John 5:19

We started discussing this verse in small group this last week.

John 5:19 ¹⁹Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does."

I have been pondering and meditating on this verse a lot since then. What would me life look like if I were constantly listening to God about what He wants me to do? I have also started reading the book In His Steps which was written in the 1890s. It is the story that started the WWJD thing. If I stopped and thought before making any decision about what Jesus would do, and consistently listen for God's voice to give me direction, how would my life change?

I like to think that I live a life that is pleasing to God, but I know that there is plenty room for change.

I make a commitment now, here, publicly, to think about what God wants from me and what Jesus would do before I act. I will do my best to live by this commitment and will write about how it is going on here.

As always I welcome your comments.

Back to normalcy

Well, We finally got up to International Falls and back and school started up today. Ahhh... normalcy.

Thank you to all of our friends and family who spent time with us over Christmas, New Year's and Chris' birthday! We have had a wonderful Holiday Season this year!

I will try to get pics posted soon.

Christmas Time

Hello, my Friends and Family!

It is the day after Christmas. We had a great time with our family and some of our good friends. Regretfully, time does not allow for us to spend time with everyone, but my thoughts and prayers were with many.

Regretfully I have been sick for the last couple weeks. We thought it was Strep Throat at first, but the anti-biotic didn't do any good. Christmas Time is not a good time to be ill. We have had to delay our trip up to International Falls in order to allow me time to heal. The boys are very disappointed, but we will be going in just 10 days. Hopefully they will survive that long.

Christmas Eve we went to church for the service with my parents and my friend Carolyn. Then she and her daughter Rachel came to my parent's for food and gifts. We had a wonderful evening. Then on Christmas morning, Grandma and Grandpa came over to watch the kids open their presents and then spent the day here playing games. (I bowed out to nap through the middle of the day. It is so good to have your Mom when you're sick!)

Today we all slept in and now the boys are getting ready to go tubing with Grandma and Grandpa. I just wish I were healthy enough to go too!

I hope that your Christmas has been wonderful as well. God bless you richly all through this new year!

Christian Community

I am currently in a small group through church doing a book called 40 Days of Community. We are supposed to read a section each day, which as of yet I have not done. I read the first 6 sections before our first group, and tonight is our second and I still have to do the reading. But, on Sunday we were discussing what we get out of being a part of a community rather than just following God on our own. There were the "happy things" like support, help and encouragement. But there was also the part of being held accountable for your actions and choices, which conflicts with our Western, independent thinking.

It occurred to me, that often in life, being the self-centered humans that we are, we desire the encouragement, help and support, yet we don't want to be held accountable for our choices. But that isn't really possible, at least, not in a healthy relationship. They come together. If I accept the support of a friend, I also have to be able and willing to hear them when they have something to say about my life.

This is why we should choose our friends wisely. This is why we need Christian community. It is vital that I have friendships with people who hold the same moral and religious beliefs that I hold so that if I make a "wrong turn" and start heading down a path which is not good for me, and does not hold up to the beliefs that I profess to believe, they can hold me accountable.

I think that there are times in my life when I don't see clearly. There are times that I need someone outside of myself to reflect back to me what I am doing and how that will effect, not only my life, but the life of my family as well.

There are two things that I see must happen in order for this to work the way God intended.
1) I have to be honest with the people with whom I am in close relationship. I must be able to answer about my whole life, not with everyone, but with a few people who I trust. These people, in order to reflect back truthfully on my life, have to know all of the pieces.
2) I need to learn how to hear what my friends have to say and not become defensive. Does this mean that I will always agree with what they have to say, or do what they think I should do. No. But I must give it serious consideration. I must be honest with myself about my own motivations, choices and the possible consequences.

Now this definitely brings up the question of boundaries. I am also reading a book about boundaries. We will see how the two studies combine.
How do I have functioning boundaries and be a member in a community?
Where do I identify myself with the whole and where do I identify myself as an individual?
I'm sure there will be more to come on this topic. I would welcome your thoughts.

Resume the blogging...

So many things that I would like to blog about, and yet so little time in my life. I can't believe it has been over two months since I last took the time to sit down and write a post. Part of the reason that I stopped posting was the fact that most of the people who I enjoyed sharing blogs with quit their blog or blocked me from it. I then had no reason to sit and read any blogs and stopped posting on my own. However, I have decided that I would like to keep a record for posterity, of what was happening in my life and my thoughts. So... Resume the blogging.

Ahhh... Football Season!

Well, the NFL football season has begun. Not only that, but the Vikings won their season/home opener, and I'm winning my fantasy football game too! What could be better?

I'm excited about this season. Tavaris will Need some time to become the great quarterback he will be, but he "managed" the game pretty well, and did pass for a touchdown late in the game. The running game was successful and our defense rocked! At this point we (Chris and I) are thinking that the defense will out-score the offense this year. I hope that the offense proves us wrong.

I hope that many more Sundays are as good as this one was. May yours be as well!

Last week before school starts

So this last week started with Chris and my parents and I taking Rand and his friends to the Ren Fest for Rand's birthday. Regretfully, as we were arriving, I was called away to take Charlie, who was potentially having an appendicitis, to the hospital for the afternoon. As it turned out, Charlie did not need to have his appendix removed; but he did have a high fever for 4 days which impeded his ability to really enjoy his last week before school starts. Then, yesterday afternoon, Mat came down with a fever too. I'm hoping that it will be gone by Tuesday morning!

We have met all of the new teachers and are all excited about different things this year. Rand is starting football this year! I'm very excited to see what position he will play and if he enjoys the physical challenge.

Matrim will be heading over to the middle school for 7th grade math. He will also be continuing to work with specialists to learn more about Aspergers Syndrome and how to function with it. I'm very hopeful that this will be a good year for him.

Charlie is now going to go by "Christian" I will see if I can remember that. the nice thing about having a new teacher is that she will only know him as Christian. She seems very nice. Also very young. One nice thing about a new teacher is their enthusiasm. I know that Christian will have a great year.

I am working with Stephen Marq at the airport now and am glad that I will be able to get them off to school in the morning and have a job during the school day. I am really enjoying working again. I still want to go back to school though.

Chris and I have several things that we are going to be involved in at church. We are excited to be starting Alpha next week on Tuesday nights. We will be involved as Table Leaders, I guess. This Saturday we'll find out exactly what that will mean. I also co-ordinate the Culver's Community Day fundraisers for our school each month, which also happen on a Tuesday night. And then PTO is ALSO on Tuesday nights. Tuesday is going to be a very busy day for me for the next 3 months. We were also going to start with a Small Group this Sept., but it looks like we are all just going to be involved in the Alpha thing to start with. That will help. But then we are both involved in Worship and might be starting to help out in the children's area too. We'll see if we are still functioning come Christmas!

I might do a separate post re: diabetes and such. This one is getting pretty long.