Beginning this year makes me think of "new beginnings". These are some of my favorite times because it is like a fresh slate to start with! Think of it, like no matter how bad you feel like you messed up last year, this is a NEW YEAR, and you have a chance to change the course of your future! This is a message I want to scream out especially to the younger generation because a lot of them view life as if they mess it up, the whole thing is ruined, so why start again? Well, there are many reasons why to start again!
Whether it is your diet, your family, your relationship with God there is always a new start. The question is: Will you allow God to use you this year, and take control of your eating habits, your attitude, or your Bible Study? God is all about fresh starts. Look at Abraham, he gave him a new name, sent him to a new country, and gave him a new nation. Now, if that's not a new start, I don't know what is! Look at Moses, he killed a man, and he still called Moses to be the leader to get the Jews out of Egypt! The Bible is filled with those who God gave second chances, third chances and even beyond because they were willing to jump at the opportunity God placed in front of them.
You might not have a new town to move to, a new school to start in, or anything material like that, but you can have a new start with Christ. Sometimes I think we get so complacent with God's word and reading it that we forget that no matter how many times we read it there is always something NEW God will show us. He doesn't change, his word doesn't change, but OUR lives Change and his word is sharp and LIVING and it works in accordance with our lives. It's still January, just barely into January, will you choose to let God make a NEW you for this NEW year? Will I?
I am so excited to see what God is doing in 2012. I pray this is the year of his return, but remember there are others who might not be ready for this return, will we be ready to tell them of the gospel of Jesus Christ? I hope so!
God, Please strengthen me to be a Godly woman, wife, and mother. You deserve the absolute best. Help me to give you the best of me! I pray for a new me this year! I cannot do it without you making intercession, your spirit's guiding, and your father's Love. Thank you, for all you do!
Your Girl,
Jamie
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Love People, Like things
Growing up this was one of the sayings my Dad always told us as kids that we should "love people and like things." Well, as a child I remember hearing it but never truly putting it into practice. Of course a new bike took preface over any person in My book for just about anything when I was a young child, and then as a teenager getting my first car was the most important thing possible! It was more important than going to see my grandma (spending time with her), it was important than studying (and being a good student), and it was more important than spending time with my parents on the weekends. Now all of that time is gone! Looking back I see that there was so much wisdom in those words. In Children's Church right now we are studying about creation. In Noah's homeschool right not we are studying creation (think God is teaching me anything?) God made everything and then he saw that it was good. He liked what he saw. He enjoyed his creation, and he made man to be in HIS likeness! God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature." Genesis 1:26 (MSG)
He made all the other things; Sun, Birds, Flowers, Dirt; THEN he made man. He made man to be in His own image that is how very much he thinks of his creation! Listen to this: Psalm 139: 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous -- and how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! This is out of the Message Bible, it's really great to read several versions to get an idea of what the text it really saying to us! Did you hear that? He thinks of us all the time! He thought about us in our mother's womb, when he Knitted us together with such precision and beauty.
God loves the creation he made. He made the beautiful oceans and in the summer (and winter) there is no place I would rather be! God loves all the animals he made from the smallest to the tallest he loves them all! But above all, God loves People. He chose to only give US a soul. He gave US a choice to serve him! Will we choose to do that today?
When you look at others, what do you see? Do you see the widow who has lost her husband and feel compassion? Christ has compassion on you: it says we are not consumed because of his great compassions in the book of Lamentations in the Bible. The widow you see might have lost her husband 3 years ago, but she still might be struggling and hurting every night. Did you take the time to talk to her? I know I am very guilty of not paying attention sometimes to others when they are crying out that they need to talk.
Love People and like things. Do we put our "things" above people in our lives. I know it is so easy to get on my phone and just get lost in what is going on online, but who am I shutting out in the waiting rooms at dr's offices; at other places I go and have to "wait"? Why did God give me that time to "wait?" Maybe it was because he wanted and foreordained me to talk to someone at the dr's office. People are the most precious of all of God's creation to Him, and if you have Christ in your life PEOPLE should be the most precious thing to you as well! (I'm telling myself the same thing!)
God, Please help me to Open my eyes and see the people that you want me to reach right in front of me. Help me to see with your eyes! I don't have to go to Montana, Japan, or Central America to see people that need you. There are those right here in Morrilton, AR that need Jesus' comfort, healing, and salvation. God, please help me to lead them to you. Lord, thank you for your thoughts toward me while I was in my mother's womb. Thank you for the thoughts toward Cody while he was in his biological mother's womb. Thank you for your protecting hand and loving heart toward me each and every day!
Your Girl,
Jamie
He made all the other things; Sun, Birds, Flowers, Dirt; THEN he made man. He made man to be in His own image that is how very much he thinks of his creation! Listen to this: Psalm 139: 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous -- and how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! This is out of the Message Bible, it's really great to read several versions to get an idea of what the text it really saying to us! Did you hear that? He thinks of us all the time! He thought about us in our mother's womb, when he Knitted us together with such precision and beauty.
God loves the creation he made. He made the beautiful oceans and in the summer (and winter) there is no place I would rather be! God loves all the animals he made from the smallest to the tallest he loves them all! But above all, God loves People. He chose to only give US a soul. He gave US a choice to serve him! Will we choose to do that today?
When you look at others, what do you see? Do you see the widow who has lost her husband and feel compassion? Christ has compassion on you: it says we are not consumed because of his great compassions in the book of Lamentations in the Bible. The widow you see might have lost her husband 3 years ago, but she still might be struggling and hurting every night. Did you take the time to talk to her? I know I am very guilty of not paying attention sometimes to others when they are crying out that they need to talk.
Love People and like things. Do we put our "things" above people in our lives. I know it is so easy to get on my phone and just get lost in what is going on online, but who am I shutting out in the waiting rooms at dr's offices; at other places I go and have to "wait"? Why did God give me that time to "wait?" Maybe it was because he wanted and foreordained me to talk to someone at the dr's office. People are the most precious of all of God's creation to Him, and if you have Christ in your life PEOPLE should be the most precious thing to you as well! (I'm telling myself the same thing!)
God, Please help me to Open my eyes and see the people that you want me to reach right in front of me. Help me to see with your eyes! I don't have to go to Montana, Japan, or Central America to see people that need you. There are those right here in Morrilton, AR that need Jesus' comfort, healing, and salvation. God, please help me to lead them to you. Lord, thank you for your thoughts toward me while I was in my mother's womb. Thank you for the thoughts toward Cody while he was in his biological mother's womb. Thank you for your protecting hand and loving heart toward me each and every day!
Your Girl,
Jamie
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Taking Time to Teach
So, I don't know if any of you read the post before last one with the pictures. The one I am talking about is titled "provision" and, the topic of that day was being worried that something bad was going to happen when it might not ever happen. This particular blog post goes back to that idea. I have been thinking lots about what my tests or trials are in my life right now. As a housewife/manager, mother of 3 beautiful little children I have lots of things that happen throughout of the course of one day. From when I wake up at about 7:00 ish to when I go to bed which is sometimes 12:30-1:00 ish I am faced with all kinds of tests, most of which are not multiple choice but TRUE/FALSE tests! I used to hate multiple choice in college. I would make 100%'s on essay tests, but multiple choice tests, well those were a different story. So, back to present day. I'm at home all day everyday with my 3 gorgeous children, whom I love, but drive me insane at times!! So, my husband might not have died, my kids might not have cancer (not that those things couldn't happen at any time), but I still have tests/trials at home! What am I doing with these hours that I have at home with them?
Most of my hours "feel" like I am cleaning up messes being made. I try to make them clean up a lot of their messes, but sometimes it's simply easier to get the 'do it yourself' mentality. But, does that type of mentality teach them anything? I think there has to be a balance between the extreme of slave labor (LOL), and not making your children do anything. I can let the times that my kids are moving slow, or simply don't want to pick up as a disappointment or HIS appointment. I can either choose do it myself to save the time/energy of talking and doing, or I can show them how to do things the right way. This is so much more difficult in practice than in thought! Just like most other things are in this life!
Next, I can let those opportunities slip, and then I become somewhat "bitter" at my kids for making the messes to begin with. Then, what usually happens is that we often have an explosion of frustration! These are what the trials in my life are right now. I know this might be a "duh" moment to most of you, but to me it is as though Satan has been blinding my eyes so that could not see these everyday issues as trials/test from God. God does not tempt as stated in James (chapter 1), but he does tests our spiritual muscles to see how strong we are. I have to admit and be honest to you, I fail my tests and reveal my weak muscles much of the time. This is because when presented with the option of teaching my kids to pick up or doing it myself (which is JUST ONE example), I usually just do it myself which is quickly followed by my explosion later because there is YET another mess. I was listening to a sermon on oneplace.com the other day by John MacArthur. Excellent sermon about the Model prayer. It was explaining that when it says "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" it is asking God help you "pass" those tests so that we won't be tempted to react to our situations, but act.
Let me say it like this: Say, for example Noah & Elijah make a mess in their room. I go in there and instead of getting upset with them I nicely (calmly) ask them to pick up the mess they have made, supervise them until they do (they're only 3 &4, sometimes I have to remind myself), and don't NAG them to keep picking up but ENCOURAGE them to pick up and put the toys exactly where they go. Then, I have passed my test/trial God has sent me. However, let's give the other scenario that happens far too often around here; the kids make a monstrous mess, I go in there and tell them very sweetly to pick up their mess. I walk away to go do something else that needs to be done (most of the time), and then I go back to find that they are still playing with the toys and haven't picked up at all, so I get a little more upset his time. I might even raise my voice! I tell them again, PICK UP the MESS! I get even more specific, and then walk away and come back in another 5 minutes to find that guess what? It is still there!!! I'm furious by this time and my test has now been taken by Satan and turned into Temptation to which is succumb to with OPEN ARMS. Why? All because I didn't take the time to Teach.
This applies to all areas of life, not just with children. I just used this because it is what I deal with most of the time! However, I have other areas of my life where I have examined and found the same thing to be true! How Deceitful, How Monstrous can one person be? Satan is the author of LIES. He is the Ruler of the this World that we can see is getting worse and worse daily! Why should we be surprised when he does things like this to us? He is trying to ruin our reputation. No, they might not be the executives of a big corporation, but they could be the NEXT NOAH (found Grace in God's eyes), THE NEXT ELIJAH (cast down the Baals), THE NEXT KATE( Kate = PURE Girl). Wow. We wonder why our influence won't go out our doors when we do, this is why. I struggle more with this than anything else. How do I react to my husband? Do I get mad at him right away when he does something that frustrates me or do I take the time to consider what God is teaching me through this. Because just was we (women) are tyring to TEACH our children, God is trying to TEACH us! Are we willing to listen? Are we willing to be corrected (hard one for me!!!)? Are we willing to try to change? A hard challenge for us all.
My struggles may not be a child with cancer, losing a husband, or even battling an illness of some type myself, but my battles are loneliness, impatience, bitterness, resentment, etc. And, how I handle those are going to be a good indicator of my relationship with God in others' eyes!
Thank you, Lord, for all you do for me! You are so good to me I am unable to write everything good that you have done. Lord, I love my 3 children that you have blessed me with. They are wonderful, creative, and so willing to learn. Help me to be willing to teach them the lessons they need to learn in this life so that they may grow up to be prepared for the next life to come with worshipping our Almighty Savior and King, YOU!
Couldn't leave without posting these verses: "2 Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything"
Your Girl,
Jamie
Most of my hours "feel" like I am cleaning up messes being made. I try to make them clean up a lot of their messes, but sometimes it's simply easier to get the 'do it yourself' mentality. But, does that type of mentality teach them anything? I think there has to be a balance between the extreme of slave labor (LOL), and not making your children do anything. I can let the times that my kids are moving slow, or simply don't want to pick up as a disappointment or HIS appointment. I can either choose do it myself to save the time/energy of talking and doing, or I can show them how to do things the right way. This is so much more difficult in practice than in thought! Just like most other things are in this life!
Next, I can let those opportunities slip, and then I become somewhat "bitter" at my kids for making the messes to begin with. Then, what usually happens is that we often have an explosion of frustration! These are what the trials in my life are right now. I know this might be a "duh" moment to most of you, but to me it is as though Satan has been blinding my eyes so that could not see these everyday issues as trials/test from God. God does not tempt as stated in James (chapter 1), but he does tests our spiritual muscles to see how strong we are. I have to admit and be honest to you, I fail my tests and reveal my weak muscles much of the time. This is because when presented with the option of teaching my kids to pick up or doing it myself (which is JUST ONE example), I usually just do it myself which is quickly followed by my explosion later because there is YET another mess. I was listening to a sermon on oneplace.com the other day by John MacArthur. Excellent sermon about the Model prayer. It was explaining that when it says "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" it is asking God help you "pass" those tests so that we won't be tempted to react to our situations, but act.
Let me say it like this: Say, for example Noah & Elijah make a mess in their room. I go in there and instead of getting upset with them I nicely (calmly) ask them to pick up the mess they have made, supervise them until they do (they're only 3 &4, sometimes I have to remind myself), and don't NAG them to keep picking up but ENCOURAGE them to pick up and put the toys exactly where they go. Then, I have passed my test/trial God has sent me. However, let's give the other scenario that happens far too often around here; the kids make a monstrous mess, I go in there and tell them very sweetly to pick up their mess. I walk away to go do something else that needs to be done (most of the time), and then I go back to find that they are still playing with the toys and haven't picked up at all, so I get a little more upset his time. I might even raise my voice! I tell them again, PICK UP the MESS! I get even more specific, and then walk away and come back in another 5 minutes to find that guess what? It is still there!!! I'm furious by this time and my test has now been taken by Satan and turned into Temptation to which is succumb to with OPEN ARMS. Why? All because I didn't take the time to Teach.
This applies to all areas of life, not just with children. I just used this because it is what I deal with most of the time! However, I have other areas of my life where I have examined and found the same thing to be true! How Deceitful, How Monstrous can one person be? Satan is the author of LIES. He is the Ruler of the this World that we can see is getting worse and worse daily! Why should we be surprised when he does things like this to us? He is trying to ruin our reputation. No, they might not be the executives of a big corporation, but they could be the NEXT NOAH (found Grace in God's eyes), THE NEXT ELIJAH (cast down the Baals), THE NEXT KATE( Kate = PURE Girl). Wow. We wonder why our influence won't go out our doors when we do, this is why. I struggle more with this than anything else. How do I react to my husband? Do I get mad at him right away when he does something that frustrates me or do I take the time to consider what God is teaching me through this. Because just was we (women) are tyring to TEACH our children, God is trying to TEACH us! Are we willing to listen? Are we willing to be corrected (hard one for me!!!)? Are we willing to try to change? A hard challenge for us all.
My struggles may not be a child with cancer, losing a husband, or even battling an illness of some type myself, but my battles are loneliness, impatience, bitterness, resentment, etc. And, how I handle those are going to be a good indicator of my relationship with God in others' eyes!
Thank you, Lord, for all you do for me! You are so good to me I am unable to write everything good that you have done. Lord, I love my 3 children that you have blessed me with. They are wonderful, creative, and so willing to learn. Help me to be willing to teach them the lessons they need to learn in this life so that they may grow up to be prepared for the next life to come with worshipping our Almighty Savior and King, YOU!
Couldn't leave without posting these verses: "2 Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything"
Your Girl,
Jamie
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Falling back on Fall
It seems that my ministry pages have neglected my family's pics pages so I have to do some catching up on pics before its nearly irreversable!!! So, here we go!
We went to Chick-Fil-A one day and they had the best time. Just me and the kids. The same day we picked out the pumpkin stuff in fact. The ONLY picture I got was of Ellie!!! I hate how it ends up sometimes! The boys were too busy at the top of the play tunnel
We went to the Pumpkin Patch with Bethel and had a great time!
They had so much fun picking out stuff from Hobby Lobby to make their pumpkins with! I never knew it would be so fun for them! It was just one of those off the cuff ideas!! We still have them outside the door, I ust don't have the hear to get rid of them yet!
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| Ellie Kate playing by herself :( There were no more little kids in there then!! |
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| Ellie Kate & Grace Windham at the Pumpkin Patch in Mayflower |
We went to the Pumpkin Patch with Bethel and had a great time!
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| Ellie being the "scarecrow" with NOah's head poking through the other side |
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| Noah driving the "tractor" at the PUmpkin Patch. |
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| Mama & Eli on the hayride. I don't think he really wanted me, but he didn't have a choice! |
We Went Camping with the "Little" family from Clarksville in October....I think it was. We had a great time. We camped at Dardanelle State Park, and it was perfect. The weather wasn't too cold, and the kids had the best time playing together. Cara is 1 month older than Ellie Kate; and Clayton is in between Noah & Elijah. Cody and I had a great time just visiting with Matt & Judi! We only get to see them once a year usually at Family Camp. I think we're gonna try and do a longer Spring Camping trip...I wonder which STate Park will be next? Arkansas is so blessed! :)
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| Eli loved riding the toys...in the dark |
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| Of Course, Ellie Kate had to "climb" the tree too!!! |
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| We were at the Visitor's Center looking out @ the beautiful lake! |
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| Blurry, I know, but it was Eli & Daddy all cuddled up |
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| The adults had the most fun putting the glow sticks in the fire....they explode...really fun the green are the best! Mature, I know! |
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| Matt stoking the fire after a glow stick and Noah watching on.... |
They had so much fun picking out stuff from Hobby Lobby to make their pumpkins with! I never knew it would be so fun for them! It was just one of those off the cuff ideas!! We still have them outside the door, I ust don't have the hear to get rid of them yet!
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| We call her "Her Majesty's pumpkin" - Ellie Kate's :) |
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| Elijah's pumpkin - he wanted a cowboy pumpkin |
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| We Made cookies one day...It was really messy, but we had lots of fun, in case you coudn't tell!!!! Well, I still have pictures, but this covers a lot of them!!! I love these kids so much! MY life wouldn't be the same withou them. Thank you, Lord for the wonderful blessing of my children. Even if it does mean changing stinkie diapers, breaking up fights, cleaning up mess after mess. I wouldn't want to do it for anyone else!!! Your Girl, Jamie |
Thursday, October 27, 2011
FROM FEAR TO PROVISION
All of my life I have been an "afraid" kind of person all of my life. I have never had anything horrible happen in my family or in my life to warrant this kind of attitude, but I can remember being young and waiting on my dad to get home from a business trip worried that he would be killed in a car accident. This is when I was about 7-9 years old. I had thoughts like this for most of my life. I was reading in Genesis 22 when Abraham was living a happy life. His wife in her old age bore a son, named Isaac who was their beloved! One day, God spoke to Abraham and told him, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." I cannot imagine the thought process that went through Abraham's mind. I don't know if he was thinking, God, why would you give me this perfect little gift only to have it taken away? Let's look at Abraham's response to this statement. 3 "So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son ; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5 Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there ; and we will worship and return to you."
Abraham first of all followed directions and took Isaac his only son and went up to the exact place God told him to. This reminds me of the story of Jonah when he (Jonah) went the opposite direction God told him to. We see that Abraham told his "men" that were with him that they would worship and be back. The faith that it must have taken to act even with the unknown. He didn't know if God would call him to sacrifice his only son, and he didn't know if he would test him to see if he was simply going to be obedient. Let's continue to read, "6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father !" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering ?" 8 Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
At this point, Abraham was certain that God WOULD provide. He knew that if he was to sacrifice his son that he would STILL provide a generation for his people other than Isaac. Abraham also knew that if he was not going sacrifice Isaac that he would offer that thanks and praise to God in heaven for the gift of his son and the generation that he would PROVIDE through Isaac. We know eventually that God did PROVIDE a ram in the thicket so that his son did not have to be sacrificed. In saying this I would like to remind you that some of us might not ever have to sacrifice someone we love and care for other than through natural causes (i.e., old age), but we will have to offer them up none the less. We still have to live as though they could be offered up to Christ at any time, none the less. I have known several families recently who have lost young children or spouses through either cancer, car accidents, or other sudden illnesses. In my mind I think, am I next? Will I be the next person who will have a child diagnosed with some severe illness? Will I be the next person to lose a spouse in a car accident? The question cannot be answered by anyone other than by God himself. I can live my life in fear that God will choose to take someone I love or I can Love God without Fear in knowing he will PROVIDE.
I am writing this blogpost without full knowledge of what is going to happen next in my life. I might lose someone I love very dearly today. But like Abraham, I MUST lift them up to God in sacrifice knowing his plan is going to be accomplished. More importantly, I must remember that Jesus gave his ONE AND ONLY, SINLESS son up on a cross knowing that he would be in pain, agony, and embarassed because of the conditions the soldiers and others would put him through. Yet he fully gave him up for the plan of PROVISION of Eternal Life for you and I. Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors."
What a Beautiful Plan, What a Beautiful PROVISION.
Jamie
Abraham first of all followed directions and took Isaac his only son and went up to the exact place God told him to. This reminds me of the story of Jonah when he (Jonah) went the opposite direction God told him to. We see that Abraham told his "men" that were with him that they would worship and be back. The faith that it must have taken to act even with the unknown. He didn't know if God would call him to sacrifice his only son, and he didn't know if he would test him to see if he was simply going to be obedient. Let's continue to read, "6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father !" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering ?" 8 Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
At this point, Abraham was certain that God WOULD provide. He knew that if he was to sacrifice his son that he would STILL provide a generation for his people other than Isaac. Abraham also knew that if he was not going sacrifice Isaac that he would offer that thanks and praise to God in heaven for the gift of his son and the generation that he would PROVIDE through Isaac. We know eventually that God did PROVIDE a ram in the thicket so that his son did not have to be sacrificed. In saying this I would like to remind you that some of us might not ever have to sacrifice someone we love and care for other than through natural causes (i.e., old age), but we will have to offer them up none the less. We still have to live as though they could be offered up to Christ at any time, none the less. I have known several families recently who have lost young children or spouses through either cancer, car accidents, or other sudden illnesses. In my mind I think, am I next? Will I be the next person who will have a child diagnosed with some severe illness? Will I be the next person to lose a spouse in a car accident? The question cannot be answered by anyone other than by God himself. I can live my life in fear that God will choose to take someone I love or I can Love God without Fear in knowing he will PROVIDE.
I am writing this blogpost without full knowledge of what is going to happen next in my life. I might lose someone I love very dearly today. But like Abraham, I MUST lift them up to God in sacrifice knowing his plan is going to be accomplished. More importantly, I must remember that Jesus gave his ONE AND ONLY, SINLESS son up on a cross knowing that he would be in pain, agony, and embarassed because of the conditions the soldiers and others would put him through. Yet he fully gave him up for the plan of PROVISION of Eternal Life for you and I. Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors."
What a Beautiful Plan, What a Beautiful PROVISION.
Jamie
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Made to Be Shade
As most of you know that read my blog regularly my children are the inspiration for most of my blogs. They say things and do things on a regular basis that spur my thoughts toward Biblical things to write about. The other day, I was reading a story in my homeschool teacher's book from Alpha Omega. In the story a little boy went to the park with his parents, he played on the slide and the swing, then his mother called him to come sit on the blanket for a picnic with her and the boys father. The little boy ended up taking a nap under a big shade tree. When he woke up he asked the father, "Why did God make trees so big?" To which the father replied, "So that we could use them for their shade." We've been talking about shadows this past week in school, and it reminded me that shade is a shadow. That might seem like a no brainer to most of you, but I want you to really think of the spiritual application of this. In our lives we start out as a seed when we accept Christ as our personal Savior. God convicts us, and we grow, God chastens us, and we grow. All this while our tree seed should be sprouting into a small tree. Trials come, the winter causes hardening of branches, but in comes the Spring and the Tree grows. It grows and grows and grows. One day, you look up and the tree has made a large shadow or shade spot to be used for someone who doesn't know Christ to be able to see him in your life. You are becoming more and more like the "tree" your father made you to be.
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers: But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3 God has made us in his image. He desires for us to be like him and be that "shade" tree for those to come to the knowledge of him as their Savior. Listen to this Paraphrase in the Message of 2 Corinthians 3:16-18: "Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are - face to face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." God desires for us to be more like him and be that shade so that others might rest in the shadow of the Almighty just as we desire to. We were Made to BE shade!
God is so good!
Jamie
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers: But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3 God has made us in his image. He desires for us to be like him and be that "shade" tree for those to come to the knowledge of him as their Savior. Listen to this Paraphrase in the Message of 2 Corinthians 3:16-18: "Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are - face to face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." God desires for us to be more like him and be that shade so that others might rest in the shadow of the Almighty just as we desire to. We were Made to BE shade!
God is so good!
Jamie
Friday, September 30, 2011
Elijah:(Hebrew), The Lord is My God
As a child I can remember thinking how cool it was to look back at pictures and souvenirs from times past whether they were my own experiences or of someone else. In my mind questions like, 'what was I thinking when I saw this?' or 'how did we get to do that?' would come up while searching through the treasures of the past. Now, having my own family to make memories with and keep memories for I so enjoy times like Birthdays and have made it a tradition to look at baby pictures of that child the day before their birthday. Elijah will turn 3 years old on Saturday, October 1st. We will have a Lightening McQueen Birthday with Flo's V-8 Cafe, Luigi's Tires, and Sally's Cozy Cone motel, but most of all we will be making memories, taking pictures, and reminiscing on times past. So, here's a few thoughts about my almost 3 year old.
Elijah was not a surprise to our family in the least bit. From the time Noah was about 6 months old I knew that I wanted to have another child, and that I wanted them to be close in age. I have nieces that are about 19 months apart and saw how well they got along and played well together so, naturally I thought it was a great idea. I found out I was pregnant February 2, 2008. Noah's first birthday was February 25th so they would be about 19 months apart! I had just moved jobs as we had just moved from Mountain Home to Casscoe so that Cody could go to Seminary (we thought it would be easier). I didn't have very much morning sickness and things were going great. We wanted to find out in May if we were having a girl/boy, and we didn't find out until June because he was a little squirmy! The funny thing about Elijah is that he was the most wiggly child in my tummy out of the 3 kids. Noah was about "normal" i guess. Ellie Kate was very quiet (not a lot of movement). With Elijah I worked in the Prairie Couty DHS office and I ate good! I ordered chicken strips, honey mustard, baked potato for lunch nearly everyday from the Pizza Parlor.
My pregnancy was going pretty good. I hated being on call and being pregnant. Leaving the house at 2:30 in the morning to find placement for foster kids when you are 7 months pregnant is NOT fun! But, he and I did it all together. We went to court (at least every month, sometimes more) for work, we went to VBS together at New Salem (Outrigger Island), we played the piano together. Then, in August Cody went in view of a call to Bethel in Morrilton. In my 8th Month of pregnancy we moved 2 hours away from family and my favorite job I'd ever had! One awesome thing was that the hospital was only 40 minutes instead of an hour and a half! In September only 3 days of being in Morrilton I started having contractions. It was still too soon for Elijah to be born (36 weeks) so Dr. Selby who had been my OB-GYN since I was 17 ( and I trusted alot) put me on Brethine to stop the contractions and I had to take the next month off work for bed rest. I had FMLA time for work which was great but it would mean that I would only get to spend 2 months after Eli was born at home with him instead of 3! I was heartbroken, but relieved all at the same time. It would save me from having to drive an hour and a half to DeValls Bluff until my transfer happened for work, but I wanted 3 full months with my new little baby!
September passed quickly with Mid South Youth Conference, Fireproof, and other activities through the Youth Group at Bethel. Then, when Bethel was in Revival with Bro. Terry Simmons as evangelist I started having worse contractions and I was off my brethine for good by this time. So, I called my Dr. who said to lie down, take 2 tylenol and drink a large glass of water because sometimes contractions can be due to being slightly dehydrated. So, I did all of those things and they didn't really help. My mom and Daddy had come for Revival that night. I couldn't go and my mom stayed home with me. She helped me pack my hospital bag, Noah's bag, and get stuff ready just in case. Well, they went home and we figured I still wouldn't have him until the surgery date (like the 7th?). So, I just tried to go to sleep. Well, I couldn't, so i got up and got in the internet to get my mind off of things, and it just got worse and worse. Finally, I woke Cody up and said, we have to go to the hospital! He groggily got up, got ready and we got Noah ready, bless his little heart. I grabbed a blanket from the house and he kept covering his face in the car on the way there because I was yelling!! We got to St. Vincent's and had the C-Section within 1 hour of getting there! It was quick, and easy! In fact, Cody's mom and dad didn't get there from Jonesboro until about an hour and a half after he was born! I remember right after the surgery when I got to really hold him I thought it was the best day of my life up until that point. I had my little toddler, my wonderful husband, and now my New beautiful baby Eli. I had never been happier.
The last 3 years have been an adventure with Eli. We've seen him fall, laugh, walk, cry, smile,roll over, flip over, scoot, crawl, and everything in between. We've seen him go to class for the first time in Discovery, Sunday School, and Children's Church, VBS! We've fallen in Love with Elijah Garrett Simpson, and can't imagine a day without his adorable smile and personality. When I named my Elijah, I wanted him to be reminded of the prophet Elijah who was such a Godly man! He prayed for a drought, God gave it. He prayed for rain, God granted it. He prayed fire down on the Baals, and God provided! I desire that my Elijah would Pray and God would grant him the things not because he's some great person, but because in his inward self he truly desires to seek and honor Christ no matter the cost. Garrett is my Elijah's middle name. It is a family name to remind him of the importance that family is to have in one's life, and Simpson is the last name to remind him that although we don't know who Cody's real parents are that we are blessed to have grandparents on both sides that love and care for our family. It also reminds us that God has and will "adopt" us all into his family if we will accept. Lord, please help my Eli to grow physically, and spiritually. Most of all I pray that one day he will accept you as his personal Savior. I pray not only that he'll accept you as his Savior, but he will LIVE out loud for you, Just as Elijah did in the Old Testament. Thank You God, for the 3 years of life you have blessed us with in Elijah.
Your Girl,
Jamie
Elijah was not a surprise to our family in the least bit. From the time Noah was about 6 months old I knew that I wanted to have another child, and that I wanted them to be close in age. I have nieces that are about 19 months apart and saw how well they got along and played well together so, naturally I thought it was a great idea. I found out I was pregnant February 2, 2008. Noah's first birthday was February 25th so they would be about 19 months apart! I had just moved jobs as we had just moved from Mountain Home to Casscoe so that Cody could go to Seminary (we thought it would be easier). I didn't have very much morning sickness and things were going great. We wanted to find out in May if we were having a girl/boy, and we didn't find out until June because he was a little squirmy! The funny thing about Elijah is that he was the most wiggly child in my tummy out of the 3 kids. Noah was about "normal" i guess. Ellie Kate was very quiet (not a lot of movement). With Elijah I worked in the Prairie Couty DHS office and I ate good! I ordered chicken strips, honey mustard, baked potato for lunch nearly everyday from the Pizza Parlor.
My pregnancy was going pretty good. I hated being on call and being pregnant. Leaving the house at 2:30 in the morning to find placement for foster kids when you are 7 months pregnant is NOT fun! But, he and I did it all together. We went to court (at least every month, sometimes more) for work, we went to VBS together at New Salem (Outrigger Island), we played the piano together. Then, in August Cody went in view of a call to Bethel in Morrilton. In my 8th Month of pregnancy we moved 2 hours away from family and my favorite job I'd ever had! One awesome thing was that the hospital was only 40 minutes instead of an hour and a half! In September only 3 days of being in Morrilton I started having contractions. It was still too soon for Elijah to be born (36 weeks) so Dr. Selby who had been my OB-GYN since I was 17 ( and I trusted alot) put me on Brethine to stop the contractions and I had to take the next month off work for bed rest. I had FMLA time for work which was great but it would mean that I would only get to spend 2 months after Eli was born at home with him instead of 3! I was heartbroken, but relieved all at the same time. It would save me from having to drive an hour and a half to DeValls Bluff until my transfer happened for work, but I wanted 3 full months with my new little baby!
September passed quickly with Mid South Youth Conference, Fireproof, and other activities through the Youth Group at Bethel. Then, when Bethel was in Revival with Bro. Terry Simmons as evangelist I started having worse contractions and I was off my brethine for good by this time. So, I called my Dr. who said to lie down, take 2 tylenol and drink a large glass of water because sometimes contractions can be due to being slightly dehydrated. So, I did all of those things and they didn't really help. My mom and Daddy had come for Revival that night. I couldn't go and my mom stayed home with me. She helped me pack my hospital bag, Noah's bag, and get stuff ready just in case. Well, they went home and we figured I still wouldn't have him until the surgery date (like the 7th?). So, I just tried to go to sleep. Well, I couldn't, so i got up and got in the internet to get my mind off of things, and it just got worse and worse. Finally, I woke Cody up and said, we have to go to the hospital! He groggily got up, got ready and we got Noah ready, bless his little heart. I grabbed a blanket from the house and he kept covering his face in the car on the way there because I was yelling!! We got to St. Vincent's and had the C-Section within 1 hour of getting there! It was quick, and easy! In fact, Cody's mom and dad didn't get there from Jonesboro until about an hour and a half after he was born! I remember right after the surgery when I got to really hold him I thought it was the best day of my life up until that point. I had my little toddler, my wonderful husband, and now my New beautiful baby Eli. I had never been happier.
The last 3 years have been an adventure with Eli. We've seen him fall, laugh, walk, cry, smile,roll over, flip over, scoot, crawl, and everything in between. We've seen him go to class for the first time in Discovery, Sunday School, and Children's Church, VBS! We've fallen in Love with Elijah Garrett Simpson, and can't imagine a day without his adorable smile and personality. When I named my Elijah, I wanted him to be reminded of the prophet Elijah who was such a Godly man! He prayed for a drought, God gave it. He prayed for rain, God granted it. He prayed fire down on the Baals, and God provided! I desire that my Elijah would Pray and God would grant him the things not because he's some great person, but because in his inward self he truly desires to seek and honor Christ no matter the cost. Garrett is my Elijah's middle name. It is a family name to remind him of the importance that family is to have in one's life, and Simpson is the last name to remind him that although we don't know who Cody's real parents are that we are blessed to have grandparents on both sides that love and care for our family. It also reminds us that God has and will "adopt" us all into his family if we will accept. Lord, please help my Eli to grow physically, and spiritually. Most of all I pray that one day he will accept you as his personal Savior. I pray not only that he'll accept you as his Savior, but he will LIVE out loud for you, Just as Elijah did in the Old Testament. Thank You God, for the 3 years of life you have blessed us with in Elijah.
Your Girl,
Jamie
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