Hi all! Sorry Ryan and I have been out of the loop on some of these blogs. We no longer have a computer at home since I returned my Young Life laptop, and we're considering our options of when and what to purchase from here. I haven't had much time on a computer at work (until today!), so I feel a little disconnected from what you all have been writing.
I'll give you a quick rundown of the new job and my thoughts so far--I love it. I love the environment, learning about the treatment, getting to slowly know patients and all the wonderful staff here. I also love the short drive and savings in gas money! My mind has definitely started stirring within me to the possibility of pursuing a career in social work more seriously. I'll give you all a full update when we are together soon.
We spent a lovely and very relaxing weekend at home! We've been feeling very much on the go recently, with my new job and a ton of social activities, so we decided that we would just spend time together this weekend and not make any set plans. We had a wonderful date night on Friday with dinner at a new restaurant (yum!), and a kickin' concert at one of our favorite venues. Check out Vampire Weekend, all you music lovers. They were amazing.
Saturday we slept in, took a nice walk down to get a bagel and coffee and enjoy a morning outside checking out houses that are for rent for our friends, Erik & Lauren, who will be out here in a few weeks to make some final decisions on what area of town to live in. We then ran some errands, got hooked on the basketball games going down, and finished the night going to check out our friend's house that he recently remodeled.
Sunday was a full morning of church and then a trail run. We have now decided that we are going to become experts in trail running through this next season! It was a beautiful run and a good start to spring for us. We then were able to hit up a new lunch spot downtown, with some of the best homemade chips I've ever had.
We spent last night down in Colorado Springs with Susan and Michael and their little baby girl, Bea. She is precious and I loved holding her for most of the night! We cooked dinner for them to give them some time to just relax and we all enjoyed the evening immensely. I think it's good for them to know that people are supportive and want to help in any way possible as they get adjusted to being new parents. It made me eager for BABY JUDAH to come along so I can hold another sweet baby in my arms!
We have loved all the games and the upsets that occured this weekend, even if I am in now almost last place (next to the Gid-man). We're very excited that we'll be able to watch some of the final games together in Chicago! Let's all pray for wonderful weather so we can enjoy the outdoors.
Drew--thanks for all the things you wrote in your last blog--I loved the update on what you and Kristine have decided to do for now.
Mom--thanks for writing beautiful words on God's will and speaking to us about what's on your mind these days. We all appreciate you sharing your wisdom!
Just wanted you all to know we've been thinking of you guys and counting the days until we board our plane for Chicago!!!
Love,
Ryan and Kristi
Monday, March 22, 2010
It's Been A While
Hey family, Andrew here.
First to mom: Incredible blogs. Very meaningful. I appreciate what you do for our family by pushing us, encouraging us, listening to us, and praying for us. So thoughtful...thank you!
To Matt: love the bracket on mid-majority (although we had talked about it on the phone too). I wish we could have watched some of the tournament together because I know we would have been rooting for the same teams. I get so tired of most people just rooting for their picks instead of rooting for who they actually want to win. I hope the final four is Northern Iowa, Butler, Cornell, and St. Mary's. Our Big Ten teams too.
To Gideon: Thanks for having me represent a team in your Final Four. I love you and can't wait to hold you and play with you in Chicago. I even bought you something for Easter already. Go Mountain Hawks!
To Dad: I went golfing this week and shot an 83. Sorry you can't play because of your shoulder but I had a blast. I wish I would have played with you but we'll play soon enough.
To Kristi: I loved getting texts from you this weekend. I didn't even know you would be watching all of the basketball as closely as you have. I love the upsets just like you. Kristine and I have been missing you and can't wait to hang in Chicago.
Courtney: I really miss you. I've seen Matt and Gideon twice in the past month but unfortunately you haven't been able to make it. Kristine and I have been talking about going out with you and Matt sometime soon and maybe staying up at your place too. I would love to hear about how things are going with your jobs and also hear updates on planning for a baby room at your house.
Ryan: Thank you for being a great new brother. I loved the poop text you sent me a month of so ago. It was hilarious. Thank you also for calling my wife on a regular basis. You have been consistent in doing that and she really appreciates it. I know you probably have a portable GPS and I thought it would be fun to do some geocaching (spelling?) in Chicago sometime if we have a chance.
Kristine: I love you dearly and can't wait for our Spring Break adventures in Chicago and Miami. I am extra pumped for our one day cruise to the Bahamas. I am happy that we are actively communicating and praying for our future. Love you!
To all: As of right now, Kristine and I are planning on staying in Kokomo for the time being. I am not taking the Fort Wayne tennis position. I am looking to stay and possible advance within the tennis center here. I am also planning on starting a Master's degree this fall. Kristine and I will continue to look around and be ready to leave when God wants us to. Continue to pray for us! Love you all and only a week and a half until Chicago baby!
Andrew
Kristine:
First to mom: Incredible blogs. Very meaningful. I appreciate what you do for our family by pushing us, encouraging us, listening to us, and praying for us. So thoughtful...thank you!
To Matt: love the bracket on mid-majority (although we had talked about it on the phone too). I wish we could have watched some of the tournament together because I know we would have been rooting for the same teams. I get so tired of most people just rooting for their picks instead of rooting for who they actually want to win. I hope the final four is Northern Iowa, Butler, Cornell, and St. Mary's. Our Big Ten teams too.
To Gideon: Thanks for having me represent a team in your Final Four. I love you and can't wait to hold you and play with you in Chicago. I even bought you something for Easter already. Go Mountain Hawks!
To Dad: I went golfing this week and shot an 83. Sorry you can't play because of your shoulder but I had a blast. I wish I would have played with you but we'll play soon enough.
To Kristi: I loved getting texts from you this weekend. I didn't even know you would be watching all of the basketball as closely as you have. I love the upsets just like you. Kristine and I have been missing you and can't wait to hang in Chicago.
Courtney: I really miss you. I've seen Matt and Gideon twice in the past month but unfortunately you haven't been able to make it. Kristine and I have been talking about going out with you and Matt sometime soon and maybe staying up at your place too. I would love to hear about how things are going with your jobs and also hear updates on planning for a baby room at your house.
Ryan: Thank you for being a great new brother. I loved the poop text you sent me a month of so ago. It was hilarious. Thank you also for calling my wife on a regular basis. You have been consistent in doing that and she really appreciates it. I know you probably have a portable GPS and I thought it would be fun to do some geocaching (spelling?) in Chicago sometime if we have a chance.
Kristine: I love you dearly and can't wait for our Spring Break adventures in Chicago and Miami. I am extra pumped for our one day cruise to the Bahamas. I am happy that we are actively communicating and praying for our future. Love you!
To all: As of right now, Kristine and I are planning on staying in Kokomo for the time being. I am not taking the Fort Wayne tennis position. I am looking to stay and possible advance within the tennis center here. I am also planning on starting a Master's degree this fall. Kristine and I will continue to look around and be ready to leave when God wants us to. Continue to pray for us! Love you all and only a week and a half until Chicago baby!
Andrew
Kristine:
Sunday, March 21, 2010
On a Sunday
First of all, I'm thankful for mom's posts on God's will. It is a difficult topic, and I agree with mom on the final post. God certainly requires action, but we can't take total control. Instead, we must stay in relationship with God.
Which has been really difficult for me over the past couple of days. Early this week, Gideon was really sick with a cough and cold, and he started a habit of waking up every 15 minutes starting at about 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. So, I'd been trying to help him get back to sleep, get medicine, etc. But I found once I was up the first time it just seemed difficult to get back to sleep. Courtney has been that way too. One night, we finally turned on the light at 3:30 and read for an hour.
But Gideon is over it now and back to his talkative and fun self! Now, Courtney is sick. So the second half of the week I've been getting little sick because she has been coughing and uncomfortable in bed. The last couple of nights, I've actually come out to the couch so that Courtney could be more comfortable, and so that I didn't have to hear her coughing. So I'm a little tired. And when I get tired, it is tough to get up for my morning times with God.
But, having a little boy around always adds some joy to the day. Last night, we hung a picture in his room that we drew in the basement. It has pictures of his Final Four picks, and a cheerleader. This morning, as I walked into his room, he was talking happily.
"Daddy, I see my picture. There's Daddy, and Gideon, and Andrew and Kristine. And the cheerleader is Mommy. Right there!" He had decided that I was the Lehigh player, he was the Missouri player, Andrew was the Sam Houston State player, and Kristine was Kansas State. Mommy was the cheerleader that Grammy had drawn in the corner... and yes, those are his Final Four picks!
It was a fun way to start what is usually a good day. And it has been so far, except I'll have no chance for a nap, what with Ohio St., Michigan St., Wisconsin, and Cornell coming on next! Hope you guys all have a good day, and continue to enjoy the tournament.
Oh, by the way, if you want to see my real bracket. Check out the second picture at this site: http://www.midmajority.com/2010/03/the-first-annual-as-you-go-bra.php
Which has been really difficult for me over the past couple of days. Early this week, Gideon was really sick with a cough and cold, and he started a habit of waking up every 15 minutes starting at about 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. So, I'd been trying to help him get back to sleep, get medicine, etc. But I found once I was up the first time it just seemed difficult to get back to sleep. Courtney has been that way too. One night, we finally turned on the light at 3:30 and read for an hour.
But Gideon is over it now and back to his talkative and fun self! Now, Courtney is sick. So the second half of the week I've been getting little sick because she has been coughing and uncomfortable in bed. The last couple of nights, I've actually come out to the couch so that Courtney could be more comfortable, and so that I didn't have to hear her coughing. So I'm a little tired. And when I get tired, it is tough to get up for my morning times with God.
But, having a little boy around always adds some joy to the day. Last night, we hung a picture in his room that we drew in the basement. It has pictures of his Final Four picks, and a cheerleader. This morning, as I walked into his room, he was talking happily.
"Daddy, I see my picture. There's Daddy, and Gideon, and Andrew and Kristine. And the cheerleader is Mommy. Right there!" He had decided that I was the Lehigh player, he was the Missouri player, Andrew was the Sam Houston State player, and Kristine was Kansas State. Mommy was the cheerleader that Grammy had drawn in the corner... and yes, those are his Final Four picks!
It was a fun way to start what is usually a good day. And it has been so far, except I'll have no chance for a nap, what with Ohio St., Michigan St., Wisconsin, and Cornell coming on next! Hope you guys all have a good day, and continue to enjoy the tournament.
Oh, by the way, if you want to see my real bracket. Check out the second picture at this site: http://www.midmajority.com/2010/03/the-first-annual-as-you-go-bra.php
Thursday, March 18, 2010
I haven't written the conclusion to my blog for a couple of days. I will do that today. I am working through several thoughts and trying to reconcile them in living in this daily life. I know that I suffer from a spiritual myopothy, or near-sightedness that makes me want to think of God's will only as it effects me (or you guys) and not in general. I have had a new old song in my head all week and it is just this "Open my eyes and let me see, Glimpses of truth those hast for me, Place in my hand that wonderful key, That shall unclasp and set me free. So, based on these thoughts here is the conclusion of my blog on "God's Will". I should entitle this one "God's will, Our Responsibility".
"This, brings up a whole other matter, and confusing issue: Is it God's work or my work? God's responsibility or mine? I think each of us has a strong tendency to attempt to wrestle control from the Spirit and "do" this life on our own. We tend to switch from living the gospel of grace to trusting in a system of works. It's hard to truly depend on sustenance and guidance from the Spirit rather than merely on our own wisdom and effort. If we never responded to God, if we never acted based on what He has done for us, there wouldn't be much of a relationship there. God is still real and moving, but at some point we have to respond and act because of what God's done. Like yeast and flour are both necessary to bread, both God's action and our response=action are necessary in this relationship with God. Like many things in life, there really isn't a sew-it-all-up solution. And I love that. God is big and mysterious enough that we cannot simply put a label on this process and move on. It requires continual engagement and wrestling and discovering how to live a Spirit-filled life today. Not 10 years from now. Not tomorrow. But right now, in the particular time and place God has put you."
I was reminded last night about how my relationship with God works. Your dad and I were in bed and of course the lights were out. (We couldn't see) I said goodnight and I got no response. Your dad's back was to me and he did not have his hearing aids in. So I turned toward him, touched him and said again, "Goodnight". His response was to turn to me, kiss me, and say "Goodnight". And that is how it is with God. He touches me, opens my eyes and ears, and I still have the chose to respond. Sometimes it is a whisper, sometimes a shout, sometimes it is just a gesture. But that is a relationship. Something we can all relate to. And this is just a thought from mom.........
"This, brings up a whole other matter, and confusing issue: Is it God's work or my work? God's responsibility or mine? I think each of us has a strong tendency to attempt to wrestle control from the Spirit and "do" this life on our own. We tend to switch from living the gospel of grace to trusting in a system of works. It's hard to truly depend on sustenance and guidance from the Spirit rather than merely on our own wisdom and effort. If we never responded to God, if we never acted based on what He has done for us, there wouldn't be much of a relationship there. God is still real and moving, but at some point we have to respond and act because of what God's done. Like yeast and flour are both necessary to bread, both God's action and our response=action are necessary in this relationship with God. Like many things in life, there really isn't a sew-it-all-up solution. And I love that. God is big and mysterious enough that we cannot simply put a label on this process and move on. It requires continual engagement and wrestling and discovering how to live a Spirit-filled life today. Not 10 years from now. Not tomorrow. But right now, in the particular time and place God has put you."
I was reminded last night about how my relationship with God works. Your dad and I were in bed and of course the lights were out. (We couldn't see) I said goodnight and I got no response. Your dad's back was to me and he did not have his hearing aids in. So I turned toward him, touched him and said again, "Goodnight". His response was to turn to me, kiss me, and say "Goodnight". And that is how it is with God. He touches me, opens my eyes and ears, and I still have the chose to respond. Sometimes it is a whisper, sometimes a shout, sometimes it is just a gesture. But that is a relationship. Something we can all relate to. And this is just a thought from mom.........
Friday, March 12, 2010
So I intend to continue my narrative....a continuation of yesterday. Today I am contemplating what it looks like to rely upon the Holy Spirit in living a life in "God's will". Being filled with Him. "The cruz of it, I believe is realizing that being filled with the Spirit is not a one'time act. As we read in Galatians about the Sipirit and the flesh, walking with the Spirit implies an ongoing relationship. Being filled with the Spirit is not limited to the day we first meet Christ. Instead, throughout Scripture we read of a relationship that call us into an active pursuit of the Spirit every day.
Imagine I buy a treadmill to lose some weight. Three months later, I take it back to the store and complain to the clerk that it didn't work- I didn't lose a pound. He asks me,"Did it not work properly?" I respond: "I don't know if it works. I never ran on it. I just know I didn't lose any weight, so I am done with it!"
This may seem like a silly example, but change the details and suddenly it sounds familiar: "I have prayed for the Holy Spirit to free me from my lust, and I am still addicted to pornography." Or, "I have prayed for years to be able to forgive my dad, but I am still racked with anger and bitterness 30 years down the road." "I have prayed for years to be free of my gluttony, but despite prayer, spiritually based support groups and dieting, I am still a compulsive, unhealthy eater."
Fill in whatever sin plagues you and suddenly the treadmill illustration doesn't seem so silly. In fact, it seems like those prayers for freedom from that ongoing sin didn't really "work" in much the same way the treadmill didn't help me lose any weight.
Receiving freedom and healing in answer to prayer is generally not something that is done to you, a situation in which you are just a passive participant. Occasionally God works this way and heals or frees a person outright. He is certainly capable of this. Bit in my experience, God typically asks us to play an active role in the journey toward wholeness.
God doesn't need our help, but invites us to participate. Often this journey to freedom takes time, sometimes a very long time. And it takes perseverance. It takes participation on our part. We have to get on the treadmill and run - merely looking at the workout machine doesn't do a whole lot.
Living by the Spirit implies a habitual, continual and active interaction with the Holy Spirit. While this sounds exhausting, it really isn't because all of this living and action is done in the power of the Spirit. It is not by your own strength."
Now I don't know what areas that you all are struggling in, (well I guess some of us have shared where) but I can get caught up in inactivity in those areas of struggle. In other words, I am willing to put work into my physical body, my intellectual body, or my emotional body, and even spiritual body. I do the things on the outside and gain wisdom, but some areas I think that I have held to myself because it might take too much work. The truth is that as I give up the control and let God into those areas, He picks up the load for me. He carries my guilt and pain until I fail and want to punish myself with the guilt. A part of me feels that because as a human, as Robin, I fail, that I do not deserve to have my burden lifted or carried. I don't deserve it, but thank God!!!!I don't have to. Tomorrow, I will try and finish these thoughts. Today, "Now I have given up everything else - I have found it to be the only way to really know Christ and to experience the might power that brought Him back to life again, and to find out what it means to suffer and to die with Him. So what ever it take, I will be one who live in the fresh newness of life of those who are alive from the dead." Phil 3: 10,11
Imagine I buy a treadmill to lose some weight. Three months later, I take it back to the store and complain to the clerk that it didn't work- I didn't lose a pound. He asks me,"Did it not work properly?" I respond: "I don't know if it works. I never ran on it. I just know I didn't lose any weight, so I am done with it!"
This may seem like a silly example, but change the details and suddenly it sounds familiar: "I have prayed for the Holy Spirit to free me from my lust, and I am still addicted to pornography." Or, "I have prayed for years to be able to forgive my dad, but I am still racked with anger and bitterness 30 years down the road." "I have prayed for years to be free of my gluttony, but despite prayer, spiritually based support groups and dieting, I am still a compulsive, unhealthy eater."
Fill in whatever sin plagues you and suddenly the treadmill illustration doesn't seem so silly. In fact, it seems like those prayers for freedom from that ongoing sin didn't really "work" in much the same way the treadmill didn't help me lose any weight.
Receiving freedom and healing in answer to prayer is generally not something that is done to you, a situation in which you are just a passive participant. Occasionally God works this way and heals or frees a person outright. He is certainly capable of this. Bit in my experience, God typically asks us to play an active role in the journey toward wholeness.
God doesn't need our help, but invites us to participate. Often this journey to freedom takes time, sometimes a very long time. And it takes perseverance. It takes participation on our part. We have to get on the treadmill and run - merely looking at the workout machine doesn't do a whole lot.
Living by the Spirit implies a habitual, continual and active interaction with the Holy Spirit. While this sounds exhausting, it really isn't because all of this living and action is done in the power of the Spirit. It is not by your own strength."
Now I don't know what areas that you all are struggling in, (well I guess some of us have shared where) but I can get caught up in inactivity in those areas of struggle. In other words, I am willing to put work into my physical body, my intellectual body, or my emotional body, and even spiritual body. I do the things on the outside and gain wisdom, but some areas I think that I have held to myself because it might take too much work. The truth is that as I give up the control and let God into those areas, He picks up the load for me. He carries my guilt and pain until I fail and want to punish myself with the guilt. A part of me feels that because as a human, as Robin, I fail, that I do not deserve to have my burden lifted or carried. I don't deserve it, but thank God!!!!I don't have to. Tomorrow, I will try and finish these thoughts. Today, "Now I have given up everything else - I have found it to be the only way to really know Christ and to experience the might power that brought Him back to life again, and to find out what it means to suffer and to die with Him. So what ever it take, I will be one who live in the fresh newness of life of those who are alive from the dead." Phil 3: 10,11
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Next Installment of God's Will
So today there is much that I could say. Ways that I want to encourage you all! Instead I will begin with a continuation of yesterday. More from Francis Chan:
"God wants us to listen to His Spirit on a daily basis, and even throughout the day, as difficult and stretching moments arise, and in the midst of the mundane. Instead of searching for "God's will for my life," learn to seek hard after "the Spirit's leading in my life today." May we learn to pray for an open and willing heart, to surrender to the Spirit's leading with that friend, child, spouse, circumstance or decision in our lives right now.
To say we are not called to figure out"God's will for my life" does not mean God doesn't have purposes and plans for each of our lives, or that He doesn't care what we do with our lives. He does. In both the Old and New Testaments He tells us this is true. The key is that God never promises to reveal these purposes all at once, in advance.
Nowhere in Scripture do I see a "balanced life with a little bit of God added in" as an ideal for us to emulate. Yet when I look at our churches, this is exactly what I see: a lot of people who have added Jesus to their lives. People who have, in a sense, asked Jesus to join them on their life journey, to follow them wherever they feel they should go, rather than following Him as we are commanded. The God of the universe is not something we can just add to our lives and keep on as we did before. The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is not someone we can just call on when we want a little extra power in our lives. Jesus Christ did not die in order to follow us. He died and rose again so we could forget everything else and follow Him to the cross, to true Life. "
That's all for today. I need to know if this is helpful to you all! If you want to hear more, I will be waiting for some feedback. Today, I will be here at home, or on the road, grocery, or office following the Spirit's leading!
"God wants us to listen to His Spirit on a daily basis, and even throughout the day, as difficult and stretching moments arise, and in the midst of the mundane. Instead of searching for "God's will for my life," learn to seek hard after "the Spirit's leading in my life today." May we learn to pray for an open and willing heart, to surrender to the Spirit's leading with that friend, child, spouse, circumstance or decision in our lives right now.
To say we are not called to figure out"God's will for my life" does not mean God doesn't have purposes and plans for each of our lives, or that He doesn't care what we do with our lives. He does. In both the Old and New Testaments He tells us this is true. The key is that God never promises to reveal these purposes all at once, in advance.
Nowhere in Scripture do I see a "balanced life with a little bit of God added in" as an ideal for us to emulate. Yet when I look at our churches, this is exactly what I see: a lot of people who have added Jesus to their lives. People who have, in a sense, asked Jesus to join them on their life journey, to follow them wherever they feel they should go, rather than following Him as we are commanded. The God of the universe is not something we can just add to our lives and keep on as we did before. The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is not someone we can just call on when we want a little extra power in our lives. Jesus Christ did not die in order to follow us. He died and rose again so we could forget everything else and follow Him to the cross, to true Life. "
That's all for today. I need to know if this is helpful to you all! If you want to hear more, I will be waiting for some feedback. Today, I will be here at home, or on the road, grocery, or office following the Spirit's leading!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
God's Will
As your dad and I continue to navigate this life, we had a conversation last night about what God has been teaching us and the number of people and family that He has put in our lives that are struggling with these issues. Finding God's will seems to be a recurring theme. As if God has hidden this treasure and we are in this cosmic game of hide and seek. When if I truly look at the situation I recognize that it is my lack of understanding and just living in expectancy that is the problem. For Christmas you all gave me the character of Mary. I think my challenge this year is to live in the expectancy of what God will birth in my life and in those around me. At that point I will praise God for the gift He has given. What follows is an exerpt of an article in Relevant Magazine by Francis Chan. It is from his new book called Forgotten God. The name of the article is "I Just Wish I Knew God's Will..."
How many times have you heard someone wonder about "God's will for my life"? I know I've longed to know it for my life. But now I see it as a misguided way of thinking and talking.
There are very few people in the Scriptures who received their life plan from God in advance (or even their five year plan, for that matter). Consider Abraham, who was told to pack up his family and all his possessions and start walking. He didn't know where he was going. He didn't know if he would ever be back. He didn't know any of the details we consider vital (e.g. his destination, how long the venture would take, what the costs/rewards would be, whether he'd receive a 401 (k) or health insurance). God said to go and he went, and that's pretty much all he knew.
A lot of us need to forget about God's will for my life. God cares more about our response to His Spirit's leading today, in this moment, than about what we intend to do next year. In fact, the decisions we make next year will be profoundly affected by the degree to which we submit to the Spirit right now, in today's decisions.
It is easy to use the phrase "God's will for my life" as an excuse for inaction or even disobedience. It's much less demanding to think about God's will for your future than it is to ask Him what He wants you to do in the next 10 minutes. It's safer to commit to following Him someday instead of this day.
That's all I am giving you today Kids. For more from this article and mom's thoughts, tune in tomorrow! I love you all and will be praying that God will give you the strength to step out in faith in what God wants from you in the next ten minutes. Live in the "expectancy" of each day!
How many times have you heard someone wonder about "God's will for my life"? I know I've longed to know it for my life. But now I see it as a misguided way of thinking and talking.
There are very few people in the Scriptures who received their life plan from God in advance (or even their five year plan, for that matter). Consider Abraham, who was told to pack up his family and all his possessions and start walking. He didn't know where he was going. He didn't know if he would ever be back. He didn't know any of the details we consider vital (e.g. his destination, how long the venture would take, what the costs/rewards would be, whether he'd receive a 401 (k) or health insurance). God said to go and he went, and that's pretty much all he knew.
A lot of us need to forget about God's will for my life. God cares more about our response to His Spirit's leading today, in this moment, than about what we intend to do next year. In fact, the decisions we make next year will be profoundly affected by the degree to which we submit to the Spirit right now, in today's decisions.
It is easy to use the phrase "God's will for my life" as an excuse for inaction or even disobedience. It's much less demanding to think about God's will for your future than it is to ask Him what He wants you to do in the next 10 minutes. It's safer to commit to following Him someday instead of this day.
That's all I am giving you today Kids. For more from this article and mom's thoughts, tune in tomorrow! I love you all and will be praying that God will give you the strength to step out in faith in what God wants from you in the next ten minutes. Live in the "expectancy" of each day!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Things to Pray On
Hey everybody, hope you are having a wonderful day! I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, where my beautiful wife and I get away to South Haven, MI. We're staying at a bed and breakfast with a fireplace, planning on kicking up our heals and doing some reading. Plus, they have couples' massage, so we'll each get a half hour from a professional.
But I've had an interesting week at school, filled with great news and frustration...
- Great news, a great JV player from another school (he was last year 16-2) is probably going to transfer to Bethany. I spent 45 minutes or so talking to his parents' and it was really positive. I'm crossing my fingers, and praying that this happens. It would be such a blessing because last season our chances at Sectional were ruined by one player leaving (being suspended). It would be an awesome act of God to see this season's chances renewed by one player coming.
- Bad news, I've been fighting anger at my student's this week. The annoying habits, the inattention, the talking when I'm trying to give instructions... all those middle school things, are just getting to me this week. I'm so tired of the fight. And so I've almost snapped in anger several times, which is really unusual for me.
I could use prayer for both of those things!
Love you all, and can't wait to hear more from you,
Matthew.
But I've had an interesting week at school, filled with great news and frustration...
- Great news, a great JV player from another school (he was last year 16-2) is probably going to transfer to Bethany. I spent 45 minutes or so talking to his parents' and it was really positive. I'm crossing my fingers, and praying that this happens. It would be such a blessing because last season our chances at Sectional were ruined by one player leaving (being suspended). It would be an awesome act of God to see this season's chances renewed by one player coming.
- Bad news, I've been fighting anger at my student's this week. The annoying habits, the inattention, the talking when I'm trying to give instructions... all those middle school things, are just getting to me this week. I'm so tired of the fight. And so I've almost snapped in anger several times, which is really unusual for me.
I could use prayer for both of those things!
Love you all, and can't wait to hear more from you,
Matthew.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
All my chains I can't disengage, And I don't believe that I want to.
One hand sings your praise ,The other brings me shame. I have selfishness to blame
And I'm singing for freedom, I know I'm not the only one... Praying to the one
Who can bring me this freedom
I'm ready for change!
Broke down I lay I keep holding my chains
No long bound but here I stay.
I scream Father please I need rescuing
I need You and You alone
Still You patiently await Yet I won't just let go
I see You and You alone
Saying freedom And so I'm singing for freedom
The time has come separation lost the war to love
Take my hand grace has found you where You once began
You're Alive! You're Alive! in the waking of new life
Take my hand in the end there's only love There's only love
There's only singing for freeom I know I'm not only one Praying to the One
Who can bring me this freedom
I'm ready for I'm ready for... Father please I need rescuing I need You and You alone
One hand sings your praise ,The other brings me shame. I have selfishness to blame
And I'm singing for freedom, I know I'm not the only one... Praying to the one
Who can bring me this freedom
I'm ready for change!
Broke down I lay I keep holding my chains
No long bound but here I stay.
I scream Father please I need rescuing
I need You and You alone
Still You patiently await Yet I won't just let go
I see You and You alone
Saying freedom And so I'm singing for freedom
The time has come separation lost the war to love
Take my hand grace has found you where You once began
You're Alive! You're Alive! in the waking of new life
Take my hand in the end there's only love There's only love
There's only singing for freeom I know I'm not only one Praying to the One
Who can bring me this freedom
I'm ready for I'm ready for... Father please I need rescuing I need You and You alone
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