The Blessing of Broken Dishes

   The bowls were stacked so nicely, the shades orange, yellow, and peach all coordinated in a such a desirable way. It was a lovely magazine picture, and for a moment I coveted the idea of a cabinet just like it, so perfectly arranged and color-coordinated.

   Oh, my dishes, my broken dishes. They last for less than a month, they are always hitting the floor, being chipped and dropped in the sink to break into pieces. They are left everywhere except in a nice display cabinet, and they wouldn't be worth displaying anyway because…because what?

   If I did have that imaginary cabinet, it would probably mean I wouldn't have all those hands in the house breaking all the dishes, bowls, and glasses, amongst other things.

   It might mean I wouldn't hear the sound of tiny and large feet pounding through my home, yes, getting my floors dirty. It might mean my days would have long periods of silence, instead of flowing, creative talk that often makes me more joyful than silent moments to myself.

   My perfect display of unbroken dishes might mean a clean refrigerator door, instead of crayon drawings, paper flowers, self-portraits, poems, fingerprints, school lists - love notes.

   It might mean a perfectly clean bathroom at all hours - a thought that balances on an unrealistic rope in many ways.

   A perfect anything in our home would mean no one was ever touching anything. It would mean less hands, less of something so precious, our real treasures, and the thought makes me sad. The truth is, to the world, my home is imperfect in many ways. To a society that craves the 'American Dream', we are narrow and strange.

   Most of my dishes are plastic, and not one is color coordinated. Occasionally, we'll buy real glasses, but in a month, we'll need more. We find 'pretty' plastic, and it's good enough.

   

   My refrigerator has many lists, drawings, lovely colorful pictures and fingerprints. My corners don't have pretty display cabinets. They have books, books, and oh, more books. Beatrix Potter and Winnie the Pooh live in my bookshelves, along with Long John Silver, Robinson Crusoe and many other characters that find their way to other parts of our home with the help of many hands.

    I have baskets of crayons, pencils, scissors, glue and crafty items. It gets quite unorderly. My laundry can pile up like Mt. Vesuvius, so we tackle the volcano the best we can. No where here will you find a pretty display!

   I wouldn't trade my broken dishes for a perfect display of coordinated loveliness. I like the hands, I like the noise, I like the laundry, I like the broken dishes - that will one day will be lonely for many hands.

   Don't let the broken dishes stir discontent. Savor your time with the many hands, the many broken temporaries, that leave memories; memories that can be carried into your next home - which by the way, if you know Him, is perfect.

Be Encouraged,

 Theresa

Will the Real Gentlemen Please Stand Up..

and give your seat to the lady standing...

I'm going to blog a little about about common courtesy in men. Where is it? I'm training my boys to know that ladies are first. Ladies first! It's terrible when my 22-year-old daughter understands this concept, but a 70-year-old man in the grocery store doesn't. As they both walk up to the deli counter at the same time, the heat is on to see if this gentleman, is a gentleman. Well, sad to say he wasn't. "He was here first."

(I'm getting my neo board out to steam one off for the summer issue.)

Boys need to understand the basic concept of ladies first in order to be become real men. They need to pause to let a lady pass, they need to open doors, they need to let their sisters go first. They should be the first to lug heavy items for any mother, get a ladder to accomplish something that girls need not do like get the dust off of high shelves. They need to humble themselves to do the "dirtier" work in the home; clean the vacuum container, fix the screens, clean the fireplace, take out the trash, kill that nasty spider. Ladies first.

Let me say that a man will not be a man if he is not given the opportunity to know that his soul was made to lead, protect, go last, and serve as a gentleman. Ladies first.

I promise that if you teach your boys (don't worry if some are older.. start now) the one small concept of "ladies first" it will be like a flood gate opening to let the real man stand up in your boys and open the path to integrity. Ladies first.

On a personal note, if we don't expect this, be prepared for women to overrun our men. Be prepared for less men to lead and more women to want charge. I could go on.. and on.

Blessings, Theresa

Prayer Ignites Action

I'm sorely tempted each time I pray to wonder where it went. As the day passes, I recall my pleadings to the Lord and say, "Remember this morning Father?"

The past few days my devotionals from Elisabeth Elliot have been direct answers to my daily questions. This morning I was reminded that prayer sets forth motion. My encouragement for you today is to pray! Pray about that person, the circumstance, the schedule, the bills, whatever is on your mind, pray. There are many verses that the Lord hears but another verse came to mind also, a favorite, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughtout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

It is comforting to know that my sincere prayers are delivered right to our heavenly Father, and swifter than we think.

Speaking about Daniel who "turned to God in earnest prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes," confessing Israel's sins and beseeching God for forgiveness and restoration. The angel Gabriel came close to him in the hour of evening sacrifice, "flying swiftly." This is an excerpt from A Lamp For My Feet by Elisabeth Elliot:

As Soon As You Begin to Pray

Prayer sets spiritual forces in motion, although the effect is often invisible, perhaps for a long time. "As you were beginning your supplications a word went forth" (Dn 9:23 NEB), he said. The answer was already beginning to be processed when the prayer was offered. It took a very long time. Periods of weeks and years for the nation, and times of mourning, solitude, weakness, and fear on Daniel's part were required before the answer could come to pass.

We should take heart from Gabriel's message. Though our prayers seem feeble and sometimes appear to have gone unheard, a word has gone forth. Spiritual agents from the throne room of the King of kings are mobilized against spiritual forces from the headquarters of evil, and there will be ultimate victory.
"Tremendous power is made available through a good man's earnest prayer" (Jas 5:16 JBP).

Glory to God, Theresa

Invisible Blessings

This was the Elisabeth Elliot newsletter for today.. I thought I would share it here :) I love reading articles by Elisabeth Elliot, and have many of her books. I especially love it when the daily newsletter seems to pertain to what we are going through at the time. Right now for our family, it has been learning to wait, and persist faithfully with what God has given us.. and wait even more faithfully and patiently (hard lesson indeed!) for what His plans and purposes for us are.

Invisible Blessings

"Being very much of the earth--earthy--we always want tangible, visible things--proofs, demonstrations, something to latch onto. If we always had them, of course, faith would be "struck blind." When Jesus hung on a cross, the challenge was flung at Him: Come down! He stayed nailed, not so that spectators would be satisfied (that miracle, his coming down, would have been a great crowd-pleaser), but that the world might be saved.

Many of our prayers are directed toward the quick and easy solution. Long-suffering is sometimes the only means by which the greater glory of God will be served, and this is, for the moment, invisible. We must persist in faith. God has a splendid purpose. Believe in order to see it."

"Our troubles are slight and short-lived, and their outcome an eternal glory which outweighs them far. Meanwhile our eyes are fixed, not on the things that are seen, but on the things that are unseen" (2 Cor 4:17, 18 NEB).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

None of us like long-suffering. Even though our family is going through a difficult season of waiting, I consider us to be very blessed. There are so many people suffering far more than we are. Let us always press on, and ask only for enough 'daily bread' for the day God has given us! He always has a good purpose!

Many blessings, ~*~Jessica~*~

Faith

This was an excellent reading from Elisabeth Elliot. It takes care of putting faith in objects around us which tends to destroy our looking up toward the creator when things don't go our way. I like the absolutes much better. Be encouraged, Theresa

Realities
"Faith...the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1 KJV).
What realities can we be sure of? There is a popular notion about prayer which assumes that the thing asked for ought to be the object of faith--"Lord, give me this or that," wherefore "this" and "that" become the realities. No. The Bible states the absolutes that we can be certain of: the character of God, his love, his will that we be conformed to his Son's likeness, his sovereign control of all the universe. When faith latches on to those realities which we do not see with our eyes, it can never be confounded. If it makes the thing asked for its object, faith itself will dissolve if the Lord's answer is no, or not yet, or wait.
"In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. Let me never be put to confusion" (Ps 71:1 AV).
Elisabeth Elliot

Love Covers All

Yesterday one of the verses that was given was Proverbs 10:12. I am a KJV lady all the way, it can be a challenge to read at times, but Lord willing (and I think He is), God will continue to help me understand it. I wanted to compare the versions of this verse because it holds so much in one tiny sentence.
Ok, so here we go:

NIV: Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
NAS: Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions.
ESV: Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
KJV: Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Different versions but God calls it and it's black and white. Hatred will stir up strife and dissension.
Dissension is defined in the dictionary as:
A disagreement or difference of opinion, especially when leading to open conflict. Dissension.
Strife is defined in the dictionary as:
bitter conflict or rivalry: bitter and sometimes violent conflict, struggle, or rivalry. Strife.
Don't you love a dictionary. I wonder how many people look up words in their bible so they can have a deeper meaning!
Ok, so it seems the Word is saying that if there is any of this, then hate is involved. We need to ask if we are hating!

LOVE: The dictionary has transitive verbs, and nouns as usage. Some we know won't mean the love spoke of here because it would contradict other scripture, so here is love as a verb and noun as best as I can understand how to love someone who offends:

v. feel tender affection for somebody
n. very strong affection: an intense feeling of tender affection and compassion

We need to ask if we are LOVING!

Now take the last part of each compared verse. I love that they all were different: Wrongs, transgressions, offenses or sins. We don't need to define it, we know what it means.
Romans 3:20: because by the works of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Now apply it in your situation. Do you hate? Do you love deeply?
What would cause strife or dissension in your heart? We all have it at one time or another. I asked God last night to help me love a non-believer who has done terrible wrongs to my husband. I'm finding it hard to love this person, finding it easier to hate him, and I asked God to show me how to apply His Love. I'm expecting great things with that prayer, not that the transgressor would be changed, but me. We have this tremendous power to love and overlook, and this power is by the grace of God, do you have this grace and power?

A situation where you treat your brethren with dissension or strife will hold as many times a heartache however. I'm seeing this in circles of people and how sad, sad it is. Brethren hold up the family of Christ. There should be no strife between them, there is a way to work it out. Do you have a situation where you can agree that these verses need to be applied and LOVE needs to cover the wrongs?

The deeper study of this verse was eye opening. May the Lord grant grace and mercy in our situations.

Blessings, Theresa

Divisions Are Not Always Bad...

This morning my thoughts took me to Romans 2:17-29. In short Paul says: Are you confident that you yourself are guide to the blind? A corrector of the foolish? A teacher of the immature? Then with a slam, do you teach yourself? Ouch. When I read that verse, I sometimes think of the scarecrow on the Wizard of Oz, "Yes, some people without brains to an awful lot of talking, don't they?"
I'm confident of one thing right now; I still have too much to learn at my age to boast. I still desire to sit at the feet of women older than I. Do you?
If at anytime the Lord does use me, I'd prefer not to know. He'll tell me one day what I've done, I can trust Him well with that.

Moving to another good reminder from A.W. Tozer in "Divisions Are Not Bad" from "God Tells the Man Who Cares."

"The first divider was God, He divided light and darkness, they are incompatible. All holds true for such things as moral and religious dealings as well as political and science. But is it all bad when division must happen?"

He continues: "In a world of men there are at present scarcely any sharp outlines. The race is fallen. Sin has brought confusion. The wheat grows with the tares, the sheep coexist and the mission is next door to the saloon.

But things will not always be so. The hour is coming when the sheep will be divided from the goats and the tares separated from the wheat....For that time we with patience wait.

Power lies in the union of things similar, and the division of things dissimilar. Maybe what we need in religious circles today isn't more union, but some wise and courageous division."

He is one of my favorite reads. His book was given to me a man that worked with my mother when I worked at the Dept. of Energy. He had found out I was all of a sudden "converted." This was back in 1992. I always knew him to be the nicest and smartest man, but really he was wise man under God. Well, I remember trying to read Tozer's work as a new believer and it was too deep. I didn't get it! When I read it now, it's like music. Isn't God wonderful to take us from milk to food?

Blessings, Theresa

The Story..

The article is much longer than this, so I thought I would post the part of her brother's situation, for the full article go to the link in the previous post.

"My brother, Phil Howard, was a missionary up in Northwest Territory in Canada. When he first went up there, he could not gain the trust of the slave Indians, people who had seemed to receive nothing from white men except evil. So of course, my brother being another white man, they took it for granted that he was there to do them in. It took my brother almost two years to gain the confidence of the Indians.

Shortly after he succeeded, the government sent a man there to start a school. This man of course was seen in the same light that my brother was seen, as a man who has come to exploit them. So this man of course was very isolated and became very jealous that he did not have the confidence of the Indians in the way that my brother Phil did.

So he became very vindictive. He had a very powerful weapon against my brother in his two hands. The government sent all the welfare checks to John, the teacher. So John made an announcement that any Indian who had anything whatsoever to do with Phil Howard would not qualify to receive his social security check. Can you imagine how long it took for that to take shape? Well, you can bet your bottom dollar that my brother Phil did not see another Indian for a long time.

Now how do you think Phil felt toward John? He was praying one day, realizing that his prayers were bouncing back from the ceiling. He said, "Lord, what's wrong?" The Lord reminded him of that verse that says, "Love your enemies. Do good to them that hate you. Pray for them that despitefully use you."

Phil said to the Lord, "Lord, I can't love him. You're going to have to do that for me and through me. I can certainly pray for him [that's the second thing]. I will do that. But I don't know of anything good that I can do for him. Will You show me?"

It was not very long after that that the Lord showed him that the ice was coming in. John was frantically trying to get his boat out of the water down by the riverside. Of course, when the ice comes in in a place like Northwest Territory, it comes in with a vengeance. If a boat is stuck in the ice for the winter, it will be smashed to bits in the spring breakup.

Phil raced down immediately to the river, realizing that God had indeed answered his prayer. He said to John, "Hang on a minute! I have a winch. My son and I will come down and help you get the boat out." They did so.

Now do you suppose that John's attitude changed immediately toward my brother Phil? It would have been nice, but that's not what happened. But the government moved John elsewhere. My brother never expected to see him again.

But one day on the streets of Edmonton, Alberta, Phil bumped into John. John said to Phil, "Phil, I will never forget what you did for me that day. I hope that God will give us an opportunity to go back to Nahani together, so that I can tell the Indians that I was wrong and you were right."

Now what had Phil done? He asked forgiveness. He forgave the man who had trespassed against him. He prayed for him. He did good to him. And by the grace of God, he learned to love that man. The last thing, you must ask for grace to treat that person as if nothing had ever happened.

Am I speaking to someone who has been abused, abandoned, divorced, cheated, lied about, deceived by a business partner, rejected by your children, your spouse, your parents, the church people? Are you a victim of misunderstanding? Forgive, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

Now a word about our own repentance. It is not vexation with ourselves. Repentance is not impatience. It's not wounded pride. It's not self-pity. It's not disappointment. Repentance is a complete surrender of my sinfulness to the only One who can cleanse me from all sin, and that is Jesus Christ.

There's an old hymn that says, "What can wash away my sin?" The answer: "Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

(From A Formula For Forgiveness, by Elisabeth Elliot, Gateway to Joy: http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Gateway-to-Joy/Formula-For-Forgiveness.html )

A Challenge..

I used to love Elisabeth Elliot's program Gateway to Joy. Today I ran across one of her shows that talks about something that we have been focusing on, forgiveness. Isn't it hard? We can choose to forgive the person who hurt us, even though they won't even think of doing the right thing themselves.

I challenge anyone who is struggling to read through this broadcast. She tells a story of a situation where her brother chose forgiveness when he had been wronged. What a great example of God's goodness. And if you can read it, and still not forgive who you think wronged you, perhaps re-reading on what God has done for you is in order.

http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Gateway-to-Joy/Formula-For-Forgiveness.html
Be encouraged!
Blessings, Theresa

What Color Do Our Children See?

A short story has come to mind.. I went to check on the children outside one day over the summer and caught Zoe running out of our neighbor's garage out of breath and excited. Before I said anything she said, "They borned a baby, and she is brown, her name is Zoe!" I just giggled at her sweetness and praised God.

My husband and I later wondered if she ever noticed that they were not same color as we were! Perhaps, but she never thought long enough on it to comment. So we came to the conclusion that because momma's babies are not brown, it just surprised her with delight!

I grew up in a very racist area, and much of my life was centered around racism. We moved away from that area, and are happy that there are never discussions at our table pointing at color difference in people. We talk about people, and people are what people are. A color doesn't make someone moral or immoral.

The new president's agenda does not honor God. We want our children to only understand the moral issues of difference in our disapproval. We trust the Lord will allow them to see. And it's a good thing we don't have television, they'd be ruined.

Blessings, Theresa

Part II Forgiveness

Having some thoughts this morning.. Do you forgive easily? On the spot, take the apology, no questions asked, no rehashing of events, no accusing, wipe the slate clean, forgive?

Do you know that Jesus wiped your slate clean? Anything other than doing the same for another will make you miserable. Not only that, one day you will stand in front of the One who forgave you..what will He say to you? It doesn't matter what you think you will say to Him, as I tell my children, you will not be able to point a finger to someone else, it will be all about you only.

Have you ever made a mistake of hurting someone, although you felt they were at fault completely, and decided to drop your hurt feelings and just apologize? Again, no rehashing, no arguing... you did the right thing, even if they didn't accept it, you are free my friend. Go with a clear conscience and continue to sit at the feet of God. Be silent and pray.

Well, we are off to a family outing. How revealing the scripture is and how much power we have to love the way He loved and LOVES us now. Just wanted to share that!

Colossians 3:13

Theresa

Forgiveness

If you haven't read works by Elisabeth Elliot you are missing some great encouragement. I'm not one to have a load of 'other' books to read. I have a few wonderful, oldie but goodies in my nightstand. Here is an excerpt from "All That Was Ever Ours."

"We are indeed "miserable offenders.'' We have done and left undone. We are foolish and weak and blind and self-willed and men of little faith. We run here, we run there, we form committees and attend meetings and attack the Church and its organization and its isolation and its useless machinery and its irrelevance and ineffectiveness. But all the time it stands there, holding the cross, telling us that there is forgiveness, that we have not been left to ourselves, that no matter how shocking the image that we finally see of ourselves in the light of God's truth, God himself has done something about it all.
"He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities." For the very things we've been discussing. For the things that make us moan and groan and ask, "What's the use?"

I love this. How straight and to the point. How true that we are miserable offenders. What is the use? Well, we have the ability through our forgiven, miserable self, to forgive, to love, and if at all possible for us to stay at peace, we should, no matter what the method to secure that peace without offending further (if that is the case). If it is in your hand to say sorry, please forgive me, or in your hand to overlook the one who has offended you, (carrying on of course in good heart, no grudges please) and take them back on the spot, immediately, when they come and ask, then by all means do so.

There is more to that paragraph, can you see it? Thank you Jesus..


Now, I found this great homeschool resource, what a blessing! It may have been around for a long time, but this is the first time I've seen it.
http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/
Thank you Cindy for providing this wonderful help! Enjoy all and have a blessed day in Christ

Antique Thoughts..

I have a real want to go antique shopping. Don't get me wrong, I hate clutter that doesn't have a purpose to it.

How many of you like to go window shopping through an antique store? Some of the items aren't really antique but only replicas (and I really don't know much about that). It's interesting to look and maybe imagine that each little piece you see has a story to it.

You see a lovely little lamp and wonder if it sat on a sturdy old dresser (no particle board!), on top of some pretty lace runner that had to be straightened every time a child turned on the lamp! How about that brass bed? We had a real one once; I always wonder if children were born in those really old beds we see. I bet there are stories to the real antiques we find in those shoppes. I bet they would sell better if the owners posted a story to go along with them!

I was thinking that for each tea we do in Seasons, I'm going to start letting the girls collect tea cups just for that tea. Wouldn't that be fun. We were just purchasing sets, but much more of a story can be told if they go and find something special. Then put the cup in a hope chest or in a cabinet with glass, just to be taken out on special days. I'm sure many of you do this anyway!

Well, just having some antique thoughts this am while I hold the fort together. I wish I were out with Jessica who is doing some of our favorite shopping (fabric) with her little sisters.

Blessings! Theresa

Courage with Moderation

At this time of year, more hearts seem to be open to listen to the message of the gospel. Although we need to use every opportunity given by the Lord to spread God's love everyday, this is a time where there may be a chance to act in love toward someone who would never otherwise receive the message. Christmas is the chance to share the birth of Christ. Let us pray for quiet "hearing" hearts, presenting ourselves to the Lord in humbleness as He works every good thing for His purpose.

I was reminded in this great read that people cause more damage than good among God's people, among people looking in at us, and just in general, get in the way of the Lord working because they strive to stress their own voice, instead of hearing the voice of the Lord.
A.W. Tozer pastored from 1929 to 1967. His intellectual, biblical insight amazes me. The reminder was "Courage with Moderation." This excerpt was taken from "God Tells the Man Who Cares."

"The inability of even the most devout souls to show forth the Christian virtues in equal proportion and without admixture of unChristlike qualities has been the source of heartache to many of God's believing people. The virtues before us, courage and moderation, when held in correct proportion, make for a well-balanced life and one of great usefulness in the the kingdom of God. Where one is missing or present in only minute degree, the result is a life out of balance and powers wasted.

Almost any sincere writing, if examined closely, will be found to be autobiographic. We know best what we have ourselves experienced." ..Briefly, I have seldom been called a coward, even by my most cordial enemies, but my want of moderation has sometimes caused grief to my dearest friends. An extreme disposition is not easy to tame, and the temptation to bring severe, immoderate methods to the aid of the Lord is not one easily resisted." {my note: How often do we think we are running to 'aid' our Lord in His Work, when our tone and disposition is completely without moderation and our thoughts are not taken wholly before God before opening our mouths? Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.}

He continues.."There is a ministerial immunity accorded a man of God which may lead a 'Son of Thunder' into extravagant and irresponsible language unless he uses heroic measures to bring his nature under the sway of the Spirit of Love. This I have sometimes failed to do, and always to my own real sorrow. Here again the contrast between the ways of God and the ways of man is seen. Apart from such wisdom as painful experience may give, we are prone to try to secure our ends by direct attack, to rush the field and win by assault. Of Christ it was said, (Matthew 12:19-20: "He shall not strive, nor cry, nor any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till He send forth judgment into victory." {Amen} He achieved His tremendous purposes without undue physical exertion and altogether without violence. His whole life was marked by moderation; yet He was of all men the most utterly courageous. He could send back word to Herod who had threatened Him, "Go ye and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I will be perfected." Luke 13:32 There is no sign of contempt, no extravagance of word or act. He had courage with moderation."

A.W. Tozer (I highly recommend any book written by him!)
As you celebrate the birth of our Savior, let your humble, inner light shine forth. Glory to God in the Highest, Theresa