Living as if We're Dying

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

I am not half way through this book yet, and have found two lovely points being made.

Olivia asked her pastor what he thought she could do to make the remaining months of her life worth something.  They came to a consensus rather quickly.  Father Tim's final thought... "In the space of precisely seven minutes, which he reckoned to be the full length of her visit, he had been told a terrible truth, discovered the answer to prayer, helped someone find a ministry, and been unutterably refreshed in his own spirit.  Perhaps, he thought, we should all live as if we were dying."

...

Cynthia read aloud from a book of lectures by Oswald Chambers, " 'Faith by its very nature must be tried,' he says.  Do you agree?"
"Absolutely!" Tim replied.
"I've never been one for physical exercise," she said, "but what God does with our faith must be something like workouts.  He sees to it that our faith gets pushed and pulled, stretched, and pounded, taken to its limits so its limits can expand... if it doesn't get exercised," she said thoughtfully, "it becomes like a weak muscle that fails us when we need it."
"Would you agree that we must be willing to thank God for every trial of our faith, no matter how severe, for the greater strength it produces?"

...

In Colossians 4 and Ephesians 5 we are told to make the most of every opportunity.  In 1 Thessalonians 5 we are told to, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect."

1 Samuel 12:24 "But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you."

Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone."

Do I live with a fervent desire to serve the Almighty?  Do I live as though I only have 6 months left?  My tomorrow is not guaranteed.  I want to live for him wholeheartedly.  I want to share Jesus with those around me.  Lord, help my will to align with yours.  Keep me heavenly minded.  May my hands be yours.  Use me in ways I can not fathom, Father.  Glory be to Your Name.

Family Fun For Free!

FUN things to do as a FAMILY that are next to free!

1.  Go for a bike ride
2.  Go fishing
3.  Build a snowman/snow fort
4.  Pick a board game and have popcorn
5.  Have a hula hoop competition
6.  Make your own shirts with fabric markers or paint
7.  Play 20 Questions
8.  Play I Spy
9.  Create giant murals on the sidewalk with chalk
10. Visit a nursing home or hospital and brighten someone's day
11. Play Charades
12. Have a squirt gun fight
13. Make a collage with magazines, scissors and glue.  (ie: things you love, things to be thankful for...)
14. Put together a puzzle
15. Make a list of ways to bless others, then pick one or two to do right now!
16. Go to the beach and construct a gigantic sand castle
17. Make home made popsicles
18. Take a frisbee and kites to the park
19. Family in the kitchen - everyone is in charge of making some thing
20. Make paper airplanes and see whose flies furthest
21. Decorate sugar cookies for any season
22. Choreograph a dance to a favorite song
23. Have a mini 'triathlon' with hula hoops, jump ropes, bean bags, crab walking, jumping jacks, etc...
24. Have a water balloon fight
25. Fill the truck bed with blankets and go stargazing
26. Have a variety / talent show
27. Have a scavenger hunt outside or indoors
28. Have a karaoke night at home
29. Who can find the best treasure under $10.00 at a thrift store?
30. Go on a hike
31. Set up a tent in your yard and sleep outside
32. Have a blindfolded obstacle course.  Cheer each other on to get through it!
33. Pack a lunch and go to the beach
34. Bake cookies and drop off plates on your neighbor's doorsteps
35. Go sledding
36. Do yard work for some one who needs help
37. Go roller skating or ice skating (depending the season)
38. Create a homemade bird feeder
39. Movie night in Mom and Dad's room
40. Make a slip and slide with the hose, dish soap, and a tarp in your yard
41. Write down Bible verses on small paper slips and stick them into random books at a bookstore
42. Give each other pedicures / manicures - Come on men!  :)
43. Cut out snowflakes from paper to hang on the windows
44. Decorate your back car windows with window paint/markers (ie: Jesus Rocks!, Jesus is our SUPERHERO!, your favorite Bible verse, etc)
45. Play tug-of-war
46. Write and illustrate a children's book for a child ie: at church, the hospital, etc...
47. Have a popsicle stick or plastic straw creation competition with 10 toothpicks and a piece of string (will need tape if using popsicle sticks)
48. Put each family member's name on a slip of paper and randomly draw one.  Make a card for that person telling them why you love them and what you appreciate about them.

A Chosen People

1 Peter 2:9-10  "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Psalm 139:13-14  "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."

Ephesians 2:8-10  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

I am God's child, dearly loved and beautifully created.  He has a plan for me!  There is nothing in me that is not from Him.  I am chosen in Him.  Praise God!

Father, I am willing.  Please show me how I fit into your plan.  Give me wisdom and discernment in this walk of life.

Inexpressible and Glorious Joy

1 Peter 1:3-4  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade..."


1 Peter 1:8-9  "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."


1 Peter 1:13  "...set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."


Where does joy come from?  True joy.  Not just the happy giddy feeling you get when something wonderful happens.  Joy that can overcome when darkness crowds in.  Joy that fills the heart when nothing else seems right in this life.  I want that joy.

Jesus.

And it's not that we should look to Him to feel better.  He is our only hope.  We are to cling to God.  For we are loved with an agape, sovereign, God-love that can never be replicated.  A love that we will never fully understand. 

Overwhelming feelings and questions of:  What can I do?  Will I ever be enough?  How do I make it?  They are answered only through Jesus Christ.  He is the only way to have hope and true joy.  In James 5 it says to pray if we are in trouble and to sing songs of praise if we are happy.  There is no patting ourselves on the back when things go well.  The Lord gives and he takes away.  There is nothing we possess that is not from Him, the Most High - The giver of Life.  

When life gets hard and it feels like there is nothing to possibly give thanks for, then look UP!  Refocus.  If we are eternally minded as we should be, then there is always a reason to give thanks!  (Colossians 3:2
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.")  The free gift of salvation through Jesus, and the gift of being able to serve Him and walk with Him is enough reason to have us jumping up and down from the roof tops shouting out, "I AM BLESSED!  My God, YOU are SOOOO Good!"

Nehemiah 8:10  "The joy of the Lord is your strength!"

A Time to Plant, A Time to Uproot

My wonderful four year old and I made a countdown caterpillar today.  It is a countdown to when we head back "home" to see all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends.  We can hardly wait!


Ecclesiastes 3:1-2  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and and time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot..."

Eight months ago our family moved four states away from what had been our home for our entire lives.  It has been a big adjustment for everyone!  As I read this verse today it hit me in a new way.  We had a long season of planting and investing into our home, church, and life up North.  But the Lord said it was time to uproot.  I like to think of it more as transplanting actually.

He replanted us in a new, somewhat intimidating, place.  Now, it is our job to grow.  He feeds and waters us with His word,  guides us with his light, and is an ever present and attentive gardener.

Many positive things have happened since moving here:
1.  I began writing this blog which the Lord has used to show me things I don't think I would have seen otherwise.  Hopefully there has been growth and maturity in my walk!
2.  We've had a lot more time just as a family since we moved here knowing only one other couple.  It has forced us to create family memories that may not have happened otherwise.
3.  Daddy and Little Man have started having "Man Mornings" a couple of Saturdays each month. So special!  Highly recommend!  It changes Little Man's whole demeanor and brightens him up.
4.  Since our schedule has slowed down so much, it has fostered time for Mommy and Little Man to work on Bible verse memorization and morning devotions in his 'Jesus Storybook Bible'.
5.  There have been sacrifices made on both my husband's and my end in order to have a happier and healthier family.  It's helped us to be more selfless and loving.
6.  With not having my mom to lean on for the difficult days of parenting (while the husband is at work), it has forced me to push through those times with more reliance on God.  The Lord has taught me a greater level of patience and grace with my children.  And I think I am becoming a better mom.
7.  Stepping out of the comfort bubble to make new friends has been challenging, but sooo good for me.  It's really easy to get comfortable and not deviate from your circles of friends, church, etc....  If we do ever move back "home" I will be a lot more conscientiousness of new comers to church and just reaching out in general.

Thank you, Lord, for this time of growing.  It can be so lonely and hard some days, but you are ever faithful! You are growing me, stretching me, and polishing me in ways I never knew you would.  Being refined can only bring me closer to you.  Deepen my faith, Father.  I want to know you more.

Spiritual Sluggard

Spiritual Sluggard

"We utilize God for the sake of getting peace and joy, that is, we do not want to realize Jesus Christ, but only our enjoyment of Him." - Oswald Chambers, 'My Utmost for His Highest'

He is God the Almighty who calls us dearly loved and friends.  God wants a personal relationship with us.  He knows everything there is to know about us according to Psalm 139.  But do we know all there is about Him?  Are we longing for a deep relationship with Him?  As a Christ follower we are not meant to go through life counting on God to grant us peace and joy so that we can feel better.  Christianity is so much more.

John 15:15  "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."


John 16:33  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."



Psalm 95  "Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.  In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.  The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.  Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care."


Praise where praise is due!!!  God Almighty, you are amazing!!!!!

Living Anticipating Christ

Revelation 21:4  "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

What a glorious time to look forward to!  My grandma was a wonderful woman.  She often talked about this verse.  She went to be with Jesus almost six years ago.  Her anticipation, excitement, and joy in going to meet her Maker face to face was so evident.     

Her favorite song was 'In The Garden':

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice I hear falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses . . .

 

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known!

 

He speaks and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that he gave to me,

Within my heart is ringing . . .

 

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known!

 

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known!

 

We are told in the book of John that Jesus is preparing a place for us.  It's going to be a place like none other.  To see the Lord and to commune with Him is hard to imagine, but I can not wait!


This time on earth is but a blink of an eye.  Am I living every possible moment for HIS glory???  Am I offering the very least that I can possibly offer - to love Him completely and wholeheartedly?  Is my life laid down and surrendered to Him?


Matthew 22:37  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind."

Romans 6:13  

"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness."