The Pages of His Story
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
More Love to Thee, O Christ
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Heaven is Gonna be GREAT!
Smiling I reply,
Friday, April 9, 2010
Hope Unseen (part 2)
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=57837
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Hope Unseen (part 1)
This is the story of one of her brothers, Scott M. Smiley.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DfeAa-ueJM
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Answer is Always the Same
With a heart full of anxious request,
Friday, March 12, 2010
Hold Lightly to Earthly Things
It may be of great service to us, to remember this mournful fact, for it may lead us to hold lightly to earthly things. There is nothing very pleasant in the recollection that we are not above the arrows of adversity, but it may humble us and prevent us from boasting like the psalmist that our mountain stands firm, that we shall never be moved. It may prevent us from making our roots too deep in this soil from which we are so soon to be transplanted into the heavenly garden.
Let us keep in mind the frail tenure upon which we hold our temporal mercies. If we remember that all the trees of earth are marked for the woodman's axe, we will not be so ready to build our nests in them. We should love, but we should love with the love that expects death, and that reckons upon separations. Our dear relations are simply loaned to us, and the hour when we must return them to the lender's hand may be sooner than we think.
This is also true of our worldly goods. Do not riches take to themselves wings and fly away? Our health is equally precarious. Frail flowers of the field, we must not reckon upon blooming forever. There is a time appointed for weakness and sickness, when we will have to glorify God by suffering and not by earnest activity.
There is no single point in which we can hope to escape from the sharp arrows of affliction; out of our few days there is not one secure from sorrow. Man's life is a cask full of bitter wine; he who looks for joy in it would be better looking for honey in a salty ocean. Beloved reader, do not set your affections upon things of earth, but seek those things that are above, for here the moth devours, and the thief steals, but there all joys are perpetual and eternal. The path of trouble is the
way home. Lord, make this thought a pillow for many a weary head!
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed:
2 Timothy 1:12
Monday, March 8, 2010
Finally Posting Again
Thursday, February 25, 2010
This is How Two People Communicate after 10 Years of Marriage
Dear Sir,
It is with my deepest regret that I write this letter to you. Due to the increase of canine activity in the latter evenings, and the lack of ability to obey a simple command, I am writing to tell you that I am unable to maintain the workload associated with this behavior.
These careless activities add much demand on my daily responsibilities, of which I cannot with good conscience say that I am efficient in my job and serving as unto the Lord, using the time He has given me to the best of His Glory. In desiring to be the best steward of my time and resources, I regret to inform you that I will be resigning from daily morning vacuuming of all canine fur of the entire first floor. Consider this my official, written resignation.
Furthermore, if you intend to continue to invite guests into our home who were not invited, prior to the original contract, you will have no choice but to perform the above duties thoroughly prior to retiring into your sleeping quarters. Should you have any questions please contact me for clarity.
Thank you for understanding in this manner.
Mrs. Happy to Serve You in All Ways Except This Capacity
p.s. I am serious
RE: sincere regret
Dear Mrs. Happy to Serve You in All Ways Except This Capacity,
Under the circumstances and current work load, I accept your written resignation. I have three understudies that would be willing to take turnover from you as you transition from this task. However, like any good employee, and as you can imagine with the scope of this work, please provide two-weeks notice for proper turnover and training. This will maintain your "good standing" with the company, and also provide for a pleasurable written recommendation in your departure. As with any task you perform, I'm sure your training of the trainee will be thorough enough for a smooth transition and not disrupt the current cleanliness standards.
I want to thank-you for your service, and wish you well in your new endeavors.
Sincerely,
Luckiest Husband in the World
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
I Have an Itch
Monday, February 1, 2010
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,
rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.
After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him,
“Lord, are You washing my feet?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them,
“Do you know what I have done to you?"
You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
There is a Pattern Here
Often while I am cleaning, or cooking, or schooling, or whatever comes next . . . I can hear the stomping and clomping of little feet in not so little shoes making their rounds from room to room. Today he is sporting a really good shiner on his left eye. Tomorrow I am sure it will be paired with my rubber boots.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Your Grace is Enough
We have finally penned down a morning chore system for the kids. We have always had morning chores, however, I get weary in telling them what I expect them to do every day. Especially when it doesn't change. So now, the chart does the talking, and I just point to the chart with a smile (well, most days). :) I love it. The kids have enjoyed the tangible list, and have rose to the occasion, and it has actually limited much complaining. You may think that a long list of things to do every day would discourage a little ones heart, but when the chores are age appropriate, and when they can see what they have done, they love it.
A dear friend of mine showed me her incentive and I quickly adopted it in our home.
She took two mason jars, one empty and one full of marbles (I use large wooden beads), as the morning chores and duties get completed properly, timely, with a happy heart and without complaining, each child gets to put one marble in the empty jar. If the child does not do it properly, or without being told, or with grumbling, they must remove a marble from the jar in which they are filling. When the jar is full, the whole family gets to pick something fun to go do together.
She even puts a fun bell that they get to "ding" when they put their marble in the jar. I am not quite that fun, but I do have fun pinwheels in the jar they are filling....
In addition, I am also disciplining myself to do school first thing without interruptions from the outside world.
The second reason I have been absent....well, I haven't been able to put into words what has been on my heart lately. The Lord has been opening my eyes, showing me a fresh measure of His abounding grace, and honestly, I have just been talking with Him instead.
I am seeing on a whole new level, how undeserving I am, how powerless I am, and how faithful and loving He is. How there is nothing I can do to earn His favor, rather to just respond to all that He has done, and is doing to draw me near, to increase my love for Him and those He loves, and that in myself there is no good thing. My service to Him is only to be from a heart of gratefulness for all He has done for me.
He is so very real to me right now, and it humbles me.