Be Content.

Simon struggles with contentment. When Jonah finishes his food first and asks for more (Jonah eats much faster), Simon asks for more too. He is not content with what he has, he thinks he needs more. He sees Jonah getting more food and suddenly the food he has (exactly the same, just a little less)is not good enough anymore. He wants what Jonah has.

Simon is not the only one who struggles with contentment. Confession time: I do too! I look around my house, see the "flaws" and want to fix them. I go shopping and see a myriad of things I want. I wish I had more money to buy new furniture. My contentment is not limited to material things. I wish my kids would obey more and cry less. I wish my hair looked better than it does. I wish my face looked better than it does. Can anyone else relate?!

Paul learned the secret. In Philippians 4:11-12 (NLT) he said "for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little." How did he do it?

I think a big part of it was that Paul had an eternal perspective. He knew how fleeting this world is (and the things in it). He believed God would take care of him. He was thankful for what he had. And, he was too busy doing what God had called him to do to spend time thinking about what he was "lacking."

When Simon wants more, I sometimes reply,"You have plenty child - take care of what you have, then maybe I will give you more. Quit comparing yourself with your brother, I will take care of your needs as well as his in my time. Be thankful and be content."

Maybe I should take my own advice.

Sorry Mom, we tried!

When my Grandpa died, my mom had 1000 daffodils planted in their front yard. Every year we try to get pictures of the grandkids in front of the daffodils. It worked the first year (Mya, Paige and a very small Raegan). It hasn't since!

We tried again this year and...









...we got nothing! Oh well, maybe next year.

The Color Green

I love Spring. This time of year the color green jumps out at you! I love it; I just can't get enough of the green showing up everywhere after the blah landscape of winter.

Every spring I pull out my Rich Mullins CD "a liturgy a legacy and a ragamuffin band" and listen to his song "The Color Green". (As a sidenote this is one of the best albums ever created in my humble opinion!) It doesn't get much better than driving down a country road with green showing up everywhere and Rich Mullins playing in the background! Praise God for Green!

In honor of spring and the color green, allow me to share the lyrics with you - although you really need the music to get the full effect!

The Color Green by Rich Mullins

And the moon is a sliver of silver
like a shaving that fell on the floor
of a Carpenter's shop
and every house must have
it's builder
and I awoke in the house of God
where the windows are mornings
and evenings
stretched from the sun, across the
sky north to south
and on my way to early meeting, I
heard the rocks crying out... I
heard the rocks crying out

CHORUS
Be praised for all Your tenderness
by these works of Your hands
Suns that rise and rains that fall to
bless and bring to life Your land
look down upon this winter wheat
and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color
green that fills Your fields
with praise

And the wrens have returned and
are nesting
in the hollow of that oak where his
heart once had been
and he lifts up his arms in a
blessing for being born again
and the streams are all swollen
with winter
winter unfrozen and free to run
away now
and I'm amazed, and I remember
Who it was that built this house
and with the rocks I cry out

repeat chorus

A Quote from Bill

I've been reading Reconciliation Blues - A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity by Edward Gilbreath. It has been an interesting read and has given me a lot to think about. I love reading books like it because they give me a glimpse into someone else's world.

I wanted to share a quote from the book. The quote is actually from a missionary to the Middle East that came and spoke at Gilbreath's church. His name was Bill.

Bill started off his talk by saying, "I believe that perhaps the biggest threat to believing and following Jesus is when we come to depend on a religious system of faith instead of daily depending on God and seeking to do his will."

He went on to say, from his own experience, "I found that when its all gone, you find that you either depend 100% on God himself for everything--every aspect of life, no matter what happens--or, like me, you begin to see how much of your faith is dependent on the forms of Christianity or the circumstances of life instead of on God alone... However you define what it is to be a Christian, if we're not committed to seeking and doing God's will every day, we've missed it."

If all the tangible aspects of my christian life were stripped away, my church, my biblestudy group, my Christian music, my Christian books, etc. would I find that I had been depending more on those things than on God himself? Am I committed to seeking and doing His will every day?

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26

Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!

The boys are learning new words every day. One of their first words was mommy. I have since learned they believe the true meaning of this word is "gimme". Whenever they want something they say, to whoever is closest, "mommy, mommy, mommy" as they frantically reach for whatever it is they are asking for.

So, how does that make me feel? I'm not thrilled!

But, it got me thinking. Do I ever sound like that when I talk to God? Is my perception of God that of a vending machine? Someone who gives me what I want? Most of the time, I don't think of God that way, although by my prayers somedays it might be a little hard to prove. Still, I think regardless of the tone of my voice when I pray, if my heart is for Him, God delights in it. Even when my prayers sound like a spoiled toddler demanding what he wants, I think God still delights in that. I think He delights when we come to Him with our struggles and our requests. He just loves to be with us - to interact with us.

The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147:11

I see you... Do you see me?

There is a game we play at our house.
It starts with Mya saying "I see you mom... Do you see me?"
It ends with me answering yes or no. The game seems to pop up randomlly - usually when Mya sees me in a new way.

Today it took place in our van.
"I see you mom... do you see me?"
I glanced back to see Mya looking at me through the reflection of the van window.

"Yes, I see you." I replied.

Heavenly reminders can come in all shapes and sizes, including little games my daughter likes to play. Today's game reminded me to think about what I am reflecting. I've heard it said that parents are a reflection of God to their children. What am I teaching them about His character through my actions?

The other day we played the game in the living room. Mya covered her eyes with her hands, peeked through and asked the question, "do you see me?"

Again, I was sent a heavenly reminder. This time it was a reminder of His continual presence in my life. There are days when I feel isolated and wonder if anyone sees me. My heart forgets that I am always seen and loved by my Savior and gets wrapped up in self-pity instead.

Amazingly, my Father doesn't laugh at my silly games but instead lovingly pulls me to him and says, "Of course I see you, I always do."

Mr. Rotovirus comes to Visit!

My boys have been stricken with the rotovirus! I thought the picture gives a good visual of how they are feeling, my poor sick buddies. Today they are feeling better - they are willing to watch videos without me holding them. Although I am very thankful for Jay Jay and friends, I don't mind if I never see one again. Jay Jay was the only thing the boys could muster excitement for yesterday. I would ask if they wanted to watch and Simon would give this cute little "Yah!".

Mya has been a little mother. She tries to comfort them, but she usually ends up annoying them more. She will also randomlly say things like "I think I'm getting sick, I'd better go wash my hands!" If you read this today, whisper a prayer that Mya doesn't get sick and that the boys continue to feel better.

Sick days always make me thankful for healthy ones! Well got to go - my buddies need some cuddling!