Ducks

I like to have my ducks in a row.


The problem is that I can't find any.

The Bible according to a 4 year old

I spend a lot of time picking up around here after little ones that "just don't get it" when it comes to putting away what they take out or cleaning up after themselves. I know that it's just how it is at this point in their little lives, but I have to admit that it is very frustrating at times. So in training my children to clean and pick-up the house, I want them to know that this is life. Sometimes we have to clean up after another person's mess...and we can do it cheerfully. The cheerful part is just as much training for me as for them.

Yesterday my 4 year old son was given the assignment of cleaning up the boots, coats, hats and mittens that the 22 month old had strewn around while the rest of us were assigned other jobs. He became quite exasperated and shouted, "The Bible says 'the one who smashes something has to pick it up!!'"

I began dreaming about this. What if this was how it was? My housekeeping would be so much easier! I'd have time I didn't know what to do with!

Now, if I could only find that verse...

Baby Wrapping

A couple posts ago I mentioned getting some material for doing the baby wrap when our new one arrives. I had a question from someone regarding what that is.

I'm new to the concept myself, but it sounds wonderful to be able to use a long length of material to wrap your baby to yourself in various ways: on your back, side or front. It all sounds very intriguing for a mother with three other children who needs about 20 hands.

My favorite site so far on this topic is http://www.mamatoto.org/. Here they tell you what type and amount of material you need, along with many pictures and diagrams for the different types of wraps. There are tons of people making baby carriers/wraps out there, but let's just say they aren't giving them away.

So, when baby arrives and if I like this "wrap thing", I'll post about it with pictures.

A Cello Rondo

I thought that this recording was pretty neat. It seems like a legistical nightmare to have one person record 37 parts on a cello and be able to put it together to sound this good. It's worth checking out...

Just what the doctor ordered

Last weekend started out with my husband bringing me home this gorgeous bouquet. I had spent the day packing and cleaning in preparation for heading down to visit his parents and my mother. My daughter wanted to bring them with, saying that she would gladly hold them, but it was really nice to come home to a clean house and red roses on the table after the weekend.

Traveling is quite an ordeal with three small children and since we don't go often, I try to make it memorable. I pack travel toys and food up to gazoo. The children are "helping" me pack all day and are waiting in the vehicle 1/2 hour before we are going to leave, asking for their containers of fish crackers.

We made it to our destination on Friday evening and my husband did the daunting task of unpacking. He was so gracious to just laugh at me bringing a tote of boots, snow pants, hats and mittens in addition to everything else. There was a dusting of snow at our place before we left and I thought, "Well, just in case there's snow this weekend and the children want to play outside..."

Keith stayed with his parents on Saturday to help them with some projects while I took the children to the Minnesota Children's Museum in St. Paul and met my mother. Keith calls it a 5-floor indoor playground and it kind of is. Yet, there are tons of educational exhibits there. If the public schools can bring students there for field trips during the school year, I can count it as a school day as well. They learned about occupations, machines, turtles, literature/play acting, cultural diversity, etc. Very educational. I was grateful for the opportunity to see my mother and also appreciated her help as three children going in three different directions can be challenging. A good day was had by all and my 22 month old was sleeping before we left the parking ramp.

On the way home, I stopped at S.R. Harris, a huge discount fabric warehouse that was overflowing with people. Try to picture floor to 20 foot ceiling bolts of material and then wanting the one on the bottom of the heap. What I was thinking in bringing three tired children there I'm not sure, but they behaved fairly well considering. I was able to find some fun pieces of material and thankfully I was able to nab a young kid employee to fish out the desired bolts. I would have given up trying if it was left to me. I want to try using a "baby wrap" when this new one is born in January. Another attempt at trying to figure out how to do multiple things at once... If the wrapping concept doesn't work for me, I have material for a couple dresses. A win-win situation.

It was a good weekend, but I was tired and the children were apparently tired afterward. This week has been tough so far. I was at wits end yesterday, feeling like a complete failure as a mother. There are parenting styles out there that I don't want to emulate, but I could see those poor coping skills coming out of me over and over. Very frustrating.

So today I get this email from a special friend, "Want to come over for chicken, corn, noodle soup today?" We talked as we dealt with children and I came home very refreshed. The children all took a nap and I went in my room, lit a candle, started some relaxing music and sewed...in the quiet.

I feel like a new person. It was just what the Doctor of all doctors ordered, and I was blessed.

Clean teeth

I have this "thing" about having clean teeth. I think I inherited it from my father. I remember being on a family vacation and he would stand outside the van, flossing his teeth with the side mirror.

Yesterday I decided it was time to buy everyone in the house a new toothbrush. Last night everyone tore open their packages according to their favorite color. Our youngest got what was left over since he doesn't really care yet.

This new fangled thing has a texture on the opposite side from the bristles that massages your cheeks when you brush your molars. I didn't realize this until after I opened it. It's kind of a weird feeling. Of course the toothbrush manufacturers have to come up with something new and exciting. Another new gimmick, but it didn't seem to cost that much more than the "plain Jane".

You never realize how bad your previous toothbrush was until you get a new one. Despite the cheek massage, I could feel the plaque coming off my teeth. It was SO GREAT! Even this morning, there are no fuzzies! OK, OK...more than you wanted to know...

Tested by fire

Living in the "north country", fire is even more significant in our lives in the winter than the summer. We use propane for a lot of our appliances, so that flicker from the pilot light becomes quite important...especially when it goes out in the water heater and halfway through the shower, that soothing flow turns cold! Now that it is getting cooler outside, we are getting to use our newly installed gas fireplace. I tell you, it is SO fun. It makes getting up in the morning tolerable as I sit in front of that flame of warmth. Yesterday was the day to fire up the outdoor wood burning stove. This heats water that goes through tubes in our concrete floor for radiant heat in our home and shop. Mmmmm...just cozy. Now the children can hardly wait for the snow to fly.

For us, fire is comforting because it is contained and we utilize it for our benefit.

God uses fire for a variety of reasons, but all for His glory. God used fire and brimstone to totally disintegrate Sodom and Gomorrah. God spoke to Moses out of a burning bush. He led the children of Isreal in the desert by a pillar of fire at night. God used fire to lap up Elijah's sacrifice, the water, the altar and the stones to prove His dominion in front of the false prophets of Baal.

Jesus sat around a fire at times to prepare food and also just as a meeting place. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came and was symbolized by a tongue of fire on each of their heads. Jesus spoke of hell as an everlasting place of torment and fire.

So many ways that God has used fire. So many ways that we don't fully understand.

Let's just take a moment to focus on this verse:

1 Cor 3:10-13
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
KJV

Our motives, our longings, our inner drives...our heart...will be tested by fire at the end of the age when we stand before God. Was the foundation on Jesus Christ?

Did we witness out of a sense of duty or out of a pure heart aching for the lost?
Did we argue a point in Scripture because of an honest conviction revealed through His Word, or out of fear that our world would crumble if we were wrong?
Did we train our children to fear the Lord, or to fear what other's think?
Did we stand on tradition or truth?
Did we walk in legalism or obedience?
Did we walk in true humility or false humility?
Was our service to others for the praise of God, or the praise of men?
Did we REALLY love God, or did we just try to convince ourselves that we did?

God knows the truth. In most instances, we know the truth in our hearts. One of my most frequent prayers to my Father is, "Lord, please keep me from deception and keep my family from deception". You may, or may not agree to even pray such a thing, but the ache in my heart to *know my own heart* is strong. It is that drive within me that keeps me searching, yearning, wanting more, willing to change in order to draw closer to the Truth and the Originator of Truth and willing to stand in the midst of societal pressure.

I am willing, as much as I can be willing at this point in my life, to go through the test of God's fire. I can stand in fear of what God may allow me to go through in the future, but I am learning that God gives the grace to go through each test of fire at that time, and not before. Each circumstance can be used for His glory and as preparation for something to come, but the ultimate gift of grace to walk through the fire, comes as the flames start to lick our feet.

I trust Him, His purposes and His love for me. I know that it is for His glory.

Therefore I can rest even when I don't totally understand the purpose behind the fire.

This post was inspired by the "Carnival of Beauty". This time, it is topic is "Fire" and is hosted by Lindsey at Just Enjoy the Journey. Please stop by Lindsey's blog for all the submissions on this topic that will be listed on Wednesday...and check out her blog in general. It is one of my daily reads.

He had to "fix" something...

Willing to suffer

There is a family that comes to our church when they are in the area. Previously, they were missionaries in Africa and have adopted two African children. During the sermon discussion time during one visit, the man spoke up to add to the discussion and in doing so, he made the following statement: "I have come to notice a difference between people of Africa and those of America. People in Africa are not afraid of suffering. It is a part of everyone's life there. It's just accepted as they don't have the medical advances that we do, the living standards, etc. But they are very frightened of death. They are keenly aware of the spiritual realm and those that don't know Jesus are terrified of death. Americans on the other hand have no real fear of death, whether they are saved or not. Americans are terrified of suffering and will do anything to avoid it."

This fits in well with what Donna Kaufman discussed in her second session of the women's retreat that I attended. Read the synopsis of her first session, as well as links to her website here. Again, I will try to summarize her valuable thoughts below.

We. will. suffer. Life is difficult at times and it is through these difficulties that we are drawn to the Father. The fact is that some sorrows go on and on without any apparent end in this lifetime

*Despite the fact that we will suffer, can we rest in the midst of these struggles?*

Psalms 55
To the chief Musician on Neg'-i-noth, Mas'-chil, A Psalm of David.
Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
KJV

David poured out his heart to God and so should we. Even if we are not dealing with a situation well, God is there with us. It is part of His grace to draw us close and be near even when we are coping poorly.

*God is OK with our struggling. We don't need to have it all "together" before we can come and sit on His lap. God is there to hold our hand DURING the process.*

We need to be willing to embrace the struggles in our lives. It's not that we go looking for suffering and struggles, but when they inevitably come, we need to embrace it as a time of growth. There are waiting times in life...commas as another put it...when there is intense uncertainty, discomfort and agony. We need to work through these times in order to be transformed and for redemption to occur. The analogy of a cocoon is helpful here. The caterpillar willingly entered into a phase of life in which it is cold, tight and upside down...anything but comfortable. But the caterpillar had to go through this in order to be transformed.

In agonizing times, we want to run from suffering and struggles. We get busy with tasks/activities and turn to "happy" things to avoid the pain. Busyism, shopism, materialism, best parentism, self-protectionism, cleanism...just to name a few. :) We can't hear the Father when we are covering the pain with any "ism".

*We rarely allow God to let us go into the cocoon and therefore miss out on the transformation/redemption that God wants us to receive.*

In Mark 15, we read the account of Jesus enduring excruciatingly dark, agonizing pain and suffering, but He knew that He had to go through this in order to be transformed and resurrected into a new body.

We tend to get the idea that to suffer "well" is to be at total peace without any struggle, but Jesus didn't. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus did three key things:

1. Jesus collected his friends around him. He wanted others to walk alongside Him. Admittedly, the disciples were poor companions. They kept falling asleep. In this we must realize that people will fail us sometimes, but it is not wrong to ask a chosen one or two to join with us in praying through a difficult time.
2. Jesus went to the Father. In Hebrews 4, we are told to cease from our own works (i.e. fear, worry, self-ability, etc.). God promises His presence in the midst of our agony. We are not necessarily sinning with our emotions during a battle. Jesus expressed deep emotion and wrestled with what laid ahead to the point of sweating blood.
3. Jesus stayed in the presence of the Father as long as needed. He waited until He was totally surrendered to the Father's will.

THEN we can move forward in the midst of suffering with the peace and knowledge that "It's OK. The Father is with me." We NEED the darkness of suffering in order to reach God's rest. His grace allows us to rest well and to obey Him well. The presence of the Father brings transformation.

Other Scripture to look at regarding suffering:
Psalm 94
Psalm 56
Isaiah 41
Exodus 3