Dwell On These: March 2012

March 31, 2012

Future researcher

Jake was outside shooting some hoops and Maddie decided to categorize and tally his shots from the window. Here's how he did...

I've been struggling and praying so much about what God wants me to do. How I should spend my time, money, acquired skills. I am such a doer and ofter want to just jump into my own plans. I want (and pray) to learn to really listen and do God's will and plan, rather than my own. It is hard and I am learning what a bad listener I really am.

Giving Squared is something Melanie and I started to try to make a difference. All of us are constantly shopping for gifts...friends, teachers, kid's friends, etc. We wanted to create a shopping experience where people can buy gifts and give gifts to missions at the same time. At Giving Squared all of the profits go to missions. We have selected 7 missions for 2012 that we will be supporting. Since we started in November 2011, we have been able to give over $2,000 to missions (including some of the lemonade stands we hosted). Not huge numbers, but something is better than nothing. I always consider what Mother Theresa said..."God doesn't call us to be successful, He calls us to be faithful."

God, help me be faithful and a good listener and a fearless follower!

Sometimes I would love these people to just show up at my house...

Tell me I am not alone!

March 30, 2012

Forgotten God

I am currently reading Forgotten God by Francis Chan. It is about the Holy Spirit. It is an area I have been thinking about and wanting to study for some time now. So much is said about the power of the Spirit in the Bible, but it isn't discussed much today in the biggness and powerfulness and importance and life-changingness (are all those words?) as I see it in the Bible. Check out this short video clip...

Here is a quote I read this morning and loved...

“It is absolutely vital to grasp that God didn’t call you to where you are so you can settle in and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace. His purposes are not random or arbitrary. If you are still alive on this planet, it’s because He has something for you to do. He placed us on this earth for purposes that He orchestrated long before we were born. “

March 28, 2012

Easiest Veggie Side Dish for Cooking Out

March 27, 2012

Happiness = siblings getting along

Maddie and Jake decided to make each other Easter gifts. Look what Maddie sewed for Jake...his own polka dot, smiley face, egg, suffed animal thingy.

He drew her an amazing original piece of art....

Ahhh...sibling love.

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

A while back I started reading a lot of books that really impacted me. A reference to another book while I was in the middle of a current one would then lead me to read that one next. It actually all started with a blog post from Jen Hatmaker August of last year. It was just notes from a conference she spoke at, but it was a different voice/perspective and a fresh view in my opinion. It impacted me and got me fired up about my role, and challenges, as a parent. It really spoke to me and lit a new spark. I must have read that post 10+ times start to finish and even shared it with friends. It caused me to start looking into other things she wrote. I'm not sure the order, but it lead to me reading Radical by David Platt, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker, The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne, Barefoot Church by Brandon Hatmaker (her husband) and also 7: An Eperimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker... I'm sure there were a few more, but I can't remember them at the moment. Anyway, you get the point...I came to crave reading similar messages. In a nutshell, we spend so much of our time "blessing the blessed" and I think we are really missing the point. It was even part of the reason we started visiting other churches (even though I really did love my church and all the people in it). I felt like I needed a change. I needed to step out. I needed to hear other things and meet other people. I reread the New Testament a little at a time each morning, looking specifically at what Jesus said and what Jesus did. How He lived His life and what He called us to do. I honestly feel like this past year or so has been a life changing piece of my Christian walk.

Click here to read Jen's set up for the book, "7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess." Like the other books, this one really hit a nerve with things I have been thinking. I'm really praying and thinking about what to do with this. Definitely something, but not sure what yet....

March 26, 2012

Fearlessly make known...

I was listening to the Passion 2012 album on the treadmill today and it included one of the talks by Louie Giglio. One of the verses he was preaching on was Ephesians 6:19...