"A journal is a scrapbook of the heart's walk with Jesus."
~Liz Grundvig
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Cole in a Bucket
Today after lunch I filled a bucket full of water for the boys to refill their squirt guns (I didn't want them running in and out of the house wet). I played outside with them for a little bit and then came in to talk to Danny before he left for work. When Danny went outside to say goodbye to the boys this is what he found...
I asked Cole "did you make your own swimming pool?"
COLE IN A BUCKET OF WATER
I asked Cole "did you make your own swimming pool?"
and He said "yes"
Monday, May 21, 2007
Life is...
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
~Mother Teresa
Quote of the Day
The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it....
-John Ruskin
Sea World with the Boys
Last Monday Danny and I took the boys to Sea World for some much needed family time. It was a nice day and was not crowded - I don't like crowds. We were able to enjoy all of the shows and have some time to play. Here are some pictures of our time there:
The boys got to feed the dolphins and the manarays too (Cole just wanted to watch).
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Mother's Day
"To be Queen Elizabeth within a definite are, deciding sales, banquets, labors, and holidays; to be Whitley within a certain are, providing toys, boots, cakes, and books; to be Aristotle within a certain area teaching morals, manners, theology, and hygiene; I can understand how this might exhaust the mind, but I cannot imagine how it could narrow it. How can it be a large career to tell other people's children the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one's own children about the universe? How can is be broad to be the same thing to everyone and narrow to be everything to someone? No, a woman's function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute."
~G. K. Chesterton 'What's Wrong with the World'
This past weekend was Mother's Day and I was lucky enough to share it with my mom and my boys. It was a nice weekend, and I enjoyed hanging out with my mom and having time to talk. So here are some pictures of my mom and boys.
And some of me and my boys from earlier this year.
I am also blessed to have a wonderful mother-in-law, who has become a good friend to me as well, especially this past year. Here are some pictures of the boys with Pomie last year.
I hope that you can love and appreciate all the mothers in your life. I know I do. Thanks!!!
Quote of the Day
"I want to know God for who He is and not what others say He is."
~Danny Bowers
Danny and I were talking this morning and he said this in the middle of explaining something to me. I thought it was really cool and wanted to share it with you. I hope you also want to know God for who He is and not just for who others say He is....I know I do.
Re: Laugh a Little
For those of you who know me very well and know that I don't like to get up early in the morning (early for me is 7am) and you also know that I do not like to run unless I am playing soccer, you will be very proud of me. I actually got up this morning a little after 7am and went for a walk and even ran a little. So I guess my toes did not out number me today.... see previous post "Laugh a Little" to understand.
Yea Me!! :)
Yea Me!! :)
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Uncomfortable...A Way of Life?
Have you ever been so uncomfortable that it became comfortable? I know that may not make sense, but like when your foot falls asleep from how you are sitting. It becomes uncomfortable but you are still comfortable, and you know if you try to move your foot how much more uncomfortable you will become when you wake your foot up.
But what about life? We don't like to be uncomfortable. We don't like to be in uncomfortable situations, or conversations. We like things to work out smoothly. We don't like to squirm or look foolish.
As a Christian I wonder are we supposed to live comfortable? Are we supposed to have life work out? I know that it doesn't. But why do we think that because we are following Christ that it should? I thought that being a Christian meant being Christ like and Christ did not have a "comfortable" life like we think we should.
Take for instance when Jesus was at the well and the Samaritan woman came to get water. That was an uncomfortable situation. Jesus was resting and here comes a woman, a Samaritan woman. Jews did not talk to Samaritans at all. So maybe a little awkward but she is coming by herself when no one else was going to be there for a reason. She was living a life of shame and Jesus knew that. Little uncomfortable I think for both the woman and Jesus. But what does Jesus do? He asks her for a drink of water. He a Jew asked a Samaritan woman for water. But He didn't stop there. He took time to say I know how you are living your life, but there is hope for you. She left and went to get other people in the town and they came and listened to Jesus and believed. It all started with an uncomfortable situation and conversation.
What about the time when another woman was caught in adultery and was brought in front of Jesus? He was at the temple and had just sat down to teach to the people who were around Him. And thrown at His feet is a woman with none or little clothes on crying knowing she is about to be stoned to death. Not only was she thrown at His feet the Pharisees said to Jesus "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law of Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. Now what do you say?" (John 8:4-5 NIV) The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus not in a private setting but in front of a lot of people on a big issue. I would say this was a little uncomfortable for Jesus and probably for the woman and maybe others who just wanted to hear Jesus teach. But no one moved, they waited. Jesus could not get out of this one even if He wanted to. But I like what He said to them, "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Talk about turning the tables on them...now who is the one that is uncomfortable? Probably the woman still. But now the Pharisees are uncomfortable, their trap just got turned on them and they knew they were not without sin. So they left. I wonder did they take their stone with them or drop it on the ground? After the last person left Jesus says to the woman "I do not condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."
Another event that was an uncomfortable time was when four friends of a man who was paralysed lowered him on a mat through the roof of a home where Jesus was teaching. So who is uncomfortable here? Maybe the man who is paralysed...it never said if he wanted to be lowered and healed. I am sure who's ever house that was that now had a hole large enough to fit a man through it. And sure uncomfortable for Jesus, he was in the middle of teaching to all these people when this man appeared from the roof. But Jesus saw the faith of this man's friends and said to the man, "Friend, your sins are forgiven...get up, take your mat and go home." (Luke 5:20, 24 NIV) So he did. (There was another uncomfortable situation in the middle of this story you can go and read it in Luke 5:17-26)
Here were three situations and conversations that probably were uncomfortable for Jesus and others involved but what and how did Jesus respond? The Samaritan woman He showed her LOVE. He loved her enough to not just talk to her but give her hope and a chance for a new life. The woman caught in adultery He showed her GRACE. He knew the law and that she deserved justice but said "I don't condemn you...leave your life of sin" (John 8:11 NIV) He gave her another chance. And the man who was paralysed Jesus showed him MERCY. He didn't have to forgive this man of his sins, Jesus could have just healed him and said go on with your better life. But He didn't Jesus covered everything, the sin and being paralysed.
What amazes me the most is that Jesus welcomed uncomfortable situations and conversations knowing that it would give someone the chance to be changed by love, or changed by grace, or changed by mercy.
That is how I want to live my life. Uncomfortable. Especially if that means someone's life can be better because I chose to be uncomfortable for a moment.
But what about life? We don't like to be uncomfortable. We don't like to be in uncomfortable situations, or conversations. We like things to work out smoothly. We don't like to squirm or look foolish.
As a Christian I wonder are we supposed to live comfortable? Are we supposed to have life work out? I know that it doesn't. But why do we think that because we are following Christ that it should? I thought that being a Christian meant being Christ like and Christ did not have a "comfortable" life like we think we should.
Take for instance when Jesus was at the well and the Samaritan woman came to get water. That was an uncomfortable situation. Jesus was resting and here comes a woman, a Samaritan woman. Jews did not talk to Samaritans at all. So maybe a little awkward but she is coming by herself when no one else was going to be there for a reason. She was living a life of shame and Jesus knew that. Little uncomfortable I think for both the woman and Jesus. But what does Jesus do? He asks her for a drink of water. He a Jew asked a Samaritan woman for water. But He didn't stop there. He took time to say I know how you are living your life, but there is hope for you. She left and went to get other people in the town and they came and listened to Jesus and believed. It all started with an uncomfortable situation and conversation.
What about the time when another woman was caught in adultery and was brought in front of Jesus? He was at the temple and had just sat down to teach to the people who were around Him. And thrown at His feet is a woman with none or little clothes on crying knowing she is about to be stoned to death. Not only was she thrown at His feet the Pharisees said to Jesus "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law of Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. Now what do you say?" (John 8:4-5 NIV) The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus not in a private setting but in front of a lot of people on a big issue. I would say this was a little uncomfortable for Jesus and probably for the woman and maybe others who just wanted to hear Jesus teach. But no one moved, they waited. Jesus could not get out of this one even if He wanted to. But I like what He said to them, "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Talk about turning the tables on them...now who is the one that is uncomfortable? Probably the woman still. But now the Pharisees are uncomfortable, their trap just got turned on them and they knew they were not without sin. So they left. I wonder did they take their stone with them or drop it on the ground? After the last person left Jesus says to the woman "I do not condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."
Another event that was an uncomfortable time was when four friends of a man who was paralysed lowered him on a mat through the roof of a home where Jesus was teaching. So who is uncomfortable here? Maybe the man who is paralysed...it never said if he wanted to be lowered and healed. I am sure who's ever house that was that now had a hole large enough to fit a man through it. And sure uncomfortable for Jesus, he was in the middle of teaching to all these people when this man appeared from the roof. But Jesus saw the faith of this man's friends and said to the man, "Friend, your sins are forgiven...get up, take your mat and go home." (Luke 5:20, 24 NIV) So he did. (There was another uncomfortable situation in the middle of this story you can go and read it in Luke 5:17-26)
Here were three situations and conversations that probably were uncomfortable for Jesus and others involved but what and how did Jesus respond? The Samaritan woman He showed her LOVE. He loved her enough to not just talk to her but give her hope and a chance for a new life. The woman caught in adultery He showed her GRACE. He knew the law and that she deserved justice but said "I don't condemn you...leave your life of sin" (John 8:11 NIV) He gave her another chance. And the man who was paralysed Jesus showed him MERCY. He didn't have to forgive this man of his sins, Jesus could have just healed him and said go on with your better life. But He didn't Jesus covered everything, the sin and being paralysed.
What amazes me the most is that Jesus welcomed uncomfortable situations and conversations knowing that it would give someone the chance to be changed by love, or changed by grace, or changed by mercy.
That is how I want to live my life. Uncomfortable. Especially if that means someone's life can be better because I chose to be uncomfortable for a moment.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Quote of the Day
"The best definition of submission [is] taking the time to see what God is doing in someone else's life and not having your own agenda for them."
~Kim McManus
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Quote of the Day
Without God man has no reference point to define himself. 20th century philosophy manifests the chaos of man seeking tounderstand himself as a creature with dignity while having noreference point for that dignity. -- R. C. Sproul
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