Psalm 139:1-10

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:1-10

A couple of weeks ago, my seventeen year old son thanked me for not letting him or his siblings believe in Santa Claus (or the Easter Bunny, or even the tooth fairy)....he went on to explain that in “not” doing that, I raised children who are less prone to be gullible.  He made me chuckle.  

The reason I didn’t have my children “believe” in those characters is because I didn’t want to go through the deception (or force them to follow along with younger siblings) for years and then later have to say, “Oh, by the way, they aren’t real.”  To me it was deceit that would spiral into more and more lies.  Why bother? Way too much useless work would be put into that farce.

This year, however, (I’m sure through the working of the Holy Spirit) I came to a more profound awareness.  Being in a building of around 500 children who range in age from five to seven, and listening to various conversations about Santa, broke my heart.  They were talking about him as if he were God…The God of Psalm 139.  

My immediate thought was, “Thank you, Lord, for giving me wisdom in how I dealt with the story of Santa Claus with my own children.”  The verses in Matthew, Mark, and Luke are grave reminders of how we are to raise our children.  

Matthew 18:6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Mark 9:42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

Luke 17:2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

The subject of Santa is not to be taken lightly.  God is a jealous God.  Listening to our sermons on Sunday evenings from Deuteronomy and Joshua have made me even more aware of that truth.  So to my own kids: Put your efforts into this (not Santa Claus, Elf on the Shelf, the Easter bunny, or the tooth fairy)…teach my grandchildren about God and His love and mercy, His redemption of His people through His Son, Jesus, who came to earth in the form of a baby, died, was buried, rose from the dead, and went into heaven, who now sits at the right hand of God, who will come to judge all people one day.  Teach them about heaven and hell.  Teach them about forgiveness and how we are to live for God out of thankfulness for all He has done.  That is what is truly “real.”

Colossians 1:9-12

We have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:9-12

This is my prayer for my children every day. When I begin to worry about them (their grades, upcoming ACTs, their friends' influence, their choices they make, their driving, their work ethic, their activities...), I need to just stop, read these verses, and pray. 

                                     

Mark 15:40-41

There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome, who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. Mark 15:40-41

We are somewhat of a sports family.  While I never played anything organized, I’ve watched a lot growing up with siblings who did.  My husband grew up playing hockey and soccer.  Our own kids have mostly played soccer for the past fifteen years, but have also participated in baseball, basketball, wrestling, football, track, and cross country.  Every summer, we take in one or two Royals baseball games, and in the fall, we usually go to at least one MU football game.  We anticipate March madness as if it were a holiday, and the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, and the World Series, along with weekly televised games, are typically playing on our living room tv.

Watching our favorite team win is exhilarating.  Especially if the games really matter, like high school district championship soccer games, or the Royals sweep through their series to get to the World Series this month.

However, watching them lose after such a streak is heart breaking. While reading this passage in Mark, I couldn't help but think about these ladies as they watched their city go from waving palm branches to their "Good Teacher" dying on that wooden cross. The disappointment they must have felt. It wasn't until the following morning that they learned of the victory. 

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

We know who wins. Christ. He defeated the devil. As Christians, we are the champions through Him.

While we shake our heads at the injustice we see and read about each day, and become so discouraged, we shouldn't lose heart, because of our assurance in Christ. Our God reigns...now and forever.

Psalm 16:3

As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” Psalm 16:3

This is one of my favorite Psalms, and when I read this verse, my dear friend, Wilhelmina, would always come to mind. She passed away last week at the age of 96. While I know she is with our Lord, my heart aches. She was such an encouragement to me. 

She lived out her strong faith, joyfully praising God always. 

Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord’s name is to be praised, was Wilhelmina's daily life.

In our evening service tonight, we sang Blest Be The Tie That Binds. It beautifully words my relationship with her and the joy I have for the assurance God gives his people.

Blest be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds

Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne

We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one

Our comforts and our cares.

We share each other’s woes,

Our mutual burdens bear;

And often for each other flows

The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,

It gives us inward pain;

But we shall still be joined in heart,

And hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives

Our courage by the way;

While each in expectation lives,

And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil and pain,

And sin, we shall be free,

And perfect love and friendship reign

Through all eternity.

Matthew 13:3-9

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Matthew 13:3-9

I love sunflowers, but whenever I try to grow them, they don't do well. 

This sunflower wasn't "sown" by  me.  Last winter, a seed was flung from a bird feeder to the ground by a feathered friend. Over the course of the spring and summer, the seed took hold and grew into this lovely sunflower. 

I couldn't help but think about the parable of the sower. The soil for this sunflower happens to be in a flower bed, making it very good because of the care that is taken of the flowers and plants grown in it.  
My own "life soil" needs just as much care so that my "flowers" (or fruits) will show beautifully like this sunflower. Consistent reading of the Bible, praying, Bible studies, Sunday School, and Worship all make for rich healthy soil.

Psalm 89:8-9

O Lord God of hosts,

Who is mighty like You, O Lord?

Your faithfulness also surrounds You.

You rule the raging of the sea;

When its waves rise, You still them. Psalm 89:8-9

While vacationing, I had the joy of spending hours watching and playing in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.  God's majesty was on display visually as well as audibly. 

1 Peter 4:9

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9

I laughed when I read this. I love having people over for dinner, but the anxiety (and the process) of getting the house cleaned and presentable for company exhausts me. Which leads to grumbling. I know it's my sinful nature, but that is no excuse. I shouldn't grumble. I'm extremely thankful for a husband and kids who do so much to help out (and for a forgiving Heavenly Father) allowing for times of very enjoyable fellowship. 

James 1:25

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

It is so easy to forget. Each year, I am in awe of the beauty of the red bud trees in our area, as if I have forgotten how gorgeous they looked the previous spring. 

I've also become very aware of my forgetfulness as I'm reading through the 'Bible in a year.' I think to myself, "How could all of these kings of Israel and Judah forget God and His Law?" It's easy. If you don't read it and then also if you don't do it, you forget. I just read about the Syrian army leader, Naaman.  I remember reading about him, but didn't remember the details or of how Elisha's servant, Gehazi became leprous because of his own greed in wanting a reward from Naaman.  May I (and my children) never forget and always read and do all according to God's Word. 

1 Corinthians 10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

The other day, a friend shared on her blog what a typical Thursday looks like at her house, and then linked an excellent article, "Glorifying God in the Routines." Our daily lives need to reflect our walk with Christ. I am reminded of this quote by John Piper:

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." 

Even in my (and my family's) daily activities, I can (and must) bring glory to God. 
I went back through my journal that I began when I got married (but, sadly, only write in every few months...or less).  While the following entries portray various seasons of our lives, they show that we were just as busy then as we are now, but in different ways. I need to keep the above verse in my mind at all times...in all I do, give God glory.  How?  For starters, be satisfied with whatever my daily routine might be. 

May 29, 2002

  

                                             
                                           

June 9, 2008

We home schooled for nine years, and then began attending public school in the fall of 2010

This is what a....

Fall 2013

Luke 15:8-10

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’  Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10

This past Monday morning, just as my four teenage kids were ready to head out the door for school, my sixteen year old frantically raced upstairs to his bedroom, and then flew back down all the while searching for something.  His wallet.  We bombarded him with questions, “When did you last have it?” “Did you leave it in your coat pocket?” “Is it in the car?” “Did it fall outside by your car?”…along with a gazillion more.  He answered as best he could, but because of the time, we couldn’t do a thorough search.  I prayed with them, ending with, “Please, Lord, give Caleb wisdom to find his missing wallet.” 

I then spent the next hour before I had to leave for work combing the house, texting more questions, and searching some more. 

After school, the search continued.  I was consumed by it.  After much consideration, we all came to the conclusion that he either dropped it into the trash Saturday night at McDonald’s or it fell out in the parking lot there.  Phone calls and trips were made, but to no avail.  My husband was even going to go to their dumpster on Tuesday morning, load all the trash onto a trailer, and go through each bag.  Their trash was picked up on Monday. 

Tuesday afternoon, the weightiness of it all sunk in to our son.  He had to go get a new driver’s license at the DMV.  He had to get another student activity pass from the school secretary.  He lost about $40 in cash along with all of his Christmas gift cards, probably totaling almost $200.  I was extremely sickened by all of this. 

His consequence was that he had to work Friday and the following Monday (2 days we had off from school).  Thankfully he has a job and is able to do this. 

Sunday morning, as he was getting ready for church, he put on his khaki pants and noticed something in his pocket.  He ran out of his room exclaiming, “I FOUND MY WALLET!!!”

The relief that washed over me was indescribable. What was lost was found. My husband and I immediately quoted passages from the Bible, the parable of the lost coin, the parable of the lost sheep, the prodigal son, and so forth. Our whole family was ecstatic and relieved. 

This incident clearly portrayed Christ’s teachings through His parables, and made us all aware of how much our Father in heaven cares for His children, especially the lost.  

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5 

My family and I put this puzzle together that our daughter received as a Christmas gift.

It was a rather difficult one since there were a lot of flowers that looked like they could belong to any number of the tea cups. I would try to make a piece fit, only to be frustrated that I couldn't find the proper placement of it. Later, I'd realize it went in a completely different area. 

This complex puzzle made me think about life. We have our ideas of how things should go or "fit." When circumstances don't meet our expectations, we become frustrated. 

I then thought about this verse in Proverbs. I need to trust God and know that His ways are beyond my understanding. And that's good. Because in the end, when we see the puzzle (or life situations) being completed, we know His ways are best and for our good. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

I usually don’t set out to make New Year’s resolutions.  I figure that if I need to start something that is good for me, then why wait until January 1^st?  Do it now. 

However, this year, I am sort of making a resolution: I am going to read the whole Bible in one year.

I am ashamed to admit, I’ve never read the Bible through in one year.  I’ve known many who have done it, and thought, “I could do that.”  But after a couple of weeks, I give up.  I even have a special 365 Day Bible that my dad gave to me before my freshman year in college.  

This year, I am going to do it.  I’m posting this here today, on January 1, 2014, as my accountability. When I publicly say I’m going to do something, I’m more apt to carry it through to the end.