Blogging Along 2010

 Enjoy... here is the first post of each month this year.  Looking forward to a great 2011!  Happy New Year!!

January

Thankfully Restored

February

Monday Meditation

March

Marriage Monday 

April

What Could Go RIGHT? 

May

Tube Tuesday: A Mother's Love

June

Beachy Thoughts

July

Caffeinated Randomness:  Do you play croquet?

August

Crab Apple Crabbiness

September

WFW: Bumblebees...God's Law...scripture link

October

CR: Showing Signs

November

Memory Monday: Isaiah 55:1-2...My First Vlog!

December

WFW:  Love & Wrath

Gratitude...

Have you written your Christmas gratitude notes??  Thank you can mean so much...especially when it's heart felt.  It really doesn't take that long.  I missed the mail today...but I timed myself and it took 30 minutes with my five year old beauty helping me. 

The Simple Woman's Daybook...

Link

Outside my window...the sun is just rising.  The sky is faintly pink and it looks cold and quiet across the snowy yard.
I am thinking...about the strange week ahead.  Not quite past the holidays, definitely not back to normal and not quite fresh and New Year either.  A strange week.
I am thankful for...a warm home, healthy kiddos, a well-behaved puppy, a loving husband, a patient God.
From the learning rooms...Emma cannot wait for each new day.  She keeps saying, "What's next MomE?"  Caleb is continuing to declare that he "wants to obey" well past the time that he should have done so. 
From the kitchen...Taco Tuesday was such a hit we will keep it in the New Year.  I think I will consider some variations, like other Mexican side dishes...or the occasional enchilada, quesadilla, etc.
I am wearing...still in my jammies...I'll get to it soon.  Something WARM.
I am creating...curtains.  I am going to make some for our SS room.  The sun hits the kids in the eyeballs during the lesson every week.  The other teacher has them, as does the nursery.  They are a lovely warm brown with understated turquoise paisley.  Half-shash.
I am going...to a friends house to play with her new Cricut and let my kids get out of the house!
I am reading...Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and Humility: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney
I am hoping...the puppy doesn't mind being alone this morning.  I have guilt about ever leaving the house.  Sigh!
I am hearing...cartoons and little voices as they awake this morning.
Around the house...the Christmas things are put away.  It all feels so wonderful to have my house back! 
One of my favorite things...petting warm puppy belly...in addition to my normal coffee and Bible mornings!
A few plans for the rest of the week...ham and bean soup for New Year's...and letting the kids stay up late for the first time.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

WIW: Coffee & Donuts...a deep thoughts!!

God is not a belief to which you give your assent. God becomes a reality whom you know intimately, meet everyday, one whose strength becomes your strength, whose love, your love. Live this life of the presence of God long enough and when someone asks you, “Do you believe there is a God?” you may find yourself answering, “No, I do not believe there is a God. I know there is a God.”

~Ernest Boyer, Jr.

She Who Kneels Before God
Can Stand Before Anyone

~Unknown

Tolerance without dialogue is a euphemism for indifference.
~Count Miklós Cseszneky de Milvány, Hungarian aristocrat.

"Humility is a virtue, not a neurosis." 

~Thomas Merton

Merry Christmas!

"Maria?" "Yes, my love, I'm here."

"It hurts, O God, it hurts! I fear

The worst for me tonight." "Rest now

Dear Joseph, God will not allow

Your faith more pain than it can bear."

"Maria, are the children there?"

"The little ones have gone to stay

With Zechariah for the day.

The eldest keeps his vigil still,

And prays for hours on the hill

Behind the house. He's fasted for

A week now, Joseph, since before

The priest imposed the quarantine.

He loves you very much." "I've seen

His love. I thought two years ago

When we missed him in Jericho

And had to search Jerusalem

In anger, ready to condemn,

That he would be a callous lad,

But now at fourteen years the glad

And unassuming boy, who reads

The Torah late at night and pleads

For me in prayer, has run the shop

For these two years without a stop,

While I lie here and rot with some

Unknown disease. I've heard him hum

A Psalm of David as he changed

My stinking clothes and then arranged

My mat and sat me up to drink

Some broth that he had made. I think

That he's the greatest joy I've had,

Maria, though I'm not his dad."

"Mine, too, dear Joseph. It's as though

He bears it all. The children go

To him and cry when I am weak.

He sits them down and helps them seek

Their comfort in the covenants.

He wins complete obedience

For me, and brightens every hour.

He has a strange and winsome power."

"Maria, do you think that he

Could come and lay his hand on me

And use the power to make me well?

Sometimes I feel like I'm in hell

With these blind eyes and fiery pain.

And worst for me is all the strain

Of seven children you must bear.

Could he not heal me with his prayer?"

"He's praying now up on the hill."

"What does he pray? What is his will

For me?" "Pure love, my husband, love."

"And what is this pure thing made of

If not a father's health?... Forgive

Me, my Maria, as I live

I love the boy. But if the word

The angel spoke is true, we've heard

Messiah in our home for years.

And don't the prophets say that tears

Will all be wiped away when he

Appears: the blinded eyes shall see,

The deaf shall hear, the lame shall leap

The dumb shall sing and all who weep

Will shout for joy? And should I quell

The hope that he could make me well?"

"I asked him last week, when the priest

Had left, if he could not at least

Relieve your pain, or give you sight,

Or help you sleep well through the night."

"What did he say?" "He said in sum,

‘Tell Dad, my hour's not yet come.

The timing of the Lord of Host

Will make a widow and a ghost.'"

"Strange recompense for nurturing

The Son of God, the mighty King!"

"O Joseph, we have seen too much

Of God and grace to doubt that such

A Sovereign plans but for our good,

For he can heal and heal he would

If it were best." "What does he pray

Up there, Maria? Did he say?"

"He didn't mention much detail,

But only that your faith not fail.

He says there's something worse than death,

And loss of faith, not loss of breath,

Is what he fights. He's gotten slim

From fasting." "Would you please fetch him?

I want to say goodbye." "I know

The place; I'll hurry now and go."

"Your father wants to see you, son;

I think his life is almost done.

Come, hasten with me to his bed."

"He's here, my love, beside your head."

"I heard you in the synagogue

Once say that there's an epilogue

To life. And then you looked at me.

You knew. Already you could see

The last short chapter of my days:

The gathering dark and distant rays

Of dawn. And now I thank you, son,

That you fought for my faith and won.

Your intercession on the slope,

Your fasting and your love gave hope.

Nor do I doubt that you and I

Will meet again with God on high.

I bless the night that you were born!

May all the world that night adorn.

Maria, come, light him a flame.

Though darkness gathers, praise his Name!" 

~John Piper --Jesus @ Desiring God

The Art of Pretending...

My children are great pretenders.  Here they are "making believe" that they are cooking a fabulous Christmas dinner.  They know it's not real food...but they are "attempting to cause it to be so" in their imaginations. They "act out" tasting the food...but their bellies aren't actually filled.

In a world where Jesus, the way, THE TRUTH, and the life, is considered just a relative thing...I need to be careful.  Because, is it pretending if only WE know the TRUTH?  We as parents KNOW Santa is "make believe"...but if we tell our children he is real...aren't we tricking them? 

I remember...riding in the car with my Dad...many moons ago...and asking if Santa was real.  My Dad said, "Well, how do we know what is true?" My answer came from what my family had already taught me.  "Well, it would be in the Bible, right?"  My Dad agreed.  I said, "Is Santa in the Bible?"  My Dad said, "No, he's not."  AND THAT WAS IT...not major disappointments...just TRUTH.

I hope that I am equally prepared for just such a wonderful and openly honest discussion...I don't want to risk whether "they'll figure out what's real eventually"...I want to ALWAYS point to truth and where it comes from...GOD'S WORD.

This is heavy on my mind...I was just faced with a man a few weeks back who, TRULY, no jokes folks, said that he could find no more proof of God's existence than he could for the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus.  OUCH!  Among other things, he said, "Have you ever seen him?" and then he sang..."He knows if you are sleeping, He knows if you're awake, He knows if you've been bad or good...so be good for goodness sake."  UGH, cringe!  I shared my sadness for his disillusionment and my heart's desire that he learn of The Truth that I know from God's Word.

We share the story of Saint Nicolas and his generous spirit in giving to poor children....so they know how such traditions start...but we all know that any packages marked, "FROM SANTA" on Christmas day are just pretend....because Christmas in our home....is about celebrating Jesus, the Christ's birth. 

And maybe even more important...every day life is about Him too!  Day in and day out...every day of the year we are striving to teach them these truths.

As my children open gifts, at any time of the year, I want them to know about the ONE TRUE GIFT.  The MOST IMPORTANT GIFT ... Jesus...who grew up...and died for the sins of the world.  AND... 
1 Cor. 15:3-4, "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures"  Yes, at Easter Bunny time...we share that too...HE IS RISEN!!

HIS-Story at Christmas and ALL THE TIME!

This Sunday I was reminded that God is the Pre-eminent One.  That's one of those words that I know what it means in context but ended up looking it up later...and boy, does it ever describe God--distinguished, peerless, supreme.

Have you ever been struck by God's Sovereign use of history?...How He used rulers and events...political climates?  For example, that a census would be taken at just the right time...so that not only would Mary and Joseph be in Bethlehem, to fulfill Micah 5:2, but at the exact time the baby would be born!? And, we all know that babies aren't predictable.  Well, unless you're God that is.

Our Pastor shared some interesting Historical facts with us Sunday.  Things that pointed to God's use of world events in HIS story...and although I knew some of these points of history I'd never placed it around Christ's birth.

You know in Luke 2 where it talks about "Caesar Augustus said all the world should be registered"...well, turns out that his full name was Gaius Octavian..the nephew and eventually adopted "son" of Julius Caesar.  AND...Octavian's sister, Atia, was married to Marc Antony....who cheated on her with Cleopatra.

As any good brother would, he took him to war (well, it probably had more to do with Marc cutting off the grain from Egypt)...and Octavian won (they committed suicide remember)...and he gained major control of Rome...and ruled over them during a peaceful and stable period.  He oversaw the building of the Roman roads, etc.  Which not only established for Mary and Joseph an easy access to refuge in Egypt from Herod but also...put road structure in perfect shape and location to spread the gospel when the disciples went out to share the good news with all the world.  Neato, eh?

I think what really stuck with me as I put together ALL this information...is that God is BIG and has no trouble keeping track of, or taking care of, His own.

His plans will be fulfilled.  He always keeps His promises.  History, and everything in it, is HIS!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, LOVERBRAINS!

Today, at 7 o-clock I will be married for 7 years to my Loverbrains.

Here are 7 things I LOVE about him:

1.  He's brilliant but humble.  I find that his quiet way of doing things always sets him in good position with his peers and bosses.  He doesn't need to put himself ahead...God blesses him...and it all works out fine. 

2.  He always ALWAYS kisses me first when he comes home.  To the point where he trips over the kids and puppy who are literally clamoring for his attention.  I asked him why once...and he said that he wanted them to know that I come first!

3.  He's a wonderful DadE...He owns bathtime as his special job.  He lovingly washes and jammies our babies.  It not only saves me back aches but also gives me some quiet moments to play the piano or be by myself!

4.  He enlarges my mind...as I try to understand his world of math and science.  At the same time, he doesn't make me feel stupid...he patiently explains things to me and listens intelligently to my days full of defiant three year olds and playdoh castles.

5.  He encourages me to be involved in ministry...even allowing me to drive separately to choir practices each week.  That means he dresses the Sweet Boobahs back up and gets them all ready for the PM service alone.  WOW...he does tights and hair ya'll!  So cute.  He knows how much it means to me to sing at church!

6.  He is patient when I don't feel well...especially with all these unexplainable and unpredictable migraines...he lovingly sends me to bed and takes care of the kids.  He never makes me feel guilty...but just plugs on.  Even when he is tired...he takes care of me.  In sickness and health!

7.  He puts God first...each morning he reads his Bible in the kitchen while I read in the living room.  The house is quiet except for the turning of my pages and the clicking of his Kindle.  And then we get together and talk about what we're reading/studying and we pray or share thoughts and issues.  Each evening he reads the kids SS paper with them and talks to them about God.  These things I treasure!

So, I love you, honey!  Happy Anniversary!!

PS...Happy Anniversary to Barbara and her honey who let us share their special date.  She also gave me this idea last year!

The Week in Words...

 To begin...some Christmas quotes I've been saving up...

The only blind person at Christmastime is he who has not Christmas in his heart.
--Helen Keller

I never realized God's birth before,
How He grew likest God in being born...
Such ever love's way--to rise, it stoops.
--Robert Browning

You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father's face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.
--John R. Rice  

Were earth a thousand times as fair
Beset with gold and jewels rare
She yet were far too poor to be
A narrow cradle,
Lord, for Thee.
--Martin Luther

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable Gift--
indescribable
inestimable
incomparable
inexpressible
precious beyond words.
--Lois Lebar  

I love this quote...I think it is from Mere Christianity...but I'm not sure!
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."  C. S. Lewis


I had heard a quote by an R. Stedman about the "secret of the Christian life being borrowed diety" but as I searched for it...I read his work called "Prayer"...and liked the following...
"Oh," you say, "I'm not in rebellion against the Spirit of God. Why, I'm a Christian. I don't rebel against him." Let me ask you: "What kind of life are you living? Is it God-centered, or is it self-centered? Is it to please yourself that your activities are done and your desires aimed?" Then you are in rebellion against the Spirit of God, and to have him dwelling in you means the total collapse of all that revolt until you are saying, "Lord Jesus, whatever you say, your word is my command. I am ready to obey." It is not our relationship with Jesus Christ which counts before the world, it is our resemblance to him."  ~Ray Stedman Prayer

Advent...Candle Four

The sun had just begun to set
And Joseph's face, filled with regret
Appeared again. "We'll find a place,"
Said Mary, full of hope and grace.
"I know we will," she touched his chin
And bravely smiled, "Who needs an inn?
The sky is clear, the blankets thick
And warm; there's still good light to pick
A place among the rocks we passed.
God's first and best is often last."
More times than he preferred to think
Poor Joseph's faith would start to sink
And darkness gather like a foe
'Til Mary's hopeful heart would glow.
It wasn't that he feared the night,
Nor prowling beasts nor thieves to fight.
In fact, it wasn't fear at all
That made the tears begin to fall.
"It's all right, Joseph, I don't mind.
I'm sure it won't be hard to find."
"My God, you're pregnant, woman, look!
What kind of husband ever took
His wife to sleep among the rocks?
I'm not a shepherd with some flocks;
I am a man and you're my wife
With child." She hugged him to the Life
Within her womb and said no more.
Wise woman, she had learned before:
Sometimes you leave a man alone
To bear his load of love, and groan.

She'd kept it to herself all day
And every time they came she'd pray
"Not yet, O God, not on the road;
Your handmaid bears as big a load
As she can take. O Lord, please wait;
Please let the child, your child, come late."
She never burdened Joseph down,
Not even when they got to town,
Not even at the setting sun,
But only when the search was done.
He helped her down among the cocks
And hens. She smiled, "It sure beats rocks,
Especially for a night-time birth."
"I'm in no mood for silly mirth."
"Nor I." "How long have you known this?"
"No anger now, my love, let's kiss
The hour and kiss the ways of God.
Remember that his staff and rod
Are comfort, father David said."
She winced and quickly shaped her bed.
"I helped to make your day's load light;
Please, Joseph, carry me tonight."
"I'll get a midwife from the place..."
"Don't leave me here without your face.
My mother showed me what to do
And what I need right now is you."

Between the pains she tried to lie
In peace and stare into the sky,
And think of how she'd been prepared.
And then she said, "Joseph, I'm scared."
And he with steady eye and calm
Recalled for her the angel's psalm.
"He is the shoot of Jesse's rod;
He shall be called the Son of God;
His Kingdom shall not ever end.
Will not God then his birth attend?"
But Mary's face remained so grim:
"The promises are sure for him.
You know I never doubt God's word,
But, Joseph, I have never heard
A promise for myself but this:
‘Some sword my own soul will not miss.'"
Again his eyes were steady, bright
Reflecting heaven's grace and light.
"Our book is full of promises;
Remember that one where it says,
No good thing does the Lord withhold
From those whose cares on him are rolled.
And: when your worries multiply
God's consolation hovers nigh.
And: steadfast love surrounds the girl
For whom Jehovah is her pearl.
And: God's a stronghold for the weak,
How happy those who his help seek."
Each time the birthing pangs withdrew
He gave her joyful words and true.
He carried Mary with the Word
And she delivered what she heard:
God's Yes to every ancient oath.
And now with lifted hands they both
Were filled with distant prophecy:
"To God alone all praises be,
And let the world a candle light
To celebrate this awesome night." 

~John Piper Christmas Candle @ Desiring God

Creative Friday! Hark, mother dear...

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"  Luke 2:13-14

Every year we make ornaments for our neighbors.  It started with just our immediate neighbors...but as we got to know people in our cul-de-sac we added houses...and now we give an ornament to everyone on the street...16 houses!  And it gives us a wonderful opportunity to share GOD'S TRUTH with them.

 

So, I bravely broke out the paint and glitter...well, first I put down the newspaper... and we painted pine cones from our street's trees...orange and pink in case you were curious...

And we made a host of angels...

"Gloooooooria, in excelsis Deo..."

We ran out of acorns...so used wooden balls for some of the heads.  Aren't they pretty. 

Here's the happy helping crew.  Smiles!  We've been singing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and I told them that HARK was a way to get people's attention...so now Emmer-bean has taken to saying, "HARK mother dear..." before she asks for anything...*sigh*  Calubby has joined in the fun too!  Everyone's a comic around here!

Migraine Mercies for Me Today!

My migraines have been oppressive lately...to my body and spirit...but God is faithfully comforting and leading me through...day by day, moment by moment...and although reading tends to make them worse...I have been led to some great nuggets to encourage me to view life correctly...because just like everything else that I go through...I want to grow more like my Savior...I don't want to stay the same.

Here's a great nugget from this week:

Every day God appoints a measure of pleasure and pain for that day—like the old Swedish hymn says:

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Kind beyond all measure, the Lord gives pain and pleasure to each day as he deems best. We don't always agree enthusiastically with what God deems best for us. It is hard for us to feel that he is kind beyond all measure when he gives us pain. Causing pain is not generally equated with showing kindness. Especially if God's measure for one day is a lot more than another day. But it's true, as we will see more fully in a moment. God gives each day his wise and loving measure of pain and pleasure. 

---

There is a secret to the Christian life here that I want you to get a handle on. If you don't—if you go on desperately needing to feel today the strength for tomorrow, then it seems to me that either you will cave in under the pressure of excessive anxieties, or you will find a worldly strategy for developing immense ego strength and persuade yourself that you really are sufficient for tomorrow's troubles. 

---

Why are they new every morning? Why does God do it that way? It's not because yesterday's mercies were bad or weak. It's because they were yesterday's. Yesterday's mercies were for yesterday's burdens. Today's mercies are for today's burdens. They are new every morning. They are like the manna in the wilderness: you can't keep it overnight. Enough comes for each day. You live on God day by day, or you don't live on God.

The Swedish hymn gets it right again. The second verse says,

Every day the Lord himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour.

A special mercy for each hour. The mercy to carry you through this hour is given in this hour. 

~John Piper @ Desiring God....Today's Mercies for Today's Troubles

This article/sermon is LONG...and wonderful...go check out the rest of it if you have time!

Word FILLED Wednesday: Peace, Peace... Wonderful Peace...

I was given a few helpful reminders about peace.  Not just for this wacky busy time of year...but for all year....

Peace has to be appropriated...and true peace only comes from a steadfast focus on GOD HIMSELF!  To be steadfast is to be firm in purpose and faith; unwavering.

Especially during this time of year we can choose the right response.  As we have the reminder of the Savior's arrival as a baby...and His life's sinless journey to the cross for our sins...He gives us guidance...


"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."  Isaiah 30:10

The resulting peace will give us a calm commitment under stress.  Focusing our minds on the Lord makes Him the aim in life.

How do you think you're going to get peace and joy?  
What does your example say is your purpose and your aim in life??

My goal is God Himself by Frederick Brook  

My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace,

Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God,

'Tis His to lead me there--not mine, but His--

At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

So faith bounds forward to its goal in God,

And love can trust her Lord to lead her there;

Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard

Till God hath full fulfilled my deepest prayer.

No matter if the way be sometimes dark,

No matter though the cost be oft-times great,

He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark,

The way that leads to Him must needs be strait.

One thing I know, I cannot say Him nay;

One thing I do, I press towards my Lord;

My God my glory here, from day to day,

And in the glory there my great Reward.

The Week In Words...

Photo Source

Every week I say that I'm going to participate in WIW...because I just love checking out what Barbara has gathered each week...It's SO inspirational and thought provoking.  I tend to read a lot of quotes...but don't flag them and then can't find them when Monday rolls around.  Her's a blogger's kind of Meme...you can link up to any day of your previous week...which is totally sweet of her.  But, today...I'm actually ready for Monday!

“Worship is not looking up and feeling good, it is bowing down and feeling lowly………When we try to feel an experience of affirmation from worship, we are not worshiping God.  We are worshiping our own egos.” (pp. 56-57)

from Dan Lucarini’s Why I Left the Christian Comtemporary Music Movement

I've been really convicted lately, to consider whether I'm genuinely engaged in praising and worshiping during the song time at church.  Honestly, my brain is usually going a million miles an hour..."oh, so and so is here....and don't forget you have to sit in the front row when choir dismisses for the offertory...Lubby is being rotten again, etc."  Far from God focused! Ouch!

“The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them …….. providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the church …… the need is for Biblical doctrine, so understood and felt that it sets men aflame.”

– C. H. Spurgeon

Whoa is that true.  Sadly, a lot of amusing the goats going on...not much sheep feeding!  I find it interesting that Spurgeon said this...he died in 1892!  Couldn't sound more like RIGHT NOW!

“VICTORIOUS WARRIORS WIN FIRST…
AND THEN GO TO WAR,
WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST…
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN.”

- Sun Tzu

 Ever think about whether you're living like the victory's been won?  Sometimes I act defeated...imagine!  Humph!

"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become."
-C. S. Lewis

This quote (above) was given to me by my dear librarian friend Cheryl...as we discussed this article and having discerning spirits in this world.  I will quote her e-mail to me..."I think your reaction of feeling a "muddled conviction" is in part because you are feeling a little bit of how he feels about reading, and about life. Like there are rules we have to discern in every moment of life. Why can't he just browse the bookstore? Why can't he let loose and enjoy? There's something there that is fearful and guilty . . . and neither of those are what we're called to....All media content (books, music, movies, etc) are held up to the truth of scripture."

That made me think of Romans 8:15, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

FYI--To anyone interested in what happened to Memory Mondays...yeah, rotten time of year to start a new meme...and Vlogging is time consuming and...I think that Loverbrains and I are going to begin memorizing scripture together in the New Year.  I'll keep ya posted.  

Advent...Candle Three

Why did He choose a northern maid
From Nazareth, who had to trade
Her Galilee for Judah just
To get Messiah where He must
Be born? A strange and roundabout
Procedure for a God, no doubt,
Who values His efficiency
And rules the world from sea to sea!
Why not a girl from Bethlehem?
Well half the girls in town would stem
From David's line. And carpenters
Aplenty there could bear the slurs
And gossip on a virgin got
with child, who blushed and said she'd not
Once kissed her man this whole year past.
Why not? Because God's power is vast,
And in one little virgin birth
His sovereign joy and mighty mirth
In saving us from evil bent
Could never, never rest content.
Instead He turned and set His sight
To spangle Rome with all His might;
And took a girl from Galilee
To magnify His sovereignty.
And made the Roman king conspire
With God, to serve a purpose higher
Than he or any in the realm
Could see—a stroke to overwhelm
A few with faith and cause their heart
To know the truth, at least in part,
That, though God loves efficiency
And rules the world from sea to sea,
He does not go from here to there
By shortest routes to save His fare.
He'd rather start in Galilee,
Then pass a law in Rome, you see,
To get the child down south at length,
And magnify His sovereign strength.
God rules the flukes of history
To see that Micah's prophecy
Comes true. Why did He choose a maid
From Nazareth? Perhaps she prayed
That endless mercy might abound
And take the longer way around.
The mighty mercy we adore
As we light advent candle four. 

God loves to "magnify His sovereign strength." This is the answer to the question John Piper poses in the poem "Mighty Mercy": Why did God choose such "strange and roundabout" providence "[t]o get Messiah where He must be born?" This poem exalts God's absolute sovereignty in the "flukes of history."

~John Piper  Mighty Mercy @ Desiring God 

Caffeinated Randomness: Snowman Hilarity!

My grandparents sent me these (last year)...and I just had to pass them on (again)! Enjoy!!















Link up with Michelle...I apologize for not vlogging along today...but we are recovering from the stomach bug (see yesterday's post)...so hopefully you'll forgive me!

A FUNGUS AMONGUS...or something...

Well, I awoke with a stomach bug yesterday...and a VERY selfish attitude.  Being a MomE is SO unfair, blah, blah, blah....I still have to WORK....blah, blah, blah....Thankfully, my sinful attitude was brought to my attention...and although my symptoms didn't really improve...my attitude did.  PTL!

I broke out the crafts...and we painted a box of plain ornaments that I had hanging around. 

Empty egg crates are wonderful for holding painting and gluey things!

I'm a bit sad that the kids and I just made Loverbrain's b-day cake...(belated, he was traveling)...and now no one is eating it...for sure.  Yeah, today...DadE's sick, Emmer-bean is sick...and so it goes (doubtful Lubby will escape). 

But, if I might force the issue...isn't God good?  I got it first...so now I can take care of my family.  I think this happens alot...I either get sick first or last...and rather than take the right attitude I usually say grouchy things like, "No one cares for me...I never get a turn to be sick...blah, grumpity, grump!" 

But..."It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Duet. 31:8

And, He provides...it's cold (see 10 degrees) so snuggling inside is a good thing...and those red books are a treasury of children's stories my parents let me borrow...wonderful!

I got a stupid easy idea (sick ideas are best)...and used up some old posterboard to make an "S" map...and then let the kids use sentence strips to make a race track...

They did this all themselves...Honestly, my stomach was so sore I just handed them pieces of tape and they stuck it together.  My favorite is the loop.  Lubby-man didn't make the pictures cuz he was moving so fast...ha!

So, LOTS of liquids...stay hydrated....

...and love the Sweet Boobahs...cuz, God is good and He plans things out...for the best.  I'm off to clean something, and plump pillows, etc.  I'm a bit sore...but much better than doing what made me sore in the first place....