Recently, I posted about my personal search for simplicity, and mentioned that I was reading a book entitled Breathe - Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life. This is the kind of book that you read slowly, and deliberately. It has "Breathing Excercises" within it that cause you to really take the time to ponder and access what you've read.
So, today I was reading about Sabbath rest, and I wanted to share with you all some wonderful quotes from this book. We've recently had some friends who've taken to the "Law", attempting to follow all of the 600+ of the Levitical laws. My husband and I are in total disagreement with this type of belief system. Christ came to fulfill the law and to free us from the burden of keeping the law, besides that - we're Gentiles anyway! But, that is for another post...
Over the years, we've spent our Sundays in many different ways. We've had seasons where they were spent working, trying to build our business in it's early years. We've had seasons where we spent ALL DAY at church doing every "spiritual" activity they had to offer. We've had seasons when we spent the morning in worship, the afternoons in rest, and the evenings in family reading or wholesome family movie watching. The later are my favorite times. We are there again now, because we have a little one that naps, forcing the rest of us to be home and be quiet!!! Praise the Lord, I'm loving these quiet days.
Ponder this scripture - from Deuteronomy 5:15, "And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. "
(Now from Breathe...)
"God is reminding His people: You have choices. You are free. You are not slaves anymore... Remember and celebrate the fact that you have been set free.
Sabbath is about freedom.
Some people in Jesus day and our day (and in the days in between) have turned Sabbath-keeping into bondage rather than freedom. We miss the gift if we get too legalistic, but we also miss it if we ignore Sabbath-keeping altogether."
And, from the book Receiving the Day, by Dorothy Bass...
"Slaves cannot skip a day of work, but free people can. Not all free people choose to do so, however; some of us remain glued to our computers and washing machines every day of the week. To keep Sabbath is to excercise one's freedom, to declare oneself to be neither a tool to be employed - an employee - nor a beast to be burdened. To keep Sabbath is also to remember one's freedom and to recall the One from whom that freedom came, and the One from whom it still comes."
WOW!!! Hallelulajah! We are F*R*E*E!!! I would encourage you to take the time to read the short book of Galatians. This power packed book of just 6 chapters is a book that will encourage you in your faith, strengthen your resolve to be sons of the Most High God, and help you to understand our true freedom in Christ.
Abiding in His grace, and freedom!
Lori
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
"Peas..."
Well, here's just a cute kid story for those of you that enjoy those.
A homeschool friend of ours has a daughter who's 14. She has been bonding with Sarah off and on since she came home from Guatemala. It was a little contact at first, then allowing Giann to hold her, things like that. Now she will go to Giann. In the process, Giann has been trying to teach Sarah to use the sign language for "please" which is sort of a circular motion to the chest while saying "please" . So, now, she's really picked up and and taken off with it.
"Mommy, can I have a sucker, P*E*A*S* !!!" while rubbing her stomach (not the chest). "Peas, Mommy, peas, peas." Now, imagine this scenario playing itself out a dozen times today over various other things. She's solidly locked on to getting what she wants/needs with "peas".
We are so enjoying the way that she's learning to use so many new phrases and say new things and communicate with us better. It is a daily joy to see what she might come up with each day.
We went to Wal-Mart this afternoon to get groceries, and while we were checking out, I asked Anna to take Sarah across the aisle to the "play area" where they have the candy machines and ride on toys. Anna put her on a bulldozer and she loved it!! She patted the seat beside her for Anna to get up there with her,and when Anna went to join her Sarah shouts out, "All Aboard!" Like she's driving a train!
It was hysterical!!!
The child keeps us in stitches all the time! She is sweet and precious and loving and yummy. We just all love her like crazy, and in return she loves us all back just the same way, and it is such an amazing blessing.
Children, (and everything that comes with them) are a blessing from the Lord!! Lastnight, I took dinner to a family from our Family Small Group class who just had baby #5! WOW! I don't know how she does it, and homeschools, but I wish I could do it. I really think I'd love to have a "quiver full" for our family. Who knows what the Lord may have for us some day.
Abiding in HIS grace,
Lori
A homeschool friend of ours has a daughter who's 14. She has been bonding with Sarah off and on since she came home from Guatemala. It was a little contact at first, then allowing Giann to hold her, things like that. Now she will go to Giann. In the process, Giann has been trying to teach Sarah to use the sign language for "please" which is sort of a circular motion to the chest while saying "please" . So, now, she's really picked up and and taken off with it.
"Mommy, can I have a sucker, P*E*A*S* !!!" while rubbing her stomach (not the chest). "Peas, Mommy, peas, peas." Now, imagine this scenario playing itself out a dozen times today over various other things. She's solidly locked on to getting what she wants/needs with "peas".
We are so enjoying the way that she's learning to use so many new phrases and say new things and communicate with us better. It is a daily joy to see what she might come up with each day.
We went to Wal-Mart this afternoon to get groceries, and while we were checking out, I asked Anna to take Sarah across the aisle to the "play area" where they have the candy machines and ride on toys. Anna put her on a bulldozer and she loved it!! She patted the seat beside her for Anna to get up there with her,and when Anna went to join her Sarah shouts out, "All Aboard!" Like she's driving a train!
It was hysterical!!!
The child keeps us in stitches all the time! She is sweet and precious and loving and yummy. We just all love her like crazy, and in return she loves us all back just the same way, and it is such an amazing blessing.
Children, (and everything that comes with them) are a blessing from the Lord!! Lastnight, I took dinner to a family from our Family Small Group class who just had baby #5! WOW! I don't know how she does it, and homeschools, but I wish I could do it. I really think I'd love to have a "quiver full" for our family. Who knows what the Lord may have for us some day.
Abiding in HIS grace,
Lori
Monday, April 13, 2009
Looking for Simplicity
Hi Everyone:
I have not posted anything in a bit because I'm seeking the Lord right now, and wanted to really have something to say when I got back on.
I am currently reading several books. One entitled Breathe is helping me learn much about truly living simply so that I can make more room for the things of God in my life.
I'm at the place in my life where THAT is what I truly want - more of HIM and less of me. I feel like John the Baptist when he wrote, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) I long for things to be joyful and peaceful in my home. I love my husband and children passionately and unconditionally. I forgive easily and forget what is behind.
Phillipians 3:12-16 says, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind."
April 1st was exactly one year from the time I fell down 7 of our basement stairs with my then 15 month old in my arms landing head first against a cinderblock wall and rupturing a disc in my neck. The doctors did not MRI my neck for 6 months! The excruciating pain led to a back surgery in October of last year after 3 spinal blocks failed to do the trick. I have had a bout of shingles most recently due to my weakened immune system. For the last year I have been on muscle relaxers and pain relievers about every 4 -6 hours, and several months ago, another was added to the daily regimine. It has been frustrating, but it's kept me home alot, and that has been a bonus.
Since our daughter, Kathryn, died in 1995, I've spent years running from home. It never really mattered where I was running to, it was just being busy all the time that mattered - something to "fill" the void she'd left when she died. It became a habit because I couldn't stand to be in that quiet house, ever. Even after our second child was born, it was like I couldn't stop. Go! Go! Go! all the time! It was a habit that proved to be nearly 15 years in the breaking. It's a shame the Lord had to use an injury to get my attention, but some of us are harder to learn than others. :O) I'm one of those.
I've always believed that my place was to be a helpmate to my husband, to be a "keeper" of our home, and to care for the needs of my children personally. Now, I am finally relaxed in my home enough to do just that. And I praise God for that dreadful fall, that could have cost me my life or my mobility.
My precious 2+ year old has called from the back living room, "Mommy!" she said.
"Yes!" I answered.
"Where are woo?"
Gotta go!!! :O)
Lori
I have not posted anything in a bit because I'm seeking the Lord right now, and wanted to really have something to say when I got back on.
I am currently reading several books. One entitled Breathe is helping me learn much about truly living simply so that I can make more room for the things of God in my life.
I'm at the place in my life where THAT is what I truly want - more of HIM and less of me. I feel like John the Baptist when he wrote, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) I long for things to be joyful and peaceful in my home. I love my husband and children passionately and unconditionally. I forgive easily and forget what is behind.
Phillipians 3:12-16 says, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind."
April 1st was exactly one year from the time I fell down 7 of our basement stairs with my then 15 month old in my arms landing head first against a cinderblock wall and rupturing a disc in my neck. The doctors did not MRI my neck for 6 months! The excruciating pain led to a back surgery in October of last year after 3 spinal blocks failed to do the trick. I have had a bout of shingles most recently due to my weakened immune system. For the last year I have been on muscle relaxers and pain relievers about every 4 -6 hours, and several months ago, another was added to the daily regimine. It has been frustrating, but it's kept me home alot, and that has been a bonus.
Since our daughter, Kathryn, died in 1995, I've spent years running from home. It never really mattered where I was running to, it was just being busy all the time that mattered - something to "fill" the void she'd left when she died. It became a habit because I couldn't stand to be in that quiet house, ever. Even after our second child was born, it was like I couldn't stop. Go! Go! Go! all the time! It was a habit that proved to be nearly 15 years in the breaking. It's a shame the Lord had to use an injury to get my attention, but some of us are harder to learn than others. :O) I'm one of those.
I've always believed that my place was to be a helpmate to my husband, to be a "keeper" of our home, and to care for the needs of my children personally. Now, I am finally relaxed in my home enough to do just that. And I praise God for that dreadful fall, that could have cost me my life or my mobility.
My precious 2+ year old has called from the back living room, "Mommy!" she said.
"Yes!" I answered.
"Where are woo?"
Gotta go!!! :O)
Lori
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