The Steps of a Good Man (or a Little Girl)

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.   Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24).

This has been a wonderful summer of watching Hannah grow!  When she was exactly 13 months old, she suddenly stood up, took three steps, and immediately fell on her bottom!  But she didn’t give up, and she was off and running in just a couple of days!  Now I can barely keep up with her because she is quick!  She does NOT want Mommy and Daddy to help her because she is independent and can do it on her own (although we know that she really needs us to be close by for those times when she falls).  She falls a lot, but she knows that we are nearby to kiss away her boo-boos, and she hardly ever cries.  In fact, she becomes even more determined to make it to her destination on her own! 

I am constantly learning lessons from my daughter on God’s love.  Watching Hannah learn how to walk has reminded me of my own spiritual walk.  When I was just a baby in the Lord, I was crawling in the Word.  But as I fed on His Word, my spiritual “legs” became stronger; and before long, I was able to stand and take a few stumbling steps on my own.  But just as a child who is learning how to walk falls down, I, too, have fallen many times in my spiritual walk.  And just like a child, I have often tried to get back up on my own, determined to run helter-skelter in my own direction.  Still, I am able to take steadier, firmer steps each day because I know that my heavenly Father is nearby to pick me up, kiss my tears away, and set me on my feet again!

What a wonderful Father we have who doesn’t depend on us to do what is needed for salvation!  We are His children; and He lovingly guides us, holds our hand, and shows us the Way.  In these uncertain economic times, God is just waiting for us to grab onto His hand and let Him lead the way.  We may not know what our future holds; but He does, and He has promised to pick us up and help us to stand!

   

Summer Fun

Okay. Okay.  I know I’ve been absent for awhile, but that’s just life as a mommy!  Sometimes life just gets overwhelming, and I have to prioritize.  When my daughter stands at my feet screaming, “Ma! Ma! Ma!” and she’s not hurt or upset, I know that I am not spending enough time with her.  I run my own freelance business, and I have been busy with work; plus, my husband and I decided to have a HUGE yard sale to help us pay the bills; and then I try to not do anything on my husband’s days off because they are so few and far between. . .

Well, you get the idea.  It becomes very easy to get bogged down with life, and sadly, my blog is the first thing that had to suffer for it.  I would rather take time off from blogging than to miss the sweet hugs and kisses I get from my daughter when I take the time to sit down and play with her!

Here’s some pictures from our times of play:

Bubble Time on the Front Porch

 

Swimming at Grammy's and Pop's Pool

 

Meeting Her New Cousin Davis

Swinging at Nannie's and Pa-Paw's House

Remember Your Vows

I had another post all ready for today, but I believe that I need to post this one today instead.  My heart is heavy because I am starting to hear too many reports from my friends – people I have known for years – who are giving up on their marriages.  Something about the sixth or seventh year of marriage seems to be getting everyone down!  I’m no marriage expert, since I myself am just coming up on my seventh anniversary in October.  And yes, there are times that it has seemed easier to just bail - but I haven’t. 

I KNOW that marriage is hard.  You’re taking two people of opposite sex and putting them into close quarters.  Sure, the honeymoon is fun, but everyday life can get a bit tedious.  WARNING!  WARNING!  This is when Satan is going to attack!  This is when you are going to start seeing that person without the rose-colored glasses.  You may not like what you see.  In fact, your spouse might not like what he or she sees either!  But that’s when you’ve got to fight!  That’s when you’ve got to call out to God to love that person through you.

Remember those vows?  What were they now. . .?  “For better or for WORSE”?  Sure, when times are good, it’s easy to feel those lovey-dovey feelings.  But the moment things get bad – and let’s face it, there WILL be bad times – too many couples are seeking the easy way out.

Today my heart is heavy because too many couples I know are giving up.  But remember that the worst mistakes that you can possibly make are never so bad that they overshadow the best thing that Christ did for you – dying on the cross for your sins.  Ask Him for help.  Ask Him to save your marriage.  Fight for your spouse!  Fight for your kids!  And above all else, don’t lose hope. 

If you are experiencing marital problems, please seek help immediately from your pastor or a licensed professional. 

God’s Grace in Trials

I’ve been having some computer problems the last couple of weeks, so I’m sorry that I haven’t posted in awhile.  I am just able to get on for a short time today at my mom’s house, and I can’t upload any pictures over here.  But I felt that this was an important post, so I decided to log on anyway.

My heart is overwhelmed with joy and sadness today for my friends, Mark and Cherie.  They were so excited to call me yesterday to tell me that they had a newborn baby boy named Oliver!  They had waited so long for him to arrive, and they have had a rough year, so you can just imagine how excited they were to finally welcome their son!  (Plus, they decided not to find out what sex the baby was going to be, so having a boy really WAS a surprise!)  He is so gorgeous with his red hair and red eyelashes.  Mommy and baby are doing fine.  The proud father also just graduated from medical school, so he was really on Cloud Nine getting to participate in the birth of his own child!

Today was also Mark’s birthday, and he was thrilled that his son’s birthday was so close to his.  But in the middle of their joy, there was sadness, too.  Mark’s father, who has been battling cancer for over a year, finally passed away this morning.  Mark and Cherie just returned from visiting him last week and were making plans to drive 10 hours to see him tomorrow so that he could meet his first grandson.  But God had other plans, and now they will be traveling for his funeral service.

Mark and Cherie are two of the most exceptional people I know.  Even in adversity, they have such a desire to show God’s grace.  They are concerned for other people before themselves.  I know that Oliver will be raised in a loving, godly home.  But my heart is still heavy for them as I write this.  On top of all of this, one of Cherie’s brothers will be getting married this weekend, and then Mark and Cherie are moving far away from family and friends in order for Mark to complete his residency.

Please pray for these friends of mine if they come to your mind.  They have a lot on their plate, and I know that they would appreciate your prayers!

Training Your Child

Pa-Paw with his great-grandchildren at Christmas

What are you doing to encourage positive, Christlike behavior in your children?

This question sprang to my mind the other day after we had gone to the hospital for a visit with Jamie’s grandfather (Pa-Paw).  Any child would probably be afraid of Pa-Paw.  On a “healthy” day, he is still pretty scary-looking.  He hosts the regular age spots of any man in his 80’s who has lived a hard life; his wrinkles are promiment, and his skin is as dark and tough as leather from years working out in the sun without sunblock.  His thick glasses are noticeable, perched on the end of his nose.  But the scariest-looking part of Pa-Paw is the mucus-encrusted trach sticking out of his neck.  (He refuses to properly care for the trach because he is angry that the doctor put it in without his permission.)  Of course, we love Pa-Paw very much; but you can understand how any child would be afraid to approach him!

Not my litle girl, though!  I have noticed as Hannah has grown that she is particularly sensitive to each person she meets.  If you need a smile from her, she is quick to give you one.  If nothing else, she will definitely wave!  When we went to visit Pa-Paw, he was feeling pretty down because he had just had hip-replacement surgery.  Hannah immediately started waving, smiling, and blowing kisses.  Just that quickly, Pa-Paw’s face lit up, and he was distracted from feeling sorry for himself as he focused on making his “sweetheart” smile.

We receive compliments every Sunday from different nursery workers at church about how sweet Hannah is and how easily she gets along with the other children.  Even when I seem to be having a bad day, Hannah will stop whatever she is doing to climb in my lap and give me a hug!  Not many one-year-olds will do that, so I realize how blessed I am.

  Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (KJV).  Jamie and I have been discussing lately how important it is for us to encourage this sweetness in Hannah, so she will only grow in her compassion for others as she learns to love the Lord.

From Manna to Fruit

Remember the post I wrote a couple months ago about being thankful for the manna?  Well, today in our devotions, Hannah and I found out what was the result of being thankful for the manna.

We learned to be “thankful for the manna” back in Numbers 11, when the Israelites were complaining about the way God was providing for them.  Instead of remembering the horrible conditions they experienced in Egypt, they started to remember “the good old days.”  They were slaves in Egypt but now could only think of the delicious, juicy fruit and abundance of food they had there (but probably didn’t receive as slaves!).

In Joshua 5, the Israelites are finally coming to the end of their 40 years of wandering in the desert as a result of their disobedience to God.  Verse 12 says, “And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year” (KJV).

During their time of eating manna, the Israelites griped and complained about God’s provisions, even begging to be sent back as slaves to Egypt!  They couldn’t see past their current circumstances to claim the promises that God had given to them; and so, they had to wait for 40 years when they could have enjoyed God’s blessings right away!  But God had the BEST plan – eating fruit (and other delicious foods) as FREE men and women – not slaves to Pharaoh!

I think that this is the first time I have really taken notice of that passage.  Probably because I was trying so hard to learn to be thankful for the manna, the Joshua 5 passage stood out to me more.  Sure, there are going to be times when God’s provisions are hard to understand (like when Jamie had to work as a detention officer to make ends meet), but the amazing truth is that God knows what is past the manna!  He knows the beginning, middle, and the end!

I have been reminded recently that we are often more than ready to accept whatever blessings God gives us, but we are quick to lash out when the trials come.  Yet, we confess with our mouths that we are unworthy of His love!  The truth is that we are really deserving of the TRIALS and undeserving of ANY blessings!  What a gracious God we serve Who delights in meeting our needs and showering us with blessings. 

I know there are many people going through trials right now, so I just want to encourage you to stop and thank God for the manna.  Find something to be thankful for – even if it’s just that you are alive today!  Remember that God already knows your ending.  If you’re a Christian, it will be an eternity in heaven with Him!

If you don’t know for sure if you die today you will go to heaven, please feel free to contact me for more information!  I would love to share with you the truth of God’s love!

Think On These Things

I am an avid book reader.  I admit it.  I absolutely love every type of genre.  I’ll read children’s books, teen books, mysteries, sci fi (for my husband’s sake), inspirational books, etc.  In fact, I have a book that I am currently reading in just about every room in the house!  So you can imagine that I was thrilled to be invited to join a book club sponsored by the ladies at my church.  Godly conversation, godly friends, and godly books!  It doesn’t get much better than that!

Little did I know what blessings I would receive from this unique group of ladies!  Every week, I glean wisdom from women in different stages of life, and I feel richer for my time spent with them.

The book we are currently reading is The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges.  This book is a great thinking book for any Christian, and the illlustrations are simple yet vivid.  The author focuses on the performance-driven Christian and points him back to the cross – back to Christ’s performance instead. 

I am humbled to realize that I had been focusing on my own performance for salvation.  Sure, it’s easy to say that we are saved by faith, but we are so quick to doubt our salvation because there is NO WAY that a perfect God could love such a worthless sinner like me.  Yet, that’s exactly what He did when He had His Son die on the cross for my sins.  And that’s what He did for you!  Christ had the “power of attorney” to represent us on the cross, and all we have to do is accept Him!  Hallelujah!  What a Savior!

I’m curious what your book club is reading this month.  I know that there are many groups out there, but I am wondering how worthwhile the reading material is.  I had the opportunity to join another book club, but the books they were choosing to read were ”fluff and nonsense”!  What are you focusing your thoughts on today?   

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8, KJV).

A Humble Apology

This is Hannah (with Daddy) picking her "apples of gold."

Well, I guess I have to swallow my pride and write this post!  I believe that I hurt someone’s feelings from a previous post that I wrote.  Being a writer, I write whatever I’m feeling, and sometimes that gets me into trouble!  Honestly, I didn’t intentionally write to hurt anyone but just to vent my feelings. 

As the Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21).  That verse was brought to my attention during a book club I am participating in with some women from church.  What a powerful thought that I can control death and life with my tongue!  As I have been meditating on that verse, I have become more aware of the words that I say (and the words that I write, for that matter).

Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”  What a beautiful image of how our positive, encouraging words can affect others!  Yet, I must confess that this is one area in which I am always struggling.  I have always worn my heart on my sleeve, and my tone and words always reflect my feelings (even if I’m trying to hide them).

Yesterday, it was brought to my attention that I upset someone with my words, and I admittedly reacted indignantly at first.  After all, they had offended me with their words first!  But as I stewed over the matter, I began to recall how Christ had forgiven me when I did not deserve it.  How could I, a worthless sinner, not forgive them over a little matter when Christ had forgiven me for so much more?

I humbly ask that person for forgiveness, and I join with the psalmist in asking God:

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my Strength, and my Redeemer” Psalm 19:14.

Happy 1st Birthday, Hannah!

We celebrated Hannah’s first birthday last week; so with all the craziness, I have had a really hard time getting online!  We had a small family party for her at home on her actual birthday, but we had a HUGE birthday party for her at the park on Saturday.  The weather was gorgeous, and we had a great time!

When I look back at this time last year, I am just amazed at how good God has been to us.  We went from being a couple to being parents!  I am still amazed by my new role as I hold my little girl - who is almost walking - in my arms.  She is a constant blessing to me, and she reminds me daily of my responsibility of training her up in the way that God wants her to go.  My life is a lot busier, but it’s also a lot fuller!

Rubba Dub Dub – She Pooped in the Tub

 

Never say that your child will never do something because you will definitely have to eat those words.  Case in point – I said, “My child will never poop in the bathtub.”  Well, this week, I am eating my words!  That’s right.  My sweet, little princess filled her bath water with poop.

I admit it.  I was completely grossed out by her at this point, but I picked her up, not quite sure what to do with her.  Fortunately for me, I have a husband who doesn’t mind cleaning up messes like that.  (However, he is totally repulsed by Hannah’s eating habits and messy diapers!)  So I yelled for him and went to the changing table to finish cleaning Hannah, holding her at arm’s length, of course!

Rubba dub dub.  Sigh.