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I started a book that I’m SO enjoying. I have begun a post to describe what I’m gettin’ out of it, but it’s still a draft, because time is limited. I’m so excited to understand and process what I’m taking in. Writing it out here will serve to one, remember what I’m processing with God, while at the same time, it will also be something that I can come back to and see how my understanding has evolved.
I love evolving, or at least feel like I can understand what’s been happening in the past, so I can look to the future and glean a new perspective about where God is taking me. More to come…
Today’s Slice of Infinity was a good read:
Fix Your Gaze by Betsy Childs
Do you remember when you were learning to drive? In order to be a good driver, one must forego the luxury of gazing at the passing scenery. I remember my father explaining to me that a car tends to drift in the direction that the driver is looking. If I looked off the road to my right, I might very well drive off the road. I had to train myself to watch the centerline in order for my gaze not to be diverted.
It often seems as if the narrow road that we are traveling is flanked by gorges on both sides. There are many extremes that we seek to avoid, but finding the proper center in the Christian life is easier said than done. When we find ourselves drifting into legalism, we often overcompensate and swerve into license; we may despise the materialism or hedonism of the world only to end up as self-righteous ascetics. We don’t want to be too busy, and we don’t want to be lazy. What’s a person to do?
Some choose a dangerous oscillation between extremes, crashing into guardrails and causing a lot of damage in the process. God has given us certain commands and institutions that break our speed and prevent us from hurtling off the narrow path. But bouncing between guardrails is not the wisest way to steer. The common-sense answer is to stay as close to the center as possible by fixing your gaze there. We find this principle in the book of Proverbs:
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:25-27)
Once you realize that the way of wisdom involves fixing your eyes on the right thing, you must then wonder what you are supposed to look at. Should we look to others and follow them? Are we supposed to look inside ourselves? Should we trust or dismiss our sense of direction? None of these options is a very compelling solution.
Fortunately, the book of Hebrews presents another way. The author writes, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 2:2). The only infallible guide down the narrow path is Jesus Christ. It is only when our eyes are on him that our lives are in proper balance. The Christian life is a Cross-centered life. But Jesus is not a principle; he’s a person. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but the narrow path twists and turns. He’s a moving target, and you can only follow him if you fix your gaze on him.
When I run out of my jars of salsa, this is my standby recipe…
4 cups chopped tomatoes (or 1 large can of chopped tomatoes)
1/2 of a medium sized onion – chopped
1 to 1 & 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
chopped fresh cilantro (maybe half a bundle or more depending on your taste)
1 tsp. or more of chopped garlic
dash of salt
Mix good & serve with warm chips!
Here is my Salsa for canning recipe for those of you who want to try canning. Canning is not hard, it just has a lot of steps, but it’s soooo worth it. Get two big kettles, and a canning kit that is $5, it comes with a jar grabber, a large mouth funnel, and a hot lid grabber that has a magnet on the end. If you don’t have a dishwasher that can sterilize your wide mouth pint jars, then just wash them in soapy water, rinse well, then put them in your big kettle and bring water to a boil and let them cook for about 15 min. or longer to sterilize… keep them in there in hot water until you’re ready to ladel your salsa into the jars. In a smaller pan (4 qt.?) put some water and place the lids in (not the band rings, those can just be kept in a bowl till your ready to use them)… anyway, bring your lids to a boil and let them simmer on med heat until your ladeling salsa into your jars, then you get them out by using your magnet on a stick. ; )
What I do is prepare my salsa first since this takes the longest, and then after it’s all in the pot and has been cooking for about an hour, then I do all the jar preperation for the actual canning. When the salsa is to the desired thickness, ladel with a clean 1 cup dry measuring cup into your jars using the widemouth funnel. Fill to about 1/2 inch from the top and then place on the lid, then bands, and after all the salsa is canned, place all the jars into the hot water left over in the big kettle that you boiled the jars in and process for about 15 min. (the 15 minutes is for my altitude of 6,000 ft. and lower altitudes take less time, but I would just do 15 min. to be sure.) After processing time is over, take out the jars with the jar grabbers and place them on the counter to cool, you’ll hear the lids pop as the vacume seals the lids. Later after they are cool, you may need to tighten the bands just a tad. Voila! Easy and sooo worth it.
Salsa
16-18 Cups Chopped Fresh Tomatoes
6 Large Onions Coarsly chopped
½ Cup Sugar
4 Cups chopped Jalapeno’s – with seeds
1/3-1/2 Cup Pickling Salt
2 Tbsp. Gephardt’s Chili Powder (found in Mexican food isle)
1 & 1/2 tsp. crushed red chili peppers (like the kind that some pizza joints have that you can sprinkle on your pizza)
2 tsp. White Pepper
2 tsp. Ground Cumin
1&1/2 tsp. Alum powder (found in seasoning section)
2 Tbsp. Chopped Garlic
2 Medium Green Peppers – chopped
2 large cans Chopped Green Chilies
2 bunches of Cilantro, chopped
1 small can Tomato Paste
1 can Tomato Soup
Mix all ingredients in a very large steel or enamel kettle. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer & cook a few hours, uncovered, or until it reaches a thick consistency. Stir frequently to keep from sticking. Ladle into hot sterilized jars & seal with boiled lids, and then place on bands. After all jars filled & sealed, process 15 min. in a boiling hot water bath. Makes 16-20 pints.
My mom leaves to go home tomorrow and that bums me out, while at the same time, it leaves me feeling that our “normal life” and schedule will return back to what we’re used to. Strange how that is. Someone you love comes to stay, and things are a little different all around, but still good, just not the routine that you usually follow. Routines are pretty convienent and the predictability of them is comforting, especially with young kids… but even with us older kids. Something is to be said for the freedom that my husband has to be able to walk around the house in his boxers when he first gets up, as opposed to the feeling that you have to get dressed before you even leave your room. Comfort zones are cozy.
BTW, I canned 16 pints of Salsa the other night, the kicky kind. Oooo-weeee, I tell you, dat dem der salsa sure clears daa sinus-esss gud. Uhhh-hmmm. Boy! Ooooo-weeee! Maybe I’m crazy, but I could eat it with nearly every meal, and it still wouldn’t be enough. Something to say about hot & spicy homemade salsa. It’s a commodity with a value that is high for the few friends I have shared it with. There is something really cool about making it and giving it to friends whose eyes widen when they see it presented…. the weight of the pint feels as heavy as gold.
I got the Facedown cd by Matt Redman! Turn your speakers up, and let His glory shine around. I think I’m going to let this play for a while…. I need to refill my soul with the building creshendo of Him.
This visit with my mom here has been so nice… we’ve been enjoying long talks, silly times with the kids playing, and I always take advantage of her to help me finish all kinds of projects, and to get geared up for future projects. Time has been full and I’m so thankful for my friendship with her. I’m also really loving her restored hearing with the use of her new ears (hearing aids). It’s awesome to know that she is hearing all that we say, including the kids whispering to her their this’s and that’s.
Things around the house are abuzz, but you’d never know it by looking at my blog. My mom just arrived today from California for an eight day visit, and we have lots of stuff to do. I think I’ll take most of the week off blogging, as I’d rather spend a lot of time with her… in both enjoying her company, and enjoying the way my kids light up when she is around!!!
Little updates… the kids are feeling better from the flu… Adair recovered within a couple days, and we thought Alec had beaten it, but alas, last night at bedtime he threw up a couple times. He recovered very quickly, and was back to his normal running self this morning, no worse for wear.
The Deeper Listening Prayer session that I went to was so great, and there were many things that I feel I need to get with God about, but that would take longer to blog than the time I have right now.
My mom is great and I’m so glad she’s here to visit!!! : D : D : D
*grrr….* my blogrolleth hath disappeardeth, for I hath encounterdeth a fatal erroreth.
Early this morning, about 3am, Adair started crying in her bed. When I went to check on her she said her tummy felt sick. *sigh* She was able to fall back asleep for a short while, but then I was awaken by her at 3:30am running into my room telling me she felt like she was going to throw up. *ugg* Luckily, she made it to the bathroom in time, minus the little bit of puke on the tile floor. No biggie. So, after lots of vomiting, and some of the medicine we rejoice over, Tigan, she was able to fall asleep at 5am for about an hour, until she awoke with stomach cramps and dying rear. *ew* So, it’s a day to hang around the house and pray for her healing, as well as Alec’s protection from this stomach bug. Thankfully the law is holding true so far that only one child barfs at a time.
On a lighter note, a friend gave me a huge box of peaches, so I’m trying to find the time to make jam inbetween mothering today. Should be fun to juggle & jam.
Tonight I am attending a study at my church, called “Deeper, Listening Prayer.” In this, we will have an opportunity to pursue both an understanding and a lifestyle of “waiting WITH God,” where we are more interested in what God wants to speak to us, than what we want to speak to Him. We will also be given time to review the practical application on how to intentionally cultivate the discipline. Sound cool? I’m really looking forward to it.
Some things today have come to mind that I want to consider when I have more time… the first is willful sin. The second has nothing to do with that, but it’s something that I find peculiar, toddlers on leashes.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
In the midst of our tribulations, He is there to comfort us, to alleviate the pain and sense of grief that threatens to wash over us… He will never let it overtake us and sweep us away. Through His comfort of grace, we can have, if we can recieve it, peace and joy. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Rom. 5:1-5
Underneath all the confusion of the things surrounding us, I’m so suprised to know that He wants me to rejoice in my sufferings, because through them I will be given the insight and understanding of perseverance, character, and real hope. He’s covered it all. Because, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6 In the very things that I am struggeling with, He is working, He is consoling, and He is encouraging me to know His hope and will.
Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18. I don’t know how many times I have found my heart going over this verse and coming to a continued deeper understanding, and sometimes confusion, of it’s meaning. Analyizing what I’m succeeding at and where I’m failing, I’m still encouraged to know He’s still improving me, bringing me to conform more to Christ’s very own heart. Some days I’m so challanged, while others I feel lifted by Him into victory.
Challies.com discusses Peter’s Disappointment… an awesome read for me today. “In a sense I think each of us assumes that what has worked for us will work for others. The evidence is so solid in our minds that we simply can’t understand how others can doubt it. Yet God uses different ways to reach different people. The core message must be the same – that Jesus Christ died to save sinners like us. But the means God chooses to have that message reach us, to break through the stone walls of our hearts, varies from person to person, from heart to heart.”
Thanks for the post Tim… it was good for me to read today!
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
Let us acknowledge the LORD ;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3
migrane. no sleep last night to be had. today the kids are loud, too loud. now it’s nap time for them, and I’m going to close my eyes for a while. I really need to get some kind of better prescription from the dr. for this… what really works? I took “zomig” last night with no relief, and now that that’s all gone, I took “midrin” today and I’m still seeing spots and wanting to barf. I even called the chiro-cractor this morning and got in for him to adjust my neck, but to no avail. I’ve been saying prayers too….. still waiting for an answer to end the pain.
ugg…..
The Dave Matthews concert was awesome, and luckily the headache I got from those high on grass, oops, I mean the grass, you know, the lawn, above our seats, went away as soon as I got to some fresh air. And no, I didn’t get caught under the bus, as I was warned not to ; ). All went well, and the kids did well with the baby sitter while we were gone too, so that’s also a plus.
Alec’s birthday party yesterday was excellent, and the highlight of my day was Alec’s repeated question to me, “Mommy? You wanna hug?”…. how can I beat that? I don’t know what prompted him to ask that and give the countless hugs I got, but I rejoiced over every single one, and I was even more overjoyed when he continued with it sporatically today. Thank you God… I needed that.
The change of the season is in the air and I think I’ll take the kids up to a place called Tony Grove to see the colors on the trees transition. I have some film in my slr that I feel hungry to spend on the kids with the approaching fall colors in the background. I’m hoping that I’ll hear God’s voice amidst the days ahead… I’ve been seeking Him over so many questions and it’s been difficult for various reasons to spend time in my Bible or in my closet in prayer and I’m missing the time to devote soley to Him.
What happens when you:
1) have nothing to do
2) own a sharp knife
3) have a large lime
4) own a patient cat
5) drink too much tequila
6) and it’s football season?
(This was something I recieved via email, plus, my cat would never sit still for this kind of harassment and I don’t drink tequila ; )
Hysterical!!! Check this out at Reids!!! Penguins!!!!
I get this daily email called “Slice of Infinity,” and today’s was a timely read for me, called the The Road to Expectation, written by Jill Carattini, who amazes me… she writes:
<em>”There are certain hopes in each of our lives that shape our worldview, orient our feet, and provide that sense of coherence for life’s most plaguing questions. But if we come to a place where that hope seems to let us down, it may have been a hope that was not intended to hold such authority. Or, the hope is worthy but our expectations have taken precedence. In any case, reality must be our goal and truth our path, for the lure of expectation and predisposition is profound.
The disciples’ passionate hope in Christ was visibly deflated because they allowed their expectations to act as thorns. They did not expect the one who would deliver Israel to fall in any way. Not only was Jesus betrayed and sentenced to suffer at the hands of men, he was crucified—a death reserved for criminals—a death which symbolized the curse of God. And while they believed in Christ’s work and word, they believed that death had the final word. How often I have reacted similarly, finding the law of nature, the law of returns, the law of unintended consequences more authoritative than the laws of God.
The disciples’ expectations so ordered their sense of reality, that they were blinded from the reality of Christ in their midst even as they philosophized together. Their hope in Christ was accurate; it was their expectation of that hope that blurred their vision and left them in the murky waters of an incoherent mess.
Even today many travel along countless roads of life, discussing hope and disappointment, points of insight and confusion. When the disciples reached their destination, they sat down with their fellow traveler and broke bread together. And Luke reports, at that moment, their eyes were opened and they recognized the one among them.
Perhaps one day we, too, will ask as the disciples did that day, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road?” (Luke 24:32). Hope in Christ is recognizing the reality of his presence even when we may least expect him.”
Guess what? Mike and I are going to see Dave Matthews tonight. Awesome.
When I see my children growing right in front of me, it doesn’t seem like “time flies,” but when I look back over where we’ve been and what we’ve come through, it’s so appearant that I wonder how I’ve missed it “flying.” Tomorrow my little precious boy Alec is turning three years old. He was born on September 9th of 2001, and I remember it as if it was a minute ago. He was five weeks early, my water broke at home and we went to the hospital that night and had him the next day at a little after 6am. He was 6 lbs. 12 oz. and the most precious gift, besides my daughter that I’ve ever been blessed with. What’s interesting is that besides him being five weeks early, he also had a “true knot” in his umbilical cord. I thank God for ensuring his safe and healthy delivery, because if he had gone full term, it’s hard to say what the impact would have been with the knot in his cord…. the outcome may not have been as joyous.
We went home from the hospital the next day, on the tenth, and woke up and were doing the normal things around the house on 9/11… our little girl was watching Sesame Street and we were eating breakfast and we were living in the joy of having our new son at home, healthy, albeit early. Our downstairs renter at the time (who was also a good friend) called and asked, “Do you have your t.v. on?”… “Yeah, we do…” I replied, and they responded, “ok… just wanted to make sure.” After the end of the strange conversation I was puzzled at why the question was posed, but thought maybe the tv was too loud, so I turned Sesame Street down. Still thinking it was weird, we just a little while later got another call from one of Mike’s friends, he asked the same thing with a little more information… “Do you have the news on?” to which we said, “Ohhhhhh…. the news, no, we have Sesame Street.” Our friend said, “turn on the news,”…. “ok, thanks”…… once we did, we saw what was happening to the WTC and the terrorist attacks.
What a puzzle, we were experiencing our own joy in our new addition to our family, precious Alec, while we were seeing unimaginable sights on tv. I couldn’t believe the range of motions from that day. The third anniversary of 9/11 is coming upon is in a couple days, and it’s so easy to remember, as my son’s third birthday is tomorrow.
“Time flies,” and in looking back over the last three years, so much has changed that I am in awe. Some ways I haven’t changed a bit, and in others, I feel unrecognizable.
Doug posted on Anticipating Awana, which is just what I’ve been doing. I just had a meeting with the Awana leaders and I am going to be doing games with the Cubbie group, but ours doesn’t start until next Wednesday. Both my kids will be involved in Cubbies and the Spirit has prompted me with asking Mike if he will help too. And as my dear friend would make the vacume sound, maybe he’ll get sucked in to seeing the kids develop an understanding and hopefully a relationship with Christ that he will also sense the Holy Spirit drawing him to Him.
Last year Mike did get involved to help the kids make their derby cars (Adair’s was a Nemo car (looked just like Nemo, but had wheels), and Alec’s was a yellow muscle car in the form of a Chevelle). I’m wondering if God will lead Mike to slide into church through the back door if you will, so he can come and go unnoticed, while still being able to take it in without all the worship & praise part. Something to pray on.
Anyway, like you Doug, I’m excited for Awanas… especially because my little boy can now go too and join the bigger whole of kids at church. I delight in them being excited to learn about Jesus and to share Him with anyone who will listen. : D
I’m considering what I have been given, the blessing to be able to stay home and be with my kids full time in these first few years of their precious lives. I read over at Rong’s, aka “The Requiest” a post called: Working Mothers that had a verse in it that I haven’t come across before: Titus 2: 3-5 “3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”
And then, of course he mentions the “wonder woman” list of Prov. 31, which blows me away and although I’m sure God meant it as a description to encourage me, I find that after I read that I come away with the thought that I’m so lazy. Sure, I do my daily activities around the house… but I soooo don’t live up to what the Proverbial wife is.
I guess God has me in training. When I read about her I feel inspired, but tired. I see her wisdom and efforts and think, “wow, she sounds like a slave.” *gasp!*
