one!

Well, the baby is hardly a baby anymore.

I can't even begin to describe the joy this sweet little girl has brought to our family. She is an absolute delight, full of smiles and hugs, with minimal amounts of hair pulling and book destroying.

LIKES:
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack; Hugging anyone and everyone; Music, music, music!; Her brother and sisters (especially when they sing to her); Bedtime.

DISLIKES:
Having to wait for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack; Her brother and sisters taking toys away from her (who can blame her really); and I'm sure there are other things she doesn't like, but I can't think of them right now because she really is such a happy little person.

WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT HER:
She's almost always smiling, and I love her cute little girl giggle. She is easy-going and sweet, loves everyone who will hold her, and never misses an opportunity to give a hug.


Happy birthday, Ro-Z Roo, our little snow princess!

is it enough?

I've always thought that our lives are a kind of witness.
That is to say, it's enough to let your attitude and actions speak for your faith.
I don't know if I believe this anymore.

I worked for a man a number of years ago who was a dear, kind person. He was what some might call a Eugene stereotype: old school hippie, drove a VW van, lived at the country fair in July. The thing I remember most about him though was that he had a heart of gold and loved people with every ounce of his being.

He didn't believe in Jesus, but he I knew I did. That's about where any religion and spirituality discussion ended. There was no debating or proselytizing on either side.

I've recently learned that my old boss passed away—suddenly, unexpectedly, and at a young age. Along with the sadness that accompanies this tragedy, I also have a deeper, underlying doubt: Was it simply enough to live side-by-side with my unbelieving friend, hoping my faith would somehow make an impression?

I don't know.

I don't know what path my friend's life took in the years since we worked together. Only God knows the heart, and it may be that my friend is indeed seeing Jesus face to face at this very moment.

But this question for me isn't just about one man. This is about every one around me. Is it enough to let my attitude and actions speak for my faith? Is it enough that my unbelieving friends are simply aware of my belief in Jesus?

I don't know.

update

I'm overdue for an update on the Bible reading, so here it is.

About a month behind overall, but it's going well. I've missed a lot of Old Testament passages and will have to make them up at the end. But I'm inspired to keep reading it. God has some really great stuff to say in there. :)

I just finished reading 1 and 2 Timothy this week. It's one of my new favorite sections in the Bible. (Read it and see for yourself.)

Thanks for the support!

prayer

Questions on the nature of prayer...
(some of these are true mysteries to me; some are just food for thought)


Should we ask for what we desire (healing, for example) or should we ask for God's will to be done? or for both? or for something else entirely?

Do we change God's mind when we pray?

If we fast and pray and beseech for a really really long time does it affect the outcome?

Why do some people pray their entire lives for something (a loved one to come to salvation, for example) and never see fruition while others pray for days and see the results?

Should prayer simply be praising God so that we are changed in the midst of difficulties?

What is the difference between the way I pray and the way Jesus taught His disciples to pray?

Were the words of Jesus in John 14:13-14 for only His disciples, or are they for us too? ("And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." NIV)

When Jesus prayed in the garden before His crucifixion ("My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Matthew 26:39 NIV) did the Father "answer" His prayer? What was the point of this time in the garden? What changed, if anything?

Do you believe it is important to pray?
Do you pray?
If yes, how? (silently, out loud, full of requests, full of praise, etc.)
Why? (what do you hope the end result will be)



***
p.s. Just for clarification: My hope is that the pondering of these questions will bring each of us into a closer walk with God.

long time no see!

Hey!
It's been a while.
If you're still lingering around here, you are more dedicated than I am.
I would have given up on me a long time ago.
But you're still here.
Or at least you've stopped back.
Thanks.

This blog is still the closest thing to an actual journal that I've ever been able to maintain.
So I don't plan on giving it up.
But sometimes real life--away from the computer life--crowds out everything else.
And that's good.

Then there's a time to write down all that real life stuff so you can remember it.
And that's good too.
So I'll try to do that again soon.
And I'll try to do that more often.
For myself mainly, but you are welcome to join me too, if you find it at all interesting.
And if you do --want to join me and/or find it interesting--
thanks.

:)

nine!

I can hardly believe it: My sweet little baby girl is nine years old! Where has the time gone?

Likes: Reading; Playing with friends; Going to the downtown library; Talking on the phone; Mysteries and secret codes; Riding the tandem; Shopping; Being with her family; Being a second "mom" to her younger siblings; Swimming

Dislikes: Practicing her multiplication table; Reading interrupted; Brushing her hair; Cleaning her room and making her bed (although she loves it when her room is clean and her bed is made... hmmm... I guess she just wants someone else to do it for her?)

What I like most about my nine year old: I love that a perfect day for her would probably be spent at the library. She has a great sense of humor and a timid yet adventurous spirit. She is generous. Her heart overflows with empathy and compassion. She makes me want to be the best mom I can possibly be.

I love you, my not-so-little sweet potato pumpkin pie!

wisdom and other things

[This one's for you, Dad, because you asked.]

I've often though about what I would ask of God if I were given Solomon's choice.

God told Solomon to ask for anything and he would receive it. Solomon asked for wisdom. (side note: I've always thought that God must have already given Solomon enough to wisdom to know that he needed to ask for more.)

So, what would I ask for, if God gave me the promise He gave Solomon? I've never been able to narrow it down to one choice. Patience? Discernment? Empathy? I've considered all of these, and all I know is that it would take me so long to decide that maybe God would choose for me: decision making.

There are two other sides to this coin. (Yes, it's a three-sided coin... God's ways are just that mysterious.)

First, God has already given me the promise He gave Solomon. Maybe not in the same way—spoken aloud and with instant results—but in the "whatever you ask in My name" kind of way (see John 14:13-14).

Second, God has already given me gifts I may not even be using (see 1 Corinthians 12). Maybe I already have wisdom, but I'm too distracted by selfish, unwise choices to fully utilize my God-given wisdom. (I am not claiming to be wise, mind you; this is merely an example. Just so we're clear.)

So that's what I've been thinking about. Have you ever pondered Solomon's choice? What would you ask for? Will you ask Him for it now?