Sunday, August 30, 2009

Where did Summer go?


There has been commotion around our house, but definitely the good kind. And with all of it, a realization made its way to my husband's lips that made me chuckle. "Do you realize we missed Summer?" We haven't exactly been on a deserted island for 3 months while life carried on on the main land. It's more like we were grounded to the living room and the other kids got to play outside while we watched from the window. With Randy's layoff, everything just went on hold and was being reserved for later. Not a deprived life by far. Just not what we had grown accustomed to. All in all though, I definitely value what we gained from this period of time far more than if we had just continued on as before and not 'missed Summer'. And now, with our fresh wings, its going to be a disciplined effort to maintain that growth and continue it in times of plenty. Starting with a new week. Order and routine are sometimes my best friends.

Friday, August 14, 2009

I read something this morning that I thought was interesting and wanted to share.

"Our primary calling is not to serve people or meet their demands but to be available to God: to know Him and worship Him."

The first commandment is to love the Lord. I guess because its tangible, serving others gets the focus usually. But that's not where we are to start. Serving and loving our brother is second to God.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Just an Ordinary Day


Is today just an ordinary day? America says it is. Hurry up, get to school, don't be late for work, buy a new car, go by wal-mart on the way home, make sure everyone is entertained, check the phone, keep everyone quiet, block out the world, go to bed. Ordinary and normal is what we strive for right? Custom, expectation - that's just what you do. But why do you do it? For 2000+ years, followers of Christ have been shifting and shuffling around, trying to serve God; some harder than others. Sometimes we shuffle too far, sometimes we haven't shifted towards God enough. All the while, God hasn't moved an inch - He's right where He's always been, saying what He's always said.

For me, it is so easy to get sucked into American religion or Western spiritual customs and allow them to influence my view of God and His expectations. As a society, we swing from one side to the other - from allowing our emotional reactions to dictate to classifying right and wrong based on what some other group may or may not have done. Just because it feels right doesn't mean God desires it. Just because a practice may look like this group or that doesn't mean God does NOT desire it. Our perceptions are so easily influenced by social ideas that its a wonder we can walk straight without surveying our entire neighborhood! If nothing else, it sure does make me thankful for having the bible so readily available in our time. The rest of us are just too unreliable, finicky and foolish to trust with our salvation.


What Happens If You're Disappointed This Week?

Disappointment is a big issue with kids around.  Every parent will tell you not to say a word about a trip to the zoo or a possible visitor ...