I'm Moving!

I'm in the process of moving my blog to another site.  I've decided to want to change the name and theme of my blog and moving it seemed the best way to do it.  I still have more work to do but here's my new home:

http://www.toshowthemjesus.com/

Looking forward to seeing you at my new home!

Orchaboky

Orcha what?  I'll explain, but let me say first that I am so fascinated by the highly gifted brain.  I guess it's because I don't think the same way so I find it so interesting.  Ever since Ethan was a baby I just followed along in whatever he wanted to learn.  One of his first words was "clock" so I exposed him to lots of clocks.  When he asked to learn math, I taught him math.  When he wanted to learn about space, we studied everything we could find on space.  When he wanted to learn cursive, I showed him how.  When he wanted to memorize the 50 states, I got him a map.  His mind has an insatiable desire to learn and he has led me on quite an adventure!

One of his daily challenges is getting his mind to slow down enough so he can sleep at night.  We try to give him tons of books to read, drawing supplies and give him ideas for what to do in his bed at night.  One night he came out and said that he had nothing to do.  I suggested he invent his own country and tell us about it in the morning.  Well, that's just what he did.

Most nights since then he has been working on the country he invented: Orchaboky.  He created a flag and can tell you about their natural resources and their industry.  He has been working on a power point presentation of his country and the other day we all sat down to listen to his presentation.  It was really cute and we had fun raising our hands asking him questions.  It's an ongoing project that will hopefully keep his mind engaged for quite some time.

River of Grace

I've still been meditating on God's grace and mercy in lives of rebels such as myself.  Even though I've been a Christ Follower for so many years, my sin nature continues to pull me away from him.  Yet he continues to pursue and draw me back.  This is a poem reflecting those thoughts.

I am a leaf, fallen from the tree.
The wind carries me, I know not where.
The worlds distractions take hold of me;
I follow it's fads, concerns and cares.

Lord, plant me firmly in your vine
growing in your light that shines.

I am Gomer, restless, weak and untrue.
The idols of my heart consume me.
Loving myself and things more than you,
in the prison of shame I can't flee.

Lord, cleanse my heart and make me new.
Fill my heart with passion just for you.

I am a young child lost in a storm.
Fearful, I curl up tight and small.
There's nowhere to go that's safe and warm;
scared there's no end to the rain that falls.

Lord, may I find my shelter in you.
No matter the storms, you'll see me through.

An adopted child of the King,
I'm cherished, loved, and accepted.
If I stray from my Source of being,
I know I'll be found just as He said.

Lord, help me to seek and love you more
as your river of grace on me pours.

Gratitude List

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."  John Piper

One of the ways we can show our satisfaction in God is through our gratitude.  That's what the Gratitude Community is all about.  My list is growing each day:

216.  That God is with us even when we turn away from him.
217.  That he loves and pursues even messed up prophets like Jonah--what can he do with me?
218.  The body of believers.
219.  Peace in my heart.
220.  Good music.
221.  The imagination of children--watching my boys turn my bed into a ship that went off to war
222.  Hearing the sadness in my son's voice and knowing he loves Jesus when he said this morning that he doesn't like to hear the passages in scripture about Jesus being beaten and whipped.
223.  Clean laundrey and a washer that works.
224.  Helping little hands do crafts in Sunday school.
225.  The power of God's word to change lives.

Abortion:a rational look at an emotional issue

The following is a book review for a new book by R.C. Sproul titled, "Abortion: a rational look at an emotional issue.  Copyright information: © 2010 by R.C. Sproul, Published by Reformation Trust Publishing. All Rights Reserved.  I receive compensation for a fair review in the form of a copy of the book reviewed.  The opinions stated below are my own.

It's been 20 years since the first edition of this book was published.  It has been updated to reflect recent politics and thoughts on the subject.  I never read the first edition and am honored to be asked to review it for Reformation Trust Publishing.  Abortion is an intensely emotional, highly debated issue in our country.  Dr. Sproul has written a fair, reasoned, and biblical response to the arguments for abortion.  He is a trained philosopher and theologian and in this book he thoroughly discusses both sides of the topic using biblical texts, laws of logic and natural and civil law.  He includes important historical information showing the development of the pro-abortion and pro-choice views. 

For someone who is not quite sure of what they believe concerning this controversy, this is an excellent book to read.  He addresses each argument in support of abortion in a considerate manner.  Dr. Sproul argues that the debate about abortion can essentially be boiled down to one question: "When does life begin?"  He believes that the majority of people, once they are convinced that life begins at conception, will in turn see abortion as wrong.  His arguments are mostly directed not to militant pro-abortionists but those who call themselves pro-choice--those who say "I wouldn't get an abortion myself but I wouldn't want to restrict someone else's freedom in getting one."  The ethical arguments directed toward those persons are logical and thorough. 

An excerpt from the book:

"The fear of divine judgment governs my actions regarding

abortion. As a theologian, I am firmly convinced that God hates

abortion and will judge it thoroughly. I also recognize that not

everyone shares my view of God’s opinions and intentions.

If there is a God, and if we are convinced that the evidence

for His existence is compelling, then without question we are

accountable to Him for our actions. Before we choose to participate

in abortion, we must give serious consideration to what

God’s views in the matter might be. To ignore this is to ignore

the call of conscience and to place ourselves in a perilous position.

If an act against conscience is an act against God, then we

can easily see how dangerous such an action is.

This book is addressed primarily to those who are not sure

about the ethics of abortion. If you remain uncertain, I urge you

again not to engage in abortion unless you are absolutely certain

for clear and sound reasons (which I’m not aware of) that

abortion is an ethically justifiable action. The simple adage of

common wisdom applies to you: “When in doubt, don’t.” (p. 72)

 

The book includes a compassionate chapter on repentance and forgiveness for those who suffer from the guilt of a previous abortion.  There is also a well thought out chapter on specific ways those who are pro-life can effect change in our country.  The Appendixes provide interesting scientific information on the beginning of life as well as a list of pro-life resources.

 

As one who was born after the Roe v. Wade decision, I have never known a time when the abortion debate was not going strong.  Having been involved in pro-life rallies and marches and volunteered in a crisis pregnancy center, I have been involved in the debate myself.  I really appreciate Dr. Sproul's use of logic and biblical scholarship to explain the reasons that abortion on demand is wrong and should be illegal.  I believe this book is an excellent resource to use when discussing the issue with those who consider themselves pro-choice or are undecided about where they stand on abortion. 

The Maker Changes Me

I've been studying Jonah a lot lately and thinking about how God disciplines his children when they rebel. I've also been thinking about the way C.S. Lewis described the process of sanctification in "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" and that led to this poem.

Stomping my feet, I turn my back.
Questioning the fairness of life
and complaining of what I lack.
I feel bitter and full of strife.

The Potter says to me, "My child, I made you think way for a purpose."

Like scales of skin that rip and tear
is the pain of becoming pure.
Why is this change so hard to bear
and how much more can I edure?

The Refiner says to me, "My child, you will shine as silver when I am done."

Finding myself in a new place,
I grow and flourish like a tree.
Pruning may bring a wince on my face,
yet I know it's what makes me free.

The Gardner says, "My child, I have planted and watered you into something beautiful for me."

I may wander and I may roam,
but back to the fold I am led.
I will always be brought back home
and there I find rest and am fed.

The Great Shephard says, "My child, you are mine and for you I died."



"The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off."

Eustice in "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis

Words for Him

The first question in the Westminster Catechism is "What is the chief end of man?" The answer is "To glorify God and enjoy him forever."  I keep coming back to this catechism question as I think about my blogging.  A couple of months ago I wrote a post, thinking out loud about why I was blogging and whether my motives were right.  I've been convicted that I should write for one Person alone--God. 

My prayer lately has been that when I write a post, He would be glorified.  If only one person in the world reads this blog and they are in some way helped or encouraged and God is glorified, then I have done what he has called me to do.  So each time I write a post, I am challenging myself to write for Him and for His glory.  I've taught my oldest that to glorify God means that when people looks at us they see God in us.  As the moon reflects the light of the sun, so we are to reflect to others who God is through how we live our lives.

And so my words that I type can be used to bring glory to Him.  My title for my blog is "My Life as a Mom" and as I write about what God is doing in my life to refine me to be the mother I am called to be, I can point to God and his work in and through me.  My posts "Teach me Jesus" and "God's still working on me" should be less about me and more about him.  My book reviews, poetry I write and even stories of our family events and adventures should all point back to the one who graciously gives me the hands to write these words.  And instead of holding back a part of myself because of fear of judgment, I can share what God has done in my heart so that others might see the hope that is in Christ.

This year, my resolve is to share more about my experiences with depression and God's unending grace to me through those difficult times.  I resolve that this blog will become less about me and more about Him.  I also resolve to care little for comments on my posts but more that my posts would be glorifying to God.  I echo Jonathan Edwards resolution: "Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it."

"For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."  Eph 3:14-19

A New Year for New Books

At the beginning of a new year, it seems natural to make plans for the year.  We've already discussed our trips for the year (D.C. in March, Tennessee in the summer).  I've also been thinking about books I'd like to read this year.  On the left column of my blog I keep a running list of books I'm currently reading but I have a list of books I'd like to read sometime this year.

I am always spoiled by getting new books for Christmas so some of these I already have waiting for me to read.  The rest I'll have to find along the way;

                                                               

   













                                                            















                                                                 
























































                                                                                                                                   



















That should be a good start!  I'm sure I'll mix in some Amish fiction along the way.  And I really should finish a few books I started but never finished like the Imitation of Christ and one on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis.  If you a had list of books to read this year, what would be on it?

New Year Brings Many Thanks

There are many things to be grateful for as I start a new year which is good because I still have a ways to go to reach a thousand!

201.  Another year on this earth.
202.  A savior who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses (Heb 4:15)
203. A bounty of new books to read.
204.  Unity on the pastoral search committee that I'm on.
205.  Getting to hear the word of God preached numerous times throughout the week as I listen to sermons from prospective pastors.
206.  Listening to the sighs and watching the facial expressions of a friend's newborn.
207.  The Body of Christ at work: a friend took my kids for a couple of hours yesterday and sent me home with dark chocolate and tea and orders to rest.
208.  Dark chocolate with raspberry filling.
209.  Coconut cocoa tea.
210. Answered prayers.
211.  The joy of my son when I come to pick him up from school--seeing him running toward me shouting "mommy!"
212.  Getting the digital scrapbooks in the mail that I worked on all last year and watching the excitment on the kids faces as they flip through their books.
213.  Having down time to organize my house.
214.  The anticipation of what God is going to do in and through me this year.
215.  Listening to Ian read.

That's all for now...

Failing

While we were on vacation, we had an opportunity to speak with a professor of education who teaches on gifted education.  Yes, I did pick her brain! One of the things we discussed was the spiritual challenges gifted learners confront because of their perfectionism.  She shared examples of other families with gifted children and how they handle sin in their lives.

Perfectionism is a common trait in the gifted.  For perfectionists like my oldest son, sin is a big problem.  Failing at anything is a big problem.  When he first started to play board games, it was the end of the world for him when he didn't win.  He is hesitant to try anything new unless he feels confident he will excel at it.  We encourage him to fail at something everyday.  We had a debate with him yesterday about the fact that failure can be a good thing; it challenges you to try harder the next time and you learn from your mistakes.  He was adamant that what we said was not true. 

In our catechism devotional (Training Hearts Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism), we've been discussing the Fall, Original Sin, and the effects of sin in our lives.  He acknowledges that he is sinful, that everyone sins, and that one day everything will be restored when Christ returns.  However, he does not handle it well when he is corrected.  He gets upset and berates himself, "I am the worst person!"

This will be an ongoing challenge for him and for us as parents as we remind him of his worth in God's eyes and help him deal with the fact that he is not perfect, cannot be, and sin brings consequences.  Battling perfectionism will be a lifelong internal war for him I'm afraid.  But isn't sin a battle we all face each and every day?

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:15-25 

Pensive Thoughts

I'm recovering from a bad sinus infection, and because of the medication I'm taking, I haven't been sleeping.  This has given me a lot of extra time for thinking--thus my title, pensive thoughts.  I've so much time to think in the middle of the night that my thoughts have thoughts!

With school starting back this week for my oldest, I found that neither of us were excited about it.  He frequently complains of boredom and says he doesn't want to go to school.  This isn't good for me because I continue deep in my heart to want to homeschool him.  I started having an interest in homsechooling when he was about 18months and it has not gone away.  (My husband and I compromised on Christian school but then the school we chose turned out to be the wrong fit and so Ethan ended up at the public school).  I still don't feel right when I drop him off at school in the mornings, I just feel like something's not quite right.  I keep thinking this desire to homeschool will go away and lately I've been praying to the Lord that if this desire is not from him, to please take it away.

The reasons for wanting to homeschool are many and too much for this post.  I think I'm in one of those times in my life that we all face where we think we should go one direction but maybe we're really supposed to go another.  Sometimes the choices we have to make in life are not that clear, maybe all the choices are good options.  How do you pick one?  For me, it's one of continual prayer and waiting for God to make things clear.  In the meantime, we'll get up bright and early each morning and head for carline trusting in faith that God is sovereign over all our cares and that he has a good plan for us.

New Year

I think that January is turning out to be one of my favorite months of the year.  It seems like it wouldn't be as many people feel the post Chrismas "blahs" during this month.  We had a marathon from September through December and I was counting down the days until January.  I think we had a revolving door at our house all during the Fall: parties, bbq's, bible studies, etc.  It was fun but I am ready for some down time. 

I've been given some down time this past week.  We returned from being gone almost two weeks, started getting sick on Christmas Day and have been sick ever since.  So I've barely left the house and have enjoyed every minute of being here.  I think the kids have too.  My New Year's Resolution is to spend as much time as I can in January hibernating in my house.  Can you have a New Year's Resolution that lasts only a month?

Starting a new year always gives opportunity for reflection on the past year and hope for the one ahead.  And seriously I'm not one who makes resolutions but last year I reviewed the book: The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards and Jonathan Edwards at a young age had a great list of resolutions for his life.  Here are a few that I want to think on this year:

#19. Resolved, never to do anything, which i should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

#25. Resolved, to examine carefully and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

#65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz, with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him; all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows fears, hopes, desires, and everything, and every circumstatnce.

#67.  Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.



 Oh yeah, I guess I should add that I want to go to the gym more often:)