Have you ever had one of those days where you just KNOW God is trying to teach you something? I'm having one of those. Or maybe a week. Or maybe a well, nevermind.
Anyway, I feel like since we got to Pennsylvania I've been praying over what the lesson is that God wants me to learn up here. I've written in my journal countless times that I want to learn it quickly so I can go about my merry way and head on back to Arkansas. But over the last week I've been faced with some somewhat annoying revelations...
Uno. God has to put me in timeout sometimes.
It's true. I feel like sometimes he almost quarantines me from others so that I finally get to a corner and sheepishly say, "Oh, are You trying to tell me something? Did you want to put some input up in here?" He's done this at least two other times in my life ... He keeps knocking and knocking on my door and finally gives me an attention getter that I can't ignore. I don't want to be like that. But fast forward and here I am in Sayre, Pennsylvania (practically distraction free). So clearly, I wasn't listening ... or at least responding. What's amazing is how when I finally get in that quiet spot ... He starts showing me things. One of my favorite lines from Addison Road's song "What Do I Know of Holy" talks about trying to hear from heaven, but then talking the whole time. Oops.
Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.
-Jeremiah 33:3 (HCSB)
Is that all we have to do? Call to Him and He'll start speaking His will over our life? He promises us that He has a purpose and a Plan for us (Jer. 29:11) But if we don't know the plan, how do we know if we're on track?
Recently I was journaling and I told Him that I feel like He's trying to put some blinders on me but that I keep telling Him they don't match my outfit. Because I kinda like the distractions, they're fun and they make me happy. I think. Anybody ... anybody??
Dos. Being kind of cast out of my every day life, and having my somewhat big world turned into an itty bitty one has made me realize how actually small my world was before. That perhaps some of the things that were/are important to me are a little bit narcissistic. It really doesn't matter what my kids have on. Or what I have on. Or if I wore it to bible study last week. What I want to matter is eternal purpose. What I want to hear is "Well done, good and faithful servant." I want to have fought the good fight WELL. Which if I'm searching for matching smocked outfits for Thanksgiving in April is probably not holding eternal value. Just a thought. (disclosure: this is totally me, and I'm totally working through this as I'm going through it, so no judgement for those cute mamas (aka BFFs) that love some cute kid clothes. I'm so with you. Duh)
I've started filling my day with purpose and it's changing me. I've been studying God's word in the morning and pouring out all the good, bad and ugly to Him. During my Arbonne days I remember people having breakouts sometimes when they first got on the skincare. I tried to encourage them to press forward because it was a detox and it was going to bring all the impurities to the surface before it could start cell turnover and renewal, etc. That's kind of where I am. God's bringing some yucky stuff to the surface. Some of the me, me, me stuff. And it's not pretty.
I've also spent my days listening to the audio mp3s for the Five Aspects of Womanhood study by Barbara Mouser. I put it on my headphones and listen to it while I'm cleaning the house or hiding from my kids. She is reading a textbook and it's kind of monotone, but if you get through that there is some major meat in those lessons. I listened to the last one yesterday and I'm going to restart them Monday. I could listen to one a day forever and always learn something new.
Lastly, I've been immersing myself in Christian literature. If I'm not cooking or cleaning, I'm reading one of four books that are so stinkin' profound I spend half the time crying over where my life is heading.
Tres. I could just plan my life away. Right now I could literally map out for the fam a grand life of suburban delight in which everything is just dandy. Perfect golf course house on a tree lined street with three well-dressed, bible-reciting kiddos and, and, and... And, honestly, that sounds dreamy.
But, maybe there's more.
Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.
-Psalms 37:4 (NLT)
When I was younger I thought this meant that as long as I was doing all the christiany things I was supposed to then God would give me most of the stuff I wanted. Isn't God the best?
Then I realized that's not really what He's saying (Darn!). I think he means that as we pursue Him, as we call out to Him, He'll change the desires of His heart to things in His plan... Kinda feels like He's pulling a fast one. But I'm thinking that maybe if I put on those outdated blinders and look with fresh eyes I'll see things more clearly. That maybe His plans could be better than My plans. What a novel thought.
This living away thing is hard. It's totally stretching me in crazy, crazy ways. I don't think I realized how much I relied on the human strength of those around me until they were gone. Thank goodness for Facetime, Facebook, e-mail, text and cell phones with unlimited mobile-to-mobile. But, thank GOD for His precious word that is truly alive and active, and totally changing my views and desires ...
I feel a crazy ride ahead ... and I'm pumped.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, April 13, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Our First Visitors!
This morning we woke up to a quiet house as our first visitors had gone back to Arkansas. We had been SO excited about them coming here and "X'ed" off days on the calendar showing how many more night-nights until Maw and Bobo's arrival.
They brought gifts ...
Cavendars are apparently made in Arkansas and a STAPLE in my cooking ... I'd been using my last bottle sparingly until their arrival.
We had fun cooking, visiting, sight-seeing, and just being in their sweet presence. I have some of the best in laws ever and don't take that for granted one bit! It was SO special for them to make the trip up here! I cried tears of joy when they got here and we all shed a few tears of sadness when they left.
Nightly Yahtzee matches ... Bobo dominated. But Aaron can give you at least 15 scenarios where he should have won ... Yawn.
They helped make Easter special ... Which they always do.
Bobe brought Sawyer this sweet Easter book and read it no less than 15 times ... No wonder she's a "great" grandmother!
One thing for sure, family visits are a lot more special when they're spread out. And I was just thrilled to have them for six whole days. Miss y'all already!!
Lots of love to Maw and Bobo!!
They brought gifts ...
Cavendars are apparently made in Arkansas and a STAPLE in my cooking ... I'd been using my last bottle sparingly until their arrival.
We had fun cooking, visiting, sight-seeing, and just being in their sweet presence. I have some of the best in laws ever and don't take that for granted one bit! It was SO special for them to make the trip up here! I cried tears of joy when they got here and we all shed a few tears of sadness when they left.
Nightly Yahtzee matches ... Bobo dominated. But Aaron can give you at least 15 scenarios where he should have won ... Yawn.
They helped make Easter special ... Which they always do.
Bobe brought Sawyer this sweet Easter book and read it no less than 15 times ... No wonder she's a "great" grandmother!
One thing for sure, family visits are a lot more special when they're spread out. And I was just thrilled to have them for six whole days. Miss y'all already!!
Lots of love to Maw and Bobo!!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Easter in the Boonies
Happy, Happy Easter!
It is an amazing gift that we get to celebrate the Cross and the Empty Tomb showing our Savior is not dead, but ALIVE! The power of the Cross is so powerful and exciting that I scarce have words. Thank you Lord for worship songs that sometimes help me to verbalize everything I want to say. I love most contemporary Christian songs, but there are a couple songs that are so special to me I can tear up just thinking about them. I can hear the first opening notes and have to change the station if I'm driving for fear I'll get some sort of D.U.I. (the Influence of the Holy Spirit in these songs just brings me to MAJOR tears!!) One is The Revelation Song and the other is In Christ Alone. Worship music is just incredibly emotional, personal, and spiritual to me and these songs just bring it to another level.
Here are the lyrics to In Christ Alone ... Love, love.
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
?Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin?s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life?s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand.
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand.
I will stand, I will stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground, all other ground
Is sinking sand, is sinking sand
So I stand.
This was our first holiday away from family (of course, Maw and Bobo were here to bring the fam to us! Thank you Lord!!) and so we celebrated Easter with Home Church in our home and everyone ate lunch with us.
We woke up this morning to see that the Easter Bunny had made a stop to see the Boone kids!
After everyone got here this morning Lynda, Bobo and I took the kiddos downstairs to do our own little version of Sunday school. I picked up the Resurrection Eggs at Hobby Lobby and was thrilled to see when I opened them up they were by Family Life in Little Rock, Arkansas! I love any little homey reminders.
The kids did great and loved the eggs. They colored their little Easter bookmarks and were good listeners. I think a fav was playing some songs for dancing and singing though!
After church I went upstairs to finish lunch while Aaron led a fun Egg Hunt which was a big hit - and provided QUITE the sugar rush.
Love this sweet pic of Emily and Isaiah!
It was TRULY an Easter miracle that the weather warmed up enough for lunch outside. I had ordered some tables and chairs a couple weeks ago when weather was in the 70's-80's. But then, the weather dropped to averages in the 40's-50's ... A wee bit chilly for an outside meal. We prayed and prayed and prayed for warmer temps and God totally answered us!! Thank you LORD for sending us sunshine and 60 degrees!
This was my first Holiday to do the bulk of the meal, so I chose the easiest menu I could! Emily brought a ham and Lisa brought The Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Shortcake Cake which could very possibly be the best thing I've ever eaten. I've already have had two pieces and fully intend on eating a third before the day is through. Oh, didn't you know, Easter calories don't count!
For lunch I made a few pork tenderloins, cheese grits, "unbundled" green beans, deviled eggs, yeast rolls (no Sister Schubert up here ... Booo Hooo!!!) and a cranberry-apple salad. I had planned on making some little birdie nest cupcakes but it just didn't happen. And now that I've seen all the sugar consumed, I'm pretty happy about that!
**Please note that Avery is wearing a dress I wore as a child. Proof that clothes are an investment.
After lunch we napped, blogged, and played outside while Aaron and Dalton headed out with the men to play golf.
And I would be remiss without telling Miss Maci Rowlett HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY- We love you oodles!! And to post a couple of pics of my fam at home celebrating Easter ... Miss them more than words. Funny how you take for granted things like driving over to Mom's for lunch ... Tear.
Love all my people ... In Arkansas and Pennsylvania.
Because He lives we celebrate this day! Happy Easter from the Boonies!!
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
It is an amazing gift that we get to celebrate the Cross and the Empty Tomb showing our Savior is not dead, but ALIVE! The power of the Cross is so powerful and exciting that I scarce have words. Thank you Lord for worship songs that sometimes help me to verbalize everything I want to say. I love most contemporary Christian songs, but there are a couple songs that are so special to me I can tear up just thinking about them. I can hear the first opening notes and have to change the station if I'm driving for fear I'll get some sort of D.U.I. (the Influence of the Holy Spirit in these songs just brings me to MAJOR tears!!) One is The Revelation Song and the other is In Christ Alone. Worship music is just incredibly emotional, personal, and spiritual to me and these songs just bring it to another level.
Here are the lyrics to In Christ Alone ... Love, love.
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
?Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin?s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life?s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand.
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand.
I will stand, I will stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground, all other ground
Is sinking sand, is sinking sand
So I stand.
This was our first holiday away from family (of course, Maw and Bobo were here to bring the fam to us! Thank you Lord!!) and so we celebrated Easter with Home Church in our home and everyone ate lunch with us.
We woke up this morning to see that the Easter Bunny had made a stop to see the Boone kids!
After everyone got here this morning Lynda, Bobo and I took the kiddos downstairs to do our own little version of Sunday school. I picked up the Resurrection Eggs at Hobby Lobby and was thrilled to see when I opened them up they were by Family Life in Little Rock, Arkansas! I love any little homey reminders.
The kids did great and loved the eggs. They colored their little Easter bookmarks and were good listeners. I think a fav was playing some songs for dancing and singing though!
After church I went upstairs to finish lunch while Aaron led a fun Egg Hunt which was a big hit - and provided QUITE the sugar rush.
Love this sweet pic of Emily and Isaiah!
It was TRULY an Easter miracle that the weather warmed up enough for lunch outside. I had ordered some tables and chairs a couple weeks ago when weather was in the 70's-80's. But then, the weather dropped to averages in the 40's-50's ... A wee bit chilly for an outside meal. We prayed and prayed and prayed for warmer temps and God totally answered us!! Thank you LORD for sending us sunshine and 60 degrees!
This was my first Holiday to do the bulk of the meal, so I chose the easiest menu I could! Emily brought a ham and Lisa brought The Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Shortcake Cake which could very possibly be the best thing I've ever eaten. I've already have had two pieces and fully intend on eating a third before the day is through. Oh, didn't you know, Easter calories don't count!
For lunch I made a few pork tenderloins, cheese grits, "unbundled" green beans, deviled eggs, yeast rolls (no Sister Schubert up here ... Booo Hooo!!!) and a cranberry-apple salad. I had planned on making some little birdie nest cupcakes but it just didn't happen. And now that I've seen all the sugar consumed, I'm pretty happy about that!
**Please note that Avery is wearing a dress I wore as a child. Proof that clothes are an investment.
After lunch we napped, blogged, and played outside while Aaron and Dalton headed out with the men to play golf.
And I would be remiss without telling Miss Maci Rowlett HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY- We love you oodles!! And to post a couple of pics of my fam at home celebrating Easter ... Miss them more than words. Funny how you take for granted things like driving over to Mom's for lunch ... Tear.
Love all my people ... In Arkansas and Pennsylvania.
Because He lives we celebrate this day! Happy Easter from the Boonies!!
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Sayre, PA
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