I wonder how long it will be.  I'm having surgery on Tuesday.  It is my knee.  I wasn't worried at all until the doctor started talking about; bleeding, swelling, bruising, pain, and death.  So if I die I'll be in heaven.  Pray my husband finds a good loving, young energetic new wife to homeschool the kids.  He deserves a good wife, he has done twenty years with me.  He really is a great guy.

Well tomorrow we go camping.  That should be a great motivation for prayer and maybe by the time we return, death will be looking real good. I know the fifty pain pills will be welcome but I think I am suppose to wait until after the operation to take them. (lol)  Bummer.

Perhaps if I'm not too druggedup I can log on with the lap-top and give you a very interesting diary of my recovery. 

Spring begins with the sighting of the first Dandelion.  I saw my first yellow blooming dandelion of this season on April 1st.  Now everyday I see a few more.  Soon, they will be in the fields and it will be hard to look and not see one.

When I was a kid I used to love to pick a Dandelion that had gone to seed.  I'd make a wish and blow.  If I could get all the seeds to leave in one breath, then my wish would come true.  I can't remember what I wished for then.  Now I have prayer which is better than wishes.  No conditions on how much air I use to dispatch the request either.  Wishes are prayers for people who pray to air. Once when I was wishing with a Dandelion, an adult informed me in a condeming disgusted tone that I was 'just spreading weeds'.  It stopped me long enough to leave that adult's sight but it did not stop me from blowing wishes on the wind.

Who decided that Dandelions are weeds?  Perhaps one man's weed is another man's free and abundant bouquet.  In Colorado the white daisies grow wild and are called noxious weeds.  In Washington state they are lovely and growing freely beside the roads. Sunflowers too are weeds in some places but you can buy them in a flower arrangement.

So let me draw an analogy... another situation based of perspective:  Are these 'weeds unwelcome because of their perceived value? 

I can remember being up in the Colorado mountains and seeing literally miles of wild flowers...  Were they weeds?   In those same mountains the Dandelions grew right along with those wildflowers.  Hardly anyone saw these flowers high in the hills.  I wondered about the flowers growing beyond the road, beyond the path, beyond what we can see and enjoy.  I figured that God didn't plant flowers for our pleasure alone, but for His. 

Well, I guess I could go on and on about weeds, flowers, wishes and prayers.  I'll simply say that my prayers are spreading weeds to some and abundant free bouquets to others.  The prayers I pray are for the salvation of others.  I want them to repent, believe and live!  Some see it as no value at all.  I may never see the answers but it would bring me great pleasures, though small compared to the joy in heaven when one sinner repents.

"We Plant the Seeds, God Makes them Grow."

I felt that the last two post were pretty good.  But... What good is all this effort if no one reads?  I do learn when I write.  It is like I think in print.  I work out my thoughts as I put them in type.  So this is some kind of public personal therapy?  But it is a little discouraging as I believe the Lord has gifted me and no one wants my gift.  (lip quiver, sad wet eyes)  Well, perhaps I could wallow in self pity or maybe I will just see this blog as an internet storage back system for some of my articles.   

Well then...  Let me share:  I have been studying Revelations.  It has taken me deeper into what I think about end times and the rapture.  I have never really studied it.  I was content to just not know.  I always felt it was more important to spend my time on things that would serve Christ now, like evangelism.  But I have sunk my teeth into this and one study always leads to something more.  Chain reference...  Look up one verse on a topics and who knows where it will lead.

I am not satisifed to believe what I am taught no matter how much I respect the teacher.  Not as long as I have read the scriptures and it contradicts what I have been taught.  Then I seek to find out if I am mistaken in my understanding.  As long as questions remain I can't really check my brains at the door and go along with the popular dogma.  If scripture puts a shawdow of doubt on a teaching then I will study until there is light enough to remove the shawdow.  Makes sense? 

Not chasing shadows but rather seeking light... who knows where it will lead?

I decided to look at some of the Mothers in the Bible for Biblical mothering advice. 

            To start at the beginning, let’s look at Eve.  Poor Eve has been thought ill of by every laboring woman.  I remember trying to reason with God during one of my own labors.  I told Him that I didn’t eat the apple…couldn’t he suspend the curse just for me?  Yep, It is all Eve’s fault! Let’s look beyond the apple.  Okay, Her son was the first murderer… maybe Eve was a bad choice as an example?  Let’s keep trying.  She led her husband in sin, disobeyed God, tried to hide from Him and then lied to cover.  This isn’t getting any better for her, is it?

             But I kept looking.  One author said: “If man represented the supreme species, created in God’s image, Eve was the living embodiment of humanity’s glory.  Adam was refined dirt, Eve was glorious refinement of humanity itself.  Eve was Adams necessary partner to make his existence complete and to complete creation itself.  

Mathew Henry said: “The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.”

             She was the flawless example of feminine excellence.  We don’t know of her physical appearance but in a sermon by Dr. Bill Barrick he said that the original Hebrew expresses Adams response as an enthusiastic, “This one!” with the implication that it was said with the same inflection as “WOW!” 

              Eve is called “the mother of all living.”  Still we don’t know how long she lived or where.  We don’t know how many children she had, or how and when she died.  But her life teaches us several truths:  Her fundamental equality with her husband, being taken out of man means being made of the same essence.  She was not his inferior but rather his spiritual counterpart, his perfect mate and companion.  Her creation teaches us about the divinely designed role of a woman: Mother, comforter, nurturer and helper.

              Eve knew that her children were a gift from God. Genesis 4:1 “…and she said, "I have gotten a man-child with the help of the LORD." In naming her son Seth which mean ‘appointed seed’, it is evident that she was laying hold of the hope and believed that her seed would indeed someday overcome the curse and destroy the destroyer as the Lord had said to the serpent in Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

              Another example from scripture of a Godly mother was Sarah.  Sarah didn’t have an easy life.  She started wandering around with Abraham when she was in her sixties!  There were no rest stops or Denney’s.  She left everything familiar as a faithful wife and followed in dangerous situations.  She even posed as his sister instead of his wife, TWICE!  She risked her life in obedience to her husband.

               Much of her life was consumed with the desire for children and the grief of barrenness.  She knew of God’s great promise in Genesis 12:2-3. “And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you,  And make your name great;  And so you shall be a blessing;  And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

               She must have contemplated this promise and as time went by, this no doubt only increased the weight of the burden.  She had fits of temper and finally took things into her own hand and played god by scheming and orchestrating the ‘Hagar Maidservant Fiasco’, resulting in 1000s of years of mid-eastern Jihad.  After Ishmael was conceived we find that Sarah can be downright heartless and cruel.   

               Still God is faithful.  He blessed her with laughter and with Isaac.  He keeps His word no matter how we try to go our own way with our own plans.  He forgives our sins and forwards His purposes.  Sarah’s life on the whole is characterized by humility, meekness, hospitality, faithfulness, deep affection for her husband, sincere love toward God and hope that never died.  After all this she is mentioned in the hall of faith.  Hebrews 11:11,12 “ By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.  Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE. “ Sarah believed God’s promise.

              Then there is Mary.  I read recently of Mary being described as: “a little lying Jewish minx. “  No surprise that that quote was written by an atheist.  Even now she is slandered with unjust accusations.  Mary is a great illustration of faith and perseverance.  When told the life altering news by an angel she only asked, “How.”  Not “why?” and not “why me?” From the outside she was a teen suffering from a crisis pregnancy.  No doubt ostracized and under scandal, fearing rejection and even death but she still believed. Joseph only believed her after an angel visited him.  

               Mary is recorded in scripture as trying to guide Jesus at the Wedding in Cana.  Jesus gently corrects her as He did when He was in the temple as a twelve year old and they had ‘misplaced’ him.  He was letting her know that any plans of His earthly parents could not override the higher authority of His heavenly Father.    Just because she was His mom did not give her any say in His mission.  As a man He was her son, but as God, He was her Lord.  Never again in scripture does she try to influence His actions. 

               As a relatively young widow, she witnessed her eldest son killed in a time when the loss of an eldest son meant losing everything:  Home, security and provision.  As she stood at the cross, there were those shouting ugly taunts, as the sword pierced His side it must have pierced her heart.  She must have felt the injustice, having known better than most His sinless and divine nature.   She stood and witnessed His death with dignified grace and courage.

               One of Jesus’ last acts on earth was an expression of love for His mother, John 19:26-27 “ When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!"  Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.”  He made sure she was going to be cared for. 

               She was blessed and she knew it, she praised God and submitted to His leading. 

 Luke: 1: 46-55

46And Mary said:
         "My soul exalts the Lord,
    47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
    48"For He has had regard for the humble state of His slave;
         For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
    49"For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
         And holy is His name.
    50"AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION
         TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.
    51"He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
         He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
    52"He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
         And has exalted those who were humble.
    53"HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;
         And sent away the rich empty-handed.
    54"He has given help to Israel His servant,
         In remembrance of His mercy,
    55 As He spoke to our fathers,
         To Abraham and his descendants forever."

Mary understood her place in the plan and yet remained humble.

             Like all these women, none of us are perfect but their lives are designed by God Himself and we can learn from their examples.  Like Eve,  Be a woman living by traditional design.  Thanks God for your children and place your hope in Him.  Like Sarah, know your life is in His hand and every good and perfect gift is from Him in His time.  Believe His promises, especially, Philippians 1:6 ”being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

              And lastly, like Mary, practice a faith that is persistent, quiet, dignified, strong and courageous.  Know your place in His plan is to trust, obey, hope and believe.   So the Biblical mothering advice is simply this: “Lean on Christ.  Trust and obey, He’ll lead the way.”

A proud Papa and his lovely girls. 

I made this for my grandma.  She is on dialysis three times a week.  She isn't a believer.  Please pray for her.  I think this quilt will make her smile and bring her some joy.  Need to hurry and get it done.

I'm sick.  I think it is just a cold but it just slows me down and I wasn't that quick to begin with.  I missed Bible Study this week and I'll miss the 4-H meeting tonight.  A God induced time-out.  So what is it I should be thinking about while I am restricted? 

I'll think of Heaven and how it will be when sickness, great or small, is no more.  The Bible study I missed is on Revelation.  I am enjoying it more than I ever thought I would.  The Bible is God's voice telling us what He wants us to know.  As Psalm is God singing then the book of Revelation is God shouting with excitement.  I see God in heaven, I see God on Earth, I see His plan unfold and His glory revealed. 

I used to avoid the book of Revelation.  Before I was a christian, all I read of the Bible was the red words and the book of Revelation.  I was terrified!  Then I read the Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey.  I was really terrified!  I knew I was a sinner and I was terrified about what was going to happen to me as I read Revelation.  So I decided to clean myself up.  I decided what would please God and changed my life. 

The problem was, it was Christianity according to me.  I decided what sin was and it was an easy standard.  I called myself a Christian but I was really no different than any person on earth who has determined their own moral code.  I was trying to please my imaginary god by tipping the imaginary cosmic scale in my favor.  This was complicated and had no assurance but it was easier than submitting to God's standard of righteousness.  Easier than reading His Word and Seeking His will.

It took years but finally there came a time when I came to hear the Word of God, all of it.  And not just hear, but listen and then to understand.  Understand that to be Savior He must also be Lord.  Now I rejoice!  Revelation is scary, but scary in an awsome way.  Scary in the way that John fell at the feet of the feet of the Lord and worshipped. 

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

I finished writing the devotional for the ladies' meeting, I finished the article for the newsletter and I am studying for the devotional still. 

Hubby is traveling with two of hte boys so we ladies are left to ourselves.  Hubby always says that women need to be supervised.  He might be right.  We are haivng a lot of fun but not being terribly productive. 

I hope to clean and re-arrange the boys' room tomorrow while htey are gone, it will be easier for all involved.  So hard to get rid of perfectly good toys but... it is all just lcutter if they don't play with them.

I need to pick up a couple of lamps to, to brighten it up in there.  I wish I had time to get to the thrift store today.  Maybe tomorrow.

Right now I have other things that need to be done but my mind is always so busy.  Am I the only one?  I try to live int eh present but... Well, hubby is visiting my unsaved family... PRAY PRAY PRAY!

Oh Lord how I want them to know you and be saved!

My brain is busy! 

I am working on a sermonette to share at our annual ladies' tea.  Don't know if I should call it that.  My church doesn't believe in ladies preaching.  I have no desire to preach but... I have a something to share and it would be nice to have it well received.  So I am 'writing' it in my head and once I get my direction figured, then I will sit down and write.  That is the hard part.  I write best alone and in my busy house. that means late night.

Next, I get to do the devotional for a friend's Baby shower.  I I have the idea but it is scripture intensive so I need the study time.  Believe it or not, it is easier to study with kids running in and out than it is to compose. 

 I guess the difference is... Study is things going in and writing/composing, is things coming out.   Anyway,  That is my excuse for not sharing much here lately.  I have been 'working' in my head.  As soon as I get them done I will share them here.  I am ready to write the frame for the devotional,  Just need to collect the scripture... You'll understand when you read it.

Oh the prospects!  I'm forty this year... Or as I like to say, "Half way to dead."

Life is all about opportunity,  Such a gift God has given and now let us make the most of it for His glory. 

I don't make resolutions because I feel you should never put off changing your life.  So You should never wait until a date to change.  If it needs changing/fixing... DO IT NOW!

But I have made a few decisions about what I want to do when school starts again on Monday.  The children will be listening to 26 lessons on the doctrine of God from a great teacher out of California.

http://www.calvarybiblechurch.org/teaching.aspx/basic_bible_doctrine_2003_2004

This is meaty stuff.  My older ones will participate and the younger will just absorb.

In parenting we have taken in hand the stewardship of lives for Christ which He has entrusted to us.  Thank God He has taken us in hand and won't let go.

Philippians 1:3-11  I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

I read an article recently by the late pastor Richard Wurmbrand.  He related a story of a fellow prisoner that occurred during one of his fourteen years of imprisonment in which he suffered for his faith.  Here is my paraphrase:

A Pastor was arrested and taken from his family. The officials beat and tortured him because he would not renounce his faith. The interrogator, a communist officer said, "I am tired of beating you. Instead, we will deport you to Siberia.”
The Pastor replied, "Where can you deport me? The whole earth belongs to God. Wherever you send me I will be with Him."

This angered the officer. He said, "We will take everything away you own." The Pastor said, "You can take all I have, but my treasure is in heaven and you will need a very tall ladder. I have nothing on Earth."

The officer shouted, "We will kill you!" The Pastor replied "You can take away my life and my real life will begin. I am not afraid to die."  The official then said, "We will not kill you! We will lock you alone in a cell and we won’t let anyone visit you.”  The Pastor replied "I will not sit alone in a cell. God can pass through locked doors and iron bars. Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ."

Paul who also suffered imprisonment for his faith gives us this direction:

2nd Timothy 2: 11-13

It is a trustworthy statement:
         For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
         If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

God has blessed us with perfect provision for our needs and then heaped blessing on top.  We are warm, fed, entertained, housed, dressed and loved.  In addition I have a house full of books with only about 70% read. The closets and pantries are full. I have a trunk of keepsakes too.  Some of these things are necessities and some of them are purely sentimental.  For those that know me best; Yes, I can be sentimental.  But there is nothing in my home that I would not trade for any of those that I love.  The question came to mind… Would I trade any of those that I love for the One that loves me? 

The children made cards and we took them to the old folks home. 

Here are a few they made.  I'm thinking, next year I may just use one of these images and make our own cards.  I especially like the one card with  the house, made by my 11 yo son. 

Be careful...very careful!

My oldest daughter somehow managed to stab a knitting needle deep into her thigh.  From what we gathered, she had her knitting bag and the (rather heavy) bathroom door at church slambed into the bag which contained a size four knitting needle.  The needle and bag and door were all set up in such a way that the door pushed the needle out of the bag, through the skirt and nylons, into her leg. 

She said she tried to pull it out and couldn't so she screamed for help but no one heard her.  Later she told us she was screaming softly because she didn't want anyone but Daddy to hear.  Well her little sister found her and ran to get us.  We came running followed by the pastor and his family.  There she was standing by the bathroom door.  Daddy pulled the needle out and she fainted, I caught her.  We sat on the floor until she was conscious, while everyone stood around trying to figure out how it happened.

Lasting effects are a slight limp, a small red hole and a bright red face.

Extreme Knitting... Be very very careful! 

This is an excellent message.  Only 17 minutes.  I pray someone will go take a listen.

http://hisperfectlaw.blogspot.com/2007/12/pastors-nightmare.html

Merry Christmas!

Another busy year is gone already!  Samantha graduated last spring and is teaching ballet. 

Emma, Julia and Sara are among her students.  Sara dances elegantly on Pointe.  Jeremiah

started kindergarten and enjoys reading.  He is excited about learning.  Anna is putting in her

driving hours in hopes of getting her license this spring so she can finally drive the flame decorated

Suzuki that her Grandpa gave her.  Joshua is the big brother.  He has grown so tall but still loves

to sword fighting and play Legos with Jeremiah.  Josiah is about to turn one, the time has flown

by and he is starting to take steps.  We look forward to watching him experience this Christmas

but we are not looking forward to him undecorating the tree. 

Sara led the younger children in putting up decorations this morning.  We decided that we will not

put up the tree until after Josiah’s first birthday on the 6^th of December.  Samantha hung a wreath

on the door and is leafing through cookbooks looking for candy recipes.  Joshua runs to the mailbox

daily, hoping for packages from my mail order shopping.  Anna is practicing Christmas music.  I

especially like: Carol of the Bells that she will be playing in church this Sunday.  Emma and Julia

are busy with rehearsals for the Nutcracker, they are Angels this year. Jeremiah is just bouncy with all the

excitement.  He wants to know; “How much longer? When do we get a tree? Do I get presents?” 

We are so busy with so many plans and the calendar is full. 

James 4: 13-15 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."

In all this busyness we try to keep the Lord’s will in focus as a priority, teaching our children what Christmas is really all about.  As Christians we see Christmas as a time to celebrate the gift of Salvation that God provided in His son, Jesus Christ.  We tell them Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”  Romans 6:23  “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We teach them from the Bible that it is up to every man to receive Christ’s payment for their sins or pay for their sins themselves at judgment.  Hebrews 9:27  “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…”

We pray with hopeful hearts that maybe this year, this time, this message will be heard by those we love that do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Romans 10: 8-11 “But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  For the Scripture says,

"WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

We know it is the Lord’s will that we share the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done.  We pray that you know Him as your Lord and Savior.   

                                                                                                                                             God Bless you,

Christmas Cookie Devotional

This is a great way to share the gospel message this season.  Wrap each individual cookie and add a tag with the scripture and message to give to family and friends.  You could also use this for an object lesson for Children’s church, Sunday school or Christmas tea party.

If you use this, please reference my blog.  Thanks.

Cookie cutter shapes needed:

Candle: Star, Candy Cane, Christmas tree, Gift or Stocking, Snow Man, Angel

Candle: 

John 1:1-5, 9-14

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 He was in the beginning with God.  3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.  10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.  12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,  13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s Son and chosen savior.

John 3:16 16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Star:

Matthew 2: 10-11

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The visit of the magi fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament: Balaam prophesied about the coming Messiah marked by a star: Numbers 24:17 "I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob and a staff shall rise from Israel..."  Psalm 72 speaks of how the Gentiles will come to worship the Messiah: "The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts, the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute. All kings shall pay Him homage, all nations shall serve Him" Isaiah 60:6: "Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord”

Matthew recorded that the Magi brought three gifts, each also having a prophetic meaning: Gold, the gift for a king; Frankincense, the gift for a priest; and Myrrh-- a burial ointment, a gift for one who would die. In studies, the gifts were also interpreted to mean King, God, and Suffering Redeemer.

Candy Cane:

Many have heard of the story of the candy cane.  Truth be told, it is more legend than fact but a good symbol for teaching about Christ’s suffering. The J shape is for Jesus and Good Shepherd’s staff.  The cane is for the beating that Christ received.  The white color is a symbol of His purity, being without sin, and the red is for the blood that was shed for the atonement of sin. 

Isaiah 53

    1Who has believed our message?
         And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
    2For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
         And like a root out of parched ground;
         He has no stately form or majesty
         That we should look upon Him,
         Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
    3He was despised and forsaken of men,
         A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
         And like one from whom men hide their face
         He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
    4Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
         And our sorrows He carried;
         Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
         Smitten of God, and afflicted.
    5But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
         He was crushed for our iniquities;
         The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
         And by His scourging we are healed.
    6All of us like sheep have gone astray,
         Each of us has turned to his own way;
         But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
         To fall on Him.
    7He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
         Yet He did not open His mouth;
         Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
         And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
         So He did not open His mouth.
    8By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
         And as for His generation, who considered
         That He was cut off out of the land of the living
         For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?
    9His grave was assigned with wicked men,
         Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
         Because He had done no violence,
         Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
    10But the LORD was pleased
         To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
         If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
         He will see His offspring,
         He will prolong His days,
         And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
    11As a result of the anguish of His soul,
         He will see it and be satisfied;
         By His knowledge the Righteous One,
         My Servant, will justify the many,
         As He will bear their iniquities.
    12Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
         And He will divide the booty with the strong;
         Because He poured out Himself to death,
         And was numbered with the transgressors;
         Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
         And interceded for the transgressors.

Christmas tree:

A symbol of the season.  Has anyone ever seen a Christmas without a Christmas tree?  Maybe you have read the controversy in the news about this tree.  No longer a Christmas tree:  let’s call it a holiday tree or a family tree, even a Hanukkah bush.  Many try to remove Christ from their lives, some by simply ignoring and avoiding the truth, some by blatantly denying it. 

1^st Peter 2:24

24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Gift or stocking:

Have you ever received a gift and asked, “What’s this for?”  Does anyone refuse or say, “I don’t need this.”  If you don’t believe you have a use for a gift then it has no value.  Jesus dying for your sins will make no sense if you don’t believe you are a sinner, at least not a bad one.  Or perhaps you believe that you can somehow make it all right by being a good person.  You may be a good person by comparing yourself to other people but are you a good person according to God’s standard?

God’s standard for measuring goodness is simple, take a look at the Ten Commandments.  Pretty basic:  Have you ever stolen anything? Ever? Lied? Dishonored your parents? Used God’s name in vain?   Ever killed someone?  The Word says if you hate your brother it is the same as murder and if you have looked in lust, it is the same as adultery.  By this standard, would you be guilty?

Galatians 3:24

24Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

Romans 3:1-24 and 6:23

21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,  22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;  23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Will you receive His gift, the payment for your sins or will you pay for them yourself?

Snowman:

Isaiah 1:18

18"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD,  "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

Romans 10: 8-11

8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,  9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  1 1For the Scripture says, WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

Angel:

Luke 15:10

“…I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Have you repented, which means turn from your sins? Ask God to forgive your sins and become your Lord.  Being a Christian doesn’t mean you will never sin again but it does mean you will desire not to sin and the Scripture says you will have the Holy Spirit to help you.

John 14:26-27

26"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.  27"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Isaiah 25:8-9

  8 he will swallow up death forever.
       The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears
       from all faces;
       he will remove the disgrace of his people
       from all the earth.
       The LORD has spoken.

 9 In that day they will say,
       "Surely this is our God;
       we trusted in him, and he saved us.
       This is the LORD, we trusted in him;
       let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

Consider this my Thanksgiving greeting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9k5WuqIuSQ

This is just an audio.  77 minutes to change your life.

As a newlywed, Darlene Deobler Rose served as a missionary in New Guinea with her husband from 1938 to 1942. Then, for three years, she was imprisoned by the Japanese during World War II on the island of Celebes (now Sulawesi) and endured almost unspeakable hardships, including solitary confinement, near starvation, beatings and loss of her husband, the Rev. C. Russell Deibler.

 You'll never forget it.

The trees are bare!  I am making my Chistmas shopping list and baby will be walking soon.  Goodness, why does time speed up?  When I was a kid, summer lasted forever.  The school week nevered ended and the weekend was so far away.  Three minutes on the classroom clock was an enternity.  Now...  We finish lunch and its time for breakfast.  The laundry is never done.  The sink always has dishes in it.  I Just paid the bills and hey are due again.  Morning already?  Songs over and time to go again. 

Heaven heaven... Must be the place to finally breath and rest. 

The good news is: At this rate I'll be there sooner than I expect...But won't we all?

My nephew was killed in a car wreck on Monday.  34, dad to 4 girls.  Husband to three wives (not all at the same time)  Not a Christian.  Spent the day with unsaved family and others. 

So much to think on...

Maybe some other time when babe is not fighting sleep on my lap.

Dinner is in the oven, husband is in town running errands and tonight is WATER AEROBICS!

I will be sure to share the adventure.  Tonight I am taking my oldest along to try it out. Just what every 40 somehting, slightly over weight woman wants, A perfectly perky 18yo reflection of the past.  Not a hint of fat to be found and energy without limit.

In preperation for tonight I went and purchased new swim suit bottoms.  Yes, bottoms, yes two.  I discovered at my last class that the man trunks I had been wearing for modesty sake...  Because they cover more... Was floating up so much that my entire behind was playing peek-a-boo.  My dear friends are so polite that they all claim to not have noticed.  Anyway, as I was in the middle of one exercise which requires the hine parts to fact north I realized that the breeze was unabated. 

I found that I was about a week late for the swim suit clearance sales.  All the racks were as bare as my wet behind.  I dug through the remains and found at the third store (Target) a few parts left.  Parts meaning:  The shiney metallic camoflage bikini top is not my thing.  Seems that miss matched was all that was left.  So I got creative...  I found some black bikini bottoms that I figured I could wear under my peek-a-boo bottoms.  When did XL get so small?!  I also found a black skirted bottom.  Black is, afterall, so slimming, right?  The skirted bottom could have only made me happy if it was atleast knee length and weighted to not float.  Since I was carrying the super large, loud, 30 pound 8 month old, I did not try them on before buying them.

I got home and had a locked door fashion show.  Me, The Mirror and My Self-esteem.   My self esteem made a fast exit.  I was left alone with the mirror.  Was it the lighting or is my eye sight getting really bad? Maybe the tightness of the suit made my eye wrinkle up just like the skin it was compressing?  I was squinting to try and understand what I was looking at.  A fine look!  Squinting aging mother of eight trying to figure out how a mirror can distort an image in such a way.  I've never seen so little fabric do so much to emotionally scar in such a short amount of time. 

So tonight I am left with the tight black bikini bottoms underneath the boy trunks or the skirt bottom that allows my belly button to make it's first public appearance outside of labor and delivery since the early 90s.    I'm so grateful for the covering of the water.  That is until... bottoms up! 

Yes, I shared that request on my homeschool email loop.  Having kids causes you to do strange things, doesnt it?  Say things you never would have said: Don't sit on your brothers head.  Don't lick the dog.  Don't play with broken glass.  Do you think I'm crazy?  I'd like to get my daughter a rifle for Christmas. Take my card, My pin number is...

And today I asked the entire homeshcool community for a fake arm.  Not really wanting a prostetic, more like a part of a maniquin for a 4-H display.  I am certain this is the first time I have asked for an extra limb.

Of course, among home-schoolers, this may not even raise an eyebrow.  Perhaps the response will be, "I can get you the arm but little Billy will need to borrow your propane torch to remover the inner metal rod.  Do you need a head or leg while he is at it?" 

Too much romance reading is like too much junk food.  Messes with your appetite for what s healthy.  But... Like the candy bar, I love Jane Austen.  Forgive me as Jane Austen is to romance what Strawberries are to junk food.  Not the same thing, huh?

Jane Austen fans will love this video.  Please enjoy!

http://video.xanga.com/SUPERMUSICMACHINE/deb92433033/video.html

*sigh*  My Hero...

How helpful. How thoughtful.  How ... Embarrassing! 

The nice lady who teaches water aerobics sweems to ask this at least once in every class.  Do I look like I am in distress?  Goodness, it makes me wonder just how bad I appear to merit such personalized attention.  

She knows I am not entirely comfortable in the pool.  I have a water phobia.  I hold my breath driving over bridges.  If I am driving next to a river I lean into the middle of the car.  I can't watch Cast Away (the plane crash scene)  I can't breath if I see a movie scene of someone under water.  I'm okay at the 4 to 5 foot end but I can't go to the deep end.  I start to panic.    

But at water aerobics I have figured out by a mark on the wall and cieling, where I am safe so even if I drift a bit, I know how far I can go.  When everyone goes long way in the pool for an exercise, I go across.  It is like a freaky game of Frogger.  

For years I have said that swimming is just trying to not drowned.  I can do that from dry land, so why get wet?  Now I think I must appear to be drowning as I am always offered these concerned enquiriers.

"I'm fine! I'm fine!", I gasp, as I cling to the side of the pool.   The 'Oh so bored' 13 year old life guard glances up.  Made his day.

I will say... I don't like drinking pool water through my nose... or any other way for that matter.

I spent some time being condesended to by the local doctors office in an attempt to over charge me.  They lost... so nice to be right.  But when you have no insurance, it seems to entitle them to talk to you like you are dumb.  I don't have insurance because at $1000 dollars a month that we had to pay to have it, we couldn't afford to go to the doctor.  We had the huge $5000 deductible.  Insurance is a fraud!  Still I am not for socialized medicine.  I just wish there was reasonably afforadable health care for the self-employed.  Burns me up that my tax dollars pay for every whiney ache and pain of people who don't work for a living while while I can't afford to go to the doctor and we make too much for state aid.

There is my political rant of the moment.

Now on to something else...  Went to the Dirve-in last night, stayed up way late and all are sleepy today.  Fortunately or schedule allowed for recovery.  This evening dh has a meeting and a softball game.  I have Water aerobics again.  Need to go find the swim suit.  I'm just sure I'll have  super model body in no time at all!  LOL

We have harnessed the power!  He does laps at light speed in this thing.  Now we need to figure out how to wire it to the computer and lights! 

I found a few bargins at Target.  In their dollar section they had puzzles, workbooks and games.

So we are playing math Bingo, timed math sheets and a Map/puzzle of the US. 

Oh and flash cards!  My very smart 9yo is struggling with multiplication.  We are at a stand still until she commits the facts to memory.  How can we go forward to division without this?  Her math book brough in work last winter that assumed she had already mastered the facts.  So we have languished.  I have tried and tried and so has she.

We have sung, timed drill, worksheets, flash cards, games, not to mention begging, pleading and reasoning, expalin and encouraging her to apply herself strongly.

How will we get this stuff in to stick?!

So she sits in my comfy chair with the kitchen timer and a cup of decaf, (you read that right) trying to beat the clock.   

Years of homeschool have offered some insight.  I know she will get this eventually.  Maybe this is where I need all that patience people always assume I possess.  How wonderful for her to have this struggle, knowing that she will have victory too.  These little battles will build in her the character to strive and accomplish.  Boy, when you think about it, all the time we have struggled to learn multiplication is not wasted at all, time well spent learning and building more than math skills... We are forming a person who can take on challenges, persevere and achieve.  Pretty good lessons for Summer school. 

I miss Laura.  I miss Ma. I miss Grandpa and John Boy.

I am homesick for Walnut grove and Walton's mountain.  I want to have soda at Ike's store and listen to the radio with the family.  Long dresses, polite manners (mostly) good food around the table, holding hands and praying. A tire swing and walking barefoot.

I think I missed something.  My childhood was someone elses'.  Created by someone else and lived by someone else... Sadly they didn't live it either. Cheated... but redeemed. 

Perhaps it is that longing in my life that has directed me to provide it for my children.   

Listening for my own theme music... Action! 

It's that time again!  Wait... it is the middle of July! 

Well I bought crayons for ten cents, some glue and bookcovers.

I have a new student this year and he is excited to start kindergarden. 

He is my 7th kindergardener.  Goodness, never thought about that before.

Today we have a 4_h meeting here.  Should I bake cookies or buy? Need to go shopping for a purity ring for my soon-to-be 14yo dd.  What am I going to do for my 11yo son when he gets that age?  A purity gun or knife?  Ideas?  Right now Legos and drawing armor, knights and castles are his world.  Not the time to bust in with the facts of life.  So glad he is sheltered here at home. 

Blissful rain this am but it will be 100 again this afternoon.  I need to do the bills, assemble a new dresser, clean my room, make a phone call and prepare for tonight's meeting.  Beyond that, I get to nurse my 7 month old and listen to my almost 5 yo explain life from his prespective.  Amazing mind!

Nope, that is not a typo.  My new adventure in Water Aerobics has a couple of problems.  Do you think it would be disruptive to the class if I brought a snorkle?  How about nose plugs and goggles?  I'm just having a little trouble with the waves.  Yes, it is an indoor pool but with so many ladies moving with so much enthusiasm... well,  try doing crunches on your back while floating and not get a nose full!  

I did speak to the teacher today and laughing burns calories so she is okay with it.   

I admit, it is fun but... I spend the entire time thinking about fast food!  Instead of counting crunches I say with each one, "Bacon burger, Bacon Burger, Bacon Burger"  Motivation is very important, right?

Stradegy is also important, that is why I only take one dollar with me so I can't go through the drive-thru on the way home.  A buck is all I got if I run in to trouble.  I wonder how much oxygen it would get me if I offered it to the brave lady on the other side of the pool doing her crunches with the oxygen tank.  Seems to me if gives her and unfair advantage. 

Hmmm... Oxygen or snorkle...  hmm???

Overheard the 16yo daughter  talking to husband on the way into the house after the firework show.

Daughter pointing up: "That is the constellation I was telling you about.  It looks like a /P/ on its side.  Saturn kind of messes it up. A greek /P/...Pi..."