i love this face

one of my favorite things about my first few weeks w/ my babies is watching their little eyelashes unfold lash by lash each day. such sweetness i wouldn't trade even for a full night's sleep. :)

DO

That's my theme word lately. From the beginning of this year I have been gearing up mentally for the life change of going from 2 to 3 kids. Everyone warns that it's the hardest transition since you and your husband are outnumbered and since you only have 2 hands...and for a variety of other reasons which I am soon to find out, I'm sure. I certainly haven't hit the worst of it yet since my mom just left Friday, but nonetheless have been counseling myself with encouragement from 2 sources. One I read a few months back and the other I read many years ago.


The first article is called "Do what you Can" by Don Whitney. I was challenged by the mom's determination to have spiritual priorities in the midst of a hectic home life with young kids. I might not have the time I did in my single adulthood to color code theme words in the book of the Bible I'm studying, but I can read a verse here and there and meditate on it and pray through it. Something is better than nothing.


The second resource is one I first read back in college quoted in a book by Elisabeth Elliot. It's called "Do the Next Thing." When I'm tempted to get overwhelmed with life and my to do list and discipline issues and household management issues, it is good to remember just to take the next step. I don't need to think about tomorrow. I just need to do the next thing God has for me right now. What a life simplifier that is!


Of course, I would be remiss to focus merely on the DOing, since, as Don Whitney points out in his article, "God does not love us more when we do more, nor less when we do less. He accepts us, not because of what we do for Him, but because of what He's done for us in Christ (emphasis mine)." I DO because of what I AM. Accepted in Him. Now that promise gives this weary mom some MUCH needed rest.

An Anti-Cookbook Cook

I've almost given up buying cookbooks. I use the internet so much for recipes and I am an anti-clutter person so unless there's a cookbook with a unique twist, I'm just not interested. But this cookbook just might be one of those exceptions. 

I heard about it here and the recipe shown sounds great. Do you have any recommendations for cookbooks, like this one, that have something special to offer?

transitioning

you know you haven't been out of the house for awhile when your 4-year old says, "mommy! there are green leaves on the trees now!"


when we were getting out of the van to go into barnes and noble last night matt said, "honey, it's not man to man defense anymore. we've got three kids now. we're playing zone!"

happy 1 week birthday, sweet schaeffer!

and He gives more grace

j. schaeffer owen

may 4, 2010

2:58 pm

7 lb 9 oz

19 1/4 in

"from the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another."

john 1.16

our gem

kisses or hugs? kisses

indoors or out? out

over or under? over

yes or no? no

"cup", "bup" or "buck"? now "buck"

laugh or cry? yes

lover or fighter? yes

dolls or trucks? yes

dogs or cats? yes

run or walk? run

loud or quiet? loud

serious or silly? silly
gentle or rough? ask stella :)

And that's Ruby..."A little name for such a person." 

I always get sad when I know our youngest will be losing his/her place as baby in the family. So I've been trying to cuddle and snuggle up Ruby all that I can. She is going through an extremely willful spell now - the worst to date - so our consistency, patience and love are being tested at a new level. We are counseling ourselves w/ the truth of Scripture when we're tempted to grow weary in seeking to drive the foolishness from her heart. We are desperate for grace in this task of child-rearing but God is faithful even when we struggle. And as long as there is grace, there is hope for us and for her.

As I mentioned here, I have a hymn picked for each of our kids. It's a special song I sing to them from early on and really is my prayer for them. Ruby's hymn is "Jesus, I am Resting." It is the perfect song for her and the way God made her...and it is the perfect song for me as I work with her and strive to train her in the way she should go. 

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

Chorus:
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

credits

from All I Owe, released 07 November 2006
Words: Jean S. Pigott
Music: David B. Hampton 

As Delivery Approaches

We have no legitimate reason to fear, but only God knows the way He has for us. It crosses every parent's mind. "Will my baby be healthy?" And in light of those thoughts, this is just what I needed reminded of. "I have a hope...and I have a rock..." and it's not a perfectly healthy baby. It's a great God who does all things well.

A New Fave

We heard this song after the NEXT conference last year, but have been basking in the truth of it since Matt returned from T4G last week. Hallelujah! He's all we have and all we need!

ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI), by Jordan Kauflin

Sticky Humor

Stella found a double-duty use for my Lovenox injections...a pogo stick for her bunny!! 

Of First Importance

This is the second year as a family we read thru this during Passion Week. It was still a bit over Stella's head but the object lesson of the candles helped bring the message home to her. We all felt the "silence" on Saturday since no candles were lit and couldn't wait until Sunday to light ALL the candles and remember with great joy that Jesus, the light of the world, is alive!


The past couple of years around Easter Stella has memorized Scripture about the historical accounts of the resurrection. Last year we focused on the account in Matthew 28 and this year we memorized a portion of I Corinthians 15. I love how all the eye witnesses who saw Jesus alive are mentioned in that particular passage. Very powerful.


The day before Easter, we had fun making flower pen gifts for Stella's Sunday School teachers. Also, after Easter lunch we decorated little chick cupcakes. We've been enjoying a new Bible story book we got them for Easter that I saw recommended here. Again, it's a bit of a challenge for Stella's thinking, but seems to be just what she needs. It's been a great addition to the other 2 we've used over the past few years.


Here are some pics of our Resurrection Day celebrations!

A Lesson on Grace from a Pony

Awhile back we were winding down one of those nightmare grocery trips filled with discontent, crying, loud children...and they were mine. I was at the check out about ready to lose my cool with the girls when Stella had the audacity to ask if she could ride the 1 cent pony on the way out. My first thought was, "Are you crazy?! You think after the way you guys have been acting I would let you ride the pony today?!" As those thoughts were running through my mind, my heart was immediately convicted. I realized the pride in my thinking since I act in very similar ways with God. I couldn't shake the thought that in spite of how short I fall from His standards, He always lets me ride the pony (meaning He always gives me better than I deserve). My eyes filled with tears as I was humbled by the great grace I constantly receive from Him but am stingy to show to my girls, especially when they aren't acting in keeping with my standards. Even though they still didn't get to ride the pony that day, through my teary eyes God helped me gain a fresh grace-filled perspective in dealing with them in a way that shows them more of Him and less of me. And that is what they always need - even more than a fun pony ride! 


For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103.14

new old hymns

nothing like them. although i like old old hymns too. :)

all popped out

...and so thankful to be!

photos by niki taylor

i love...

that you wait to catch my eye from across the room and wink at me. 

to be honest, it still makes my heart melt.

photo: niki taylor

Disney on Ice

Stella's big Christmas gift was tickets to Disney on Ice. She waited patiently for 2 months (mostly b/c she didn't know what to expect) and enjoyed the show so much! She got her picture taken w/ her "twin" and loved the skating, music and princesses. Ruby got to enjoy the show too. Daddy was a good sport, as always, but is looking forward to throwing rough and tough boy stuff into the princess mix in 6 more weeks!

"It's great to be at Curves! How may I help you?"

Those words rolled from my tongue pretty consistently for the first 3 years of living in MI. God provided a fun job for me that I really enjoyed managing a few different Curves workout facilities in our area.  

I was taken back to those good old days at Curves with a recent post of Noel Piper's. I couldn't help but think how cool it would be to work in the Curves where she attends and the many 1/2 hours we could fill talking about missions, biographies, Bethlehem, women's ministry, and the list could go on and on (not that I would have much to contribute, but I would enjoy firing tons of questions and listening to her responses!).


But then, my mind wandered back to a wonderful pastor's wife I did follow around the circuit for many 1/2 hours back when I was a new wife -  and seminary wife - at that. She had 2 small girls and she and her husband were in the first year of an exciting church plant in the area. She was venturing into home schooling her oldest daughter at that time as well.


We seemed to click right away. I loved talking with her about ministry and their seminary years and couldn't help but feel an instant bond between the way she and her husband did things and the way Matt and I were endeavoring to do things in our young marriage. 


I remember those conversations so fondly and the way they served me so well then and even still, and think of what a privilege it was to know Kim Brown then and even more so to have her as MY pastor's wife now. I love you, Kim!

qualities of true love

love seems to be the theme of several recent posts. we are still going thru the qualities of love from the month of february but are winding down our study. we've used some transcripts of john macarthur's "qualities of true love" series and they have been excellent as we try to define and seek ways to apply this great virtue.


today was especially convicting. 1 cor 13:7a, "love bears all things." defined, it means, "...Love, out of regard, respect, and honest concern for the real value of another person, will do everything it can to cover up and suppress the sin of that person. Genuine love is reluctant to drag a scandal in front of anyone. So when Paul says that love 'bears all things' he's not talking about enduring a trial, he's talking about covering the ugliness in someone else's life." and then macarthur uses the cross reference of 1 Peter 4:8b--"...love covers a multitude of sins" and describes it as "love being a big huge blanket that runs around throwing itself over people's faults...not exposing them."

and where does this bring us, but again to the foot of the cross where redeeming love not only covered our sin but took it away. the latter is something we obviously can't do for others...but what if i, with God's help, lovingly and graciously covered over another person's sin and ugliness in his/her life instead of replaying it in my mind and exposing it to others? wouldn't this go a long way in leading that person to the One who won't just cover it, but can take his/her sin away for good?

one way dr. custer has influenced my parenting

i hear myself telling the girls over and over something i learned in ethics class in college. dr. custer was teaching on the christian ethic of love from 1 corinthians 13 and said, "we must remember people are more important than things." i hear that instruction replaying in my mind nearly every time i tell stella to love her sister more than she loves a neat room...and ruby to love her sister more than she loves her toys....and myself to love my kids and the opportunities i have to serve them and teach them more than i love peace and quiet and time to think my own thoughts and do my own thing. 


"and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. but the greatest of these is love." (1 corinthians 13.13)

so happy for them to be working together peacefully to clean-up. we'll keep working on it, but i wasn't sure how soon i would see it again so i had to snap a picture of it!

Oh the Precious Blood!

One of my favorite answers Matt gave at the ordination council last week followed a series of questions he was asked about if there was anything special about Christ's blood. Finally someone said, "Well then how do you explain 1 Peter 1:19 when the writer calls Jesus' blood 'precious'?" Matt answered, "Because of the amazing work His death accomplished." Amen! Even still I can't think through that answer without tearing up. My redemption was costly and indeed that is why His blood is precious.


Following are some pictures from the council. We are still praising God for His grace that has brought us to this point!

2 Timothy 2:1, 2

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 

On July 18, Matt, Lord willing, will become the 3rd generation of those called "Pastor Owen". We are hopeful that all 3 will be able to be in attendance. We're so thankful for Dad who was Matt's pastor for a few decades and my pastor for a few years. He truly is a blameless man.

Our wonderful Pastor, Ken, who is an example in every way of what it means to be a shepherd of God's flock.

The following passage was read as the council convened:

1 Timothy 3:1-7

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

The Council

"My job is to keep him in the pulpit." - Bethan Lloyd-Jones

(HT: graceforeverygoodworkandword)