Following Hard?

I'll admit that The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer was indeed on my required reading for my Bible Minor...and I basically skimmed it and wrote the paper...incidentally, I got an A! But, until I started coming across some of it lately...and my husband was reading it...it didn't really strike me in my heart!  

How tragic that we in this dark day have had our seeking done for us by our teachers. Everything is made to center upon the initial act of "accepting" Christ (a term, incidentally, which is not found in the Bible) and we are not expected thereafter to crave any further revelation of God to our souls. We have been snared in the coils of a spurious logic which insists that if we have found Him, we need no more seek Him. In the midst of this great chill there are some, I rejoice to acknowledge, who will not be content with shallow logic. They will admit the force of the argument, and then turn away with tears to hunt some lonely place and pray. "Oh God, show me Thy glory." They want to taste, to touch with their hearts, to see with their inner eyes the wonder that is God.

If you want to read the rest...GO HERE!

Auld Lang Hodgepodge!

1. What three words would you use to describe 2010?
Painful, Growth, Stretching

2. If fear were not an issue what is something you'd like to try?

Skydiving...ya know, if I wasn't afraid of falling from heights!  I've heard it's beautiful...floating through the clouds.  At this point...I'd be screaming and don't think I'd notice!

3. What do you add to your coffee or tea?

Coffee - and a splash for creamer.  Actually...I've been drinking it black a lot recently...the creamer tastes funny for some reason.

4. What historical sporting event would you like to witness?

I am NOT a sports enthusiastic...I know, I know and I live in America...I guess, I'd enjoy one of the past Olympics with Mary Lou Retton or a World Cup Soccer game.

5. What is one piece of advice you would like to give your sixteen year old self?

You can afford to be gracious to everyone. (this advice was actually given to me by my HS art teacher...and he was right)

6. Are you a planner or do you prefer to fly by the seat of your pants?

Planner extraordinaire!  HAHAHA!  No, really... the whole "flying by seat of pants" thing makes me tense just thinking about it.  I LOVE structure and order!!


7. What is one thing you are looking forward to in 2011?

Planting a great veggie garden! 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Have you ever noticed that when you start to organize one area...that pretty soon you find yourself up to your ears organizing something in another area....and wondering...how did I get here?  One leads to the other, I guess.

Taste like Summertime....in Winter!

I love this cobbler recipe...it works best with soft fruits...strawberries...

or red raspberries and blueberries!  Yummo!!


Summer in the Winter Cobbler
Cube 4 T. butter into 8X9 dish and place in oven while you preheat to 350 degrees F.
While it is preheating...and the butter is getting foamy....
Whisk together:  3/4 c. flour, 3/4 c. sugar, 1 t. bkg pwd, 1/4 t. salt...
Whisk 3/4 c. milk into dry ingred. until smooth. 
Pour batter into hot, foaming butter dish...
Scatter with 2 c. fruit (fresh or frozen).  DO NOT STIR!
Sprinkle with 2 T. course sugar

Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes!  Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream!

The reason for not stirring is that the cobbler part sort of envelopes the fruit while it cooks.  The butter on the bottom does this, I think!

WIW: Deep Thoughts with Oswald!

"Beware of the tendency of asking the way 

when you know it perfectly well."  

~ Oswald Chambers

I've had this quote in my Bible for years...

I know that he is referring to God...and in that aspect alone this quote is humbling.  So often, I find myself praying for God's direction when I know what His Word already says about the issue, and what my actions should be in that situation.  Ouch!

"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."  

James 4:17

Then I got to thinking about this quote in relation to other people.  I'd be one of the first to tell you that I'm a little diplomat...have been since I was little.  I have found it a very effective tool to ask for someone's opinion when I already have made my decision.  Their opinion is pretty much a moot point.

I've done this for a number of reasons.  People like to feel needed...especially those people that think they should be in charge instead of you.  If you give them a few moments to give their two cents...and you listen politely and thank them...they feel supportive and positive towards your leadership.

But, that can be empty flattery with the wrong heart.

"Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit."  

Psalm 52:2

And over the years God's changed my heart...especially the more things I do lead or observe things led.  I'm trying to be genuine and loving in my heart.  I want people to feel supportive and positive because I am a model of Christ in my conduct. 

I do truly care about their impute and information.  I may choose not to use it...but I want to truly listen and care with a compassionate heart.  It is my own puffed up pride that thinks it's okay to smooth peoples' feathers and disregard their opinions.

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...