Blueberry Pancakes
November 8th, 2008
Your Preschool Christmas List
November 7th, 2008Besides the music and book that I recommend this Christmas, I also recommend a sweet addition to your family.
Yes! The American Girl Dolls are as lovable in real life as they are in the catalogs. Last Christmas, my mom and dad gave Vivienne a Bitty Baby (named Ali, after an equally-lovable cousin) and she has become a beautiful part of our family.
I must say, every little girl who visits chooses to play with Ali first. In fact, a couple of Vivienne’s friends want to move into our house… largely due to Ali’s huggable body, kissible head, and beautiful accessories.
If your little girl doesn’t have a special baby doll yet, I highly recommend this one.
Your Preschool Christmas List
November 6th, 2008Every morning, we read one or two stories from The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name, a wonderful collection of Bible stories - each of which explains how God was foretelling, anticipating, and promising the arrival and work of Jesus Christ. How wonderful to be reminded that everything is always only about Him.
November 5, 2008
November 5th, 2008These thoughts, written by Jasmine Baucham, are significant to me today.
A “Change” We Can Be Thrilled About
I woke up this morning, not filled with dread or disappointment at Barack Obama’s election; no, I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to face a new day. I woke up, unsurprised to find that God is still on His throne, holy, just, righteous, omnipotent, sovereign, and loving, and that we are His children, bought with a price, sealed for that marvelous day when the King of Kings will come to reign here on earth as He reigns in our lives, and sovereignly over all things.
America has fallen for Obama’s promises of change… and change I’m sure we’ll receive; President Obama is sure to provide us with ample opportunity for change, sliding on a downhill slope towards Marxist socialism. As one friend joked via email this morning, New Zealand’s looking better and better to me each day.
Reflect, however, on Romans 13:1-7… is Barack Obama’s administration as unsavory as the administration that the Apostle Paul was submitting to when the Lord inspired him to write those words?
The Lord gave me peace this morning as I was able to reflect on a different type of change that can occur over the next four years under our new administration. I don’t mean the change that means our troops perhaps coming home to soon, abortions being easier and easier to come by, taxes raising painfully high, and welfare spreading our money painfully thin…
I mean the change that could come within the lives of God’s people. As we are forced to transfer our hope from a fallen human candidate, and into the hands of our all-wise God, perhaps He will quicken our hearts, soften our consciences, and give us a renewed passion for His Kingdom; He will sanctify us, He will strengthen us, and through that sanctification process, He will make us more and more able to carry out His glorious plan.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
(Romans 5:3-5)
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)
The Lord has placed us in this time in history, in this country, for a reason; we are here on earth in this window of time to bring Him glory and honor, to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, to leave a legacy for those that come after us, that they may continue this work long after we’re gone. Obama’s presidency cannot stop us from carrying out this mission; he can make it difficult, he can make it painful, but he cannot stop us.
In light of our present circumstances, I do have hope that a change will come; a revival, starting in the hearts of the children of God as they learn to trust and revere their mighty Maker. And I have a hope that this change will inspire us to do great and wonderful things for the Kingdom of God, through our submission to Him in all things.
P.S. Jasmine’s post from yesterday was equally insightful.
Voting Day
November 3rd, 2008John Piper’s thoughts concerning Election 2008
Your Preschool Christmas List
November 2nd, 2008I know, I know, Thanksgiving hasn’t even arrived yet. However, who can deny the excitement of planning a memorable Christmas for our little ones?
So, while we’re beginning to scheme about the perfect Christmas present for our favorite preschoolers, I thought I’d take a week to bombard you with some of my top recommendations: a smattering of music, books, and toys that might make your list.
Hey, why don’t you join in the fun, and post your own recommendations on your blog or in my comment section? You know me, I’m always looking for some ideas to steal!
Today’s pick is a recent favorite: music from Songs for Saplings.
Dana Dirksen has written dozens of charming songs straight out of Scripture. We’ve been enjoying “Songs for Saplings: ABCs” and Volume 1 of “Questions and Answers”, which is a CD packed with memorable songs based on the Catechism. Thanks to Dana, we walk around humming incredible truths like, “I was made to glorify God and enjoy Him forever…” I am thrilled that Vivienne and Lia will have these truths etched in their hearts at such a young age. These CDs are a rare and priceless find! You can listen to excerpts on the Songs for Saplings website or on iTunes.
Vivienne will make a Wonderful Wife…
November 2nd, 2008…because, when her main man comes home from a run, she says things like this:
“Daddy, you are SO handsome! Even though your ears are red. But I think that red ears are SOOO cute!”
(I learn a lot from her.)
This Little Light of Mine: Day 9
October 31st, 2008Today was our GOOD WORKS OF LIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA!
What fun we had, making a surprise poster for our neighbors, delivering cookies, visiting a little friend who will be moving away soon, collecting sticks for our neighbors, and dressing up as little princesses!
(Even our pumpkin is a princess this year! Her name is Pearl.)
This marks the last of my posts about Matthew 5: 14-16 for now. On Tuesday, we’ll deliver a treat to the poll workers when we vote… and we’ll be praying our hearts out ’til then. Remember, let your light shine so that people will see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.
‘Ever notice…
October 31st, 2008…that a pumpkin seed looks remarkably like a light bulb??
(So, now my big question is, did God chuckle when, year after year, inventors - taking a break from their experiments to develop some kind of sustainable light source - scooped dozens of light-bulb-shaped seeds out of pumpkins in order to put candles inside to light them up?? Was He ever just busting at the seams to joyfully tease, “I know something you don’t know…”)
This Little Light of Mine: Day 8
October 30th, 2008
On Tuesday night, Ryan, some friends, and I joined thousands of people to cheer, clap, and encourage Sarah Palin to “keep on!”
Ryan and I highly support McCain and Palin in this election even though we don’t agree with everything that they say or do (we couldn’t expect to); nor do we think that they are perfect (we couldn’t expect them to be).
But when it comes to being a light that glorifies God, we think that we see the flickers of this desire in them; and, of the possible candidates, we think that we would be most free and most encouraged to shine for Him under their office.
As you know, there is much to pray about. Today, we will join Shirley Dobson and the National Day of Prayer to talk to God about our country and our hearts. Join the nation in prayer from 12 - 12:30 today. I appreciate Billy Graham’s recent prayer about this election:
‘Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to
seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those who
call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our
spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and
called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We
have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and
called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called
it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen!’
