The Heart of the Home

Lesson from nature

2012-02-21T18:01:00.000-05:00

Bloom where you are planted.

The sharing of my faith

2011-11-04T14:45:00.000-04:00

For some time now I've been pondering Philemon 1:6. "...I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the fullknowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.^"
What I have been pondering over is not the sharing of my faith in general with people I meet, strangers, or those not in my family per se. What I have been pondering for some time is how this verse speaks to me as a Mom and what implications it has for me in my daily life with our son. Wyatt is a precious gift to our family and especially precious to us as he is our only child. The weight of the knowledge that he is our only child weighs more particularly in light of our desire to raise him to be a man of God. It's been a road that hasn't always been straight or clear, and at times, the road has become quite rocky with dangerous curves and unexpected turns. We've done battle with the enemy on behalf of and alongside our son especially these last two years. My husband and I have become more convinced with each passing day how so very much the enemy seeks to derail our son in his walk with the Lord. And because of this I, especially, have given into more controlling behavior, desiring to "change" our son without truly getting at the roots by constantly correcting him and not truly building my relationship with him. I was trying to be the Holy Spirit to him. In doing that I began driving him away and planting a seed of rebellion that was looking for a place to plant itself. Then one day, the Lord showed me Philemon 1:6.
What struck me, especially with this verse, are the words, "may become effective for the full knowledge of everything good." When I began really meditating on this verse I noticed that sharing my faith isn't just preaching at or to people and especially my son. All the "sharing" in the world falls on deaf ears if not covered with prayer, love, and edification. "The sharing of my faith may become effective by the acknowledgement of every good thing which is in Wyatt." (emphasis mine).
Look closely. My sharing is effective when I acknowledge the good things that are in Wyatt. Instead of only focusing on what I perceive that needs "fixing" I focus on the good things while sharing with him from my walk. Leading him and guiding him in love is much more effective when I don't focus on the negative all the time. Now I know our children need correction and reproof and discipline. What I am sharing here is that I cannot only focus on what needs correcting without the balance of encouragement and edification. I think that is where we moms have the hardest time. We fall into the trap of comparing our children to others or ourselves to others. We seem to desire the best for our children and lose sight of the importance of seeing the good things in them. So we begin always focusing on what needs to change without effectively encouraging them in what ways they are succeeding.
I began making a conscience effort to begin sharing my faith with Wyatt without all the preaching at him and began sharing while acknowledging the growth I was seeing in him. When walking into his room, instead of immediately commenting on the condition of the room and how it needed cleaning, I began commenting on a decision he made during the day that was right and true. Or congratulating him for the self-control he practiced in staying focused on finishing his schoolwork. Once I began acknowledging every good thing in him, it opened his heart to receiving correction more readily. What both my husband and I are noticing is that he is much more willing to enter into conversations with us regarding issues that are bothering him, struggles he is having, or even doubts he may be experiencing. We have freed him to be allowed to make mistakes and know that we will love him regardless. He now knows that he can come and talk through issues with us without condemnation from us. Whether or not we were condemning him that is what he perceived.
So each day is an opportunity to focus on sharing my faith with Wyatt knowing it will be more effective by the acknowledgement of every good thing which is in him. This journey through some of the toughest years for a child have a whole new look to them now that I have freed myself (and Wyatt), from being preached to/at and entering into a relationship where he is encouraged and edified and even disciplined with love and encouragement. Reminds me of a Southern saying, "You attract more flies with honey than vinegar."

New School Year!

2011-08-25T01:11:00.002-04:00

Well, we've started our school year here. Actually we did a little school over the Summer. Mostly Math and some Grammar. Took some time off with DH and now we've kicked off. So far it's all going swimmingly! :-)
We did change a good many things with our curriculum and I am liking the changes. This year is going to be so different in so many ways. DH will be earning a Masters in Sacred Theology in Ethics for the Army this year and that's basically his job. He is going to school. No unit duties, no Chapel duties (Yay, we get to go to church like a "regular" family), just school. He is working on his DMin on his own so he'll have a full plate but he will be home. So this will truly be a schoolin' little home this year!
I'm quite excited for this will be such a benefit to our little family. We have made some changes to our schedule and made some different family rules but also are building more time in as a family together now that he is free from Army unit duties. He can be more involved with our school, be able to carry out family devotionals more regularly and our son can have more "Daddy time." Honestly I know DH will miss the ministry to the soldiers but I feel sure he will have an active ministry every day with our family and with his fellow students. His gifts are Exhortation and Encouragement and I can see him using them everyday.
Our son is growing like crazy, too. He's officially two inches taller than me now and I do believe he might have grown a touch more as he can see clear over my head now! He's only 11! God has blessed him with height. We have tall people on my side of the family way back so I guess those genes have come out. He is adjusting to "sticking out like a sore thumb" around his friends but we continue to work with him on accepting God's design for him.   He has had a Summer of struggles but the Lord has been so gracious and steadfast with him and us. Our prayers are reaping fruit and it is a joy to see our son come full circle. We are convinced the Lord has set him aside for something special because the enemy certainly has been working overtime on him. But we are in the trenches with him and will remain in the trenches arming ourselves with our best weapons...Prayer and The Word.
Of late I've become more and more convinced of the power of prayer. Not that I wasn't before but the books I've been reading lately have brought this to the forefront of my pondering.   Our enemy works like crazy to keep us too busy to pray. If we don't pray then he can keep us sidelined.   Keep us busy, tired, engaged, distracted or whatever and we become ineffective.
But I also see that our prayers do affect heaven. Our prayers are heard. They really are. Heaven isn't some ethereal place and God isn't some impersonal being that looks down His nose at us. Heaven is for real, like the book says, and God loves us with an eternal, burning love. He desires to have us commune with Him and send our prayers to His throne! And what a release it is to realize He does listen, care and reach down to His loved ones.
I know there is so much more to share because I'm not always good about posting regularly but these thoughts are what come to mind tonight.
Lean on the Lord for He is good. Call on His name at all times. He loves you!

Memorial Day, Summer...This and that

2011-05-31T16:39:00.000-04:00

I honestly cannot believe it's Summer already. Where does time go?
Life has had us busy lately but it's been all good and full of blessings from the Lord. We're gearing up for a year of my husband being in school full-time for the Army. So the whole house will be "doing school" next year. It will be an exciting time and a time to reconnect as a family with the added blessings of him being home more than being gone. We can't wait. I can't wait!

We are also in the midst of fostering kittens for a rescue organization in town. After having to put my sweet Sadie to sleep we've wanted another cat but Mac hasn't been feeling that need as much as we have. :-) We like to adopt older cats that most people overlook but it seems we have had this run lately of personalities that don't mesh well together. So the next best thing is fostering! We currently have 7 kittens which means our normally quiet little house is rocking with tons of kitten energy. Dusty doesn't seem to mind too much but he's never much minded other cats or kittens. Fresca, DS's kitty, is pretty much freaked out. Mac has actually been the surprise. He has played and played with the kittens and been like a big brother to them. It's been so sweet to watch. Since having the kittens they have grown so much and it has been quite fun to watch their personalities blossom. My precious husband has even said I could adopt one if I wanted. Such a sweetie. I haven't decided yet.

We commemorated Memorial Day yesterday. Because we are a patriotic family and military family that holiday holds a special meaning for us, but since 2003 it holds a particularly special meaning. That year was the first year of the war in Iraq and my husband's first deployment. One certain 1st Sgt. went out of his way to befriend my husband and that friendship grew and deepened before and during their deployment. Not everyone wants to be friends with "the Chaplain" but Robert sought my husband's friendship out. However Robert J. Dowdy lost his life during the ambush/attack on the 507th Maintenance Company in March of 2003. This loss still affects my husband to this day and Robert and his family are never far from our thoughts and prayers on Memorial Day. We know we will see Robert again but miss him now on this earth as we know his family does.

We're also excited about some changes we'll be making with school next year. Another year of growth in the Lord and hearing Him clearly in some areas has led to the changes. We'll still use the Wisdom Booklets as supplemental curriculum but looking into fine-tuning our direction with our son's gifts. I am excited about the changes and look forward to seeing how the Lord will use them to work in our lives especially our son. But as always I seem to see all the good for him and the Lord winds up working in my own life the most.

Stay cool in the new Summer heat that has been turned on. I was sincerely hoping for a more temperate summer since we had a colder winter but it appears that since June 1st has a heat index of 110 forecast I may be in for a disappointment. :-)

Proper response?

2011-05-07T11:51:00.000-04:00

It's been quite a week for Americans and for our family since we are a military family. With the death of Usama Bin Laden there has been a myriad of emotions here. And there has been a myriad of concerns that have been awakened in military families across the globe. However as Christians how should we rightly respond to this news? I've seen and heard a number of speakers, teachers and others remarking and voicing their opinions about the proper response of Christians to the news of Bin Laden's death. But the opinion that means the most to me is the one of God.

One verse is Ezekiel 18:23, "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" 2 Peter 3:9 also states, "...not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
I believe that we should not rejoice in Bin Laden's death so much as we should be saddened and our hearts quickened. We should not rejoice that he is now suffering eternal torment beyond anything we can imagine. Yes the world is less one evil man who reeked much havoc in so many lives. But rejoicing in his death knowing he is suffering eternally, I think, should not be our response. We should be reminded rather that we, too deserve such punishment but have been redeemed to share in eternal glory with our Lord.

Yes, there are instances in the Bible where evil was defeated and the people rejoiced. Certainly that is a human response and I'm not saying that we should not be glad that Bin Laden can no longer perpetrate his evil. We should be glad of that. But we need to be tempered in our rejoicing for it could quite easily have been us that would suffer the punishment we all deserve if it were not for the blood of Christ.

If you do not know Jesus and the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life please go here to find out more about the grace and mercy of a loving and merciful God.

For another insight that got me thinking about all this see Francis Chan's response.

What good can come?

2011-04-22T09:16:00.001-04:00

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18 NIV

Because of His sacrifice that is why we can commemorate Good Friday and call it "Good." And His sacrifice was given willingly. He even gave His life. It was not taken from Him. He gave it even to His last breath. This isn't the end but the beginning!

Soul Surfer

2011-04-09T20:37:00.000-04:00

Our family went to see the movie Soul Surfer this afternoon. I recommend you to go see it if you have a chance. An excellent movie that shows the Hamilton's family faith loud and clear. I tell you, Bethany Hamilton is quite a role model for young people.
So if you are looking for a great family movie take some time to see Soul Surfer and be encouraged.

I used to like roller coasters

2011-04-09T10:16:00.001-04:00

I used to like roller coasters. In fact I might still enjoy a ride or two in a good one. But the ride we've been on this week and especially yesterday has had a few more twists and turns and loop-t-loops than I care for. If not for the care and grace of My Father I would have reduced to a heap of tears and most certainly an ulcer.
Yes I am speaking of this government shut-down issue. I have deeply thought out and strongly held political ideas and won't get into any of them here. In fact my blog is mostly for me to get out what rolls around in my head on any given day and hopefully encourage others who visit. So I won't get into finger-pointing and blaming for there is plenty of that to go around.
What I will say is that the roller coaster of hearing military families wouldn't get paid, to hearing about half pay, to actually less than half a paycheck/stub being listed on the Defense Finance website at one point yesterday, to all pay stubs being removed from the site, to.....Well, you get the idea. I spent a great deal of my day yesterday trying to encourage friends and spouses of mostly enlisted ranks who struggle to make ends meet on a full paycheck much less a half check or less than half or none at all.
What came from yesterday as I sought to encourage others was that the Lord encouraged me. Though some I spoke to and wrote with are not believers I spoke to them of the God that cares for them and, through His very names, promises wonderful things to us that are His.
I did a study several years ago from Kay Arthur called Lord I Want To Know You. One of my favorite names was and still is is Jehovah Jireh, The Lord Provides. That name kept coming back to me throughout the day and I shared that name with those who were concerned about the military losing their pay. This name was the name that Abraham called the place where he had taken Isaac to sacrifice at God's behest and God provided a ram at Abraham's obedience in the last moment. What a beautiful picture! But in this story I see again that the Lord's provision doesn't always come when we want it to. Most often it comes in time but at the last moment. Yet the Lord provides. What is beautiful about this is that Proverbs 18:10 tells us that "the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe."
This battle isn't over for military families. The government shut-down was averted because of an agreement on some monetary issues but we are in an extension that will give them time to draft the new budgetary bill. But I will rest in the Lord. I will run to His name of Jehovah Jireh and take refuge in that name. He provides and I will trust Him at His Word and His name.
What are some of your favorite names of God? Is there something you are facing where you need to hear that He will provide for you? Run to Him and be encouraged.

Homeschool Conventions, patches and lemons. Oh my!

2011-03-29T22:39:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I went to my first ever homeschool convention and I was able to go with my dear friend and former college roomie. She is special to me for so many reasons including being a very important person God placed in my life before my Dad passed away and introducing me to homeschooling when our son was born. Our time at the convention was almost like being in college again, staying up late talking, etc. We had so much fun!
The speakers at the convention were well-chosen and all I heard were encouraging and offered insights and wisdom for the convention-goers. I came home tired but edified and excited about what the Lord showed me. Some things my husband and I chose to change right away but others will be changes that we will implement for the following year.
I would encourage you to attend a homeschool conference or convention in your area if you can. It was well worth the time.

On the homefront our son continues to excel in archery and shot for his national ranking. He did well and we're so proud of him. We are also seeing his real gifts shining especially in regards to his artistic nature.

Dusty, our The Cat Chronicles kitty is 15 years old now! As with humans he has developed some of those pesky senior health issues. His asthma is stable right now which is a blessing. But he is now on medicine for his hyperthyroidism and also for his early renal insufficiency. I never knew how much my former nursing experience was going to come into play having pets! But it's been fun incorporating Dusty's health issues into our school time here and teaching our son basically Biology and Anatomy. It has started a fire in him so I have ordered Apologia's Human Anatomy book for us to begin on.
If you can get to a homeschool convention do go. Here are some recent pictures in no particular order.

Our son napping as his kitty, Fresca naps nearby

Dusty cuddling on a cold Sunday afternoon.

Our son's first still life painting. Lemons. Yum!

With his first shooting for national ranking our son has made "Master." Way to go son!

More bonding with "Dad."

"Ah, that blanket sure feels nice."

"I sure hope Mom puts that camera away soon."

Wheels For Noah

2011-03-02T13:28:00.000-05:00

Please consider helping this lovely family of 10 get new wheels. Their precious 4 year old son, Noah, has a rare and progressive genetic disease and they need a new van that allows his wheelchair so they can ride together as a family.
If you visit this site go to the Silent Auction link on the left and see the wonderful materials donated to help raise money for them. There are some awesome deals including tickets for the Creation Museum, jewelry, etc.
And here is a picture of Noah for you to enjoy how precious he is!

Books, books, books!

2011-02-15T15:47:00.002-05:00

I'm excited like a kid in a candy store!

Today we (our son and I), had lunch with my Mom and we then plundered the bookstore. It's been quite a while since I've been in the bookstore. I love bookstores but tend to stay out of them because I get in so much trouble there. However today I did pick up a few books I'm very excited about getting. I have gotten into the habit lately of going to the library for books instead of buying them. The economy, the desire to pay debts off and the fact that we just don't have enough room for the sheer volume of books we collect drove me to that point. But when there is a book I strongly desire to keep (for many reasons), I will buy it.

Today I brought home a couple I've been wanting plus some others I found that peaked my interest. If you check out my sidebar you can see what I am currently reading and what I have read recently. I'll add in my newest books there but you can also check them out here, too.

How can you help a soldier?

2011-02-07T17:17:00.000-05:00

My husband and I are so often asked how the average American can help a soldier or any other serviceman or woman. Though there are a myriad of ways there is one very real way to help them and one that offers a lasting legacy for generations to come.

My husband works closely with the Gideons as they provide Bibles for him to give to troops that come through his office or Chapel. Without the Gideons and their support he would have a more difficult time having Bibles to give out when asked for one.

Please read his letter on the Gideons International website to understand how your gift to the Gideons is so important and consider giving to the Gideons when they come to your church, giving online or praying for their ministry and the Bibles that will touch lives.

A Friend Like You

2011-02-04T00:34:00.000-05:00

A lesson in friendship from God's creation. Reminds me of true and loving friendship and the kind of friend I am called to be. Enjoy!

Life and relationships

2011-02-01T19:52:00.002-05:00

A quite interesting time in life of late. Let me see if I can sum up the last little bit of our lives.

Our Christmas was a bit different this year though we did mostly what we usually do. We went to church on Christmas Eve, spent time with family and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. We had a quiet Christmas morning and enjoyed the cold day while eagerly awaiting the snow that was forecasted to arrive.   We had another Christmas with my mil staying with us. Since my fil passed away on Christmas Eve 2 years ago, as long as we are close to home, we hope to have her with us on Christmas.   But this year was quieter, calmer and more focused on the Lord more than we have ever done before. I did not bake nor did we try to see how many events we could get to. I did not send out Christmas cards and we did not give into the "perfection syndrome" of making sure the house was perfectly decorated, etc. In fact we didn't even put out all our decorations! Gasp. Yet in those decisions we found a freedom to truly enjoy our Christmas and give up some of the craziness.

This Christmas was also different this year in that we didn't give a lot of the usual presents. This year what we would have spent on gifts we gave in honor of each recipient a donation to Samaritan's Purse. I believe we have found our new Christmas tradition! I highly recommend making the effort to do this in your family. Even deciding what honorarium to give to which person was exciting for our son.

This holiday season was spent taking care of my sweet Sadie, as well. This kitty walked into our lives 13 1/2 years ago and made our days so much fuller and more joyful due to her sweet spirit. Sadie became quite sick and eventually had to be put to sleep a few weeks ago. She developed a tumor in her spinal cord. She eventually got to the place where she really could not walk but that is because her little muscles in her back legs wasted away and she was literally just fur and bones. Once she really couldn't get out of her bed to make it to the litter box we knew it was time.
Yet in it all I found it a privilege to care for her. Those last few weeks and especially her last week gave us precious time together. I slept beside her to make sure she had all she needed and was with her throughout each day. I had that precious time with my sweet little girl. She was always there for me especially during deployments. She always seemed to know when I was missing my husband or when I was feeling down. She would always curl up with me or stay close to me. God gave some of His grace and mercy in a pet.

More than that the Lord continues to teach me so much. Through the loss of a friendship I have learned much about grace, love and forgiveness. No matter what we say and what pearls of truth we think we may have, without love it is meaningless jibberish and painful words. Through the loss of this friendship I have thought about Job's "friends." Though they might have been speaking any part of truth they only tore Job down. Especially Eliphaz. Instead of coming alongside a hurting friend he took to pointing out any and all of Job's faults (and sometimes was quite wrong!), and taking God's position of judgment all the while saying the most hurtful words. I have found myself in a similar circumstance of late. And I have struggled with the proper response. I sought the Lord before any response and that was so difficult. Difficult to die to my fleshly response which was to defend myself and allow my anger to run loose. And honestly it would have "felt" better to let loose with my tongue and say what I was "feeling" instead of guarding my mouth. Yet the Lord was showing me how to control my temper. I had to give up my right to be angry. And then my response had to begin with forgiveness and to forgive even if it isn't asked for. Forgiveness must happen even if the person does not recognize the hurt that has been caused. I have also learned not to look to man to give me what I should seek from the Lord. Unconditional acceptance and support and encouragement can only come from an infallible God not a fallible human.

And I have been humbled with the realization of what kind of friend I want to be to those around me. All the truth I have if shared without love is just noise. Any truth I have if shared in judgment is harsh, unloving and un-Christlike. So now I focus on learning to be the kind of friend God calls me to be. I would prefer a different outcome with the relationship but rest in God who can heal and turn our hearts. Until then I will seek to be the friend that I would want to have.

Another by-product of this was that our son was watching. This relationship loss affected him as well and he was watching. He and I had open and honest talks about my struggle to obey God and not give in to my flesh. He had his own anger and betrayal to deal with so as God taught me and strengthened me to respond correctly He was also teaching our son and growing him in his faith. Our Wisdom Book is on Self Control and this became quite an object lesson for him on what self control looks like in daily life. Though my desire is for a different outcome I cannot trade what I have learned or my son has learned through this. And to be completely real, that is priceless.

My Sadie enjoying her favorite bed

Our almost-Christmas snow

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine deal!

2010-12-27T14:48:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has a great deal on for a short time! Check it out here.

If you are familiar with The Old Schoolhouse Magazine then you know what a great deal it is. If you aren't familiar then this is a great time to get familiar! I honestly can't adequately put into words how wonderful this magazine is. I don't read magazines but I do read this one.

When we first began homeschooling they were a tremendous resource for us and they continue to be. Their articles are inspiring, encouraging and informative. Their product reviews are so very helpful and they even did a review of my precious husband's children's book, The Cat Chronicles. You can read the review here.

But do go check out their great offer now!

Giving Thanks

2010-11-24T16:17:00.000-05:00

Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 136:1

Image: J Frasse / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Peter's Enthusiam

2010-11-11T15:10:00.000-05:00

We are in our 2nd Wisdom Booklet now and have been studying enthusiasm. Yes, we're in our 2nd year with ATI and only in WB 2. They are so rich therefore we are soaking it all in and taking our time. R-E-A-L-L-Y taking our time. We are moving a bit faster this year hoping to get through 3 WBs this year as opposed to one but.....Let's get back to enthusiasm.
It comes from the Greek word enthousiasmos which means "God-insideness" or the main elements being en and theos meaning "in God."    I have always loved this word and learning more about it's roots has made it more exciting for me.

What does enthusiasm/tic mean? It is to be wholehearted, ardent, fervent, eager, zealous, spirited and exuberant. Wow! When I think of God's faithfulness through the years and especially in recent years with some of the trials and journeys He has had me on I realize now more than ever I have so many reasons to be enthusiastic for Him. And why shouldn't I be? Why shouldn't we as Christians be enthusiastic for Christ? We are tangible pieces of Christ in the world and we should live enthusiastically as ones who have much to live for drawing others to Him Who is our life.

Then my thoughts turned to Peter. I simply love Peter. I know he gets a bad rap for being impetuous, rash and that whole denying Christ 3 times issue. But what if we had just a little of Peter's enthusiasm? What would happen? I think it could turn things upside down! But look with me at what we are told about Peter in Scripture.

Christ graciously offered mercy to Peter even before he would deny Christ. Christ had already told Peter he would deny Him yet Peter was indignant stating, "No! Even if I have to die with you I will never deny you!" Haven't we done the same thing? ~raising my hand here~ Yet right after this Peter will look his Lord in the face after falling asleep instead of praying with Him three different times while Christ is in the garden of Gethsemane.   Imagine the guilt he must have felt that led to him rashly cutting off the ear of that servant. No wonder he denied Christ. I imagine he felt shameful along with being fearful. Not that I am excusing what Peter did but recognizing I can see the progression of events that led Peter to that point of denying his Lord.

Look at Luke 22:31-32. Christ tells Peter before all these happenings that his faith should not fail. Oh the grace and mercy of our Lord! Christ says Peter will repent and be turned to Him again so he could strengthen and edify his brothers. Satan had asked Jesus to be allowed to sift the disciples like wheat. Interesting that Christ pleaded in prayer for Peter personally. How beautiful that He was specifically praying for Peter ahead of time knowing what Peter would do and then how Peter would struggle with guilt and shame. Is it no wonder that after Christ was raised and then returned to heaven to His Father that Peter would become the outspoken leader?

To me it explains Peter's enthusiasm during the time when Jesus was appearing to the disciples before returning to heaven. In John 21:1-14 we see the disciples returning to the sea and their trade....Led by none other than Peter. He's the first that says he's going fishing and the others follow. Peter sure was a man of action! After fishing all night and catching nothing, Jesus appears to them from the shore and tells them to throw their nets back out but on the right side of the boat. Sound familiar?   Remember when Jesus came to the disciples on the water during the storm? Peter, both times, leaped overboard.

I just love Peter's enthusiasm. Yes he was rash at times but even before the Transfiguration and his astonishing pronouncement that Jesus was the Messiah, he was jumping out of a perfectly good boat wanting to walk to Jesus on the water....In the middle of a storm. Then, after Jesus was raised from the dead, he leaps again out of another perfectly good boat to swim to his Master and Lord. Pure unadulterated enthusiasm.

I want to have that kind of enthusiasm. The kind that doesn't really care what people think of me when I enthusiastically state my love for my Lord. The kind that doesn't really care if, in the words of TobyMac, "they label me a Jesus Freak." But that kind of enthusiasm isn't generated within myself by me. It isn't in my will or emotions. It comes from the Holy Spirit and from having spent time with the Lord.

Peter had spent weeks, months and years with the Lord and the more he was with Jesus the more enthusiastic he became. Our enthusiasm can't come after picking up our Bible occasionally or attending church on Sunday but separating our faith from our everyday life.   Nope. It comes from spending time with Him. I have walked a barely existent walk with the Lord for quite some time. I would have those mountaintop experiences after a good Bible study or attending a retreat but would always return to my everyday life and the Lord would get relegated to a top shelf because "I just didn't have time." Ouch.

As I have stated before here, I have been reading through the Bible in a year with Wendy Pope and plan to do it again next year. This year has truly transformed my life. Spending time with the Lord in His Word has been life-changing for me. Reading through the Bible, chronologically as well, has been a growing and insightful walk. The Lord has blessed me with insights like never before. I "get it" now. I "get" the Old Testatment. Not completely but for the first time it makes sense. And now I see how we need the OT along with the New Testament! And through it all my enthusiasm has grown. It wasn't anything within me but a gift from the Holy Spirit! And that is exciting!

So come along and be enthusiastic for the Lord with me. Start reading your Bible through in a year. Don't even wait till January 1. Just start now. Ask the Lord to meet you and teach you. He'll do it. And watch your enthusiasm grow.

Life...

2010-10-25T19:05:00.002-04:00

Today I sit with many thoughts rolling through my brain and a somewhat heavy heart. Not heavy as in burdened but heavy with information. As I sought the Lord and asked Him to meet me and reveal more of Himself to me I should have been more prepared. But we are really never prepared enough when He meets us and begins to show us and teach us. Are we?
There are so many pieces of truth that He has been revealing to me through many avenues lately. The books I am reading, my own daily Bible reading, people in my life and our wonderful pastor. The pastor who has been preaching like a man on fire of late. You go, Drew!   I guess I will sum up what I've been learning.

Point number 1:
Life is hard. It is hard for everyone. But God hasn't called us, His children, to do easy. He has called us to do hard. But "with Christ we are called to do very difficult things with great faith." (Drew K.). And He asks us/tells us to do hard, learn from it and then share what He has taught us with others who are hurting. We are to be continually looking for those to do good to.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."
(2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
"Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." (1Timothy 6:18)
So as I walk through memories of my life and live in the toil of the current day many questions remain unanswered. But I accept that I must be okay with the answer of no answer till God either decides to share the mystery with me or I enter heaven and see the tapestry He has been weaving from the top not from the bottom of the "mess" of threads that I see on this earth. I have been impressed, too, that we must be about sharing the Comforter to those who most need to hear the Good News.

Point 2:
We are to be good stewards of the lessons and experiences we have been given. Being a good steward encompasses following 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 as we meet people each and every day. Ask God for opportunities to share His (your) comfort with those who would most benefit from your experiences. Ask Him to use you as His vessel to a hurting, broken and angry world. Trust me He'll answer that.

Point 3:
God is eternal. He did not have a beginning. He is the Great I AM. When we choose to trust in someone or something we are trusting in someone or something that had a beginning. Our hope is in the LORD! "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1)
Why on earth would we choose to put our trust in something of no eternal value? Whether it be our job, our education or our accomplishments. They are hollow compared to the incomparable riches we have in Jesus Christ. I think of those hollow chocolate Easter bunnies. On the outside they look good and may taste good for a time but they are completely empty on the inside and offer nothing once we have "enjoyed" the outside.

Point 4:
"We are to know what God's Word says and be transformed by it." Drew K.
This can be uncomfortable because as I have been reading through the Bible this year I realize that God's Word makes people uncomfortable. I have been uncomfortable as I have read this year. I have read comments recently on many forums where people try to explain their stance of agnosticism/atheism or apathy by pointing out the "blood and gore" of, especially, the Old Testament. There are many mysteries of God's sovereign character that we fallible humans cannot understand with our sin-filled minds. Either we trust Him or we do not. We must make an effort daily to be in His Word and allow it to transform us. We trust that the Bible as a whole, not its parts, is His Word and is valuable to us today.

Point 5:
Again from our pastor. "We are to guard the Word by giving of ourselves personally and possessionally." We are to be involved in people's lives by building relationships with them. But we have to earn the right to be heard by them. It's messy and goes against the grain of this world where the anonymity of the internet has allowed us to say whatever we wish without investing ourselves or worrying who we crush. This all ties into Point 1 and Point 2.

I will take the time to admit these are hard statements for me. But the Lord is teaching me. I am an introvert by nature. Meeting new people is almost painful to me. I love people and dearly treasure the friends the Lord has brought into my life during our nomadic time in the Army. But meeting them has been difficult for me. Seems the things that are the most difficult are the very things the Lord puts His finger on and says, "This here. This is what I want you to do."

Point 6:
Blessings are God enriching His people. Therefore everything is a blessing. This has been quite eye-opening for me. Enriching means "to supply with abundance of anything desirable; to add greater value or significance to; to make finer in quality..."
So everything He allows in my life is a blessing. It all adds greater value or significance and quality to my life. I also believe that this applies to the mistakes I make. And I have made many and will make many more. But He will use it all to enrich me and add value to my story. But it is not MY story, is it? Everything He does is for my good and it all is a blessing. As Job said "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him." (Job 13:15)

There is so much more I will hopefully write on more later. But I will close up with this overwhelming impression that we are to be about His business. Today we are seeing, reading and hearing Christians being torn down and ridiculed everywhere. But we should not be surprised. Christ told us it would be this way. Yet in it He has burdened my heart to share His love and His Story with the people around me. This will be a work of grace in me but I will rely on Him.
We all must be about sharing Him with a hurting world. Our brokeness validates our sharing because we are sharing in the suffering of people. Reach out to those around you. Allow God to break your heart and ask Him to help you love those who appear unlovable to human eyes. Then allow Him to speak comfort through you to others.

Busy as usual

2010-09-27T18:29:00.001-04:00

So here I am again with lots to share and a brain that won't recall a bit of it. Why I don't sit down and write when my brain is working or when something happens or a thought comes through I'll never know.

For now we are staying busy with school and life. We have recently found out that we will be on the move again soon. It appears the Army/Chaplain Corp has decided that we shouldn't live anywhere longer than 2 years. :-)

It's all good. We've been close to home for 3 years now so we honestly can't complain. So here we are looking at options, posts, jobs, etc. My beloved needs his "Brigade time" so beginning to see what is out there for him. It will all be sifted through the knowledge that with his recent surgery he needs to be careful with assignment choices.

Therein lies some of why I haven't been posting much lately. It has consumed us and me of late. Because now body armor should be something in his past we will have to look at training units/posts or jobs that don't require body armor. Though I am happy that deployments appear to be something in the past for us now it makes me feel guilty. Yes he could still go overseas on an unaccompanied assignment and that is a very real possibility. But a deployment to a war zone? No. Though he has been deployed twice I feel like we aren't pulling our weight in some strange way.

So we pray and seek the Lord in this time. We'll enjoy our time close to family and home and look forward to our next adventure together. And it truly is an adventure. The moving keeps my closets cleaned out and each new place brings new experiences and new friends. Now you just can't beat that!

Billy Graham Library

2010-09-09T18:22:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, we went to the Billy Graham Library. It was an amazing day!

Here are a few pictures of our day. There was so much more to the day but I was so wrapped up in it I didn't take many pictures till we got outside.

If you have a chance to go you must go. Even if you have to travel some. It is well worth it. It's free and you just can't beat that.

It isn't just a dedication to Billy Graham the man . It is a walk through the history of most of the 20th century. And it is full of the Spirit of the Lord. The music playing is inspiring and uplifting. The people that volunteer and work there are gracious, kind and warm. You leave feeling like you've been in intimate time with the Lord. And I have a deeper sense of who Billy Graham was growing up and what a neat lady Ruth Bell Graham was. We can't wait to go back. We are planning a visit during Christmas and we can't wait.

Our son running on the sidewalk in the gardens.

Sitting with Grandmommy

My husband at Ruth Bell Graham's grave

Ruth Bell Graham's grave. I love the quote on her stone. "End of construction....Thank you for your patience."

A time to grieve

2010-09-01T20:29:00.000-04:00

Please lift up this family, the Goetz family, in your prayers.
This is the first Chaplain lost in Iraq or Afghanistan and it is quite a blow to the Chaplain Corp. As a Chaplain's wife my heart breaks for his wife and family.

Always remember all of our troops in your prayers. We have so many serving in harm's way around the globe that need to be covered in prayer.

Pray for the enemy's plans to be thwarted and for The Light to shine in the dark places and reveal evil plans.

Because we all need to laugh

2010-08-16T21:19:00.002-04:00

Plumb Lines and Homeschooling

2010-06-28T20:54:00.000-04:00

Several days ago in my daily Bible reading we read out of Amos 7 (in the "read through the Bible in a year" group).   The following verse really struck me.   Amos 7:7   "This is what He showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand.   And the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" I mulled over that verse as I begin thinking and working on school for next year. I honestly felt like the Lord was impressing something on my heart regarding plumb lines. Then for today's reading there it was again in Isaiah 28:17, "I will take the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness to check the foundation wall you have built."

I got to doing some research into plumb lines since I was only vaguely familiar with them. Basically they are used, mainly in carpentry, to find a true vertical line. The plumb line would be a piece of string or something of the like with a metal piece tied to the end. The metal would be drawn to the earth's core and it would offer a perfectly straight vertical line. It is the standard.

Since our son is 10 and entering what would be his 5th grade year I was feeling like "upping the anty" on his work and what we are expecting of him. After seeking the Lord we know that is in His plan as well yet I was losing sight of what that really meant. I began to cave to the pressure of making sure I was keeping up with everyone around us and cave to the pressure to make sure he is academically up to "standard."

But what standard was I using to make these decisions? Whose standard was I looking to? What plumb line was I using? What foundation are we building his education on?

Through the verses in Amos and Isaiah the Lord began to show me that I was looking to the wrong standards.   Standards that aren't perfect or straight. Only God's standard is. We have always felt strongly that we teach to our son's heart and if we taught God's Word and standards God would lead us in the academics. To date that is exactly what has happened.

Yes, we do Math and Social Studies, etc. But taking a curriculum and sprinkling the Bible on it wasn't enough. That wasn't the standard. We begin with the Bible and then branch out from there. It isn't very popular and there are people that think we're crazy. I have other Moms that ask me if I worry about our son making the grade or being prepared. To answer that honestly, I would have to say,"Yes, I do allow worry to take me some days." It can be a work of faith to go down this path. But I also know that we seek the Lord almost daily on what He has for our son to do. So if we trust Him and we follow His standard then our son will be prepared.

You know what we have seen and experienced with him? By following God's standard our son tests better than even we expect. His knowledge base grows each day in things I had no idea he was learning. But most importantly his heart is tender to God's Word and God's Spirit. It is so pleasing to enter into discussions with him that show what God is teaching him and watch him hunger to know more.

The other interesting thing I noticed was that Christ would have used plumb lines in his work as a carpenter. Very interesting! God using the vision of plumb lines spoke to the Israelites of the Old Testament and the Jews and Gentiles of the New Testament. It was a visual tool to help them see how God desires to show His standard to His people. And how fitting for His Son to use plumb lines in his daily work.

I can see Jesus working with his tools and using the plumb line. I wonder if His mind would remember how His Father showed His prophets visions of plumb lines. I imagine He would smile at those thoughts.

So our plumb line for school will continue to be as it has each year. God's standard. His standard is perfect and is not lacking. And how we will know what that standard is is to continue in His Word each day and seek Him every day. What a relief that His standard is the one we seek and actually is a better standard than any curriculum out there.
So I guess I could even say our curriculum is "The Plumb Line Curriculum!"

This and That and Father's Day

2010-06-20T22:30:00.001-04:00

Not too much new news right now but just wanted to share some things.
We attended the orientation to begin our adoption with the State. Yet another confirmation that we are moving the right direction. So we are signed up for the 14 hours of training next month. Once that is done then we'll have the additional paperwork to fill out. This is the most time-consuming part as you write your autobiography and family history, etc.   It is exciting to move forward and see what the Lord is going to do.

We had a little fun at 'Dad's' expense for Father's Day today.   Our little family likes to laugh. Recently my sweet husband had surgery on 4 herniated discs in his neck. So he is having to wear a neck brace to keep his neck still. He has done well and been a good patient (mostly), following the doctor's orders. However this week when we went for a follow-up visit the X-ray showed one screw had backed out slightly. So he has to stay in the neck brace another 2 weeks. It's enough to make anyone cry after already 6 weeks in the thing. So we did what we do. We find the humor in it. So it seems that it's okay to say he has a screw loose and it is the truth now! lol!
Take it to the next level and you give him a screwdriver for Father's Day, too! We had such a good laugh over this.

Then our son gave him a lightening bolt bracelet he made for Daddy. How sweet!

Hope everyone enjoyed their Father's Day with their fathers, husbands....If your father is no longer with you I pray your memories embrace you with joy.

Adoption Process Update

2010-06-17T15:32:00.000-04:00

Tonight we are attending the Orientation to begin the adoption process. We have already turned in our application and some of the other training certificates we received with what we had done through the other agency.
Tonight should begin the process in earnest. In a few weeks we'll have our training the State has for foster and adoptive parents. That will be 2 full Saturdays! Though that will make long weeks for us we know the information will be good and information we'll need.
It is exciting to see the Lord opening the doors of our new process. It has made us wonder if He was allowing the delay through the other agency to bring us to the State for a certain child/ren. What an exciting journey we are embarking on!
We'll keep you updated and covet your prayers for the Lord's leading and guidance as we start moving towards bringing our child/ren home.