Joanne Heim

Repetition and eyes of faith

Since it's Saturday, I'm still in Psalm 103. This is day six.

 

When I first started this prayer book, I wasn't sure about reading the same psalm for seven days straight--especially if it's a short one. But I think I've said it before and I'll say it again, there's something about repetition that works.

Rather than being boring, Yeah, yeah, I read that yesterday--and the day before, each day something new rises to the surface, something different appears at the forefront. If you're feeling like you could use a change in your quiet time routine, try it. Pick a psalm or a passage of Scripture and read it each day for a week. See what stands out to you each day--what word or phrase or idea prompts your thinking.

Today it was this that grabbed my attention: "The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed" (verse 5, emphasis mine). It struck me because it often doesn't look like this is true in our world.

You don't have to look very far to see injustice, to see pain and sorrow and oppression. So how is this true? How do we reconcile what we see with what God's Word says is true? These are questions that must be answered--because either what God says is true or it isn't. There's no "sorta" true.

Here's where my thoughts led this morning in my journal:

Living by faith is crucial. Living by faith is the life of the believer. To know there is more that is unseen, that what we see is just a shadow of the real reality. To know that our life--our real life--is hidden with Christ in God.

We must live by faith because too often what we see doesn't match what we know to be true, what God says is true.

When faced with horror, with pain, with injustice, with death, we must live by faith in order to be at rest, to be at peace, to be whole.

My thoughts turned to faith because I've been reading Choosing Rest by Sally Breedlove (my friend Terri sent it to me not too long ago and while it's not what I expected, I am loving her solid teaching on how the hard things of life can lead us to rest if we will let them). 

Here's something I read yesterday afternoon at the pool as she was talking about faith in relation to fear (something I can totally relate to!):

The most alive life is the one lived by faith. From the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1, we learn that faith is the firm conviction that what we see around us isn't all there is to reality and that what we presently possess isn't all that will one day be ours.If we believe this, the implications are cosmically fightening and wonder-filled at the same time. To live by faith means that invisible spiritual realities and promises about the future will give my heart strength...

We need a faith like that. Life is shot through with fearful things. Your child is out with friends on a snowy January evening and the falling snow develops into icy rain. He's past is curfew, and you find your heart tightening. Does faith mean a guarantee that there will be no car accident? Or does it mean you know your child is in God's hands no matter what happens out on the road? Does faith mean you won't be laid off, or does it mean you will have the inner resources to survive joblessness? Does it mean your husband won't have an affair, or that God will hold you in His arms even if the worst happens?...

If we want more than an existence where we attempt to hem in and protect ourselves and those we love, the only recourse we have is faith--the choice to trust the goodness of God in the face of a very imperfect and incomplete reality. (Sally Breedlove, Choosing Rest, Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, pp. 98-99.)

Have you ever heard the expression "eyes of faith"? I was thinking about that this morning--especially since Audrey started vision therapy again yesterday to help strengthen her eyes to work together and improve her visual memory. I'm praying that God would give me some vision therapy too. To strengthen my eyes of faith so that my faith vision and my natural vision would work together to give me a clearer and more accurate picture of the world--both seen and unseen.

There are so many parallels here with the exercises that Audrey does. But I think I'll save that for another day...this is getting too long and it's Saturday. Go enjoy your day!

Leaving comments

Since one of you asked, just thought I'd give you a little scoop on leaving comments on my blog.

Leaving a comment is pretty simple. At the end of a post, click on COMMENTS--that way you can read everyone else's comments and leave your own.

First, type in your name as you want it to appear for everyone to see. You can leave your full name, your nickname, your first name--totally up to you.

Then type in your email address. This is required to leave a comment, but no one can see it but me. That way I can respond to your comment. 

If you have a URL (which is a website address) you can enter it here. This will make your name show up in a way that people can click on it and go to your website. If you don't have your own website or blog, leave it blank.

If you leave comments a lot, check the REMEMBER PERSONAL INFO box to save yourself some typing next time you want to leave a comment. 

Then type in your comment in the big comment box. Click PREVIEW to see what it looks like, or POST to have it show up on my site. You'll be taken to a page where you have to type in a funky code--that protects me from spam comments for things like discount drugs and such.

That's it!

Quick update on Mom and Dad

I know a bunch of you checked on my parents' trip journal the other day--before they'd really put anything up. I got an email from Dad when I got up this morning and they've updated and added a few pictures. Here's the link.

They're in Canada and out of cell phone range (the roaming charges are a little pricey!) until they reach Alaska next Sunday. But they're getting email so we can keep in touch that way. Thanks for all your prayers for them...I appreciate it!

I'm pretty sure they're now receiving comments on that site too, so go on over and tell them hello!

Now summer has begun

It was finally warm enough today to head to the pool. And now it feels like summer.

Headed out the door...

The girls get to ride to the pool in the way back, which they love!

They dove right in (well, jumped!)...

We stayed for a couple of hours and in true first trip to the pool style, we thought, Sunscreen? We don't need sunscreen! And so we're a little, well, um, pink. (I know, I know...please don't give me a lecture...even though I deserve it!)

Tomorrow? We'll be wearing the sunscreen...

Hello world!

I recently added sitemeter to my blog, just to see where you all are coming from. It's really kind of fun to see who's on when and where you come from. (Don't worry, all I can see about you is your location--no name, no email address, no personal information at all.)

Some of you I recognize from your location--I have a pretty good idea who's in Oceanside, California (Hi Heather!) and who's in Carlsbad (Hi Brenda!). And I know of few of you in Seattle (Hi Sarah, Hi Rebecca, Hi Hanna!). I'm guessing that's you, Tammy, in Salt Lake City, Utah--and you, Holly, in Ile-de-France, Paris, France--and you, Puva, in Singapore.

But some of you I haven't "met" yet! Like...

Turku, Western Finland

Athens, Greece

Adelaide, Australia

Cork, Ireland

Cardiff, UK

Moore, Warrington, UK

...and that's just some of you around the world. Then there are those of you in the States, like...

Grosse Pointe, MIchigan

Paris, Kentucky

Ames, Iowa

Ridley Park, Pennsylvania

Titus, Alabama

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Evansville, Indiana

Imperial, Missouri

Belmore, New York

...and so many more!

Sitemeter lets me see a world map of where you all are. I love looking at maps--they always make me think of my Grandmother Ferguson who loved maps and atlases and wandering around the world. 

So here's my question: What's your favorite thing about where you live?

And my answer: Denver, Colorado: Colorado blue skies and mountains and my family

Prince Caspian

We went to see Prince Caspian yesterday afternoon and had the theater almost all to ourselves. Most of the schools aren't quite out yet, which means that if it's warm enough today we'll have the pool all to ourselves too.

I love going to the movies--especially in the daytime. Something about coming out of a movie into the sunshine feels decadent!

Anyway, the movie was fantastic. Not entirely true to the book, which always makes me want to sit down with the writers and have a conversation about what they changed and why. I think the changes were fine, and I actually liked the little bit of tension/romance between Susan and Caspian (I'm really not giving anything away if you've not seen it yet, so don't be mad at me!). But as a writer myself, I wonder about those kinds of changes and what C. S. Lewis would think of them were he to go to the movies and see the film.

The girls loved it too, though I kept wanting to lean over and explain things to make sure they were getting it. All in all, they got it enough that they want to start the next book in the series this morning at breakfast.

One of the reasons I loved it is because now they can start making the next one in the series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. (I'm assuming they'll keep going with the movies.) It's one of my favorite books in the series and I think there will be some incredible opportunities to bring that story to life--Eustace and the dragon, the picture that pulls them into Narnia, the Dufflepuds, the end of the world, and more. And Reepicheep is a main character in Dawn Treader, and I quite agree with Lucy about him being so cute.

Anyway, we all gave Prince Caspian two thumbs up (and all the previews except the new American Girl movie two thumbs down)--so go see it if you haven't already!

Satisfaction

I've mentioned before that the prayer book I use has you read the same psalm for an entire week, along with some other Scripture passages each day. This week's psalm is 103.

This morning, I was struck by verse 5:

[The LORD] satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

I've been a little out of sorts for the past few days. I'm so excited that summer is finally here and I think I'm experiencing a little let down as a result. Not sure if that makes sense. But I've been looking forward and anticipating summer for so many weeks and now that it's here, there's not that thing out there on the horizon to long for. And it's been cold, so the past couple of days have been spent indoors. I even thought of building a fire (but I didn't, because somehow that would be just wrong!).

So I've been wandering some. Just going from this to that without settling on any one thing. And demolishing the huge box of candy I got for the barbecue at the same time. And even though it doesn't taste particularly good (I used to think Laffy Taffy was wonderful, but it's really not), I've eaten waaaaay more than my share.

So when I got to this verse this morning, I thought, YES! I want God to satisfy my desire with good things. I want to desire good things, things that are good for me! And not just snacks. But what I read, watch, and do.

The good things that God uses to satisfy our desires are things that make us feel young, things that give us energy and enthusiasm and the desire to persevere. That's something I want, how about you?

So I'm praying today that God would help me with my desires--that he would show me what it is I'm really wanting since I can't seem to make up my mind some days. That he would help me stop to think about it before I start trying a little of this and a little of that to see what fits. 

You know, this ties into one of my favorite verses from Psalm 90 too: "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days" (verse 14). I've sorta rushed through my quiet time the past couple of mornings, and gotten up off the couch before I felt really satisfied. Somehow that just hit me, and I think that may be part of the problem, part of why I can't seem to settle. 

Desire longs to be satisfied, and when we move on before that desire is met, what is left nags and distracts until it's met. And instead of going back to the one who can satisfy completely, I've been wandering from one thing to the next, when what I need is to start back at the beginning, with God who is the only one who can "satisfy the desire of every living thing" (Psalm 145:16).

As I went back to reread this to check for any typos, I'm struck by the fact that my desire is for God. He satisfies us with himself. With his love, his energy, his joy, his purpose. I remember the note scribbled in the margin of my Bible by Psalm 37:4, where it says, "Delight yourselves in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." As we delight ourselves in him, we realize that he is our desire.

Brrr... and movies and books

After an 80-degree day yesterday, it didn't make it out of the 50s today. The day felt really long, in part, because it's been overcast and dreary all day. So instead of playing in the yard like yesterday (we played croquet, badminton, giant ball volleyball--Mom and Dad let us use all their summer yard stuff while they're gone) or going to the newly opened pool, we laid around inside where it was warm, reading and watching movies.

The girls and I watched Tom and Huck,and depending on when Emma gets out of the tub, we might watch Johnny Tremain too. I've so loved having Netflix again--and working our way through a bunch of old Disney movies. I watched Johnny Tremain on the plane on the way to Seattle last weekend and loved it; I haven't mailed it back because I want the girls to see it too--an appropriate Memorial Day movie, I think.

We've also read a couple of great books together lately--finishing them up at breakfast during the last few weeks of school. (I think I've mentioned before that we read out loud at breakfast; I get really sleepy at night!)

Anyway, we read The Hundred Dresses and had some great conversations about making fun of people, not going along with the crowd, and how being different is okay. The illustrations in this book are just beautiful. Go here to take a peek. I think I need to get more of her books to read over the summer, perhaps The Moffats.

And we also read The Light at Tern Rock, a short little book that would be great to read near Christmas. Again, with great illustrations.

Not sure what's next on the list. Emma's hoping for another American Girl Julie book; Audrey's hoping for The Penderwicks.

But for now, Emma's out of the tub so it's time for a movie!

Bon voyage!

We're headed off to meet my whole family for a bon voyage breakfast in an hour or so. My dad retired a week ago and my parents are off to Alaska for the next two months. It feels a little weird--now that school is out, I'm just not ready for them to be gone for so long. 

We'll see them in a month when we head up to Alaska, but then it'll be another month before they pull back into their driveway. They bought a new truck and a new fifth-wheel and they're driving all the way there.

They've started a travel blog here if you want to keep up with them. (Since some of you do know them!) So far, there's not much there, though you can see a picture of their new set-up on their dry-run post from a week or so ago at the Air Force Academy. I'm really hoping they update it a lot with lots of pictures of everything they do along the way.

***

School is out...the girls had a half-day on Friday and then we kicked off the summer with a huge barbecue here on Friday night. We had about 45 people or so, and it was great to look out in the backyard and see boys hanging from the trees and kids running and laughing everywhere. 

It wasn't very warm, but kids are impervious to cold, and it didn't rain so all the guys hung out on the deck while the women stood in the kitchen. What is it about people always standing in the kitchen? It's been true in every house we've lived in. And our kitchen in California was definitely the best for that--because it was big enough that I had a couch in it. This one's not bad, but not very big.

We've started our summer poster and I think we can safely put a check by "hang out in the backyard"! This is something I started last summer and it's a great way to make sure we don't get to the end of the summer and feel like we didn't do anything. We brainstorm all we want to do over the summer and put little check marks next to things we do. (So going to the pool has a gazillion by the end of the summer!) It's also a great resource for those inevitable days in late July when someone says, "I'm bored!"

Gotta go do some french braids for the girls...

Queen of the big slide

Instead of individual parties for each class, there was a K-5 carnival and barbecue at school yesterday.(It was supposed to be last week, but the weather didn't cooperate.) Hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, dunk tank, giant slide, bounce house, volleyball, egg races, obstacle course, popsicles, and more. It was so fun.  

And the wind and rain circled the school all afternoon, leaving us in a pocket of only a few raindrops and even mostly sunshine despite pouring rain and wind all around us. Thank you, God!

Once they set up the giant slide, I felt like it was my duty to test it out for the kids. At least 30 or 40 times. And I went down a bunch when Audrey and Emma's classes had their turns--and when the kids all went in at the end of the day.

Toben had to miss the carnival (and being in the dunk tank)--since he was on a  plane coming home from Phoenix. But I took some pictures to send to him on my phone--and he then emailed them to me so I could share...

It was a long way down...

...but so much fun!

And my best time for the obstacle course was 28 seconds...not quite close to the record set at 12 seconds...but not too bad either!

Closed for repairs

So this whole update thing to Typepad has now messed up the shop page. Menus and buttons are just gone--and I didn't touch them! I've opened a help ticket and will let you know when everything is up and running again.

So for now, consider the shop closed.

Garden pictures

Lilacs blooming

Strawberries growing

Bunny smiling

FINALLY. (See previous post. Still no code, but at least I got some pictures up.)

I'm so mad at Typepad/Safari

They've changed things to this Rich Text/HTML thing and now I can't change any of the code in the shop and they're making it so difficult to post pictures without it wrapping the text all weird. I have tried several times to post garden pictures and it's making them all weird sizes, putting text all over the place, and being SO DIFFICULT!

I am not happy.

Open windows

It's been so warm and lovely here the past few days--that time of year when you unroll all the windows and crank the music on the way to get the kids from school. Later on in the summer, I'll keep them rolled up tight with the air conditioning going full blast, but for now, my hair is really windblown.

It's also the time of year to leave the windows open on the house all day--and all night. I love sleeping with the windows open. Later on we'll have to shut the house up tight during the day to keep it cool, but for now, all the doors and windows are wide open all day long. I love this change of season!

The girls and I hit Cold Stone after school yesterday and then went to Home Depot for flowers and vegetables. We cleaned out the flower beds and planted all the boxes and laid out the garden. For the first time, we bought some cucumbers and cantaloupe to see how they do. I tested the soaker hoses and got them in the garden boxes, so we'll plant some more after school.

I'll do my best to remember to bring the camera outside with us and get some pictures. If nothing else, my lilac is blooming like it really means it.

Only two and a half more days of school...!

P.S. Thanks for your prayers for good work yesterday--I sat and worked on the study guide I'm writing for five straight hours. Not something I can usually do. Three hours is usually my limit. But isn't it cool that with God we can do things we couldn't do without him? I'd really prayed for him to take over this project, to give me words and ideas and creativity. And he did. Thank you, God!

Praying for any of you today who may be facing something you can't do--for God to be with you and give his power, stamina, endurance, or whatever you need to get it done. He more than makes up for our weaknesses. Love you all so much and wishing you could all come for lunch outside under the trees...

Home from Seattle and it's the last week of school

We made it home from Seattle just fine and without any freak outs on the plane--it helped that Toben finagled us seats in first class both there and back. Somehow that extra space makes a huge difference. (And the warm nuts and actual food don't hurt either.) Part of the reason I don't like flying is that I feel trapped. Not enough room to wiggle my elbows or stretch out my legs and somehow the person in front of me always decides to recline into my lap.

I don't recline my seat--unless it's an international, overnight flight (and I don't do many of those!). On a regular flight, it's just too uncomfortable for the other person, I think.

Are you all seat recliners?

Anyway, like I was saying, we made it home in time to get the girls down for the night and for Toben to throw in a load of wash since he had to leave this morning again after taking the girls to school.

I'm hoping to use my quiet, empty days to get this study guide done. (That's why I went to Seattle--the vast majority of the guide is based on the principles taught at this marriage weekend thing.) I'd planned to do some work on it today, but I just don't know where the day went. Somehow I felt busy all day, but I don't think I really accomplished anything. Urgh.

And after school this week I'm hoping the girls and I can work on the flower beds and the garden--assuming there's not much homework, that is. Tonight Audrey had to review all 50 states and capitals for a test tomorrow, but I'm hoping that's it since it is the last week of school. Somehow we missed making a group of flashcards, so we did those and have been reviewing all our little sayings and tricks to remember what capital goes with which state.

Seattle morning

Left the hotel this morning at 7 with our friends John and Stacey to head down for coffee at the original Starbucks and to wander through Pike Place Market for an hour or so...

Can you believe that sunny Seattle sky?!

Headed to Seattle (and breath prayers)...

...just as soon as the girls get off to school and I get showered and dressed and take Daisy and Joey to the dog and cat hotel.

Flying is not my favorite thing. I used to love it, but since having kids, I pretty much hate it. As I told the group of moms I met the other morning at MOPS, my dad is an engineer and has explained to me how the plane stays in the air. Still, I just don't get it.

I can totally relate to that song by the Indigo Girls about being up in an airplane, but preferring to be in my home on the ground!

As we talked about praying through your house the other morning at MOPS, I mentioned the idea of "breath prayers" that I first learned from Jan Johnson in her book, Enjoying the Presence of God. They are short phrases, often based on Scripture, that we can pray quickly and easily. They're those kinds of prayers that help me see it really is possible to pray without ceasing, because it's just lifting someone up with a phrase when you think about them. Or a situation. Or just a moment to praise God with a short prayer like, "Glory and honor and praise."

Anyway...

I totally have a breath prayer for when I fly--especially if there's lots of bumpy air. (How can air be bumpy? See it's just not natural!) It's from Deuteronomy 33:27, and goes like this, "Underneath are the everlasting arms."

Lift and drag? Aerodynamics? Wing shape? Whatever. It's God's hands keeping that plane in the air!

So if you're on my flight today and if it's bumpy and if you see some crazy woman with white knuckles muttering under her breath, that'll be me repeating over and over again: "Underneath are the everlasting arms."

Good morning!

Despite the cloudy/rainy weather (which actually makes everything look super-duper greener), it's a good morning.

Here's why:

I helped Audrey with math homework last night and we didn't want to kill each other--not once!

I got to meet so many wonderful women yesterday morning at the MOPS Spring Tea at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church. I had a blast! Their tea was lovely and I had a new outfit to wear and I didn't fall over wearing really high heels (something I've loved ever since about the third grade when I wore a women's 5 and could try on high heels at Famous Footwear). So many moms I met have 10-year-old girls and are dealing with the same roller coaster of emotions we are. I think we need a support group.

Only six and a half more days of school--one of which is an all-school carnival and barbecue. (It was supposed to be today, but it's rainy, so it's been postponed until next Thursday.

Toben and I are going to Seattle tomorrow for a marriage weekend that his company does here and there. And we get to have dinner with our friends Brian and Hanna tomorrow night. And we're going to go visit Starbucks #1 on Saturday morning. (Beth--I'll send you a postcard or buy you a t-shirt or something!) (Note my huge assumption that she--that would be Beth Moore, of course--reads my blog or even knows who I am!)

From my huge and daunting list that was facing me last Monday (end of the year Brownie party, Mother-Daughter Tea party for the Juniors, two speaking engagements, edits due to my publisher on my next book, and a study guide to write for Toben's company), everything but the study guide is over and done with. Hooray!

New clothes! It's been a while since I got some new clothes and I stocked up for summer. New shorts and tees and a couple of great things on super clearance at Anthropologie. (Oh, how I love that store!) It's going to make packing for this weekend really, really easy.

Chapel today. Thursday morning is chapel at school and Toben and I usually always go. I love seeing the kids worship and knowing what they learned about. And afterward, my friend Shanna and I get together to pray with a few other moms for the school, for families, for each other.

Grocery shopping later. I know, kinda weird to be excited about it. But you can't feel guilty for spending money at the grocery because you've gotta eat! And the cupboard, pantry, and fridge are all really bare. So much so, that Toben's going to run through Subway and take the girls lunch later. Really, I got nothin' to pack in their lunchboxes. Nothin'.

Because of that, we had barbecue for dinner last night. And they had fried okra. If you get it, you know. If not, you're missing out. Big time.

So that's all I can think of without getting another cup of coffee. And that's a lot. So, thank you, God, for a good morning!

Hear, part 2

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes or your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

I don't think it's any surprise that what immediately follows the Shema--in the same paragraph even--has to do with parenting. Somehow the idea of hearing with the intention to obey just naturally brings to mind children.

I'm sure I'm not the only parent who's ever thought, "No one is listening to me!" And what I usually mean when I say that is that no one is doing what I tell them to do. Can you relate?

Presumably, it talks about children here because what it has to say about teaching our kids is what will make them "hearing" people. So, what does it say?

1. It says we are to "impress" these commandments upon our children.

The King James Version uses the phrase "teach them diligently." Not just once in a while, not just by dropping them off at Sunday school, but by being diligent.

The Hebrew word for this phrase is "shanan" and it means to sharpen, whet; to pierce; to teach incisively. And it immediately reminds me that the Word of God is called the sword of the Spirit. I pray that in disciplining (both good and bad!) the girls, God will bring to mind Scripture to back me up. That Audrey and Emma will always know that this isn't just my opinion about how they should act, but God's plan for them.

I pray too that talking about God and his ways and his commandments will whet their appetite for more. That Scripture will sharpen their minds and make them wise. That it will convict them. That they will turn to God and his Word for help now--and not think it's just for when they grow up.

2. It says we are to "talk" about these commandments--everywhere we go. When we sit at home, when we walk along the road, when we lie down, and when we get up.

It doesn't mean that we just spout Scripture at them until they're too tired to talk back. Here's what the word "talk" means: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.

It means that God's Word is part of every conversation--when we declare the truth, when we talk about their day at school, when we lay down the law, when we warn them about what's ahead on the the path their behavior is leading, when we sing around the house.

One of the lexicons I read said this about what it means to "talk" with our children: "To lead, guide--especially flocks to pasture; to rule, to direct a people, to bring into order, to subdue."

In 2 Timothy 3:16, we're told the God's Word is useful for teaching, that it thoroughly equips us for every good work. As we parent our children (a "good work" indeed!), as we live as families, God's Word is an effective tool for teaching our children to hear--to listen and obey--us and their heavenly Father.

3. But first it says that these commandments are to be upon our hearts. As parents, we have to take God's Word to heart, to listen to it, to obey it first. Then we impress it upon our children.

But here's the cool thing--we can start with both at once. Because to teach our children the Word is doing what God tells us to do as parents, it is taking God's Word to heart. And he can accomplish both in us at the same time. So we don't have to wait--to think that we must memorize most of the Bible before we begin.

Impressing God's Word on our kids and talking about it with them wherever we are--both of these are presented as imperative commands. Something we are to do--now. And something we are to do diligently.

I so needed this reminder from God...

Hear

One of the readings in my prayer book yesterday morning was the "Shema," from Deuteronomy 6. It begins the passage that says,

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes or your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

It's from the Shema that Jesus quoted when he was asked about the greatest commandment in Mark 12: 28-32. Here's what the notes in my Bible say about the Shema: "The Shema became the Jewish confession of faith, which was recited by pious Jews every morning and evening. To this day it begins every synagogue service."

The word "shema" is the Hebrew word for "hear." But here's what's interesting. The word doesn't just mean to hear. But to hear, listen to, obey. We hear a lot of things as we go through our days, things that go in one ear and out the other. Things that we have no intention of remembering or acting upon.

After all, we live in a pretty noisy world and it's hard not to hear things throughout the course of a day. We hear sirens and traffic. We hear snippets of the news or songs on the radio. We hear bits and pieces of conversations as we walk through the grocery store or wait in line at Starbucks.

But this kind of hearing is different. Someone said recently that this is what set the Jews apart from other nations. They heard the voice of God. They were a hearing people.

It struck me that I want to be a hearing kind of person too. I want to listen carefully for God's voice; to hear what he says through his Word, through others, through music, through creation. And I don't want it to go in one ear and out the other. I want to hear with the intent to obey. Because that's what will make a difference. To follow through and obey what I hear--to act on it and to be changed in the process.

The letter T is up...

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Happy Mother's Day!

The Girl Scouts of Troop 2601
request the pleasure of your company
at a tea party celebrating
Mother’s Day
Saturday, May 10
1-3 p.m.

R.S.V.P.

My Junior Girl Scouts hosted a Mother's Day Tea at our house today for their end of the year party. Note how the invitation says from 1-3 p.m. Somehow I had 2-4 p.m. in my mind, on my calendar, and had a near heart attack when one of the moms called at one o'clock to say she'd be ten minutes late. Ahhh! I wasn't anywhere near ready at one o'clock!

So I quickly called everyone, apologized, and then greeted them with a smile at 2 p.m! (I think I remembered to tell the girls that it's important to have the right time in your head when you throw a party!)

Anyway, Toben helped me move everything out of the living room and we set up card tables. The girls all came over yesterday after school to set tables, decorate brownie cupcakes, dip strawberries, bake lemon bars, arrange flowers, put together gifts for their mothers, and learn about tea party manners.

Everything turned out great and we had a ball. Kristen came to take pictures of everyone and I'm anxious to see how her pictures turn out.

From the loft upstairs:

Each table was set for two moms and two daughters, with its own tea pot, cream and sugar, and flowers for the moms to take home. The girls chose the different tea cups from my collection for their moms and for themselves and learned that you never put a demitasse spoon in your mouth!

I also made up some conversation cards for each table to give the girls and their moms some fun things to talk about--things like which book character you'd like to meet, what animal you'd like to be for a day, something you've always wanted to learn to do, and so on.

Here's the menu:

Tea sandwiches--cucumber, ham, and pimento cheese
Lemon bars
Chocolate-dipped strawberries
Plain strawberries
Mixed nuts
Girl Scout cookies
Brownie cupcakes
Butter mints
Yorkshire tea

We set the dining room table as a buffet:

Somehow a two-hour party is an all-day affair. But the few leftovers have been put away, the dishes are done and dried, and the tablecloths are soaking in the washing machine.

It was after 4:30 by the time everyone left--and anytime people stay past the end of the party, I figure it was a success!

Now I'm off to put on my jammies and relax!

The God of All Comfort

Thank you for all the sweet comments and prayers I found in my inbox this morning. I spent all of yesterday in bed, resting and reading, until it was time to get up to take Audrey to school for her play. She loved every minute of it--the costume, the super sparkly and dangly earrings, the makeup, the lights. (Well, she didn't like the lights so much--she was directly under one and said it was too hot!)

I'm feeling rested and not too awful--just a stuffy head that should subside as soon as all the cold medicine I took a while ago kicks in.

Your prayers have such a huge impact upon me--and bring to mind part of my quiet time from yesterday morning I thought I'd share with you.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

The first thing that stood out to me is that the word "comfort" is used eight times in verses 3-7. That's a lot! And any time a word or idea is repeated that many times it must be important. So here's what I learned.

1. Comfort is a gift from God--one we should praise him for.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort..."

2. All comfort ultimately comes from God--no matter who or what else it travels through to get to us.
"the God of all comfort"

3. We receive comfort for a purpose--to share it with others.
"so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God"
(By the way, those two little words--so that--show up a lot in Scripture--especially in the Psalms. Pay attention when you see them!)

4. Because all comfort comes from God, it fits any trouble. Comfort is a "one size fits all" kind of thing.
"so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God"

What is comfort?

The noun is the Greek word "parakelsis" which means this:
-a calling near, a summons
-consolation, comfort, solace, that which affords comfort or refreshment
-exhortation, admonition, encouragement

The verb is the Greek word "parakleo" which means this:
-to call to one's side, call for, summon
-to address, speak to: to admonish, exhort; to beg, entreat, beseech; to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation; to encourage, strengthen, to instruct, teach

This got me to thinking. Based on 2 Corinthians and these definitions, what kind of comfort have I received? As I thought about, I realized the comfort fell into two categories--comfort from God that came through others and comfort directly from God.

In my life comfort directly from God has included the promises of God's Word, solid teaching, and answered prayer.

I've received comfort that came through others ias faithful prayer from those near and far, a listening ear, people taking time to lay their hands on me and pray for me, and extravagant help with practical needs.

So these kinds of comfort are the kinds of comfort I am called to pass on to others. Whether their need for comfort is the same as mine or not. In whatever trial that drives people to need comfort, I can offer the same comfort I've been given and it will fit--because comfort fits any trouble, as God's Word says.

As I've been thinking about this, I see more of why I feel such an urgent drive to pray for others. Because I have been prayed for in a way that brought me comfort. Or why I'm compelled to share specific promises in Scripture with others. Because hanging on to specific promises brought me comfort in a time of need.

How have YOU received comfort? That's how YOU are to comfort others. So often I think we don't reach out to comfort others because we don't understand what they're going through or can't really relate to their specific situation. And maybe we can't. So we sometimes feel helpless and do nothing. But the comfort that we have received and pass on to them will fit. That's just the way God designed it.

It doesn't matter if you've never faced their particular trial. The comfort God has given you will fit them too. You don't have to feel helpless. And you don't have to give comfort in a way you've not received it. Pass on the comfort YOU have received and praise God for the way it will fit that person in your life needing comfort today.

Staying home

Well, the crud that's been plaguing my girls hit me on Tuesday at 4:37 p.m. Exactly. At 4:36 I felt fine, at 4:37, I thought, Uh oh.

So I went to bed at 6:30 and got up yesterday to get ready for Emma's First Grade Mother's Day Tea at school and then left early to head to Bethany Lutheran Church to speak to their MOPS group. (Dawn, thanks for the prayers--I tried to email you to say thank you, but it bounced back to me.) I made it through it only having to blow my nose one time!

So I'm going to stay home today and take it easy--and take lots of cold medicine, Airborne, Juice Plus, and Mona Vie, lemon tea, water, and anything else I can think of. And I've promised myself to put the laundry away that's been sitting folded in baskets since Monday. I'm sick of looking at it!

Tonight is the play at school--Audrey's dress was a hit at dress rehearsal yesterday. I'll take her early to get her all dolled up and to save seats for everyone in my family who's coming.

Gotta go blow my nose again!

Living Proof Live--Colorado Springs

Here are some pictures from this weekend!

Waiting in line with Heidi on Friday night--it was cold and WINDY! Not a good hair moment...

Worshipping with Travis

Me, Holly, Heidi, and Kate

More pictures here on the Living Proof blog.

Here's one of the thoughts that has stuck with me from this weekend--you can't satisfy the immaterial with the material. Material things were not created to fill our souls--and looking for soul satisfaction in the material world (shopping, food, behaviors) will always leave us dissatisfied. Only the immaterial can satisfy the immaterial.

Gotta finish preparing for a MOPS group I get to visit tomorrow. It's their Spring Tea--and I love tea parties!

The end of Brownies for this year

Brownies is over for the year!

Don't get me wrong, I love those little girls and generally love all that's involved in being a Girl Scout leader. But we had our end of the year party yesterday and it's over. Doesn't it feel good to cross those finish lines at the end of the school year?

I have lots of pictures from the party, but don't feel quite right about posting pictures of children who aren't mine...

We sang songs, played games, ate cupcakes and ice cream. We had our investiture/rededication ceremony and the girls received their Brownie pins (better late than never!). We handed out goodie bags (filled with pencils and bendy straws and bubbles and stickers and candy necklaces and patches and things for their vests).

But here's the coolest thing.

These girls sold a TON of cookies. And Girl Scouts has a limit to the amount of money a troop is allowed to carry over the summer. As part of our Penny Power try-it, we talked about the three things you can do with money--save it, spend it, donate it.

We are saving the allowed amount for next year. We spent some on their party and on their Webkinz prizes for meeting the troop goal of 100 boxes of cookies per girl. And we donated some--well, a lot.

The girls talked about who they'd like to help with their money--children, families, people who need some money because of illness or unexpected expenses, the church. And our school fits all those categories. So I made a giant check and the girls all signed it and...

...they donated $1,500 to our school's tuition assistance fund!

I'm so proud of them. They were so excited to present the check to our principal. And, yes, I gave him a real check too. We decided the one we made wouldn't fit through the teller window at the bank!

Comments

So I've just noticed comments here and there that never made it to my email in box the way they're supposed to. AHHH! Typepad is usually so good about that.

So if you've left a comment and asked a question and I didn't respond, give me some time. Don't know what's going on...

Janna, I wondered where you were at Beth and didn't see your comment until just now. Did you get the phone call and hear all the singing?

Susan, somehow I missed a bunch of yours. And thanks for the call on Friday--I was checking into the hotel, so sorry if I sounded totally distracted!

Don't know what's up--because it's doing it to people I've always gotten comments from just fine. I've checked my spam folder and am totally confused. I'm off to check all my settings again.

Good morning

Happy Monday morning, everyone. I have 20 minutes before the girls get up for school, so let's see if I can get through everything I have to tell you in that time...

My friend, Heidi, flew in on Thursday afternoon...

Heidi's family lived in England for the same three years my family did (1983-1986) and we were pretty much inseparable during that time! We listened to ABBA and Madonna, crushed on David Kern, watched "Back to the Future" as many times as we could, sneaked dangly earrings and too much blue eyeshadow when our mother's weren't around, and had a sleepover every Wednesday (yes, a school night!) after our girls' Bible study group.

Though it's 20 years (AHHH!) later, we pick up right where we left off and love many of the same things. Though as Heidi says, we look A LOT better than we did then. Sometimes aging isn't all that bad!

Anyway, we stayed in our pjs until almost noon on Friday before heading down to Colorado Springs for Beth Moore.

And that's a whole other post, I think. Let's just say this, it was challenging, convicting, hard to hear, and difficult. In a good way! As Beth said herself on Friday night, "I didn't choose this topic--please come back tomorrow!" I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought, "OUCH!" when she started right in with Matthew 16:24: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

I'm still working through my notes--which I'll share with you when I get them done. And when I've processed it a little bit more, I'll be sure to post about what God had to say to me. Because I'm pretty sure I could use your prayers to put it into action!

After the conference was over, we had lunch up the road with Holly, Kate, Meredith, Angie, Amy, Abby, and their mom. Sitting down and talking more about the weekend and the teaching is always helpful to me before heading back to real life.

Yesterday, the girls had the finale for the Bible Blast program they do at church during Sunday school. Audrey came in second in quizzing for the fourth grade girls! More on that later too.

Then I took Heidi back to the airport and came home to plant some flowers and take a long bubble bath. Whew!

So that's the past few days in a nutshell--and good for you for sticking it out this far.

Today is the end of the year party for my Brownie troop--so I have lots of preparation to do today, along with the laundry and housecleaning and everything else. There's only three more weeks of school and they are PACKED. I'm not sure how it's alll going to get done and I feel a little panicky when I think about it.

My mom would tell me to take it one day--one hour--at a time. And she's right. So instead of worrying about it all, I'm going to go get the girls up and dressed and sit down to eat breakfast with them--because that's what the next hour holds.

I'm just about out of time, but wanted to share this with you too. My prayer book included Ephesians 4:17-32 this morning. And while there's TONS of good stuff in there, this is what leaped off the page at me--

"Be made new in the attitude of your mind" (verse 23)

Hmm...my attitude is not about my feelings, but about my mind. That's a radical thought. My attitude is more about what I think about, what I choose to think about, than however I happen to be feeling at the time. And that made me think about this:

I must set my mind on things above--Colossians 3:2
I am transformed by the renewing of my mind--Romans 12:2
I must have the mind of Christ--Philippians 2
I must prepare my mind for action--1 Peter 1:13
I must think about the "whatevers"--Philippians 4:8

Why? Well, party because my mind and my mouth are connected--Ephesians 4 goes on to say that I must put off falsehood, speak truthfullly, and that my words should:

be wholesome
be helpful
build others up
meet needs
benefit those who listen

Lots to ponder while I make up goodie bags for the Brownies and mop the floor, I think...

Oops! I'm two minutes over--gotta go wake up those girls!

Off to see Beth Moore

My friend Heidi flew into Denver yesterday from North Carolina (in the midst of a blizzard, only 24 hours after it had been 80 degrees and perfectly warm and lovely!) and we're headed down to Colorado Springs later today to attend Living Proof Live with Beth Moore. Hooray! (Or, I suppose it'd be more in line to say, "Can I get an Amen?")

I'm so looking forward to the weekend and have been praying for God to prepare my heart throughout the day for whatever word he has just for me. Because that's the incredible thing about God. No matter how many thousands of women will be there this weekend, he'll have something specific to say to each and every one of us through Beth.

If any of you are going, keep an eye out for me and I'll keep one out for you...wouldn't it be fun to run into each other?!

Thank you!

My inbox is full of such sweet notes of encouragement from all of you--I wish I had time to sit down and respond to each and every one.

Yesterday morning was awful too, but I had a great talk with Audrey's teacher after chapel and she said she'd talk to her. Don't know if she did, but Audrey came home from school and apologized and has been her usual sweet self ever since.

I appreciate your prayers and encouragement and am sending some right back to all of you!