Stereotypes

...may be something we bring on ourselves, but...

While browsing some Christian blogs the other day, I randomly came across this book, Incompatibility: Grounds for a Great Marriage. Although I assume the material is helpful for adjusting to life with someone of the opposite gender, my concern lies with the cover photo! Who are we being forced to conclude is represented by the ostrich on the left? ; ) Actually I think it's quite funny and sometimes true...

The Clothes Pin

How much better it is
to carry wood to the fire
than to moan about your life.
How much better
to throw the garbage
onto the compost, or to pin the clean
sheet on the line
with a gray-brown wooden clothes pin!

Poet Jane Kenyon

Scaredy Squirrel

Scaredy Squirrel is very comfortable with his daily routine. His long list of fears keep him from leaving his tree, until the day he makes a flying leap into the unknown in an effort to recover his emergency kit, which fell into the bushes. From then on he includes one exhilarating leap into the unknown in his routine every day, along with eating, sleeping and playing dead.

I had to smile when I read this book and thought of how much I resist making changes in my daily patterns and routines. Here's to exercising faith in God's character every day, taking a "leap into the unknowns" of life. : )

Solid Rock

A few days ago I started a new (to me) book, called Second Guessing God: Hanging on When You Can't See His Plan by Brian Jones (a pastor in PA). I've only finished chapter one, but the principles are very solid so far and quite timely for my heart, for this semester in my life. He doesn't write so much as a theologian, but rather as a mentor who has seen his faith renewed through Scripture and his relationship with God.

I love the following words from Jones' professor who encouraged him in his struggle. During his senior year of seminary, Jones had all but given up on his faith and trust in God.

"...I have stood where you're standing. I've felt the water cascade across my feet. I know how wonderful that feels. But I've also had the water go back out to sea. I've felt the sand get washed out from underneath my feet...when the last grain of sand is finally gone, you're going to discover that you're standing on a rock."

Hebrews 6:17-20

"Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us: which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

Matthew Henry comments on this passage:

"The consolations of God are strong enough to support his people under their strongest trials. The comforts of this world are too weak to bear up the soul under temptation, persecution, and death; but the consolations of the Lord are neither few nor small...it is an anchor that is cast upon the rock, the Rock of ages. It does not seek to fasten in the sands, but enters within the veil, and fixes there upon Christ; he is the object, he is the anchor-hold of the believer's hope."

From Protest to Praise

When I can't feel you I have learned to reach out just the same
When I can't hear you, I know you still hear every word I pray
And I want you more than I want to live another day
And as I wait for you maybe I'm made more faithful (Brooke Fraser)



And when you feel alone like I know you will,
And when the cold wind blows like I know it will,
Don't let your love grow cold. (Sara Groves)

Whatever you're doing inside of me.
It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
But I'm giving in to something heavenly. (Sanctus Real)

I will cry out until I go
from protest to praise.
You're always amazing me.
You're changing me slow, but surely
and you're gonna see me to the end. (Downhere)

Something so amazing in a heart so dark and dim
When a wall falls down and the light comes in
And I cannot make it
And I cannot fake it
And I can't afford it
But it's mine (Sara Groves)

Evidences of Pride

I realize how much pride controls areas of my life when God asks me to humble myself in a certain situation or area, and I find myself hesitating. On the topic of pride, this is from an article by reviveourhearts.com The following are items that stood out to me as common in general or particularly applicable in my life:

8. Are you driven to receive approval, praise, or acceptance from others?

11. Do you have a touchy, sensitive spirit? Easily offended? Get your feelings hurt easily?

12. Are you guilty of pretense? Trying to leave a better impression of yourself than is really true?

18. Do you have a hard time reaching out and being friendly to people you don’t know at church?

26. Do you often complain—about the weather, your health, your circumstances, your job, your church?

29. Do you worry about what others think of you? Too concerned about your reputation or your family’s reputation?

30. Do you neglect to express gratitude for “little things”? To God? To others?

31. Do you neglect prayer and intake of the Word?

36. Do you avoid participating in certain events, for fear of being embarrassed or looking foolish?

40. When is the last time you said these words to a family member, friend, or co-worker: “I was wrong; would you please forgive me?”

Dough

seemingly safe situation, but realization soon dawns



unsuspect- ing cookie shaper; maniacal whisk wielder





We have such unique ways of spending time together. : )





I came home from choir practice to find everyone in the process of cookie making. We took out the camera, and....
The final result was chocolate chip cookies and molasses cookies!