My Cup Overflows

Psalm 23:1-6
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Matthew 11:29-30
Take my yoke upon you, and learn fro me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke in easy, and my burden is light.

I was given an article a couple of months ago that has really challenged the foundations of my faith and how I view Christianity and what I think Christianity should look like.  I was raised in church, accepted Christ as my Savior at a very early age, and really didn't even have a rebellious phase in my teen years.  Perfect?  Absolutely not.  But by the rules and by the book?  Well as closely as I could follow.  It has always been about doing what is right for me and feeling convicted if I don't.  Although there is a value to this and a certain necessity, I have had my eyes opened to a different attitude.

The Pharisees and other religious leaders of Jesus' time had made being a Jew a chore, a burden, and a following of a lengthy list of rules that was impossible to keep.  Christ came and said my yoke is easy, my burden is light meaning that following a set of rules is not what is required of us.  We will always fall short.  The rules have a purpose, but the point is to receive from God and then overflow to others.  We cannot serve in the church, give money to the needy, help others, etc. unless it comes from an overflow of what we have received from God.  I mean, we can, but it will feel like a burden, it will drain us of energy because we will be relying on our own strength, and it will be with an incorrect motive every time...we are sinful by nature you know.  We must go to God and be filled.  And God always gives exactly what we need plus so much more and it is from this overflow that we can serve and give of ourselves, our time, our money, our resources, to others.

So I say all of that, but I am finding it is harder than I thought to make this change of attitude and lifestyle.  And that is what it should be, a lifestyle.  So my focus right now is on how to apply this to my life.  It should make a change in how I think, how I react, how I spend time with God, how I serve.  Here are some suggestions on how to get filled throughout the day even with all the business of life:  Read the Bible! (of course), Pray and don't forget to listen!, read Christian books and articles that reveal how great God's love is for you and allow that awesome love to sink in and overflow, listen to music and radio talk shows that point your thoughts to God.  I think what I need the most right now is to learn how to keep the amazing love of God at the forefront of my mind all day every day.  How easy is it to get wrapped up in me, myself, and I, and to not think about the amazing love and grace I have received from God, who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, who created this earth and the billions of galaxies in the universe.  He loves me!  He wants to give rest, peace, love, patience, and so much more to me!  My mind should be continually blown at all times!

Okay, I'm done.  I'm just excited!  So, rest in the presence of God today and allow Him to fill you and then watch how this changes your heart toward others!

Christmas 2010

Another Christmas season survived!  We had a wonderful Christmas amidst all the hustle and bustle.  Jacob was super exciting to buy for this year and to watch open his gifts.  He has a very complete and full understanding of what a wrapped package means and a very complete and full understanding of how to open a wrapped package.  Lots of fun!! 


We were able to avoid the whole Santa Claus thing for the most part, but we will have to be prepared next year with a plan!  Here is an interesting article that my sister and brother-in-law sent me that I think provides a really creative solution.  Check it out at:  http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/mark_driscoll/2010/12/what_we_tell_our_kids_about_santa.html?hpid=talkbox1. 


Here is a brief pictoral look at our Christmas morning.

I think this face says it all.



Ryan, in his second pair of pajamas for the morning, enjoying his new tools that rattle.



Jacob Quotes

He's 100% Boy
After nap..."My want to tackle somebody."


Potty Training
Following is a dialogue between Jacob and I about his struggle with going poopie on the toilet instead of in his underpants:


Mommy:  "Jacob, why don't you go poopie on the toilet?"


Jacob:  "My scared of walrus."


Mommy:  "There's no walrus in our toilets!"


Jacob:  "My just pretending!"


A few days later, because yes we are still not pooping in the toilet and the washer is crying for a break:)


Mommy:  "Jacob, why don't you go poopie on the toilet?"


Jacob:  "Because my don't want to get pinched."


Mommy:  "Oh, is the toilet seat pinching you?"


Jacob:  "No, by the alligators!"


Ha!  We may never see poopie in the toilet.

Ryan Pics

More up to date pics of Ryan were requested, so here are a few.  He has the biggest grin and has certainly stolen his momma's heart.



Asleep with legs straight up in the air.  Doesn't look comfortable to me.





Love that wide-mouthed grin!



O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

Last week at the Christmas tree farm.



Jacob hanging his tractor ornament.



My cold is keeping me from one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season...the smell of a freshly cut tree.  Hopefully my cold will end before the smell goes away!  We finally managed to get ours up and decorated yesterday after cutting it down over a week ago.  With the addition of a second child this year, our family room is increasingly cramped so we opted for a rather small 5 foot tree.  When you grew up with a Christmas tree between 8 and 10 feet tall this is quite a shocking difference, but it fits perfectly in the one spot available and it is holding all of the most important ornaments.  Each year I buy Jacob and now Ryan a new ornament.  Ryan's is a Winnie-the-Pooh 1st Christmas.  Jacob was with me when I bought them so he picked his out:  a John Deere Tractor.  I thought he would go for the fire engine, but tractor it is!



Ryan watching me hang his Winnie-the-Pooh ornament.

As we set out our nativity scene, Mitch did a great job telling the Christmas story and trying to explain to Jacob why we celebrate Christmas.  I think Jacob was much more concerned about whether or not he was allowed to play with the porcelain sheep, but hopefully if we tell the story enough one day he will understand.  I always begin this season trying to focus on Christ, and even more now that we have children.  It is a challenge to keep that focus with all the hussle and bustle that comes with family get togethers, shopping, wrapping, baking, etc.  I love to hear what other families do to keep their focus on Christ.  My new question for people is whether or not they did the whole Santa thing.  I'm not sure I'm ready to share my thoughts on this because I'm not sure we've decided.  I think we can get away with one more year of ignoring it before we are going to have to commit to one way or the other.  Jacob is old enough however to understand birthdays so this has helped him begin to understand what Christmas is about.  I think I would like to have a birthday cake and celebrate Christ's birthday on Christmas day.  We'll see what unfolds as we get closer to the big day!  In the meantime, I will try to meditate on the fantastic act of my God sending his Son to be a baby, child, teen, and then man who is now my Savior and King.  How many times have we heard the story?  I hope this season I can find a refreshed awe for this incredible miracle.





Jacob could almost put the star on himself!!



 



 









Children's Museum

I guess I'll just jump right in to this whole blog thing.  I've been considering doing this for a while and finally have taken the plunge...so here it goes.  What a better way to start than with a trip to the Children's Museum?!?  We weren't sure if it would be worth our time with a 4 month old and a 2 and a half year old, but we really had a good time.  Jacob loved exploring the many exhibits that allow you to do things...play with sand, water, construction equipment, trains, etc.  I even got him to go down the Yule Slide with me!  Weeee!  The gift shop is amazing and although I'm sure it is overpriced, there are some really unique toys in there.  We will be keeping that in mind for birthday and Christmas gifts in the future.  Enjoy some snapshots from our day out with Dad.