No Time To Blog (and other stuff)

Ok friends, things are getting a little crazy around here! Not that I was posting all that regularly anyway, but given how busy the next several weeks will be, I'm not sure how much time I'll be devoted to blogging. Soooo....here's some stuff that's going on. We'd love your prayers!* We got back from New Attitude on Tuesday, exhausted but grateful to God for the work that He did in our hearts. It was an incredible time of soaking in rich truth unpacked by some of the most gifted preachers & humble men of our day. Thanks for praying for my trip down there alone w/Owen; it was pretty uneventful and I'm grateful to God for that!* This Monday we're moving to Sandwich to live with my parents...

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Trusting God

Tali & her friend, CalebIt's not too hard to trust God when things are going well. But when the circumstances around me are a bit shaky, I can quickly default to trusting in myself and my very limited understanding rather than seeking to trust God. As I reflect back on this week, it is all too clear to me that I have grieved the Lord by my failure to trust the only trustworthy One. God has once again been faithful to me, bringing about good in all circumstances even when I haven't recognized it at the time.This week, Tali has been sick, the worst of which was when her temp hit 106.9 and we took her to the Emergency Room. Most of the week I have felt sick to my stomach with worry, been...

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Yes, I'm a Complainer. How Can I Change?

I'm a complainer. But I don't want to grumble, I want to honor the Lord by living a thank-based life. But how? How do I get from here to there?"Rather than just saying to ourselves, 'I can't grumble anymore, and I'm not going to let any grumbling out of my mouth,' or just rending our garments, we need to rend our hearts. Begin with heart confession. Say before the Lord, 'Yes, Lord, I have had a complaint-based lifestyle. I want my life to be easy. I curse obstacles. I don't like moments of trust. I've tried to find life in the creation. I have forgotten my inclusion in the family of faith, and in Your presences, power, and grace.' " (pg. 52)If we want to change, we must repent. As...

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The Thank-based Life, Part 3

It's been a while, but I'm still thinking about the awesome article by Paul Tripp that I've been outlining on here. (If you missed the other posts, they start here.) I want to be a thankful Christian, not a complainer!When we complain, we aren't living in the truth that God has sufficient grace for us. We're so busy looking at our circumstances that we fail to see the grace that covers our lives. The third aspect of the thank-based life that Tripp describes is this: it lives with a powerful awareness of God's grace."It is an amazing truth that where sin abounds, grace abounds even more. There is no pit so deep that Jesus can't reach deeper to get you out of it. There is no human condition,...

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Little Chatterbox

I love reading "Maddie-isms" on my friend, Christy's blog. And so...here are some Tali-isms for your reading pleasure. Keep in mind that everything is said very emphatically and with much drama."Tah-YEE" (Tali)"Cov-uh-up" (cover up)"Pee-YEEE!" (Pe-ewe)"Mo mo" (one more)"Oh no, Tah! Mass, Tah!! Mass!!!" (Oh no, Tali! Mess, Tali! Mess!)"All none. All none." (All done)"Oh, MAMA!!! ANS! ANS! Oh, no, MAMA! ANS! Wise. Teen-em-up, teen-em-up." (Oh, Mama! Ants! Ants! Oh, no, MAMA! Ants! Wipes. Clean them up, clean them up.)Here is my favorite conversation of the day. She was talking to her babies today when she took them into her tent for the first time:"Oh, baby. Tent. Tent. Yook,...

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The Thank-based Life, Part 2

Well, it happened again. Yesterday I had a raging headache, Owen was having one of his worst reflux days in a long while and the temptation to complain was looming large. I've got to keep renewing my mind here with the truth as I am all too quick to grumble. So, how can I live with a thankful heart?The second characteristic Tripp gives for the thank-based lifestyle is that it allows us to "look at life from the vantage point of God's power." I love this because it's in direct contradiction to what I usually do-look at things through the lens of my puny little supposed power. How big is God?"'Who measured the waters in the hollow of his hand?' (Is.40:12). Imagine that. Pour water in your...

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Almost 5 Months

Our little guy is almost 5 months old. I am shocked! The time has been zipping by. Since I haven't given any updates on him lately, here ya have it:Hair: still not redEyes: a beautiful shade of blueTemperament: Generally very cheerful. He smiles whenever he is smiled at, grins if Tali comes within 5 feet of him, loves to be held, and is just a very sweet guy.Favorite Things: His sister, getting his clothes changed (he's ticklish), chewing on his hands, being held, going outside.Reflux: Praise the Lord, there has been improvement!!!!! He is still in pain, but he is spitting up less and he doesn't seem to be in as much pain as often. We still pray for continued healing for him, though, as...

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The Thank-based Life, part 1

I'm all too familiar with what a grumbling heart looks like, but what does a thank-based lifestyle consist of? Tripp gives three reasons and the first is this: a thankful heart is one that is resting in the presence of the Lord. If I was actively doing this on a moment to moment basis, everything in my life would be so different! When I am at home cleaning up messes, training Tali, wiping up countless spit-ups, I am doing it all in the very presence of God. When no one else sees me, He does. I am not alone trying to "get through" the day. God is with me; His Spirit is inside of me!"My little pea brain can't imagine it, but the bible tells me that this God of glory and power has come by...

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True Life & Satisfaction

Unfortunately, writing a couple of posts on grumbling hasn't made me a 100% thankful woman. And so, on with this little series!The third point that Tripp gives for our complaint-based lifestyles is this: we seek to find life in the creation rather than in the Creator."It begins to believe the lie of lies from the garden of Eden-that somehow outside of the Lord I can find life. The lie is that life can be found in human acceptance, in human love, in position, and possession. In this way, I deify the creation and forget the Creator." (pg.49)Here is what that can look like for me: in my heart I believe that true satisfaction/life comes from an orderly house, smiling children, a husband who...

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