The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer...

some might say is by singing loud for all to hear.  I think it might be a little more involved than that.

I've been thinking a lot about Christmas the past week or so...I'm actually excited about this year.  In years past it's possible that I may have been a wee bit of a grinch.   The more I've thought about it the more I've realized that I was being a grinch because I was focusing too much on the materialistic side of it all.  Now, don't get me wrong, I was wanting MORE MORE MORE, I was getting stressed out, ungrateful, and even sometimes angry and frustrated because Christmas was going to mean MORE MORE MORE for my kids.  More stuff I had to deal with.  More stuff they didn't need.  More stuff to get rid of or clean up or even....dare I admit it?  Hide!  Ha!  Yes, I'm that mother sometimes.  Plus, I don't like crowds.  I'm not a fan of parties.  I like hanging out with a few friends at time.

But I digress.  This year I know the kids are going to get toys and things they don't need.  But they're kids and that's ok.  We don't focus too much on that.  Our kids get new PJs on Christmas Eve and then on Christmas morning they get their stockings and 3 gifts.  Something to read, something to wear and something to play with.  They're excited and happy and content.  We choose to use the time leading up to Christmas focusing on the CHRIST part.

We talked about how Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus which mean arriving.  How all the things that we do during advent are because it's a season of anticipation of the arrival of the Christ Child.

I heard the song Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence for the first time last week when I was listening to The Modern Post's new Christmas ep (Lowborn King) and then was struck by one of the lines when our pastor sang it during the sermon on Sunday.  It goes,
"Let all mortal flesh keep silence
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,..."

I mean, think about that.  Ponder nothing earthly minded.  That's just another way of reminding us to "set our minds on things above."  So that's my goal this Christmas season.  If I can ponder nothing earthly minded then I will be truly filled with the JOY of the Lord.  That's what I want to foster in my home so that my children have a better chance of not getting caught up in the STUFF side of Christmas.

So I'll give you a quick run-down of a few of the things we're doing this December to help us ALL ponder nothing earthly minded.

1. Scripture countdown to Christmas.  I made a paper chain with a different scripture passage on it and each night at dinner we tear one off and read it.  (I used these verses.)  

2.  Every morning during our devotions with our school work we're reading Luke 2:1-20 (I do this every day because it's an easy way to get the kids to memorize it and it fills their little sponge like minds with the Word.)  After we read Luke 2 we do one page in our Advent Art Journals (I think they're only going to be up through December 5th so go download them now!)  They just have  a simple sentence about the Christmas story on each page and the kids decorate them with stamps, drawing, stickers, whathaveyou as their response to that part of the story.  Once I pulled out some of goodies from my past life as a scrapbooker they were even more into it.  I'm actually doing one too and it's really a fun way to meditate on Christ becoming flesh.  

Another picture of my shirtless boys working on their art journals.  I'll try to do a post sometime next week with pictures of a few of the completed pages if anyone is interested.

3.  I picked up this simple countdown calendar at The Vineyard last year.  I LOVE that every time we mark a day off we're reminded what we're REALLY counting down too.  What we're eagerly awaiting.  

4. We're filling up our Living Water bottles with change that we'll take back to church and donate to the Lottie Moon offering (if you're not Southern Baptist and aren't familiar with that it's an offering taken up every December that helps support Southern Baptist missionaries around the world.)  

5.  Lastly, I don't have a picture of this, but we do Christmas Shoe boxes every year for a church in Matamoros, Mexico.  (It's basically the same thing as Operation Christmas Child but our child partners with the pastor of a church in Matamoros and we send all our gifts to them.)  The kids LOVE doing this.  In fact, my three year old reminded me for two weeks straight this year that we needed to "buy stuff for the Mexico people!"

Also, I want to say that if you bought anything during the BabyFish Small Business Saturday Sale you helped make our boxes possible!!!  THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

So, those are some of the ways we're striving to keep Christ first this December.  Do you have any awesome ideas or great traditions?  I'd love to hear about them!!  

Redeeming the Time

Now, I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure that dirty dishes are part of the fall.  I don't quite have all my theological arguments in place yet but it's something I just feel in my gut, ya know?  If you don't have a working dishwasher I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about!  ;)

Part of the fall or not, they still have to be washed so I try my best to do it with a good attitude and to make a good use of that "down time."  Yesterday as I was washing more dishes I continued working on memorizing James (I've moved into chapter 2!)    No pretty artwork for chapter 2 yet...just being practical and continuing on!  

Once I'd filled my mind with all that it felt like it would remember for the day and still had more dishes to wash I started listening to another Driscoll sermon.  I was thrilled when I found out that he was starting a sermon series on James the same time we started studying it in my Bible study group!  

So what's your favorite way to "redeem the time" and make good use of your mindless tasks that still have to be done?

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 

making the best use of time, 

because the days are evil."

Eph. 5:15-16

A different version says "redeeming the time" and I just love that!  Let's redeem that lost hour today!  ;)

Three Decades

Yup.  Three Decades...that's how long I've been alive as of today!

 

 A dear friend that I talk to far less often than I would like called me this morning.  While we were chatting she asked me how it felt to be THIRTY to which I responded...not much different than it felt to be 29 and 364 days yesterday.  ;)  She said she had gotten a bit depressed when she hit thirty and felt like she hasn't really accomplished much with her life (she was being very silly I assure you!  All you have to do is follow her on Instagram to see how many young people she impacts EVERY DAY!)

BUT...her comment got me thinking a bit more.  What exactly HAVE I accomplished?  What do I WANT to have accomplished?  Really....what are my life goals?  And I think I discovered why I was ok with it all.  Because I really just want to be more like Jesus today than I was yesterday... or the day before...or the day before that.  I want my kids to know that I love Jesus and I want them to see that love overflowing into their lives. 

I frequently get down about how I feel like I'm not making any progress in the areas of being more patient and loving.  I'm not very much like the Proverbs 31 woman who

"Opens her mouth with wisdom" 

and who has 

"the teaching of kindness" on her tongue.  

 

That's not me.  That will NEVER be me unless the Holy Spirit is the only one working.  So....I think I'm ok with being 30 and with what I have "accomplished" because, while it might not look like all that much on the outside, I know on the inside I'm so much more like Christ than I was 15 years ago.  I know my need of him so much more deeply. 

So....here's to another 30 years (Lord willing!  lol) of growing in Him and walking "in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."   

(You can follow me on Instagram @BabyFishDesigns)

Scripture in Our Home (pt. 1)

I talked last time about the contest over at Doorpost that was helping me to get motivated and do some of the decorating I'd been wanting to do.  I thought the best way to do it would be to just do one or two rooms a post...that way you aren't overwhelmed (LOL I know! ;) and I have more time to work on more projects.  (ok, maybe that's the REAL reason, but I think the other sounds good too.)

We'll start with Ezekiel and Zane's room.  I've already shown you part of it, but since this post I've done a bit more decorating (and added a baby!) in this room.  

First off is probably my favorite piece of art in our home. 

 I had this print custom made for my son Ezekiel using   Ezekiel 36:26.  This verse is one of the reasons we named him Ezekiel.  It's such an awesome picture of how salvation is all about God and all BY God!  Jackie from Willow of Wonder was amazing to work with!  I showed her the quilt my mom had made and we talked about the map being in the artwork, as well as a treasure chest with a heart (of flesh).  She did an amazing job!  I framed the print and hung it above Zeke's bed to be a constant reminder of our need to be given new hearts.   (their room only has one tiny window and it's super hard to get a good picture.  *pout*  The reflective license plates don't help with the photographing any either, but I promise it all looks good IRL!  lol)

The other display of scripture in their room is a bit of a pun...um...ok, it's a big pun.  Taken totally out of context to fit my needs, but I think God has a sense of humor and I think he's probably snickering about this one too!  

I got a dresser from my sister-in-law and refinished it.  I painted it red first, then black and I still need to do some more sanding so you can see the red through better.  The dresser holds Zane's clothes and diapers.  The top has a changing pad, wipes, spray and is finished off with this fun little scripture (1 Cor. 15:51 - We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.  Most people believe the verse is actually referring to the rapture, but, hey, it's true here too!  lol.)

And just for kicks...

cute cloth diapered baby bum!!

If you'd like to join in the fun you can check out the contest rules here.  Thanks for stopping by!

Blessed Are the Peacemakers...

After reading Meg's post on fighting I was prompted to record some thoughts I had at Bible Study last night. 

(we're doing a Precept Upon Precept study of Matthew) God convicted me greatly over "Blessed are the peacemakers."

Because I am weary of being a peacemaker between my children. I don't want to do it. I often expect them to deal with...which is sinful on my part. 

Random thoughts I jotted down last night during the lecture:

• Don't just endure being their peacemaker...desire it.
• See it as an opportunity to be blessed (see Mat. 5)
• Use it to point them to Christ and their need of the cross 
• Be reminded myself of the True Peacemaker
• Don't expect them to know how to be peaceful, they're 1, 3, and 4 year old little sinners for pete's sake!
• Rejoice over the opportunity to teach them
• Remember that I WANT to be the one teaching them about being peaceful...because if I don't the world will be teaching them to think only of themselves.
• They aren't born knowing how, or WHY for that matter, to be peaceful. They're born with tiny selfish hearts and every fight, every outburst of anger, every fit, I should view as another opportunity to point them to Christ and their need of the cross. 
• To remind them (and myself!) that we do have hearts of stone and we can't be kind and loving on our own...BUT because of God's great love, he'll take away our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh.

Do I do this? No. Not often. My oldest is 4 and I'm due with # 4 in a few weeks and rarely do I see all the fights and fits in this light. I grow weary and lose sight of the cross...but God is faithful.

Train Well

Do you ever seen an every-day moment and know in a second that it has to be captured and what words to capture it with?

That's what happened to me when I saw my son outside with a "sword" on his horse, off to fight evil.  Earlier the same day I had read this quote (sadly, I can't remember where!), "I had rather see coming toward me a whole regime with swords raised than one loan Calvinist convinced he is doing the will of God."

That's my prayer for him.  That he will be dangerous for God.  That all this time in childhood, playing, pretending, fighting and imagining, will prepare him for whatever work God calls him into.

I pray that his confidence will be in the Lord and in HIS mighty power knowing that God will accomplish His good pleasure...and that He will use us as His means to do that.  

On a crafty note - these are the October Afternoon Thrift Shop papers that I've been DYING to play with.  Lauri at Scrap Attack Scrapbooking sent them to me in my DT pack this month and I'm in heaven!

This LO was done for the Croppy Cat Challenge example this month...it's lifted from this LO by Mette.

Texting God (and other random thoughts)

I don't know about you, but I feel like I have a hard time ever focusing all of my mental power on one thing.  Even if I do manage to get up early to have time with God before the kids get up...it doesn't work.  Someone always gets up.  I feel like God is trying to teach me so many things but I'm only getting snippets of them because there are just so many other things going on (and most of them are things I can't just ignore...no matter how hard I try...like the grouchy baby in the background right now.)  


I was discussing this with my friend Jess today (we were both working in the nursery during church.) and she said that she has this very same problem (we both have three very small children...) and she felt like she was just "texting God."  Just about the most accurate description of what I'm feeling I've ever heard!  Spot on Jess.  ;)


Anyway, I thought maybe if I got some of the random thoughts down here I could get them more flushed out and have a better understanding of what God is trying to teach me.  


First up, I just LOOOOVED this quote from Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris.  
             "Maybe you've never thought about it in these terms, but coming to Jesus and listening to his words involves doctrine.  It involved knowing and understanding what the Bible teaches about who Jesus is, why we need him, how he saves us and changes us.  In other words, it involves knowing theological truth."
This is why doctrine is so important.  Because it DOES effect (or is it affect?) the way we live.   We can't know God if we don't know what the Bible says, and we can't love him rightly if we don't understand him rightly.

Moving on...I read this post on holiness yesterday on the Disciple's Notebook site and was struck so much by it.  When I was in college I did a very indepth study of holiness on my own.  I wanted to thoroughly understand it.  I mean...if God calls us to be holy as he is holy I figured it was pretty important that I had a very good grasp of just exactly what holy was.

"Holiness simply depends on your abandoning yourself to the indwelling Spirit of God, that he may maintain in health the life which he has himself communicated."
"It is true there are responsibilities. What are they? ....Second, an abandonment of the whole being to God, that He may possess the territory, and realize it according to His will, and for His glory"


So very often I let my own flesh creep in and push out the holiness that God is developing in  me.  I do it in a thousand tiny ways every day.  I do when I get frustrated.  I do it when I'm selfish.  I do it when I desire momentary enjoyment over knowing Christ and ultimate pleasure.  I need to be more conscious of all these times.  More conscious that I'm pushing out personal holiness when I do it.  I need to give it up to God so that I might be conformed to the image of his Son more and more.  


And finally, here's a picture of a dress I made for a friend's daughter.  Not the greatest picture but I was in a hurry and wanted to get a pic. before I gave it to them.  :)

Ok, lots more thoughts swirling around, lots more to think about and hash out, but that's enough for one night!  ;)  

Reflections

  We're studying Colossians in sunday school right now.  Rob and my husband Tim are doing a great job taking us into the depths of God's word.  We've only just started Colossians so we're still in chapter one.  Today as I was re-reading it preparing for tomorrow I was struck by verse 11.

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might,

 for all endurance and patience with joy,"

As I meditated on this verse, so desiring that God bring it to fruition in me, (that I have all endurance and patience WITH JOY with my children...that's my hearts desire right now) several things jumped out to me and I want to get them down where I can come back and look at them whenever I need to.  

First, and most importantly, I can only have this endurance and patience with joy by Christ's strength and only according to His glorious might.  That's such an awesome encouragement to me because I know that he desires that I have all endurance and patience with joy too...so I know that he WILL strengthen me with all power according to his glorious might.  

Secondly, the first part of the next first was like, well yeah!  It continues to say, "giving thanks to the Father"  I was reminded that of COURSE I will give thanks to the Father for that endurance and patience (with joy! ;) because I know I can never have it on my own.  I know it's for his glory.  The other part about that was that I know it's something I can ALREADY thank him for.  I know that he WILL strengthen me with all endurance and patience with joy because I know that it will bring him glory, so even now, when I don't always have all endurance and patience with joy, I can thank him for it because I know that he is bringing it about in me.  

Thank you Lord!

and because I enjoyed such an amazing time of worship at T4G I thought I'd share this with you too.

                      
I miss singing such FIRM, SOLID doctrine during worship.  It was refreshing.  Hope you have a great weekend!

When The Cat's Away...

hmm...I'm not really sure if I'm the cat, or one of the mice...but I'm going to be away for a few days and I'm sooo excited!!!  The hubby and I (and some other people from church as well) are going to Together for the Gospel in Louisville!  Many of our favorite preachers are going to be there and I'm giddy just thinking about how much I'm going to learn and be challenged!  I mean, we're talking BIG names like John Piper, John McArthur, Albert Mohler...eek!!!  (ok, now you KNOW I'm a dork! ;)  So, I'm quite sure we'll be coming back with reading material for at least a year!  lol

Just to give you a little taste here's an excerpt from Piper from T4G '08...

John Piper - Recap from T4G 2008 from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

AND...this is a kidless trip.  I'm excited and nervous both about that one.

On a scrappy note, I have been scrapping, but it was all for a DT call and I can't post any of it until I find out if I made it or not.  Wish me luck!  This is the first DT I've tried out for since all my other commitments ended...and I thought and prayed long and hard about it before applying...so I'll let ya know how it turned out in a few weeks!  ;)

Ok, I'm off to bed, I'll be back later this week, have a great one!!!

He is Risen!!

May your Easter be filled with joy and be blessed by our Risen Savior Jesus!

Faith for Your Future

I spent a bit of last weekend cropping over at Citrus Tree Studio.  I needed a little push to get my mojo flowing and their Going Green crop was just the thing.  

One of the challenges played on the legend of the shamrock.  You had to use one of the words the leaves are said to represent (hope, faith, love, luck) as part of your title.

I knew I wanted to use the word faith and as I was looking through these pictures some of the things God has been teaching me lately were very much in my mind.  I know that no matter how good (or bad) a parent I am God has a plan for my children.  So while that doesn't give me the right to think what I do now doesn't matter it does give me confidence.  I have faith that whatever happens God has promised me that it is for the good of those who love him (I do) and that's it's for His glory.  I have faith that love does indeed cover a multitude of sins, and I have faith that He has plans for Ezekiel.  Plans to give him hope and future.  Plans for good and not for harm.  In short, I have faith for his future.

(sorry the picture is so poor, lighting has been wonky here!)

Everything but the tiny JB alphas is from the November Color Me Daisy kit.  They're all sold out, but there are a few patterned paper add ons left.

The Here and Now in Regards to Parenting and Worship

That's where we live right?  In the Here and Now.  Last night in Bible study we talked a bit about how the Here and Now will never have true happiness or fulfillment...and the fact that God designed it that way!  We're too constantly be looking to the future, to our eternal future with HIM.  That's what's going to bring us true happiness and ultimate fulfillment. 

So...even though I KNOW that I should always be looking toward heaven, it's not always easy.  However I have found something that helps me "look to heaven" and still gives me some sense of accomplishment in the Here and Now too when it comes to training and discipline. 

I know I've talked before about how when I'm disciplining my daughter for something...for the seemingly 1000th time...that day...it's not worth it.  Her good behavior isn't worth that much work.  It's just not.  However, if I think about the fact that by requiring her to obey (right away, all the way, with a happy heart) I'm readying her to quickly and cheerfully obey Christ which will give HER ultimate joy, that's worth it.  But then...honestly...there are days I can't even get that far in the future in my mind.  It's more like...I'm doing this...AGAIN...because it might make life easier for her someday if she is saved, and my flesh wants to win out and give up.  I can't see any progress...nothing is changing and that makes me want to quit. 

BUT, if I take my eyes off my sinful self, and even off my sinful daughter, and focus them on Christ (who is seated at the right hand of God in heaven) then I can see my training and discipline for what it really is.  It's worship.  It's just one more way I can show God, and all the people around me, that I love Him.  That I love him more than self, more than ease, more than my daughter's momentary happiness.  I'm worshiping Him by training and disciplining my children in the way He has called me too.  And that my friends, IS worth it.  It's worth it in the Here and Now AND it's worth it as I set my spiritual eyes on heaven. 

Your Word is Truth

It was 3:48...AM.  I started awake, not sure what I had heard...as I listened I heard little feet...and soon right next to my head a little voice said, "My pooin' mom."  So we head to the bathroom where I discover a pull up that already weights about as much as a full grown man and jammies that are soaked through.  The little dude goes potty, I get his clothes changed and we head back to bed...but wait!  The sheets are soaked through too!  (and I just bought TWO packs of these silly apparently cheapo pull ups!  Grrr...)  So I get the sheets taken care of, put him back to bed and groggily crawl back into my now cold bed.  Forty-five minutes later as I'm slowly drifting off to dreamland the soft patter of little feet reaches into my sleepy haze and yanks me out.  "I needa go potty mom."  So we do it again...this time as I'm putting him back to bed I hear moanings from the crib next to him.  Praying it's just baby dreams I quietly slip out and head to bed again.  As the moanings turn to yells, grunts, and the occasional cry (far earlier than she is normally fed) my tiredness turns to resentment.  Finally in frustration I give up.  Sleep is over for me for the day.  With a bit of anger and indignation I get Grace up to feed her (I can't believe I'm confessing so much of my sinful attitude to all blogland!)  

If you've made it this far...PROPS!!!  Now for the meat of the story...the important part...the part I need to learn so frequently.

As I was feeding Baby Grace I pulled out the Bible study I'm currently doing and started reading.  I came to Romans 13.  Then I came to Romans 13:14

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify it's desires."

Ouch.  That's exactly what I was doing.  I was making EVERY provision for the flesh.  Feeling like I had some RIGHT to be grouchy or complain because my flesh didn't get it's desire (sleep) gratified last night.  

John 17:17 sure is true isn't it?  "Sanctify us by your word.  Your word is truth."  I praise God that He is continually changing us to be more like Him...even when it's through lack of sleep.  

On Time Management

I feel like God has been teaching me and changing me in so many areas of my life lately.  It feels like everything is being molded more and more by Him...but when I really stopped and thought about it...all these different things I felt like God was showing me...they all came back to "time management."  Or "priorities."  Or "how I spend my time."  Mainly in regards to my family.  My children and my wonderful husband. 

Sometimes I get so caught up in "serving" them that I forget how much FUN they are.  I forget to stop and play.  To let them be kids.  To just have fun with Tim (and I DO have fun with you baby!  You are just about the funnest guy I know!  *smooches*)

And *most* of the ways I was spending my time WERE ways I was "serving" them.  But maybe not the best way.  Maybe not the way they needed me to right then.  Maybe not the way that would most cause them to love God more.  Maybe not the way I would want someone I loved to serve me. 

So, here are some things I'm thinking...

I'm thinking it's ok if my house looks lived in.  I mean...it IS lived in.  I want my family (both my kids and husband, AND my extended family that stops by) to think of this as a fun place to be.  As a place where they can kick off their shoes and be themselves.  Where they can find comfort and peace and know that they will always be encouraged to pursue God so that they can truly be filled with joy.

I'm thinking I'm not going to worry about how often my blog gets updated (can you tell I already put this one into practice?!  lol) because I don't want my kids to grow up and say, "my mom was a great blogger!"

I'm thinking I want to have the kids involved in all the stuff we do...even when it's more work than doing it myself would have been.

I'm thinking I want to have a "schedule" so we know what's coming.

I'm thinking some days we'll throw our "schedule" to the wind and just play.

I'm thinking I want to really listen to them when they talk.  ALL of them.  Tim, Kessa, Ezekiel, even Grace (I'll get joy from listening to her if nothing else!  lol)

I'm thinking I want to do more things to make every day special. 

I'm thinking I'll do better at remembering that my kids really are only 3 and JUST turned 2....and I won't ask them to act like adults yet.

I'm thinking I'll take opportunities to teach them responsibility, but I'll also let them enjoy being kids. 

I'm thinking above all, and through all, and in all is Christ. 

Christ is the reason I persist in training them.

Christ is the reason I am truly joyful.

Christ is the reason I want them to grow up with servant's hearts.

Christ is the reason behind everything we do. 

Every dish we wash.

Every game we play.

Every book we read.

Every meal we eat.

Whatever we do, whether we eat or drink, I want us to be doing it all to the glory of God. 

The Gift of gifts

(photo by mtsofan)

This puritan prayer spoke volumes to me when I read it.  It is so perfect, it is my hearts cry to know and remember that in Him I have so much even heaven has nothing better to offer. 

O Source of All Good,

What shal I render to thee for the Gift of gifts,

thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,

my redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,

his self-emptying incomprehensible, 

his infinity of love beyond the hearts grasp.

Herein is wonder of wonders: 

he came below to raise me above,

was born like me that I might become like him.

Herein is love:

when I cannot rise to him he draws near to me on wings of grace,

to raise me to himself.

Herein is power:

when Deity and humanity were infinietly apart

he untied them in dissoluble unity, the uncreate and the created.

Herein is wisdom:

when I was undone, with no will to return to him,

and no intellect to devise recover,

he came, God-incarnet, to same me to the uttermost,

as man to die my death,

to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,

to work out a perfect righteousness for me.

O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shephers, and

enlarge my mind;

let me hear good tidings of great joy,

and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore,

my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,

my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father;

place me with ox, ass, camel, goat,

to look with them upon my redeemer's face,

and in him account myself delivered from sin;

let me with Simeon clasp the new-born child to my heart,

embrace him with undying faith,

exulting that he is mine and I am his.

In him thou hast given me so much that heaven can give no more.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Raising Small Children

I know a lot of you who read my blog are in a similar time of life and have small children.  That means that many of us probably have the same struggles and thoughts.  One of the things I struggled with (more mentally than ever not requiring good behavior) was Why Require Unregenerate Children to Act Like They're Good?   The biggest thing that had struck me and stuck with me was that when I required behavior of them that they aren't able to fulfill it's an opportunity for me to point them to their need for Christ.  However as I was reading my mail today I saw that John Piper had written a new article on is very topic (see the link above) and he did mention that but also had other points that are very valid and important.  I strongly encourage you to read the article and think about these things yourself. 

Finally he encouraged us to not simply require good behavior but to also:
be forgiving and longsuffering.
praise and encourage each hopeful sign of life in our children.
apologize when we fail (I'm big on letting my kids know I fail and letting them see and hear me ask Christ for help.)
saturate them with the word.
pray for them without ceasing.
and many other things. 

Read the full article here.



And because she actually smiled for me...

The First Gift

Water. More talk about water. Why? Because we need water to survive. Water is life giving. Jesus compares himself to water because He is the ultimate source of life.

But what if you don't have water?
Every day 4500 children DIE due to contaminated drinking water.
It DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.

Today, November 13, 2009, is the day people all over bloggerland are joining together asking you to give. I'm not asking you to do something I haven't done. I have. What moved me more than simply the fact that sooo many people are DYING because they don't have something we take for granted was this thought...how many of them don't have LIVING WATER? How many of them have never heard of Christ? Maybe if we give...just $10...maybe they'll get a chance to hear about the TRUE source of life. Maybe Christ will save them.

$10 will buy clean drinking water for one person for 10 years.

So, I'm asking...let the first give you buy this year (or the last, or one somewhere in the middle) be water.

1/3 of the amount the world spends on presents EVERY year could provide clean drinking water for the ENTIRE WORLD. How selfish does that make you feel?

but remember, God tells us to not give "reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a CHEERFUL giver."

Click the link below to donate. 100% of the proceeds go straight to buying water in Liberia, West Africa. They are tax deductible and the site is secure.



or click here for more info.

all images from the lovely lady at Whatever. Be sure to check out her amazing blog.

I'm sure giving the gift of water is one of the most best ways to have a Beautiful Life I can think of!

Water 4 Christmas

I know if you're like our family you struggle with knowing how to balance the "traditional" celebration of Christmas with making CHRIST centered. Well...this won't solve all your problems but it sure is a good way (and easy to boot!) to serve others.

Water4Christmas.com is a site that has partnered with Charity: Water to help provide people in Liberian villages with clean drinking water. Just $20 can provide one person with clean water for 20 years!

So what can you do? You can go shopping!!!! Water4Christmas's etsy shop is now open and 100% of the profits go straight to providing clean water to Liberia, Africa.

I also think these would be a great way to get your kids involved in "missions" and open their eyes to how blessed they are.
(how cute would these burp clothes be for all your new mom friends?!?!)

{In}Courage

(click image)

Decently and in Order

I've been thinking a lot lately. Thinking about order...and chaos. Life always tends towards chaos but I believe that our God is a God of Order. He brought order to the worlds...and brought order out of the chaos of nothingness. I believe that my life being well ordered honors him because it brings peace and calm with it...and that is what I've truly been striving and praying and struggling towards with every fiber of my being of late. I want to let my adornment be that of the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which in God's sight is very precious. (1 Peter 3:4)

So order...order helps me have a gentle and quiet spirit...if I know what's next...if I know where things are...if my home is beautiful and brings me peace...it's much easier to have a quiet and gentle spirit and I believe that is directly related to our God of order.

That said...I am a mother of three very small children and God is constantly reminding me that His is also the God of Interruptions. I have to remember that what I see as an interruption or distraction from the task at hand was ordained by God before the foundation of the worlds...more than likely to teach me something...show me some way to more fully enjoy Him and to better reflect Him to my children.

So tomorrow...tomorrow will be a day of order...full of interruptions...all to the glory of God.

(sorry no pictures today it's too late.)