fifteen year old dacshcund is lying beside me snoring.
sun is out...finally.
my girls are creating with paint. and they are getting along. i picture their future lives as friends and smile.
my son and my man are playing chess. pieces clink against the board, as son asks father, "what can I do?" i just heard son say, "you've got an impossible situation. you're losing your queen also!"
classical music is playing through the t.v.
finding joy in the ordinary. waiting on God to provide the extraordinary.
Showing posts with label Simplicity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simplicity. Show all posts
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sunday, June 22, 2008
A Three Book Weekend
Three books I am reading this weekend, with one quote from each:
"I don't know when the suspicion began for me, but for a while I've had a growing fear that my own life is small, when I crave bigness. I would like to make a grand contribution to the world to justify my existence and help define me. I don't want to be small. I want to be incredibly, unbelievably signifigant. (And yet could anyone accuse Jane of being insignificant?) I know that part of that is good and spiritual - this desire for a life not to be wasted - and yet it seems a great stroke of pride. I hope that somehow this proximity to Jane's life will help me understand my own"
From "A Walk With Jane Austen" by Lori Smith
"The essence of meditation is to think your way into the very mind of the inspired writers who were granted by inspiration to think the thoughts of God. Think and mull and ponder and chew until you see God (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:21) the way they see God - namely, as precious and valuable and beautiful and desirable. This is how the Word serves joy."
From "When I Don't Desire God" by John Piper
"For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore, be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience."
From "The Bible" Hebrews 4:10-11
"I don't know when the suspicion began for me, but for a while I've had a growing fear that my own life is small, when I crave bigness. I would like to make a grand contribution to the world to justify my existence and help define me. I don't want to be small. I want to be incredibly, unbelievably signifigant. (And yet could anyone accuse Jane of being insignificant?) I know that part of that is good and spiritual - this desire for a life not to be wasted - and yet it seems a great stroke of pride. I hope that somehow this proximity to Jane's life will help me understand my own"
From "A Walk With Jane Austen" by Lori Smith
"The essence of meditation is to think your way into the very mind of the inspired writers who were granted by inspiration to think the thoughts of God. Think and mull and ponder and chew until you see God (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:21) the way they see God - namely, as precious and valuable and beautiful and desirable. This is how the Word serves joy."
From "When I Don't Desire God" by John Piper
"For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore, be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience."
From "The Bible" Hebrews 4:10-11
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Good Quote for the Homeschooling Mom
When I feel I should be doing "more", I need to remember that...
"More time with less people equals greater impact for the Kingdom."
--Dawson Trotman, founder of Navigators
"More time with less people equals greater impact for the Kingdom."
--Dawson Trotman, founder of Navigators
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Don't Miss...
Shannon, Boomama and Shaun Grove's Uganda posts today. Click the Compassion International button in the sidebar where it says "read". Sorry, I'm having trouble linking them here. But, really, read them. Be changed.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Can't Stop Thinking About...
***Updated to add...Check out the new Compassion Uganda button on my sidebar to track these bloggers on this important journey. And don't forget to pray!***
Today as I was cleaning out my freezer and throwing away old, forgotten meat, etc.
Last night as I was looking at those new valentine's day placemats from Target that I just "had to have".
When I was wrapping the many things that I had gotten my baby girl for her birthday this weekend.
As I was making a list of the new books that I "needed".
I was thinking about, remembering, and being convincted by the truth of these words.
Forgive me, Jesus. Forgive me.
I have so far to go to give up my stuff-ism. I hope this post and the truth shared in it will never, ever, ever leave my mind. Or yours.
Please pray for the blogging team on the trip with Compassion International. And please pray for us rich Americans to release all that we think we need to embrace real life.
Today as I was cleaning out my freezer and throwing away old, forgotten meat, etc.
Last night as I was looking at those new valentine's day placemats from Target that I just "had to have".
When I was wrapping the many things that I had gotten my baby girl for her birthday this weekend.
As I was making a list of the new books that I "needed".
I was thinking about, remembering, and being convincted by the truth of these words.
Forgive me, Jesus. Forgive me.
I have so far to go to give up my stuff-ism. I hope this post and the truth shared in it will never, ever, ever leave my mind. Or yours.
Please pray for the blogging team on the trip with Compassion International. And please pray for us rich Americans to release all that we think we need to embrace real life.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Social Justice and Preschoolers
"He has shown you, o man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
Something that you seem to hear alot about while living in the UK is the concept of fair trade and social justice. I think this is a great thing. Just recently on the BBC News, there was a group of school children that were investigating the chocolate trade in Africa and how chocolate companies use child slave labor. The children were then allowed to question a leader in the chocolate industry in Britain about the policies. She answered their questions with honesty and respect. Fair trade is a big thing here as well. And if the option is available for me here, I usually purchase the fair trade choice instead of the alternative.
Our church here is involved in social justice issues as well. And I guess because of these two things and the fact that I'm reading through the Old Testament (Proverbs right now...today I remember lots of verses about honest scales and justice and righteousness), I'm thinking a lot about how the choices that we make as a family affect those in other countries and situations. And I'm considering the fact that if I do indeed call myself a follower of Jesus, how exactly does that bear itself out when it comes to the way that I use financial resources?
Tonight we had a conversation at the dinner table about these matters. Now, you might think this funny, but my little ones understood social justice on some level when we were finished with this discussion. But what is even more important to me is that I saw in their little hearts a tenderness toward people in difficult circumstances. The conversation went something like this:
Me: "Hey guys, I've been thinking about something lately. You know, there are lots of little children all over the world that don't have food or clothes or homes or parents to take care of them."
Children: "Yeah."
Me: "Well, I've been reading in the Bible lately about how God is a 'just' God. Do you know what that means?"
Children: "No, mommy. What does that mean?"
Me: "Well, it sort of means 'fairness'. God wants people that have things to share with people that don't. In fact, that's why God blesses people with things --so that they can share with others. God wants governments to be just and fair. He wants rich people and poor people to be treated equally, which often isn't the case."
Children: "Oooohhh." (This really appealed to them as they LOVE things to be fair.)
Me: "And guys, do you know what I was thinking? I was thinking about all of the stuff that we have. We really have way too much stuff. So many toys that we don't play with them. And I've been thinking about the Build-A-Bears. I love the Build-A-Bears and they are fun. It's fun to buy them new clothes and things, but guys, do you think it's okay for our pretend teddy bears to have lots of clothes when real children all over the world don't have any clothes at all, much less toys like bears to dress up?"
Children (With great disdain): "No, mommy! That's sad that kids don't have clothes."
Me: "Yes, I agree. So, guys, we're not going to be buying anymore teddy bear clothes unless it's a really, really special occaision, okay? But what we're going to do is buy clothes for real children instead. Children that really need clothes, unlike our teddy bears, who really don't need clothes. Okay guys?"
Children: "Yes!"
They were so excited. Folks, they got it. These little people were so empathetic towards their fellow little people across the globe. What happens to us as we get older? Why do we forget this?
You see folks, I'm not here pretending that choosing not to buy more teddy bear clothes is an answer to the problem, and that is part of what I think we get wrapped up in. And I most certainly am not here to pat our family on the back. If anything, we should be ashamed that we haven't done more and sooner. I know that the problem is HUGE, so much bigger than any one individual or group could solve. But what I do think is that in the realization of our smallness, we get paralyzed. I know that I do. And I think that one little person doing one little thing can't make a difference. But that is a lie. One little person can make a difference for one other person, even if just one time. And, I dare say, for a lifetime if truly committed.
I've been asking myself lately, "Do I really need more stuff?!" See, my non-Jesus-y self likes my stuff. But, as I look at my latest purchases lately, I don't get joy out of them like I used to. It seems that lately, I can't enjoy a new ring or purse or candle when I know that things like this are going on. Every day. Knowing Jesus compels me to want to be a part of the solution. And I'm definitely going to be thinking and writing more about this. How about you?
Something that you seem to hear alot about while living in the UK is the concept of fair trade and social justice. I think this is a great thing. Just recently on the BBC News, there was a group of school children that were investigating the chocolate trade in Africa and how chocolate companies use child slave labor. The children were then allowed to question a leader in the chocolate industry in Britain about the policies. She answered their questions with honesty and respect. Fair trade is a big thing here as well. And if the option is available for me here, I usually purchase the fair trade choice instead of the alternative.
Our church here is involved in social justice issues as well. And I guess because of these two things and the fact that I'm reading through the Old Testament (Proverbs right now...today I remember lots of verses about honest scales and justice and righteousness), I'm thinking a lot about how the choices that we make as a family affect those in other countries and situations. And I'm considering the fact that if I do indeed call myself a follower of Jesus, how exactly does that bear itself out when it comes to the way that I use financial resources?
Tonight we had a conversation at the dinner table about these matters. Now, you might think this funny, but my little ones understood social justice on some level when we were finished with this discussion. But what is even more important to me is that I saw in their little hearts a tenderness toward people in difficult circumstances. The conversation went something like this:
Me: "Hey guys, I've been thinking about something lately. You know, there are lots of little children all over the world that don't have food or clothes or homes or parents to take care of them."
Children: "Yeah."
Me: "Well, I've been reading in the Bible lately about how God is a 'just' God. Do you know what that means?"
Children: "No, mommy. What does that mean?"
Me: "Well, it sort of means 'fairness'. God wants people that have things to share with people that don't. In fact, that's why God blesses people with things --so that they can share with others. God wants governments to be just and fair. He wants rich people and poor people to be treated equally, which often isn't the case."
Children: "Oooohhh." (This really appealed to them as they LOVE things to be fair.)
Me: "And guys, do you know what I was thinking? I was thinking about all of the stuff that we have. We really have way too much stuff. So many toys that we don't play with them. And I've been thinking about the Build-A-Bears. I love the Build-A-Bears and they are fun. It's fun to buy them new clothes and things, but guys, do you think it's okay for our pretend teddy bears to have lots of clothes when real children all over the world don't have any clothes at all, much less toys like bears to dress up?"
Children (With great disdain): "No, mommy! That's sad that kids don't have clothes."
Me: "Yes, I agree. So, guys, we're not going to be buying anymore teddy bear clothes unless it's a really, really special occaision, okay? But what we're going to do is buy clothes for real children instead. Children that really need clothes, unlike our teddy bears, who really don't need clothes. Okay guys?"
Children: "Yes!"
They were so excited. Folks, they got it. These little people were so empathetic towards their fellow little people across the globe. What happens to us as we get older? Why do we forget this?
You see folks, I'm not here pretending that choosing not to buy more teddy bear clothes is an answer to the problem, and that is part of what I think we get wrapped up in. And I most certainly am not here to pat our family on the back. If anything, we should be ashamed that we haven't done more and sooner. I know that the problem is HUGE, so much bigger than any one individual or group could solve. But what I do think is that in the realization of our smallness, we get paralyzed. I know that I do. And I think that one little person doing one little thing can't make a difference. But that is a lie. One little person can make a difference for one other person, even if just one time. And, I dare say, for a lifetime if truly committed.
I've been asking myself lately, "Do I really need more stuff?!" See, my non-Jesus-y self likes my stuff. But, as I look at my latest purchases lately, I don't get joy out of them like I used to. It seems that lately, I can't enjoy a new ring or purse or candle when I know that things like this are going on. Every day. Knowing Jesus compels me to want to be a part of the solution. And I'm definitely going to be thinking and writing more about this. How about you?
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