The Confessions of a Siesta

OKAY FOLKS!

I did not want to post about my memory verses today because I am really not doing well with them at all. In fact, the only one I know I know is my first memory verse. But I said I would post my progress on here because it will help me be accountable and I guess this is that part. So there you have it. I don't know my verse. I need to be more committed to working on it. My spiral index cards stay in my Bible study bag...and do me no good there. I don't get them out when I am studying Esther or anything else. I need a new plan. Suggestions?
I did pick a new verse for the next 15 days and have renewed my commitment to this challenge. Here are the verses that I am working on.

Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Jeremiah 15:16 (NIrV)
When I received your words, I ate them. They filled me with joy. My heart took delight in them. Lord God who rules over all, I belong to you.

Isaiah 26:8 (NIV)
Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

Hosea 6:3 (NAS)
"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth."

Psalm 86:11-13 (NIV)
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

SO, that's a lot. I have some bonus verses that I kind of know and want to get down pat. The first three are ones I need to know by March 1st to be caught up with the challenge. I am determined. I will hide His word in my heart so I can live in the delight it brings or wield it like a sword against the enemy.

The Wisdom of a 5 Year Old

So, I know the picture is of Abby and Nathanael and that Ian is my 5 year old. The blog is about Ian, but I feel like I blog about him most and wanted to give my other two favorites some air time. The thing about Ian is I spend the most time with him and dude is a CHARACTER. My brother called him a cartoon character brought to life and it is a fabulous description of the riot our youngest is.

Anyway, when I picked Ian up from preschool today, he began to tell me about his day. His best buddy got into an argument with someone and he relayed the whole thing to me. He ended with "But Mom, I just stayed out of it." Of course I said good for you. But I thought "I wish." Don't you wish you could just stay out of it sometimes? Man, how many times especially as women to do we just jump in....we are drama junkies or want to have our girls' backs. A girlfriend said to me the other day that I was a drama magnet right now...just attracting it. Sometimes I wish I could end a story with "But Father God, I just stayed out of it." Instead of hearing "Child, what a mess you have gotten yourself into!" How wise of my son to know, sometimes, you just have to leave it alone.

30 minutes later

Ian: *giggles* Look Mom.

Me: *turns* What?

Ian: *giggles* The chicken is naked. (He had eaten off the breading.)

It ain't all wisdom!!!

Blessings

So, I have been thinking about receiving blessings. Ian and I stopped at the post office this afternoon. There were several people there so after I paid I grabbed my stuff, walked out and was putting my change in my wallet (yes, the fabulous LV one that my fabulous friend, Shannan, gave me) on my way out. There was a woman there who asked if I had change for a dollar which I didn't. Turns out she only needed 15 cents to make a copy...that I had. She wanted to give me the dollar for the quarter, and I wanted to just give her the quarter. We went on and on in the polite back and forth of two people who both want to be a blessing. Finally, she said let me do this...so, I did. I still wanted to just give her the quarter but also wanted her to be satisfied with the blessing she wanted to bestow. We can become so self-sufficient, humble, proud, shy, or whatever that we rob other people of the joy and reward of blessing someone. Do you ever wonder if you are that way with God? I wonder if I am ever a blessing blocker. Why would we logically want to not be blessed? Hhhmmmm.....
A few nights ago, Troy was watching TV, and I was doing some Esther homework. I got up to get something and asked him if he wanted or needed anything while I was up. I was trying to score points with my acts of service husband. He said no. Not 5 five minutes later, he was up getting himself a drink. ARGH. I asked him why he didn't let me get that for him? I had to flat out tell him that I was trying to love him in his language, but he didn't let me.
I think we have such a culture of not accepting good things that we don't know how to act in the face of them. I hope that I don't miss a blessing or feeling loved because I was too stubborn to accept it.

Funny

Ian says this morning: Mom, Nate is doing something a boy should never do.

Me: What's that?

Ian: Drinking something pink!


This afternoon

Ian: You know, Mom, sometimes Superman stops by here.

Me: No, I didn't know that.

Ian: Well, he does.

Sunday's Thoughts

Hola Friends! What up? Here is what I have been thinking about today...

* John's sermon on the love language quality time was incredibly convicting because it is one of my love languages, and he made us consider whether or not we are spending quality time with God. The hard part is he quantified quality time as time without distraction. I spend my day with God but often it is with distraction...even time that is specifically focused on Him can be full of distractions...like Bible study or whatever. If quality time is one of my love languages, I am not sure I am loving well. Consistency in my time completely alone and focused on God has always been a struggle for me. Ugh.

* Some of the Esther homework I did today was on people snares. This is another area of constant struggle for me because I am all tangled up in Troy all the time. His happiness and well being consume too much thought, time and effort in my life. Granted, he is and should be the most important person in my life...but I often put too much weight on his opinion and approval which is still seeking the approval of man...not God. I adore my husband but need to always place him beneath my Lord.

* Those are the 2 things I have struggled with most in my walk...and I got hit with both of them in one day. LEARN IT, KELLY!

* I wonder when ministering to people who need it steps into the realm of involving myself in drama that is contrary to my initial purpose of helping.

* My mom is my absolute best friend.

* God is dealing with my thoughts...mostly because they need to be dealt with. I need to be cautious or I will find myself in another person's snare the likes of which could wound me deeply.

* Sometimes people mean it when they say they want to try to change things. I hope more people will give her a chance. She was very nice today.

* I never shared my new memory verse. To be honest, I am still working on last time's a little. Here it is...Jeremiah 15:16: "When I received your words, I ate them. They filled me with joy. My heart took delight in them. Lord God who rules over all, I belong to you." I still love it! The one I chose for this time is Isaiah 26:8: "Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." I am in a time of waiting so I need to remind myself and Him that I will continue to obey as I wait. I want to make Him famous in my dominion.

The Perfect Card

I love the perfect card. Cards that feel like you actually could have been the maker/author because they perfectly say what you would or describe your relationship with someone. I love finding one for someone on their special day, and I love to receive a card that says just the right thing. This year I have received 2 perfect cards. The sentimental make-you-cry card from my parents and the laugh-til-you-cry-cause-it-is-so-true card from ~ Troy, of course.
Sharing the "you're so great" card from my parents seems a little nauseating. BUT, I have to share Troy's card. It says this:

To My WIFE On Your BIRTHDAY

For putting up with all my moods...
And making me eat healthy foods
For trusting me with saws and drills (Despite your doubts about my skills...)
For tolerating all my quirks.
As well as friends who can be jerks
For rarely minding when I nap
Or take a thirty-minute...um...you know...
For letting me undo my shorts
As I drink beer while watching sports...
For getting deep inside my heart
And never fainting when I fart...
For bringing LOVE into my life...
I'm so glad that you're my wife!

LOVE YOU...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Romantic? Not really. True? Almost every word. He doesn't have any friends who are jerks or drink beer while watching sports (it is coke and Sci-fi) but those are the only things that made it obvious that he hadn't commissioned the card to be written for us...I seriously might have thought so otherwise. As I was reading, I would look up at him in disbelief because it is all dead on, and he just had that knowing grin.
The perfect card. I love it!!

Food Pantry Updates

2.3.09
Hi Faithful Friends!

This morning we had to hand out numbers to the first 27 people in line because that is all the food we had. It is hard to turn people away. To be honest, I was worried about people arguing over the numbers or cutting in line so we would give them a bag of food without having a number in the hurried, controlled chaos that the food pantry would can be. Instead, what I saw was kindness and sacrifice. Robin willingly gave up the last number to Gail who she knew needed it more but came moments too late. James 1:17 says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Even the unexpected, sacrificial, good gift of a casual acquaintance is from the Lord who is unchanging. Wow.
God showed me how little I understand. Isn't is awful of me to assume the worst of people? I hope today you have the opportunity to experience or witness the sweet goodness of our Savior.


1.20.09
Good Morning!

This morning we were able to serve 29 people before running out of food. Running a weekly food pantry that relies solely on the contributions of the church is difficult and we continue to be stocked and able to provide some assistance. I appreciate your commitment to this ministry. It is cold this morning so we started a little early knowing that it could cause issues in the future. We were able to offer fruit and small toys which was a special blessing to people without the means to buy food much less small joys.



1.27.09
Good Morning!

This week we were able to feed 40 people or families before we ran out of food. We had our first wave of 32 people through in 7 minutes. It was a fast morning! Rose has a brain injury. She is so sweet and a joy to see each week. This week she had a small spell of dizziness. I was able to pray for her. Robin has also been coming weekly for awhile. She was delighted when I noticed she got her hair cut. 1Thessalonians 2:8 talks about people who become so dear to you when you minister that you begin to share not only the gospel but your lives with them. We have the opportunity to impact lives ~ not just with food, but with compassion, the Word and prayer.