gospel affection

I just finished reading Gospel-Powered Parenting (How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting)
 I know- you're thinking, "Why another parenting book? and why you?"
William Farley writes how the gospel intersects with life (what could be better?), and specifically with parenting-  it's good, really good. I'm taking a few notes before returning the book to a friend, and this morning I'm thinking about gospel love. . .
Farley writes that the gospel helps us see the connection between love and sacrifice; parental love should be sacrificial like God's love demonstrated at the cross, and gospel centered love terminates in affection.
"God dealt with our sin issue at the cross to open the flood gates of his affection towards us."
Sometimes affection for our children is hard, slow in coming. . . we can be affectionate with a disagreeable child because we remember that God payed a great price to be affectionate with us. . .his disagreeable children.

Farley suggests four ways that parents can show their children affection:

• focused attention (exclusive time) 
•  eye contact (look, listen) 
•  physical touch 
•  identifying signs of grace in our children (are we more aware of their failings or of God's grace?)

I love what Farley writes about fathers and affection, "The more affectionate a father, the more likely that his children will internalize his values."

One delightful aspect of being a grandmother is watching my sons tenderly love their children- I pray and in my heart I remind them,  Boys-gospel centered love for your children terminates in fervent affection.

thinking about a good book. . .

So-for 2012 I have a nice stack of new books. . .
Last week I spent a day at the city court waiting to be called for a jury panel. I brought along a book to pass the time, hoping that a fellow juror might say, "hmm, looks interesting-tell me about that book!"
But nobody asked. . .finally in the afternoon, still waiting, I noticed a woman sitting near me and inquired, "Excuse me, I've heard about that book you're reading- tell me it!"
We began a conversation-but shortly she was called for a jury panel. Oh well. . .

Forever, by Paul David Tripp, was the book I stuck in my bag that day -a really good book.
We know that God set eternity in human hearts. . . how, then, does the promise of eternity impact my daily living? What difference does forever make in our relationships, our parenting, our jobs? How does a forever perspective affect hope and faith and suffering and our view of God? Because if we were created for forever, then forever should impact today; really, it should. . .
And I'm challenged to make that happen- connect eternity with today. How do I weigh my experiences? This is a real question for me. . . if I only weigh my experiences on the scale of this present moment, I end up questioning the goodness and faithfulness of God. I'd say that Forever is a personal book with practical application. The last chapter is titled The Joy of Forever, Right Here, Right Now.
A worthy pursuit, indeed.

more about grace

This week I enjoyed an evening with my friend Debbie.
Amid the good talk, Debbie shared a story of how God had affected specific change in her life more than 20 years ago; then I shared how 40 years ago God displayed his grace in a similar situation in my own life.
Over coffee and 4 squares of dark chocolate, we remembered God's amazing grace - good for the soul.

Recently I read Glenda's Story, Led by Grace by Glenda Revell. Years ago I borrowed and read the book but finally decided to buy my own copy-to read again, to lend out. . .
Glenda tells her story. . .a childhood of abuse, neglect, suffering- horrifying proof of the reality of sin and of the perils of living in a broken world.
But in the preface, Glenda writes, "If this were just a story about my suffering, it would be ordinary, for suffering is as commonplace as life itself. Rather this is an account of an extraordinary Savior, who brings light out of darkness, joy out of sorrow, peace out of pain. . ."
Read Glenda's story- led by grace
This morning I read Psalm 121-The Lord is your keeper, the shade on your right hand, the sun will not smite you by day. . .the Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.

hmm, reminds me of Glenda's story-and my story, and yours'. . .

apply your heart to discipline. . .

So, the other day I had a long phone conversation with a dear friend; she lives in another state.
We have been young and now we are old. . . between us, we've raised 15 children.
We talked about shifting rolls, about expectations and how change is almost always perceived as loss; we shared common confusion and challenge and the suprising revelation of sin--hmmm, how could it be?
And I reminded my friend that really, God has brought us to an amazing season of life-let's pursue Him with single minded devotion. . . and she agreed.
From my bookshelf I pulled down a worn copy of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney-the book our women's Bible study will read for 7 weeks this summer. I cherish my old copy-the inside cover is inscribed. . . we wanted to share this book with you, praying that the Lord will deal especially bountifully with you in 1994-with love. . .

I read the introductory chapter, Spiritual Disciplines. . .for the Purpose of Godliness-I thought about my friend, about our talk.
Curious, isn't it. . .God is commited to my holiness; He will
assuredly work Christlikeness in me, yet I'm not merely to wait for holiness, I'm to pursue it! "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy. . ." Hebrews 12:14 (the verse I've taped to my bathroom mirror)
hmm, this is a good book-the author examines the channels of God's grace: Bible intake, prayer, worship, evangelism, service, stewardship, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling and learning.
Spurgeon wrote, "I must take care above all that I cultivate communion with Christ, for though that can never be the basis of my peace-mark that-yet it will be the channel of it."

So, I wrote to my friend. . .I told her about my plan to deliberately, consistently put myself in the path of Jesus through the spiritual disciplines, that He will change me from the inside out. And I told her about my Bible intake that day, because sometimes just being accountable to another believer is spiritual exercise, don't you agree?

books in my bed

After breakfast one Saturday morning, I discovered this sweet group in my bed- So, I offered, "How about a read aloud, girls?"

Lately there's been a treasure of children's books at Half Price Books-most I give away, but a select few I keep in my pile-for occasions like this. . . Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin is a recent addition- "In the days when farmers worked with ox and sled and cut the dark with lantern light, there lived a boy who loved snow more than anything else in the world. . ."

So the story begins. . .Wilson Bentley, born in 1865 in Vermont, loved snow; with an old microscope, Willie caught snowflakes and studied the icy crystals-each one a small miracle! For 3 winters he tried to draw then, but they always melted. . . Willie yearned to capture the ice crystals' exquisite beauty for all to see, and one day, his parents spent their entire savings and bought their boy a camera with its own microscope. . .and the rest is history, literally. Willie told a friend, "I can't afford to miss a single snowstorm, I never know when I will find some wonderful prize." Ah, that I would examine each speck of creation with such wonder. . .
I love the story- and Mary Azarian's lovely woodcuts bring the book to life. I think I'll keep this one in my own stack for a while. (stop by for a read and some coffee)

Psalm 27 and a book in my bag

One thing I have asked from the Lord that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord.
hmmm, I love Psalm 27-the pages of my Bible in that spot are worn, wrinkled, written on-
I've been traveling a lot lately, and finally I'm facing up to the fact that I pack way too many books in my carry on bag. It looks like this. . . I settle my small self into the middle seat and then profusely apologize to the kind folks on either side as I wrestle in my bag, bumping them as I go. . .
I've resolved to carry less-so last month when I flew to California, I searched around here for a slim, light selection to tuck in my carry-on bag. From a stack of books that Rachel left behind, I choose A Shelter in the Time of Storm by Paul David Tripp (meditations on God and trouble from Psalm 27).
I considered, "I've never read it, everybody has troubles, I need God in the storms, and I love Psalm 27! "
So-I traveled to California and came home to Texas still readying this little book, determined to make Psalm 27 more my own.
Shelter in the Time of Storm includes 52 meditations, each about 2 pages long, concluding with 2 personal challenges. Last week I read meditation 26, "The Rejection of Rejection"- My father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in (vs 10) The author points to my Savior's rejection as the ultimate rejection and then asks this question: "In what ways would your practical, daily living change if you lived with a deep and lively sense of appreciation for the horror of the rejection Jesus faced for you?"
a worthy pursuit-I keep thinking about it. . .

Celebrating the Gospel. . .

I'm reading Comforts from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick- for the third time, evidenced by the distinct coffee ring (and is that raspberry jam?) on the book cover.
The book's subtitle, Celebrating the Gospel One Day at a Time, reveals its focus on daily gospel reminders; the book includes 31 days of gospel meditations, a 2-3 page portion for each day of the month.
I need to feed my soul that way-gospel truth day after day after. . .
Today I read Day 19: into the confusion and suffering of this world, our Saviour speaks peace and hope in the gospel, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." the reality of the resurrection speaks powerfully into my circumstances today.
And the author reminds her readers, "Peace begins to fill my soul when I remember the truth of the gospel: I am more sinful and flawed than I ever dared believe, more loved and welcomed than I ever dared hope. I deserve less than nothing but have been given everything."
Lately I've been drinking in the gospel, back and forth. . . alternating between The Gospel Primer (Milton Vincent) and Comforts from the Cross.
So good and highly recommended.

all about kin. . .

So, Rachel's been posting on her blog about letting go- she's preparing to return to the States, accomodating all her possessions in 2 suitcases. What would I choose to include in 2 suitcases? Rachel's conclusion: reminders of people take priority over books-for books are replaceable.
But recently while digging through an entire suitcase of the Smith's books sent back to Texas with the younger siblings, I discovered this treasure: Wee Gillis, by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson. (creators of Story of Ferdinand)-it's inscribed: to Malachai, Josu, and Selma~love Aunt Rachel.
Wee Gillis lives in Scotland; he spends half of each year with his mother's people in the Lowlands where he's taught to herd long-haired cows, learning to call them in the heaviest fog. Then Wee Gillis spends the other half of each year with his father's people in the rocky Highlands where he learns to stalk stags, holding his breath so as not to make a sound.
Whether in the Highlands or the Lowlands, Wee Gillis rises early each morning and eats a very large bowl of oatmeal with his kin-each side is eager for the lad to settle down and adopt their ways.

this picture book delights me so-perhaps it's that huge bowl of oatmeal? or the freckled nose?

but really, I'm thinking about Malachai, Josu, and Selma in California with their father's people- on the Pacific Ocean, eating round scoops of ice cream in lovely waffle cones -how nice.

And very soon the children will be with their mother's people in Texas, here in San Antonio's southside, where the ice cream man rides his bicycle through the neighborhood, his bell jingling, selling Mexican style paletas for "un dolar".

we'll buy some and make a memory. . .

the house guests came. . .

So, John and I just enjoyed a week of house guests-3 sets of guests.
hmmm, so good-
I always tell folks that staying at our place is a bit like camping. . . we have the most gracious guests.
And I'm thinking about a picture book, The Relatives Came by Cynthia Ryland, our tattered copy, stacked among the books in the corner here-a favorite with the grandchildren.
As this wonderful story goes. . . in an old station wagon, with an ice chest full of soda pop and bologna sandwitches, the relatives came up from Virginia-they drove all day and all night. . .
and when they finally arrived, it was hugging time,"you'd have to go through at least four different hugs to get from the kitchen to the front room!"
The relatives stayed for weeks -playing, working, laughing, making music- and breathing together; it was good they weren't particular about beds because there weren't any extras. . .
And Our family. . .well, we've loved this book, a gift from Teri, my sweet sister, in 1989 after we'd been to their place in California for a summer visit; she wrote on the fly leaf:
"We couldn't resist getting you this book; it seemed so appropriate! I love the part where the relatives aren't particular about beds! We loved having ALL of you. Promise you'll visit again."
hmm, don't you love it when folks write memories in a book?
And today I'm musing about this summer-from June to August, when our friends and relatives will come to stay at 2305 St. Anthony (remember dear ones, it's abit like camping!)
I can't wait. . .talking, laughing, working, eating and breathing together-worthy pursuits, every one.

Aunt Beth brings crafts in her suitcase!

Adele and Simon in my book bag

Rachel was hunting for good books for little Selma- she showed me Adele and Simon by Barbara McClintock and right away I loved it!
Set in early 20th century Paris, Adele's task is to meet her little brother at school and walk him safely home; that she does, however, along the way Simon scatters all his belongings, one by one- afterall, Paris teems with astounding sights to grab a little boys attention.
Adele and Simon in America is my recent book find-a gift for Julia's 4th birthday. . .this time Adele and Simon sail across the ocean to New York City to visit their Aunt Cecile; they prepare for a grand train trip around America, and as Simon packs his treasures: journal, pencil box, cowboy hat, tin drinking cup, canteen, binoculars, map, red suspenders. . . Adele tells her brother with a sigh, "Please try not to loose anything on our trip!" You can just imagine. . .(hmmm, a little fellow just like Simon grew up at 2305 St. Anthony.)
I love the author's illustrations- detailed pen and ink, warm watercolors, providing an "eye spy" aspect to search for Simon's lost belongings.
If you find either lovely book, I'm certain you will not be disappointed.

unwavering resolve. . .

Last month John and I drove to Memphis for Josiah's graduation. The trip is 12 hours from San Antonio to Memphis-plenty of opportunity for worthy reading; on the drive there we read "The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards" by Steven Lawson- actually a gift for Josiah, so I read aloud fast; it was so good, I scribbled some notes. Edwards' earnest resolutions focus on issues of his heart, on the glory of God; I'm intrigued. . . and on the first day of the year, I'm thinking about my own resolve. . .

In the chapter titled "Precipice of Eternity", Lawson writes of Edwards' commitment to keep his eye on his own death, Christ's return, and the world to come, and so doing, he would help himself live for God's glory in the present. Jonathan Edwards was a young man, a teenager, when he first penned his 70 resolutions-a pattern for his life.
"Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life," he wrote.
not to sound dramatic. . .but I'm on the precipice of a new decade of life (with my birthday approaching-far from a teenager!) Lord, help me to keep my eye on the final hour of my life, so that I might keep away from temptation, live for what is best-the glory of God.

stone soup on a good day

Last weekend our grand girls spent the day with us at 2305 St. Anthony- we read Stone Soup and then we made stone soup.
Our version of the French folktale, Stone Soup, (retold by John Warren Stewing and illustrated by Margot Tomes) highlights a young girl named Grethel, who arrives in a village tired and hungry; she stops at the first house, and asks politely, "Could you spare some food for a hungry traveler?" Not only does the fellow refuse her request, but all the villagers feign poverty and make excuses while hiding their potatoes, cabbages, carrots, and hams, down wells and under beds.
(they are selfish! says our girl)
Ah, but Grethel, a clever lass, calls out to the peasants, "Good folk, since you have no food, we will just have to use my stone to make stone soup!" So the peasants haul a large iron pot into the village square-add water, a little salt, pepper, stir, stir, taste, stir . . . "This stone always makes excellent soup but adding a few carrots makes it even tastier!" says Grethel; and soon the villagers run to fetch vegetables, barley, and beef to stir into the stone soup-"a nobleman's soup-and all from a stone!" they exclaim.
And that day there was a feast in the village square. . .
(now they are sharing and they don't even know it! says our girl)

So, inorder to make stone soup at our house-grand Papi and Julia hunted up 2 nice stones from the yard and scrubbed them in the bathroom sink (notice Aunt Mercy's purse-perfect for carrying stones or other 3 year old treasures- and high heels, perfect for. . )

Amaleah wanted to be sure that our soup exactly replicated the soup in the story; together we peeled, chopped and added as indicated, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, beef, barley-stir and taste
(I snuck in some garlic!)

And that day there was a feast at 2305 St. Anthony St. . .

little blue book in my bag

Here's a good picture book-Pelle's New Suit, by Elsa Beskow; perhaps you can imagine the story line from the picture on the cover: Pelle, a little Swedish boy, had a lamb of his own-the lamb grew, Pelle grew, the lamb's coat grew longer but Pelle's coat only grew shorter! So one day Pelle took the sheers and cut off all the lamb's wool. . .

Then he took the wool to his grandmother, "Granny dear, please card this wool for me!" Of course this good grandmother cheerfully agreed and she also gave Pelle a job, "that I will do my dear if you will pull the weeds in my carrot patch!" (I would be that kind of grandmother who plants carrots and pulls weeds!)

Then Pelle went to the other grandmother, "Grandmother, please spin this wool into yarn for me!" the other grandmother gladly agreed to help her sweet boy AND she gave him a job to do, "if while I am spinning, you will tend my cows." (oh, to be this grandmother with a great bundle of keys on her belt, unlocking secret rooms and treasure boxes. . .)

So, the story clips along. . . dying the wool blue, weaving the cloth, sewing the suit, and for each one who helps in the process, Pelle, in turn, completes the requested job.

I love the story, the illustrations, the memory of hearing it as a child and reading it to my children. I remember a library copy, rectangular with large pictures; so when I ordered the book for my grandchildren on Amazon.com, I was disappointed to discover that the new edition is very small and the pictures, sometimes two to a page have been reduced considerably. I'd prefer the older edition!

Hmmm. . .I love the grandmother part in Pelle's New Suit- how the grandmothers both shared in the suit making endeavor. And so it is in my world-I share grandmothering with my friend Martha; how we dearly love our sweet grand girls (and the tiny lad we're about to meet)-and I think we bring a bit of variety to the role. . .Amaleah says that I am the knitting grandmother and Martha is the sewing grandmother-nice, don't you think?

a good book in my bag

Tomorrow I'm going to Caroline's house for a haircut; I think I'll take this book along in my bag to read to her little ones-The 4th of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh; first published in 1956, the book is intended for ages 5 to 9, however those younger will enjoy listening and those older will certainly enjoy reading it! Colorful, full page illustrations accompany the text. I like the author's note in the preface:

The story of the birthday of our country is a big story to tell young children. Yet when they begin to ask, "Why do we have a holiday on the Fourth of July"? they have a right to know. They have a right to know that Independence Day is something more than fireworks and picnics. . .

You should be able to find this book at the public library and for purchase through Amazon; also. . . .we love The Courage of Sarah Noble by the same author!

more children's books. . .

A friend asked me to post more children's book recommendations-certainly, happy to oblige!

I'm remembering. . . 22 years ago when my 7th child was in the womb, his siblings begged to name him Obadiah. . .an idea no doubt prompted by their affection for the Obadiah books.

I'm familiar with three books written and illustrated by Brinton Turkle about little Obadiah Starbuck. The stories are set in colonial America, on Nantucket Island where Obadiah lives with his Quaker family- six brothers and sisters, his wise father and kind mother.

Our copies of Obadiah the Bold and Thy Friend, Obadiah are worn. . .really worn from lots of handling, sharing, reading over the years. Rachel and Obadiah, tells the story of some sibling competition among the little Starbucks-I think this one is my favorite.

Good books! and the lovely watercolor illustrations help little ones retell the story without even reading the words. All three books are available for purchase through Amazon.com, perhaps at your local library, and if you're my close neighbor, drop by and borrow the two in the picture-and stay to visit over coffee. . .

picture books in my bag. . .

I usually carry at least one good children's book in my book bag. . .afterall, what if I drop in on my grandgirls impromptu or visit a friend who has an eager little listener?

Picture books by Maj Lindman are among my favorites. I imagine my mother, a kindergarden teacher, first read them to me fifty years ago. . .
Swedish author-artist Maj Lindman (1886-1972) wrote and illustrated stories about thee little Swedish boys, Snip, Snap, and Snurr and three little girls, Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka (books originally published in the U. S. in the 1930's.)

So the story goes in Snipp, Snapp, Snurr and the Red Shoes. . . these lads decided to buy their mother the perfect birthday present-a pair of red shoes! So they set out to earn some money. Snipp painted a fence. . .Snapp cleaned a chimney. . . Snurr worked in a flour mill; things didn't go exactly as planned, but in the end, their hard work paied off and Mother was surprised and delighted with her red shoes. . .( the part I like best-the mother gets new red shoes!)

I just purchased Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the New Dotted Dresses for a special little girl, and at the same time I ordered Benjamin West and his Cat Grimalkin (Marguerite Henry) for Malachai's sixth birthday (Shhh!). This one, about the little Quaker boy who grew up to be a famous American painter, is a wonderful read aloud. Our little guy will love it-I can just imagine his face-and his curiosity. . . .

two bags and a good book

A few months ago I wrote a post about my book bag, a sturdy yet rather shabby blue backpack containing a treasure of good books. So, my family bought me a new book bag for Christmas. . .

The dear one who drew my name for family gift exchange chose a lovely green bag, rectangular with shoulder strap-however, another member insisted that a wool messenger bag- charcoal grey, would be my first choice. So, I am a blessed woman. . . and fashionable-like the woman who changes purses to match her outfit- one month, or season, my sporty green bag and the next the handsome grey one, imagine that!

The Gospel Primer for Christians, by Milton Vincent, is a good book in my new bag; I'm quite aware that when I totter in my walk of faith, often it's because I forget the gospel-I've set the gospel on a spiritual shelf, saved there to share with a non-believer while its vitality in my own life has dimmed. But the gospel IS the main point for Christian living! The gospel is the old old story, and brought into the present tense, its vibrant truth should color my daily life.

Milton Vincent's small book is a wonderful resource; Part I, Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily includes 31 brief selections which remind and direct me to the practical blessings of rehearsing the gospel daily. Parts II & III contain A Gospel Narrative, both a prose and poetic version. And at the bottom of every page there are Scripture references which support the truth recorded.


So, over the past six months I've grown to love this primer; I carry it side by side with my Bible, using it as a worthy tool, helping me to preach the gospel to myself every day.

a good book in my bag. . .

When I muse on what gladdens my heart in day to day life. . . I think about the young women who routinely spend time with me over coffee.
A year ago I began discipling Kate-during a time of particular adversity in her life; together we explored how our meetings could be most fruitful, and Kate offered, "I'm struggling with my grieving-I need to study the character of God. . . "

Now then, what could be better? Kate didn't ask me to study the psychology of grieving--but the character of God-Ah, good for you, sweet girl!

So, I suggested we read Trusting God by Jerry Bridges. My personal copy is worn out-notes and underlining crowd the bent pages; in one margin I scribbled, nothing will happen to my children that is outside God's soverign control- trust God with my teenage drivers!. . . a note from fifteen years ago-and still true today.

Kate and I meet each week over coffee-we share our journal responses to each chapter of Trusting God, review the Scriptures, and we encourage each other. . . inorder to trust our God in adversity, we must believe that He is absolutely soverign, perfect in love and infinite in wisdom.

Soon now, we'll finish the book and move on to something new-it's been good.

the blue backpack. . . .

This week I have an addition to my backpack-it's a reread (do you ever read a good book more than once?)-The Hidden Smile of God, the Fruit of Affliction in the Lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd, by John Piper. I pulled this one off the shelf as I was thinking about a friend-wondering if it would encourage her. . .

So far, I've read through the introduction (the biblical theology of suffering) and the first section about John Bunyan. In 1672 in Bedford, England, Bunyan was released from 12 years of imprisonment; Piper quotes from Bunyan's writings, he found prison to be a painful and fruitful gift. . . .12 years in prison- a fruitful gift? Bunyan tesified that God enabled him to survive and flourish in jail-the visible world died to Bunyan and he learned "to live upon God that is invisible"- hmmm, I'd best muse on that for awhile. . . so, Piper details Bunyan's life, explores his affliction and then poses the questions, "What was its fruit? What did it (affliction) bring about in his own life and in the lives of others?"

A few weeks ago John and I watched a DVD movie of The Pilgrim's Progress (a modern day retelling);for me, one of the greatest scenes in Bunyan's classic is when Christian and Hopeful, perishing in Doubting-Castle, remember the key which unlocks the door to the dungeon of despair. Piper notes that Christian found the key in his chest pocket, or in his chest, meaning that he had hidden God's promises in his heart by memorization-a timely personal reminder. . .

. . .in the end, I decided to share a different book with my friend (more on that later)- however, The Hidden Smile of God has been a treasure in my backpack this week- numerous times, over coffee, I've shared its truth and encouragement.

Nothing glorifies God more than maintaining our
stability and joy when
we lose everything but God. (Piper)