For Amy, my friend.... so your eyes may have rest.

Winter's First Snow

 

First Snow!

Covers the Grass.

No School.

Shovel. shovel. shovel.

Quiet streets.

Hot chocolate.

Christmas music.

Smiles.

Taste of winter.

Washed as white.

Pure white.

First snow.

From "Breaking Free" by Beth Moore...

"Breaking Free"

Question of the Week:

 

Why do you think Isaiah readily responded to the call?

"I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple... (with the Seraphim crying,) 

'Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.'  

The foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. "

Isaiah sees himself against this backdrop and cries out 

"Woe is me, for I am ruined!"

In the midst of this splendor,  in the midst of the glory of God,  in the midst of the Seraphim expressing worship, Isaiah sees his makeup.

Isaiah becomes acutely aware of his uncleanliness before a holy God.

After receiving cleansing of his iniquity and sin being forgiven, then the voice of the Lord speaks...

"Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?"

"Here am I.  Send me!" is Isaiah's response.  Here am I, send me.

Uzziah the king has died, Isaiah sees the King of kings high and lifted up, he cries out in his awareness of his uncleanliness, his iniquity is taken away and his sins are forgiven... then he responds to the call with "Here am I, send me!"

Do we see our exalted Lord or are we blinded by ourselves?  

Do we sense our unworthiness and sin or do we hide in self-righteousness? 

Do we cry out to Him or are we too proud? 

Do we recognize we are forgiven or do we wallow?  

Do we respond to his call on our lives with "Here am I, send me?" no matter what the cost...
Are we ready to be sent?
Are we willing to respond to Him?

Here am I, Lord, 

Here am I.

Our friend Micah Tuttle

 

Alek just studied the boa that resides in South America.

The next day, he comes up to me and shows me a lego man

saying

"This is Uncle Micah!" 

Then he points to our map where we have depicted a man with a boa.

I had shown him the picture of Micah and their large boa they had seen.

The image isn't an exact replica... but you can see similarities.  

Alek with his sense of humor and enjoyment of Legos did a fairly good job, I think! :)

Call to Know

How little I know You.  How little I long to know. 
Let me know you even in my faithlessness,
For from you and through you and to you are all things.
You have chosen to show mercy on me an object of wrath prepared for destructions...

Help me to long for you, to search for you, to thirst for you...
Though I cannot understand the depths...
I want to understand all I am able
As deeply as I am designed to know you.

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Jesus, I want to know you.
In my regenerate self, I want to know you.
My flesh wars within.  It wages in deception.

I am a stranger on earth;
Do not hide your commands from me.
This world is not my home.
I am a stranger here.

Romans 11
 ³³Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
      How unsearchable his judgments,
      and his paths beyond tracing out!
 ³⁴"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
      Or who has been his counselor?"
 ³⁵"Who has ever given to God,
      that God should repay him?"
 ³⁶For from him and through him and to him are all things.
      To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Another's Servant

^{Romans 14:3}The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. ⁴Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

A lesson reminded to me yesterday as I continued through Romans...  I carry the law so many times for other believers of how they should live, what they should be doing.  What arrogance!  What pride!  Do I really think that I am able to judge someone else's servant?  Who do I really think I am?

It is subtle.  Not so obvious judgment.  Sounds like exhortation.  Sounds like glory given to God for how he worked in my life.

^{Jeramiah 17:7} "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
       whose confidence is in him.
 ⁸ He will be like a tree planted by the water
       that sends out its roots by the stream.
       It does not fear when heat comes;
       its leaves are always green.
       It has no worries in a year of drought
       and never fails to bear fruit."
 ⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things
       and beyond cure.
       Who can understand it?
 ¹⁰ "I the LORD search the heart
       and examine the mind,
       to reward a man according to his conduct,
       according to what his deeds deserve."

The Lord has searched my heart and found deceit in it.

I am one who trusts in the LORD and have placed my confidence in him.
I have seen him carry me through the drought and the heat and then I have found that my heart is deceitful even in the expression of his carrying me.

Thank you for searching my heart, opening my eyes to see.  Help me to not judge your servants for I have no right to judge.  You are able to make your servant stand.  You have accepted him.  Why would I judge him?  It is only by you that I am able to stand.  I am not acceptable and yet you have accepted me by your power and your name, accomplishing for me what I am never able to do.  Praise you Jesus. 

Forgive me for, in my pride, judging. 

I am but dust.

Grateful

Little Feet

Praise Him By Name

Do I notice you when you do great things in my life?
Do I notice you and praise you when you orchestrate regular things?
Do I cry out to you in my distress?
Do I worship you because you are faithful, because you are good, and because you are God Most High and Savior of my weary soul?
Do I acknowledge you by name as your mercies flow to me every morning?

.... OR

am I busy making granola,
frustrated again at the messes the kids have left around ,
frustrated that we had watched another game instead of having a date,
or bothered that I was weary in heart?

Look at the book of Esther?
Where do they cry out to their God for mercy when they face destruction? 
Where do they offer God praise for all that he did in saving the nation from annihilation?
Where do they fall on their faces in worship of the awesomeness of a God who orchestrates the minutest detail to derail the enemy of the Jews?
Where?
This is so sad.
This book used to be a "fairy tale" book to me... Look at the wonderful people who did wonderful things!  The bad guys lose.  The good guys win!
But this time, it was a sad book to me.  Where, Oh God, do they acknowledge you by name, call on you by name and worship you by name?  Where do they fall on their faces?  Where do they cry out to you?  Where do they celebrate your deliverance?  Where?

Wake up!
Offer Praise, adoration!
Come to me in your distress!
Call on me and I will answer!

Lord help me not to miss out on the workings of You in my life or be too distraught, distracted or self-sufficient to bring praise and honor to You, the Savior of my soul!

Behold His Face!

I found a verse that I hadn't noticed before.

"For the Lord is righteous.
He loves righteousness.
The upright will behold his face."

Psalm 11:7
The whole psalm is a reminder "to whom do I take refuge?"
The answer being the Lord

What is the Lord like.
What is He?
He is righteous.  All will be made right.  That is who He is.  There is no other refuge.

What is the heart of God?
He loves righteousness. 
He loves it.
His heart is set on what is right.

Now for the awesome cream.
The upright will behold his face!
We who are upright!
We who take refuge in him.
We will behold his face!
Here it doesn't mention his glory, his strength, his power to destroy our enemies, nor his mercy for us as we trust in him, nor his lovingkindness...
But look and see how intimate.
Here he says we will behold his face!  His face!
Oh to look on him, to behold his face!
To see his eyes looking into my heart, to enjoy the grin on his face, to behold his person!
The upright will behold his face!
To gaze on the love of my soul.
He has made me upright.  He says it will happen.  I believe it!
I long to behold his face.  I worship you Father.  I long to behold your face. 
Come Lord Jesus.

A Gift of A Day

A beautiful day.
Sunshine on faces.
Peanut butter sandwiches.

A family day.
Biking through the woods.
Which way is north?

A restful day.
Just the five of us.
Together and enjoying just being.

These are the jewels to remember.
These are the moments to take.
These are the hearts we cherish.
Talking together.
Discovering splendor.
Fatigue and laughter.
These are the jewels to remember.

A gift of a day.
Each one is.
This one we noticed.

You Are My Home

Are we ready to move?

I love our home

Yet,

His timing

His grace for our needs,

His kindness in His gifts to me

I am ready.

I love the adventure.

What does he have next?

Where?

Will he lead as he has lead before?

How do we wait?

Wait patiently for the Lord.

Wait patiently.

Will I plant tulips this year?
 I never did at this home.

Curtains?
This world is not my home.
I am a vapor.
But maybe I'll plant at our next home.
I counted 60 moves.
25 feet down homes.
There were more.
Some back and forth.
Homes, boarding schools,
Furloughs.
How do I put roots down?
...

You are my roots.
You are my strength.
In You I run.
In You I soar.
In You I find great comfort and joy.

You are my home.

Kyla... 11... so full of life... so precious...

This picture makes me smile

Did they think the air was full of sugar... or were they just full of sugar :)

Character of Submission - Esther

These two verses in Esther 2 show something about the character of Esther.
Up to this point we do not hear much about her character.  Watch how she responds to those under whose authority she was placed.  In neither case did she choose to go under their authority.  Look at her humility.

¹⁵ When the turn came for Esther (the girl Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king,  

she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, 

the king's eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. 

And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. (NIV)

It seems simple enough and yet, she trusted Hegai (with whom she had already won favor from the very beginning) and only did as he suggested, not presuming to know better than he and God points it out in the story written of her life.  This detail could have easily been bypassed.  She recognized that she did not know what would be the best to take in with her to the king, but rather she knew to take advice...

Can you imagine the life that Esther had been thrust into?  Forced into relationship with the king with no choice, and if not pleasing, to end the rest of her days in the "second" harem.  Would we think it's about time to start a pity party, to let bitterness creep in "justified?"...

But Esther "won the favor of everyone who saw her."  If she had been demanding, self-centered, and critical or pious... would this have been said of her?   Would Hegai have given her the best treatment?

²⁰ But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality  

 just as Mordecai had told her to do, 

for she continued to follow Mordecai's instructions  

as she had done when he was bringing her up. (NIV)

Here again, Esther follows instructions of one in authority over her and keeps a family nationality secret for no other reason than because Mordecai, her cousin, (daughter of his uncle) told her to do so. It says "she continued to follow Mordecai's instruction as she had done when he was bringing her up."  This tells again of her character of submitting herself under the authority she has been put under even as a child.

In both cases, she could have done as she pleased: chosen her own things to take in to the king and told those around her of her own nationality.  But she chose to listen to the advice of those in authority over her.

These small tests set the stage for the larger test to be thrown onto her plate which will threaten her very life, but these show the character by which she had lived in becoming prepared for the crisis ahead.

How do we live in the everyday as Esther did growing up under Mordecai?
How do we respond under the heavier test when life does not present itself in the way we imagined... becoming a concubine of a king?   Can you imagine?

My Ode to Amy,

          My friend
                    My sister
                              A treasure from Jesus

Luke

Luke

Scientist

Explorer

Curious

Contagious Laugher

Sweet Spirit

Luke

(color adjustment assistance by Kyla Schneider)

A moment with Alek

To whom Do I give glory?

WRETCHED

In writing my thoughts I often find that I am caught up in trying to please someone who might read what I have written; that I would somehow be perceived as "spiritually deep," thoughtful, funny or interesting; that I would receive glory.  

This is a tragedy.

Every moment I write I wrestle with this tragedy.
How easily my motives run askew. 
For my mind longs to honor God and yet in the very next moment I dethrone the Lord and seek to put myself on that throne and receive honor.

Romans 7:14... the struggle between two natures...
"Wretched man (woman) that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
... however, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.... will also GIVE LIFE to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you... if (living) by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.... received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out "Abba! Father!... we are children of God... heirs of God... fellow heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him... sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us..."

Now comes my new most favorite verse...
vs26 "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

we are weak.  The Spirit helps our weakness.
we don't know how to pray as we should.  The Spirit intercedes for us... according to the will of God

"As we should" shows that sometimes we should be praying a certain way or in a certain attitude and yet we, being weak, overcome with struggles, distressed or faint in some way... cannot even see what is the way we should be praying about something... But God, being all gracious and kind, through his Spirit, He intercedes for us according to his will and the next verse after that shows how completely he does this.... "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

We groan and long for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body, the creation groans, waiting for the setting free from its slavery to corruption... and then, here, the Holy Spirit groans on our behalf, when we are so nit-witted or overcome, he intercedes according to what HE desires to accomplish. 

Praise God for this!
In my new nature I desire that He do all according to his plan and yet in the moment many times I forget my desire, I loose sight of what is good and right and the WAR is being raged within my very being... wretched woman that I am... groaning for my adoption... and He intercedes.  No one else on the planet may be interceding for me... no one may be praying for me... But the one who searches the hearts and knows the mind of the Spirit intercedes for me according all that God desires!
Praise God for this!

Do we understand the depth of this?
"If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" ... and then before the throne of God, whenever a charge is brought against us, JESUS himself intercedes for us!

Astounding Truth.

Astounding Love.

Astounding Provision.

Be still and know that I am God

My Little Treasure

Alek, my little treasure, learning to go without training wheels!

Enjoying the memory of our many travels.... mmm.   Love it!

A Nature Like Elijah! James 5:12-20

Look at Elijah in James 5:16-18
¹⁶Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.  ¹⁷Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ¹⁸Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 

What a powerful example of a man who walked with God and yet had a nature like ours.
This encourages people... Wow look at how awesome Elijah was and all the wonderful things he did and yet he still had a nature like ours.  What is the alternative?  Perfection.  Well, we know that "no one is righteous, no not one."  So, I think the emphasis here is not on the fact that "he is just like one of us" as a means to relieve us of some responsibility in godly living, but rather that he was the godly man he was in spite of the fact "that he is just like us."  The emphasis isn't to somehow relieve us that we don't have to live up to some crazy characteristics of godliness, but rather that by the power of God in our lives that is exactly what we should be like... totally surrendered to an awesome God, no matter what the cost.

Are we people who:

• speak his word regardless of the fact that our life might be on the line, 
• never bow the knee to any other God despite the fact that those around us demand we serve anyone other than God, 
• trust that God's word is true, 
• proclaim God's message knowing that the person of Jesus Christ is complete faithfulness, 
• place our complete confidence in our Almighty God.

Dare we to walk in complete surrender to God.  Do we dare to risk all to be his disciples?  I say there is no other alternative if we are to live at all!

I am challenged by Elijah not relieved.  His nature is the same as mine.  I have no excuse that can hold any weight.  His nature and mine are the same.  Are we willing to go out on a limb to be just as radically sold out to Jesus no matter the cost exactly as he calls us to be or do we want to play the game of Christianity thinking that somehow Elijah was just given a little more of God than us, a little better of a nature than mine... But no, let us bend our knees to our awesome God with whom there is absolutely none to compare!

My wonderful family!

Enduring James 5:7-8 and Rev 2-3

⁷Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. ⁸You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.

(italics added)

Be patient in suffering.  Until when?  Until the Lord's coming

Be patient and stand firm.  Why?  Because the Lord's coming is near.

The valuable crop to wait for is the coming of the Lord!

What perspective do we have on life's "sufferings" which can hardly be categorized as sufferings.

Is our perspective to be patient in view of eternity?

Look at eternity for those who endure from Rev 2-3

To Those Who Overcome

I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
I will give some of the hidden manna.
I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it,
known only to him who receives it.

I will give authority over the nations
I will also give him the morning star.
He will be dressed in white.
I will never blot out his name from the book of life,
but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.

I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.
Never again will he leave it.
I will write on him the name of my God
I will write on him the name of the city of my God,
I will also write on him my new name.
I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,

WOW!

Patient Endurance.

Overcome

a white stone with new name

intimate

a new name given to me by Him

beautiful

Endure to the End

Come Lord Jesus.

To my beloved sisters...

Our Home in Africa

Digging in the mud, deluxe pie galore
Cocking our pellet gun, rice birds no more
Sitting by the screens, watching storms move in
Far and wide not seen, heavy rains are pourin'
Swingin’ our hammock, the scent of the storm
Sweet wafts of wet dirt, an enjoyed summer norm
Listening to insects, ‘squitos buzzing sound
dripping humidity, a sauna all around
This was our home, our home in Africa

 Shooting nasty snakes, no time to see their kind
Seven and then eight shots as we're shooting blind
Hot summer days and lazy afternoons
Reading books and playin’ off-tuned tunes
Turn the generator on, we need to beat the eggs
Laundry's all been done we pinned ‘em up with pegs
How oft' the rains returned to sun-baked land
We prayed and we received by His mighty hand
This was our home, our home in Africa

Down to market - Monday's come 'round
Peanut butter by the glop, oh the pleasant sound
Our hair, our skin, so different to see
We became the newest novelty
William Mahe, dust and broom came he
Cleaning dishes, sweeping floors, a smile for even me
Our friend, he's gone ahead
He is alive, he is not dead
This was our home, our home in Africa

We washed our hair - water off the tin
Traveled o'er muddy passages where we have been
Oh, the ocean, the breeze, we cannot forget
The smell of salt, the burning sand as yet
With palm trees swaying in the breeze
And peddlers selling carvings by the seas
Out to the reef as tides are low
Beware the urchins; to the feet they go
This was our home, our home in Africa

Treasures, my sisters as semesters loom
Commissary is open, time for a treat
Orangina would help to ward off this heavy heat
Never alone, but alone at times
Careful we are to not transgress the lines
This was our home, our home in Africa 

Many an airplane, paper bag in hand
Singing beyond the noise ‘til we land
Flying o’re the jungle, elephants out there?
 A grassy landing, land with care
We made it again, home for the time,
Christmas is here, a treasure sublime,
Silly Goose Lady, you’ve done it again
Boxed up wonders, your heart you send
This was our home, our home in Africa

Off to the village, the meeting will start
Stumps for our seats, singing our part
“Halla chanya benya” rings true
What does it mean? “How do you do?”

 Rhythm of shakers, drums, how they sing
Opposites sides the traditional thing
Oh, how I wish I knew the shakers to use
Instead I just tap my old tennis shoes
This was our home, our home in Africa

Watching live bugs, in mouth and on string
Soon we will eat, be it that squirmy thing?
The chicken’s been caught, de-feathering is done
Or would it bony, bush rat or snake to come?
Our eyes burn with tears, the pepper it lingers
When we get home - to ice cream, licked fingers
Tomorrow or the next we’ll celebrate Jesus’ birth
From heaven, Savior God, came He to earth
This was our home, our home in Africa

We cannot imagine life without “home”
So privileged we were, the world to roam
Mr Coley and Ma Jena, so true to us all
Africa, Greece, Israel, Egypt we saw
Tromping the jungle new species to find
Each plant brought home, a variant kind
Did we actually swing from the vines?
Who would believe our crazy, magnificent times
this was our home, our home in Africa

It matters not how our lives have changed
Experiences differently arranged
 Jesus showed himself in that land
Over jungle, monkey bridges and sands
He gave us so many memories and treats
To think on, to learn from, to hold ‘til we meet
Telling thoughts, kindness won

You are a treasure to me never gone
My sisters ...   this was our home, our home in Africa

 

1 Kings 19

The Journey

 -
The journey is too great!

Eat, 
Drink what the Lord provides.

In His strength you must 
Go.
-

Are you alone?

Have you followed the Lord?

Have you removed the idols?

Are you alone?

Go, stand before the Lord.
-

Where is the Lord?

Powerful Wind and Shattering Rocks?

Earthquake and Fire on the mountain?

He is in the Gentle Whisper,
In His Words You will Find Him
The Gentle Whisper
-

Go, stand before the Lord

Find Refreshment for the task
-

Are you alone?

Have you followed the Lord?

Have you removed the idols?

Are you alone?

Go, stand before the Lord.
-

Go back
Go to the desert

Anoint, anoint, anoint.

They are reserved.
They have not bowed.

You are not alone.
-
In His strength you must 

Go.

John 15:1-14, James 4:7-10

Weeping

How Faithless I Am

How Faithful You Are

Be Miserable and Mourn and Weep;

Let you Laughter be turned into Mourning and 

Your Joy to Gloom

Humble Yourself

Humble Yourself

In the Presence

Of the Lord

The Great Vine-Dresser

Pruning

Painful

Weeping

So That I May Bear Much Fruit

Removing All That Inhibits Bearing Much Fruit

Removing

Apart From Me You Can Do NOTHING....

Nothing

nothing

JOY

We are told these things

Your Joy

Joy Made Full

As You Have Loved Me

So, I must love others...

You Have loved Me

So, I am designed to love others...

becoming more faithful by your hand

pruned to bear much fruit
much fruit
some fruit?
much fruit
Prune Me, Beloved Father 
I trust you, help my unbelief

 

The Faithless loved by You Who Is Faithful

Friend

Thankfulness

water

pictures

husband who loves

deep kids

amazing kids

basketball

people I don't know and feel uncomfortable with

friendship

soul satisfier - Jesus

storm clouds dropping rain

wet dirt

tiny green things growing

fullness of life

honor

money to share

sisters

people to love

words of life

deep treasures in his word

His Spirit in me

forgiveness

grace again and again and again and again and again

intimate words

sweet hugs

being a mother

being a soul mate

erich

joshua

schneider

treats

friends to visit with

loneliness 

drawing close to Jesus

softening heart

laughter

tears

mercy new every morning

great faithfulness

kyla

gentleness

art and words

thoughtfulness in heart

luke

enthusiasm

creativity and curiosity

strength in heart

alek

hugs

joy and laughter

softness of heart

over and over and over... 

I am blessed

Quarrels: James 4:1-10

Fights, Quarrels

Hidden Motives

"Change him/her Lord, so my life is easier."

"I don't want to live there."

"I want their stuff."

vs 3 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."

Who is on the throne of our life?
vs4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?
 (This friendship involves wanting things so badly we would resort to our own means to try to get whatever it is -vs 2)  This "friendship" is hostility toward God.

And this is why
vs5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?

 Something else takes highest priority within us over the Spirit of God.  

We are dethroning him to attempt to satisfy our own desires. 

We are being as adulteresses who go after another spouse when they have their own.  

See Israelite nation's false worship.  

Their hearts were set on something else.  

Idolatry. 

Their trust was displaced.  

God did not have the throne.  

We fight and quarrel with each other.

We strive to get what we want by our own means.  

We piously ask God to grant our wishes so that we can stoke the fire of our passions that are waging war in our souls.
WAR.

We do not receive.  

Our children pine for something, being devious, and selfishly taking it from their siblings.

Would we lovingly grant their request?   

We love them.

We would rather they not have and instead have the opportunity to change their selfish behavior.  

Would I expect less from God, who gives to all perfectly?

What motives drive the struggles we have?  Do we infinitely trust the one who is working all things for the good of us who love him and are called according to his purpose?  Our hearts are desperately wicked above all things, beyond cure... (Jeramiah 17:9)

We must surrender.
We must seek Him.

vs6 but he give a greater grace.  Therefore it says, "God is apposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

He yearns for us.  He pursues us.  He brings us to the pigsty (as Alistair Begg says) so that we will cry out to him and return to him.  Great grace.  He does not abandon us when we fail and quarrel and fight and these passions wage war within us and we fall.  He gives a greater grace.  Praise God.

vs7-10 How can these motives be changed?

Changed Allegiance and Repentance.

Submit to God,

Resist the devil,

Draw near to God,

Cleanse your hands,

purify your hearts,

Be miserable and mourn and weep,

Turn laughter to mourning, joy to gloom

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord 

(which assumes you are entering the presence of the Lord)

Have you mourned over your selfish motives?  This is what he desires.
Or did we mourn because we didn't get what we wanted?

Humility.  Repentance.  Surrender. 

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium

We had a wonderful time at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, WA.  Very special time together.

 Look at these amazing creatures... so delicate, so full of poison... and beautiful.

 Isn't it amazing to be able to be so close to these huge and amazing creatures.
Someday we will be able to enjoy them without the glass... :)

 God's beautiful creation for us to glorify Him and enjoy.

Beautiful.

My Husband Rocks!

This is a small touch of the husband who rocks in my world.  

Erich Schneider

Allows God to Search His Heart,

Takes Care of All of Us,

Finds Humor with Me in Life,

Opens my Eyes to More Insights in God's Word

Provides for our Home,

Loves My Food,

Treasures Our Children,

Teaches Wisdom,

Shows Kindness,

Offers Hope to Those Struggling,

Admits Failures,

Longs to See Jesus,

 Allows Others to Try Things He Could Do Better,

Relates Well to All People,

Works Hard,

Encourages Others,

Keeps Making Our Marriage Beautiful,

Listens to My Heart While I Go Around the Mulberry Bush,

Dreams With Me,

Looks Out For Our Interests,

Treasures Me,

Is My Soul Mate,

Takes Me Out For Dinner,

Loves Me Deeply,

Honors Me and Our Kids,

Preaches Conviction that Touches His Own Soul,

Walks with Integrity,

Opens Our Home to Others,

Enjoys the Crafts of The Kids,

Someone I Enjoy Growing Old With

Exercises With Me,

Enjoys Our Walks,

Researches Things We Need,

Discusses All of Life,

Opens His Soul to Me,

This is My Beloved.

Colossians 1:11-13

filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

filled.  

knowledge of what God desires of us.

in all

spiritual wisdom

understanding.

Purpose?

to walk worthily of the Lord -

spiritual wisdom opens our eyes to see the things the way God sees them and the actions that go with those things.

pleasing him in all respects -  

Aren't the religions of the world based upon trying to please the gods they serve... 
God has given us the answers to what pleases him through his word, 
principles laid down so we can walk in them... wisdom from understanding him in his word, 
our eyes being opened by the Holy Spirit to spiritual things, the things of God

bearing fruit in every good work - 

is it astounding to see how God can work all things to bring fruit our of every good work.  
He is the great vine-dresser and is able to bring about fruit in every good work.  
Walking in his ways,
seeking to please Him, 
knowing what pleases him, 
brings fruit in our lives and the lives of others around us.

increasing in knowledge of God -  

All of this brings us full circle to increasing in our knowledge of God. 
We get to know him better.  

How?

strengthened will all power - 

not just some power, all power

according to his glorious might -  

what power is that based on.... the power of Jesus Christ!

Why?

so we become more

steadfast and patient -

Why do we need steadfastness and patience?

What is it we wait for?

Home with Jesus... 

patience and steadfastness in our faith to the end.

joyously giving thanks

Why Give Thanks?

He qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light -

We begin to catch a glimpse of what we have received in Christ, 
where we have come from, 
and who exactly it was that rescued us.

     

How?

He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son

When I was even barely aware that I was bound in the dominion of darkness, 
he rescued me and then has let me see by his grace how great a salvation I have been given.  

Lord please let it not become ordinary to me how great a rescue you have accomplished for me.  

You have given me everything I need.  

The wisdom to live the way I should live, 
the path to walk worthily before you, 
making every good work bring fruit, 
deeper knowledge of you, 
strength to accomplish this life according to your ways, 
and a renewed person becoming steadfast and patient... 

Waiting for the wonderful hope that is laid up for me in heaven... 

all because of the hope of being with you someday, 
no longer constrained by the weight of sin and death in this world, 
but completely renewed and freed from all that so quickly entangles.. 

the beautiful hope and yet given so much to sustain me through this beginning of eternity with you.  

You are not far. 

You are near to those who call on you.  

Thank you for it all.  

My heart cannot express or even fully conceive all you have done for me.  

Continue to reveal it to me moment by moment with you.

Colossians 1:4

...that you may be filled 

with the knowledge of his will 

in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

so as to walk

in a manner worthy of the Lord,

fully pleasing him, 

bearing fruit in every good work

and

increasing in the knowledge of  God

May you be strengthened

with all power,

according to his glorious might, 

for all 

endurance

patience

and joy,

giving thanks...

Oh Lord,  this is what I want... 

Do I really want it or do I just say these things because I know they are good thoughts? 

Do I live like I really want these things?

I am so weak

Empower me to walk with you,

To Please you in every breath.

Forgive my very weak soul.

I long to love you with every breath,

To seek you as a precious jewel...

Lord Jesus, help me

Please renew me,

Open my eyes to wonderful things in your word...