On My Mind Today

There are several things I'm thinking about today...

Some of them are close to home: our imaginary move; homeschool stuff; is anyone else going to be sick and what made Eliana throw up last night; Mike and his work.

Some of them are not so close to home, but feel close in my heart.  There are so many people that are hurting: my parents know many folks who have lost jobs; there are families who are falling apart; there are people fighting against diseases that rob them of moments, days, weeks, and years of life with the people they love; and there are so many who are missing someone special because they're gone much too soon.

Several weeks ago I shared about a little girl and her family who have deeply touched me; they are an amazing example of how God works through devastating circumstances to bring glory to His name, advance His kingdom, and care for His people.  Some A lot of how He does this is a complete mystery, we don't understand His ways.  But to be able to see His goodness in spite of the brokenness in this world is such a...victorious, triumphant blessing.  Today is this little girl's birthday, her name is Cora Paige, and her family went to celebrate her first birthday at her graveside.  That is so wrong, so not the way it should be.  They do have the hope that we are given in knowing Christ and His resurrection, the truth in the power of His rising from death to life.  They are holding on to the promises that are in God's word, His word which endures forever.  They are inspiring other people, who have been invited into their suffering to help carry this burden, to be more faithful themselves. 

This situation has been a springboard for my thoughts on prayer.  I have been praying for them specifically, as well as other children and their families affected by cancer (unknown by me, but known by our Creator).  I have been praying for many devastating situations all around the world, not in any organized fashion, but maybe that will change and something more organized will take shape. 

I am a bit rambley, and I don't know exactly what I am trying to say.  If you would like to meet this family, you can do so here.   As I collect my thoughts, scattered though they may be, I hope to become an effective pray-er on behalf of people who are hurting, whether they are in my home or far away across the world.  You can pray with and for me!

It's What?

It's March 1st, that's what.

What?

I know!  How did that happen?  Was I on another planet?  (Probably.) 

I have been thinking the last few days, about several things.  One of those things is how much time I am able to waste, especially at night after the kids go to bed.  It is a talent that I have honed to perfection, and for which I could possibly win an award were such an award to exist.  Fortunately, there is no reward for such tomfoolery, in fact there is a great penalty.  There is a weight that is tied around one's waist, as it were, a giant although imaginary ball-and-chain.  A nagging voice that chants,"You could be doing something much more productive..."  A sense of self-knowledge that does not lead to self-respect.

I say these things because I realize that there is happiness, or really joy, in order and stability.  And these things have never come easy for me, at least as far as I can remember.  I think I have always been able to fool others, and even myself, but the reality of my everyday-all-around-me-disaster cannot be ignored, nor can it be hidden.  And what you cannot hide but feel that you want to hide must be dealt with before it becomes a two-headed monster that belches fire and threatens to destroy you.  That would be really unmanageable (I have no sword skills or magical powers to defeat that kind of scary beast).

I usually don't set goals for myself, because inevitably I don't achieve them.  This leads to sadness and feelings of failure and blah, blah, blah.  But, back to the thing I have been thinking about...I was thinking that I might begin by reading some Scripture each day, and learning something from it.  Reading something and reflecting, even just a little at first, on what lesson the Word of God is teaching, what good I could take from it, what one thing I could share with someone else in my life in some way during a day or week. 

You might be thinking,"Um, that sounds a lot like a goal, Christina."  Well, it isn't!  It's hope-and that's different.  In and from God, expecting, awaiting, eager. 

Romans 8:18-27

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

Hebrews 10:19-25

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

 Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

I could end this post there, but I wanted to say that I am feeling hopeful tonight, which is a good thing.  Won't you join me?

Really, Really Inane

ARGHH!  My pictures are being super shy...they will not go from our camera to the computer!  I have been thwarted two days in a row trying to upload.  I'm sure there has been a lot of anxiety, wondering what we're up to, desperately needing to know what Eliana chose to wear (it was most likely her bathing suit). 

Seriously, mom, it's probably just you that's so entirely interested in what's going on around here.  Too bad you can't get it on Fox News, because then you'd be updated!

We've had some beautiful weather, been playing outside.  Trying not to take anything for granted.  Made and eaten some brownies.  Made some more brownies. 

I know, that's enough excitement for one day.  I'm hoping to have our picture issues resolved tomorrow.   I must go fold some laundry...shocking, no?

Glasses Do Not Always Correct My Vision

I'm the kind of person who remembers certain "times gone by" differently than they really happened. 

I also tend to think that things will be different (read: better) when we get to a new circumstance.  We've moved a lot in the last eleven and a half years. 

Why do I wear these odd, rose-colored glasses?  I don't even like to wear glasses.  And this particular pair causes so many troubles...most having to do with vision, ironically enough.

I look to the past and long for "that" peace (which I am embellishing a little, at least).  I long for the cleaner house (that I think is really just in my imagination).  I long for less stuff (this is for real, though...three kids later and you have more stuff). 

I look to the future and see everything finally having a place (I mean, everything has a place now, but it's just not the right place...).  I see dust-free floors and shelves (um, it's just a new house around the corner, not the restoration and perfection of all creation).  I see kids who finally pick up after themselves (oh, this involves me teaching them to do that, as well as modeling that behavior). 

Here's a new vision...a life of contentment.  Regardless of circumstance.  I'm not trying to sound hokie, either.  I mean it.  That is a legacy worth leaving your children. 

Although picking up after themselves is good too.

Sonlight

John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

We just lost power for a moment.  One minute I was headed to the kitchen to do some final tidying up before bed and the next minute I was standing in the pitch black.

Talk about a perspective check.

I felt this very terrible alone feeling.  And I was genuinely scared.  It was so dark.  And I thought of the verse from John, and I think that I will not take light for granted for quite a while. 

I really like that powerful bright stuff. 

I like how it vanquishes the darkness.  I look forward to the day when the Lord returns and does literally what it says figuratively, but means literally.  Literally.

Darkness, be gone! 

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.