Waiting on My Turn

Sharing...one of the most resisted of the childhood lessons.  Over the last few months I have had much experience in the art of sharing...after my computer crashed!  I have spent the last few months waiting on "my turn"!!  Bring back memories??  So I had to learn to prioritize "my turn" usage...business, school, and then personal time.  I will share (no pun intended) with you that although I have missed the wonderful world of blogging, it has been a time of refreshing.  

Refreshing...

Quiet Time with my Savior
Prayer with my husband
Corporate Worship
Read-A-Louds with my boys
Sweet conversations with my girls
Hearing the voice and seeing the face of a dear friend
A good book and a good cup of coffee
Ladies Bible Study

Thank you Lord, it's just what I needed!

                      

Happy Birthday Samuel!

S-smiles, surprises 

A-artist, antics

M-memorable,musical

U-unique, unselfish

E-exceptional, exuberant

L- laughter,lovable

We celebrated a very special birthday this weekend...our precious Samuel turned 12 years old!  Where has the time gone??  The whole gang was home to celebrate this special day and we showered him with gifts...cards, and a little cash.  We love you more than words can express!!  May the Lord bless and keep you, our dear son! 

A Changing Life Mobile

One of my favorite authors is Edith Schaeffer...I have an entire section of ever-growing editions on my personal bookshelf.  She writes with beauty and wisdom, especially when speaking of the family.  I have been thinking about the subject of change lately...as it seems to be ever-present in the day in which we find ourselves.  

In her book, What is a Family, Edith so beautifully paints a word picture of family.  "What is a family? " A family is a mobile.  A family is the most versatile, ever-changing mobile that exists.  A family is a living mobile that is different from the handcraft mobiles in the art-museum mobiles, different from the mobiles of lake and trees and from the mobiles of birds, fish, and animals-different from any mobiles of machine, animal, or plant.  A family is an intricate mobile made up of human personalities." 

"In so many ways a family is a mobile-an artwork that takes years, even generations, to produce, but which is never finished.  The artwork of this mobile called "family" continues, and imagination, creativity, originality, talent, concern, love, compassion, excitement, determination, and time to produce a diversity which is a challenge to any intelligent human being who has been given understanding of how to begin in the studio of life itself."

"Unity and diversity.  Form and freedom.  Togetherness and individuality.  A family."

"Birth, education, marriage, tragic deaths, successes, failures-eternal life-heaven.  Never static, A Christian family is a mobile blown by the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit.  This is not a romantic idea; it is in accordance with what the Bible teaches is possible.  Each member of the family, as he or she is born again, is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  If this takes place, one can picture not perfection, but a measure of reality in thinking of the Christian family as constantly changing from month to month, year to year, with the mix never the same-agewise, interestwise, talentwise, intellectwise-never static, with always new fascination in discovering new points of communication as human beings are growing and developing.  A mobile-blown by the breeze of the Holy Spirit."

"No, not one member of any family will always be directed or blown by the Spirit, nor will all the members be directed every day in perfect balance to His plan, but there is an exciting possibility of knowing something very real in some measure, as there is recognition of the importance and centrality of the living artwork, the mobile which the family can be.  What is a family?  An artwork-a mobile."

My family...and your family are precious works of art blown by the breeze of the Holy Spirit!  Each change, event, or circumstance is first sifted through the hands of our LORD.  I find this such a blessed assurance and encouragement for our families!    

Bless the LORD, O my soul:  and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

                                                                          Psalms 103:1-2

 

THORNS

I love roses...all colors, shapes, and variations!  They are gorgeous and instantly add elegance to any table, desk, or night stand!  The fragrance of a dozen roses seems to linger for days on end.   The only problem with one of these long stem beauties is that it always comes equipped with thorns.  I don't care for thorns much...But I have been pondering thorns lately...

I have been reading through the  Bible in chronological order this year during my quiet time...which more often than not is anything but  "quiet" but that is a story for another day.  The second chapter of Judges brought about my pondering of thorns.  

And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.

And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars:  but ye have not obeyed my voice:  why have ye done this?

Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

*A Failure to Complete Conquests

Despite the conquests that the Israelites had made, there were still sections of unclaimed territory, and inhabitants who had not been driven out...contrary to God's specific orders.

*The Danger of an Incomplete Conquest

The influence of and the fascination with the pagans left in the territory generated a spirit of compromise that led to intermarriage, idolatry, immorality, and ultimately oppression by various pagan peoples. 

The Israelites failed to fully obey the word of the LORD...and for this disobedience, the LORD allowed the thorns.

And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers:  and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:

And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

I have read this account on many occasions and I still get the same chill each time that I read it.  What happened...how could this happen...in one generation?  The words begin to swirl around in my mind....disobedience, compromise, fascination with the pagan culture, intermarriage, idolatry, immorality...THORNS!  

I must say that I have been feeling some thorns in my side of late...and the adversary stepped in to take full advantage of every situation.  I have felt like throwing in the towel on it all at times...and then I am driven to my knees to cry out to my LORD, just as the Israelites did in the days of the Judges.

Our role as wives and mothers in the days in which we live are of utmost importance.  There is a sense of urgency surrounding us...we must not lose faith.  We cannot afford to give up or give in...even though the way of the world would have us do so.  

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

And these words, which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

May the thorns of life prove us to be a faithful generation...equipping the next generation to know and serve our gracious LORD.