About Anguish

This clip is by David Wilkerson, and it's about anguish. Listen, hear the heart of what he says. I believe our hearts must be gripped. If not we must then pray He will change our hearts. "A true prayer life begins at the point of anguish..." This is only one small part of the incredible truth he pours forth in this 7 minute clip.

Thought I would share this post to Bethany. My prayer is that the Lord will preserve His purpose for her, and make her path crystal clear, and give her grace to trust Him with everything. She enjoys "so much," and I can't wait to see it unfold. Right now I have a front row seat, and watching it all happen is part of my daily joy.


Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Chemist in You

My gracious one,

I love the you in you....the chemist in you! I love the way you get inspired and creative, and start mixin' stuff like you did today...the water and the insect repellent, the perfume oils. What a fragrance was emitted by you and your brother today! You're heavily influenced by the likes of great people such as Thomas Alva Edison, and many others we've read of . We've been listening to a dramatized retelling of Edison's formative years and the mark that his curiosity and tenacity made upon our world today. Bethany, if such a seed as this, or any other creative kind, is in your heart, and I believe there is, then I am obligated to water. If God were to say, "In my Bethany is something resident that I put in her and only she will bring into this world.", then I must water it. I must help till the soil, teach you to spot the weeds in your path and teach you how a living God desires to do the same within your heart and mind. You are His Bethany, mine for a short while, but His for eternity, and He knows best for you. I can't wait to see what He is mixing up for you! I know I am taking a few liberties, but I see the chemist in God in that He takes all kinds of things....events, ideas, desires, quirks, etc., and mixes it for His purposes. How gracious that He would do that for us. Because you are uniquely His and He will display something through you that only He could do, it is my joy to sit back and watch, and pray. How I love you.

A friend of mine recently presented a philosophy of Christian music on his facebook account. I'm not sure where it came from, but here it is:

The Philosophy of Christian music: If you're young you like Hip Hop or Alternative, if your older you like Hymns, Southern Gospel or P&W. If you don't like those styles you're probably going to Hell. If your an artist/musician & you don't play those styles you're probably going to Hell. Hmm, not sure where I fit in this.

When we start focusing on styles and methods as related to worship, I get a little bent out of shape, and I try not to let my flesh peek its little nose into what I want to be a right response. That being said, here is my reply. Because it's facebook, I kept it brief. I think it about covers it though.

"Yikes, wherever that philosophy came from I don't know. I'm guessing from someone who has gotten their eyes OFF of the Creator of ALL those styles. How uniquely He made us, and how uniquely we are to express our love for Him through all of these styles....and any one of them will do (truly!) o.k. Do I have my preference? Yes. Does God....probably not. I'm highly suspicious the heart is #1 on His list of concerns, and the style flows from that. That's my philosphy in a nutshell."

How easy it is to get our eyes off of the Most High. How heart breaking it must be to Him, to a degree we may not ever understand, to see us so very far away from our first love. Sin grieves Him, even the sin of a misplaced focus.

Growing a Fruitful Vine

I have a wonderful blogging friend who has recently written a post about Heirloom Tomato Seeds, how to get them, and how to grow them. Michelle loves the Lord, she's an inspiration to me as a fellow homeschooling mother, and then of course has written this fascinating post. Because I have so many fellow-bloggers who have green thumbs and the room to do it, I thought this link should be made available. I hope you enjoy reading it.

The Hugger in You

This is today's post from Daniel's journal blog, "My Son...". I decided to share this one. It was fun to learn about, and fun to write about! Daniel always asks what's happening in "My Son..." as he calls it. We loved reading this one together.

Daniel, whenever Daddy and I have a nice, long hug I always wait for you....to come over and join the hug. That's you. That's the you that God made. And guess what? Today when we had a nice long hug in the kitchen, after a bit you got up from your chair and joined in on the hug. It's the hugger in you, and I just love it! Your wife and your children will love the hugger in you too.
Guess what, so does Jesus. He's a hugger, and He made you one. At any time in your life, you can crawl up in His lap (through prayer, reading the Bible, worship alone with Him, or just going for a walk!), and give and get a nice long hug. He's your Daddy, your Abba Father as we read today in our Bible time. Jesus called His Heavenly Father, Abba, and you can also. He loves you, and the hugger in Him is waiting joyously for the hugger in you. Love, Mom

Choosing Again!

Bear with me. I am experimenting again. Several templates in the works, and eventually I'll settle on one of them.

The Happiest Patient I Know

Here's Bethany. Bethany is occupying the land! She came down with a substantial fever last night, and so today it's home from our Park Day with our homeschool group to recover which includes the following: drinking hot cocoa, eating toasted English Muffins somewhere else besides the kitchen table, cuddling under our favorite blanket, resting happily and comfortably on the couch, and reading her book(s) of choice, today's being "Helen Keller." (Alexander Graham Bell's story is waiting in the wings.)

Extra loving goes a long way when someone isn't feeling good, and we'll see to it that Bethany receives plenty of extra! Hold everything, this smiling patient has requested a glass of milk.

My Son...

The Princess Papers (our version of more written proof that Bethany is a masterpiece, handmade by God!) are being added to daily, and how good it has been for me as writer and mother to choose atleast one thing for the day upon which to reflect.

As for the up and coming young man of the house, the blog journal is titled, "My Son..." We talked about several different titles, none fit. I prayed and this is what I heard. Danny loved it. First of all, that's what we often call him. Second, how many times is that very phrase used in Proverbs.

Our purpose in writing extends beyond the daily diary mindset, but into passing on any and all wisdom we have from the Lord to our two little beloveds. Pray for us as we not only write it, but live it out-that life that is found nowhere else but in Christ who calls us to contentment, giving thanks in everything, and trusting Him at all times. These very matters are the things we'll write of each day.

The Princess Papers

I am excited about a new blog, private though it is, and I wanted to share it in concept. For the first few years of my daughter and son's life I wrote in a journal for each of them. This happened more often for Bethany than Daniel. You know, more pictures, more journal entries, cleaner pacifiers, and the lot. Such are the benefits of being the first born child.

I continue to realize that as my children are growing older and "upper", faster than ever, I want to hold on to what seems like even the most insignificant moments. Maybe I found a scrap art project fashioned for a brother, a lego project his or her hands formed. Those stiff lego blogs once pushing into the soft young hands of a creative genius are now a replica of their thoughts and imaginings. These minutes and hours given to them by a most loving and patient and visionary God-I long to remember them.

While a title has not been given to a blog for my son, I have begun a blog to Bethany where I write her a small note which may be of no significance to anyone now, and maybe not even her. I suspect in the years to come however, that The Princess Papers will go from words and thoughts to gold-plated memories in her heart, and in mine. While it is private for my own eyes and hers, let it be known that The Princess Papers are born out of great love to and for her. I hope and pray that God will use it to download His deepest love and affection for Bethany to me, and then from me, back to her.

Did she know?

Did she know that I love monograms? Did she know that I love stationary? Did she know that the set of notecards she sent had inside a scripture that I sing over my children every night? Maybe, but I don't think so. I've never even met Susan. Did she know that I had wanted to buy a pouch to put business cards in my "traveling notebook" that I take with me everywhere I go? No, unless God gave her a vision of my periodic disorganization and my desire and continual effort to do something about it. Did she know how much I love music? Yes. That she knew. But about the difficult conversation I'd had with someone close just this week and how her gift became as a balm for me? There's no way she could know. Few did. But my Father in Heaven knew all of this, and saw to it that each of these items I've mentioned were sent to me by Susan at Penless Writer as part of a "Pay It Forward" blog event which Susan had hosted earlier this summer.

Every good and perfect gift comes from the Heavenly Father above (James 1:17), and those gifts come in His time. The relationship with the giver is what makes a gift so beautiful and truly priceless. Susan, thank you. You operated in God's timing, and I am blessed. I can't wait to have my own "Pay It Forward" blog event.

Just One More Thing!

I have to write about this! Right before putting the children to bed, I spied my precious Bethany eagerly drawing another map. Had I assigned it, I suspect it would've dropped flat, but this one must've been a God idea. She had her Bible open, yet was drawing the world. Then she had dots on the world and each dot, she said, was a star. Then she labeled each star and took great joy in naming each one the name of a book in the Bible. I told her I was imagining God watching and saying, "That's exactly what I named that one!!!" Oh, we had so much fun knowing that you could never see ALL of the stars, but the fun in naming ones we imagined to be there. And to that, we sang, prayed, and dimmed the lights for a prescribed rest.

Our Family is Growing

Bethany over at The Traveling Schoolhouse has written an interesting post today. If what we think is true, then our family is growing. You should go check it out!

The Cloak of Music

For me, it is a cover, a comfort, a cloak, a caress of the heart. Music. Because I know my Father in Heaven made it, He's the author of it, music layers peace, joy, healing, gratitude, and more over me. This is a beautiful song to the Lord by an artist named Bethany Dillon.

Columbus Day

You Are There: The Voyage of Christopher Columbus

Want to celebrate Columbus Day? Here's a link for a free audio file. This is done in an old-time Radio Show style drama about 20 minutes in length. You may also want to consider downloading it now, and listening later when it fits best. Children of all ages might enjoy this one!

My Favorite Meat Loaf Recipe and MORE!

What's for Sunday dinner? At our house, it will be Meat Loaf with Steamed Rice and Green Beans. I finally have found a recipe that turns out great every time, and thought I would share that with you. (For more recipes, check out the Lipton Recipe Secrets website.) Scroll down for the "and more" part of this post and have a blessed day!

Souperior Meat Loaf

1 envelope Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Onion Soup
Mix 2 lbs. ground beef
3/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs*
2 eggs
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup ketchup

1.Preheat oven to 350°. Combine all ingredients in large bowl.
2.Shape into loaf in 13 x 9-inch baking or roasting pan.
3.Bake uncovered 1 hour or until done. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

*Substitution: Use 1-1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs or 5 slices fresh bread, cubed.
SLOW COOKER METHOD: In slow cooker, arrange meat loaf. Cook covered on LOW 6 to 8 hours or HIGH 4 hours. (HELPFUL HINT...Place meat loaf on a piece of cheesecloth, then on a rack to help hold meat loaf together while lifting in and out of slow cooker.)Also terrific with Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Beefy Onion Soup Mix, Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Onion Mushroom Soup Mix, Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix.

Cost per recipe*: $7.84Cost per serving*: $0.98*Based on average retail prices at national supermarkets.

Serves: 8

Preparation Time:10 Minute(s)
Cook Time:1 Hour(s)

Nutrition Information per serving:
Calories 320, Calories From Fat 70, Total Fat 8g, Saturated Fat 3g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 125mg, Sodium 590mg, Total Carbohydrate 12g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 3g, Protein 28g, Vitamin A 4%, Vitamin C 4%, Calcium 4%, Iron 20%

AND MORE!
New song on our worship menu for tomorrow: "Come Let Us Return" by Kevin Prosch

The Math of Emotions

Young son says (over what I do not recall), " I am mad. Just mad!" Being a bedtime moment I said, "Honey, you can't go to bed mad. The Bible says, 'Don't let the sun go down on your anger.' " He replies, "But I'm not angry, I'm mad." "Those are two different words!" After my mini-seminar on synonyms, he then said, "Mom, mad is mad. Anger is mad plus mad." The math of emotions: I simply didn't know!

Ice Cream for Brunch!

Tomorrow is Park Day for our homeschooling group we call J.O.Y. which stands for - Jesus Over Our Youth. I have the blessed and joyous honor of being the ministry coordinator for the group, and I feel led to minister to this great group of Moms with Ice Cream Floats for tomorrow. Why? I don't know. That's what I wanted to know when I got the directive through prayer. Usually each month we have a drawing for a special gift of love for the Mom of choice, and when I prayed about what to do I felt He said to do something for everyone and not just one. So instead of a drawing, we're going to have "an eating!" So, eat we will. Pick your flavor: Orange, Root Beer or Cola. I love this group of Moms!