Getting the Message

I am sure that you have tried to explain something before only to receive a blank stare in return.

Or perhaps you were receiving instructions and the words really meant nothing.

Words were exchanged, but communication was not occurring.

One of the perks of being married to one that preaches is that his messages are communicated clearly in my mind.  While I can and do learn and grow from others, there are definitely fewer barriers when hubby is preaching.  When hubby preaches, not only do I receive a preview all week, but I just understand his language and his style.  Since he has been preaching a lot lately, I have had a lot of food for thought. 

John  -  "I am not the Christ."  - oh, a reminder that "He must increase, and I must decrease."  It seems that this week I have had to battle my stubborn pride more than ever.  It is not about "my" way, but about His way.

Titus  -  "maintain good works" - serving others should be a habit that starts in my home and overflows into my entire life.  It is not an on-again, off-again endeavor.

Job  -  a battle for the glory - while not preached by hubby, it has been in my mind for two weeks now.  As in the story of Job, Satan knows where I am weak and he definitely uses it to his advantage.  He wants me to "curse God and die" rather than to glorify God in my trials.  Daily I must decide to let God order my life and allow the trials as He sees fit. 

Expect Great Things

Psalm 81:10

I am the LORD thy God,

which brought thee out of the land of Egypt:

open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

I read this verse yesterday.

I contemplated how much I miss simply because I doubt ...

I don't expect ...

I don't open my hands ...

I am looking the wrong way ...

God is there.

Do I expect great things?

Do you?

JBMDELU

I spend a little time every morning with the puzzles in the paper. 

I do the Suduku, the crossword puzzle, and have learned to enjoy the JUMBLE. 

I am feeling a little "jumbled" today. 

So many thoughts spinning in my mind. 

I am trying to put some framework to them so that I can share them with you. 

Thanks for being patient.

Just a Great Aunt :)

I don't know whether it makes me sound prideful or old or HUGE, but I am now a great aunt.  I always thought I was fairly spectacular (my nieces and nephews should only give kind comments below so as not to burst my bubble), but now it is official and not based on opinion.  Congratulations to Peter and Elisabeth (our nephew and his wife) on the birth of a healthy baby.  I am always thankful to hear of a safe and healthy delivery considering that it is such a precious gift of God.

I am also thankful today for a new opportunity in the coming weeks.  We have frequently prayed about opportunities as pulpit supply on the weekends and the Lord has answered that prayer.  Hubby is frequently helping out in our home church here in NC, but this weekend we get to help in another local church.  Hubby will be preaching in the morning service and I will be working with the kiddos (and music if necessary). 

Not Acting

It is inevitable that while doing an excessive amount of public speaking a person will occasionally put his foot in his mouth.  I expect that it will happen now and again while hubby is preaching.  He had one such incident on Sunday night when his phrasing of words made it sound like he had a difficult home life :)  He corrected himself, but we took some ribbing for it after the service.  Later he commented to a member that "You know we love each other, right?"  The answer was surprising, yet sadly not surprising in light of the many Christian marriages we have seen crumbling around us.  "It appears that you have a good relationship, or you could be great actors."  There are a lot of people working on their theatrical abilities - especially in church.  Their good works and their righteous acts are bestowed on everyone but those in their homes.

I Timothy 5:4  

...let them learn first to shew piety at home...

I have to learn to show piety at home?  Back to "school" I go!  It must not be a foreign concept if Paul wrote about it so many years ago.  Our society has been taught to put on a good front.  We show others what we want them to see.  It is not so difficult to do via phone, email, facebook, or even the blogosphere.  You can see the victories while I mask the stumbles.  I can paint the picture as I want to.

Are you the same in the home as out of the home? 

Are you one person in the car on the way to church and another when you step out of the car? 

The true person is the one you are at home. 

Are you happy with who you are? 

More importantly, is God happy with who you are?

Repetition is the Key to Learning

In my education classes at college, we were reminded repeatedly to REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW.  It was built into the curriculum, but my instructors knew that there would be a tendency to skip the review to make time for something else.  In my own life, I see the necessity of review in my Bible memory, in the messages that I hear at church, and in my own Bible study.  I need reminders.

As I read my Bible each day, I typically read 1 Psalm, a portion of the Proverb of the day, a couple of chapters in the Old Testament and 1 chapter in the New Testament.  I do this because I know that I will come away with something.  Sometimes I need the encouragement of the Psalms.  Sometimes I need to hold onto a principle for Proverbs.  Sometimes I need the straightforward rebuke of a Prophet.  Other times I need the doctrinal teaching from the New Testament.  God gave me some repetition on Saturday.  The message was in the Old Testament and the New Testament.  The message:  "Don't talk back!"  or  "You are you for a reason."

Isaiah 45:9

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!

Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it,

What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

Romans 9:20

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?

Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it,

Why hast thou made me thus?

I really am a slow learner sometimes and these verses always convict me.  This time it was a double blow.

SHH!  Don't talk back!  I have a plan in the way you are made!

Are you listening today? 

What did you learn and apply in your Bible study today?

Asian Noodles

Last Tuesday, we had the privilege of kidsitting for some friends in the church.  I had not babysat since last fall.  Three Little People ages 2 through 5.  I felt up to the challenge and it allowed me to get adventurous with my cooking again.  Since one of our little friends has a modified diet free of many common allergens, I broke out my Autism cookbook to plan a meal that was "safe" for him to eat.  In the process, I found two new favorites for the Bookish household.  I love when things work out that way!

Asian Noodles

1 lb corn spaghetti (I used a corn/rice noodle)

1/2 c light sesame oil

1 Tbls evaporated cane juice or agave nectar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar

1 garlic clove, minced

1 scallion, sliced (I omitted this)

1/2 c roasted sesame sees (I omitted this too)

Boil spaghetti until tender.  Rinse in cold water.

Combine all other ingredients and stir with a whisk until blended.

Pour over spaghetti and toss.

Quiet Weekend at Home?

Anticipating a quiet weekend at home. 

You need those every time and again. 

Feels like hubby and I have been "ships passing in the night" this week. 

You know that doesn't sit well around here.  :)

It has all been for good reasons, but there is still a need to refresh. 

Looking forward to a little r&r - hopefully this weekend!

The Best Schooling

I have been through nearly 18 years of schooling as a student and then 6 years as a teacher.  I value structured, organized education.  I appreciate book learning and instruction.  However, I do believe that the best lessons come throughout life as we are placed in various situations.  I am so thankful for those lessons that are learned in the "nitty-gritty" of life.

This week I was "in school" learning things that I never learned in the classroom.  The primary lesson was a continuation of the lesson that I started "studying" while I lay flat on my back about a month ago, unable to move because of a strain in my neck.  The lesson stems from the fact that I am a prideful, independent person.  It was hard to let even my dear husband meet my needs even though he wanted to and was sufficient for the task.  In my independence, it is easy to rob people of the opportunity to be a blessing to me and my family.  It is easy, in prideful independence, to forge my own way, to fail to ask for help, to unfairly expect other's to read my mind.  It is easy to see this in others, but hard to acknowledge it in my own life.  It is a hard balance between "using" others and letting God use the gifts, abilities, and resources of others to meet my needs, but one that must be learned. 

I am thankful that God is not letting me forget this lesson.  I am sure that I will be reviewing it often.

Unnecessary Confirmation

Psalm 68:9

Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain,

whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance,

when it was weary.

It is a cool, overcast morning.

We have had a plentiful rain this spring and the gardens are loving it.

We enjoyed a house below 70* this morning with the breeze refreshing the house.

God is faithful to encourage those who trust in him.

It may not always come in our own timing, but He knows best.

I am so thankful for the small voice of God confirming my path this week.

There are weeks, when like Eve, I want to question God.

Should I really be a stay at home wife?

Does God really expect all of those qualifications in a pastor?

Why do I feel like I am swimming upstream alone? (sounds a lot like Elijah)

Common questions of a sinful woman.

Did God really say ...?

I know the right answer, but I want a loophole.

I want my way and my path and my ... and my ...

This week, there has been no doubt and questioning.

Unique opportunities created for me in my situation.

Opportunities to share, to minister, to stretch made possible

when I chose to obey.

Are you on a hard, lonely path?

Are you sure that it is the correct path of you?

...the path God wants for you?

Then just keep walking in it!

The confirmation is coming!