andwe_areoff's Xanga

Coming and Going

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 21:17:16 GMT

I think that "coming and going" characterizes much of life. Most people have *something* upcoming to look forward to even if it is a small thing like grocery shopping. And I suppose it is important that those people with small life events keep the right perspective in order not to drift into a land of "woe is me." No offense to any readers with only small life events. Many weeks and months that is ME. :) My weekly events are church and my errand day that I can look forward to as "events," all others take place without my knowing they are coming. For instance, you can never *know* just when that baby will sit up, crawl, or walk, but these *are* events, and the ones worth remembering. So, now, this past year practically has been a year of "comings" and now we are facing the "goings" that are inevitable with the type of "comings" we've been awaiting.

The first major event was the birth of Mr. Man on December 27, 2006. It was quite the momentous occasion and we have been reeling ever since. He is a delight and a joy and such an *easy* baby, praise the Lord! Because of his birth we have had time fly right out from under us and the next "coming" is quickly approaching.

We will be going "home" soon! Soon! Only 3 and 1/2 weeks to go and we'll be going back where we came from before we moved where we are now. (I hope any of this is making sense ;)) This means our little ones will be with Grandpa and Grandma, Great-Grandparents, Great Aunt and Uncles, and other loved ones for a time. We will not, however, have Daddy there with us for the majority of our temporary stay.

Daddy will be going his own way for a time to train to be an officer for the US Air Force. One of our events of late last year prepared me to understand *why* military training environments do not permit family members, it is a *lot* of hard, time consuming work. I will miss him dearly, but I will appreciate the reasons behind the separation more than I ever could imagine the first time we did this 4 years ago this month.

And we will all be looking forward to another grand event - graduation and reuniting as a family only to prepare for more intense training that should last one year in its initial phase. Beyond that we are unaware exactly of what events we should be waiting for. As the Lord reveals these, we will expect great things from Him during those times. For now, we trust that He does know and that we will be cared for by Him in all of our comings and goings.

If I disappear for a while, know I'm busy with my little ones, and please pray for us. I anticipate our time with the grandparents will be wonderful and that I will fail and sin. Please pray that I can grow during this period and honor God in all I do and say and keep Him at the forefront of my ways, loving those He has placed me with for the time being. Please pray that I will keep the right perspective and not fall into the "woe is me" mindset that could easily beset me as my husband is away for twice as long as the first time. :)

That Little Bible Church

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:15:14 GMT

Our current church will forever go down in the annals of our family history books as "that little Bible church." It all began when the Lord moved us to the St. Louis metro area midsummer 2003. We had been married about 5 months when our first all out efforts began to find our new church home. We'd had some experience finding a new church together before, but this time was quite a bit different.

Our adventure began in churches with familiar names. We stuck close to what we were used to and ventured off one Sunday to a little Bible church not too far from our home. We'll never forget that weekend because his parents were visiting us and decided not to attend church with us that Sunday morning.

We pulled in to the parking lot of what looked from the outside to be an office building, were it not for the sign applied to the brick that denoted otherwise. I think the first thought I had was, "Is this a temporary building for this church? Are they in the process of a new building project?"

We sat down and looked around. It seemed as if the church was here to stay. Then the music began, and we were drawn to worship. My husband's hearing is sensitive, and the music was on the loud side. The trumpets trill notes gave him a headache. A sour note to start the sermon on.

I don't particularly remember the sermon, but I do remember not meeting anyone afterwards, nor introducing ourselves when asked if any visitors were present. Our typical routine in a church that at first glance didn't appear to be a good fit was to not introduce ourselves in hopes that we could slip out quietly afterwards and move on to the next trial church. And so we did this Sunday.

We did that week after week after week. For a LOT of weeks. Like..half a year, each Sunday in a different place. Until the end of the year when my husband said, "Why don't we go try that little Bible church again?"

Did we go back when he said that? Oh no, we sure didn't. For four Sundays in a row we went to a different church, again. Silly me got in the way week after week. The first week we had a misunderstanding and when my husband asked if I knew where we were going and when we needed to be there I told him yes, and we proceeded to a different Bible church that we hadn't tried yet. Oops. The second week I convinced him to try another church that was meeting in the YMCA. The next week we actually *did* pull into the driveway of that little Bible church, however, I hadn't recalled the time of the service properly and out we drove, *again*. That Sunday we saw another sign for a new church meeting in a local high school. We didn't realize that it was *in* the high school that week and had driven up and down the road looking for the church. The next week I convinced him *again* to try that church we couldn't find the week before "just in case."

Ah, misery of misery, another non-fit. Since there was no question the following week of what time the service began at that little Bible church we had no excuse. I had given up. I wasn't going to request we visit any more different churches. I think we had just about visited all of the ones in the area by then anyhow! So, off we went.

This time, we walked through the doors, introduced ourselves and the music wasn't blaring loudly like before. In fact there were no trumpets. (Side note - there haven't been to this day!) We vividly remember the sermon. It was on condemnation. A long time later our Pastor said if anyone came for the first time on that Sunday morning that he had preached the message on condemnation and had stayed then that was something because it was a hard sermon. Condemnation is not a fun subject, but we were floored by the Biblical theology we heard being preached. We were also so relieved, our parched spirits quenched as we learned we had walked in to the church during the teaching through of their doctrinal statement. This was the fifth Sunday in the series - go figure.

The Holy Spirit had led my husband that first week to take us just where we needed to be. Just what we needed to hear was being preached, and we missed it. He Sovereignly showed me that day that I should have trusted my husband's judgment, given up my desire to try "just one more" church and to submit to his leadership. You see, he doesn't say too much, too often, but when he does, I'm learning that I'd best listen.

We've been blessed beyond measure to have fellowshipped with our little Bible church. That Sunday we met a couple who would become a mentor to us as we watched them interact as a couple and as a family. We were surprised to find later that the man was an elder in the church and never once mentioned it. It was here that I experienced a first for me - multiple messages by multiple teachers on *one* Sunday morning in those early weeks as they preached through the doctrinal statement. It has been quite a while since we've seen two men in the pulpit on any given Sunday, but it was neat to see the openness to something a bit out of the ordinary.

We also have had the amazing opportunity to be taught the Doctrines of Grace loud and clear. We had previously come to an understanding of God's work in man's heart prior to man's response of faith, we just never knew a church was out there that taught it. It was God's Sovereign hand in our lives that led us to this church to teach us and root us in His Word. We will always remember this church for the passionate teaching of God's grace.

The church is not without its flaws, but within the office building-like walls are a bunch of people who love the Lord and genuinely strive to love one another. We have been fed and the Lord has grown us in ways that we couldn't have imagined.

Years later I would find a picture of that first weekend. We had gone to visit Grant's Farm with mom and dad and had taken a picture of a Clydesdale. Low and behold, the stranger in the picture was the wife and son of one of our elders! It was quite the shock to open the pages of the album and see them standing there next to the horse. I scanned those pictures and emailed them to a similarly surprised pastor and family. :)

The stories could go on, and probably should, but I'd better get back to the work the Lord has given me, mommyhood. Another direct impact of this church - the testimony of family visible week after week was a tool used by the hand of God on my heart to change me from being totally against children in our marriage to being totally for.
Thank you, Lord, for that little Bible church! Amen

What's the Point?

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 12:25:18 GMT

Take a look here and tell me what you think the point of the article is.

Formal Folly

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:02:11 GMT

One week from tomorrow my husband and I will be dress to the nines for a formal graduation ceremony. The dinner menu is published in advance and the attendants are able to select their choice of two entrees. A fool must have selected the menu because the two choices for this dinner are Vegetable Lasagna and Beef Brisket. Do tell, which would you rather have spilled on your lovely formal gown, spaghetti or bar-b-que sauce? I am still undecided.

In A Whole New Light

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:16:18 GMT

Morning is dawning here in my heart. My eyes are fluttering behind my closed lids and the Light is shining around me. My eye lids begin to open, my eyes adjusting to the Light. A new day dawns and my heart is full of love for Him. His warmth surrounds me and I long to find more hours to spend with Him to get to know Him better. My Father is revealing Himself to me through the pages of His love letter and through the knowledge of those words found within my heart.

You see, I have known my Father since my early childhood. We've always had a very special relationship. He's been there with me through all manner of joys and sorrows. I learned about what a little girl's relationship with her Daddy should be like by learning about and knowing Him.

Today is a new day. I am still His little girl, but He has transformed me from girl to wife and mother. As a mother I am basking in the joy of growing in my knowledge of Him as Father, a gentle Shepherd of His flock. What a glorious awakening, an answer to prayer for wisdom from above.

In recent days my Father has shown me His grief over my hurts that are incurred when I fail to obey His Word. He is opening my eyes to His compassion and mercy, gently nudging my heart towards the same compassion and mercy for my children when my word is disobeyed and hurts result. In my sinful, fleshly weakness I have responded in anger instead of compassion when tears fall and cries are heard. In humility I confess my sin before my Father knowing His forgiveness is complete. His restoration is perfect. His powerful Spirit resides in me, enabling me to be changed into His likeness.

More and more days are happening like this and I praise the God who created me and my children. He is guiding me, showing me more of who He is and how to be more like Him. I am humbled by His grace. I am grateful for His answer to my prayer. I am encouraged to continue to pray and request His wisdom in all matters because He hears and answers. The eyes of my heart are seeing Him in a whole new light.

Let's Talk about Winter

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 13:21:07 GMT

No Ordinary Home - Chapter 9

Dawn did a lovely job of summarizing the chapter, didn't she? I think so. Thanks, Dawn!

From here, let's talk about how we cope with spiritual winters. What is your most powerful tool against the cold, harsh days that we face as Christians when God seems far away? How is faithfulness a part of this process? Have you learned to discipline your thinking towards righteousness?

For me, the last question is the most recent one I have learned to ask myself and work towards. It is simple to allow myself to wallow in self pity and despair. Even last night I was in despair, though not a spiritual winter exactly but more spiritual warfare, and the Spirit brought to my mind and heart the words, "When satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there who made an end of all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died..." These lyrics kept repeating in my head until I finally listened to them. I finally started to hear what they meant for me. I confessed my sin of despair and lack of trust in God's best for me and rested in His will - the care of my sickly child who wanted nothing but mama and food for over an hour in the middle of the night. Instead of wallowing in despair I was able to praise Him for His Son Jesus and meditate on Him. It is difficult to train my thinking, to discipline and work towards maintaining righteous thoughts. Thoughts that are modeled and found in Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

As we get ready to face the battle of spiritual winters and spiritual warfare in general, let us remember that we are to build our thinking around these qualities. What I am going to share I recently learned while attending a conference with Martha Peace based on her book, Attitudes of a Transformed Heart. Martha told us at the conference that Lou Priolo had taught her this, so the credit is due him as well.

True thoughts are ones we know as fact, these are based in reality! Honorable thoughts are those worthy of respect, when you are thinking ask yourself, "Do my thoughts honor God?" Those that are right are those that lead to correct thoughts or actions as determined by God. Remember, our actions and our thoughts must align with His Word. Thoughts that do not lead us to lust are those that are pure. Lovely thoughts promote the best for the other person and seeks to judge by what we know as fact (see true above) and does not go beyond this point. Those of good repute do not promote slander and those that are excellent and worthy of praise points us to God giving Him the glory.

In the midst of your spiritual winter or daily warfare, put off the thoughts, "I can't take it anymore," or "It'll never change" and replace these untrue thoughts with, "By God's grace He will help me through this time." Seek to find Scriptural responses to your thoughts that do not align with His Word, analyze your thoughts through the scope of Philippians 4:8 and remember,

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

One last admonition as I consider battling the old man, Romans 1:21 comes to mind.

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Let us not be like the heathen who having knowledge of God did not honor Him or give thanks. Let us be a thankful people. Even in the midst of the battle, God is with us and for us. There is always something to be thankful for and an attitude of thankfulness can go a long way at making a spiritual darkness seem just a bit lighter.

So, What's Your Favorite?

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 11:06:32 GMT

This morning I woke up thinking, I wonder what their favorite tea is. So, what's your favorite tea? How do you typically purchase this? by the leaf, instant, bagged, not bagged?? I'm not a tea gal, so I am pretty tea illiterate.

My favorite? Lipton's canned iced tea with lemon. Ew... I haven't had it for years, but I don't drink soda/pop/soda pop/coke (for all you in different locales lol) and my dad bought case after case that would sit in our house. My case was the Lipton's Iced Tea. Now, I'm sure I'd rather just have freshly made and skip the canned garbage. :)

Enjoy your weekend!

We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto...

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 01:46:16 GMT

And neither is Little Miss's adopted grandma we call Mo Mo. Mo Mo grew up on a family farm in Kansas, put herself through college, enlisted in the Air Force and then applied and received a commission in the same branch. She served Active Duty for years and is now a Reservist and government Civilian.

Years ago Mo Mo was transferred from a base in Kansas to a base in Georgia. When she got there and her coworkers learned she was from Kansas they bought her a pair of little sparkly red shoes as a gag gift, slipper shoes just like Dorothy from Wizard of Oz. She has apparently been carrying them around every since. These weren't just ordinary big people's shoes, rather little bitty ones.

Tonight I went to pick Little Miss up from her time at Po Po and Mo Mo's house. Freezing from the car to the door, knocking and waiting led me to a sight worth it all...Little Miss in Mo Mo's Dorothy slippers. "Shoes that fit," Mo Mo said. And I had to smile. My little girl was wearing little sparkly red shoes and looked like a doll. They will fit eventually, but for now they are on the big side. The day is fast approaching when she will outgrow those shoes and tonight will be but a sweet memory.

It was a touching moment seeing her in those red shoes, listening to her clip-clop across the tile floors. A gift. Little Miss grows every day. Her language skills are quickly coming together, she puts on more weight and grows taller, new teeth pop threw the gums, her love of books continues to grow...but what's more, she is a loving little girl. She gives hugs from behind, spontaneous kisses and is beginning to sign "thank you" without prompting when she is given something she has asked for.

How my heart longs for her to grow in love for Christ. That He would transform her heart, that there would be no spiritual blinders on her eyes or hardness of heart. Simply that she would never know a day that she didn't love Him wholeheartedly.

Father, may my words and my actions lead her to You. May I cherish every moment. Lead me, Father, for I am lost without You.

What's in a name?

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 18:43:33 GMT

I named this blog "And We're Off" with a subtitle of "...getting off the starting block was the easy part." See it up there? ^ So what's in a name? Let me let you in on the answer in this case.

I am learning to be faithful and diligent in the important areas of life. I am keeping the kitchen table clean daily and the kitchen floor mopped weekly. These are important because my husband asked me to do them. I am striving to seek Him diligently in prayer for others. You know, the good stuff.

This blog was created because I had this idea rolling around my head. I also needed a xanga account at the time to comment on JavaDawn. The stuff I know personally about is all at the beginning...the starting block.

I haven't much to say, much wisdom to share about too much. I've only been around the block once, or maybe I've only made it half a block, in my lifetime. Out there are a gaaazzzzzzzziiiiiiilllllllllllllllion blogs and a LOT of good stuff to read. I know, I go there a lot! :D I am not out to get a crowd, but writing to no one isn't much fun either.

Getting off the starting block by creating this blog was simple. Xanga makes it that way (thought it ISN'T as simple as other places I have been to and blogged in the past short lived, too!) Frequently making posts is the hard part. This isn't something I desire to be greatly faithful in. Occasionally I'll have thoughts that I want to write out, like the post below about Everyday Sacred. I wouldn't expect much here. I do intend to host another go about of No Ordinary Home and possible book discussions thereafter, if we have them.

I don't expect to completely drop off the face of this blog. I just don't anticipate a whole lot of activity. Come see me once a month or so and you might find something new. ;)

Everyday...?

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 18:33:45 GMT

I just returned Everyday Sacred by Sue Bender to the library. The introduction captured my attention. I was certain that I could have written it. That judmental voice inside me that tells me I'll never be good enough seems to live inside Sue, too. My appetite was whet for a book with the answer to the critical, harsh voice within.

Yowzers, was the book *nothing* like what I expected and went back to the library about half unread. Talk about a different book. A good book for one who can't sit and read for long periods of time, it is a collection of Sue's experiences and thoughts which have very little to do with one another.

The reason I chose Everyday Sacred when I had it and Plain and Simple and having read neither, was to see how the first book had impacted her life beyond its writing. I'm glad I didn't take the time on Plain and Simple at this point.

What I gleaned the most from this book was that I do not desire Everyday Sacred, rather I desire Everyday Sanctified. In my mind I can see a little handmade project. A wooden bar with wooden blocks with letters S, M, T, W, T, F, S on them. The bar is long enough so that you can space the letter of the day of the week so that it is set apart, sanctified. Each day must stand alone. Above this bar of letters would read Everyday Sanctified to remind us.

When I was sharing this with my husband, he too, thought of Sanctified rather than Sacred. This is special to me. We were on the same wavelength. I was saying something. Something that brought extra meaning to our lives this week. Something we can share. It may be that this is the project I will work on if my husband is called away between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Dear Lord, A daily reminder that everyday is to be set apart for His work, His service, His glory. Yes, dear Father, may we sanctify each day for YOU and Your kingdom work. Prepare us for the work You have foreordained for us.