Well, last week - whew!
Started out with a flu diagnosis for me. This is the first time EVER that I've gotten the flu! Luckily, we caught it early and other than some fatigue, once the meds kicked in, I felt pretty good. The sleeping on the couch to keep from infecting Michael wasn't so fun since I'm longer than couch, but was a necessary precaution.
Wednesday Hayley had some fluke stomach issues that required me getting her from school. We have attributed this to anxiety - she didn't handle me being "untouchable" for several days. We think she worked herself into a stomach ache! We're not sure what to do about it, or how to help her when she works herself into a panic that doesn't respond to logical or repeated assurances.
Friday we launched our Crazy Hot 'Lanta Tour (named by Michael no doubt) for a "Be My Valentine Adventure"... we met up with Mischa & her crew as well as Breezy for the Georgia Aquarium, a visit to "Aunt" Jan's house and the LEGOland Discovery Center. It was, well, a Griswald kind of day! Just outside of Atlanta, Bowen PUKED all over herself and carseat, Mischa was rear-ended and Big Dave was too sick to make the trip. We made several extra trips to the bathroom or nearest trashcan with Bowen during the Aquarium but she didn't get sick again, but wasn't herself at all. Sullivan blew out her first outfit within the first 30 minutes in the Aquarium. Later, the GPS gave bad directions on a turn that was non-existant, and Mischa says Sullivan had a COME UNDONE at 11:30 p.m. in the hotel room that ended with Mischa sleeping on the floor for a portion of the night. None of these were "make or break" experiences but it was enough with the general chaos of a traveling circus to fully call the day a "Friday the 13th" kind of day.
Saturday we did the LEGOLand Discovery Center and it was fun, our girls could have stayed much longer than we did and I wish we would have let them, just wasn't thinking clearly at the time! Maybe a write up on that later.
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My heart has been centered on the "guard your heart and mind" mentality lately. There is so much in our culture that is controversial, is contrary to our beliefs as followers of Jesus, or inappropriate for viewing, reading or talking about.
It is a hard place for many believers, to be IN this world, but NOT OF this world.
We must guard our hearts from things that are contradictory to Biblical principles Guard our hearts from actions that have consequences in our own minds, hearts and souls - as well as in the lives of others. We can not bring in filth and expect to live in righteousness. And I'm not saying I've got this figured out. But I think of it, like I think of the way we monitor what our girls are exposed to... sometimes, it is just not a worthy endeavor of time or attention, it is not something that will uplift us or cause greater good or refinement. We all get a choice. But what we put into our lives, it affects every part of our lives.
Tuesday, February 17
Wednesday, February 4
not my words totally: intention vs. attention
Our church is currently working its way through Fast Track . This past week was Week 2, which looked generally at the Old Testament Kings Saul, David & Solomon.
Here was the lesson, paraphrased and regurgitated:
The main point: the walking away point: It is not our INTENTION but our ATTENTION that determines our destination.
So, the illustration of these kings... all of these kings were divinely appointed by God to do big things... but they get lost in themselves. They get lost in their own confidence, jealousy or other thoughts away from God. They take their eyes off God and brush his guidance to the side.
When placed in their positions, they had every INTENTION of being all that God appointed them to be. But once they came into their position, they gave their ATTENTION to all things other than God.
So, Saul, the wise king... got so proud of himself and so self-righteous of his own position and so greedy for earthly wealth that he literally left God behind and took matters into his own hands... and was unrepentant of it.
David, perhaps the greatest songwriter and most noted musician in the Bible, becomes so filled with lust for something that didn't belong to him, that not only did he take it, but arranged murder to cover his secret sins, a murder precedent that reigned in his family for years to come. David spent all his time trying to hide his dirty secrets without being repentant of his own responsibility.
Solomon married outside the faith and became absorbed the worldly traditions around him, becoming so worldly that he abandoned his vows, and his pride in self, got him physically imprisoned and injured.
Each man had great intentions when he came into the role given to him by God. But their attention didn't stay true to God, his way and his provisions.
They all started strong.
They all started faithful.
They all saw God's plan and promise come to be in their lives.
They had honest hearts set on honoring God.
Then life happened, and they gave their attention to everything else.
Maybe for us, its not the big murder, the big affair, the big explosion of unfaithfulness.
Maybe for us, its that we aren't INTENTIONAL with our ATTENTION.
We don't look at things that matter, we fill the voids and the quiet with meaningless information or meaningless activities. We just lose ourselves in the daily until we are just barely surviving.
It isn't our INTENTIONS that separate us from God, its our ATTENTION.
woah. talk about something to think about.
(the Bible session: Fast Track: can be found here)
Here was the lesson, paraphrased and regurgitated:
The main point: the walking away point: It is not our INTENTION but our ATTENTION that determines our destination.
So, the illustration of these kings... all of these kings were divinely appointed by God to do big things... but they get lost in themselves. They get lost in their own confidence, jealousy or other thoughts away from God. They take their eyes off God and brush his guidance to the side.
When placed in their positions, they had every INTENTION of being all that God appointed them to be. But once they came into their position, they gave their ATTENTION to all things other than God.
So, Saul, the wise king... got so proud of himself and so self-righteous of his own position and so greedy for earthly wealth that he literally left God behind and took matters into his own hands... and was unrepentant of it.
David, perhaps the greatest songwriter and most noted musician in the Bible, becomes so filled with lust for something that didn't belong to him, that not only did he take it, but arranged murder to cover his secret sins, a murder precedent that reigned in his family for years to come. David spent all his time trying to hide his dirty secrets without being repentant of his own responsibility.
Solomon married outside the faith and became absorbed the worldly traditions around him, becoming so worldly that he abandoned his vows, and his pride in self, got him physically imprisoned and injured.
Each man had great intentions when he came into the role given to him by God. But their attention didn't stay true to God, his way and his provisions.
They all started strong.
They all started faithful.
They all saw God's plan and promise come to be in their lives.
They had honest hearts set on honoring God.
Then life happened, and they gave their attention to everything else.
Maybe for us, its not the big murder, the big affair, the big explosion of unfaithfulness.
Maybe for us, its that we aren't INTENTIONAL with our ATTENTION.
We don't look at things that matter, we fill the voids and the quiet with meaningless information or meaningless activities. We just lose ourselves in the daily until we are just barely surviving.
It isn't our INTENTIONS that separate us from God, its our ATTENTION.
woah. talk about something to think about.
(the Bible session: Fast Track: can be found here)
Tuesday, February 3
Sign Language - Much More Than Gestures
One of the most enjoyable times of experience at UGA for me, was enrolling in ESL classes and learning about Deaf culture and sign language and what it truly means.
Its not a substitute language... it is its own language, its own culture, its own beautiful tapestry of people and stories and unique expresssions.
Its beautiful
or view here http://youtu.be/AHfC6jqBhkk
Its not a substitute language... it is its own language, its own culture, its own beautiful tapestry of people and stories and unique expresssions.
Its beautiful
or view here http://youtu.be/AHfC6jqBhkk
Monday, February 2
just breathe
I spent 3 days of this last week attending a Minister's Wives & Friends retreat hosted by the Georgia Baptist Convention... I'm going to be perfectly honest, I was a little hesitant of what it would be like, especially considering that unlike many wives of preachers, my husband wasn't a preacher when we married. I knew we'd always be involved in ministry and in church, but hadn't thought we'd be where we are now. But it is good, and it is right.
This retreat was wonderful... a relaxing, peaceful and sweet time with Jesus and it was refreshing.
The theme verse was from Esther 4:14 "...perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this." And honestly, for me, I haven't been feeling like I was in any kind of royal position. But I have been given such a good life, so much, and, have so much to be thankful for... and with such, I have to see everything with innate thankfulness, innate joy and innate purpose.
While there, we heard Karen Peck sing, and this song just resonated into the softest part of a wounded heart.
See, sometimes, I just get stuck in surviving... in making it to bedtime, in making it to the point of the day where I don't HAVE to do anything else... and in that, I end up feeling deflated in being spent long before the day is over...
Here's the chorus...
While we are waiting for the promise of what is yet to come
Finish well
Every day that we are given
Finish well
For the glory of his name
Finish strong
Until the Savior finally calls us home
Give it everything we have
Finish well
Karen Peck & New River(listen to it on youtube here)
This retreat was wonderful... a relaxing, peaceful and sweet time with Jesus and it was refreshing.
The theme verse was from Esther 4:14 "...perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this." And honestly, for me, I haven't been feeling like I was in any kind of royal position. But I have been given such a good life, so much, and, have so much to be thankful for... and with such, I have to see everything with innate thankfulness, innate joy and innate purpose.
While there, we heard Karen Peck sing, and this song just resonated into the softest part of a wounded heart.
See, sometimes, I just get stuck in surviving... in making it to bedtime, in making it to the point of the day where I don't HAVE to do anything else... and in that, I end up feeling deflated in being spent long before the day is over...
Here's the chorus...
While we are waiting for the promise of what is yet to come
Finish well
Every day that we are given
Finish well
For the glory of his name
Finish strong
Until the Savior finally calls us home
Give it everything we have
Finish well
Karen Peck & New River(listen to it on youtube here)
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