Pleasing Him

This year, for the first time, Adam and Isaac, played an organized sport, Basketball.  They have battled chronic asthma all of their lives, so it was a huge deal for our family. They had such a good year.  They played hard, learned a lot, and were determined to come out on top of this asthma thing.  With the season being over, we can proudly say - Mission Accomplished!!

Last night we attended their basketball banquet.  We homeschool our kids, so it wasn’t the average sporting event.  They did mention how well the kids played the game and briefly mentioned star players who went above and beyond.  The best part of it though is they spent the entire evening giving awards for positive biblical character traits.  My boys received wonderful awards.  

Isaac - Sincerity vs. Hypocrisy - Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives. 1 Peter 1:22

Adam - Joyfulness vs. Self-Pity - Not allowing unpleasant conditions to control my attitudes.  Psalm 16:11

When presenting them with the awards, the coach gave examples of their behavior to warrant them.  We felt the coach picked very appropriate traits for them.  We were so proud.  We try hard as parents to teach our kids how to behave as Jesus wants us too, but it is always wonderful to know that someone else sees these things in your kids and that your kids exhibit this kind of behavior when you aren’t always there watching. 

On the way home, of course, the boys were excited and talked a lot about their awards and the awards of their teammates.  They repeated all the stories and how appropriate they thought the awards were.  While listening to this I couldn’t help but think about Jesus and how He feels about us.  It’s our choice whether or not we do what our Father wants us to do just like it was Adam and Isaac’s choice.  

My first thought was how disappointed He must be when we make the wrong decisions or do the wrong thing, but He quickly stopped that line of thought.  He does want us to live obedient to His word, to strive to make good choices, but I was reminded of what a loving and forgiving Father He is.  I thought about the times my kids have been disobedient or done the wrong thing, was I disappointed in the behavior, yes, did I wish they had made a different choice, yes, but did it change how I feel about them, no, did I easily forgive them and love them all the more, yes!!

I then began to wonder about how pleased He must feel when He sees us doing His will.  When He sees us loving one another, when He sees us serving others, when He sees us making Godly decisions, when He sees us walking the walk and not just talking the talk.  How wonderful it will be to stand before Him one day and hear Him say how pleased He is with us.  (Gives me chills).

I pray that I always strive to be what He wants me to be.  To try in every area of my life to be obedient and pleasing to Him, and that when I make mistakes, I always come before Him with an apologetic and humble heart.

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.  Philippians 2:12-13

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Counting it all Joy!!

Angel

A Prayer Request!!

Yesterday, my son-in-law was told the company he has been employed by for the last 8 year is closing in September.  The good news is, he has plenty of notice and can begin seeking other employment immediately.  The  not so good news is there are over 400 other employees seeking employment elsewhere also.  

I told him to remember no matter what happens, God is still on the throne and He has a plan for his life.  I reminded him of when Dan, my husband, was laid off, and reminded him of all the wonderful ways God showed Himself faithful during that time.  

I know how wonderful all the promises are, I listed some of them in my post yesterday, and I also know how the enemy can use these times to beat you down and try to steal your joy.  We are encouraging Andy to keep his eye on Jesus and His promises and to know that even though we were surprised by this Jesus wasn’t.  

The Lord has been so good to them.  They have battled many storms in their lives and He has seen them through.  I know He will in this one too.  I am sharing this and asking for you to join me in prayer for them.

Thank you Jesus for kids who love you and trust you.  Thank you for Andy’s  job situation, I know you have a plan for his life, plans to prosper him and not harm him, plans to give him hope and a future.  Thank you for Andy’s attitude, for helping him stay positive, and keeping his eyes on you.  Thank  you for Lindsey, that she will stay positive and be an encouragement to him.  Thank you for the plan you have for their lives and for your perfect timing. 

Andy, Lindsey, and Ella

Thank you for being my blogging friends and thank you for praying for my kids!!

Counting it all Joy!!

Angel

Why I “Count it all Joy” Wednesday

I am forgiven.  (1 John 1:9)

He will never fail me or forsake me.  (Hebrew 13:5)

I will be pursued by goodness and unfailing love all my life and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.  (Psalm 23:6)

Jesus is preparing a place for me and when He is ready, He will return for me.  (John 14:2-3)

Nothing can separate me from His love.  (Romans 8:38-39)

The Lord gives me strength and blesses me with peace.  (Psalm 29:11)

No matter what life throws at me, His faithful love for me will remain.  (Isaiah 54:10)

In Christ, I am a new person, my old life is gone and I have a new life.  (2 Corinthians 5:17) PRAISE JESUS

The truth has set me free.  (John 8:32)

I delight in Him and He gives me the desires of my heart.  (Psalm 37:4)

Believing you are all having a blessed week.

Counting it all Joy!!

Angel

The Days After

The build up to Easter is always so busy and fun.  Everyone is excited about His resurrection.  We are all out shopping, buying Easter outfits and goodies for the kids, dying eggs, and preparing for a delicious Easter celebration.  We have a great day with church family and our own family, then everyone goes home, the party is over and what do we do with ourselves?

I have been thinking and praying about this a lot.  I even read some other blogging posts about it yesterday.  So many of us, it seems, get depressed after holidays.  The let down of everything being over gets the best of us.  Some of us even jump into what needs planning next.  I am even dealing with this with my youngest kids, one of which was in tears at bedtime Sunday night because Easter was over.  

In praying about this, I keep coming back to “Jesus did His part”.  He went to the cross and died for me then he rose again so I can be forgiven and have eternal life.  He gave us the reason to celebrate, to buy the new outfits, to make the meal, and spend extra time with our families.  Now it is my turn, He gave us clear instructions as to what He wanted us to do when He came back.  In Matthew 28:19 He said

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” 

Sometimes, I get so caught up in the big picture that I don’t see what is right in front of me.  Everywhere we go is a mission field, there are lost souls out there on every corner.    Over the years as we have done children’s ministry or been Children’s Pastors, we have heard so many say things about the lives we have touched or the seeds we have planted or watered, but what about the ones we missed.  What about the days we were too busy to take the time to meet a need or to be Jesus to someone.  Everyone we come in contact is a “child of God” whether they know it or not.  Everyone has a need, a hurt, a story.  

Thank you, Jesus for my Nanny who thought I was important enough to share Jesus with.  Thank you that I am a vessel for you, that my eyes are opened to the opportunities you present me with, that I am never too busy doing what I think is important to do what you think is important.  And thank you for your promise - “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Believing that together we can be Christ to the world!!

Counting it all Joy!!

Angel

Family Time - The Best

It’s Monday and the tomb is empty, thank you, Jesus!!

What a wonderful Resurrection Day we had.  The whole family celebrating at church together (not a new thing, just always great).  All the kids home for a yummy meal, we hid eggs for the younger ones, we took tons of pictures, and we laughed a lot!! 

Me and my wonderful husband!!

My beautiful daughter, Lindsey, and her husband, Andy

Me and all five kids (back - Shane and Drew, middle - Lindsey, Me, front -  Adam, and Isaac

The most wonderful granddaughter ever - Ella

I am such a blessed wife, mom, and Nanny.

Counting it all Joy!!

Angel

Spring and Jesus

Right now is one of my favorite times of the year!!  When everything that has been dormant all winter starts breaking through the ground.  When, what appear to be, dead things, come back to life.  I know I am always SO excited to see these things.  I get a thrill just walking out my front door.  I smile at the wonder of it.  The sticks of winter develop sweet little buds that turn into beautiful flowers.  

I have always been amazed at God’s timing.  This always seems to happen just in time for us to celebrate our sweet Jesus coming back to life.  He too, was once dead and, some thought, lost to us but He, in all his beauty, came back to us.  

I pray that every time you see the rising of dormant bulbs, budding trees, blooming flowers, and the full beauty of Spring, you too, are filled with joy because HE IS RISEN!!

Hope you had a great “Good Friday”

Counting it all Joy!!

Angel

Not an April Fool's

I don’t really have a good April Fool’s story to tell today, but living in a houseful of boys, there is never a shortage of practical jokes and orneriness.  The funny thing is even when you don’t intend a prank, they somehow just show up.  

A while back, our twins, Adam and Isaac, wanted to have a camp out.  Prior to having them, we went camping pretty regularly but, they are 10 and due to extreme allergies and asthma have never been able to.  This was smack dab in the middle of allergy season and I knew there was no way we could be tenting it with them.  So, not wanting to disappoint, I decided we would somehow turn our Friday Family Night into a camping trip without being in a tent, outside.  I told everyone we would be “camping in” and gave everyone their duties.  I bought all the goods, hotdogs, snacks, stuff to make s’mores (which we did on the back porch with a kitchen torch).  We moved all the living room furniture to one side of the living room and made a tent by hanging up sheets on the other side.  We even turned off all things electric and used battery operated lanterns.  For Drew, my 18 year old, I asked him to find, without Adam and Isaac knowing, some camping noises like crickets or whatever he could find and download it on his ipod so we could play it at the appropriate time.  I wanted it to be as realistic as possible and knew the boys would get a real kick out of it. 

We had a great time, good camping food, lots of dimly lit games, shadow puppets, and tons of laughter.  Eventually, it was time to go to sleep and after everyone was in their sleeping bag, I gave Drew the signal to turn on the ipod.  Isn’t that when you start hearing these noises when you are really camping?  Unfortunately, the ipod wouldn’t come on with the remote, so Drew said he had to go to the bathroom and left the tent, lantern in hand.  On his way back, he turned on the, what was supposed to be crickets, and came back to the tent.  I had no idea he couldn’t find cricket noises and had downloaded water sounds, like a running stream.  When the sounds started, the boys asked Drew if he had gone upstairs to the bathroom, and Drew answered that he had, they asked if he had flushed the toilet, and again, he answered, “Yes”.  I didn’t realize what they were getting at and let it continue.  They, pretty quickly, let their imagination get the best of them just like you would with weird noises on a real camping trip.  Before it was over they were convinced that the plumbing lines in the wall had burst and the water from the toilet was running inside our walls.  I was laughing so hard, I couldn’t even correct them.  Plus, I knew if they would just slow down a minute they would know that if something like that was really happening their dad would not just be laying there in the tent saying “there’s no electricity, we will have to just wait until it is light and then check it out.”  All of a sudden, Adam jumped up and darted out of the tent, I guess he was going to save us all.  It didn’t take long once he was outside the sheets, which were distorting the sound, for him to realize it was the ipod speaker.  We all got a real laugh out of that one.

                    

In the "tent" taking pictures of ourselves!












It was so dark, but the camera flash sure ruins the lantern setting!!




Asthma has been a tremendous battle for us and has limited the twins in so many areas.  Several hospital stays, lots of medicine, and a constant insurance battle.  The best part of it is after years of prayer, they are growing up and with the new meds we now have a handle on it.  I believe this will be the year of the “for real” camp out!!

Don’t you just love how Jesus gives us creative ideas to handle the inconveniences life throws in our way.  

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:2-3

Hope you are having a great April Fool’s Day!

Counting it all Joy!

Angel