She has done what she could

 

"She has done what she could."

 Of how few can this be said—and yet what lower rule of conduct ought any of us to prescribe for himself than this? Is less than what we can do for Christ, enough to do for him? Have you ever weighed in seriousness of mind this noble testimony, "She has done what she could."

What can you do for Christ? What have you done? What ought you to do? What will you do? Be Mary's memorial yours. 

And to what renown did it raise her? "Wherever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she has done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." How literally has this been fulfilled. Wherever the Bible has gone, in one hundred and fifty languages, this has been published to the world. And all nations will know of Mary's alabaster box of ointment consecrated to Jesus, and will venerate her memory for this act of pious zeal.

The world is a poor judge in matters relating to God; and God takes delight in honoring those actions, done in love to him, which the world ridicules. Happy are those who are content with the approval of him who sees the heart. The contradictions and groundless censures of men pass away like the clouds that occasionally veil the sun; but the good actions which are the subject of their envy or their calumny, will remain forever, splendid as the great luminary itself. Good works embalm the memory with an odor more precious and lasting than the perfume of Mary's spikenard.

Female Piety (The Characters of Mary and Martha of Bethany)

February days

Baby Duck.

Ready to go get Hunter.

Baby hangs out in the crib a lot now.

The kids love to visit Daddy's office,

Bible reading.

Changing a smelly diaper.

Visiting Daddy again.

Watching a video together.

He wanted me to draw Daddy's tractor.

Playing nicely.

Five years of sitting together in church. I look so tired.

Homework.

Goodwill find.

Duke has been here!

Library fun.

When Dukie doesn't get his way.

Toolbench fun.

PetSmart fun.

I want a picture of us together, mama.

Fun lunches.

Sick baby.

We had some beautiful weather in February.

Sick kid snuggles.

Sick girl.

Sick tired family.

Family selfie.

And the snow returned....

Valentine's day

Names

Yesterday I was kind of excited to see that Ben and Jessa Duggar named their newest baby, Henry, after Matthew Henry. Back before I got married I had planned on having a little boy named Matthew Henry because I loved his commentaries, and felt I had learned so much, and been encouraged and helped greatly by him. Then I got married, got pregnant, and in our first name discussion I brought up my thought, and was a little disappointed to find out John didn't really like it, thinking the name was already too popular. We ran through various names and John suggested Luke. I immediately liked it AND, like Matthew Henry, it had special meaning for me as well. When I moved to South Carolina and started attending GPC Pastor McCurley was preaching through the book of Luke. I learned so much about who God was, and the Christian life, through that series, so the book of Luke will always hold a special place in my heart. So it all worked out quite well....except that we had a little Caroline before Luke was born....and Caroline who wasn't even two years old, pronounced Luke, Duke. It caught on and now that is what he always gets called. Yesterday Caroline and I decorated cookies and made an initial one for each members of the family. Two different people asked who the L one was for! LOL.

Selfie Silliness

When the kids are playing nicely in the bathtub and Mama is bored......

I'm sure we'll talk

So John and I met in person this weekend five years ago, and pretty much spent all our waking hours from Saturday evening, to the wee hours of Monday morning, visiting and talking. Some one on one conversation, and some in groups at church, and at the Ervins house, but all enjoyable as we got to know one another. I remember the evening ending with John taking my hands like in the picture above and saying, "I'm sure we'll talk," before he left SC to go back to WI. Five years later we're still talking :-)
It's fun to look back on happy memories, to see the beginnings of God taking the solitary and making a family (Psalm 68), and good to remember the Lord's mercies and answers to prayer.

From my reading

"When fear threatened to overwhelm her, she set her mind upon  the Lord, comforting herself with the thoughts of what God had already done for her. She sang Psalms to her son  - and clung to the promises in them. And every time she did these things, she felt an inner peace. The Lord was her shield, her deliverer, the lifter of her soul. Not her husband. He was only the man she loved, not the God she now worshiped.....Two years of suffering had awakened her. And so, she went down on her knees daily, bending her head to the floor each morning when she first awakened so that she could thank God for His blessings, and ask for His guidance. She prayed constantly that God would protect her husband and give him wisdom.....She was no longer a child filled with dreams, but a woman tempered by hardship and sorrow....when she lay down at night.....she praised God for all the day had held, both good and bad.

Every time her husband would add another wife or concubine to his harem the hurt would rise in her again. But she learned not to expect perfect love from him, for to have those expectations only increased her suffering. She refused to give in to the emotions tearing at her heart and remembered the source of  love. She turned her attention to God and His faithfulness to his people. She loved her husband, and she could still feel suffering, betrayal, confusion, and loneliness. 
But she was no longer in despair, no longer without hope. The Lord God of Israel taught her about love, faithfulness, forgiveness, provision, protection, peace, and compassion. Every time somone wounded her, she turned to God for healing and comfort. And the Lord was always there. For His love was perfect."

~ Unspoken by Francine Rivers

Oh, to have this kind of faith be my response to suffering, difficulty, and disappointments. And to be a woman of prayer like her, and to raise my children to have this kind of heart for God. I know this book is technically fiction, but it has inspired and encouraged me more than once!

John's birthday

Caroline copied this all by herself!

Family birthday dinner for John. We had steak (birthday gift from Grandma), broccoli with cheese sauce, spinach dip, focaccia bread, chips and dip (from Grandpa), and spice cake. Caroline sat down and started before the rest of us which is how she ended up in the picture, lol.

Caroline talking with her Grandma and Great Grandpa. She loves her grandparents!

Making pizza for a crowd:-) We had the Johnsons over for another birthday dinner :-)
A plain cheese one for the little kids is already baking.

Pineapple juice left over from the pineapple pizza, and some peach schnapps for the cook!

Best chocolate cake ever!

Friends playing.

Watching Dora.

Caroline and Janie.

Luke and Lydia.