Encouraged & Rebuked

During Bible time with the kids this morning working through our study on the character trait of gentleness we were in Isaiah 40 verse 11.

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Obviously the study was using this Scripture to remind us of Christ's gentleness to his flock, but in light of my struggles these days with parenting and feeling like a failure...desiring so badly to change...He spoke directly to my heart this morning with "and gently lead those that are with young". Oh that I may rest in His leading me...carrying me...gently and tenderly caring for me as I care for the children He has gifted me with...pouring grace in abundance on me...HE cares! I so often sprint forward in life forgetting I NEED HIM and He wants to lead me if I would just follow!

I was also challenged this morning by my reading in Matthew 18. One of my great downfalls is my anger...impatience...self-centeredness...and my selfish-ambition and how this effects the way I treat my children daily. I admit these shortcomings not to air my sinfulness, but to confess an area of my life that the LORD is working in me. I want to change. I want to honor the LORD in my parenting and training of His children, but I certainly NEED HIM to change me. I was struck with a healthy fear this morning as I read verses 5 through 6...

Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Ouch! Now obviously I know I am covered by His grace everyday, but I also see the warning against causing "little ones to sin" by tempting them and neglecting or demeaning them (18: 7-14). I so often exasperate them, point out the negative (very critical) and use harsh words and body language that show forth annoyance and frustration...complete opposite of "gentleness". It disgusts me and I think I have taken too lightly my call and the influence the Lord has given me. So this Scripture struck fear in me, but coupled with Isaiah 40:11 I know He is gently leading me. I am praying for a godly sorrow that leads to repentance and a holy fear of God.

What a gracious God to give us His Word to teach us, rebuke us, encourage us and challenge us. How gracious of Him to give us His Spirit to help us and most of all how gracious of Him to sacrifice His Son that I may be forgiven. Oh what a God we serve! May I through grace apply His Word...to be a doer of His Word and rest in His promises as I continue on in my pilgrimage.

The hymn the kids and I are currently singing daily is so fitting for the many lessons and Truths the LORD is teaching me on thankfulness, joy, depending on Him and His grace that sustains me.

Come, thou fount of every blessing

Come, thou fount of every blessing,

tune my heart to sing thy grace;

streams of mercy, never ceasing,

call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,

mount of thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;

here by thy great help I've come;

and I hope, by thy good pleasure,

safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

wandering from the fold of God;

he, to rescue me from danger,

interposed his precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor

daily I'm constrained to be!

Let thy goodness, like a fetter,

bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

prone to leave the God I love;

here's my heart, O take and seal it,

seal it for thy courts above.

Recent Snapshots in February 2010

Here's Travis on our big love seat with three little readers...I seriously don't know what my kids would do without books!

My sweet Elise working on her math during school...can you tell if she likes it or not?

My two tiny readers...this is what Emma does when she's finished with her school...she reads ALL DAY!...this girl is addicted to books! She actually reads my teacher instructions during her lesson...it is amazing how quickly she picked up on it. BTW I use The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading by Jessie Wise and Sara Buffington. I used this program with both girls and they have become excellent readers quickly. Emma is reading words we haven't even gotten to in our book. I'm so thankful they love to read! It's not because I'm a good teacher...it's only by God's grace...may He alone be glorified. May Oliver follow in their footsteps.

Oliver is attacking Daddy from behind...

Each of the kids just got their magazines in the mail...they couldn't wait to read them...so they all had a seat and they each read OUT LOUD their magazine (Avrie read to himself). Thanks Grandma for your generosity and providing these for them! We are grateful for you.

A little fun in the toy basket. I believe Emma stuck him in there and piled his toys up on him. He definitely enjoyed himself.

These are the beautiful long-stem roses that were delivered to me today from my sweet husband. Completely unexpected and so beautiful. He is so good to me. Such a sweet gift from the LORD. I'm so blessed.

Global Warming in Texas

This is what we woke up to this morning... I had just got through telling my mother, in Indiana, last night that I was glad we lived down here in Texas...well...guess it doesn't matter huh?!

It has been snowing since before we woke up this morning (6:30 a.m.) and as I'm typing it is 4:30 in the afternoon and will continue to they say till 8 o'clock tonight. I must say it is quite beautiful...

Here are the kiddos all bundled up and ready to go play in the snow. The next two are them outside playing in it...they said it was perfect packing snow! Oh...and after being out for a little while I hear Emma crying coming to the door....Avrie "accidentally" hit her in the face with a snow ball...he said he was aiming for her feet...I guess he missed. Didn't get a picture of it, but I'm sure you can imagine for yourself how it all played out :o)

January 2010

So here are some moments captured during the month of January. They are pictures mostly of the kids, except this first one...this is my dear friend Erin and I at a birthday party. I included this one to put a face with the name for those of you that live a thousand miles away and have no idea who I'm talking about when I refer to her. :o)

Here's Avrie holding Erin's newest blessing, Augie. Oliver is having a good time! We have some very handsome little men in our lives!

Oliver being silly...

Man, he is so stinkin cute!

Here Oliver is again with his Hello Kitty sunglasses. He loves to wear these. He loves them so much that he had them on the other night as I was putting him to bed and when I went to take them off as I laid him down, he SCREAMED, then I put them back on and he stopped...went to sleep with his shades on...such a ham!

Oliver having fun riding on Avrie's back...there's nothing like the sweet giggles of siblings.

My princesses...such beauties...

Oliver had to get in this one...

Oliver dumped all the blocks out and got in the basket, so I decided to pile them up on him. He loved it...this boy has a priceless face.

Oliver has to vacuum every time I do....I start training early...this is the secret to keeping a clean and tidy home for those of you who wonder how I do it...I don't, my 18 month old does with the help of three others :o)

Here's Emma entertaining herself while I finished school with Avrie and Elise.

My Most Recent Creations...

Here are my most recent creations...

I finally finished the girl's piano bags I had cut out long before their birthdays in November. Their grandma ended up sending piano bags to them for their presents though...so I was in no big hurry to get them done. Now they just have an extra bag to tote their books and things around in. I thought it was going to be difficult to sew, but it ended up being rather easy. The hardest part is cutting everything out....it just takes so much time. Sewing them took no time at all. They love them!

Here is what I call a "sword sheath" or you could call it a "verse purse". I have always desired to take the advice to write Scripture that I want to memorize on index cards and keep them with me throughout the day to refer to and memorize...well...that suggestion is great and all, but not real practical for me considering I don't usually have any way of keeping them on me because I wear stretchy pants so often...I like to be comfortable :o) So, in an attempt to fight against the sin that so entangles me daily, I have thought of a more practical way for me to "keep His Word with me"..... and since The Word is referred to in the Bible as a "sword" that is where I came up with calling it a "sword sheath". I just wear it like a necklace throughout the day. I just used old jeans I cut up, ribbon, and added a little bling to dress it up a bit. I also thought, if you didn't want to go through the trouble of making something like this, you could buy one of those things you can wear around your neck that has a clip hanging from it and just attach the index card(s) to it and then you could just turn it around and look at it easily. Where do you get these little "things" I'm referring to? I don't know...good question. I am on a quest though and will share if I find what I'm talking about.

This here is an owl adhered to a long-sleeve onesie. I got the idea from another site...but the owl was on sewn coasters. I just bought some fusible web (Steam-a-Seam...you can get it cheapest at Joann's or from Hobby Lobby) and used it according to the directions. I cut out my owl first, without hemming any edges, and followed the directions of the webbing. It makes a permanent bond so the fabric doesn't fray. I love it! I can't wait to make other things using this idea. You can use this fusible web on fabric, paper, and more... I can't wait to make birds, elephants, flowers...oh my just so many options... Good craft idea for kids too! Mine will sure enjoy this.

That's it! I will share more as I create....

Gifts Made with Love

I just thought I would share the gifts I made for friends and family this past Christmas. Hope you enjoy and become inspired to create something yourself...

Here are two painted stain glass pictures I made for two of my nephews. I used 11 x 14 picture frames, glued the glass in with E6000 (the greatest glue ever), found the logos online, printed them and traced them onto tracing paper...next I taped the tracing paper under the glass and following the image I began outlining the image with liquid leading...I let that dry overnight and then with the stain glass paint finished it. I really like how they turned out. They were my first attempt at using stain glass paint. My mother does large windows and such...she was my inspiration for these gifts. I'm so grateful for her talent that she willingly shares with me.

These next two photos are of the bath salts my dear friend, Jessica, and I made together. Some are Lavender, Lavender Vanilla, or Orange Vanilla. We put them in these practical containers purchased from Hobby Lobby (Jessica's great "sale" find). I printed labels on card stock and decorated them with ribbon and vintage jewelry. A simple soothing smelly good gift.

Next are the tin can lanterns. These are great! They don't look pretty unlit, but when the lights are out and they are lit...they are beautiful! I wish I had a fireplace mantel to line different sized ones on top of and light at night. I did mostly circles as the pattern...only a couple did I do stars, but you could do us about anything. I started by printing out the different sizes of shapes and cutting them out as templates to use. I positioned them where I wanted them on the cans and made dots outlining the shapes using a sharpie marker (don't do a solid line). Then I filled them with water, froze them, and once frozen I was able to use a hammer and nail to punch the holes. You can make the holes as large as you like...then once your done hammering you can melt the ice cube in them dry and presto, you have a tin can lantern.

I came up with the idea of making rubber band guns for the boys and their dads. I was inspired by Travis and Avrie setting up army men and using rubber bands to have a battle. So, I searched for ideas of how to make one. I used a dowel rod, clothes pin and glue. Of course I painted them and put their names on each one, but that wouldn't be necessary. I just tend to go over the top. I purchased each person a different color of army men. Then I had the idea to make a bag to hold the items all together. With my abundant supply of fabric I had plenty to work with. I bought a camouflage t-shirt from a thrift store for 25 cents and used it on the green bags....then not having any camouflage print to go with the red and blue bags, I decided to go over the top once more and create my own using white and light blue fabric and sharpie markers. I'm sick I know. So, when all was finished, each person had a bag with their name on it, a rubber band gun, a supply of army men and a bag of size 30 rubber bands.

For my 14 year old nephew, I made a message board out of an 11 x 14 frame without the glass...I covered a piece of foam board, tacked it in and covered the back with brown paper bag paper to hide the mess. I bought some tiny clothes pins for him to use to attach his pictures and keepsake things. Then for giggles, I put some old pictures from him growing up and his mom with she was a teenager :o) This was an easy to make gift and it was fun to pick out the fabric and ribbon.

This here is a little girls skirt that I turned into a purse. I lined the inside with a lighter green fabric and used corduroy pants I cut up for the handles. I really liked it when I made it...still do, but then I made the next three used little girls jean skirts. These though I didn't sew up the bottom, but made the inside and attached only from the top...that way the skirt look was still there. Then I used the same fabric and made the straps and appliqued each girl's first initial on the front to match. I really like the jean skirt ones!

Well, that's it for Christmas gifts. I've got a plethora of ideas for gifts this next Christmas. I am in the process of getting started....gathering materials and deciding what to do for who! I love making the gifts that we give. I'm so thankful to the Father for providing the means to do so and for giving me the ability to be creative. The options and ideas are endless.

Along with getting started on Christmas gifts, I am also going to begin to make me a new quilt for my bed. The first one I made (took me five years) is falling apart slowly. We have had it on our bed for almost four and a half years, but my desire it to pass it onto one of my children some day and it won't do much good in pieces....so let the challenge begin!

For this next one, I had the idea of making a rag quilt, but I also wanted to use my old fancy hankies somehow....so I am going to attach a hankie to each square and go about it the same way as a regular rag quilt. I chose a light cream color top fabric for each hankie to be attached to and a taupe for the backing. I chose neutral colors to not take away from the beauty of the different hankies. I can't wait to get started. I will post pictures of my progress.

What if You Stopped Believing in God? (George Mueller, Thomas Huxley, and Dave Ramsey)

    

George Mueller was a man much like myself, and yet completely set apart from my ways. We have one thing in common: Desperately wanting God to show up in an undeniable way. George Mueller was not American. I am. I like to manipulate things so that I get what I want. When I get it, I can give the credit to God, wondering in my soul if that was God or did I just make it seem that way. As a young, poor, restless Christian, George Mueller had the same problem. He so strongly desired to be a missionary that he resolved to buy a lottery ticket to determine if God should want him in the mission field. When he won money from that ticket, he declared it a genuine sign that the Lord had blessed his efforts, only to be rejected by the missionary society. Mueller learned a priceless lesson from that bit of folly, and his life changed drastically afterward. He then took painstaking care to not play sleight of hand with the Sovereign Will again. He went so far as a pastor to not pass the offering plate in his church for fear of manipulating men's hearts into giving out of guilt. He would not even let a monetary need be known to another man while operating his penniless orphanage, but only took his request to God. He lived out what so many of us claim to believe. God hears prayer and is sovereign over man's heart.

This is not intended to be another biography of Mueller's life (although you should not die without reading A.T. Pierson's account of this man's life!). However radical Mueller's life and practices may seem to us, he would claim the contrary. He even stated that not every man has been called to a like vocation as he, but we are all called to like faith.

    I have been encouraged, excited, and challenged by the life of George Mueller. I have also been challenged by this thought that I gleaned from another book I recently read: "How much would your life change if you stopped believing in God?" What the author was asking was: If God didn't show up for you (financially or otherwise) how much of a difference would it really make and how would you react? According to Dave Ramsey, we should plan as if God isn't going to come through. His ministry is certainly helpful in teaching basic principles for managing money, and I have benefited from his "ministry". But should we plan our lives so that we can kick back and "live like no one else" later in life? Much of our American lives are saturated with this type of thinking. Well, what if God doesn't want you to have 3-6 months worth of expenses saved up when you lose your job? What if, instead, He causes a job loss so that you will begin to lean into Him? How glorious does God look when, because I have prepared ahead of time, I really don't need any help other than maybe a new job and moral support. A.T. Pierson states in Mueller's biography "Such love is obedience to a principle of unselfishness, and makes self-sacrifice habitual and even natural. While Satan's motto is, "Spare thyself." Christ's motto is, "Deny thyself.""

What would our lives look like if we only made our requests known to the Sovereign One, and accept His answer as final? I suspect we might own less junk, be less busy, have greater faith, unspeakable joy, and contentment.

    Thomas Huxley known as "Darwin's Bulldog" is best recognized from his debate with William Wilberforce in 1860 and his invention of the term agnostic. He was also a contemporary of George Mueller. Huxley was part of the great "Prayer-Gauge Debate" in which he intended to prove that there was no relation to prayer and the healing of the sick. One of Mueller's donors attached a note to a donation that it "might be well if Prof. Huxley and his sympathizers, who had been proposing some new arbitrary "prayer-gauge," would, instead of treating prayer as so much waste of breath, try how long they could keep five orphan houses running, with over two thousand orphans, and without asking any one for help,-- either "GOD or MAN.""