18 Jan 2013

Keeping Purity

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This year I am working my way through Psalm 119.  Thankful the Holy Spirit works in new ways every time you read the Word.  This time reading through this long psalm I have a son, a little boy with a curious mind.  I read Psalm 119.9 in a whole new light.

“How can a young man keep his way pure, but keeping it according to Your Word.”

These are some thoughts about parenting about that verse:

1.  You, as parents of young boys, have direct influence over what they see and therefore engage with their minds.  This world has so much to bombard our minds with – beginning at such an early age.  Most children in the world these days have access to kindles, ipads, iphones, etc.  Televisions blare many hours a day in the majority of homes with small children.  What influences your child?  The Bible says we are Christian parents have a duty to actively participate and be in charge of the parenting and shaping of their minds – every minute of it.  Deuteronomy 6:4-14 commands to always DO parenting.

2.  Fill their minds with Scripture.  As I am driving around with my 4 month infant, I am usually playing Andrew Peterson’s Slugs and Bugs CD.  Those songs are stuck in my head all day.  What do I want to be stuck in his head all day as he grows and matures?  I want the Word.  When his dad and I correct him or discipline him, I want Scripture to motivate our disciplining and help shape his little mind and heart.  We pray and claim the promises of God that if his mind is filled with Scripture, he will keep his way pure.  God’s promises are true.

3.  We pray.  As we parent, we don’t do it on our own.  I’ve tried.  I’ve tried going days without praying and filling my mind with the Word.  It doesn’t work.  I’m more anxious, fearful, and irritable (with both my son and my husband).  We can’t parent without praying without ceasing and just resting in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And after all these things, we accept and live in grace.  We will fail.  Our kids, no matter how cute, cuddly, and irrististably snuggly, but their sinners – just like their parents.  Every one of us.  We all stand and parent and live and love in need of grace.

Thankful.

 

10 Jan 2013

Living Intentionally

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Each January that rolls around brings filled treadmills and new calendars.  It brings motivation to change but soon, as the February calendar gets seen, most of these are right out the window.  How can we be women who intentional desire change and make that change happen?
Intentional change must take moment by moment living – every minute thinking of those changes and making conscious choices to make those happen.
I am on a flight right now to spend a Word-filled weekend with my mentor in St. Simons Island, GA.  She has made a habit over the last 35+ years (or so) to pray for her family and read her Bible early in the morning.  Even when her husband had to get up early to go to work, how easy would it have been for her to go back to bed – or just stay in bed?  Years of faithfulness wouldn’t have happened if she had pushed the snooze button.
So, as I was thinking of ways to implement this in my life I came up with a hugely long list.  Maybe you can relate to some of them:
1.  If I want to wake up early, when the alarm goes off…get up.  Don’t press snooze.  I attended a conference about 10 years ago where Elisabeth Elliot was speaking.  One of the attendees asked her how she had a QT every morning and did everything, how’d she get up?  Her answer: put your feet on the floor and get up!  Simple enough.
2.  Do you want to read the Bible more?  Make a minute by minute decision to read the Bible before you read google feeds, or look at pictures on Instagram, or check people’s statuses on facebook.  They can wait.  The Bible is life-giving.
3.  Do you want to lose weight?  Make the minute by minute decision to not eat so much, make healthy choices, get up and move.  That simple.
4.  Do you want to learn how to take better photographs with your “big” camera on manual?  Do it.  Don’t keep it in the bag and when you take it out – set it on manual and make mistakes and take beautiful shots of every day life.
5.  Do you want to be a better friend…think through ways that you can be a friend to someone and follow through on it.
6.  Do you want to pray more?…pray without ceasing.  Pray as you change a diaper, as you are trying to figure out what to do with a fussy infant as he is fighting nap time.
7.  Do you want to encourage your husband more?…find ways that he  needs encouragement and do it.  Don’t put it off.
8.  Do you want to exercise more?…then get off the comfy red couch and take the stroller and go walk around your new neighborhood for 20 minutes.
All of life (daily grind) is about choices.  Life is made of a bazillion moments and choices.  Make right ones.

 

8 Jan 2013

Being Teachable

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You never know what to expect when entering into something new, do you?  You set your hopes up and they are crushed.  You expect little, and sometimes you are surprised and overwhelmed.

I signed up for a Bible study class offered at my church on the book of Colossians. I don’t usually like attending Bible studies because I would rather be the one teaching.  But, for some reason, God has me in a non-teaching (in a program way) season.

The first ten minutes of the class the Spirit had already convicted me about my hard heart of not wanting to be teachable.  Blah.  I hate that.  But, it is something I need.  Then I got to think.  That is one area my husband has noticed in me – my inability to readily accept teaching.  It is primarily a pride issue.  I think I should already know all things (God) so I don’t want to lower my attitude and allow someone else to teach me.  Unless of course I see them as someone who I want to be taught by.

God commands us to be teachable.  Especially as women we need to be willing to be taught of the Spirit and those The Lord puts in our path as wiser women and pastors and our husbands (if we are married) who can teach us practical things but also wisdom of the Word of God.  (Col 1.9-14)

In the Psalms alone (ESV) there are 26 times that the word TEACH is used.  It is the psalmist’s humble cry to The Lord to teach him the truths that he needs to know in order to please The Lord.

What comes in the way of us being teachable?  As women in the church we are commanded to teach the younger women.  Well, we can’t teach if we’ve never been taught.  Did you instinctivly know how to bake cookies or a cheesecake or how to do laundry or make a bed or writer a letter?  No.  You more than likely had someone to teach you.  Our pride is the main obstacle in our heart attitude toward being teachable.  We think we don’t need to be taught or already know everything there is to know on a certain subject.  That is not a Christ-like attitude to have.

AS you teach your children or teach younger women or as you teach anyone that God gives you the opportunity to teach, do a heart check. Check your own ways and see if you are being teachable?  Ask the Spirit to carve away, chisel away, at the hardness of your heart so that you may find yourself teachable.  Not by your own doing, but by the doing of The Lord.

3 Jan 2013

On the Eve of 36

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I love having a birthday so close to the new year’s beginning.  It means my New Years health resolutions don’t really start – but more importantly…I have a new birth year starting around the same time as a calendar year begins.

As I look back at 35 – the 3rd biggest important thing in my life happened:

1.  God chose to make my life new!

2.  I got married

3.  THIS YEAR – I became a mother.  Honestly, I became a mother when I was 34 – because we conceived him before I turned 35, but actually holding this precious little boy (who rolled over today) in my arms happened in my 35th year of life.

My second biggest prayer answered was something else entirely.  Some of my dearest friends know the specifics of that prayer, but let’s just say that I began a prayer when we returned from our honeymoon – and even more specifically prayed Eph 3.20 for it the entire month of May.  And in that month I saw the beginnings of that prayer being answer.  God does indeed do far more than we can ever think or plan or imagine.

This year, I am praying more personally some things that I see in my character or heart that I want the Spirit to change.  I want to see bondages gone: Psalm 119:32 is my verse for this year.  Here is my KCV (Kim Campbell version): I will RUN in your truth because you have made me FREE!

I look  forward to seeing how God will answer this prayer for His glory as I live my 36th year!

Thanks for reading and being part of my life in my 35th year!

1 Jan 2013

Sneak Peak at 2013

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Life is a Bowl of Crayons

I don’t know why we bother with New Years resolutions, but I wanted to put in a little plug for goals and areas of my life.  I hope you have had a wonderful 2012 and sorry for the lack of posts in Nov and Dec.  We’ve been sick, busy, moving, tired, etc.  I’ve wanted to do mindless things, so we’ve watched a lot of NCIS and played Candy Crush!

My word of the year: HOME.  I’ll be taking pictures of our new home, I want to help Little Rock and BCLR be home for us, and I want to always focus on this world is not my home.

Family:

1.  Continue family devotions which consist of reading one story out of the Jesus Storybook Bible on Sunday nights.

2.  We move!  January 5 is moving day.  Only .7 miles away this time!

3.  Some are asking if we want more children.  Of course we do!  We will see if that is in the Lord’s plans for 2013.  Until then, we enjoy a bright-eyed curious little boy named Elijah!

Photography/Writing

1.  I am attending my first photography workshop hosted in Ft. Worth, TX by some sweet friends called The Little Things.  I look forward to this time of learning and fun.  And thankful for my husband for sending me/keeping e and my mom for the Vday gift in sending me!

2.  I am hoping kd316 will have an Etsy page soon so that I can sell my notecards/photography.

3.  I will continue to be a contributor to the Our Single Purpose blog.  We are tackling several series this year, so head on over and check it out.

4.  I will continue to write my James Bible study.  I started writing it then got sick. Didn’t mean to not return, so I need to get back on it!

Health

1.  Everyone takes this time to make healthy resolutions.  Mine this year is tri-fold:

a.  Lose the baby weight.  There is a lot to lose and I need it gone!

b.  To cut out some of the sugar and sodas I’ve been digesting.  Not entirely, just lessening how many I partake of!

c.  Eat more fruits and vegetables and get little guy into them too!

2.  Exercise more.  Now that I have a carrier it will be easy to have little guy on me.  Also, enjoy the walks with E three times a week.  I may do a 5k this year, but my knees haven’t been the same since pregnancy.  Get back into yoga/pilates.  I need to strengthen that core again and I can do a plank but not some of the deeper lunges.

Spiritual

1.  Doing the Made to Crave reading plan on YouVersion for three weeks.  Then I will be transitioning into studying Psalm 119 in 2013.  I look forward to seeing how that psalm transforms my heart.

2.  I will be doing a Colossians inductive study with some ladies at my church.  I look forward to knowing this book better and getting to know the ladies at our church better too.

3.  Going to The Gospel Coalition in April in Orlando.  E and I are looking forward to with our pastoral staff at BCLR.  My folks are keeping the little guy so we will have 2.5 days of being baby free!  We look forward to worshipping together and listening to sermons together.  My husband is a worship pastor so I seldom get to sing next to him.

Happy 2013 everyone! How will you COLOR your 2013?

 

 

24 Dec 2012

The Day Before Jesus Was Born

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Sojourn’s Joy to the World

Merry Christmas.  Do yourself and me a favor: go listen to the video above.  You’ll be blessed.

This Christmas will be unlike any other I’ve ever experienced: Elijah’s first Christmas.  He won’t remember much of this one but we will.  We look forward to celebrating with new friends here in Little Rock.  It will be a joyous day.

As I think about Christmas Eve, and knowing full well that Jesus wasn’t born on Dec 25 2000+ years ago, but go with me.  Now that I know what it was like to be the day before my child was born, I can think a little about Mary.

I was in pain…so was Mary.

I had a nice hospital room and pain killers…Mary didn’t.

I had a camera and friends surrounding me…Mary had animals and her fiance’.

I had overhead lighting…Mary had the twinkling lights of heaven (and her baby had created them – John 1)

I had a striped blanket hospital-issued to wrap him in…Mary had swaddling clothes.

So many differences, so many similarities!  But, one thing is the same.  We both had baby boys.

My baby boy, no matter how cute he is, needs her baby boy, the perfect Son of God, creator and upholder of the entire world!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

22 Dec 2012

Secret Santa Blogging

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photo

Almost every year I find a blogging santa swap to participate in.  It is fun and sort of a modern day penpal.  This year I participate in one partly hosted by Syndal @ www.synfullydelicious.blogspot.com  I had fun putting together a cute little Christmas package for a blog friend.

I got my package a few days ago, but since we’ve been sick, this is the first day I’ve felt like doing anything.  I have worn my present though (see scarf above, ok, sorry for the no makeup, I just had to run to Target to get formula), and I will be writing a quick thank you note on some pink stationery (that I had taken a picture of at Target and sent to my husband – saying that I really liked it for a potential stocking stuffer) – and lo and behold she got it for me!  Abbey at Finding My Forever thank you for everything – including my little ornaments – love them!

 

7 Dec 2012

Book Review: The Shepherd Leader at Home (Witmer/Crossway)

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I love having the privilege to pray for my husband.  It is something we as wives must do EVERY DAY .  I need help in having that faithfulness, especially now since having a baby.

I like to read books along with the Bible that teach about his role as a husband or elder.  This book, The Shepherd Leader at Home has been wonderful.  Witmer has been forthright and winsome in giving husbands their job description in leading their wives and children.  What an important and large task at hand!

What’ve I’ve learned most from this book is how I can be a helpmeet to him.  That is why I read these books.  I want to know what they are commanded to do from God, then how I can help them be a better husband. One way is not sulking when I don’t get my way, but joyfully following his leadership.

This book is conversational and easy to read, has study questions that would be great for a group discussion, and is centered on Scripture and not just man’s opinion.

22 Nov 2012

Thanksgiving 2012: Elijah’s Birth/Name Story

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All day long I’ve pondered the little boy that I now hold in my arms, feed, change, laugh with, cry with, etc.  I wanted to take the time to write out his birthstory and name sake story for all of you.

Elijah was due on Sept 13, 2012.  I really wanted him to come early because we were supposed to move to Little Rock soon after he was born and I was ready to begin a new part of life.  Well, due date came and went with an appointment but no headway in the birth department.  I had been secretly trying different “wives tales” about how to hurry up birth, but nothing was helping.

My friend Jena-Marie suggested I go to her guy at a nearby salon for a pedicure.  It was the best foot massage ever – and started contractions.  We then went to walk North Gate mall and they kept coming – but then they stopped.  Nothing more all weekend.

Monday, Eric and I were packing and just biding our time.  I started having normal contractions about 10 minutes apart mid afternoon on Monday.  On Tuesday we had a scheduled appointment and I was hoping she would get us going.  Eric left for a tire appt down the road at 830am.  I told him when he left that we probably wouldn’t be coming back to the house without a baby.  I was eager and nervous.  He got back. We left and we loaded our bags into the car: we had remembered all of our chargers and plugs and going home outfit.

Got to the Durham Women’s Clinic ( I LOVE THEM) and I was 2 cm dialated.  Ok – but that wasn’t as much as I wish I was.  So, we went to NorthGate again and walked and ate lunch.  We saw my FIL in the mall and he could tell how much pain I was in.  We only made it halfway around the mall and I knew we better eat some lunch and get back to the clinic.  By the time our MW saw us I was 3 cm dialated and he was coming on his own, so she sent us to Durham Regional.

We got to DRHand walked right into our delivery room.  Fabulous reception!  I didn’t want to take meds right away, so we hopped in the tub.  The nurse filled the tub so full of water that when I got in there was a tidal wave of water – we had about 2 inches of water on the floor.  Oh, that was humiliating but we laughed about it. Then I got out and took some stadol.  Then I got back in the tub.  By this time my BFF got there, my makeshift Doula, Leah.  She was amazing – being by my side to cheer me on.  Husband, BFF, and fabulous midwife, Jualeah, I couldnt go wrong.

Got back in the tub, but knew I needed the epidural.  I couldn’t do it.  I am a wimp.  🙂  So, I got out and we tested me – 7 cm – but I wanted that epidural.  I got it – piece of cake.  830pm – here we go, not quite there yet ready to push.  About 1am I finally fell asleep.  Woke up at 230 – was told to start pushing.  Little Elijah came at 335am on Sept 19, 2012.  It was hard, but wonderful.  She told me to push the last time then bend down and pull my son out.  What an amazing relief and experience.  To hold that precious boy on my chest.  To know the face of which I had only felt the kicks and heard the heartbeat.

After they took him away I was in the wort pain of my life.  I had multiple blood clots, all the pain meds were gone, and I had had a third degree tear.  My husband was my hero right then, never leaving my side.  Leah was amazing taking pictures of our new son.

Shortly after he was born, the doctors noticed little pin prick bruises all over him.  They knew something was wrong.  So, after our pastor had time to pray with him, the doctors came and took him to the special care nursery at DRH.  Then, they took him to Duke.  That was the hardest part post delivery.  My Big E had gone home to get some sleep (with my blessing) and my little e had just been taken to a different hospital then his momma.  I was so lonely and hardly slept at all.

We finally got to bring little e home on Monday and it was an amazing time walking into our home with our son.  Thanking God for rescuing his platelet level and giving him to us on loan to raise as a man of God.

Elijah, in the Bible, was a close-walking man of God.  We both loved his character.  We landed on Elijah pretty soon after we found out it was boy.  Then we couldn’t decide on a middle name of a long time.  But, then we came across this blog and I knew we needed it.   Carl Levring Stam was Eric’s mentor and dear friend.  Chip, as he was known, was a professor at SBTS where E went to school and I worked.  I only got to know this sweet man after he had been diagnosed with cancer.  The cancer took his life in May 2011.  Eric talked to Chip before asking me out for the first time.  Chip thought highly of me.  I thought highly of him.  The main thing he taught me: how to die well.  He taught Eric almost everything he knows about worship in the Body of Christ.  Levring was his maternal grandfather’s name.  He was from Denmark.  The blog talks much about who he was and his family.  It talks about women of God in his life (Chip’s mother and grandmother).  I began praying for Elijah’s wife that she would be a woman of God like these women.

http://www.carlstam.org/familyheritage/janestam.html

We are dearly grateful for our little buddy that we have in our arms.  Happy Thanksgiving from our little family to yours.

3 Nov 2012

Book Review: 52 Creative Family Time Experiences (Smith/Randall House)

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Do you ever hear the term “Family Worship” and think how in the world am I as a parent supposed to do this?  I ask myself this as I have a newborn – only 6 weeks old.  For me, right now, it looks like praying with him while I’m feeding him or talking to him about patience when he is screaming for food or for his diaper to be changed.  But, I know as he gets older, my husband and I have the primary responsibility to lead this little treasure to Christ and to help him grow to be a man of God and to have a heart for God.

Timothy Smith’s new book, 52 Creative Family Time Experiences, helps parents succeed in their role as their child’s primary Christian influence.  This book is a great jumping off point for parents who really need help and direction with leading Family Worship.

Here are some great points about this new tool you can use:

1.  It is adaptable.  If you have kids of varying ages, you can use this book with all of them.  It gives you ideas to make the lesson more applicable to older children and younger ones alike!

2.  It is organized.  Everything from the opening activity to the closing prayer, this book gives you 52 weeks of creative ways to teach the Bible to your children.

3.  The main point is there.  Smith definitely gets that it is the parent’s role to be their child’s main discipler. It is not the church’s.  I’m thankful that he gets it!  I wish every writer writing for families and for youth/children would get that main point.  That is clearly what the Bible teaches.

4.  It is varied.  Smith understands that all children (and adults) do not learn the same way.  He has examples and activities that hit in every learning style: auditory, smell, vision, touch, doing, etc.  This helps when all of your children learn different ways.

My only hesitation for this book is that it is not gospel-centered enough for me.  I would want to teach the explicit Gospel of Jesus in every lesson.  Take just one lesson – the one for Thanksgiving.  It says we need to thank God because He is good and blesses us.  We need to be thankful.  It doesn’t mention that we need to be thankful for the cross of Christ because it is the only way our sins are forgiven.  There are some that teach that and have it written in the lesson, but not all of them.

All in all, this is a “get book” – especially for parents who are striving to teach their children about the Bible and have no clue where to start!