I love having a boy.
Dirtied toes, fire trucks, ambitiousness, any variety of ball, collecting leaves, the need to rough-play on the floor, fearlessness, catching insects. I could go on and on. The little boy spirit is adorable to me, and I hope to encourage it in Sam.
This verse has been my portion of strength lately:
“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline.” Proverbs 13:24
I’m probably gonna have big time blogger’s remorse after I hit the “publish” button for this post. Just throwing that out there.
I recently read a blog that catalyzed me to write on this issue. It’s a subject that doesn’t get talked about a whole lot---kinda like the big elephant in the room that no one is willing to acknowledge. Today, though, I think I’ll talk about the elephant and tell you why I believe the elephant is true and GOOD. This will be a timely reminder for me, too---we all need to remind ourselves sometimes of why we believe what we believe, you know?
So, here it goes---Election 101: A very condensed version of why I believe God chooses us and not the other way around.
(By the way, I think I’ll throw in some random pictures of Sam as comic relief, ‘cause it’s probably gonna get stuffy in here.)
1. I believe there is nothing good in me. Zero. Zilch. Nada. I was born with a sinful, depraved nature that would never desire God first. If there is any interest in or love for God in me, He put it there. This is actually a very humbling thought. Folks who think the doctrine of election is haughty couldn’t be more wrong. Having no merit is a happy, humbling confession, because it gives no glory to us and all glory to God.
2. I believe that Christ alone saves sinners. He doesn’t need our help. Salvation is a gift, not an earned reward. I have to beat this into my brain on a daily basis. It’s hard to fathom that there’s not one single good work that I can muster up to gain God’s approval. His children were bought with a pricy sacrifice---Christ’s blood---and now they are His. And He who began a good work will complete it to the end.
3. I believe God is sovereign over all things: the good, the bad, and everything in between. There is no Plan B. Happenings in my and your life---past, present, and future---were ordained by God for our good and His glory. Suffering and hardship isn’t an accident. But, take heart, because the tough times in life are used as a surgeon’s knife, not an executioner’s whip. Be thankful for them.
4. I believe God has a common love for all people, but He has a special, covenantal love for His children. I’ve heard it explained before like the marriage relationship. A husband may love others, but he has an extraordinary love---a different, unique love---for his wife. It’s the same with Christ and those He has called to Himself.
5. Finally, I believe those God has saved will persevere until the end. I believe He awakens the spiritually dead and makes His grace irresistible to them until their last breath. And I believe out of gratitude for this grace, His children delight in doing His law and worshipping Him, not out of obligation but desire. We still have a “flesh” that needs denying {everyday. all day.}, but we can think on/believe the gospel and rest in knowing He doesn’t leave us to ourselves.
Here’s three books that I highly recommend if you’d like to dig deeper than my awfully diluted version above. They helped me sort through a lot of questions I had concerning free-will vs. predestination:
-Desiring God by John Piper
-What is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul
-The Bible (hehe, but for real…start in Romans)
Happy New Year, friends! I hope this post finds you well and full of turnips and black-eyed peas. As my grandmother would say, you always eat turnips and black-eyed peas on New Year’s day. Always.
And something like don’t do laundry on New Year’s day, either. Yeah. I like that one.
Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.
So, without further ado, here’s a few of my own 2011 hopefuls, in no particular order:
1. Resolved, to be more diligent in my prayer life.
2. Resolved, to do one load of laundry a day, even if it’s a small one.
3. Resolved, to read more.
4. Resolved, to read more to Sam.
5. Resolved, to have unfamiliar guests over for supper at least once a month.
6. Resolved, to eat and cook more vegetables.
7. Resolved, to run a 5K by the end of the year.
8. Resolved, to listen more and speak less.
9. Resolved, to memorize Romans 8.
10. Resolved, to do a better job of thinking on what is pure, lovely, honorable, etc. (You know the verse.)
11. Resolved, to possibly…maybe…plant a garden in April {does it count as a resolution if you still haven’t made up your mind yet?}.
12. Resolved, to be more than just acquaintances with our neighbors.
13. Resolved, to work harder at my job.
14. Resolved, to make “just because” phone calls.
15. Resolved, to open my hand to the poor and reach out my hands to the needy. (Again, you know the verse.)
16. Resolved, to be more political savvy. I’d like to start reading the Drudge Report and stuff.
17. Resolved, to venture further into my sewing obsession.
18. Resolved, to coupon more.
19. Resolved, to learn more about how to take good pictures.
20. Resolved, to keep these resolutions to the best of my little ability. =)
Here’s to a new year full of new grace!
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are
new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
1. My momma, daddy, brothers, grandparents, and everyone else in my family who loves us really well.
2. A nice, warm home to make memories in.
3. My Samsters, who greets me every morning with a huge, precious smile on his face while rapidly jumping up and down as he holds tightly to his crib.
4. The gold and burnt red leaves that have finally changed their Autumn color.
5. Scott’s “I love you”s and hand-holding.
6. My 5x a day phone conversations with my mom.
7. Really black coffee mixed with really lots of creamer. Bailey’s Vanilla Bean creamer, to be exact.
8. My two nephews who are all boy through and through.
9. Christmas candles that provide just enough cedar aroma to smell like I’m at a Christmas tree farm when I walk through the den.
10. Dainty wrapping paper with big, beautiful red tulle bows tied around each package.
11. Christ’s love that is irrevocable, unexplainable, unfathomable, and so very undeserved. It truly takes my breath away.
12. Porcelain tea cups that just make ya feel good to drink from.
13. Good friends, who are hard to find, yet so easy to keep.
14. Unexpected letters in the mail. I got one from a friend a few weeks ago that made me plum giddy.
15. Pretty fabric.
16. My husband’s compliments.
17. Our military and the freedom they are fighting for.
18. The Bible.
19. Pandora Radio, specifically the Harry Connick Jr. (Holiday) station.
20. My red Williams-Sonoma mixing bowls that are used most every time I cook.
21. The gift of work, which happens to be in the home, for me. My cup runneth over with gratefulness.
22. My camera. It helps me document remember life.
23. Morningview Baptist Church, and their exalting of Christ rather than self.
24. Sam’s long, sweet chuckles that, I’ll admit, make me teary-eyed.
25. YOU! Are you still reading this?!
Although I never got to meet Scott’s dad, a part of me feels like I knew him just from listening to Scott speak so vividly about him. I’m amazed at the tiniest details that Scott can recall from his childhood, especially those memories that involve his dad. Story upon story can fill his mouth in an instant.
The admiration and respect Scott has for his dad is obvious. You can see it when gazing at him intently as he’s reliving some of the precious moments spent with his father. I don’t know if it’s the melody of Scott’s voice or the sweetness in his eyes, but one thing is for sure: Scott loved his dad immensely.
One of the many admirable attributes of Mr. Dudley was his work ethic. According to Scott, he cherished his job and did it well. Providing for his family was not an option. Sick days weren’t used unless absolutely necessary---which Scott claims was defined as can’t-get-out-of-the-bed kind of sickness. I’ll never forget the story of Scott calling his dad from school sick with a fever. “He met me in the school office, felt my forehead, gave me a pat on the rear, and told me to head back to class…I’d be just fine.”
To this day, I can hardly get Scott to stay home from work when he’s sick. (And, secretly, it’s really attractive.)
I could go on and on. Mr. Dudley was a friend to many. He adored his wife and boys. He instilled invaluable lessons into Scott that I am beyond grateful for. My heart swells with thankfulness that my husband got to learn from a man who not only taught with his words, but, more importantly, taught with his deeds.
Today, the 17th of November, would have been Mr. Dudley’s 62nd birthday. He passed away two and a half years ago from a tragic disease called ALS (many of us know it as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Thinking about Mr. Dudley, Scott, and life in general has left me pondering the fragility of life---how fleeting and short it really is. Verse 4 of Psalm 39 has replayed over and over in my mind this morning:
“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath.”
The brevity of life is something I so often take for granted. And remembering that God---the holy, glorious, infinite God---could accomplish His will without mankind is a humbling thought, as well. He didn’t have to grant life on earth (as short as it may be) as His means of glorifying Himself. Yet He has chosen to give me and you this “measure of days” filled with breaths of blessings and sweetness. What I don’t deserve, He showers freely and abundantly. What a blessed thought.
Happy Birthday to a man that I am proud to call my father-in-law. May we all have thoughts of thankfulness for the rich mercy that, for those who cast themselves on Christ, sustains our every moment of every day...and into eternity.
Today was one of those days that’s a blur.
(My mother is snickering to herself right now. Most all of her days are a blur---she’s Super Woman.)
It was a delightful day full of sewing, playing, exercising, visiting, cooking, voting, and reading.
Here’s an excerpt from today’s reading:
When my mind is fixed on the gospel, I have ample stimulation to love others. For I am always willing to show love to others when I am freshly mindful of the love that God has shown me. Also, the gospel gives me the wherewithal to give forgiving grace to those who have wronged me, for it reminds me daily of the forgiving grace that God is showing me.
Doing good and showing love to those who have wronged me is always the opposite of what my sinful flesh wants me to do. Nonetheless, when I remind myself of my sins against God and of His forgiving and generous grace towards me, I give the gospel an opportunity to reshape my perspective and to put me in a frame of mind wherein I actually desire to give the same grace to those who have wronged me (page 24-25).
Also on today’s agenda was to try making a potential Christmas gift. Literally, this little makeup bag has been stitched on all. day. long. It wasn’t just a one naptime kind of project.
I have a whole new respect for zippered satchels and will take utmost care for this one here. Me and the zipper---we wrestled all day. Needless to say, my skills will need some refining before I declare this project a Christmas gift. It was fun, though, and satisfied my sewing itch.
the cutest, most adorable, precious, and beautiful scarecrow for Halloween. I wanted to squeeze him in that hat---which, by the way, he never even attempted to take off. Good grief, he’s cute. I can’t help myself sometimes. Can I possibly be anymore of a new mom?!
Hope you’ve had a lovely day, too. Enjoy this incredible weather!
because I’m about to ramble about Christmas gifts. I know, I know---it’s 80 degrees outside, and most of us still have pumpkins outside our front doors. But working on a budget requires thinking these things through and preparing for the months ahead, you know what I’m $aying?
After some website-hopping last night, the idea of making homemade gifts this year isn’t sounding so bad. Here’s a few handmade gift ideas that are being contemplated:
Coasters from lifeingraceblog.com
Trivet made with a 6x6 tile (that’s my idea)
Do any of you make your own Christmas gifts for family and friends? Ideas?
In my imaginary Beaver Cleaver world, daydreams of Dudley children making each other Christmas gifts puts a grin on this Momma’s face. I’m sure it’s not quite as flowery as I’ve imagined it to be, but it sure would be fun, I think.
On a not-so-unrelated note, the Husband and I are thinking about celebrating Advent this year. It starts four Sundays before Christmas, which is November 28th this year. Honestly, I wasn’t even 100 percent sure I understood what Advent even was until this past week!
In a nutshell, the word Advent means coming, so for four weeks, we remember and anticipate the coming of Christ. Prior to Jesus’ birth, God’s people longed and waited thousands of years for this salvation, this Baby. So, basically, Advent is like a re-enactment of that longing and anticipation. Of course, being on this side of Jesus’ birth, there is no waiting. Salvation has come. Praise the Lord! But, because Christmas is a season with many distractions, hopefully Advent will help this easily consumed family become more worshipful and meditative as we approach Christmas day.
I guess every family is different in how they go about celebrating Advent. If you’ve got any ideas or suggestions, I’ll take ‘em.
This Advent calendar is from Sew, Mama, Sew! and I think I’d like to try to make one myself??? If you happen to be a professional fabric calendar maker, I’d love any advice you have to offer, too.
It’s almost Friday, friends. Can I get a “whoop whoop?”
Fred may resent me one day for this post, but it’s something I’ll want to look back on and rejoice over one day. And, who knows? These pictures may surface again in the future at a rehearsal dinner or something. :)
We’ve been really blessed not to have had any illnesses or fevers until now. But after this, I think I gained a new compassion and sympathy for mommas with sick children!
All in all, he did really well. Waking up from the anesthesia was probably the hardest part, but after getting him calmed down, he was a snuggle bug. It was the sweetest.
Thanks so much for the calls, emails, and suppers. I think he’s going to be just fine---and will really thank us one day.
Thank heavens I get new mercies every morning. It’s desperately needed these days---and I don’t say that lightly.
I need that kind of self-humbling obedience. Stat.
These things are not bad. Not bad at all. But, whoa, can they quickly turn into destructive idols!
Food and drink becomes over-indulgent gluttony, our homes need to be bigger and better, and the outfits in which we adorn our children spin us into a spending frenzy.
I can identify with all of these things. And, honestly, it’s quite scary how easily sin can creep in right before our eyes! So, along with praying for perseverance and discipline, I need to think on Christ---whose own perseverance and discipline saved me from the sin I meddle in.
Can you relate?
Fall is in the air, people. Rejoice with me!
My heart pitter-patters when I think of what Autumn brings with it: bright yellow mums on my front steps; molasses cookies in the oven; looong afternoon swings; overalls and turtlenecks on the Baby; crisp morning walks---with a steamy cup of coffee in hand; soup varieties in the crockpot at least once a week; pilgrim statues as the centerpiece of the dinner table (I love a pilgrim); SEC football Saturdays all…day…long; “Autumn Wreath” Yankee Candle aroma swimming around the house; and caramel apple Sugar Babies scattered in a dish on the coffee table.
I’m not sure that it gets any better. I love this season.
Happy Fall, y’all.
Let’s take a little break from all the chicken chatter, shall we?! :)
I feel like I’ve learned (and am continuing to learn) about the very familiar, yet easily forsaken discipline of forgiveness lately. Scott and I have had a few encounters this summer where we’ve had to seek forgiveness from others, and we’ve also had to give forgiveness to someone who wronged us. And let me just tell you: if you ever want to give yourself a good dose of humiliation, just ask someone to forgive you for a specific way you’ve sinned against them. Oh, my.
But, you know what the beauty of forgiveness is? It’s the gospel in real life. Those who are in Christ know how much they have been forgiven. They know what they deserve. And they know the endless mercy and deep, incomprehensible love that is lavished on sinners from a holy God. Those who are in Christ can forgive others and keep no record of how they’ve been wronged because of the grace they know has been granted to them.
If you need to forgive someone or need to be forgiven by someone, think on the gospel. It will humble you to the core.
Several weeks ago, Scott and I had an older couple from our church, the Reeses, over for supper. We didn’t know them very well, but our church was encouraging families to use Wednesday nights during the month of July as a time of fellowship with other members. As they sat across the table from us, wisdom flowed melodiously from both their lips, and before we knew it, three hours had passed us by. Our time with them was sanctifying. Purely delightful.
There’s something about time spent with the aged, refined saints that is so good to my soul. Don’t get me wrong: we enjoy time with our young and restless brothers and sisters, too, but on more than one occasion, we’ve walked away from friends like the Reeses with our heads spinning and our hearts [prayerfully] repenting. It’s a good place to be.
One of the facets of God’s character that we discussed that night over dinner was the immutability of God. To be immutable, in it’s plainest definition, is to never differ from yourself---to be changeless. For God to be immutable means that nothing phases Him. Nothing stirs Him up or lets Him down. He isn’t a kind, loving God one day and a hard, maddened God the next. He is unchangeable. Forever and ever, amen.
Probably the best way to see the beauty of this jewel of immutability is to view it against the dark mutability of ourselves. I, for one, am in constant flux. My heart is sensitive and mindful one day and unconscious the next. But what a heart-wrenching, soul-stirring, satisfying truth to know that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever---regardless of our fluctuation. Good day/bad day theology is easy to fall prey to. On days that I do my quiet time, take supper to a sick church member, or stay calm when my neighbors’ dogs bark all night long, God favors me and delights in me. But on days when I don’t get around to reading my bible, or speak unkindly to my spouse, or lay on the horn when a car pulls in front of me, God waves His finger at me in disgust. This is not the God of the bible and certainly not the God who sent a Redeemer to bear His wrath for you and for me.
Listen to what A.W. Tozer said in his book The Knowledge of the Holy about the changeless, immutable God:
“In this world where men forget us, change their attitude toward us as their private interests dictate, and revise their opinion of us for the slightest cause, is it not a source of wondrous strength to know that the God with whom we have changes not? That His attitude toward us now is the same as it was in eternity past and will be in eternity to come?
What peace it brings to the Christian’s heart to realize that our Heavenly Father never differs from Himself. In coming to Him at any time we need not wonder whether we shall find Him in a receptive mood. He is always receptive to misery and need, as well as to love and faith. He does not keep office hours nor set aside periods when He will see no one. Neither does He change His mind about anything. Today, this moment, He feels toward His creatures, toward babies, toward the sick, the fallen, the sinful, exactly as He did when He sent His only begotten Son into the world to die for mankind.”
What a sweet thought to dwell on! Praise God that His love is constant and steadfast, not depending on our stability, but depending on the stability of the Cross. What a firm foundation we have in Christ.
Disclaimer: This post is mostly words and no pictures. Read at your own risk! :)
Howdy! It’s 10:00 in the morning, and we’ve already had an eventful day. It started with a brisk walk around the neighborhood (the weather was awesome this morning!) and by 8:30, I was sitting in our Pediatrician’s office waiting on a doctor to check Sam’s head for a concussion. To make a long story short, we took a lap around the block this morning and came back to the house so I could get my iPod before a longer walk. My iPod was sitting on the kitchen counter, so I “parked” Sam’s stroller in the carport area and quickly ran inside to grab it. In a matter of FIVE seconds, the stroller had rolled about five feet down the driveway and was on its side by the time I ran out. My heart was beating out of my chest, and I couldn’t even see straight as I picked Sam up out of the stroller. Luckily, my jogging stroller has side panels that come up high enough to somewhat guard little noggins, but we still ended up with a goose egg on his forehead above his left eye. I immediately called my mom (she’s a baby guru and can usually talk me through what I should do), and 30 minutes later we were at the doc’s office, Sam in tow. Dr. Trumbull, our regular Pediatrician, wasn’t in this morning, so we saw Dr. Simon. He assured us he’s seen much worse and that we had nothing to worry about. Sam was his normal, bouncy self within 10 minutes of the accident, which Dr. Simon says is the key to determining how serious a head injury is. Anyway, moral of the story: use the parking breaks on those jogging strollers! They are so sensitive and light, that even on level ground, they can roll whichever way the wind may blow. I sure learned my lesson!
On a MUCH lighter note, we are really enjoying some music from a kids’ album by Sovereign Grace music called To Be Like Jesus. Songs like “Because You First Loved Me,” “Gentle Like Jesus,” “Make Me Faithful,” and “Give Me Self-Control” melt my heart. They are the sweetest songs about the fruit of the Spirit, and I pray Sam will grow to love the truths these little songs sing about. You can download the songs from iTunes or buy the CD here, if you’re interested. They also have another precious album called Walking With the Wise that is packed full of Proverbs about fearing God, loving His Word, not hiding our sin, listening to others, etc. I am starting to see that finding children’s music with any kind of biblical depth is going to be a task! Coming across these albums was very exciting.
Totally random inquiry here, but have any of you heard of Stroller Strides? I was on Facebook last night and noticed one of my sorority sisters from Auburn (who now lives in Destin) had posted a status about her love for Stroller Strides. After a quick Google search (I love Google. Amen?!), I found their website, and, indeed, Stroller Strides is a fast-growing franchise that has just gotten started around the U.S. Basically, it’s a workout regimen that involves you, your baby, and a stroller (dangerous combination for me, eh?). The website describes it as “a total fitness program for new moms that they can do with their babies. It includes power walking and intervals of body toning using exercise tubing and the stroller.” How cool is that?! Stroller Strides even offers classes for moms-to-be that helps moms keep fit and develop good muscle tone throughout their pregnancy. I requested info. about how to start a franchise (haha), but I’m thinking if it’s too expensive, maybe some us mommas could do our own version of Stroller Strides? Now that the weather is starting to cool down, I’m ready for some outdoor walkin’ (with our parking breaks, of course).
I think that’s it for now. Okay, well, maybe a quick picture of Fred in all his glory. Surely this is the first of many bumps and bruises to come.
The following is a quote from David Platt’s new book Radical. I have not read the book yet (and I’m not sure that I will), but I do agree and give an Amen! with what he has to say here:
The modern day gospel says, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Therefore, follow these steps, and you can be saved.” Meanwhile, the biblical gospel says, “You are an enemy of God, dead in your sin, and in your present state of rebellion, you are not even able to see that you need life, much less to cause yourself to come to life. Therefore, you are radically dependent on God to do something in your life that you could never do.”
The former sells books and draws crowds. The latter saves souls. Which is more important?
In the gospel God reveals the depth of our need for him. He shows us that there is absolutely nothing we can do to come to him. We can’t manufacture salvation. We can’t program it. We can’t produce it. We can’t even initiate it. God has to open our eyes, set us free, overcome our evil, and appease his wrath. He has to come to us.
Now we are getting to the beauty of the gospel.
So how do we respond to this gospel? Suddenly contemporary Christianity sales pitches don’t seem adequate anymore. Ask Jesus to come into your heart. Invite Jesus to come into your life. Pray this prayer, sign this card, walk down this aisle, and accept Jesus as your personal Savior. Our attempt to reduce this gospel to a shrink-wrapped presentation that persuades someone to say or pray the right things back to us no longer seems appropriate.
That is why none of these man-made catch phrases are in the Bible. You will not find a verse in Scripture where people are told to “bow your heads, close your eyes, and repeat after me.” You will not find a place where a superstitious sinner’s prayer is even mentioned. And you will not find an emphasis on accepting Jesus. We have taken the infinitely glorious Son of God, who endured the infinitely terrible wrath of God and who now reigns as the infinitely worthy Lord of all, and we have reduced him to a poor, puny Savior who is just begging for us to accept him.
Accept him? Do we really think Jesus needs our acceptance? Don’t we need him?
I invite you to consider with me a proper response to this gospel. Surely more than praying a prayer is involved. Surely more than religious attendance is warranted. Surely this gospel evokes unconditional surrender of all that we are and all that we have to all that he is.
David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream (Multnomah Books, 2010): 32, 36-37.
"Who had it first?" is an issue of justice. If we look at this situation in terms of the heart, both children are displaying hardness of heart. Both are being selfish. Both are saying, "I don't care about your happiness. I am only concerned about myself. I want this toy. I will have it and be happy regardless of what that means to you." In terms of issues of the heart, you have two sinning children. Two children preferring themselves before the other. Two children who are breaking God's law.
