Well put and well…WOW!

Over the past few weeks, I have been thinking a LOT about a song I know. It’s called “Always Been There” and it’s by a great band SPUR58. That is not the point.

The words. The words have gotten to the very essence of my soul. 

“I have done all the right things, for all the wrong reasons. I have been here before, seems like time and time again…is it possible that I will ever get it right…” (always been there by SPUR58)

I’ve been thinking a lot about the reason I do what I do. Each time I feel like I figure it out, something gets thrown my way and makes me want to rethink my life. I see a billboard that is “inappropriate” and I get angry, then I yell at my kids or have a bit of road rage. How different are those things? Am I a better person because I steer clear of bad things? What am I doing because I LOVE GOD? What am I doing to please man? 

I’m not so much struggling with what is right and wrong (although I am struggling here as well) but more what to do about it now that I am figuring some of this out. Where do I go from here? 

Our friends Rachel & Matt have recently moved to Florida and are back at a church Rachel’s family has been attending. Yesterday, Pastor Pollock and his 13 year old son Preston flew out of NC and were headed to Texas…they haven’t made it. Their plane is missing and they need prayer. Pastor Pollock has 5 other children and his wife Dawn. Please pray for God’s Divine Intervention…you can find details here.

 

******UPDATED******

Pastor Pollock and his son Preston did not make it. Please pray for the family as they go through this.

Our friends are back from Haiti. They had a great trip and I am sure Jamie & Aaron are thrilled to see their two children in the states. Please pray for this group of people as the “re-entry” as Debra calls it, sounds a little bit sad and scary.

Get thee there

What doesn’t work for me…there are so many things I have tried and they just don’t work. To me, parenting/marriage/life, they are all learning experiences. So today, I love Shannon’s blog, “What DOESN’T WORK FOR ME”. 

Counting. Counting 1, 2, 3 does not work for me. I have tried this one, thinking if I count, maybe the kids will mind me by #3 and realize I am setting myself up for failure. If my kids figure things out, they will realize they can get away with whatever they are doing without having to listen until number 3 and that makes me not so happy. So instead of counting, we have instituted a rule: If mama calls your name, you are to respond with “Yes ma’am, I’m coming” and immediately come to where your mama is. At that point, you will be told what/where/when/why and you may then go on about your business. So there you go. Counting, DOES NOT WORK FOR ME!!!  

JAMIE!  I know you are having a fabulous time with your sweet babies!!  HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Boy are you getting old!

This just says it all…Rice.

What the Pharisees Got Right

May 4, 2008  |  By: John Piper 
Category: Commentary 

To lay a trap for an animal there has to be some truth to attract him. It must at least look like a meal even if the iron clamps lie just beneath. Mark says the Pharisees came “to trap” Jesus. So they put some truth over the trap. They said,

“Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God.” (Mark 12:14)

This is amazing insight coming from those who do not live it. Appearances were everything to the Pharisees. “They do all their deeds to be seen by others” (Matthew 23:5). It is frightening how much theological and moral wisdom can be spoken and not lived.

Twice they say that truth-telling depends on freedom from the fear of man.

1. “We know you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion.” Truth is compromised where we fear man’s disapproval. Is our finger in the text or in the wind?
2. “You are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God.” Literally: “You do not look at a man’s face, but teach the way of God in truth.” In other words, we will not be reliable truth tellers if we keep one eye on the facial expressions of people we need to please.

So let the hypocrites be our teacher today. Do as they say, not as they do. Fear no man. Tell the truth. Be like Jesus.

So a bunch of our friends are in Haiti right now and I just read that Aaron is sick. Jamie is fine so she is playing with Amos and Story (this makes me smile). But Aaron, not so much. Please pray for quick recovery.