Portrait of A Woman Used by God

Welcome to the next chapter of the book study. I'll be honest, I have just been pouring over this book. While the kids are napping I have found rest in the Lord by gleaning from the wisdom of the authors. This chapter was amazing, it examines the life and willing heart of Mary of Nazareth. I had never studied the life of Jesus' mother and learned so much about her faith and character.

This chapter points out that Mary was:

1. Ordinary

2. Pure

3. Undeserving

4. Chosen

5. Spirit-filled

6. Available

7. Believing

8. Praising

9. Devoted to the Word

10. Reflective

11. Humble

12. Trusting

13. Submissive

14. Influential

15. Praying

16. Devoted

17. Loved

and

18. Wounded


Two of the attributes credited to Mary that I wish to cultivate more in my own life (not that I don't desire God to develop them all in me) are a devotion to the word and reflective spirit. While so many of the passages of this chapter cut straight to my heart these few really spoke to me.

"The world does not need to hear our opinions." (My emphasis added) p.73

"God didn't intend for pastors to be the only one who point people to the Word. Each of us should be able to use the Word effectively, not only in our worship and our own walk, but also in ministering to the needs of others." p.73

"If we are going to be instruments of His grace who reflect His light into the darkness around us, we must take time to be quiet--to be still-- to ponder and reflect on who god is and what He is doing around and in us." p.74

Discussion and Food for Thought:
1. Did this chapter teach you anything new about Mary that you did not know before?

2. Which attribute do most desire to see in your own life?

3. Do you give your opinion when asked for advice or point to the Word of God?

Ever Had Days Like This?

Be honest, you know you have. While motherhood is a huge blessing and one of the best parts of life - today my day was filled with... Time Outs
Tantrums
and Total Meltdowns.

Hopefully they will sleep it off and we'll start again tomorrow.

Oh What a Day

I wanted to share the "trauma" of my day. While folding laundry at the kitchen table M came over and decided he wanted to sit on a chair with me. He's still small and so grabbed across the chair to pull himself up. His hands slipped and he slammed his face into the side of the chair. I bent down to comfort him to find that he wass bleeding pretty heavily from his mouth. I could see his gum was already purple and mangled looking and there was so much blood I could not tell if his front tooth was knocked out or not. (It wasn't). Feeling nauseous and extremely overwhelmed I called my husband and asked him to come home. I brought M a cup of cool water to try to rinse his mouth so I could see the damage, and to help calm him down. He threw it at me and started crying, "Daddy home now. I want Daddy now." - I'm not going to lie, that broke my heart.

Finally Daddy came home (he works 2 miles down the street). M snuggles up with him on the couch and starts to calm down. At this time J says, "Mom there's a rock in my nose." No Way! I assure her its a hard boogie. She confirms - no its a rock. I look up there, sure enough I can barely see it. She's trying to snort it and I'm trying to tell her to breathe through her mouth. Eventually we rocketed that baby out.

What can I say - kids keep it interesting!

What's My Motivation?

Our culture rewards ambition and makes a hero out of the super-achiever who gets ahead of everybody else.

It's a good thing to pursue excellence in whatever you do, but do you know if you are motivated by selfish ambition, the Bible calls that demonic!

James said, "If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast . . . . This . . . wisdom . . . is earthly, unspiritual, demonic."

The solution is to do everything out of love. The Bible tells us that love does not envy. We work hard, not to set ourselves apart and get ahead of the pack; instead, we do what He's called us to do with all our might because of love for God and a desire to serve others.

Ask God to examine your heart. Are you motivated to do what you do out of selfish ambition or out of genuine love and a servant's heart?

by: Nancy Leigh DeMoss at www.reviveourhearts.org

Hiking

Today the 5 of us took our first family hike. As you can see M started and finished on Daddy's shoulders - although he did walk a bunch in the middle. We listened to birds and took in all of God's wonderful creation! It was so fun.

"For by him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible... all things have been created through Him and for Him." Colossians 1:16

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." Romans 1:20

My Boys

Wordless Wednesday

Mini-Me

This little girl loves to do everything her mama does. She gets out her ball popper when I vacuum and says she's "vacing-yoom", when I bake she puts on her apron, when I get ready she wants to put on her "lip's stick'th", she puts her babies in time out, she reads her bible (even if it is small print with no pictures), she doodles a shopping list, cuddles her brothers, and loves to be told she is special. Today she was ecstatic to be my twin (we both wore dresses and had matching barrettes). The simple things in life mean so much to my kids.

The truth is as she watches me, she is shaped. It is not only my job to teach her how to be a little girl, but how to be feminine by biblical standards, to love the Lord, to serve her future husband, to cherish her future children, and to grow her into a woman of God. What a great responsibility that is. It is so important for me to be aware of my speech, attitude, tone, actions and motives. It means that with the little eyes in my home I must be purposeful going about the things of God in all I do.

My Favorite

This is my first time participating in an contest, but it seems like fun. The picture submission should be my favorite picture I've EVER taken. So here it is. Little M, playing in the sun! He's so much bigger now, but still oh-so-precious!


I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb book photo contest. If chosen, I grant I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites.

A Fun Filled Weekend

With the sunshine we couldn't resist spending just about all of our time outdoors. Saturday we went to the local Farmer's Market, had lunch with my brother and his wife, did some shopping, and then went to the Armed Forces Day at the neighboring Army base.

Today we played in the front yard while hubby worked on what he called his 'Honey Do List'. It was stuff the really need to be done. As we watched we had snacks.

Then it was time to wash the cars. Water and bubbles equals sopping wet kids with soap in their eyes, so we hosed them down. Once the crying stopped they started to have fun again.

Wonder how much longer he will be willing to run around outdoors in Super Man undies. I'm so glad they are little and I'm loving every minute of it.

Let it Remind You Too

I have to admit that at times I take the symbol of the cross for granted. I can pass one on the road, see one on a chain and not even take note of it. How refreshing it is that my son recognizes the cross and it's significance. Driving in the car tonight on the way to visit friends we passed a large church. L said,

"There is a cross just like Jesus died on,

He hung on there with a crown of thorns,

and had nails in his hands and his feet."

I am so thankful that my son has accepted Christ, knows He died for him, took his punishment, and knows it is our mission as Christians to share that love with friends and family. I love that boy!

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." Mark 16:16

Death Is Not Dying

Make time for the video that I am posting a link to below. The video is 55 minutes long and titled Death is Not Dying; A Faith that Saves. Don't let the length stop you from watching.

http://deathisnotdying.com/fullvideo/

Really take the time for this. Her faith is so inspiring.

DADDY'S GIRL: Knowing God as Father

(My Mom and Dad)

Is it the second week of May already? Jumping back into the book study - although I fear I probably lost most of you - this chapter focuses on loving and knowing God as Father. The author of the chapter, Mary A. Kassian, draws out all of the similarities between our earthly father and our Heavenly Father. For that reason I enclosed a photo of my dad. For me my father was everything I could have dreamed of in a dad. I had an excellent example of how God my Father loves me, relates with me, cares for me, protects me, and enjoys spending time with me because my dad was (and IS) that way with me. I am blessed to have that as a basis for my understanding of what God wants of his relationship with me, so THANK YOU DAD.

Some women do not have a strong relationship with their father and therefore it can leave them hung up on the idea of God as a Father. The bible points out that our innermost being cries out for a father,

"And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Gal. 4:6)

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again unto fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Rom. 8:15-16)

There were a couple of heart wrenching stories that depicted our longing for a father and a loving father's desire to find and hold his child. All the boys sitting on the steps of the court waiting for a dad to forgive them and take them back and the Father who dug through ice with bloodied hands just to hold the body of his son again. There is no denying the deep connection between a father and his child and it was designed that way so that we can better appreciate the relationship God desires to have with each of us.

There were three passages that I felt summed up the chapter very well.

First, "The Father appreciates your obedience. He appreciates your disciplines of prayer and fasting and being in the Word. He appreciates your service. But more than all these things and at the center of the Gospel is this: The Father wants your heart. He does not want rote obedience, conformity, service, sacrifice, and ceaseless ministry from you. If He does not have your heart, these things mean nothing to Him. Living in a love relationship with God is the key to enjoying and delighting in Him and experiencing His delight in you. If you truly understand this and take it to heart, it will revolutionize your life and will allow you to begin to experience the joy and victory that Christ has already won for you." (p.58)

Second, "Do you wonder why you feel no peace in your heart? Do you wonder why you feel restless and unsettled? Do you wonder why you feel frustrated? Perhaps it is because the Holy Spirit in you is crying "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" But you are busy, occupied with other things. Or you are too afraid to look into the Father's eyes and let him love you." (p. 56)

And the final thought: "How well do you know the Father? Are you going ever deeper in your relationship with Him? Are you confidently and joyfully entering into the Father's presence? Do you experience His love for you as His daughter?"

Discussion and Food for Thought

1. What spoke to your heart from this chapter?

2. What comforts do you find in your relationship with God as Father?

3. Does God have your heart?

She Sells Seashells

Is it wrong to make my adorable daughter who has a TERRIBLE lisp say tongue twisters? Instead of saying her s's she says them as a th sound - very daffy duck like. I have to say it is one of my favorite things in life at this moment. Little things like J's lisp, or the way M says "Eeeew Gossss" or when L says "Redonkulous" (he got it from the movie BOLT). Anyway, those little voices are getting bigger everyday and I am just doing my best to take it all in.

Another cute thing today was when we were at the grocery store the older two were singing Jesus Loves Me and M was trying to sing along. They kept asking if I wanted to hear them sing it again.. of course I did.. even it was for the 50th time. It caught on because a little girl we kept passing in the aisles was singing it a few aisles later. See the love of Jesus is contagious! :)