Birthday revelry

For Emma’s birthday this year, she opted to take a few friends to see the new Nutcracker movie.  Then they came to the house for pizza and cake!  We are so thankful for the friends that Emma has outside of school.  It’s great to have friends in school, but so much more to have caring, sweet, friends who you can trust. 

You might notice her one friend Abby, they’ve been friends literally since they were babies!!  And although they live in different states, they consider each other besties!

11 years old, and counting!!

then cake #2 with the family!! (In her Wasp superhero costume!)

Three gifts

This morning I was pondering over my schedule for December - full as it is!!  Lots of celebrations and gatherings.  Fun stuff.  Good stuff.

However, in the back of my mind I wonder how to somehow celebrate the reason for the season, to fix my eyes on why we have Christmas.  And then I had a thought about the gifts Jesus received.

The Magi (aka wise men, aka kings!), they traveled to find Jesus.  And when they found him they offered gifts.  They weren't Jewish, they were from distant lands.  And the newborn "King of the Jews" had come only to redeem his people, right?

I wonder if God had revealed to them that, in fact, Jesus was " good news that will cause great joy for all the people." (Luke 2:10)  And they came with gifts of reverence and thanksgiving.  They offered the Lord of Lords the best they had to offer, not because he needed it, but because true worship requires our sacrifice, and offering our gifts (talents) to God.

Jesus came for all mankind, that whoever believes Him to be the Son of God, the incarnate representation of God Almighty, who chose to come down to our level, and live among us, so that He could present himself at the appointed time, a perfect, sinless sacrifice to settle the debt of our sin.

We have all sinned, and fallen short of God's holiness.  He knew that we would.  But he is just, and so payment had to be made to satisfy the law. Knowing that not one of us could redeem ourselves, much less everyone else, God set in motion a plan to restore the broken relationship between himself, and us.

We should all celebrate that Jesus has come, and more so that he is coming back!!  When he left Earth after his crucifixion and resurrection, he told his followers to eagerly anticipate and prepare for his return.  At an unknown date and time, Christ will return to collect those who are ready and waiting for him.  We can not afford to take our eyes off the skies!

Like a slumbering commuter who falls asleep at the station, unaware that the train has arrived and departed without him, when we live our lives in self-absorption and self-sufficiency, we will miss the arrival of Jesus Christ.  And just as significant, we will miss his purpose during the wait.

Patience, dear one

Time.  It's the great equalizer.  It waits for no man, cannot be bought, hoarded, returned, or increased.

Among us, I think, gardeners are the most able to understand the concept of God's timing.  They plant, water, tend and prune, but they cannot cause the flowers to grow or seeds to take root. 

And so it is in our lives.  We can toil, plan, act, and even worry, about the future, but it is not our place.  We are given today, and today alone.  We should not dwell on time wasted yesterday, nor worry about time being short tomorrow.

I look at this picture of Emma and see a flower, so fragile and delicate to begin with.  As we gently tended and cared for her, heaping good soil for her to take root in, I marvel at the strength and grace she now demonstrates.  People will often try and give us the full credit for her light, but we know that we did not cause her to grow into this young woman.  We prayed, hoped, labored and even worried, but it is God, living in her and through her that shows His great plan and perfect timing!!

As you wait or fret, take it to God.  His word is clear, that he can be trusted, and is never late!!

Habakkuk 2:3 ESV 

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Isaiah 40:31 ESV 

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

Psalm 27:14 ESV 

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Ecclesiastes 8:6 ESV 

For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.

Galatians 6:9 ESV

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

2 Peter 3:8 ESV

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Lamentations 3:25-26 ESV 

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Psalm 31:15 ESV 

My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!

Acts 1:7 ESV / 281 helpful votes

He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

Trust & Obey

I heard Rev. Charles Stanley in a TV interview this week, and he expressed that he would like his legacy to be that he obeyed God and left the consequences up to God.  So simple, but not always easy.  Here's a more detailed look at that...

Obedience can be a challenge, especially when we feel tempted to believe that we stand to lose more through our obedience than we might gain. However, obeying God is essential to pleasing Him—not just in times of temptation, but at all times.

When God commands us to obey Him, He is giving us a principle by which to live. He is also setting a framework around our lives that forms a hedge of protection from evil.

Can you remember the last time you felt tempted to do the opposite of what you knew God desired for you to do? Most likely, a struggle erupted within your heart. The questions arose: Will obeying God cost me more than disobeying Him? Can I experience greater happiness by committing this sin than I would by obeying God?

When we choose to obey God, we take the way of wisdom. His promises of blessing for obedience far outweigh any possible consequences. He asks us to submit ourselves to Him and leave whatever happens to His loving care.

When we obey Him, He pulls us closer to Himself and teaches us more about His precepts and His love.

As we grow in our walks with the Lord, obedience becomes the avenue by which we know Him better. When we obey Him, He pulls us closer to Himself and teaches us more about His precepts and His love.

Disobedience sends a message to the Lord, declaring that we know better than He does when it comes to our lives and the circumstances surrounding them.

God loves us and is committed to us. He commands our obedience, not because He is a strict taskmaster, but because He knows the devastating effects disobedience and sin will have on our lives.

Satan, however, has another goal in mind. He seeks to tempt believers to disobey God, usually by telling them the Lord's promises cannot be trusted and that we can enjoy life more if we ignore His commands.

Remember, disobedience always has fierce repercussions—feelings of guilt, shame, and worthlessness, broken lives, destroyed marriages, and bitter disputes, among them. While sin can never change God's eternal love for His children, it certainly disrupts our fellowship with the Savior and alienates us from His blessings. In times of disobedience, we become spiritually weak and unable to discern right from wrong. We sink deeper into sin's grasp and find it impossible to reverse our sinfulness on our own.

As we apply the following principles to our lives, we will begin to obey God with confidence and joy, knowing that He can be fully trusted to keep all of His promises:

• Trust God with your life and all that concerns you.

There is no way to go wrong if you place your hope and trust in God. He created you and He loves you with an eternal love. Therefore, He will always lead you in the very best way possible.

• Wait on the Lord for an answer to your problem or situation.

When in doubt, refuse to move ahead unless you know God is leading you.

• Meditate on God's Word.

When you saturate your mind with the Word of God, you gain His viewpoint. When a temptation comes, you will know right from wrong and can act accordingly.

• Listen to the Holy Spirit.

God continues to speak to His people today. He speaks to us through His Word, the Holy Spirit, and through the words of a pastor or trusted Christian friend. We become sensitive to the Spirit of God by spending time with Him—praying and studying the principles in Scripture.

• Be willing to wait or walk away when the way before you is unclear.

If you desire to please God above all others, obedience to Him will require you to remain firm. If you do not sense clear guidance in your situation, ask God to confirm His will to you in His Word. He will never contradict Scripture. His will for your life always lines up perfectly with what the Bible says.

• Be willing to endure conflict.

When the nation of Israel entered the Promised Land at God's direction, she had to face strong enemy opposition. God rarely empties our lives of trouble and conflict. If He did, we would not have any reason to depend upon Him. He allows enough difficulty to keep us turned toward Him.

• Leave the consequences to God.

Obedience may not be easy—you may receive criticism from others or face fierce obstacles and opposition—but it will always put you in a favorable position before God. He will take care of all that concerns you. Stay on the path of obedience and leave the rest to Him.

Adapted from The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, © 2009

Hope continued

Hope

noun

1. 1.

   a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

   • 
     
   • 
     

     
     
2. 2.

   a feeling of trust.

verb

1. 1.

   want something to happen or be the case.

It's hard to believe that it's been eleven years since Emma Hope came into the world, but it is.  Eleven years of growth, perseverance, joy, and HOPE!

It was when I was in the later stages of my pregnancy that we heard a pivotal sermon.  The preacher's point: when you can't see God's hand, trust his heart.  We could not see what God was doing in our lives at that time, only that it was scary, painful, and uncertain.  But, we chose to trust his heart.  

The Bible is clear, God is GOOD.  Not good in the way that we throw the word around, but really, genuinely, intrinsically good.  His plans are far greater than our comfort or whims.  God is so good that he sent his Son to die that we might have eternal life.  That is the epitome of good.

And so we trusted him.  "Trust and obey, for there's no better way, to be happy in Jesus" as the song goes!  And it's the truth.  We have lived our lives, and raised our children with that foundational truth.

Emma Hope is a beacon of  hope in a dark world.  She finds joy in so many things, and always defers the unknown, in trust, to God's plan.

As Emma moves into the tween, and teen years, we see the wisdom and discernment of one much older.  She displays the fruit of the Holy Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)  She has great compassion for others, and is so loving.

We named her Emma Hope because in her we learned to hope in that which we could not yet see, a life that would be happy, healthy, and joyful.  But above all else, a life that would honor, and pursue God. 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Just finished drawing Emma's card!! She wanted one of The avengers/Guardians of the Galaxy characters!!

Hope she likes it!

Time Travel

If you could go back in time, to before kids, before marriage, before adulthood, that would be my weekend at my grandparents house!! Seemingly unaffected by the outside world, the house is the same as the one where I spent school holidays and many a wonderful Christmas. And though older, and more frail, my grandparents are the same people who can simultaneously love, encourage and tease you!! There's no pretension, no coddling, just love and honesty!

I'm thankful that I made the decision to visit them at this time. It made me realize how fragile and short life is. With faith and wisdom, Gran said it best, that our days are numbered, all we can do is live our best life!

So whether you are 89, 29 or some other age, don't put off visiting those you love, make amends where applicable, and remember you may not get chance to do it "later"!

What started out as an urgent trip to see my ailing Grandad, soon became a family visit of epic proportions. I didn't get to see everyone, but for 6 days, a lot was packed in.

It is definitely hard to see family once a year only, so I'm thankful especially to Scott who didn't hesitate to let me go, and hold down the fort back here, all with a nasty cold!! My home is wherever he is, happily, and without regret.

I took a LOT of pictures on this trip, which I'll share in the coming days. Pictures of people, but also some of the things that evoke simple memories of days gone by!

New York, New York

Weather may have cancelled the planned trip up the Statue of Liberty, but a weekend in NYC should be fun anyway!  Hosted by Scott’s childhood buddy Jason, lovely wife Nike and baby Maggie in Brooklyn, it was the respite we needed from our fast-paced suburban life!! (Yes, ironic to go to the busiest city in the world to rest, but there you have it!!)

 

Since the Statue was a no-go, we hit another famous landmark!  Times Square.

I love taking artsy photos!!

Our friends were dog-sitting and Toby wouldn't leave the scared little guy alone!

Great times!!

Before we left, after the weather improved we returned for a longdistance look at the Statue (left) and Ellis Island (right).  It was bigger in person!!  We'll be back for another try!

The Times Square purchases eased the disappointment!!

Are you finished?

"I'm done." I said to myself as I put my head in my hands, "I don't want to do this anymore."  I looked around helplessly and decided to pray.  "Lord, help me endure."

I felt like a child, asking the ever-present, all-rescuing parent for help.  I felt peace.  And then, then I heard this, in my heart...

He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

John 19:30b

Wow!  At no point is my level of "done-ness" anywhere close to His.  And yet, He was not done, until it was finished.  He endured, He suffered, He persevered.  "For the joy set before him he endured the cross"(Hebrews 12:2).  That joy?  Our redemption.

Jesus endured unbelievable pain, rejection, scorn and shame, to fulfill what was required by the Law, to pay the penalty for sin.  It wasn't his sin he paid for.  It was mine.  It was yours.  And that future joy, of reunification between you and your Heavenly Father, that held him there. 

So, I guess I'm not really "done"!  If he endured for me, through his strength, I can endure what I need to endure.  It pales in comparison.

Mercifully, lovingly, there was no resentment at my whining, not condemnation for my weakness.  Just love, and grace.  For He has a heart that knows far greater pain than I could experience, and a love much purer than I could ever imagine.

Wedding Bells

 

Scott and I headed out Saturday to a wedding for close friends. It was so nice to dress up, Celebrate love, and dance with my man!! Weddings are my favorite!!

 

The bride, Nichole

And the proud parents!  Mr & Mrs T - we call them our 3rd family, as Scott was adopted into their family in High School and they are special people to us.

Birthday Boy!

Chica

In August our family grew, with the addition of an 8 year old, 7lb chihuahua named Chica!

Initially we fostered her, but it became immediately clear that she and Emma had a very special bond! Emma is her person, and they are adorable together. Thankfully she also likes the rest of us, and she and Duncan have fun together.

Don’t Settle

Maybe you can relate to this in someway. I'm not sure when my hip started to hurt. I just know that I complained about it, but I didn't pray about it, I just accepted it, like it's normal for things to hurt.

It sounds ridiculous, even to me, because if somebody told me that their hip was hurting when they walk, and it would cramp up, and they have back pain, I would tell them to seek help, something is wrong! But when it comes to myself, I'm much less inclined to ask for help, maybe I even believe in some subconscious way, that I deserve it. "I'm probably doing something that causes this pain, so it's my own fault."

Thanks to Springfield family chiropractic, my hip is infinitely better. And pain I had just fully accepted, and didn't even think about, has also been addressed and healed. I can turn my head the way I'm supposed to be able to!

But I'm always looking for a deeper lesson in things. This situation is no different.

How many of us accept situations in our life, that we would never tell people we love to accept. We would urge them to do something, to make a change, to take care of themselves. But yet we, simply dwell in the pain, sometimes unaware that help is available, other times unwilling to seek it out.

It looks different for everybody. You might be dealing with physical pain, unhappiness with your body, physical addiction, or literal pain. Or maybe it's emotional, and you have been hurt, abused, or neglected. You've accepted that negativity and isolation. Or maybe it's spiritual, and you live with guilt and shame for things that you've done, because forgiveness seems impossible, even to forgive yourself.

Our world is hurting,. Every single person, scarred by sin committed by us, and against us. Many of us are either living with the pain fresh and raw, bitter and angry, or we mask it, with substances, sex, shopping, self harm, etc.

What if we can actually heal the pain, we can change things. We can be changed. Yes, we need to pray, we need God to do what he does get all of this. But we need to take the steps ourselves to reach out, to look for Hope and help. Then, maybe our healing will help to heal the world.