Thursday, September 27, 2007
God takes joy in me?!
I was finishing up Zephaniah and read in ch 3 verses 15 and 17 the concept that God exults with shouts of joy over me! (in this case Israel). This, I admit, is hard for me to grasp. I can grasp taking joy in God because He is so wonderful, but most of the time, I feel like I let people and God down. I am disappointing. I sin against them. I am selfish. Yet He looks on me with joy and renews my heart. I have been struggling with school (what else is new?) and God reminded me that He surrounds me, takes joy in me, and renews my heart. When someone believes in you and takes joy in you, doesn't it make your steps a little lighter, your face smile, and your heart flutter? Sounds like first love. I want to stay in love with God. After all, He promises to stay in love with me!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Parents and children
From Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen:
Regarding parents and children:
"children are not properties to own and rule over, but gifts to cherish and care for. Our children are our most important guests, who enter into our home, ask for careful attention, stay for a while and then leave to follow their own way. Children are stragngers whom we have to get to know.They have their own style, their own rhythm and their own capacities for good and evil."
"What parents can offer is a home, a place that is receptive but also has the safe boundarries within which their children can develop and discover what is helpful and what is harmful....can ask questions without fear and can experiment with life without experiencing rejection."
"many parents suffer from deep guilt feelings toward their children, thinking that they are responsible for everything their sons or daughters do. but again...children are not properties that we can control...they are guests... gifts from God"
"The temptation is... to cling to our children, to use them for our own unfulfilled needs and to hold on to them, suggesting in many direct and indirect ways that they owe us so much."
"A good host (in this case, parent) is not only able to receive his guests with honor and offfer them all the care they need but also to let them go when their time to leave has come."
This part really hit home for me as I tend to fall into the temptations to own my children and that I am totally responsible for them and only need to control them more. It scares me to think that one of my children might go astray, but that is where trusting God comes in. And therein lies a lot of my problems-often, I really don't trust God!
Regarding parents and children:
"children are not properties to own and rule over, but gifts to cherish and care for. Our children are our most important guests, who enter into our home, ask for careful attention, stay for a while and then leave to follow their own way. Children are stragngers whom we have to get to know.They have their own style, their own rhythm and their own capacities for good and evil."
"What parents can offer is a home, a place that is receptive but also has the safe boundarries within which their children can develop and discover what is helpful and what is harmful....can ask questions without fear and can experiment with life without experiencing rejection."
"many parents suffer from deep guilt feelings toward their children, thinking that they are responsible for everything their sons or daughters do. but again...children are not properties that we can control...they are guests... gifts from God"
"The temptation is... to cling to our children, to use them for our own unfulfilled needs and to hold on to them, suggesting in many direct and indirect ways that they owe us so much."
"A good host (in this case, parent) is not only able to receive his guests with honor and offfer them all the care they need but also to let them go when their time to leave has come."
This part really hit home for me as I tend to fall into the temptations to own my children and that I am totally responsible for them and only need to control them more. It scares me to think that one of my children might go astray, but that is where trusting God comes in. And therein lies a lot of my problems-often, I really don't trust God!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Silence before God
I dislike the beginning of a new class. I just started my new course on Monday of this week and they hit you with all your assignments and what you should learn. 8 discussion boards with responses, 2 tests, 2 journal article summaries, ethics code analysis paper, research paper, tons of reading "and a partridge in a pear tree"! I just keep telling myself that God wants me to do this and will enable me to do it. The break was good and bad at the same time-good for the rest but bad because I got out of my groove. I am praying to get back in the groove.
I have been reading Zephaniah lately. I have been convicted about a couple of verses:
Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent before the Lord God. For the day of the Lord is near, for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests" I have been convicted about practicing the spiritual disciplines of prayer, bible study and meditation, and solitude. I need to practice more silence and waiting before the Lord. He knows what He is doing and I often do not! So why do I plan and talk so much? The day of the Lord refers to Jesus' return which for us will be glorious. So I will wait, be silent, and trust God.
Zephaniah 1:12 (The day of the Lord) It will come about at that time that I (God) will search Jerusalem with lamps and I will punish men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts,"the Lord will not do good or evil". vs 13 Moreover, their wealth will become plunder and their houses desolate, yes they will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards, but not drink their wine..."
Amos 6:1 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion (America), to those who feel secure in the mountains of Samaria..."
I question myself, am I stagnant in spirit? Am I so concerned about the creation and not the Creator? Am I preoccupying myself with the temporal things here on earth? Am I so proud that I think I am making things come to pass and that God is not do anything but just sitting somewhere up there looking on? May I always look to God and never be at ease and secure with the things and people here on earth.
I have been reading Zephaniah lately. I have been convicted about a couple of verses:
Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent before the Lord God. For the day of the Lord is near, for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests" I have been convicted about practicing the spiritual disciplines of prayer, bible study and meditation, and solitude. I need to practice more silence and waiting before the Lord. He knows what He is doing and I often do not! So why do I plan and talk so much? The day of the Lord refers to Jesus' return which for us will be glorious. So I will wait, be silent, and trust God.
Zephaniah 1:12 (The day of the Lord) It will come about at that time that I (God) will search Jerusalem with lamps and I will punish men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts,"the Lord will not do good or evil". vs 13 Moreover, their wealth will become plunder and their houses desolate, yes they will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards, but not drink their wine..."
Amos 6:1 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion (America), to those who feel secure in the mountains of Samaria..."
I question myself, am I stagnant in spirit? Am I so concerned about the creation and not the Creator? Am I preoccupying myself with the temporal things here on earth? Am I so proud that I think I am making things come to pass and that God is not do anything but just sitting somewhere up there looking on? May I always look to God and never be at ease and secure with the things and people here on earth.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Ah the Fall-my favorite season
School and activities are in full swing but I don't seem to be a lunatic this year. Maybe it is because I have such good friends to carpool with, or maybe because Dave and I made sure we streamlined what the kids were going to do and actually thought and prayed about each one, or maybe I have finally gotten a grip and decided to be peaceful in the midst of this crazy area with my crazy schedule. Anyway, I am pleased that I have not been hyperventilating lately.
The newest Arianna item: raw onions on ice cream-that's right. We were at my company picnic at Pratt and there was free ice cream so Arianna grabbed a cone. There was also free hamburgers with all the fixings. I happened to look across the table and saw the onions on her ice cream like sprinkles. All of us almost threw up, but she "liked it". She likes raw onions and ice cream so why not put them together? Logical.
David has amazed me lately. For those of you who think he is quiet, you need to be a fly on the wall at our home lately. He is mister outgoing and funny guy. I am glad he is so happy and that he is doing well and enjoying High school and marching band. He has lots of goals too, which I am amazed. The other day we were watching home movies of him as a 2 yrs old. What a cutey. Hard to believe he is the same little boy now.
It is so nice and cool. I love it. I have so much more energy and I don't sweat so much (I bet you are all glad about that).
Time to make hot soup!
The newest Arianna item: raw onions on ice cream-that's right. We were at my company picnic at Pratt and there was free ice cream so Arianna grabbed a cone. There was also free hamburgers with all the fixings. I happened to look across the table and saw the onions on her ice cream like sprinkles. All of us almost threw up, but she "liked it". She likes raw onions and ice cream so why not put them together? Logical.
David has amazed me lately. For those of you who think he is quiet, you need to be a fly on the wall at our home lately. He is mister outgoing and funny guy. I am glad he is so happy and that he is doing well and enjoying High school and marching band. He has lots of goals too, which I am amazed. The other day we were watching home movies of him as a 2 yrs old. What a cutey. Hard to believe he is the same little boy now.
It is so nice and cool. I love it. I have so much more energy and I don't sweat so much (I bet you are all glad about that).
Time to make hot soup!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
School starts
School has officially started as of Tuesday. All seem to be adjusting well. I am glad we are back to a routine and that they are learning again.
We did enjoy our last weekend though. I got out of work early Friday and took the kids to the mall, Cheeseburger in Paradise (which was surprisingly good, Dave met us there) and then to Funland for unlimited rides and attractions. We went go carting, frog leaping, bumper boating, and mini golfing (where Keilan only beat Nancy by 3 points!) We were there from 8-11:30pm which is a good deal for unlimited. ($20) This happens every Friday nightat Funland.
Saturday we had some good friends over-2 Brazilian sisters and families. There were 7 adults and 10 kids here! Keilan speaks portugese so they were chatting away.
Sunday was church, church picnic (at which I was glad to chat with new people (to me) and older friends. Then went to another friend's house for the last time in the pool.
Monday we "Ihop"ed (my favorite breakfast restaurant) then went to Great Falls, it was hot, the kids were crabby, but it was still beautiful. The houses on the way are really something-mansions, almost castles. I pray that those people use their houses for good in hospitality and service but fear that many probably do not. Even as a large family and with 4 kids, we don't get invited to people's homes much. Many women don't want their house messed up. We finished out at Carlos O'kellys (yuk-only went b/c we had 3 coupons-next time we will give them away).
More quotes from Reaching Out-we finished the part for now on Solitude (I bet you all are thrilled)
This part is on reaching out to others: from hostility to hospitality.
Creating space for strangers
"Our society seems to be increasingly full of fearful, defensive, aggressive people anxiously clinging to their property and inclined to look at their surrounding world with suspicion, always expecting an enemy to suddenly appear, intrude and do harm. But still-that is our vocation: to convert...the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhod can be formed and fully experienced."
"Hospitality, therefore, means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy...not to change people but to offer them a space where change can take place...not to bring them over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines...not to lead our neighbors into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment...not an educated intimidation with good books...but the liberation of fearful hearts so that words can find roots and bear ample fruit....The paradox of hospitality is that it wants to create emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free; free to sing their own songs, speak their own languages, dance their own dances; free also to leave and follow their own vocations...Hospitality is not a subtle invitation to adopt the lifestyle of the host, but the gift of a chance for the guest to find his own."
"Empty space tends to create fear. As long as our minds, hearts and hands are occupied we can avoid confronting the painful questions, to which we never gave mujch attention and which we do not want to surface. "Being busy" has become a status symbol, and most people keep encouraging each other to keep their body and mind in constant motion....Occupation and not empty space is what most of us are looking for. When we are not occupied we become resless...even fearful. Being busy, active and on the move has nearly become part of our constitution...We have become a very preoccupied people, afraid of unnamable emptiness and silent solitude."
To convert hostility to hospitality requires the creation of the friendly empty space where we can reach out to our fellow human beings and invite them to a new relationship."
Next: Showing hospitality to our own children?! Stay tuned.
We did enjoy our last weekend though. I got out of work early Friday and took the kids to the mall, Cheeseburger in Paradise (which was surprisingly good, Dave met us there) and then to Funland for unlimited rides and attractions. We went go carting, frog leaping, bumper boating, and mini golfing (where Keilan only beat Nancy by 3 points!) We were there from 8-11:30pm which is a good deal for unlimited. ($20) This happens every Friday nightat Funland.
Saturday we had some good friends over-2 Brazilian sisters and families. There were 7 adults and 10 kids here! Keilan speaks portugese so they were chatting away.
Sunday was church, church picnic (at which I was glad to chat with new people (to me) and older friends. Then went to another friend's house for the last time in the pool.
Monday we "Ihop"ed (my favorite breakfast restaurant) then went to Great Falls, it was hot, the kids were crabby, but it was still beautiful. The houses on the way are really something-mansions, almost castles. I pray that those people use their houses for good in hospitality and service but fear that many probably do not. Even as a large family and with 4 kids, we don't get invited to people's homes much. Many women don't want their house messed up. We finished out at Carlos O'kellys (yuk-only went b/c we had 3 coupons-next time we will give them away).
More quotes from Reaching Out-we finished the part for now on Solitude (I bet you all are thrilled)
This part is on reaching out to others: from hostility to hospitality.
Creating space for strangers
"Our society seems to be increasingly full of fearful, defensive, aggressive people anxiously clinging to their property and inclined to look at their surrounding world with suspicion, always expecting an enemy to suddenly appear, intrude and do harm. But still-that is our vocation: to convert...the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhod can be formed and fully experienced."
"Hospitality, therefore, means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy...not to change people but to offer them a space where change can take place...not to bring them over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines...not to lead our neighbors into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment...not an educated intimidation with good books...but the liberation of fearful hearts so that words can find roots and bear ample fruit....The paradox of hospitality is that it wants to create emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free; free to sing their own songs, speak their own languages, dance their own dances; free also to leave and follow their own vocations...Hospitality is not a subtle invitation to adopt the lifestyle of the host, but the gift of a chance for the guest to find his own."
"Empty space tends to create fear. As long as our minds, hearts and hands are occupied we can avoid confronting the painful questions, to which we never gave mujch attention and which we do not want to surface. "Being busy" has become a status symbol, and most people keep encouraging each other to keep their body and mind in constant motion....Occupation and not empty space is what most of us are looking for. When we are not occupied we become resless...even fearful. Being busy, active and on the move has nearly become part of our constitution...We have become a very preoccupied people, afraid of unnamable emptiness and silent solitude."
To convert hostility to hospitality requires the creation of the friendly empty space where we can reach out to our fellow human beings and invite them to a new relationship."
Next: Showing hospitality to our own children?! Stay tuned.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)