Luke said

"Daddy is much funner, but you're nicer, Mom." 😂😅
#outofthemouthsofchildren

#Heisrisen

Over the past couple days I've seen so many good posts reminding us of all Jesus has done for us. It makes me a little sad because God doesn't call on us to remember this for only one weekend each spring, but is kind enough to give us the Lord's supper to remember his crucifixion all through the year, and given us fifty two Lord's days to celebrate his resurrection each year! Let's remember and give thanks for what he has done all year round!
#theLordwillgivewhatisgood 
#Heisrisen

After sharing this post it really got me thinking. Growing up in the ultra reformed church I've always looked down on the celebrating of easter, and I still do believe that God calls us to celebrate it every Lord's day, and his death in every communion season rather than during just one weekend every spring. But this year I've found myself enjoying reading all the good posts about Christ's death and resurrection, and I realized how refreshing, encouraging, and convicting of sin it is to be reminded of these things. In the reformed church we tend to avoid talking about the incarnation and resurrection, by an unwritten rule I suppose, of trying to distance ourselves from what the world has turned those events of history into. I'm sure it makes Satan rejoice to see it. So now I am left wondering and praying about, what does it look like to remember what Christ has done all year round? How do I raise my children to love what He has done, but yet not embrace the wordly traditions? Praying for the Lord's help with this...

Pilgrim's Progress

This post on facebook this morning really struck me. When I was younger I didn't really get it, but now I understand. I used to live under that way of thinking! #thelordwillgivewhatisgood He brought me out and showed me that!

The Pilgrim's Progress

3 hrs · 

Faithful: “Running from Adam, I ran up the Hill Difficulty. I looked behind me and saw one coming after me as swift as the wind. He overtook me half way up where an arbor stood.”

Christian: “That is where I fell asleep and left my scroll behind!”

Faithful: “Hear me out. Soon the man overtook me and hit me with a word and blow, knocking me out. When I came to, I asked him, ‘Why do you do this to me?’ He said, ‘Because you secretly wished to go with Adam.’ And then he struck me with another blow upon my heart and beat me backward. I was knocked out again.

Faithful: “ When I came to, I cried for mercy, but he said ‘I know not how to show mercy.’ And with that, he knocked me down again.”

Gentleness

I'll take kindness and gentleness over adventure any day!

As a Narnia fan, I really enjoyed this article and the perspective on Susan. It made me think of the verse,
"Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great." Psalm 18:35

Was Queen Susan more powerful than High King Peter? - Vicki V. Lucas

We don’t normally put the word gentle with Christian fantasy. It's not a popular attribute in our culture. And yet in The Chronicles of Narnia, Susan Pevensie becomes Queen…

VICKIVLUCAS.COM

Charity

So I'm being a little vulnerable here, but seriously this, in the midst of my normal morning chores, is a opportunity for sanctification for a quiet loving, introverted mom! #momlifeishard #soisstepmomming, but #thelordwillgivewhatisgood. And to be fair probably the the two little shadows can be challenging for him as well! #atleastheisanextrovert. But in all seriousness, it is good for me to recognize these struggles and pray about them, instead of just justifying my feelings to myself. It's made me think of the Matthew Henry quote, "Charity begins at home."
May the Lord help me to be a kind, patient mom today.
#springbreakdays

The Lord is kind

Yes! I was feeling very discouraged by circumstances earlier today and the Lord was merciful and gave me a tangible reminder that He is kind and remembers us. #psalm103#thelordwillgivewhatisgood

Rest

Christ beside me....

I was reading up on St Patrick this morning and enjoyed this article, especially the quote from his shield.

"You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great."

 Psalm 18:35

"So we remember Patrick best not in the legends and fables and not in the ways his holiday tends to be celebrated. Perhaps we remember him best by reflecting on the “St. Patrick’s Breastplate,” which has traditionally been attributed to him. The word breastplate is a translation of the Latin word lorica, a prayer, especially for protection. These prayers would be written out and at times placed on shields of soldiers and knights as they went out to battle. St. Patrick’s Lorica points beyond himself and his adventurous life. It points to Christ, the one he proclaimed to the people who had taken him captive:

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right,

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me."

Who Was Saint Patrick and Should Christians Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

When it comes to Saint Patrick, the true story is even more exciting than the legend and the myth. The facts are far better than the fable. This day that belongs to St. Patrick…

LIGONIER.ORG

God our Father

"The other night I was listening to WHI. I can't even remember the topic of the episode, and if I remember, I will post it later. But one of the things that was said, is very important to remember in terms of roles in relationships. We should not think of a role in terms of someone who fills that role and has failed, but by God's standard. For instance: God is our Father: He has never failed: His love endures forever, His compassion does not fail, His will is always good toward us, He never forsakes us. The standard is set high, not low. When we do that, we retain the dignity and character of God, rather than placing our subjective experience of that role onto God. God sets the standard, not the human demonstration of that role."

One of my friends posted this the other day on facebook and it was a good reminder for me. I often pray to see God rightly, to love and trust Him for who He really is.

Pizza and hoggage

We made a fun outing out of picking up our deer "hoggag" aka sausage at Stoneridge, and also got pizza for dinner.

#happypiday

Caroline said

This girl is just full of encouraging words.
"Mom, when I grow up will I have a pointy nose like you?"
"Dad, do I have a big mouth like you?"
🤣😂😅🤣

An icy Sunday adventure

Just cruising around a frozen lake on the way home from church (we unbuckled before heading onto the ice).

Brothers #theyneedhaircuts #andahairbrush

The moment you realize you are wearing the exact same blouse you wore 6 years ago on your 😍 first date with your husband....you take a selfie 🤣.

#psalm45

"Behold, the daughter of the King all glorious is within; And with embroideries of gold her garments wrought have been. 
She shall be brought unto the King in robes with needle wrought; Her fellow-virgins following shall unto thee be brought. 
They shall be brought with gladness great, and mirth on ev'ry side, Into the palace of the King, and there they shall abide."
#psalm45 #theLordwillgivewhatisgood#ninthanniversary

Ruth

And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

Ruth 2:11-12

In just two days it will have been nine years since I packed up what I could and left an old life behind. I was a starving young Christian with some mixed up and confused views of God and life, a scared young woman, a disowned daughter, trying as best as I could to follow God and survive. Ruth always comes to mind when I think of those days where I left behind almost everything familiar to settle in the church. These verses, and simply the story of how the Lord provided for Ruth, comforted me many times as I also desired to come under those wings and trust the Lord as she had. And I hoped and prayed He would provide for me as I waited on Him. He did, my needs were met, I had work to do, I met with God's people every week.....but the biggest thing that I didn't even realize I needed was sanctification, growth in the Christian life, learning to wait and trust. Looking back I realize the need to simply trust the Lord to know what I need most and to do what is best. There are challenges, scars, difficulties, questions I don't have answers to in regard to this "anniversary," but one thing I do know is that Christ, his church, have become so very precious to me through everything and I am so thankful.