Sunday, September 30, 2007

My Stones of Gilgal


The Stones of Gilgal were significant to the Israelites as they were a sign of God's faithfulness to his people. I have a glass that is half full with perfect sand dollars in them. They are my personal reminders from the lord of His faithfulness and his perfect design. Picked up two more this morning....(see....I said I would find salt water soon!)


Saturday, September 29, 2007

Cracked Pots




I pulled out Brennan Manning's Ruthless Trust again. I really do encourage you to give it a read. I was re-reading the following earlier today...

A water-bearer in India had two large pots. Each hung on opposite ends of a pole that he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other was perfect. The latter always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house. The cracked pot arrived only half-full. Every day for a full two years, the water-bearer delivered only one and a half pots of water.

The perfect pot was proud of it accomplishments, because it fulfilled magnificently the purpose for which it had been made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of it imperfection, miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After the second year of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, the unhappy pot spoke to the water-bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you," the pot said.


"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all this work and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water-bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion, he said, "as we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the cracked pot took notice of the beautiful wildflowers on the side of the path, bright in the sun's glow, and and the sight cheered it up a bit.


But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad that it had leaded out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for it failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, not on the other pot's side? That is because I have always known about your flaw, and I have taken advantage of it. I planted seeds on you side of the path, and every day, as we have walked back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have had this beauty to grace his house."


Eager to extract a moral from this lovely story, the artist of the obvious will hasten to tell us that we are all cracked pots and that we should allow Jesus to use our flaws in order to grace his Father's table. Such trite moralizing spoils the story.

...the water bearer stunned the cracked pot with the words, "Without you being just the way you are, the master would not have had this beauty to grace his house." The pot had assumed that the sole purpose of its existence was to haul water from the stream to the house. Enfolded within its narrow self-determination, the flawed pot had not suspected God's grand purpose for it: to give life to the dormant flower seeds along the path. Does not this restricted view describe our own situation? We formulate plans to fulfill what we perceive to be the purpose of our lives (inevitably limited), and when the locomotive of our longings gets derailed, we deem ourselves failures.

Our disappointments arise from presuming to know the outcome of a particular endeavor.

...trust yourself as one entrusted by God with everything you need to live life to the full.


What are your thoughts?

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Sailing...


I was contemplating sailing yesterday......long story as to why.
Do I date myself when I say the Christopher Cross song 'Sailing' was in my mind all day?
(I just heard you openly laugh at that...my kids said, "who is Christopher Cross?"

Luke 8:22 says, "Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, 'Let us go over to the other side of the lake."....Most seem to miss the importance of this very first command as they hurry to Jesus calming the sea. He tells them they are going to the other side. They panicked when the storm arose. They forgot that He already told them where they were going.

I'm missing the salt water. I might have to find some in the next few days...



Sunday, September 23, 2007

Basket of Candles

I experienced a wonderful tradition this past weekend at my niece's bridal shower. It was the New England 'Basket of Candles'. This basket is given to the bride to be and the poem below is read. Not a dry eye in the house....one I will never forget. Enjoy





Basket of Candles
For "bride name"

A basket of candles That come in a pair
In all different colors, For you two to share
The white ones burn first
They are wrapped in white lace
To celebrate your first married night
In your new chosen place
The green pair is taller, and also much thinner
Burn with the first company, you have over for dinner
The dark blue candles are for after your first fight
Use them to burn while making up all night
Pink candles set the mood and pave the way
For your first married Valentine’s Day
Now, when your first year of marriage is through
The cream anniversary pair, will light for you two.
Red candles aflame, both your futures are bright.
Celebrate promotions you’ve worked toward with all of your might.
By this time we hope, maybe, just maybe
You can light the purple ones, on the birth of your baby,
And just when you thought, you’d put these away
Take the light blue ones out-for your fifth anniversary day.
Now just one more pair left-for the big 2 5
The anniversary pair that will keep your love alive
Congratulations bride and groom (enter names)
On the start of your forever
May the two of you always be happy together
And burn these candles
Just the way we said
But please don’t forget-blow them out before bed!

With love,
Your bridal party



Bride to Be

I spent the day over in the valley celebrating my niece. It was her bridal shower. The wedding is at the end of December. All are waiting anxiously for the groom to come home from Iraq. As my niece commented.....26 days until he arrives back in North Carolina (not that she is counting or anything). Here a few pics from the day...


The bride to be is in the middle, friend to the right, Matron of honor to the left



A Candle Basket - a New England Tradition




My Sister and my Emma


I love this pic because of the reflections of the sky, the colors and the floating hearts

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Autumn


The maple is a dainty maid,
The pet of all the wood,
Who lights the dusky forest glade
With scarlet cloak and hood.

The elm a lovely lady is,
In shimmering robes of gold,
That catch the sunlight when she moves,
And glisten, fold on fold.

The sumac is a gypsy queen,
Who flaunts in crimson dressed,
And wild along the roadside runs,
Red blossoms in her breast.

A towering high above the wood,
All in his purple cloak,
A monarch in his splendor is
The proud and princely oak.
(anon.)

Saturday, September 15, 2007

AYSO (All Your Saturday's Occupied)

Up at 5am, lining and marking fields early, getting the family together....three soccer games (coached 2 of them), hustled to my daughters club game in Atascadero.... Look below.....this is why all the effort....smiles a mile wide...

Elena's first Soccer Game


Are they not the cutest team around?!!!
'The yellow hornets'
Got a lot of laughs when I stopped warm-ups to take pictures. Oh come on....you would have done it too.

No pics of his team (they wouldn't stand still long enough!)

Yes, Elena fell asleep on Jacob at their sister's game in Atascadero!

Friday, September 14, 2007

A New One


I just started reading this book by Priscilla Shirer. She is a phenomenally gifted bible teacher. She is following Beth Moore's example of expository teaching with outstanding application. The opening states this,

"The Lord doesn't speak in a whisper or in a dark corner somewhere where people can barely hear; nor does He try to trick us because He knows we can't understand what He's saying. 'You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.' (Is 43:10) God doesn't have a case of cosmic laryngitis, and nothing is wrong with His transmitter. Our receiving equipment, however, often leaves a lot to be desired."

The book is an examination of the first ten verses in 1 Samuel 3. I'll let you know how it goes...

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Lullaby


Lullaby, and good night, with pink roses bedight,
With lilies o'er spread, is my baby's sweet head.
Lay thee down now, and rest, may thy slumber be blessed!
Lay thee down now, and rest, may thy slumber be blessed!

Lullaby, and good night, your mother's delight,
Shining angels beside my darling abide.
Soft and warm is your bed, close your eyes and rest your head.
Soft and warm is your bed, close your eyes and rest your head.

Sleepyhead, close your eyes. mother's right here beside you.
I'll protect you from harm, you will wake in my arms.
Guardian angels are near, so sleep on, with no fear.
Guardian angels are near, so sleep on, with no fear.


The above words are to brahm's lullaby. My favorite...the pic is of Elena and her sleepy sister snuggling and giggling together.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Forgiveness


What does forgiveness look like to you? Seriously.....I am asking. What does it feel like, act like....what makes it so hard to forgive?

I heard an outstanding teaching on forgiveness recently by Rob Bell. He is the pastor of Mars Hill church in Michigan. He said, "Central to the life of the Kingdom is forgiveness. Have you been hurt from betrayal, having your motives questioned, a break in trust? The literal greek translation for the word forgiveness is....to send away." He then goes on to say that in order to send something away you have to be aware you are carrying it. "You have to know what it is. You have to own it, who it was, how it made you feel. Until you own it - you can't send it away."

What are your thoughts....how do you apply them to your life.....how do you teach real, heart wrenching forgiveness to your children?


Friday, September 07, 2007

Where is the Fire?

This is a quote from Anne Graham Lotz on the front page of her website Just Give Me Jesus. She is an incredible bible teacher....and can paint the most amazing word pictures...

"In olden days, fire was not instantly available by striking a match or turning a knob. Instead, each village maintained a constant fire that burned in the central plaza. Those whose home fires had died carried a burning brand very carefully from the central fire back to their fireplaces or stoves to rekindle the flame. Each village hired a man to keep the fire burning at all times, and if he let the fire go out, the mistake could cost him his life.


The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 1:6 that when we first become Christians we are given a consuming, passionate, burning love for our Father, which He places within us. Do you remember when the thought of Him provoked an emotional, passionate, fervent response in your heart? Do you remember how you plunged into service, thrilled to think you could do something for this One you loved, this Savior Who had done so much for you? But as time passed, did your busyness become weariness? And did the fire in your heart flicker and die down, even as you hurried to serve God in a multitude of exhausting ways?

At times such as these we must urgently return to the Father, earnestly asking for the Wind of His Spirit to revive the embers of His gift in our hearts. Jesus taught us that our love for Him is more important than all of our service to Him. He reminded us that the first and greatest commandment was this: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
Is the fire of your passionate love for Jesus and His Word dying out as you smother yourself in busyness? In neglectfulness? In prayerlessness? "



Depth of Theology


Deep question of the day - "Mom, why is my fingernail bent?"

Only an 8 year old boy would ask a question like that.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Job 5:8,9


"But as for me, I would seek God, and I would place my cause before God; Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number." Job 5:8,9


(my favorite scripture, ever! The pic is from the Hubble Telescope of the Eagle Nebulla)

Monday, September 03, 2007

The name of the Lord...


I was given a book a few years ago entitled The Peace and Power of knowing God's Name, by Kay Arthur. It is a beautiful book full of wonderful stories in scripture of God acting out His name. I was taken by the title where she says, "...Knowing God's name." I am memorizing the list she uses in the book. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of the book (looking for a wonderful gift for someone or yourself.....go see the good folks at the parable):


"My friend tells the story of something that happened while his dad was deer hunting in the wilds of Oregon. Cradling his rifle in the crook of his arm, his dad was following an old logging road nearly overgrown by the encroaching forest. It was early evening, and he was just thinking about returning to camp when a noise exploded in the brush nearby. Before he even had a chance to lift his rifle, a small blur of brown and white came shooting up the road straight for him.


My friend laughs as he tells the story. It all happened so fast, Dad hardly had time to think. He looked down and there was a little brown cottontail - utterly spent - crowded up against his legs between his boots. The little thing was trembling all over, but it just sat there and didn't budge.
Now this was really strange. Wild rabbits are frightened of people, and it's not often that you'd ever actually see one - let alone have one come and sit at your feet. While dad was puzzling over this, another player entered the scene. Down the road - maybe 20 yards away - a weasel burst out of the brush. When it saw my dad - and its intended prey sitting at his feet - the predator froze in its tracks, its mouth panting, its eyes glowing red.

It was then Dad understood he had stepped into a little life and death drama of the forest. The cottontail, exhausted by the chase, was only moments from death. Dad was its last hope of refuge. Forgetting its natural fear and caution, the little animal instinctively crowded up against him for protection from the sharp teeth of its relentless enemy.
My friend's father did not disappoint. He raised his powerful rifle and deliberately shot into the ground just underneath the weasel. The animal seemed to leap almost straight into the air a couple of feet and then rocketed back into the forest just as fast as its legs could move.

For awhile, the rabbit didn't stir. It just sat there, huddled at the man's feet in the gathering twilight while he spoke gently to it. 'Where did he go, little one? I don't think he'll be bothering you for a while. Looks like you're off the hook tonight.' Soon the rabbit hopped away from its protector into the forest. Where, beloved, do you run in time of need? Where do you run when the predators of trouble, worry and fear pursue you? Where do you hide when your past pursues you like a relentless wolf, seeking your destruction? Where do you seek protection when the weasels of temptation, corruption, and evil threatens to overtake you? Where do you turn when your energy is spent...when weakness saps you, and you feel you cannot run away any longer? The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. Prov 18:10"

Sunday, September 02, 2007

OK, I'm just hot...

Had to escape the heat....it was 106 when I drove home from church. We took the kids to Morro Bay. It was 75 degrees!! I loved the cool ocean breezes....so did the family.


Joey Skimming.....

Emma pulling...

David watching... (big rips today)

Saturday, September 01, 2007

It is just hot!


It seems to catch us sometime at the end of August or September. It looks like the heat is here with us for a week or so. I don't do heat. It wears me out....who needs a pool? My son and neighbor just use the sprinkler...