Thursday, January 26, 2012
Compassion
My parents gave me this great daily devotional for Christmas called "Edges of His Ways" by Amy Carmichael. Amy was a missionary to India (among other places). This devotional is full of her musings about the Word of God and some poems/songs she has written. Each day is VERY short and VERY deep which I love for the phase of life I am in right now. I'm sure you can find it on Amazon or Westminster Bookstore.
Today's devotional was about compassion. She quoted Mark 8 where Jesus speaks about having compassion on the multitude of people.
Here are some of her words:
"I have often found it easier to have compassion on the multitude than on the individual, especially a rather tiresome individual...When we next have to deal with a forgetful boy or girl, perhaps this way of His will (being merciful to his people) will help to guide our ways. It is so easy to feel inwardly impatient, but He whom we follow never did. 'Jesus Master, I would be More and more made like to The.'"
I was convicted of my lack of compassion towards my children this morning. For being impatient with Baxter because he didn't want to go potty before rest time (even though we do this EVERY day), for rushing Owen through a story he was telling me because I was ready to move on with our next assignment, for getting frustrated at them for fighting with each other for the tenth time today (AND we were on the way to the park on a beautiful day - how can you fight on a day like today when you're about to play at the park?!), etc.
And yet I was also encouraged that I see God, in HIS compassion, at work in me and in them. He is at work to soften my words - even when I am frustrated. He is at work to bend Baxter's stubborn will. He is at work to give our boys love towards each other. And He will be at work when Lucy starts in on all of this too...though I'm still not sure the baby girl of the family (ahem!) deals with this stuff too. Ha!
The words of this song were in my head this morning, and I think it's a good place to stop..."Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever."
Today's devotional was about compassion. She quoted Mark 8 where Jesus speaks about having compassion on the multitude of people.
Here are some of her words:
"I have often found it easier to have compassion on the multitude than on the individual, especially a rather tiresome individual...When we next have to deal with a forgetful boy or girl, perhaps this way of His will (being merciful to his people) will help to guide our ways. It is so easy to feel inwardly impatient, but He whom we follow never did. 'Jesus Master, I would be More and more made like to The.'"
I was convicted of my lack of compassion towards my children this morning. For being impatient with Baxter because he didn't want to go potty before rest time (even though we do this EVERY day), for rushing Owen through a story he was telling me because I was ready to move on with our next assignment, for getting frustrated at them for fighting with each other for the tenth time today (AND we were on the way to the park on a beautiful day - how can you fight on a day like today when you're about to play at the park?!), etc.
And yet I was also encouraged that I see God, in HIS compassion, at work in me and in them. He is at work to soften my words - even when I am frustrated. He is at work to bend Baxter's stubborn will. He is at work to give our boys love towards each other. And He will be at work when Lucy starts in on all of this too...though I'm still not sure the baby girl of the family (ahem!) deals with this stuff too. Ha!
The words of this song were in my head this morning, and I think it's a good place to stop..."Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever."
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Way to go Tuckahoe Tigers!
This morning was week 3 of Owen's basketball season. Asst. Coach Purdy was on the sidelines today - he has a nasty cold again and wasn't able to coach, but he was able to be a daddy! Owen was on the court and doing AWESOME! It has been very very neat for Matt and I to watch Owen the last three weeks.
As the weeks go by, he becomes more and more confident in himself (taking shots and passing more often), bold (really diving for the ball and going for rebounds on defense...even stealing the ball while the other team is dribbling which is actually a foul in this league, oops!) and joyful (often times he is jumping up and down on the court while his teammates go for the ball or take a shot - the excitement it so intense!). We are so proud of him and can't wait to see how the rest of the season goes. Last week he scored one basket and this week he scored two or three. Way to go Owen! We love you buddy!
p.s. I hope to take some pictures next week - there is so much going on on the sidelines to keep B and L occupied and such a huddle of kids all over the court that it will be challenging to get some good pictures, but I'm up for the challenge!
As the weeks go by, he becomes more and more confident in himself (taking shots and passing more often), bold (really diving for the ball and going for rebounds on defense...even stealing the ball while the other team is dribbling which is actually a foul in this league, oops!) and joyful (often times he is jumping up and down on the court while his teammates go for the ball or take a shot - the excitement it so intense!). We are so proud of him and can't wait to see how the rest of the season goes. Last week he scored one basket and this week he scored two or three. Way to go Owen! We love you buddy!
p.s. I hope to take some pictures next week - there is so much going on on the sidelines to keep B and L occupied and such a huddle of kids all over the court that it will be challenging to get some good pictures, but I'm up for the challenge!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Simple Truth
It's been a while since I have forced (I say forced because it had to be a really concerted effort to go sit and read instead of go sit and zone out) myself to sit down in the middle of the day (during rest time) to read the Bible and spend time with the Lord. When rest time hits, I either have a list of 101 things I want/need to get done in the hour and a half (or so) ahead of me OR I am so tired from the day that I just want to sit and zone out at the computer or lay down and rest. Now, the reality is that each day I WILL have something to get done AND it is good to zone out a little and lay down a little. Those are all important parts of the day. I was just doing those and neglecting the time in the Word.
So today sat on the couch with my Bible and my journal as soon as I got everyone settled in rest/nap time and got the downstairs straightened up. From 1:35-1:48 I read my Bible, I wrote some things out about what I was thinking/how I was processing the things I had read, and I prayed (a little).
I have to say, it was the most beneficial 13 minutes of my day AND there was still plenty of time to get things ready for our school day tomorrow, iron Matt's shirts and fold the load of laundry I did this morning. AND what is better than that is that I am able to be more aware of the Lord and more sure of His presence with me and more empowered by Him instead of living in my own little world on my own strength.
I was thinking mostly about verse 10 in Psalm 46, "Be still and know that I am God." Talk about simple! Yet it's also quite profound. I was encouraged to remember that I am not God (I can not do all things, and that is ok. Sometimes we need to remember the frame He has given us....one that needs to sit and rest, one that needs to call out for His strength, one that needs to be recharged and encouraged. We can not do this on our own, He has not made us to do this on our own. He has provided His Spirit and His Son and each other to help us!), that this is His world (so I can trust all things to Him and I can follow His ways instead of try to make my own way), and that He is to be trusted and that He loves me and cares for me. He is God, and that is good news for me today. I am not. I can go do my chores and go love my kids with and for Him.
So today sat on the couch with my Bible and my journal as soon as I got everyone settled in rest/nap time and got the downstairs straightened up. From 1:35-1:48 I read my Bible, I wrote some things out about what I was thinking/how I was processing the things I had read, and I prayed (a little).
I have to say, it was the most beneficial 13 minutes of my day AND there was still plenty of time to get things ready for our school day tomorrow, iron Matt's shirts and fold the load of laundry I did this morning. AND what is better than that is that I am able to be more aware of the Lord and more sure of His presence with me and more empowered by Him instead of living in my own little world on my own strength.
I was thinking mostly about verse 10 in Psalm 46, "Be still and know that I am God." Talk about simple! Yet it's also quite profound. I was encouraged to remember that I am not God (I can not do all things, and that is ok. Sometimes we need to remember the frame He has given us....one that needs to sit and rest, one that needs to call out for His strength, one that needs to be recharged and encouraged. We can not do this on our own, He has not made us to do this on our own. He has provided His Spirit and His Son and each other to help us!), that this is His world (so I can trust all things to Him and I can follow His ways instead of try to make my own way), and that He is to be trusted and that He loves me and cares for me. He is God, and that is good news for me today. I am not. I can go do my chores and go love my kids with and for Him.
Tuckahoe Tigers
Owen started his very first season of basketball this past weekend. He is playing through our local YMCA on the Tuckahoe Tigers. Daddy is the assistant coach on his team which both Owen and I are excited about. Matt and Owen really loved the first practice! I asked Owen what he liked and he said "I'm ready for next week!" We are really excited about this for Owen - to be able to be on a team with other 5 year old boys, taking direction from his coach (and assistant coach)! And also we're excited for this chance to be used as a light with other families who may not know about the Gospel. It's neat to help Owen learn about that, and learn right along side of him!! Here is a little bit of a blurry picture of him waiting to practice his bounce pass :) I'm sure there will be more pictures to post and scores to report as the season goes on. :)
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