Easter

Yes, it is still on my mind. Easter weekend is my favorite weekends of the year! Each year it becomes more precious. Jesus’ sacrifice. His amazing love. He is alive!

This year I became more aware than ever how different Christians celebrate this time of year. I tread carefully here. My heart is not to offend…most of all, I do not want to dishonor my Savior’s sacrifice in anyway. I spent days contemplating our own Easter celebrations. Are we unknowingly bringing disgrace to God’s victory…or not giving Him all the glory He so deserves?

This is how I am left feeling. Whether we choose to call it Easter, Resurrection Sunday, Holy Week or Passover the important thing is our hearts. Do we know and love Jesus? Are we walking with Him daily? If so, I don’t think the spring season can go by without our Sovereign God prompting our hearts to remember all He did for us one spring 2,000 years ago. Second, are we doing everything we can to tell others about Him and what He did for them too? If we are doing that, I honestly don’t think God cares what we call it.

Easter, originally a pagan holiday I have been told (though I admittedly don’t know the details) has merged into a celebration of both spring and Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection….at least in my family. I love the seasons. I love them because they belong to God. It is God’s creation telling the gospel story year after year.

My family enjoys dressing up and egg hunting because those are all God’s things – good things He has given us to enjoy. After a season of death, flowers breakthrough in brilliant pastels declaring life – and life abundantly. We dress up in celebration of the day He will dress us in our new Resurrection clothes. The eggs…well, they are His too. He created them and what a beautiful picture of life they are.

For two years now, I have had the amazing privilege of serving at the preschool welcome desk Easter Sunday. I can hardly hold back the tears as I talk with parents who brought their whole family to church for the very first time as a result of the egg hunt the day before. I smile kindly while my whole heart rejoices with song and dance that they will hear the gospel today, maybe for the very first time. Talk about God getting some glory!

I easily picture Jesus walking with us through all our Easter activities. I think He would love to laugh and play with the kids as they hunt for eggs. I imagine Him smiling easily at the pretty dresses. I know He would welcome the opportunity to find someone who didn’t know Him yet. And He would wipe away tears as we thanked Him for His sacrifice.

It is our hearts that matter to Him. Is Jesus alive and living in you? Then celebrate, my friend, however you know how.

Lost

Not a post about the show LOST...never seen it...don't intent to ever see it.  Sorry if I disappoint. :)  I am feeling at quite loss of where to start after all these months...  

In my last post (many months ago!) I promised a list of all I have learned from studying Acts.  I was working on it diligently, had it all typed out in Word and was proofreading it when our hard drive died.  It was lost forever!   And with it, my motivation for blogging seemed to be lost as well. 

I am also sure many of you (if you are still there) have been wondering if I was lost too...  unless of course you have Facebook, then you are very aware of all that has happened these past few months!  Moving, a puppy...where do I start?!?!

Ah, today.  

Today is the first day of our spring break!  I have awaited this day since January.  Don't get me wrong, I love my quiet mornings as much as any other mom with school age kids, but I don't like getting up before the sun, spending three hours of my day driving back and forth to school and waiting in car lines.  Not to mention homework and keeping up with the different schedules.  By this time of year, I am just done.  Really very ready for summer vacation...but, ah, spring break will do.  

So, oddly enough, I find I have more time on my hands with my kids home than I do with them in school.  With my extra time this week, I thought I would give blogging another shot.  I love being able to look back on here at details in our day to day life that would otherwise be forgotten. 

I am giving myself a goal of a post a day and hoping that will put me back in the habit of it by the end of the week.  You have my permission to nudge me if I slack again!  :)  

My Favorite Christmas Present

By far, my favorite gift this Christmas was from my dear husband. Smart man that he is, listened, oh so closely to something I had been wanting...but probably would not have bought for myself.

I recently have developed a very high respect and love for the work of Kay Arthur. I have done a couple of her studies before, but it had been quite a long while (probably 10 years long while). My memories of her were all wrapped up in the Bible markings she asked of you. Honestly, it would make me cringe. I love my Bible, and I love making it mine, but I didn't care for the rainbow mess her studies would leave behind. Actually, it is very likely I skipped all those parts and consequently ended up not impressed.

Just before Christmas, I finished "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Study on David" by Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore and Kay Arthur. Love all those ladies, but walked away deeply touched by Kay Arthur. (Had a very similar experience when I saw them all in Atlanta last summer.) She still had the "circle this, square that" stuff in there and while I still cringed at it - I actually did it this time. WOW. I learned so much!

It left me wanting to do more of her studies, but all the marking...eh! Finally, I came up with what I thought was my brilliant idea: to get a cheap Bible specifically for her studies and then I could mark in it without cringing. (It wasn't until I the had the new Bible and study in my hand that I read in her intro that she recommends getting a Bible just for her studies. So much for my great idea.) :)

So, have you guessed what my sweet husband gave me for Christmas yet? Yep, a new Bible (a pink one at that!), Kay Arthur's study on Acts and a brand new set of colored pens (oh, I do love pens!). And being the Bible study nerd that I am...I was beside myself with delight! I was even more excited about it than my gift cards (my usual favorite gift - because if I am not doing Bible study, I would like to be shopping!)

So on Christmas Eve, after we opened our presents (yes, we open presents on Christmas Eve...) I sat down to devour my new Bible study...and devour I did. It was a thirteen week study and I just finished it last night. It was SO good! I would start reading after the kids were in bed and it would be 1am and I would scarcely notice. It was always a struggle to put down, no matter how late it was.

And you know what the coolest thing about all this is? It wasn't the Bible study that I couldn't put down - that is just an itty bitty book of directions and questions. It was the Word of God that captivated me so! I fell in love with Paul. I cried when he went to Jerusalem - knowing what awaited him there. I was completely moved by the Holy Spirit and blown away at knowing that same Spirit fills me! I am not living near up to the power God can enable me too.

I shared with my husband, early on how this study had really brought out how lazy I am with Bible study. I am used to sitting on the couch, reading my Bible, and then looking to Beth Moore or another author to fill me in on what it was saying. If you have done a Kay Arthur study, you know, she doesn't much do that. She would ask questions and many times I wouldn't know the answer. I would wait for her to explain, but she didn't. However, as I stayed in the Word, I could see God answering my questions. Sometimes I did a little more research on my own (actually getting up off the couch and looking things up on the computer). Many times the answers would bring more questions...some that are still unanswered. But one thing holds true: I have been greatly affected by the power of this book.

So I am sharing all this basically to say, I have a new found love for the book of Acts. And I don't want to get over it. I don't want to forget what God taught me on my short stay there. I planned on sharing more of what I learned in this post and less about why I did the study in the first place...but I will just let it be what it is and come back with a post devoted entirely to the amazing book of Acts! I bet you can't wait! ;)

I Celebrate the Day!

LOVE these lyrics...

I Celebrate the Day by Reliant K

And with this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

Easter?

We spent much of the day today driving through crowded streets, waiting in long lines and maneuvering through crowds as we tried to finish up the last of our errands before Christmas.

No idea why, but at one point in the car Connor says, "Mommy, when is Easter going to come?"

Cookie from Connor, Anyone?

Connor hoped in the car after school and before he was even seated he burst with excitement, "Mommy! I made you a cookie!" As the very last syllable joyfully left his mouth, his balloon deflated. He sat down in his car seat and with a sad face confessed, "so sorry I licked all the icing off."

Homemade Marshmallows

Debbie and I spent the day making marshmallows. Yep, that's right...homemade marshmallows. When we shared our plans with "some other" family members, they didn't hid their snickers and the jokes begin instantly. Jokes about how we would get stuck to the walls of the kitchen...we would have to call one of them to help us. Really now...IF we did get stuck to the walls by our rising homemade marshmallow fluff...would we really call one of them to help us??

I am happy to say that we made the marshmallows with out much of a sticky mess. And they were SO GOOD! However, the day didn't go down without its share of giggles...FROM US. I am going to be so bold as to share just a couple of them...

• The sugar and water are on the stove. We are watching intently as...nothing happens. We decide we should stir it in case it could scotch. Another 5 minutes goes by of constant stirring. Still...nothing. Oh! It helps if we have the burner on!
• We are almost done. The marshmallow is fluffy and yummy! Debbie mentions not having lunch. I grab a individual pizza out of the freezer to make her. Pop it in the microwave and when it beeps take it out. Much to my surprise, there isn't much of a pizza there any more. More like a plate full of burnt cheese and a little piece of dried up bread. What in the world? I have never made marshmallows EVER and they turn out great. I have made those little pizzas more times than I can count - in the microwave no less - and it ends up completely inedible. I still don't understand...
  

Soccer Game!

Summer played soccer this fall. She loved it! She did really well and both her and Connor want to play this spring. Here are some pics...
This was our first time playing with "Upward". I so impressed! They had memory verses and devotions during half time...rules for the parents and the plan of salvation laid out every single game though a reward system for the kids. It was very well done!

We would bring along a ball for Connor and Chloe

She loves these glasses...I am not sure why

Looks like they had to be separated... :)

Warming up before the game

Next year, buddy!

Something must have been really interesting on the other side of the fence

Devotions and prayer during half-time

Look at her go!!

Say "Thanks"

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:11-19

I have always kinda snubbed my nose in the direction of the "other nine". How could they be so ungrateful? How could they not even say "thank you" when they were just given an amazing gift of healing. Walking in their shoes, surely, I would have been the one to come back and say thanks.

They had leprosy after all. An incurable disease that condemned them to life alone. They were outcasts forced away from family and friends. Husbands torn away from wives. Fathers torn away from children. Declared unclean they could no longer even touch the ones they loved. Their family had mourned them as if they were dead. And they might as well had been.

But then...oh, but then they met Jesus! And He changed everything! He gave them their life back...only this time it was even better! Oh, I imagine they could hardly contain themselves as they ran to their loved ones with heart overflowing...with gratitude?

Do you suppose...could it be... just maybe...they weren't ungrateful? Maybe they could simply not wait to touch family and friends they had not had contact with in who knows how long. To hug wives, hold children, kiss away tears of joy! To share the news they are no longer dead! Share the amazing story of the One who gave them their life back!

Maybe, just maybe they were very much like me. So busy enjoying the gift...appreciating the gift...relishing in the gift...even sharing the gift, they didn't have time to say "thank you" to the One who gave them the gift in the first place.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Mine was...well, an answer to prayer really. My prayer today is that I never again get too wrapped up in enjoying life that I forget to stop and say "thanks" to the Giver of all good things!

Pumpkin Patch!

Remember Me?

Long time no blog, huh?

I haven't abandoned it, I just feel a bit lost at where to start again. I have so much I want to say...SO much! It has been a roller coaster of couple of months. Lots of family time, lots of God things! Our God is so amazing and unlike anyone else! He is moving and working all around...have you felt it too?

So...I am gathering my thoughts today in hope that there will be some kind of order to this, and I WILL be back! I am so thankful for the long weekend coming up and hope to get all caught up by the end of it.

I hope you will be back too!

"Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far? This is why You are great, Lord God. There is no one like You, and there is no God besides You..." 2 Samuel 7:18, 22

Mercy, Lord, Mercy!

There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was going by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd told them to keep quiet, but they shouted all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Matthew 20:30-32

Like a blind beggar calling out to the Savior for mercy so my heart longs to see the touch of the Merciful One on our country. I cry all the louder, longing to have Him gaze upon us with His grace. As the election nears, as the economy plummets, I daily have to force myself to remember Who rules over this entire universe. Tomorrow, come what may, God will still sit on His Heavenly throne.

From His lofty view, there is nothing hidden. He sees in its entirety the evil that hovers over our nation. He sees the evil that consumes our hearts. Even those called by His Name, covered in His blood have cheapened the price He paid for grace. Willful sins reflect our ungrateful hearts. By our unholy means we take our Lord’s Name in vain again and again.

Pointing our finger everywhere but ourselves, we look for people to hold accountable for our dire situation. The homosexuals, the pro-choice, the government, Hollywood, the church…who is at fault? Surely, it is not me.

“Out of the depths I call to You, LORD! Lord, listen to my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my cry for help. LORD, if you considered sins, Lord, who could stand?” Psalm 130:1-3

No one. No one is without sin. All have sinned and without grace, no one can stand before our holy, sinless God. The only one that carries no blame in any of this is the only One that can offer any help.

Banks crashing around us, gas and grocery prices rising, hurricanes devastating our cities, hospitals filled with the dying, and our streets are crowded with homeless. Our circumstances are like the roaring waters surrounding Peter as he attempted to walk on water. It doesn’t take a prophet to look around and realize we are sinking. We expect Congress to bail us out. We believe hope lies in a new administration.

“Look at Me!” I hear the Lord calling to us. “Stop looking at your situation and LOOK AT ME! The Maker of Heaven and Earth….the Ruler of the Universe…I AM the Only One who can rescue you.”

“I lift up my eyes to You, to You whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master…so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He shows us His mercy. Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us…” Psalm 123:1-3

With our knees to the ground, let’s set our gazes high. Humbled and begging, let us cry out to our Savior. Only from Him comes our redemption. Only in His grace…only in Him not giving us what we deserve…only in Him can we find hope for our country. Look up! Cry out! "Mercy, Lord, mercy!"