wholeheartedly His. . .

This week I began a women's Bible study, Wholeheartedly His in Difficult Times-a study on dealing with adversity from the book of Job.
"He said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21)
-that's really timely for me today. . .
So-I stood beside Cheryl, sharing her song sheet.
we sang Blessed be the Name of the Lord; Cheryl underlined, "My heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be Your name"
hmmm, and I listened. . .a dozen women in my group overflowing with examples of those who have honored God in the midst of adversity.
they blessed the name of the Lord. . .
And what does it mean to be halfhearted for God?
maybe Job's wife was halfheartedly His. . . she was tempted to curse God in adversity.
I don't think I curse God (but I haven't lost 7 sons and 3 daughters in a whirlwind)
sometimes I complain and whine- a lot
And they blessed the name of the Lord. . .
"Without answers to his questions, Job quietly bowed in humble submission before his creator and admitted that God was sovereign" (MacArthur)
(I want to be like that)

birthdays and a blue sweater

Luke, Noah, and Josiah were all born in September.
I do love celebrating their birthdays. . .however, I'm not one of those creative, energetic birthday party moms-no theme parties, scavenger hunts, mystery dinners, clowns, magicians. . .and sometimes just thinking about September makes me tired (Aye, what a mother!)
so, the birthdays came and went (sigh) and the boys grew up-now all have wives to help celebrate; wouldn't you know it-we've added 3 more September birthdays to the family talley. this weekend we celebrated 3 around the dinner table at Luke and Gabrielle's house with some homemade stuff: pesto for Luke, rhubarb pie for Brett, and a tri-colored sweater for our little Landis-sweet 1 year old boy.
hmmm, it's nice to remember birthdays. . . and to knit for grandchildren.

content with a small place

The other day I talked at length with a dear one.

she's in the spotlight. . . we identified the struggle in her heart, the struggle to please people. I know the temptation . . .don't we all?

Sigh. . .it's a trap!

The fear of man brings a snare (Prov 25:29)

And then I read this little quote, jotted in my journal-by whom?

"I'm content to fill a small place."

hmmm, that's what I want. . . even when I'm in the spotlight-making much of God and content to fill a very small place.

a yahoo idea

I have 7 wonderful girls-4 born to me and 3 added, the ones who love my sons. . .
my girls are scattered across this vast land-Tennessee, California, New York, Texas (in 3 cities) and very soon, Indiana.
hmmm, how to keep in touch, to be personal, to share my life?
So I set up a yahoo group account (with a little help!), to email all of them together. . . I'll aim for once a week (once a day emails from Mom would be a bit much, don't you think?)

one about mothering

I'm re-reading sections of Noel Piper's book Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God.

Ahn Ei Sook was faithful in suffering. . .

In 1939 the Japanese occupied Korea and shinto shrines were built in every city and village.

Ei Sook, a young school teacher, a Korean follower of Jesus, refused to bow and worship at the shrines.

During a school trip to a public shrine, only Ei Sook stood while others worshipped. . .and Ei Sook knew she was a marked woman, marked for arrest- probably death; the thought of pending torture terrified her.

Ei Sook's testimony is compelling-but I keep thinking about Ei Sook's mother. . .for I'm a mother.

this mother raised her child alone, in a hostile environment, teaching her daughter to fear the Lord.

and when it came time for her daughter to suffer for Jesus, this mother kept teaching. . .

Noel Piper writes, "Her mother knew Ei Sook's weakness. But she also knew the strength of God, and so she did not try to shield Ei Sook from suffering. Rather, she helped her prepare for it." (I'm tempted to shield rather than prepare!)

and in Ei Sook's words, I always felt strengthened when I talked with Mother about God and His love.

hmmm, I want to be like that mother. . .a worthy pursuit, don't you agree?

more about laundry

I like laundry, you know. . .washing, drying, folding-
it's nice to smooth the rumbles, to even the corners.
Brett does his own laundry, but one day he asked me to snatch his clothes off the line in case it rained.
"Sure, laundry is what I do around here."
So, I rescued his clothes, thankful for the opportunity. . .and I learned something new about Brett -he uses cloth hankerchiefs!
my husband and sons don't. . .
Brett told me that his father always carries one.
then I thought about Rachel, soon to marry this man with a hankerchief in his pocket.
a cloth hankerchief, useful to wipe away life's smudges and drips-
chocolate, lipstick, ice-cream, coffee, dirt, tears. . .
a sweet thought.

fear and faithfulness

God's faithfulness reaches to the skies (Ps 36:5)

one week recentlyI had coffee with 2 young women-
2 different days, 2 separate places, 2 individual girls.
I asked each one, "So, tell me what's up with you?"
And a common struggle overflowed- then tears. . .
their circumstances were similar, not identifcal, but fear producing situations common to us-to women.
What if it happened again?
we explored truth. . .it could happen again.

However. . . "No temptation has overtaken you but such is common to man, but God is faithful . . ." (1 Cor 10:13)
Dear Girls, one day when I am tempted to fear that it will happen again, you will remind me that our God is faithful. . .His faithfulness extends to all generations. (Ps 119:90)

just a word

I'm thinking how Life is a series of divestitures. . .

the other day I missed Josiah's phone call-but I returned it shortly; we chatted for a few minutes and then my son said, "Mom, I've gotta go, my wife is coming out of the restaurant!"

his wife was coming. . .his wife!

a good word-a word that's odd for me to hear from Josiah; we tend to forget when we birth them that they grow up. . .

God gave Josiah a wife-

and I'm grateful for the gift.

good King. . . good rules

Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would . . .keep all my commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever! (Deut 5:29)

I don't remember what initiated the talk-an admonition to obey; often this summer I overheard her remind the children, "Our good King has given us rules, good rules, to obey. . ."

And me? I need that reminder too- I distrust God sometimes. . . like Eve, who fell for the serpents lie, I conclude that God is withholding something from me, and so I willfully disobey his good commandments.

Last week I was reading from The Gospel Primer.

I remembered how the Gospel speaks to my mistrust of God and his good commandments.

Milton Vincent writes, "The Gospel helps me see the heart of the Person from whom the commandments come. . .if God loved me enough to sacrifice His Son's life for me, then He must be guided by that same love when He speaks His commandments to me."

So sweet grandson (and Soul), remember the Gospel, our Good King gives good rules-

Always.