Archives for September 2009

Because we live in a rural area, we see and talk about the sun, moon, and stars quite a bit. We’ve been known to stop our car on the way home from somewhere so we can watch the moonrise over the mountains. We have beautiful sunsets that we see each night when we eat dinner. The other day, David came to me a little worried. He relayed his fear that the moon wasn’t changing like it is supposed to.

I reassured him that the moon was indeed following its course, just as God told it to.

How good is God! We need not fear that the moon will fall from the sky, or that the earth will stop orbiting the sun. He is faithful. I reminded David about the song “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and told him that Jeremiah wrote the words that inspired the song.

When hard things happen, God is still faithful. When I don’t understand God’s timetable, I can rest that He has not changed. The stars are still shining, the moon is still traveling around the earth. I know what season comes next, and I know there is nothing that can separate me from God’s love.

Truth is a precious commodity. Do not spend it. Treasure it, and share it. We know that all things work together for good. We know in whom we have believed. We are absolutely persuaded that He is able to present us faultless before God.

When God was reassuring his people Israel that he would keep his promises, he pointed to the skies. He told them if they could break the cycle of night and day, of seasons, then his promises would fail. Who is like our God? As my brother says, “He always does exactly what He says He will do, and we can be certain that He will not stop until every promise is fulfilled.”

The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “Thus says the LORD: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time,  then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests my ministers. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me.” Jeremiah 33:19-22

How is God’s Word changing and encouraging you?

Lee and I were discussing how the concept of marriage is sometimes difficult for young children.

Laurel, and sometimes Bethel (2 and 4) will ask a lady, “Where is your dad?” when they are looking for her husband. Occasionally we’ll ask questions about relationships. (eg., How is Uncle Bryan and Uncle Mark related to Daddy?) When we ask about how mommy and daddy are related, they don’t always know what to say.

Now, it’s possible that they know that there’s a difference between the relationship between mom and dad, and parents and children, even though their vocabulary doesn’t reflect that knowledge. However, Lee and I noticed that when we talk about ourselves, we tend to talk in third person from the perspective of the child: Mommy is cooking dinner right now. Daddy is going to the hospital to check on a baby. That’s because we’re usually thinking out loud for the child. It’s not a bad thing at all.

But what if the relationship we’re talking about is not from the perspective of the child, but the adult? Mommy is going out on a special date with Daddy…. Daddy likes spending time with Mommy…. Worded this way, that’s no different than when Bethel goes on a special date with Daddy, or than Daddy’s enjoyment of spending time with his children.

What we were wondering is whether it might not be wise to at least some of the time refer to each other as a spouse. Your mommy is going on a date with her husband… Daddy likes spending time with his wife.

Maybe I’m cracked up a bit, and I’ve had a little too much introspection lately, but I like this approach. It’s possible that this is something we’re thinking through because of the specific ages and personalities of our own children. But it’s been an interesting discussion.

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

¹⁰That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

¹¹Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.Phil 1:9-11

I’ve prayed this passage for my children, for my husband, for other believers. I’ve even prayed it for myself.

This morning I prayed specifically that God would help me approve what is excellent as a mother and wife. I have many choices before me today. Some are harmless, but not excellent. Some choices are quite short-sighted.

God is my portion, regardless of what the day may hold, and I can glorify Him by my responses. Praying that these would be good and right today.

I’m back from a trip to Florida with my family and some friends. We visited Clearwater Christian College with some prospective students. I was hoping to have some posts written ahead, but alas, this goal never materialized. Nevertheless, it was a good trip, but it’s great to be home.