Bible reading

the goal is not to get through the scriptures. the goal is to get the scriptures through us. just a different way of looking at the yearly resolution to read through the Bible.

resolutions

bah!

why i love santa

isn't santa a bit like God? (i can feel the heretical arrowheads zooming overhead as i type this.) he, like God, lives in a place we cannot physically get to, he comes on Christmas bearing gifts which we don't deserve, he requires nothing in return for the aforementioned gifts, he returns year after year. santa is a fanciful picture of what our heavenly Father did for us in Christmas past. He sent us a gift that we most certainly didn't deserve and He expects nothing in return for this gift of love (not works of righteousness which we have done but by his mercy he saved us). so i love santa b/c he examplifies God in a way my little one can tangibly grasp. merry christmas to all and to all a good night.

further up and further in

"the further up and the further in you go, the bigger everything gets. the inside is larger than the outside." cs lewis - the last battle
how vast, how deep, how immeasurable the Father's love for me. the further up and the further in i choose to go, the more real and more beautiful it becomes.

God alone

trust in him at all times, o people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
ps 62:8

i cry out to God Most High,
to God, who fulfills his purpose for me,
God sends from heaven and saves me,
God sends his love and faithfulness.
ps 57:2-3

my soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from Him.
ps 62:1

Come and see what God has done,
how awesome his works in [my] behalf.
ps 66:5

insanity

i took the girls to the mall today
i lost my mind
they don't sell sanity
they don't sell straight jackets
i need both
they've recovered nicely
i don't bounce back as easily
what was i thinking

mundane

"there are no ordinary people. you have never talked to a mere mortal. nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life as a gnat. but it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors." cs lewis daily, we influence those around to become immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. for me, this means emmy and maddie. this made me think that these little people, although i've never thought them ordinary,they are constantly watching me, constantly taking cues from me about thier importance, constantly learning about their heavenly Father through my actions. (run-on sent) what is my influence on them? are they seeing Christ through me? Have they figured out that they are true princesses? that they are immortal souls and heirs of God. suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. my job isn't mundane - my job is eternal. they say you can't take anything with you into heaven, but i have two things - emmy and maddie - my eteranal splendors.

contusions

maddie won! she is the first of our children to require a trip to the ER, and she wasn't even doing one of her trade-mark death defying acts. she was sitting at the table eating lunch when she fell off the chair and hit her head. she became immediately sleepy. i raced her to the ER. soon after seeing the doctor she began dancing about as though nothing had happened, but she still had to get a CT scan to be sure. this ticked her off, but at least she was acting like her old self again. (she lives in a perpetual state of irritation mostly facilitated by big sissy.) the ct scan was normal and she is resting comfortably in her own bed.

He shall keep thee in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him. i haven't thought about this verse in a long time, but it popped in my head on thursday morning. during the early morning hours on friday we learned that nate's mom was rush to the hospital, (she fine, now.) and today maddie. He is perfect peace.

introductions

christmas is upon us. even arbys decked a christmas tree complete with garland, ornaments and a silver star. the star must have made quite an impression on maddie. she looked up and said, "hi star, i'm maddie." she can be so adorable.

it is finished

the Lord is good. it is finished (loud we screeched) at least til next august when we start anew. hopefully there will be fewer high b's involved. woo hoo!!!

stage fright

it amazes me that i could possibly get stage fright after all these years. i would rather direct a play, coordinate a wedding or manage the church's drama ministry than sing one little song in the christmas celebration. note, this will be the first song i have ever sang to a cd, and i believe that is why i'm a tad panicked. after all the cd doesn't follow me; i am forced to follow it. a difficult feat when there isn't a drop of rhythm flowing through your veins. oh well, sink or swim i'm singing tommorow and sunday.