Entering His Rest

~ I took this photo at the Frontier Culture Museum - October 2010

Doesn't REST sound wonderful?  It does to me!  But I want to be careful that I look forward to entering HIS rest, not the imitation with which the world tempts me.  Easier said than done!

The Reward She Has Earned

~ I took this photo of my mother and my mother-in-law on our swings - October 24, 2010

Someone very special turned 69 today!  Yes, my beloved mother had a birthday!  I always have fun looking back through previous birthday posts (2009 is here, 2008 is here, 2007 is here); and when I consider who my mother is, I ALWAYS feel incredibly blessed to be her daughter.

Happy birthday (again!), Mother!  I love you very, very much!!

Expectation

~ Jeff took this picture of me when I was heavily pregnant with Tobin - December 2007

Before I say anything else, let me answer one question:  no, I am not pregnant.  :)  But as I thought about the idea of expectation, I couldn't think of any time in my life that better exemplifies this than when I've been pregnant and longing ardently to meet my unborn child.  That's expectation!

I've had expectation on the brain because Jeff's mom arrived today, and all of us - but particularly Josiah and David - have been waiting in expectation for her to come.  It's a beautiful thing to watch the boys' excitement build and build and build until the moment when they first see her and run into her arms.

When I think about the way I relate to my Heavenly Father (or Daddy in Heaven, to state it more casually), I am encouraged by this verse to not just pray about things, not just wait to see how He works on my behalf, but to wait in expectation.  Expectation is being sure of results.  When I'm reaching the end of a pregnancy, I am sure that I will deliver that baby and meet it face to face.  As the days ticked down for Grandma Fisher to arrive, Josiah and David were sure that she would come and they would see her.  I need to grow in my willingness to wait expectantly...

...and that demands faith.

He Grants Sleep

~ I took this photo of Tobin sleeping - October 2010

Over lunch today, I joked that I was going to post one of my favorite Bible verses today.  After all, what's not to love about a verse that tells us that God gives sleep to the ones He loves (which would be us!)?  :)

Here's a little history about my interaction with this verse.

First, Jeff told me about it.  I don't remember exactly when or on what occasion or even during which year of our marriage he brought this verse to my attention; but although the details are fuzzy, I'm sure that he must have brought it up when he saw me stressing out about something or other.  I was probably feeling SO busy but also feeling SO tired, and going back and forth about whether I should take a nap or not.  If my memory is right, he showed me this verse so that I would relax and take a nap.  :)  Although I had read the Bible all the way through several times, the verse had never jumped out at me until that day when Jeff made it jump!

Second, the beginning of Psalm 127 says, "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."  God has to be in charge of the project for it to succeed.  And then it goes on to say, "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat," and I could change that to "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for a perfectly clean house" or "for organized cupboards" or "for empty laundry baskets" or what have you.  Even tonight, I look around me and think of all the household tasks I COULD be doing, and it's easy to think that the correct word is SHOULD.  But then the psalm continues with the wonderful verse, "For he grants sleep to those he loves."  Ah, yes.  Maybe, just maybe, it's OK that I go to bed now!

Third, the psalm continues with these cherished words, "Sons are a heritage from the Lord..."  As I was reading it recently, I found it interesting that in the very psalm that talks about the blessing of the full quiver, it also talks about the futility of trying to build anything in our own strength (so true in parenting!), AND it tells us that God gives us sleep.  That, to me, is very reassuring.  :)

Ever-Increasing Glory

~ I took this photo on top of Reddish Knob; I loved how the setting sun reflected on this flower and made it light up so brilliantly - summer 2007

I have loved this verse ever since I memorized it for Carolyn Fields' discipleship group, way back in 1998 (I think).  Ah, sweet memories from that group of women, zealous for the Lord and His work!

Recently I've felt like my transformation into His likeness has been discouragingly slow; but even when I ache from the snail's pace of the tedious process, I rest in the assurance that He is doing the work.

All because of His glory.

May I reflect it more and more.

Careless in the Care of God

~ I took this picture of birds feeding in our backyard - I think it was during the winter of 2007

This weekend has reminded me that, truly, I'm an introvert.  It's been WONDERFUL, but all the people contact has completely zapped my energy.  I don't mind though; after all, what better outlet to spend my energy on than people?

In the midst of it, I do feel God's strength and provision in specific, reassuring ways.  What a comfort to be "careless in the care of God!"

I'm thankful for:
~ an incredible friend, Kathy, who coordinated the reception for my dad,
~ ALL the people who helped out, in ways large and small
~ my niece's son, Christian, who showed tenderness and compassion to Josiah after he got (minorly) hurt
~ my brother's family who made the trip down from Pennsylvania for the reception and spent the night here with us
~ late night conversations about anything and everything
~ cousins having so much fun together
~ a husband who says, "sure, you can go take a nap; I'll handle things"

As I launch into a new week, filled with familiar activities and unforeseen challenges and a never-ending to-do list, I want to cling to this reminder of God's all-need-supplying love, so that I can remain "careless in the care of God."

The House

~ I took this picture of our home tonight - Sept. 19, 2010

It's been five years.

Our neighbor Wilma reminded me of this tonight as we sat on our driveway and watched our children play badminton in the evening light.  Five years ago today, we moved into this home.  What a wonderful day that was!

And what a wonderful five years it's been.  Although we didn't literally build this house, we have built a home in it, continuing the tradition of lovingly raising a family that my parents began in it.  During these five years, we have experienced life, in all its richness of varying emotions, in this space marked out by these brick walls.  And while we've been here, the Lord has built our house, so to speak, by doubling the number of our children!

Happy anniversary, dear house!  Thank You, Lord, for the blessing that it's been to us; and thank You most of all for Your presence in it.

In the Sanctuary

~ My dad took this picture inside Bridgewater Church of the Brethren, before my cousin Matt's wedding.

Did I see Jesus today?  Did I behold His power and glory?

Did you?

Anger Like a Waterfall

~ Either Jeff or I took this picture at Falling Springs, Virginia - May 2007

This verse, as well as numerous other verses, reminds me of the seriousness of the role of leaders in God's kingdom.  However, regardless of what leadership position I personally may or may not hold, I want to live my life in such a way that I would never encounter God pouring out His anger on me like a waterfall.  Does God get angry?  Absolutely.  May we never be so focused on God's love that we ignore or diminish His holiness and justice...and yes, even His anger.

O Jerusalem

~ Dad took this picture when my parents came to visit us in Israel - Oct. 2004

I have been missing Israel so much recently, probably more than I have since we moved back from there.  I'm well aware that the physical Jerusalem held a much more significant role in the religious lives of the exiles who wrote Psalm 137 than it does for me; but even still, I echo their words as my own.  My real longing, however, runs far deeper than for a geographic place here on this earth.  The new Jerusalem is my true home.  May I never forget it!

What Will Happen Tomorrow

~ I took this picture on Singers Glen Road - August 22, 2010

I'm a little melancholy tonight. That's what happens to a woman when she's breastfed her baby for the last time and doesn't know if she'll ever have another one to nurse. When Shav had his fall back in March, I thought he might never nurse again; but thanks be to God, he did, and I've treasured these extra five months of bonding with him in that way. Now they've come to an end, and I think tomorrow will be the first day of his life as a totally weaned child.

I think I know something else that will happen tomorrow: the first official day of school. But even when I think I know what's coming in the next 24 hours, this verse from James stops me short and reminds me that my feelings of control are an illusion. Only God knows. It seems so simple, almost trite, to say it, but it's profoundly true: only God knows.

This picture serves as a sobering reminder of this truth. I'm sad to say that it's the place where a lady we knew died in a car accident 10 days ago. Did she have any idea, as she read a book the night before she died, that it would be her last night here on earth? Did she have any clue, when she said goodbye to her husband that morning, that it would be the last goodbye they would ever have to endure? But what a painful, long goodbye for Ron! Did she guess, as she sat and sewed with other ladies from the church that day, that she would never see them again until the grand reunion in heaven? Certainly not. She did not know what would happen in that day.

Neither do I know what will happen tomorrow.

Neither do you.

But He does--and that makes all the difference.

Earth's Richness

~ I took these pictures of delicious, fresh produce - August 2010

When I think of abundance, I think of fall: big piles of pumpkins, all the remaining garden produce harvested and put up for the winter, long tables spread with Thanksgiving feasts. But it occurred to me recently that every season has its abundance. Winter has big boxes of zesty citrus fruits brought north from Florida and rows on rows of firewood in the woodshed. Spring has blossoms bursting out all over the lilac bush and more lettuce growing in the garden than we can possibly consume. And summer? Well, some of its abundance is pictured above, grown in our garden or a few hills over in our neighborhood orchard.

God has made the earth very rich, and I am thankful.

A Happy Mother

~ Jeff took this picture in our yard - August 8, 2010

Nine or ten years ago, when I was longing for a child and unsure of whether we would have one (or more than one), I wonder what I would have thought if I could have fast-forwarded through time and peeked into my life here in 2010.

Here's what I thought today, as I live this life God has given me: I am so blessed to have the privilege of being the mother of these precious children. Surrounded by my four sons, and sometimes partially overwhelmed by the ensuing noisy chaos they bring, I am eternally grateful for the way God filled the holes in my heart that I felt as I waited for a baby to hold and love. Not just once, but four times He's filled those holes.

Because of His gifts, I am indeed a happy mother; and with the psalmist, what flows from my heart is, "Praise the Lord!"

Wherever It Pleases

~ I took this picture of our neighbor's windsock - March 2010

I don't claim to fully understand this verse. All I know is that I want more of the Spirit, and I'll do everything I can to grab hold of it...even when it feels as difficult as grasping the wind.

A Shoot from the Stump

~ I took this picture in our backyard - July 16, 2010

When Jeff read this verse during a family devotional before supper recently, I knew I needed to use it with a picture of our real-life shoot from a stump behind our house. Jeff cut this maple tree down some time ago, but life springs forth anyway.

I'm so grateful for THE shoot from a stump, THE branch from the roots, the One whose name is Jesus!

Gravel in the Mouth

~ I took this photo at Riven Rock Park - June 20, 2010

I know someone who is pursuing stolen bread right now--not bread in a literal sense, but pleasure which does not rightfully belong to this individual. My prayer--strange as it may be--is that it will quickly turn to gravel in this person's mouth. Is that a mean prayer? Not when it may lead to quick repentance and may save this person's soul.

I hope, for the sake of my eternal destiny, that in times when I get off-track and start pursuing stolen "bread" of any sort, my eyes will be opened immediately to the fact that I'm chewing on gravel, so that I will spit it out...and not be spit out (Revelation 3:16).

Chains

~ I took this photo at Riven Rock Park - June 20, 2010

During dinner out with friends (that I mentioned here), the conversation turned to the difficulties of shepherding our sons as they become teenagers and have to navigate the sometimes turbulent waters of youth, made more difficult perhaps by the particular time in which we live. Nowadays, the "woman who is a snare" is only a click of a mouse away, and how do we inspire our sons to choose purity and righteousness? My friends and I didn't exactly figure out the solution to that vexing question, but we sure tried! :)

Today, I pray especially that my boys will be men who please God and that they will never be ensnared by the woman "whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains." I pray for the women they will encounter and will learn to love. I pray for wisdom and insight for my sons so that they will be able to accurately discern the character of the women to whom they are drawn. I pray for strong, Godly marriages for each of them (if it is God's will that each of them marries). I pray for thick hedges of protection to reside around their hearts and minds, keeping the enemy away and defeating all his attacks.

May the only chains around my boys be chains of love, linking them to their brides and--together with their spouse--to their God!

The Path of Life

~I took this photo at Riven Rock Park - June 20, 2010

What stands out to me as I contemplate this verse is that God is the one who makes the path known. There's a mysterious intersection between God's will and ours, between the work that He does and the work He calls us to do, between His sovereignty and His willingness to let us make choices. I don't have that intersection figured out or clearly defined. But I appreciate how this verse reminds me that I've found the path of life because God has made it known to me; so tonight, my prayer focus is that He would make the path of life known to my children so that each of them would walk in it--all the way to heaven.

As a Father

~ I took this picture of Jeff and Tobin at our neighbor's pasture - May 2010

Father's Day. What a special day! I feel so extremely blessed to be able to honor and celebrate with my own dad and my children's dad. Unfortunately, it's uncommon in this day and age for a woman to have been surrounded by positive male role models all her life, but that's really what's happened to me. I don't take it for granted, but especially today I say an extra prayer of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for my earthly father and my sons' father...and for the fathers my sons will someday, Lord willing, be.

Encouraging.

Comforting.

Urging their children to live lives worthy of God.

That's what my dad did for me.

That's what Jeff does for our boys.

I pray that's what they will someday do for the little blessings God brings into their families.

Josiah Was...

~ I took this picture in our living room - June 13, 2010

Guess who turned eight today! :)