Catching Up

Here are some older pics that didn't make it on the blog a month ago:

painting!

cutie had fun!

you know they're concentrating when they tongues are hanging out!

music at our 'healthy kids' group

abbey and dylan :)

benjamin being fully present to the music lesson :)

abbey and nana

josiah was so excited about his sixth year check up with dr. feder!  he's in the 91st percentile for height, 75th-80th for weight, and he seems to be developing just fine.  dr. feder promised me that he would come of out his shell eventually...ha!  there are no wall flowers in this family!

How to Help Raise Grateful Kids

I want to do this: Raise Grateful Kids, from Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience.

Lenten Thoughts

"I slew him--this right hand struck the dagger to his heart. My deeds slew Christ. Alas! I slew my best beloved; I killed him who loved me with an everlasting love. Oh eyes, why do you refuse to weep when you see Jesus' body mangled and torn? Give vent to your sorrow, Christians, for you have good reason to do so." - adapted from "The Tomb of Jesus" by Charles Spurgeon

The Hymn, "Ah, Holy Jesus"

1. Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended, 
 that we to judge thee have in hate pretended? 
 By foes derided, by thine own rejected, 
 O most afflicted! 

2. Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee? 
 Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee! 
 'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee; 
 I crucified thee. 

3. Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered; 
 the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered. 
 For our atonement, while we nothing heeded, 
 God interceded. 

4. For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation, 
 thy mortal sorrow, and thy life's oblation; 
 thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion, 
 for my salvation. 

5. Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee, 
 I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee, 
 think on thy pity and thy love unswerving, 
 not my deserving. 

O Almighty God, who alone can order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: help us to love what you command, and desire what you promise. Among the world's many distractions, may our hearts be surely fixed where true joy is found, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. - adapted from the Book of Common Prayer

Mom's Birthday

Today is Mom's 50-somethingth birthday!  We took Mom to her favorite restaurant, Bugaboo Creek, Sunday afternoon with Danny and April and Jonathan and Sarah to celebrate.  We're blessed to have such a sweet mother.  Happy birthday, Mom!  We love you!  

Good Reads

Just read these on Christianity Today and thought I'd share:

The Perception Obstacle for Women Pursuing Leadership in Evangelical Workplaces

A Liberating Woman: A Reflection on the Founder of Christians for Biblical Equality

A True and Living Church

• 
  

  "The Divine Lover still sorrows when his love is unrequited, and pines for our continuing, deepening, maturing...adoration. Love, then, is the first mark of a true and living church. Indeed, it is not a living church at all unless it is a loving church. The Christian life is essentially a love-relationship to Jesus Christ. 'Jesus captured me,' wrote Wilson Carlile, founder and 'chief' of the Church Army. 'For me to know Jesus is a love affair.'"
  From Authentic Christianity by John R. W. Stott 

4-Wheeling

Uncle Danny and April gave the boys a 4-wheeler for Christmas.  With the snow finally melted and the yard dry, it was time to get it out!  The boys were beyond thrilled this evening to ride it for the first time.  I'm afraid they're both inclined to try some Evil Kinevil-type stunts, so I'm going to have to keep my eyes on them when they're tearing around the yard on this!  As they took turns riding, the other chased the 4-wheeler on foot.  Very humorous to watch.  I'll try to post a video tomorrow.  Thank you, Danny and April! 

 

 

 

Pigtails

Abbey was wearing her outfit from Papa and Grandma in NC the other day with "Cutie" on the shirt--her nickname!  And I had her hair in pigtails, so I snapped a bunch of pictures as quickly as I could expecting her to rip her hairdo out at any moment.  She's growing up fast!  Abbey has been climbing on all of our furniture like a little monkey.  She plays chase with her brothers and says "Pee-boo!"  Also, "Da--y" for Logan, and she has a fascination with turtles lately, and always says "Turtle" when she sees a picture of one or one of the boys turtle night lights.  We finally sleep trained her and I can feel myself slowly returning to sanity.  It's been tough keeping up with a toddler as well as two wild and crazy boys!  So, without further ado, here is Cutie in Pigtails: 

 

 

 

 

Wounded Soldier

Yesterday, we visited a new church.  The pastor's sermon was on the thorn in Paul's flesh.  Paul was listing off the many accomplishment and experiences that he could use to defend his authority, which some were questioning, but then said such boasting was meaningless--it was his weaknesses that made him strong.  There was a "thorn in his flesh," whatever it may have been, that kept him dependent upon God, and God's power was made greater in Paul's weakness. The pastor gave an excellent analogy--as a young man, he worked on the grounds crew on a college campus.  His boss made sure that he didn't water the flowers too much, because if they were never thirsty, they wouldn't grow their roots deep.  I would encourage you to read this article on the Stages of Faith, which demonstrates how going through a crisis of faith actually brings you to a much deeper faith.  Because we are refined by fire, we can "count it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds."   

This poem, entitled "Wounded Soldier," was written by an MK (missionary kid) from Paraguay, Lori Higham.  It appeared in the New Tribes Mission magazine, "Common," in 1996.  It was shared last week in a Facebook group for MKs and TCKs (third culture kids) who attended a boarding school in Bolivia where there was a lot of abuse, so it is a place to reconnect with old friends as well as to offer encouragement and support to those who have been through the wringer because of difficult experiences at our Alma Mater.  It is long, but very powerful and worth the read.  It corresponds to the Stages of Faith model--as we grow more and more into Christ's image through the refining fire of trials, we will greater reflect His love to others.


Wounded Soldier

I started out to be a Perfect Soldier.
I thought I'd be God's Light to all the world,
a light to make them turn and look in wonder
and realize all the greatness of my Lord.

But then somehow it seemed a little selfish
that I should want to shine as Number One -
the light I had, and zeal, had shown me problems
that simply must be changed in everyone.

And so I tried to be a Helping Soldier
and point out everything that they should know,
exposing every area that needed worked on
so they could clean their lives up - and grow!!

I hung my lamp of 'Truth' outside my window
to help them see their neediness and sin
but then a friend reminded me that Jesus
came to meet and love us, not condemn.

And so I tried to be an Approving Soldier.
I'd let others know that I knew they meant well.
I would find the good in all their efforts
and never mention sin, judgment, or hell.

I helped others see their own true greatness!
But, somewhere, I got hurt along the way,
believing there to be a heart of goodness
in selfishness and piercing stabs they gave.

I trusted them, expecting they would be there
when I fell down, to understand my cry,
but then I realized they were standing, waiting,
not to help me up, but to watch me die.

Tears streamed down my face and drowned my lamp out
and it just hurt so much I crumpled down,
not caring anymore who didn't love me,
not caring anymore who took my crown.

Everybody saw my lonely aching
as my 'Christian peace' turned to a hopeless cry.
With no more 'good' I'd tried so hard to show them,
no more joy, and no more strength to try.

Darkness came and with it cold and hunger
and tears and tears of emptiness and shame.
One by one they walked away and left me
with nothing but my broken dreams and pain.

Then, through the black of night, I felt a teardrop
as someone came and took me by the hand
and whispered, "Jesus loves you, Wounded Soldier,
you see. He knew just how much you could stand".

I felt her teardrops falling on my forehead
as tenderly she opened up my eyes
and said, 'You see, a new dawn is breaking
and a new day, with a beautiful sunrise".

She said, "And see, there's other wounded soldiers'.
I sat up, surprised, and looked around
and gasped in shock at all the wounded soldiers
hurting, bleeding, crumpled on the ground.

I listened to their sobbing and how it hurt me!
I knew the awful pain they were crying of.
Then she asked me, "Can you see them now, to help them?
Jesus said, 'They'll know you by your love'".

I turned then and saw her for the first time
I caught my breath and didn't know what to say.
Her young face and neck were scarred from battles
and one of her arms had been shot away.

She'd been through trials so much worse than I had
yet she cared for me, and knew my pain was real.
Her eyes shone with courage, truth and mercy
and the loving hand she still had, she used, to heal.

I thanked and thanked her but she only answered,
"One truly suffered, far more than have we
and Jesus knew that pain was what we needed
to wash our eyes with tears so we can see.

Jesus didn't die because we deserved it
or because we had some 'greatness' deep inside.
He didn't get a bargain when He loved us.
He paid His blood for emptiness and pride."

Then, as she finished speaking, she reached over
and gently lit my lamp that almost died
but tenderly she moved it from the window
and placed it in my heart of hearts inside.

She said, "You see, our Lord must do the shining
and, yes, His truth will surely reveal sin
but it's not ours to tear others down and change them.
It's ours to be there and help them try again!"

And then she smiled as quietly she told me
"I'm a servant of our Savior up above".
"I know," I said, and truly knew as I remembered
that Jesus said, "They'll know you by your love."

Jesus didn't make us Hero Warriors
who stand away from those different than we
but He gave us hearts to care and hurt with people
and tears to wash our eyes so we can see.

Our eyes, to look and find the Wounded Soldiers.
He gave us ears so we can hear them cry,
tender hands to reach out and touch them
and never let a Wounded Soldier die!

Fun in the Sun

Yesterday and today have been in the 80's! This is the epitome of crazy Maine weather...a snowstorm and summer temps just two weeks apart! We've been to the beach and the playground to capitalize on the unseasonable warmth:


Cheese!  Don't mind the sun-in-the-eyes grimaces!

Josiah even had some scrapes to testify to the fun he had climbing on the rocks.

Cutie with wind-swept hair.

There were lots of friends at the beach!

Abbey was eating sand!  Yuck!  Looks like she thought it was pretty good though. :)

Josiah and Ben always hop into the passenger seat when I get our mail.

Abbey LOVED swinging at the playground!

Ben was tired today, swinging with his Special.

Abbey gets a ride from Ben!

Papa's newest find was a big hit with Cutie.

Continuing with Lenten Thoughts

I do promise to update my blog with family news as soon as possible...time has just not allowed that for me lately!  I love to share little tidbits of inspiration and food for thought as I read online devotionals.  There's always a little time for copying and pasting. :)  

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. -- adapted from the Book of Common Prayer

"The death of Jesus Christ has turned our whole lives into one continued sacrifice--whether we eat or drink, whether we pray to God, or do any thing to man, it must all be done out of a love for and knowledge of him who died and rose again, to render all, even our most ordinary deeds, acceptable in the sight of God.

"If we live by this principle, if Christ is the Alpha and Omega of all our actions, then our lowliest actions are acceptable sacrifices; but if this principle is lacking in our lives, our most pompous services avail nothing: we are nothing but a spiritual idolater; we sacrifice to our own gain and make an idol of ourselves. We make ourselves, and not Christ, the end of our actions: and therefore such actions are so far from being acceptable by God, that according to the language of one of the Articles of our Church, 'We doubt not but they have the nature of sin, because they spring not from an experimental faith in and knowledge of Jesus Christ.'" -- adapted from George Whitefield's sermon "The Knowledge of Jesus Christ the Best Knowledge"

This is something I read several weeks ago that has been in the back of my mind.  I think it is a powerful illustration of the war between our flesh and our spirit:

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Lenten Quotes

Almighty God, we were lost from the beginning, when it pleased you to extend your hand and restore us to salvation for your Son's sake. Although we daily run headlong to our own ruin, we pray that our continual sin will not provoke you into withdrawing your mercy from us.... Through your Spirit, destroy the wickedness of our heart and restore us to a sound mind. -- John Calvin, adapted from his Commentary on Hosea

"The Law is that word by which God teaches what we shall do, as for instance, the Ten Commandments. Now, if human nature is not aided by God's grace, it is impossible to keep the law, for the reason that man since the fall of Adam in Paradise is depraved and full of sinful desires, so that he cannot from his heart's desire find pleasure in the law, which fact we all experience in ourselves. For no one lives who does not prefer that there were no law, and everyone feels and knows in himself that it is difficult to lead a pious life and do good, and, on the other hand, that it is easy to lead a wicked life and to do evil. But this difficulty or unwillingness to do the good is the reason we do not keep the Law of God. For whatever is done with aversion and unwillingness is considered by God as not done at all. Thus the Law of God convicts us, even by our own experience, that by nature we are evil, disobedient, lovers of sin, and hostile to God's laws." -- Martin Luther, sermon on Matthew 11:2-10, #19


From "My Utmost for His Highest", March 14th devotional:

0. . . you are that one’s slaves whom you obey . . . —Romans 6:16The first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because somewhere in the past I yielded to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because at some point in my life I yielded myself to Him.

. . . you are that one’s slaves whom you obey . . . —Romans 6:16

The first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because somewhere in the past I yielded to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because at some point in my life I yielded myself to Him.

If a child gives in to selfishness, he will find it to be the most enslaving tyranny on earth. There is no power within the human soul itself that is capable of breaking the bondage of the nature created by yielding. For example, yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust, and although you may hate yourself for having yielded, you become enslaved to that thing. (Remember what lust is— “I must have it now,” whether it is the lust of the flesh or the lust of the mind.) No release or escape from it will ever come from any human power, but only through the power of redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. “. . . He has anointed Me . . . to proclaim liberty to the captives . . .” (Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1).

When you yield to something, you will soon realize the tremendous control it has over you. Even though you say, “Oh, I can give up that habit whenever I like,” you will know you can’t. You will find that the habit absolutely dominates you because you willingly yielded to it. It is easy to sing, “He will break every fetter,” while at the same time living a life of obvious slavery to yourself. But yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any person’s life.

Lenten Quotes

Almighty, eternal and merciful God, whose Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, open and illuminate our minds, that we may purely and perfectly understand your Word and that our lives may be conformed to what we have rightly understood, that in nothing we may be displeasing unto your majesty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - the daily morning prayer of Ulrich Zwingli

Let nothing disturb thee;
Let nothing dismay thee:
All things pass;
God never changes.
Patience attains
All that it strives for.
He who has God
Finds he lacks nothing:
God alone suffices.

-- "Poem IX," from the Complete Works St. Teresa of Avila (1963) Vol. 3, ed. E. Allison Peers

Cute Pics of the Kiddos

Here are some pictures of the kids from the last few days:

Josiah is a big Zorro fan now!

Benji likes sword fighting too, but has been more impressed by Star Wars movie clips.

The Lone Ranger and Tonto

Cutie fell asleep in her high chair after lunch the other day!

Sledding with Lily--taking advantage of what's left of the snow before it all melts away.

Josiah, Lily and Magen get a push from Ben.

Abbey was excited to be included in the bundling up process again.

The girls enjoyed 'mothering' Abbey, who preferred to sled with her own mother!

After letting the girls have a turn with Abbey, it was only fair for the boys to take her too.  Hopefully she hasn't been scarred for life. She kept trying to climb up the hill for more!

Fun with fake mustaches!

Lent or No Lent, Life is War

Here is a good article by John Piper on the war Christians must wage on a daily basis, between their delight in pleasing God and their deep seated desire to please self. 

And another Lenten quote, from 19th century revival preacher Charles Finney's sermon "Christ the Mediator":
"[Jesus] died not as a martyr but as the representative of a sinful race. Although God loved him infinitely, still, as the representatives of a sinful race, in his displeasure he poured down upon him the vials of his indignation. The death of Christ was intended to make an impression upon the universe, and all the circumstances attending it show what a wonderful effect it had. When he was nailed to the cross the sun refused to look on, and the heavens were clothed with sackcloth; the whole universe seemed shaking to its foundations. Heathen philosophers observed it, and said, Either nature is being dissolved, or the god of nature is dying. The dead could not sleep in their graves, the earth trembled, and the tombs opened, and those who had been dead issued forth, and walked into the city. The veil of the temple was rent in twain. God made a mighty impression upon the entire universe, when, in order that sinners might be pardoned, he thus made a fearful demonstration of his hatred against sin."

A Cool Bible Reference Tool

I just found an excellent website for Bible study:  http://biblos.com/.   Check it out!  There are dozens of Bible translations, commentaries, and other tools easily available to aid with your Bible study.

Lenten Prayers

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ on the deck,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

-- from the prayer of St. Patrick

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
For all the benefits thou hast won for me,
For all the pains and insults you have borne for me.

O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother,
May I know thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
And follow thee more nearly:
For ever and ever.

-- Richard of Chichester

Forks Over Knives

 Logan and I watched a documentary this weekend that was quite convincing.  I'll admit it--I can be a sucker for a good documentary.   

The documentary was Forks Over Knives.  Essentially, the point of the movie is that our animal-based and processed foods are the reason we are sicker than ever, and we ought to switch to a plant-based food diet.  So, we're giving it a try!  This week we've been eating fruits and veggies galore and I've foregone my milk addiction.  I just tried soy milk in my cereal for the first time this morning and thought it was delicious.  We also tried a soy "sausage" in stuffed bell peppers last night that were delicious, and Eggplant Parmesan for dinner tonight.  I've ordered the companion book to the movie for more information, tips and recipes.

I would highly recommend seeing this movie.  We watched it on Netflix.  The scientific studies made clear correlations between animal-based food diets and heart disease, cancer and diabetes.  My goal is to live to 100, which seems like it should be easier than ever with our advanced medical technologies.  It seems like we should all be heeding the father of medicine, Hippocrate's, advice: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

I thought this was particularly fascinating: When the Germans invaded Norway in 1940, they confiscated all of the livestock, so the Norwegians were eating a plant-based diet for five years.  During this time, their mortality from circulatory diseases dropped dramatically, then rose again after the war.

There is a link between animal protein in our diet and early cancer clusters.

 “He that takes medicine and neglects diet wastes the skills of the physician.” – Chinese proverb


“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.” -Thomas Edison