Happy Mother's Day

"As one

whom his
mother comforteth,
so will I comfort you..."
Psalm 66:13

Goal Defender

Hi everyone. Here's a picture of my little goal defender during his Fall soccer season. My 6-year-old is in the green shirt on the right closest to his coach. The kids named their team "The Green Bombers." Isn't that cute? My son played soccer for the first time on a team last Fall and loved it sooooooo much that he is playing it again this Spring! He loves to kick that ball down the field. My oldest continues to play his favorite All-American sport: baseball. Hopefully I'll have a pic soon of my teenager. I tend to capture word-pictures more often than picture-pictures (smile). I thank God for my two boys. Have a great day my friends!

In Review

Something special happened yesterday...

I finished reading the Old Testament in the Bible! Hurray--all thirty-nine books. What an adventure! I began in Genesis on January 1, 2007. And even though I am not on track for reading through the Bible in a year, I am continuing to follow the chronological calendar for Bible reading which takes you through the Bible according to a chronological time-line.

Why do I believe reading through the Bible is so important? Well, many reasons, but one of the most important reasons I have learned in recent years is how the Word of God gives us perspective in life. There are great insights God gives us through not only history, but through the direct revelation of His Word, (the entire Bible is the revealed, inspired, God-breathed Word of God). The Holy Spirit will show us what we need to know both now and for eternity. Not one word of the Bible will ever fail!

In 2006 I read through the NKJV Daily Bible in a year. I enjoyed reading a little of the Old & New Testament, and a bit of a Psalm and Proverb. For example, Day One's reading included Genesis 1:-2:25, Psalm 1;1-6, Proverbs 1:1-7, & Matthew 1:1-25.

So today I begin the New Testament in Matthew. I am continuing to read this year in the NKJV (New King James Version) Women of Faith Devotional Bible, 2003 edition. I wonder what new adventure God will take me on today?

After finishing the book of Nehemiah, I read the four chapters in Malachi this past week.

Here are a few of my underlines and devotional thoughts from Malachi:

1:11 "From from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For my name shall be great among the nations, " says the Lord of hosts.

What kind of offering do I give to the Lord? Is it with a pure heart and motives? Do I realize how great and awesome God really is? Does my life reflect His glory?

2:5 "My covenant was with him, one of life and peace. And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; so he feared Me and was reverent before My name."

Do I respect the Lord in all my ways? Am I realizing God's promises of life and peace on a daily basis? How might my life change if I yield myself each day to his promises? How might my life and the lives of those around me change today?

2:15 "But did He not make them one (referring to the marriage covenant), Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence," says the LORD of hosts. Therefore take heed to your spirit that you do not deal treacherously."

The marriage covenant is sacred. God desires that husband and wife stay together, love each other as He loves us and that we raise up our children in the nurture and counsel of the LORD so people may know HIM. May I be rebuked for thinking this life, this marriage, and parenting is all about ME... oh LORD, forgive me if I have dealt treacherously, in times past I have... show me where and how I need to change today! May I forgive as the LORD has forgiven me...

3:2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderers' soap."

Oh Lord, purify me. Cleanse me and may You have Your way in my life. Your way is the only right way.

3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."

Praise You Lord that You are the One who gives stability to my life--stability to this faltering world! Your mercies are new every morning. This is the day you have made and I will rejoice in it! You have all things in Your control and I rest in that truth.

3:16 "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them. So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name."

Time spent with the LORD is precious. Time spent talking with friends in the LORD is precious. Going to a Bible-believing and teaching church and being part of that fellowship is vital to my well-being and my walk with Jesus. May I never take that privilege for granted. God knows and He sees all. He is keeping record.

3:18 "Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him."

O LORD, give me a discerning heart... forgive me for the times I have made rash decisions and judgments.

4:2 "But to you who fear My name THE SUN of RIGHTEOUSNESS shall arise with healing in His wings..."

You LORD JESUS are truly the Son of Righteousness and the SUN of Righteousness. You are The Light and bring warmth and goodness into my life and to this world. One day, You will make all things right. I look forward to that day when I will see You face to face!

Living the adventure, won't you join me?

In Jesus' love,

Susan

A Journey on Mystic Mountain

The sun shone high in the sky late yesterday afternoon. I slipped on my black Eastern Mountain Sports vest and stepped out of my 4-wheel drive. The mountain loomed before me.

“Are you ready to go?” I glanced at my 6-year-old son. He clasped his little hands together with determination.

“Let’s go Mom,” he said with a nod.

We carried our supplies to the base of Mystic Mountain and proceeded to climb. Soon we came to my son’s favorite section of the mountain. He had been waiting all year for this.

To our right was a basin of blue-green water that hugged the base of a cave carved in the rock formation. And there it stood, right next to the water. Large and green, it beckoned my son to rouse him from his winter’s sleep.

My son picked up his metal club with a rubber tip and tapped his little red golf ball into the hole that awoke the sleeping monster. A loud buzzing sound blared from a box on a nearby pole. The 100 ft. long green ivy bushes shaped into a swimming Loch Ness Monster lit up with tiny white lights.

With nobody else venturing out on this chilly Spring day, he decided to roll his golf ball into the hole a second time, watching with glee as the old Loch Ness Monster lit up again.

Moments later, we stood at the entrance of the rock cave.

“This is the hardest part, Mom,” my son informed me.

We each tapped our golf balls to the end of the dark tunnel and walked to the other side. As I picked up my small pink ball, my son ran onto the wood-slat bridge and stood in the middle.

“See? Look at that, Mommy,” he said pointing to a small alcove to the right of the bridge.

I grasped the rough rope and peered over the side. Four brightly colored golf balls bobbed in their watery doom.

“I told you this was the hard part.”

I threw my head back and laughed at my little guy’s wisdom. He knew that at the end of the tunnel there was a gap between the bridge and the tunnel. If a person hit his golf ball too hard, it could easily roll into the water.

We continued on our journey, following the path up the other side of the miniature-golf mountain. I smiled at my little son, watching him run to each new golf site. We soon reached the end and met my sixteen-year-old son at the baseball batting cages where he had been steadily practicing for his game.

We sat on a bench together and sipped our bottles of water. The sun shone brightly overhead and in the quietness of my heart, I thanked God for another day to spend with my sons—another day to feel the breeze on my face and the warmth of the sun—another day to live and love and laugh.

A Shoulder to the Work

Well, this is my 200th post! I can hardly believe it! This time around I will NOT post 200 things, rest assured - LOL!

Instead, let's take a look at something in the book of Nehemiah. I love that book. I love so many books in the Word of God, it's hard to choose a favorite. All sixty-six books of the Bible are exactly what we need to know.

Something that really stood out to me was that Nehemiah was a praying man. He was also very insightful. I believe the reason for that goes back to idea that he prayed. And when He prayed, he REALLY prayed.

Check out chapter 1, verses 5 & 6: "Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You... hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now."

Your servant. Nehemiah knew who God was and what his place was before the LORD. He knew what it meant to work hard. And guess what? The good hand of God was upon him and the people in their work in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem.

However, it was interesting to note in chapter 3 verse 5 that the nobles did NOT put their shoulder to the work of their Lord. "Wow," I thought. "How could those nobles be so snobby? What, did they think they were above helping out?"

But then I thought in my life how often I despise certain jobs. For starters, raking lawn clippings.

Today, part of my work after speaking to a MOPS group (see last Thursday's post), included building a fort with pillows and blankets with my six-year-old son and later raking the grass clippings in my yard. Now the fort part was fun, but the raking I could live without. I would have much rather read a book. However, that is the work that God called me to do today. There will be time for reading later.

And you know what? The work was good for me. Just like Nehemiah, God's good hand was upon me both this morning and this afternoon.

I am glad for the work that God has given, yes, even raking the yard.

What work has God given you to do? Let's put our shoulder to the work of the LORD and do it!

Live the adventure,

Susan

*Just an added note, as I was reviewing Nehemiah this morning (on 4-25), I noted that it was just a certain group of people of Israel called the Tekoites that had nobles that did not do their share of the work.

Going Somewhere?

Did you ever get the feeling that you're going nowhere - fast? (smile) I have to chuckle at this picture of my son (closest to the water) and his friend he met on vacation last year. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather and the fun family times ahead as the Lord allows.

Today I was looking over some places I've read in my Bible this year. Here are a few of my underlines in Isaiah. The Bible says in Isaiah 63:16, "...You, O LORD, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name." And then in chapter 64 verse 4. "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him."

I am thankful God is a loving Father who watches out for His children. He wants what is best for us and sometimes that means waiting until "God puts the boat into the water." His timing and way is not always ours, but it is always best!

In what ways do you find it difficult to wait on the LORD? How has waiting or not waiting on God impacted your life for good or bad? I look forward to hearing from you.

Live the adventure,
Susan

Dwelling Well

Today and next Thursday, God has given me an incredible opportunity to speak to two local MOPS groups. No, it is not a seminar on cleaning supplies, (although we may touch on housework for a few moments). MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers and it is an International ministry available to encourage and help mothers. (Click here for more information on MOPS.) Their theme this year is "Dwelling Well".

I will be talking with the women today about what else? ADVENTURE! The title for my talk is, "Adventures in Motherhood: Finding the key to a balanced life". My prayer is that women's hearts will be touched with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they will understand that they can learn to live a life with less stress, more strength, and a new motivation. It is possible to dwell well!

Here's an awesome quote from a book I've been reading about finding balance. Sandra Felton says in her book, Organizing for Life, "Even though we can do much to right ourselves and avoid the fever of a confused life, in the end true order and beauty flow only from God, who made both and said they were good... He orders our steps by giving us the wisdom we need to balance our lives rightly."

I'm glad we have a God and Savior, Jesus Christ who cares about the details of our lives, aren't you? He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us, to teach us, to comfort us. And for that, I'm forever grateful!

Live the adventure,

Susan