When you have children in your home and choose to have them around a lot (24/7 for homeschool moms and those with young children), there is always a time to share about Who God is and what He has done. There is constant speaking into their lives and hearing their precious thoughts about God and His Word. There are the times of correction: To hold our children accountable for their actions according to God's standard.
I miss this-- but did not realize how much or why I missed it until I was speaking with a mom in this very situation.
It may be very selfish, but I miss it because it spoke so loudly into my life. When I talked with my children about God; when we memorized scripture together; related a school lesson to one of Jesus' parables; sang a favorite song together; corrected with the authority of God's Word--God spoke to me. These very conversations were transforming me. I needed to hear the truth so much throughout the day, God gave me little ones to speak the Truth to.
With an almost empty house, I can talk aloud but it just is not the same as instructing, correcting, and encouraging someone and discovering that you are in greater need of the instruction, correction and encouragement.
So, a consideration for moms--next time you converse about God and His Truth with your children listen for how God speaking to you.
For the rest of us, how do we get this same sort of constant input? I bet God has some answers.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Transition to a New Job for Trevor
As most of you know we moved to Kentucky because Trevor was offered a job at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Thus, began one of the most intense transitions of our lives.
Almost four years later, God provided another opportunity. This one is less upheaval because we are staying in the same city but there are changes anyway.
Two days into the new position, Trevor texted me that he likes it. Yeah!
Since his position is with the federal government, we have to get used to some different structure--like taking off all those federal holidays :) but less flexibility in the overall schedule. We have friends who have worked years for the government and say it has been a good experience.
Okay, I must admit that I really thought we would be done with transitions after being here for more than 3 years. But that is my perspective.
I am resting in knowing God brought us to Louisville and continues to have us at this place for His purposes.
Almost four years later, God provided another opportunity. This one is less upheaval because we are staying in the same city but there are changes anyway.
Two days into the new position, Trevor texted me that he likes it. Yeah!
Since his position is with the federal government, we have to get used to some different structure--like taking off all those federal holidays :) but less flexibility in the overall schedule. We have friends who have worked years for the government and say it has been a good experience.
Okay, I must admit that I really thought we would be done with transitions after being here for more than 3 years. But that is my perspective.
I am resting in knowing God brought us to Louisville and continues to have us at this place for His purposes.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Nativity Sets
As a child I delighted in setting out our Christmas Nativity Set. The colors were rich and the characters full of life. I am sure this memory played in developing my limited collection of Nativity Sets. It is a blessing to set out the handcrafted pieces given to me by friends and the expensive set my husband splurged to purchase one year for me.
Over the years, these characters have been marred by circumstances. A wooden shepherd bears the marks of a dog teething; Mary's hair became tossed about; the baby's bed disappeared; a mouse nibbled at the cloth to get to the rice weighting the animals, a wiseman's raised hand broke off; my standing glass Joseph broke off at the knees.
As I set out these sets this year, initially I was sad about these defects until I contemplated that this probably makes them more "real". The shepherd fought to defend his flock; Mary looks more like the hospital pictures of a new mom, proud and disheveled; the baby found a home in his parent's arms; the animals required stitching; the wiseman's disfigured hand sent him into scholarly work; broken Joseph now kneels before the King of kings.
Funny thing is that when I returned to my parent's home for a rare holiday visit, I helped unpack the Nativity Set looking for the rich, colorful characters I remembered. They were not there! Though I was assured this was the set we have always had what I was looking at was inexpensive, broken, and falling apart. Maybe I viewed them as a child should-- with wonder. But as an adult, maybe I should realize that these marred pieces are probably more realistic than the Hallmark displays--and still view them with wonder.
Over the years, these characters have been marred by circumstances. A wooden shepherd bears the marks of a dog teething; Mary's hair became tossed about; the baby's bed disappeared; a mouse nibbled at the cloth to get to the rice weighting the animals, a wiseman's raised hand broke off; my standing glass Joseph broke off at the knees.
As I set out these sets this year, initially I was sad about these defects until I contemplated that this probably makes them more "real". The shepherd fought to defend his flock; Mary looks more like the hospital pictures of a new mom, proud and disheveled; the baby found a home in his parent's arms; the animals required stitching; the wiseman's disfigured hand sent him into scholarly work; broken Joseph now kneels before the King of kings.
Funny thing is that when I returned to my parent's home for a rare holiday visit, I helped unpack the Nativity Set looking for the rich, colorful characters I remembered. They were not there! Though I was assured this was the set we have always had what I was looking at was inexpensive, broken, and falling apart. Maybe I viewed them as a child should-- with wonder. But as an adult, maybe I should realize that these marred pieces are probably more realistic than the Hallmark displays--and still view them with wonder.
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