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On a side note:
My blogging efforts have been wimpy at best, I know, but homeschooling and photography are consuming me right now. I'll be back to sharing later this week. First on my list...thoughts on my latest read which you'll see in my sidebar - Francis Chan's Crazy Love. It's rocking my world and prepare for it to do the same to yours!
Labels: books, home schooling, photography
Morning at the Park
Almost a year has passed since the adoption of my two little nephews from Russia...I just can't believe it! It seems like they've always been a part of our family and I can't imagine life without them. Gosh, do I love these buggers!
Anyway, Thursday's are my brothers day off and the night we have "family night" each week at my mom & dad's house. Today, on their way out to Granny's house, Penny asked if I'd meet them at a local park to do some "post-placement" pictures for their agency. It's just another part of the process and, of course, I was more than happy to oblige. I loaded in their van and brought my two assistants with me (Mollie & Benjamin). Mollie toted my brother's camera and snapped me, snapping my nephews. Click
here to see what we came away with this beautiful South Florida winter day.
Here are the two little men I adore getting snuggled by Totya...
Labels: family, photography
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Labels: photography
You'll notice a new book "on my nightstand" in the sidebar. It's Warren W. Weirsbe's,
Real Worship. I've read many of Weirsbe's books and I count him a personal favorite amongst a handful of other authors. He cuts to the chase and I like that. Here's an example of his forthrightness for you to chew on: "If we look upon worship only as a means of getting something from God, rather than giving something to God, then we make God our servant instead of our Lord, and the elements of worship become a cheap formula for selfish gratification."
He goes on to discuss the our call in Romans 12 to be transformed, not conformed. In spite of this calling, many Christians steer away from transforming worship. He believes the reason for this is that the consequences may be dangerous. We don't want to "pay the price" of leaving what's comfortable. He follows with...
"when transformed believers show up in a crowd of conformers, people are immediately threatened by their presence--and this can lead to some difficult situations in homes and churches. Transformers don't create problems; they reveal them!
Transformers are participants, but most Christians want to be spectators. Most Christians are content to attend church, give their money, and allow a professional staff to 'lead in worship' and provide religious entertainment Sunday after Sunday.
Transformers patiently wait for the Spirit to change them and make them more like the Saviour, but most church members want immediate results that can be categorized and computed. The transformer looks for fruit while the conformer calculates results.
Transformers quietly resist the 'celebrity attitude' that marks the church today, with so many professed believers taken up with 'famous Christians' that their dedication to them almost becomes cultic. A believer with the renewed mind is happy to hear God's Word from any sincere servant of God, known or unknown; but other Christians insist on listening to the 'leading expositors of the day' and the media superstars.
Transformers trust God to do His work as they worship, pray, and sow the seed of the Word, but conformers run from seminar to seminar, seeking to discover new techniques for getting God's work done in this world with more speed and less personal cost. They often follow the latest fads without asking where these fads originated or on what biblical principles they are founded.
Transformers have different set of values from that of their conforing friends. They're not impressed by budgets and buidings, but they doo look for fruit that glorifies God. To them, it is more important to care for they needy than to build another fuilding or start a new organization that really isn't necessary.. Transformers might rather see a growing fellowship divide and start a new church where one is needed than unite to build a larger sanctuary.
Transformers aren't concerned about getting the approval of the world or being popular with the world's leaders. They're content to live to please the Lord and serve others. If they are noticed, they get embarrassed; if they are unnoticed, they rejoice.. So-called Christian celebrities don't excite them, particularly those of the "Hollywood" variety who sing in nightclubs on Saturday night and in a church service on Sunday morning.
...if you decide you want to pursue a meaningful worship experience, don't expect much encouragement from the average church member. True worship examines and exposes the depths of our being; God helps us see our true motives and values. In worship, God calls us to wholeness; but first reveal our brokenness and our blemishes. He calls us to spiritual health, but first He must expose our 'wounds and bruises and putrefying sores' (Isaiah 1:6), and we can't go elsewhere for a second opinion."Well there ya have it! And in the spirit of candidness, in the side column of my little book I have a big "YIKES" written next to the very words in the above quotes. These truths are not something any of us
want to hear, but something we
need to hear in order to prepare our hearts for that transformation Paul speaks of in Romans. I'm up for it, are you?
I've done a little review in my head of some of my favorite things or experiences from 2008. The items listed below are completely personal. My hope is that as you read over them, you, too, will peruse your own memories of the past year and chalk them up for what they really are...blessings from a merciful & loving God.
Leather Journal - I've never been an avid journaler, but this year, with raising two teenagers & one pre-adolescent, feeling the discomfort ministry work can bring, and facing financial strain in hard economic times, writing my prayers & thoughts down in the beautiful leather journal Dave gave me this year has been quite therapeutic. It's become a natural part of my morning devotion with God.
Trip to Russia - It seems like another lifetime, but our trip to Russia to assist my brother & sister-in-law in bringing their two adopted sons home was a life-changing experience. It created a bond of love & understanding that Chris, Penny, Dave & I will share throughout our lives here on earth and into eternity. Priceless!
Going cellular - This summer we gave up our land line. I never have to hear the grating sound of a cordless phone shrieking through my house again. Nor do I have to deal with unwanted solicitors. This being an election year we were able to avoid all those annoying political calls, too!
Dropping satellite television - I love not having the distraction of the constant availability of numerous viewing options. It's much quieter in our home and we have more conversation & relationship building than ever.
My camera - I've had a blast creating memories for myself and others as I've learned the in's & out's of operating a DSLR camera.
Turning 40 - Not so bad! I actually finally feel like a grown-up and that others might just start taking me seriously! I'm really looking forward to the second half of my life. I want to do it better...much better!
Having a 3rd driver in the family - Despite the insane cost of insurance for a male teen driver, it's been worth all the benefits of not having to be the taxi driver all the time. Love it!
Reading Raising Your Children with No Regrets, Catherine Hickem - My choice for best book of the year. It met me right where I was and made a huge impact on my perception of mothering my growing children. Absolutely a God-sent message!
Meal Planning - Doing this on a weekly basis has rescued us from eating out & over-spending and has given us a little more margin in our budget. I've done this for years off and on, but this summer it really helped us out when gas prices where through the roof.
My man- God has given me a husband that makes doing life in this crazy world more of a fun adventure than I ever imagined. We're in our 20th year of marriage now and I believe all the years leading up to now were preparation for what God has in store for the next 20 years. We are truly blessed that our Creator chose us to be partners as we raise a family in His name & further the gospel message with the gifts He's given us. I can't wait to see what plan God has for 2009!
Labels: fun facts, ponderings
