Happy Birthday Dear Melanie!

Nine years ago today...
Has it been that long? It seems like we were just welcoming you into the world. I remember that I never wanted to put you down, not because I was afraid you'd cry, you rarely did, but because I just loved holding you! Your Grandma used to tease me about that! It has been our pleasure and privilege to nurture you and teach you and love you these nine years! I've enjoyed watching my sweet daughter grow in tenderness toward God and others. I see little glimmers of the young woman you are becoming as you sweetly submit to the instruction of your father and I. I love watching you care for your younger brother and sisters, patiently teaching them and rejoicing in their progress. I'm thankful God has so richly blessed our family. We praise God for another year and hope for many more!

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

The Privilege of Prayer

We have the awesome privilege of approaching the throne of Grace at any time, all the time. Before Christ's death no one could approach a Holy God that was not themselves Holy. We are counted righteous because of Him! We can run to Him with every care as a beloved child does to a loving parent!

Romans 8:32

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"

Everyday I am sent an email with a devotional from Mathew Henry's method of prayer. It is a treasure of guided prayers through scripture on specific topics for meditation each day. This is one I wanted to share and encourage you with.

You have commanded me to pray always, with all prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, and to that end, to keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints; Ephesians 6:18(ESV) to continue in prayer, and in everything, by prayer and supplication, to let my requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6(ESV)

You have directed me to ask and seek and knock, and have promised that I will receive, I will find, and it will be opened to me. Matthew 7:7(ESV)

You have appointed for me a great High Priest, in whose name I may draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that I may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16(ESV)

You have assured me that while the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, the prayer of the upright is acceptable; Proverbs 15:8(ESV) and that the one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies you; Psalm 50:23(ESV) and the sacrifice of thanksgiving will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. Psalm 69:30-31(ESV)

You are he who hears prayer, and therefore to you shall all flesh come. Psalm 65:2(ESV)

You say, “Seek my face,” and my heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” Psalm 27:8(ESV) For, should not a person inquire of his God? Isaiah 8:19(ESV) To whom shall I go but to you? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68(ESV)

Eager Helpers

There are many household tasks that the children shrink from helping, but decorating for Christmas is not one of them. What a precious time it is to spend working together as a family, in celebration of Christ's life and birth!

Isaiah 55:10-11

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

God never fails at what He does. He is gathering a people for Himself: His church, His beloved Bride. I feel so inadequate when sharing the gospel with those unbelievers around me and then I remember. His word is powerful to do more than we can comprehend. It is His work to change the heart of the unbeliever. It is His work to change me. What a beautiful gift His Word is!

Emily and the tree

After church today we brought a tree home and spent the afternoon decorating for Christmas. Emily is quite fascinated with all the commotion and shiny new things to explore in our living room. There is much excitement and anticipation around here!

Isaiah 55:6-7

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

He will abundantly pardon!

What amazing, good news!

His mercy still stuns me!

Thankful

It's been a week already! Time does seem to slip away from me. Though, I imagine in this busy season of life my posts here may be a bit sporadic, I will keep you all updated as time allows. This week three of my four children are under the weather, along with my dear, hard-working husband. Sleep has been scarce, but we rest when we can. Speaking of weather, It's raining today! Instead of greeting this gray day with gloom, our sick house is full of joy and celebration! My husband put on Christmas music before he left for work this morning, so the kids arose to sounds of Christmastime. We've kept the music going throughout our school day. The girls have been dancing and singing. What a joy it is to watch these dear little sisters (and brother) hugging and dancing and enjoying eachother! We haven't gotten as much work done as we normally do, but it's been a relaxing, fun day. I think it was worth it to take the pressure off and just enjoy eachother. We officially have the week off next week for Thanksgiving, but don't need to take the whole week off, so I'm not too worried about what we get done. Braden has been a diligent little worker, practicing his letters and numbers. He'll surely be ready for Kindergarten next year. I'm so thankful to be home with these precious children, and thankful to be inside, out of the rain!

Psalm 111

(Listen)

Great Are the Lord's Works

111:1 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!

Thankful to God

Have you ever had those days, when you just seem to be sucked into self-pity? I remind myself of all I have to be thankful for, that no matter how bad things get, I've got it better than I deserve...and then the onslaught begins. How is it that I can one moment be worshiping Christ for all He's done for me, and the next be grumbling about messes and rebellion? I am so quick to forget! This life here is short! What we've been called to do is live like He's coming back any minute, because He is! We don't know how many minutes we have, but we know He's coming back. We are in the last days. If I lived like I knew this, would it matter if I had enough sleep the night before or left behind a clean house? I'm on my way to eternity with my Lord! I read a blog today that said," believers, on the worst days of our lives, have more to be thankful for than the richest lost soul has on the very best day of his life." Something to think about.

Broken Buckets

God has given me the awesome task of raising these little ones to know and love Him. This doesn't seem so hard intellectually. I love my job and I love my God. There's so much to love about this awesome Creator, Savior, Father, Friend. But man-oh-man, the execution of this task is so much harder than it seems it would be. I am a sinner, and my children are too. And though we want to do what is right in God's eyes, so often we don't. God uses broken, leaky vessels to display His glory. What a wonder! I read this prayer today, and it says so well what I cannot find words to say. It is titled: Paradoxes, from the Valley of Vision.

O Changeless God, Under the conviction of thy Spirit I learn that
the more I do, the worse I am,
the more I know, the less I know,
the more holiness I have, the more sinful I am,
the more I love, the more there is to love.
O wretched man that I am!
O Lord,
I have a wild heart,
and cannot stand before thee;
I am like a bird before a man.
How little I love thy truth and ways!
I neglect prayer,
by thinking I have prayed enough and earnestly,
by knowing thou hast saved my soul.
Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be
an evangelical hypocrite,
who sins more safely because grace abounds,
who tells his lusts that Christ's blood
cleanseth them,
who reasons that God cannot cast them into hell,
for he is saved,
who loves evangelical preaching, churches,
Christians, but lives unholily.
My mind is a bucket without a bottom,
with no mind for spiritual understanding,
no desire for the Lord's Day,
ever learning but never reaching the truth,
always at the gospel well, but never holding water.
My conscience is without conviction or contrition,
with nothing to repent of.
My will is without power of decision or resolution.
My heart is without affection, and full of leaks.
My memory has no retention,
so I forget easily the lessons learned,
and thy truths seep away.
God give me a broken heart that yet carries home
the water of grace.
~Paradoxes, The Valley of Vision

November 8, 2009

November 8th is a day that marks a sad anniversary in our family. It is on this day four years ago that my mother went to be with our Lord. I know she feels no sorrow as this day comes around, but for those of us still here, missing her, we grieve. We do not grieve as those without hope. We rejoice in the hope we have. We thank God for His grace shown to us in our sorrow. We thank God for His sufficiency in our weakness, and we praise Him for another day.

For those who haven't seen us in a while...

These are our four little ones. Braden is four, Leilani is seven, Melanie is eight and Emily is five months in the picture. She's eight months now, but this is the most recent picture I have of them all together. This just reminds me that I should be taking more pictures! They grow up so fast! I am so thankful that God has blessed our family with these precious children to nurture and love. What an honor and weighty responsibility it is to be their teacher, and what a joy!

Psalm 30:5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

I've finally re-entered the blogging world after much encouragement from my dear friends. I want to be an encouragement to my dear sisters, even those that live far away. We walk this walk together, stepping heavenward. This verse has stuck with me lately, reminding me of our fleeting time in this cursed world, and the joy eternal that's coming for those on whom His favor rests. What an amazing thought! His favor rests on me, because of His son. I don't deserve a bit of it, yet because of Christ's obedience, suffering and sacrifice I can rest in His favor. When I look at my own sin, I falter and fear, because I know I do not deserve His grace. But I trust in His faithfulness, and I can rest. What a treasure we have in Christ!