Funny Kids

When asked what his favorite character of Star Wars was, John responded, "The Hoo-chahs." We had to probe to find out that he meant "the mean guys with guns"...aka Ewoks!
So, days later, Lily and John were playing Lego Star Wars and Lily announced that they were in Hoo-chah City! (Endor) Woah...it's contagious! : )

ABC Box

Lily and John helped put together this ABC Box for working on spelling and playing word games. The project itself was fun for them. Lily wrote some of the ABCs on the juice lids (V-8 Fusion is our juice of choice).



It's good to pull out in a pinch when I'm lacking in the planning department for the little ones. Can anyone say, "Recycle?"

My three munch-kins just sang in a chorus with New River Youth Symphony and Chorus. I have been a proud Mama.
And, aren't they cute? ; )
OK, this really isn't my kids...these are some little carollers we made.





But, here is the real thing:

Weighed Down

Today, I'm thinking a lot about the heaviness of this season. The holidays can weigh many people down. One reason is that we want to escape the everyday and get lost in lights and presents and baby Jesus. We want the supernatural to erase all that is weighty in life. But, the weight is still there.
That shouldn't disappoint. I picture the weight pulling on us until we are so weighted down that we are on our knees. I'm close...to being on my knees. I have very little weight on me personally, but I'm watching numerous people around me who have much pulling on them and it makes me heavy for them.

My kids pray day after day for healing for loved ones and for peace for those who are suffering. I listen to their prayers and benefit from their faith.

Recently, a friend asked me and others to join in a New Year fast and I did not jump at the chance. But, it has come to mind time and time again. I think of this Scripture:
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard."

Jason said that he would like to support a child or two through Compassion. And, I'm realizing how all this is connected. If I don't feel the weight of other people's needs, I'm missing out.

I only want to fast if the Lord directs it. And, I think that He is. Food for the hungry. Shelter for the poor. These are weights I don't want to escape.

May God soften any hardness in this heart so that I could feel.

Certainly Free

This morning, my prayers are centered around the fulness of the Spirit. I need to decrease that He (Christ) may increase. Otherwise, I feel the emptiness.

I have also been thinking about the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That is the evidence that I am walking in a free manner. When I am free from (unencumbered by) sin, I can walk in the freedom intended for me.

As I have prayed, a call to freedom is what keeps coming to mind. I looked for those verses about the fruit of the Spirit and found them in Galations, chapter 5. But the beginning of that chapter states, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." I am not working to attain freedom, but to maintain it. If Christ has ever made me free...then I am free. Though sin lives, I am dead to sin.

Yes, I'm preaching to myself.

I have not been made free to do all things. Though the Word says, "All things are lawful for me", it also says, "but not all things are profitable." (1 Cor. 6:12) I don't want my freedom to become it's own chain. I want to be truly free...not mastered by anything.

I want to keep standing firm.

Lord, let it be so. May I walk in freedom from the sin that dwells in me. You have said in Your Word that I am dead to sin (Romans 6). You have told me to walk by the power of the Spirit. Amen!

Advent Begins

I am so glad that the Advent Season is beginning. I now have a reason and purpose in making daily "devotionals" with the kids last for an hour! Ok, maybe not an hour, but close.

Last night, we read from Jotham's Journey and put our first Jesse tree ornament up. I love the anticipation of the Season. There is a growing intensity in me (that started weeks ago as I prepared).

I think I know the purpose of all this. Preparing the heart.

I read recently that the celebration of Advent is not only looking back in history to the first coming of Christ, but looking ahead to His second coming. I have missed that prophetic part of this celebration for years. 34 of them, to be exact. I pray that all this will build an excitement and anticipation in my own children's hearts.

Presumptous sins - Psalm 19

Yesterday, I heard Adrian Rogers speak on Gideon's army. God doesn't look for the strong, the smart, the capable. He chooses the weak things to confound the strong. The foolish things to confound the wise. That started the process of recognition of sin in my own life. I'm not being used of God for my own ablilities. If God allows me to join with Him at all it is because I'm humble enough to recognize my own frailty and inability and have faith that only He can.

Secondly, I heard from Moon Williams that meditation on the Lord is the central birthing place for right thinking in believers. I recognized that my meditations weren't pure as of late. I've been meditating on my own worth and ability. (Yuck - it sickens me to admit this.) My test came and I failed this one.

Psalm 19:13-14 says, "Also keep back Thy servant from presumptous sins:
Let them not rule over me:
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

Presumptous sins. Unfortunately, that sums it up for me. Arrogant, immoral actions. Haughty thoughts and words. I'm done with it...again. I'm so thankful for the grace of God that leads me to places of restoration!