Food for my soul today

^{Isaiah 41}

⁸ “But as for you, Israel my servant,
    Jacob my chosen one,
    descended from Abraham my friend,
⁹ I have called you back from the ends of the earth,
    saying, ‘You are my servant.’
For I have chosen you
    and will not throw you away.
¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

¹⁷ “When the poor and needy search for water and there is none,
    and their tongues are parched from thirst,
then I, the Lord, will answer them.
    I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.
¹⁸ I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus.
    I will give them fountains of water in the valleys.
I will fill the desert with pools of water.
    Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.
¹⁹ I will plant trees in the barren desert—
    cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine.
²⁰ I am doing this so all who see this miracle
    will understand what it means—
that it is the Lord who has done this,
    the Holy One of Israel who created it.

Feeling Filled Up

I just had the best day with God yesterday. From 6:15 in the morning until I went to bed at 10:30. It was just great. God met me in every little detail and I felt so close to Him.

God is answering prayers in my life and He's using me in others' lives. That is a neat thing to see Him do because I have a messy heart and I worry a lot and I tend to have walls up that NEED to come down. I have pride and I also have insecurity (which pride really is just a cover-up for insecurity I think). Anyways, I am humbled when God uses me. Driving through town yesterday, kids in tow, I just couldn't help but smile when I thought about how God literally fills me up and can spill out of me SO THAT I can do "things." It's simple, I know. But it's profound to me right now because when I really think about the fact that God Himself has given me life, and in Jesus I can experience that full life...I am humbled!

Hours after this simple realization, I spent some time reading when two kids were napping (and yeah right like THAT ever happens). So I loved some time alone with the Lord. This book I'm reading (see below) is changing my life:


When I was reading it in my quiet house, ahhhhh, I just had the neatest time with God. Everything I had been thinking about earlier was written on the pages in front of me. And it made me excited, even MORE excited, to give my life away to my husband, my kids, and the people God is entrusting to me right now.

"At the last, this is what will determine a fulfilling, meaningful life, a life that, behind all the facades, every one of us longs to live: gratitude for the blessings that express itself by becoming the blessing."

"Eucharisteo is the hand that opens to receive grace, then, with thanks, breaks the bread; that moves out into the larger circle of life and washes the feet of the world with that grace. Without the breaking and giving, without the washing of feet, eucharisteo isn't complete. The Communion service is only complete in service.Communion, by necessity, always leads us into community."

OUR LIVES CAN BECOME THE VERY BLESSING THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED!!! And that can be done in serving people. But it can also be done in work, and in serving Christ alone. For me, a lot of times, that is loads and loads of laundry. That is also unending dishes and dust and clutter. But the work can become worship, because "When the eyes of the heart focus on God, and the hands on always washing the feet of Jesus alone--the bones, they sing JOY, and the work returns to its purest state: eucharisteo."

So good.

Heart day!!

My little light (s)

I had a few moments where I almost lost it this morning at church...but they were good ones.

Griffin--he just makes people happy. He brings so much joy to people. I LOVE LOVE the way that he draws people in with his smile, charm, hugs, sweetness, and energy. It's just neat to see other people love on your kid.

Ellie--I had a conversation with a guy named Josh today, who said that Ellie makes him want to be smarter. haha! But in all seriousness, he said that she humbles him and encourages him with the way she loves/cares for other people. It was fun to be able to tell him how we specifically have prayed for her the past 7 years: for COURAGE, COMPASSION, GENEROSITY and then to have this guy (who doesn't really know her) give examples of ways he sees her do those things. It was pretty cool.

Emma--she's my dollface. She is so sensitive and it's softening me and teaching me to be more gentle and careful with my words to others (and her). She is mindful and aware of how things are said/communicated and her feelings are very real. It's neat to see her become a little girl and care about things that are important.

Ellie is 7, not possible

Who wouldn't want an ice skating party in February, right? :) Ellie was so excited for a Winter Wonderland party for her 7th birthday. The plan was to start at Tam-O and do some ice skating. Then head back to our house for sledding, hot chocolate, and some fun winter games. But...the weather didn't comply!


But the girls all still had a blast ice skating. It was fun to watch them because they all thought they were professionals, but it was quite the challenge for them. Emma went from sobbing on the ice in total fear, to smiling and sliding along the wall.

 

Back to our house we went...
Hot chocolate and coffee. Nana and Papa. Craft time (decorated little Valentine's Day boxes), and some cake/ice cream! A fun, simple, LOUD party!

Ellie, cannot believe you are 7 today. Watching you change throughout this year as a first grader has been incredible for your dad and me. You were so timid and unsure of walking into Maplewood back in August. Now today you are excited to celebrate with friends, and we are so proud of how you love them. You are courageous, you ask incredible questions about life, your feelings get hurt when people are mean to you...and yet you pick yourself back up and move on.
We are so proud of our big 7 year old. We love your heart for Jesus and how you desire to read about Him and learn. Thank you for your active heart and mind that we know will help you LEAD so well among your friends and peers this next year. We love you Ellie!