Tuesday, August 31, 2010

work in progress

I
  • am a work in progress.
  • am sinful.
  • am searching for grace.


By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.  No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
1Corinthians 15:10


I'm currently reading work in progress An Unfinished Woman's Guide to Grace by Kristin Armstrong.  I read it about a year ago and had plans to donate it to our church library, but I feel compelled to reread it.  I struggle with my identity on an almost daily basis.  I'm sure that there are many moms who feel the same way.  When we become a mom (or even a wife) we lose just a little bit of our identity.  We gain so much more, but sometimes... for me anyway... I forget what a blessing I have been given.


What is a woman of grace?
Who is she?
Where does she come from?

The first section of the book is about beauty{blah}  I don't like to talk about beauty.  I see my beauty from the outside not the inside as God had planned.  I look in the mirror only to straighten my hair (God bestowed upon me a head of CURLS!  What was He thinking?), and apply minimal amounts of makeup (because society says that is what women do).  The reality is ~ that is not where our beauty comes from ~ our beauty is inside of us. 



These are the lies that I tell myself:
  • I'm not skinny enough,
  • I'm not fashionable enough (I live in a small rural town - realistically fashion doesn't exist in the same manner here!)
  • I don't have time to sit and get into the word on a daily basis
  • I'm never good enough (wife/mother/daughter/sister/friend/aunt)
  • I'm not worthy of God's love.
and yet...



"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come."
2Corinthians 5:17


Tim is seldom without his Bible.  He totes his Bible the way I tote my camera.
I'm feeling so convicted.  He is such a strong Christian man.


Ms. Armstrong challenges her readers to explore where they get their happiness.  The question is "What gives you so much happiness that you do not give a second thought to how you look doing it?"


Sightseeing...in a skort with my running shoes...I'm worrying about what others are thinking of my outfit, I'm worrying whether others are mocking me for being such a tourist, I'm selfconscious...

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7

I honestly don't ever stop wondering/worrying about what others think when they see me.
Can they tell that I'm a woman of God?  Do I look like a shrew chasing my children?  Do I look as stressed as I feel?  Is my face beet red from running up that last hill? Do they think my clothes are out of date or unfashionable?  The list goes on... it is a superficial list that puts me in the world - not of God.



1John 5:4-5 says, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.   Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"



SO ~
What gives me ultimate happiness (besides my kids and husband) is photography.  I'm going to throw myself into taking pictures without hesitation.  I'm going to live vicariously through the images that I'm saving of my children, friends, and loved ones.  I'm not going to worry about how I look walking all over with my camera, I'm not going to worry whether I look silly carrying my camera, I'm not going to worry about whether every picture is perfect.
I'm going to rejoice in the moment ~ and I'm going to capture it on a digital card ~ so that I can hold the memory in my heart and share the love I feel with others.

AND

I'm going to guard the scripture in my heart.  I'm going to "be reverent in behavor,...teacher of good things" (Titus 2:3) so that I can be an example of godliness to younger women, and so i can encourage the younger women in their responsibilites.

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Proverbs 29:25

Monday, August 30, 2010

Isaiah



1 Corinthians 16:13

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.

Friday, August 27, 2010

The Musical Stylings of Ashley!

Ashley is a relatively quiet teenager.

However...she does love music.  Music of many qualities.  She listens to classical or piano music while studying; contemporary Christian when her dad is around; Veggie Tales when her brothers are nearby; and when she is driving?  Oh boy!  Look out!  You never know what you will find in her truck ~ I've found:  the GoGos (yes, the 80s girl band!), country, rock, Christian, classical, Alex Grant, George Winston, and believe it or not...one of my old mix tapes.  (Raise your hand if you used to mix music on tapes.  Total 80's tradition.) 
She also loves to sing. (hmmm....ask her soccer team about her lyrical voice)
I've seen her crooning into hair brushes, phones, ipods, pens,...you name it ~ and it has probably been her microphone at some point.  So when she came around the corner "jamming" with Tyler's broom (apparently cleaning was not on his list of things to be doing) I wasn't completely shocked

Very amused.  (Not shocked.)

Very glad I had my camera.  (Wishing I wasn't laughing so hard.)

Very much in love with this teenager!  (Thank you Lord.)

Enjoy the show!
(I sure did!)

Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with ... an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
Psalms 33:1-4



(I've been spotted - quick moment of slight embarrassment.)

(Quick moment is over - song is in full swing.)

(intense concentration -
huh, just noticed the left handed guitar playing - no wonder she wants to stick with the piano)

(ooh - another big jump - must be the chorus)

(wow - check out that - jump and play at the same time.  My girl has talent.)
Tyler is enjoying the show - probably because she took his broom so he can't sweep.

Thank you - Thank you very much.
You can get my cd at the door.
Tips are accepted.

I'll give you a tip - don't jump on my bed!


Thursday, August 26, 2010

While I Clean the Garage...

While I was cleaning the garage out last week...
the twins found a bucket of books that had been put outside.  Isaiah started reading them, but when Aiden found the camping chairs...
They found their new favorite place to hang out.  (In the shade!)
(Yes, they are still in their jammies.  It was a cleaning day!  You get to wear whatever you want on cleaning day!)



Reading is the basic tool in the living of a good life.
*Mortimer J. Adler*

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Water Wednesday

Big T
(Tyler)

Tank
(Aiden)

Zayer~Ise
(Isaiah)

Aiden


Aiden is our Gentle Giant.

He :

  • is built like a tank.

  • has the strength of an elephant.

  • has the heart of a blue whale.

  • and the imagination of Mr. Magorium.

Can you believe the eyes?  They are so dark, and he has the most incredible eyelashes!

He has the fashion sense of "practicality".
His boots seldom match.
"Mom!  Crash!"
*car noises*

I'm so in love with this kid!

The spirit is there in every boy; it has to be discovered and brought to light.
Robert Baden-Powell

Monday, August 23, 2010

Tyler

Psalms 127:3

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010