Perspective

I remember learning and relearning about having an eternal perspective years ago with Jennifer, Sara, and Lindsay. It kept coming up in our Bible studies. "Keep an eternal perspective," we would encourage each other.

That's what I'm meditating on today, as once again my knee is swollen, soar, and not functional. I thought that I would be able to play soccer again just because He made it so. After injuring it once, my knee was strong, I felt good, and it was so enjoyable to run and kick the ball. I loved meeting lots of really nice women, making plays, and scoring goals. I didn't make the decision to play lightly. I eased into it, and prayed about it. My body just didn't cooperate. I came down on my left leg and my knee popped out. Really surreal. Really painful. Really not sure why.

The thing is, our God is a fearful, glorious, and holy God. I was reminded of how the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111:10). So in all of this scariness, I don't need to fear the pain, or the possibilities of weakness that my body's inability offers, but instead I fear my holy God.

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:11-14

So I'm back to saying, "Here I am. I am weak, You are strong. I only see now (and it's not such a great view in all this pain), You see forever. I am trusting in you, You are completely trustworthy. Help me have an eternal perspective, and not be discouraged by the momentary, earthly setbacks. Help me continue to press on, even if I'm limping. I fear You alone. I serve You alone."

Raising Godly Tomatoes

I re-read an article today from the website http://www.raisinggodlytomatoes.com/ch02.asp. Definitely good reminders on parenting!

Psalm 62:5-8:
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah

This passage has been the one I've been clinging to as I feel discouraged and hard-pressed. I have to keep repeating it and remembering it. Paul Rushing visited us this past weekend and said yesterday, "We don't say here's my problem, God, but rather, problem meet my God!" God is my hope, my rest, my rock, my salvation, my fortress, my honor, my mighty rock, my refuge, my trust, my heart, my refuge. Selah.

My Dad

This is my dad when he was teaching college when he was 30! A former student recently sent it to him. I can't believe my dad is younger than I am here.

Trey is 4!

It is so hard to believe that our little guy is four years old already! He was super excited about his birthday. He invited everyone, "You can come to my birthday" so he was a little sad that the whole world wasn't here. :) The minute I lit his candles he blew them out--before we could sing!

Trey told everyone that they didn't need to bring presents but "we have cake." I made a race track for him.

Here is Carl in his race car! His siblings and friends helped color it.

This is Trey REALLY enjoying his brownies and ice cream! He is savoring it...

Lily is such a cutie--I took these shots of her in her new hat from Jen. So sweet!

February

Our Sunday afternoon walks at Foothill Park are so peaceful. What a beautiful creation the Creator has fashioned.

Maggie Maisy--Cutie Pie

It's our annual mustard field photo!

Hanna and Mama...do we look related or what?!

THE PARADOXICAL COMMANDMENTS

by Dr. Kent M. Keith (and I got it from my sister, Jennifer's, blog--thanks Jennifer!)

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.

Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.

Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth

Give your best anyway.

(In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never you and them anyway…)

Encouragement, Comfort, Fellowship, Tenderness, and Compassion

This is what we read this morning in family devotions:

Philippians 2:1-2:
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

What wonderful news to live in light of. We have encouragement from being united with Christ, we have comfort from his love, we have fellowship with the Spirit, and tenderness and compassion. This is what makes us like-minded with other believers, loving the same, one in spirit and purpose. Why doesn't it seem like it sometimes?

Well, here's the next two verses. Philippians 2:3-4:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

This is the practical outflow of the encouraging unity with Christ, comfort from his love, fellowship with his Spirit, and tenderness and compassion. A life void of selfish ambition or vain conceit, a life of humility and looking out for others' interests.

It looks like this:
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

SNOW!

We enjoyed going to Truckee Donner and seeing snow, snow, snow! It was wonderful. We were thankful to God for safety and lots of fun together.