Wednesday, February 16, 2011

spiritual temperature

What is God teaching me lately?

In several areas of my life I have become aware of a pretty big problem with pride. In some ways, realizing you're doing "well" in spiritual disciplines is an encouraging thing. I AM experiencing the blessings of many areas of my life going "well." However, what to do with the pride that I feel like I have it mastered, when clearly as Christians, we always have a long way to go?

I confess my pride, and subconsciously hope God doesn't have in mind to humble/humiliate me. Yet I know if He does, I deserve it! The other thing to check is my motives, am I always doing things out of a pure heart? Probably not. Even if I am doing well, I think sometimes this piety manifests itself into judging others for their shortcomings rather than loving them, which is clearly sinful.


Other tibits-our family enjoyed a relaxing weekend retreat with our mini church up north this past weekend. We had great conversations, great games, great hikes. That was special. We were challenged as a group to corporately SERVE more.

Our Sunday School is going through the trendy book "Radical" by David Platt. The main thesis is to give up the American Dream, all of it, for radical holiness and giving oneself away. We are just kind of starting it, but I look forward to lives being changed! So far we don't feel called to the mission field or to sell our house, but it is a possibility, certainly.

We finished the Jesus Bible Storybook with the boys again today. I just love the last entry of John's vision of heaven. Truly, if we all were eternity minded, life would be SO EASY! I find myself drawn to songs about heaven lately.

I am working on memorizing I Corinthians 15, but it is slow going. I am also enjoying the gospels right now and reading through Acts. Being convicted to share my faith more boldly, and am trying to reach out to other moms. I guess that's my spiritual temperature these days.

catching up-again

I feel like I'm in a crisis of blogging! What is the purpose of blogs? To let family and friends keep up on pictures? Strike one. To share our day to day funnies and document family life? Strike two. To dialogue spiritual insights as I grow? Strike three. I would like to do all those things, but I simply can't keep up!

I think one big problem is all these kids I have! haha By the time I upload cute pictures of them, they are 2 months older! By the time I upload videos, they are 4 months older. By the time I sit down to share what God is teaching me, it is not as fresh in my mind, and I have discussed them with friends, or my husband and already bounced around all the conclusions.

It is not that I don't want to blog. I LOVE reading everyone else's posts, and every so often I think of a clever post myself. But I decided my blog does not have a theme and will just be random posts when I get around to it! Or at times all pictures! Oh well.

In other news:

ELSIE is 6 months old. She sits, or is a great baby-sitter as Mary would say. Caedmon and Jonas have enjoyed feeding her her first solids. She likes broccoli!

We are dealing with some whining from JONAS but are finding that reality consequences work, for the most part. For example, he was whining at the table the other day when we had friends over, so he took at nap at 11:30a.m. and skipped lunch. He is starting to enjoy doing more things for himself. He has a tender heart for people and Jesus, so far. As for academics and learning anything on purpose, this kid is a rebel! My goal is to teach him something accidentally. He is constantly making up words that Caedmon and him use in conversation. My name lately is Mumpo, Caedmon is Bopopo, and Jonas is Nafis.

CAEDMON is getting so smart! I am amazed when we work on academics what that kid can retain! He knows the geography of probably 30 countries and many states! We are learning how to sign the alphabet together-he is very proud of spelling everyone's name! He really gets the calendar and when seasons happen as well as our weekly calendar and what usually happens on what days. He recently learned to count to 100 and we are working on more math. My most proud moment recently though was when he brought Jonas and his friend Shekinah into his Thomas tent each holding a Bible, and recited Isaiah 53. He is already holding Bible studies! :-)

Update on my other love-Jason is still wonderful! I have a beautiful pink bouquet from him on my table, and we had a great Valentine's Day date! My friend Chris watched the kids and we hit up a Chipotle knock-off and watched Fireproof. We have really grown exponentially this year in our marriage. God has been very faithful to us!

I guess that's the update for the next 3 months, if I am lazy like usual.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

DCB

My favorite part of the drive to Kansas is the chance to listen to my own music with no interruption! The kids sleep in the backseat and Elvira, our gps, takes me smoothly through the cities. On a moonlit night it is almost magical to listen to heavenly music while driving past vast farmland.

On the way back, I decided to visit some tunes on our mp3 player that aren't my usual favorites, namely, David Crowder's. My husband is an avid fan, but it's never been my style, particularly. I found myself so blessed by his music though!

ANYONE who has never listened to his album, "Collision" from start to finish and intentionally listening to everything, is missing out! He is a musical genius, I am convinced, and the journey he takes you on is amazing. DO IT! So I reluctantly admit I have become a fan.