emerald dreams and so excited that our departure is just 146 days away.
One of my "must do's" during our trip is to see a clogging show, hopefully the phenomenon, Riverdance, itself. Well, during one of my little cram sessions, I discovered that Riverdance toured Ireland last year and it has no plans to return as this is the "farewell tour." As luck would have it, the tour is in America this year and happens to be in our neck of the woods on November 30th! So since we can't see the show over there, we are cheating a little and having one of our Ireland experiences early. If anything, it will push the in-laws into the exuberant anticipation, countdown mode. CAN'T WAIT!
One of my "must do's" during our trip is to see a clogging show, hopefully the phenomenon, Riverdance, itself. Well, during one of my little cram sessions, I discovered that Riverdance toured Ireland last year and it has no plans to return as this is the "farewell tour." As luck would have it, the tour is in America this year and happens to be in our neck of the woods on November 30th! So since we can't see the show over there, we are cheating a little and having one of our Ireland experiences early. If anything, it will push the in-laws into the exuberant anticipation, countdown mode. CAN'T WAIT!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Today's Peace
My amazing husband. There are never the right words to explain what a gift he is to me.
Lately, I have been struggling with anxiety on a certain issue. I share my heart with him, and he patiently and willingly is there. He has listened, encouraged, and prayed with me.
As a direct answer to prayer, I feel peace today and am trying to live out the verse Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
I am so grateful that Scott is such an active participant in my life, and I am richly blessed by how God uses my loving husband to speak His truth to me and point me to Him!
"Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!" Great is your faithfulness, Lord!
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Gift of Growth
Tis the season of Thanksgiving. I just wrote that, but I don't like what it implies. I don't think Thanksgiving should be limited to a "season." Every day that our Lord gives us breath of life is a day He deserves thanks. And I guarantee there is more than just that breath for which to give thanks.
Today, I am overwhelmingly thankful for growth. I love that after a long period of being static, I can once again embrace the gift of relational intimacy with Jesus and press into Him. The beautiful image in my head is so sweet! I am a little girl, standing about chest high and clinging to him tightly with a hug. He is dressed in a white gown and bending over to embrace my back and offering his body as a shelter over me. A conscious choice to be near to Him: BAM! Growth. I am so grateful that growth is that simple of a choice.
A few weeks ago I began a study at church based on John Ortberg's book, The Me I Want to Be. Wow. Turns out the me I want to be seems as far as a vanishing point on the horizon most days. (Okay, okay! I know that I am typically hard on myself. I will never live up to my own expectations; I will always need to practice accepting grace, as well as giving it. But the honest truth is that becoming the me I want to be WILL be a loooong process!) But just in the last weeks, I have felt closer to that Laura because of my reliance on God in every choice, every word spoken, and every thought in this scattered little brain of mine.
The most powerful of these three examples is my thoughts. The session two weeks ago was about renewing my mind. Truth and simplicity rang out as I listened to the DVD and answered the follow up questions. It hit me that in all of my past spiritual studies, not NEARLY enough emphases has been made on this concept. There are several verses about your mind; one most often referenced perhaps is Romans 12:1-2 :
Today, I am overwhelmingly thankful for growth. I love that after a long period of being static, I can once again embrace the gift of relational intimacy with Jesus and press into Him. The beautiful image in my head is so sweet! I am a little girl, standing about chest high and clinging to him tightly with a hug. He is dressed in a white gown and bending over to embrace my back and offering his body as a shelter over me. A conscious choice to be near to Him: BAM! Growth. I am so grateful that growth is that simple of a choice.
A few weeks ago I began a study at church based on John Ortberg's book, The Me I Want to Be. Wow. Turns out the me I want to be seems as far as a vanishing point on the horizon most days. (Okay, okay! I know that I am typically hard on myself. I will never live up to my own expectations; I will always need to practice accepting grace, as well as giving it. But the honest truth is that becoming the me I want to be WILL be a loooong process!) But just in the last weeks, I have felt closer to that Laura because of my reliance on God in every choice, every word spoken, and every thought in this scattered little brain of mine.
The most powerful of these three examples is my thoughts. The session two weeks ago was about renewing my mind. Truth and simplicity rang out as I listened to the DVD and answered the follow up questions. It hit me that in all of my past spiritual studies, not NEARLY enough emphases has been made on this concept. There are several verses about your mind; one most often referenced perhaps is Romans 12:1-2 :
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
There are also many about the power of the tongue. Especially in Proverbs, there are warnings about its abilities: the choice to lift up or tear down, consequences for a lying tongue, words bringing an increased likelihood for sin... It seems as though I was encouraged to tame the tongue over any mind work. But the Bible highlights that we can do much better than that! If we transform our thoughts, using the tongue for destruction would be a step even further away. I had the warped thought that in most cases, if I didn't SAY the thought, I was exercising self-control and therefore was not sinning. But I need to train earlier in the process to change my thoughts so they don't become a temptation for my lips. Change your thoughts, and change you!
I'm not going to write about every "ah ha" moment I had because of that session. That was my favorite that I wanted to share. And to end on a clever thought on which to dwell: Think before you think.
So again, I am thankful for growth. I'm feeling it, craving more, and loving it. Thank you, Jesus.
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