Faithfulness

There are so many times that I have had the best of intentions and meant to do something only to be distracted, for it to take longer than I thought, for it to be more involved than I thought it would be or be harder or seemingly impossible and not finish the task or accomplish my goal.

What has been striking me this last week in my prayer time is that God finishes the work that he has started! He knows what is needed, He knows how involved it will be, He does not get distracted, and nothing is hard for Him to do. And He is patient. He will wait through the process and not give up if it doesn't happen quickly. Of course, to God time is insubstantial. What feels an eternity to me is merely a blink of His eye.

I am so thankful that God is faithful. I am so thankful that I can count on Him.

My Matrim

My son mentioned when I congratulated him on a test score yesterday, that getting good grades on his tests was a characteristic of being a nerd. He didn't sound very positive when he said this (which in the past he has seemed to be proud of) so I asked him about it. He has in the past, seemed indifferent to other people's opinions of him and so I was surprised to hear him voice concern over how other people saw him and treated him. Not that I haven't wondered in the past how much of his indifference was for show, his coping mechanism. But it makes me wonder what is happening at school that he is voicing this concern now. How do I respond? Do I talk with his teachers about this? Do I wait and see? Do I start a more concerted effort at teaching him social skills?

Sometimes being a mother is very hard. I don't always know how to balance taking care of and protecting my child with preparing him to face and deal with the world.

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.