I've had a song stuck in my head for days now. DAYS I TELL YOU!
Which has been ok, since it's not the Yo Gabba Gabba theme song or anything by Justin Bieber. . .
I love music and I especially love Christian music so my radio is often on-helping get me through my day. So, once a song hits the stations rotation list, chances are it's getting stuck in my head. Sometimes, it's scary to be me ;)
Well, this song by Chris August has -what I think-is an amazing lyric. "Giving my life for the only One, Who made the moon reflect the sun."
Profound. I find myself humming it randomly.
But, as I began thinking of the lyrics, I also began wondering if it's true. Do I really give my life for the only One who made the moon reflect the sun?
As a stay at home mom sometimes life can feel a bit mundane and ordinary. Repetitive might also be a good word. Wiping noses and changing diapers. Packing lunches and doing laundry. Breaking up the 500th argument about the remote.
Maybe working in an office can feel the same way, I just don't have that life experience.
So, has I was folding my 20th t-shirt in a row, I began doing it not out of necessity, but out of love.
Love for the person who would be wearing the shirt, but also out of love for the one who made me.
After all, He blessed me with this life. He gave me this beautiful family to care for and nurture. And sometimes that means folding 10 loads of laundry, making what seems like the same meal for the 1000 time. But, instead of doing those things just because they have to be done, I'm trying to do them as acts of service for my Lord.
No, it's not saving lives in some jungle far away, it's not having an alter call where hundreds come forward to follow Jesus.
But, it is my gift to give back to Him. The one he's allowed me to have them so I'll be able to give it back to him.
Seems small in comparison to what He's given me, but it's my offering to give, daily sometimes hourly. To remember I'm not doing any of these things for anyone other than Him.
Happy Back to school week!
Two boys back at school and the family trying to get back in the swing of the school day routine.
We've enjoyed an fun filled summer that including sleeping past 7 most days-so this time of year is always an interesting transition!
Baby girl is still at home with Momma this year (thank you Jesus-I dread the day she walks through the doors of school and doesn't look back)so doesn't have to wake up as early as the boys. But, with all the excitement the past two days it was impossible to sleep through! (which is a good thing- who isn't excited about a fresh new start and seeing your friends everyday??).
We are, more often than not, a cold cereal-piece of toast-kinda family. But, those first few days of school, I make a big hot breakfast. Nothing says 'I love you and I'll miss while you're gone' than fried pork product!
Well, yesterday it was french toast sticks and sausage links. The excitement was contagious and little girl didn't know whether to eat or follow her big brothers around watching & 'helping' them get ready.
And, while I'm usually a stickler about sitting at the table. . sit down. SIT down. SIT DOWN. (sorry, I was getting a twitch) there was just entirely too much going on to make that happen.
And, she said she wasn't hungry anyway.
But, then I saw her come running and grab a toast stick off the table as she went back to what she was doing. About 10 minutes later the same thing with a sausage link.
Then we were out the door to join the rest of the Momarratize taking the required 1st day of school pictures.
After getting the boys to their classes/locker -you can go now Mom-really you can. . .we were back home ready to tackle the day.
We'd only been home a little bit when I heard "Momma, I'm hungry!".
"But, we just ate breakfast." my reply. "But, I'm Huunnggery!!"
This is when it dawns on me her tummy doesn't even know she put anything in it, she was so busy running around while just taking a couple of bits.
I was reminded about how much I miss of the feast, God has prepared for me.
A feast, I'm too busy to enjoy. Can't appreciate, because there is so much going on around me I think I need to help with-I can't sit still and enjoy what is spread before me.
Yes, I might sit and have a quick word with Him, say a quick prayer in the morning and then wonder why I can't funciton in His power an hour later!
It's not because the food-His word- isn't there for me. It's because I haven't taken the time to sit and partake of the table spread before me.
How full I would be and not so ready to fill up with junk later on.
So, I will come and sit before Him at the table He's prepared for me and feast with Him. And be full.
Two boys back at school and the family trying to get back in the swing of the school day routine.
We've enjoyed an fun filled summer that including sleeping past 7 most days-so this time of year is always an interesting transition!
Baby girl is still at home with Momma this year (thank you Jesus-I dread the day she walks through the doors of school and doesn't look back)so doesn't have to wake up as early as the boys. But, with all the excitement the past two days it was impossible to sleep through! (which is a good thing- who isn't excited about a fresh new start and seeing your friends everyday??).
We are, more often than not, a cold cereal-piece of toast-kinda family. But, those first few days of school, I make a big hot breakfast. Nothing says 'I love you and I'll miss while you're gone' than fried pork product!
Well, yesterday it was french toast sticks and sausage links. The excitement was contagious and little girl didn't know whether to eat or follow her big brothers around watching & 'helping' them get ready.
And, while I'm usually a stickler about sitting at the table. . sit down. SIT down. SIT DOWN. (sorry, I was getting a twitch) there was just entirely too much going on to make that happen.
And, she said she wasn't hungry anyway.
But, then I saw her come running and grab a toast stick off the table as she went back to what she was doing. About 10 minutes later the same thing with a sausage link.
Then we were out the door to join the rest of the Momarratize taking the required 1st day of school pictures.
After getting the boys to their classes/locker -you can go now Mom-really you can. . .we were back home ready to tackle the day.
We'd only been home a little bit when I heard "Momma, I'm hungry!".
"But, we just ate breakfast." my reply. "But, I'm Huunnggery!!"
This is when it dawns on me her tummy doesn't even know she put anything in it, she was so busy running around while just taking a couple of bits.
I was reminded about how much I miss of the feast, God has prepared for me.
A feast, I'm too busy to enjoy. Can't appreciate, because there is so much going on around me I think I need to help with-I can't sit still and enjoy what is spread before me.
Yes, I might sit and have a quick word with Him, say a quick prayer in the morning and then wonder why I can't funciton in His power an hour later!
It's not because the food-His word- isn't there for me. It's because I haven't taken the time to sit and partake of the table spread before me.
How full I would be and not so ready to fill up with junk later on.
So, I will come and sit before Him at the table He's prepared for me and feast with Him. And be full.
I celebrated another birthday this week. NOT a BIG birthday but a birthday none the less.
Sunday we spent the day with my folks and my mom made a delicious cake, that was my great grandmother's recipe. SO YUMMY!!
After lunch we headed out to their pool, leaving the cake/candle festivities until later in the day.
A couple hours into swimming one of my boys declared he was hungry and heading in for a snack. A few minutes later he was back, saying he'd cut the cake for everyone and had a piece himself. That was really the last I'd thought about it until later that evening when the singing commenced and there among the candlelight was a hole right in the middle of the cake.
My boy was quite pleased with the fact that he'd sliced the cake for everyone and when I asked where he gotten his piece, he said the middle one because that's the best!
Just tickled me to no end. And as I lay in bed later that night reflecting on the day, I had to stop and thank Jesus. He has brought me so far! You see there was a time when a hole-I mean HOLE in the middle of the cake would have made me crazy.
With a capital C.
I like things to be 'perfect'. Or at least act like they are.
Or I used to, I've come along way (thank you JESUS-it's ONLY BECAUSE OF YOU!)
There are many reasons why-the atmosphere in the school/church I grew up. The yearning to be enough DO enough. But it never was.
Square peg in the round hole. Striving but never arriving, then giving up. And if you can't be perfectly perfect, you can be perfectly bad. Either choice makes a huge mess and is hard to untangle.
It has been a long journey to realize that who I am in Christ is enough. There doesn't need to be more. I don't need to pretend there is more. Others can chose to accept me and the flaws ( there are many)because trying to pretend that there isn't a hole in the middle of the cake is entirely to difficult!
Sometimes the dishes are in the sink, the kids (and mom) are cranky and there is a hole right in the middle of the cake.
Not perfect. NEVER perfect. But willing. Willing to be used in the beautiful mess that is me and my life.Not looking around at others who I 'think' are perfect and have it all together. Thinking their life is much easier because of what appears to be perfect on the outside. I am certain there is a hole in the middle of their cake too! Let's face it we all have one. Because I am so convinced that by Christ using the broken, weak messes that we are He shines through us more brightly.
When we pretend to have it all together we (and by we I mean ME) take the glory from Him and place it on ourselves (MYself).
Not perfect, never perfect. But willing and ready.
Now let's go get some cake!
Sunday we spent the day with my folks and my mom made a delicious cake, that was my great grandmother's recipe. SO YUMMY!!
After lunch we headed out to their pool, leaving the cake/candle festivities until later in the day.
A couple hours into swimming one of my boys declared he was hungry and heading in for a snack. A few minutes later he was back, saying he'd cut the cake for everyone and had a piece himself. That was really the last I'd thought about it until later that evening when the singing commenced and there among the candlelight was a hole right in the middle of the cake.
My boy was quite pleased with the fact that he'd sliced the cake for everyone and when I asked where he gotten his piece, he said the middle one because that's the best!
Just tickled me to no end. And as I lay in bed later that night reflecting on the day, I had to stop and thank Jesus. He has brought me so far! You see there was a time when a hole-I mean HOLE in the middle of the cake would have made me crazy.
With a capital C.
I like things to be 'perfect'. Or at least act like they are.
Or I used to, I've come along way (thank you JESUS-it's ONLY BECAUSE OF YOU!)
There are many reasons why-the atmosphere in the school/church I grew up. The yearning to be enough DO enough. But it never was.
Square peg in the round hole. Striving but never arriving, then giving up. And if you can't be perfectly perfect, you can be perfectly bad. Either choice makes a huge mess and is hard to untangle.
It has been a long journey to realize that who I am in Christ is enough. There doesn't need to be more. I don't need to pretend there is more. Others can chose to accept me and the flaws ( there are many)because trying to pretend that there isn't a hole in the middle of the cake is entirely to difficult!
Sometimes the dishes are in the sink, the kids (and mom) are cranky and there is a hole right in the middle of the cake.
Not perfect. NEVER perfect. But willing. Willing to be used in the beautiful mess that is me and my life.Not looking around at others who I 'think' are perfect and have it all together. Thinking their life is much easier because of what appears to be perfect on the outside. I am certain there is a hole in the middle of their cake too! Let's face it we all have one. Because I am so convinced that by Christ using the broken, weak messes that we are He shines through us more brightly.
When we pretend to have it all together we (and by we I mean ME) take the glory from Him and place it on ourselves (MYself).
Not perfect, never perfect. But willing and ready.
Now let's go get some cake!
My previous post about women's ministry and the responses to it (thank you for your input and if you still have something to add-please do!!)
Got me to thinking about why we do or don't do things.
I truly believe we miss out on so much of life because we can't get over our insecurities and/or can't stop playing the comparison game.
Which got me to thinking about my life and the beginnings of Lessons from Aisle 12.
This is the first thing I ever wrote with that title. It's been two years now.
Much has changed, but much is still the same. I'm so glad God never gives up on us!
So from Dec. 2008:
Today, after picking up Jude from preschool, we headed over to Aldi. For those of you who've never experienced the joy of the Aldi shopping adventure. . .well, it's hard to explain.
As our groceries were being rung up, Jude headed over to the counter where you bag your groceries, with his lunchable(ok let's call it his bribery--I'm so NOT above a little bribery). He was waiting for us very nicely and quietly, 'reading' the back of his box. Now for the fun part of Aldi, sacking up your groceries. . it's a nice little work out. Anyway, I digress. . .shocking I know!
A family of five children was heading our way as I was finishing up. They ranged from 8 to baby in a carrier. Three boys and two girls (one of the girls was the baby).
Two of the boys and the oldest girl sat down near Jude and they all struck up a conversation.
Talking about Star Wars, Christmas, the snow. It was really quite cute to listen to them chatting.
And it struck me as I watched them, when do we change? When do we go from just accepting how someone is and chat like we know each other. Because, going through my mind as I first saw them was
WOW five kids, she's so skinny and ones a baby! WOW five kids, I'll bet she homeschools them, because how else are the oldest ones here. She must be a better mom/wife/woman fill in the blank than me, because she: has more kids, is thinner, homeschools and is buying more fresh produce. (You know it didn't have to be those things that just what is was today).
So, when in our lives do we get so beat up by the world/Satan, we can't just enjoy talking with someone?
No comparing, no labeling,no judging (them or ourselves).
When do we stop seeing ourselves as the treasure God made us? His creation, created for His Glory!
The sweet acceptance of my five year old as he talked and laughed with these children. Never thinking for a moment what would someone else think about that, or maybe they wouldn't like him.
What a gift I was given today! A beautiful reminder to love and accept others and myself just the way Jesus does.
Wonder what I'll learn at Wal Mart tomorrow?
Got me to thinking about why we do or don't do things.
I truly believe we miss out on so much of life because we can't get over our insecurities and/or can't stop playing the comparison game.
Which got me to thinking about my life and the beginnings of Lessons from Aisle 12.
This is the first thing I ever wrote with that title. It's been two years now.
Much has changed, but much is still the same. I'm so glad God never gives up on us!
So from Dec. 2008:
Today, after picking up Jude from preschool, we headed over to Aldi. For those of you who've never experienced the joy of the Aldi shopping adventure. . .well, it's hard to explain.
As our groceries were being rung up, Jude headed over to the counter where you bag your groceries, with his lunchable(ok let's call it his bribery--I'm so NOT above a little bribery). He was waiting for us very nicely and quietly, 'reading' the back of his box. Now for the fun part of Aldi, sacking up your groceries. . it's a nice little work out. Anyway, I digress. . .shocking I know!
A family of five children was heading our way as I was finishing up. They ranged from 8 to baby in a carrier. Three boys and two girls (one of the girls was the baby).
Two of the boys and the oldest girl sat down near Jude and they all struck up a conversation.
Talking about Star Wars, Christmas, the snow. It was really quite cute to listen to them chatting.
And it struck me as I watched them, when do we change? When do we go from just accepting how someone is and chat like we know each other. Because, going through my mind as I first saw them was
WOW five kids, she's so skinny and ones a baby! WOW five kids, I'll bet she homeschools them, because how else are the oldest ones here. She must be a better mom/wife/woman fill in the blank than me, because she: has more kids, is thinner, homeschools and is buying more fresh produce. (You know it didn't have to be those things that just what is was today).
So, when in our lives do we get so beat up by the world/Satan, we can't just enjoy talking with someone?
No comparing, no labeling,no judging (them or ourselves).
When do we stop seeing ourselves as the treasure God made us? His creation, created for His Glory!
The sweet acceptance of my five year old as he talked and laughed with these children. Never thinking for a moment what would someone else think about that, or maybe they wouldn't like him.
What a gift I was given today! A beautiful reminder to love and accept others and myself just the way Jesus does.
Wonder what I'll learn at Wal Mart tomorrow?
Ok, All you lovely ladies this is for you.
Recently, I was in a meeting talking about women's ministry. All sorts of things were batted around, but it got me thinking:
"What do women want in women's ministry?"
So, knowing we are all from different backgrounds I would love to hear from you.
What top three things would you like to see in your churches women's ministry -or what are top three favorite things.
Thanks,and I can't wait to hear from you!!
Recently, I was in a meeting talking about women's ministry. All sorts of things were batted around, but it got me thinking:
"What do women want in women's ministry?"
So, knowing we are all from different backgrounds I would love to hear from you.
What top three things would you like to see in your churches women's ministry -or what are top three favorite things.
Thanks,and I can't wait to hear from you!!
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