6/16/11

Lay Down Your Life

John 15:13,15
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend....I have called you friends."

Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him....It is far easier to die than to lay down the life day in and day out with the sense of the high calling. We are not made for brilliant moments, but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways. There was only one brilliant moment in the life of Jesus, and that was on the Mount of Transfiguration; then He emptied Himself the second time of His glory, and came down into the demon-possessed valley...I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for Him. - Chambers

The day in and day out is the hard part.
Diapers
Fixing meals
Cleaning toys
Crying
Whining
"Moooommy"

It is hard to do it.  Yet, it is my high calling.  It is my job to lay down my life - not to die, but to give up my own ambitions, my own desires, my own to-do lists - for the Lord, which practically means for my family.

It is hard, but I have the Holy Spirit to enable.  The Father to comfort.  The Savior to provide.

Amen
 Now, off to feed the baby and put him down for a nap.....

6/15/11

My Boys

I have to show off the wonderful work of my friend, Paul Boekell.







To his advantage, he did have cute guys to work with!

6/6/11

The Holy One

I have been reading in Isaiah lately and the phrase that keeps reoccurring is "Holy One" in reference to God. 
Isaiah 41:16 - You shall rejoice in the Lord, the glory in the Holy One of Israel.
The Holy One is a term that would seem to separate God from us, lowly sinners.  Yet, it is a term that is one that sparks in me this song sung by Mark Schultz and written by Chris Rice.  In the song, it speaks not of the God of the Old Testament, but His manifestation in the New.

The Holy One

Gentle friend,
You knew my name.
Yet with Your hand You calmed the storm and healed the lame.
As You spoke,
People came.
And as the crowds would gather 'round they called out,
"Holy One, are You the Holy One, who was sent by God to show the way?"

I wasn't there,
The night they came:
Those who saw and feared the miracles you made.
You took the nails,
You bore the pain.
And as they hung You on the cross and mocked you,

"Holy One, if You're the Holy One, let your God come save You from the grave."

I just heard the news today,
I just came to find you but they said You'd gone away.
I just wanted to hear You say, that you had to go
But that You'd be back again.

Early morn,
Break of day.
Came in time to find the rock You rolled away.
I found Your robe,
An empty grave.
And as I fell upon the ground I cried out,
"Holy One, You are the Holy One, and You came and gave Your life away."

"Holy One, You are the Holy One and You came and gave Your life away."

"I am the life, I am alive, I came to show the way."

6/1/11

The Wingfeathers


I have always loved children's books.  So much is hidden among the pages that even those who have seen a few more years of life can glimpse a precious jewel among the simplest of stories.  One of the newest additions to children's literature is Andrew Peterson.  I know I have shared quite a few of his songs here, but let me take a moment to share his newest story-telling adventure:
The Wingfeather Saga

The story follows three children in a mysterious land called Anniera.  The children learn secrets about the Dark Sea of Darkness, discover hidden jewels, run for their lives, and learn about weakness, strength, and most importantly - love.  Janner is the oldest and the brave protector.  Tink, or Kalmar, is the second and although rash and impulsive, under goes the most change.  Leeli, the youngest and the only daughter, seems to be the glue that holds them all together.  Not only is the story extremely original and full of imagination, it is so packed with theology that it speaks to the very soul of a person. 
It is a great read for adults, teenagers, and children.  I have shared it with my husband, my mom, my aunt, my cousin, and two other families at church.  They all love it!

The first is



The second is


The third is


(The last book has yet to be written.)
Each book is unique and inspiring.  You must read them in order.
I must warn you, I cried at the end of each one.  A good cry though.  Happy - sorrowful all at once!  Rarely does a book make me cry, yet here I am, wiping away tears from the end of "The Monster in the Hollows" at this moment! 
For a good, fun, exciting, deeply moving experience, pick up
The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson
Buy at the Rabbit Room, you might even get it signed by him if you do!