On a more serious note...

Ok, I thought I would put up a few pictures of our fam in recent times. Meadow was a princess for Halloween, and she decided that she should be a princess year round. Her friend, Molly, was a princess as well. Ocean was Elmo. He was not excited at all until he figured out that if he just held out his bag and smiled, and he would receive some candy. After that, he wouldn't take off the costume. Blue, well, he was just Blue, hee hee! And, Forest was only interested in the chocolate.
Let's see, the other pictures are from Ocean's bowling birthday party, which was a total riot. I think the adults had as much fun as the kids, which is saying alot for a birthday party, if I can be honest.
Anyway, God is so good, and we are so thankful for all of His blessings.

The tongue...

Two days ago, I met with a couple of women here on my street. We usually meet once a week for a Bible study. Well, we had concluded the study last week, and were just meeting for accountability on finishing that last week of homework. That, and I believe it is a highlight for all of us to get together, chat, drink coffee, and the best part...Dave, the husband of one of the women, had offered to watch the kids so that we could devote our attention to the study. He is truly a servant.
So, we got a little sidetracked and started discussing a present social issue. I admit that I had not researched the subject, nor did I really have an opinion. But, I do so enjoy a good debate every once in awhile, and it wasn't long before the topic became quite spirited.
About the time I was really starting to feel the heat in the room, one of the women burst into tears. I immediately froze, my arm in the air, the spark still in my eye, and my lips forming the words for my next point. I knew things were getting a little heated, but I had no idea that the topic was personal.
God then gently whispered James 3:2 in my ear, "For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body." I had, unconsciously, offended my dear friend. The other two women immediately jumped up, apologizing, hugging, and making a definite attempt to make things right. I just sat there.
I spent the entire afternoon with this nagging feeling in my gut that I should not have left things the way they were. Even though I did not feel as if I had said anything that was wrong, there was still that little voice. To be honest, I still felt that I was right. (Don't I always?) This time He whispered James 3:5 "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth." I finished verse 6 for Him, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity, so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."
It truly does not matter if I was right. God doesn't even care if she was right and I was wrong. Our tongue, my tongue, can destroy the whole body of Christ.
I walked over to the phone, picked it up, dialed her number, and told her that I was sorry if my words had hurt her in any way. She responded in grace and we reconciled.
God is so good. His wisdom is "pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, FULL of mercey and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."

Don't forget to be grateful

"When gratitude has died on the altar of a man's heart, that man is nigh near hopeless." Dr. Bob Jones Sr.
This last week, my husband had Wednesday off from his job. He had worked really late the night before, so I was prepared for him to sleep in. When he sat straight up in bed and announced that he was going to install the kitchen floor, I leaned over and pinched my other arm. Yes, I was awake, and yes, it was still dark outside. I was speechless. As he jumped out of bed (literally), I found myself fumbling for a sweater and mumbling something about how we should wait. Was I crazy?! Wait for what?! The flooring had been stacked in our basement for at least two years, what did we need to wait for? He couldn't be serious. Once he drank that first cup of coffee, he would realize that his hypermotivation was just a carry-over from whatever dream he had been having.
But, wait... what was this?....no coffee?! He was straight out the door to the garage and I heard his air compressor and table saw roar to life. I was still sitting on the edge of the bed trying to figure out what was going on. I did know one thing, I was not skipping the coffee, no way, no how.
When he burst back through the door, the first piece of flooring in hand, I finally came to the realization that he was very serious.
My baby is amazing. He did it. By the end of the second day, I had a brand-new, beautiful cork kitchen floor.
Something he said at the end of the project caught my attention. I was praising him, going on and on about what a wonderful man he is, etc. etc., and he looked at me and said, "I should be in your good book for at least a year." My initial response was to "kind of" snort and mumble under my breath, but then I stopped to think.
My husband is good and he does good things for me because he loves me. My heavenly Father loves me so much the more and He does good things. How easily I forget!!
It has only been a week, and when I feel my old self rising up inside to say something that is unkind or usually a bit sarcastic, I remind myself that he has another 51 weeks in the "good book". No, seriously, I remind myself of what Christ did for me, He died on the cross so that I could have eternity with Him. Everyday, He fills my life with good things, and I don't ever want to forget to be grateful.

Run Aground

I read an amazing story today. Every story in God's Word is amazing, but I am always blown away by how God brings the right story at the right time.
I believe I have mentioned the little situation that my husband and I got ourselves into this past year. We purchased a condo with plans to do an extensive reno, then put it back on the market for a significant profit. It seemed like a good idea at the time, although we did receive cousel from several people that maybe we should wait.
Well, there were the usual setbacks, it cost more and took longer than usual, but the biggest setback came in the early summer. We had had the unit on the market for 3 months, and an indeterminable fire destroyed the entire top floor of our building, our entire unit. Insurance will cover the cost of rebuilding, but we must cover the mortgage and condo fees until the unit sells. We were unprepared to do that, and the extra burden on our finances has at times been excruciating. We have been humbled by the grace and kindness of good friends and neighbors, and the lessons that God has patiently taught me have been worth more than a thousand condos. But, I have also been battling a heavy cloak of shame that we got ourselves into this situation in the first place and that I am so tired, I don't know if I can make it to the end of this.
Then, I read this story. It is from Acts 27. Paul is about to embark on a ship. He perceives that there will be great tragedy and tries to warn the captain. The captain ignores his advice and proceeds with his plans. This was all suddenly sounding very familiar to me. Paul was partially correct when they did sail into a huge storm. Yes, we are right in the middle of it. My breath was taken away when I read verse 26. God promised to deliver them, but first they "must run aground". Difficulty does not always mean disaster. Sometimes, delivery may be painful. Heavy winds and raging seas don't always mean you're on the wrong course. And, do you know what else is amazing? God always has a destination in mind when He delivers. The ship ran aground on the island of Malta, a place of kindness, warmth and welcome. The storm may be raging, and we may even have to toss a few things overboard to keep from sinking, but, if we believe, God provides deliverance even in the midst of "Plan B".
I was and am overwhelmed with gratitude that during the times when we may have overlooked sound advice and headed straight into a storm, it is still possible to run aground into God's will if we listen and believe.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."