A Call to Suffer

Here is another MUST to listen to.

Throughout my morning I was listening to another Piper sermon and I just needed to share it. I know it will be an encouragement to so many out there so how can I just keep it to myself. Please take the time to listen to this one and the one before. It takes me most of the day to listen to one because there isn't much time around here that is quiet enough, so even if it takes you days to get through it, just try.

I will leave you with a quote, that is mentioned in his message (mendicant is a beggar)

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne
And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart
I cried, “But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.
This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou hast given me.”
He said, “My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee.”
I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,
As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.
I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.

- Martha Snell Nicholson

"And if it takes a thorn to pin aside the veil – if it takes disappointment and loss and heartache and calamity and bitter Providences – then, for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our eternal joy seeing and savoring him, let it come. Amen." -John Piper

Click here to hear

To mothers and all who care about the next generation of faith....

My husband has been on a John Piper kick and I have been listening to some of his sermons online when things are quiet and I get a chance, usually a multi-tasking thing, while paying bills, cooking, etc...I am linking this particular sermon I recently found that you all NEED to listen to, don't read, LISTEN TO IT!
"Is our emphasis on "faith in Jesus Christ"!? Or are we turning the Scriptures into a collection of little morality plays? Do the stories of the Bible point again and again to the need for a Savior or do they point only to the need for you to get your moral act together? Are children getting the impression that Christianity is mainly a list of do’s and don’ts or mainly the story of how God justifies the ungodly through the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Are they getting the impression that the foundation of their acceptance with God is their good behavior or the perfect behavior and death and resurrection of Jesus received by faith alone? Are they learning to win God’s favor by a righteousness they perform, or by a righteousness that Christ performed for their sake?"
MOMS, and everyone else who cares about the next generation of faith, we need to get things right first to make sure those watching and learning from us get it as well. What are we teaching?! What are we showing them about God by how we live out our own lives? I won't say anymore because I know many of you see so many words, stop reading and begin to browse, so just LISTEN HERE

(listen, don't read...the entire sermon is not in written form, you will miss out on some big things)

A bunch of crazy ladies...

Yes, this is my Tuesday night women's bible study group....this first pic is the 'front' we all put on of being normal.
This pic...if you can even see...is more like us. Ruthann, in the white, is our 'mom' and in this picture she is doing exactly that...she is looking over and telling the others to stop fooling around.
We all got together for food and fun the other night. We swapped 'junk' from each others houses...some kind of Yankee swap that you could only bring something used from your house that you consider 'junk'.

Then we checked out the kittens
Sorry Robin, had to include this cute photo...

The little tree climbers and I

Dark, gloomy days...Oh I love them! I started feeling a bit better on Monday so the girls and I took a walk to the pine trees to do some climbing. By that evening I started feeling sick again...I have had fevers, a bad cough, sore throat, sinus pressure, headaches, and a stomach bug since the day before Thanksgiving. Today is a good day though so I am hoping this is it and it is finished. I am just waiting for the girls to have their turn. They have had small fevers and some coughing but just maybe it will stop there.


Above is Nora. I have been letting them dress themselves completely on days that I am home and I just love the outfits they come up with. They have a lot of style for 3 yr olds.



We all love climbing trees. I like to show off and climb to the top because they are just so impressed and I love hearing the "WOW MOM!!"

Beauty

"A Dew sufficed itself and satisfied a leaf. And felt, 'how vast a destiny, how trivial is life!'
The sun went out to work. The day went out to play, but not again that dew was seen by physiognomy.
Whether by day abducted. Or emptied by the sun into the sea, in passing, Eternally Unknown."

Emily Dickinson
XCIX

(still getting over being sick...I will do a real post soon. I did take a walk to the mailbox this morning and captured a bit of natures beauty to share along with Emily's beauty. Hope you enjoy a bit of poetry!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have to say, despite how sick I felt (and still feel), it was a 'perfect' day. The day started out very gloomy and cool, which caused my house to feel cozy and warmer than usual. I love the colors, smells, and beautiful glimpses that Thanksgiving day offers, so let me share some with you...


a bowl of nuts

warm breakfast

bible stories read by dad
sipping a latte and enjoying a quiet moment
colors

a table all ready

coloring time, games, and creative ways to show how we are thankful
a hot meal
cuddles at the table

In my opinion it was a 'perfect' day. Our meal was followed by sharing what we are thankful for through some art that we had created earlier that morning. After sharing and cleaning we cuddled on the couches to rest and watch our first Christmas movie (yes, I am one who hides away all Christmas movies and music until after Thanksgiving). After the movie we enjoyed warm drinks and dessert followed by many board games and block building. That night we made our way over to my brothers for dessert and family time. Despite being sick I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope you all did as well. May we all remember to keep the spirit of thankfulness in our hearts every day, for we all do have so much to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving Eve

I love the holidays and the girls are beginning to as well. There was excitement in the air as we started prepping dinner for the next day. The girls sat at the counter reading through our vast library of animal books, while Kev prepped the turkey and I worked on other misc things needed.




Our floor is just about done but it was so nice to have my fridge and stove back in place ready to prepare for our feast. I do have to say that in the health department I was not feeling so well. I had a fever, went to bed feeling sick, and woke up feeling a lot worse.

Changing of seasons

I just love it.


So did the girls (Emma throwing snow at me)


There is a wonderful season ahead of us.

Emma reciting verse

Something from the mouth of a 5yr old for all of us to learn. Hebrews 13:5-6

Life

Things have been busy. Here are some photos, for those who will complain, but with not much to say. I am on day 2 of a 3 day fast/cleanse that I am doing with a friend. Not easy to do when I am still having to feed 4 other people.


playdate with friends
We are tiling our kitchen floor. Yes, I know...are we crazy to do this right before Thanksgiving?! I have no stove, for a few days, and my fridge is in my living room. It is quite a mess, but worth it for the end result.