Friday, September 25, 2009

Irrational Fears 101

Let me tell you, if the Lord handed out extra jewels for our eternal crowns based on number of and sheer irrationality of one’s, well, irrational fears, my crown would be so sparkly and bejeweled that you would need to wear sunglasses to look upon me, and so heavy that I would need a brace to support my neck in order for me to lift my head.

Allow me to list a few of my irrational fears to prove that, in this area of life at the least, I excel.

I am afraid that...


Please read the rest of my latest article for Heart of the Matter Online here.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Heard At My House

Note to Self:

You know it may be time to have a more specific "talk" with the kids when one daughter, noticing a picture of a woman wearing a low-cut shirt, says...

"I don't think she is very modest with part of her udder showing."


Oh.my.stars.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Wow-ful Women Wednesdays

I have tried to write an intro to today's video 8 times and it has not been quite right yet. There is a book worth of things I want to say on the topic that this video touches for me. I'm guessing a blog post is not the place for a book...

Here's the nutshell, and I do hope that by being so to the point that I am not belittling the point and the emotion.

I am willing to bet that every one of you reading this has found themselves in a "pit" at some point in there lives. Some of you found yourselves there of your own volition. Some of you found yourselves there at the hand of someone else. Still others have no idea how it came about. Regardless, there was no way for you to get out completely, entirely by yourself.

For me, this song is so helpful this week as I've been really having to fight a pull towards a particular pit that enslaved me for a very long time. The harder I work to steer myself away from it, the closer I come to falling in head first. Then I remember that it is not up to me to do it! I rejoice, and again I will say, REJOICE that I have a Redeemer who purchased my soul. Not only to save me from eternal punishment, but who cares enough about me to redeem me from the temporal pits of this world.

What should my response be? What other response could I possibly have than a life of service to that great King who forgives my sins, who condemns me no more (neither in this life nor the next), who strengthens me for the tasks He gives me, who gives me a hope and a life, who spilled His own blood to purchase my pardon and to wash me clean...

This is the song of the redeemed: that He is Holy, the Glorious One, worthy of my service forever! How could I ever consider serving another?

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Heard At My House

Setting: Teaching Geography to the oldest 5 children.

Topic: North America. Really general introduction.

Me: The Capital of U.S.A. is Washington D.C. Who can tell me the capital of Canada?

8 Year Old A: "C"

Everybody else: *giggle* *snort*

8 Year Old A: .....or did you mean something other than letters?


(I LOVE that girl!)

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Wow-ful Women Wednesdays

Okay. So I really wanted there to be a real video for this song. However, you will need to be okay with the lyrics on a page. The other option was a photo of Natalie Grant. At least this has movement of some kind.

I was in the car and this came on the radio. I love the picture of being changed by simply being in the presence of a perfect God. He doesn't say "Come as you are and stay in the same miserable state". He says "Come as you are and I will make you like Me."

Yes Please. That's what I want.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Deal or No Deal?

Setting: idyllic farmers' market. Bustling early morning crowd. The aroma of freshly picked peaches. Vendors calling out their prices for "the market's best corn". Bushels of colour. Children reaching for the plumpest raspberries.

I am looking at melons.

I notice a lovely barrel full of Cantalope. Beside it an equally lovely barrel full of watermelon. Behind these barrels are two vendors. I approach them, and notice the sign advertising the prices.

Watermelons: $1.99

Excellent. I place 2 in my bag.

Cantalopes: $0.75 each, or 2 for $1.50

I pause. That isn't a deal, I think to myself. That's just the same. Cheap, but the same. Not a deal.

The vendor notices my hesitation. "75 cents a piece, or 2 for a buck 50."

"Yes," I say. "That's right. But, that's the same. That's not a deal."

I put 3 in my bag, wondering whether to get a 4th, or put one back and stick with 2.

"I'll give you 4 for 3 bucks", he says.

"I know you will. Because that's the same," I say, incredulous. "That's not a deal..."

I take the four, knowing that it was a good price, but not a "deal". Confusedly, I walk away, wondering if he knew his error, or if he thought I was just very bad at bargaining at the market.

Mental note: Some things aren't cheaper by the dozen. Sometimes buying in bulk isn't any cheaper at all.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Wow-ful Women Wednesdays

I'm breaking my own rules here slightly today. My video is not anything remotely woman-ish, except that I am a woman and that I want to be Wow-fully excellent at making Christ known to a watching world. How is a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom of 7 supposed to do that?

What do I have to offer? What can I acheive that will make the world see that God is great? When I stand face to face with Him on that day, what will He pat me on the back for?

Will He comment on my children's excellent table manners? The speed at which they learned their 12 times tables? Their ability to name the American states alphabetically?

What about me? Will He commend me for my mothering? My housekeeping? My voice? My writing?

What about you? What do you have to offer to the King of Kings? What makes you worthwhile? What makes you desirable? Valuable? Interesting?

What it is that God the Father, my judge, will comment on is the beautiful covering of Christ over me. Only what He has done in and through me will last. Only the impact He has had on others through my hands and feet will be noteworthy. Only the glory that He gave Himself through what He has done in me is worthy of praise.

That's what I'm thinking about as I watch this video. And suddenly, I feel much more focused, and much less likely to panic about my past, present, and future potential failures. My prayer is that you also will find the refocus necessary through the lyrics of this song. It's not about you. It's not about me. It is always all about Christ. And that is the most freeing, wonderful thought.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Heard At My House

Setting: Shopping with my three oldest girls. Purchasing the "first deodorant" for the 2 eldest. (cue trumpet fanfare and pyrotechnics. These girls are EXCITED!!) The third born, 8 years old, is feeling left out.

8 year old A: Mom, can I please have some deodorant too?

Me: No honey, you don't need it yet.

A: Mom, please. I really want some. Why do they get it and not me?

Me: Honey, they are older. They need it, and you don't. One day you'll be older and you can have some too.

A: But Mom, I'm a big girl too. Why don't I need it?

Me: Honey, you don't need it because you don't smell.

A: (suddenly highly indignant) I do SO smell! My nose works just fine. I've been able to smell since I was born!

(mental note: Mom needs to remember to not speak in such a way as to confuse the literalist in the family...)