I have contemplated and prayed through the aching/pinching/uncomfortableness of serving others lately. Especially uncomfortable is when my service is done to please a person or does nothing for me (wrong motives anyway). My excuses and thoughts while serving, or for not serving: I don't like it, it hurts, it is inconvenient, what a pain! But Jesus did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45), so lay yourself down, Kerstin! Just like Jesus. "But", I tell myself with a hint of whining in my voice, "I don't like this. It's the right thing though. It'll make this other person so happy." These rationalizations all fall short. But today I realized that my motive for serving simply demonstrates my love for God. That's it. I love God, here, let me serve you.
Weakness adds to the work of God here. In it, the Lord is offering me an opportunity to keep from exalting myself (2 Cor. 12). Christ is powerful. His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness. So I can say, "I am weak, God, I love You, here (person/friend/family) let me serve you."
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Here's Little Lil's new hairdo!
Trey is wearing his Easter suit that he didn't want to wear. This is kind of weird, as he LOVES ties and I thought he would love this suit...
We went to the Exploratorium in San Francisco and had a blast. Here the kids and David (our neighbor) tried out the Big Chair.
We had fun picnicking on the beach in the sun, watching the boats go by. The Golden Gate Bridge is in the background.
Love these kids!
Trey is wearing his Easter suit that he didn't want to wear. This is kind of weird, as he LOVES ties and I thought he would love this suit...
We went to the Exploratorium in San Francisco and had a blast. Here the kids and David (our neighbor) tried out the Big Chair.
We had fun picnicking on the beach in the sun, watching the boats go by. The Golden Gate Bridge is in the background.
Love these kids!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
A Great Passage to Ponder...
2 Corinthians 6:1-10
As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Presents in Philippians
Carl preached Philippians 2:1-4 yesterday, it was a passage that guided my thoughts in the last months, and most of Philippians 2 was read at our wedding almost 17 years ago. God keeps blessing me with the same living words in different ways. What struck me lately (thanks Carl and the Holy Spirit) is that Christ gives us these gifts/blessings/presents in Him:
•encouragement from being united with Christ
•comfort from His love
•fellowship with the Spirit
•tenderness
•compassion
Philippians 2:1 says:
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...
So that is to say, He has provided those for us already, there for the taking. Then I have to go to application and ask:
•Am I encouraged from being united with Christ?
•Am I comforted from His love?
•Do I have fellowship with the Spirit?
•Do I have tenderness?
•Do I have compassion?
I am pondering these and searching my heart. Because I should.
•encouragement from being united with Christ
•comfort from His love
•fellowship with the Spirit
•tenderness
•compassion
Philippians 2:1 says:
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...
So that is to say, He has provided those for us already, there for the taking. Then I have to go to application and ask:
•Am I encouraged from being united with Christ?
•Am I comforted from His love?
•Do I have fellowship with the Spirit?
•Do I have tenderness?
•Do I have compassion?
I am pondering these and searching my heart. Because I should.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Figure Skating and Field Trips
Today was Maggie's first ice skating competition--the Crystalline Classic at Redwood Empire Ice Arena. She was so excited!
She got 4th place! Hanna was cheering for her wildly.
We had 4 field trips this week--here we are at the Coast Guard at Doran Beach, the Surfmen.
Afterwards we went to Screamin' Mimis to get ice cream.
All the kids loved the Ag Day at the fairgrounds. Here's my bunch of grapes...
There were lots of baby animals: lambs, piglets, ducklings, chicks, alpacas, llamas, cows, horses, geese, and even puppies and kittens. We got to "milk" a cow, taste cheese (Trey's favorite), make leather keychains, guess the fruit and veggie, and learn all sorts of things.
She got 4th place! Hanna was cheering for her wildly.
We had 4 field trips this week--here we are at the Coast Guard at Doran Beach, the Surfmen.
Afterwards we went to Screamin' Mimis to get ice cream.
All the kids loved the Ag Day at the fairgrounds. Here's my bunch of grapes...
There were lots of baby animals: lambs, piglets, ducklings, chicks, alpacas, llamas, cows, horses, geese, and even puppies and kittens. We got to "milk" a cow, taste cheese (Trey's favorite), make leather keychains, guess the fruit and veggie, and learn all sorts of things.
Monday, March 22, 2010
March and Women's Retreat
Here are some photos from this month...our little guy is such a blessing....
Maggie loves her bunny...
Lily loves listening to the Bible...
...and loves her Papa...
Hanna is a beautiful young lady...
Trey is a little gentleman...
Here the girls have Bethany over to play...
...and get to play with Cooper, our neighbor's dog.
I went on a women's retreat at Mt. Gilead Bible Camp...
...and saw the amazing things God has created...
I saw this while I was having devotions in the woods...
Here we all are: Barbara, Ellen, Julia, Elizabeth, Jessica, Abbey, Dawn, me, and Wendi!
My sister Abbey...
...and Jessica and Julia!
I was blessed with being able to go to the Mount Gilead Bible Camp Women's Retreat. It was a wonderful time of laughter, worship, beauty, and fellowship. There was much conviction too. The speaker did dramatic monologues of 3 of David's wives: Michal, Bathsheba, and Abigail.
We were challenged to guard against self-focus by memorizing Scripture, "pretend" (so even when you feel yucky, choose to act joyful--Jer. 29:5), and keep away from negative focus. Hold your tongue from criticism (1 Peter 3:10), use your tongue for praise and worship (1 Thess 5:17), and speak forgiveness (Job 42:2). We talked about not having a divided focus--by guarding your relationship with God (James 1:6), by having a personal code of ethics (Job 31:1), by not taking your life for granted (Ecc. 9:8), and by not dwelling on the "facts" of our life (circumstances) but to base our life on truth (God, who He is, and what He says). I think that a good example of this is Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigo. They were getting tossed in a fiery furnace and stated that God could save them. "And even if He does not, we are not going to serve your gods." Daniel 3:17, 18 I though that the personal code of ethics was a good idea--to know your weaknesses and lay out personal rules of behavior to protect against them. One example is--if you tend to exaggerate, be ABSOLUTELY truthful. Have verses about it. Be aware. Don't take a second look at the man who caught your attention and interest. Speak truth in love instead of pointing out the negative, or don't speak at all. Take your desires to the Lord--don't be consumed by them. I was thinking here of "good" desires, like those I have for a mom or close girl friends. I really thought about them and how I can protect myself when I am weak in these areas. Remember that with God, all things are possible. Choose to perform selfless activities when you are most lonely.
We also talked about maintaining a godly focus in which your identity is based in God (1 Sam. 25:26). Know that this life is temporary and that real life comes later (1 Peter 2:11). To quote Oswald Chambers: God's teaching is always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a man: His purpose is to make man exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure. Yikes--conviction!
The seminar I attended had to do with anger. I learned that pain and fear often bring about anger--to look at the root. There are so many ways anger manifests itself, and real practical advice was given on how to pinpoint anger that is sin. For me, I think I get angry when my expectations aren't met. I swallow the "you deserve a break today" line, and when my day is rough it makes me angry at the kids or others. The thing is, Jesus' ideas are so contradictory to the world's. In Matt. 20:16 he says the "last will be first, and the first will be last." I decided (with some other sisters) to do a Anger vs. Thanksgiving Experiment, in which we will journal our anger for a couple weeks (at least 1), and then journal our thanksgiving.
Week One--Journal of Anger
Jot down the things that push your buttons and trigger anger.
How are you dealing with that anger?
What does your anger cause you to do?
Where is God with your anger?
How do others respond to your anger? (notice their countenance)
How do you feel about yourself when you are angry?
What are you learning from your anger?
Is anger working for you?
Week Two--Journal of Thanksgiving
Jot down those things for which you're grateful for.
Notice the silver linings in dark situations and jot them down.
What does your thankfulness cause you to do?
Where is God with your thankfulness?
How do others respond to your thankfulness and gratitude? (notice their countenance)
How do you feel about yourself when you are thankful?
What are you learning from your thankfulness?
Is thankfulness working for you?
I had the opportunity to sit alone in the woods for about an hour and go over these thoughts prayerfully as well as examine Hebrews 11 for the obstacles that people of the past faced and who/what their faith was based on. The truth is that they all didn't look to the world for fulfillment, but "condemned the world", "lived as aliens", and "considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." That last one is Moses. I was able to meditate on these great Scriptures and lay it all before the Lord. What a blessing!
Maggie loves her bunny...
Lily loves listening to the Bible...
...and loves her Papa...
Hanna is a beautiful young lady...
Trey is a little gentleman...
Here the girls have Bethany over to play...
...and get to play with Cooper, our neighbor's dog.
I went on a women's retreat at Mt. Gilead Bible Camp...
...and saw the amazing things God has created...
I saw this while I was having devotions in the woods...
Here we all are: Barbara, Ellen, Julia, Elizabeth, Jessica, Abbey, Dawn, me, and Wendi!
My sister Abbey...
...and Jessica and Julia!
I was blessed with being able to go to the Mount Gilead Bible Camp Women's Retreat. It was a wonderful time of laughter, worship, beauty, and fellowship. There was much conviction too. The speaker did dramatic monologues of 3 of David's wives: Michal, Bathsheba, and Abigail.
We were challenged to guard against self-focus by memorizing Scripture, "pretend" (so even when you feel yucky, choose to act joyful--Jer. 29:5), and keep away from negative focus. Hold your tongue from criticism (1 Peter 3:10), use your tongue for praise and worship (1 Thess 5:17), and speak forgiveness (Job 42:2). We talked about not having a divided focus--by guarding your relationship with God (James 1:6), by having a personal code of ethics (Job 31:1), by not taking your life for granted (Ecc. 9:8), and by not dwelling on the "facts" of our life (circumstances) but to base our life on truth (God, who He is, and what He says). I think that a good example of this is Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigo. They were getting tossed in a fiery furnace and stated that God could save them. "And even if He does not, we are not going to serve your gods." Daniel 3:17, 18 I though that the personal code of ethics was a good idea--to know your weaknesses and lay out personal rules of behavior to protect against them. One example is--if you tend to exaggerate, be ABSOLUTELY truthful. Have verses about it. Be aware. Don't take a second look at the man who caught your attention and interest. Speak truth in love instead of pointing out the negative, or don't speak at all. Take your desires to the Lord--don't be consumed by them. I was thinking here of "good" desires, like those I have for a mom or close girl friends. I really thought about them and how I can protect myself when I am weak in these areas. Remember that with God, all things are possible. Choose to perform selfless activities when you are most lonely.
We also talked about maintaining a godly focus in which your identity is based in God (1 Sam. 25:26). Know that this life is temporary and that real life comes later (1 Peter 2:11). To quote Oswald Chambers: God's teaching is always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a man: His purpose is to make man exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure. Yikes--conviction!
The seminar I attended had to do with anger. I learned that pain and fear often bring about anger--to look at the root. There are so many ways anger manifests itself, and real practical advice was given on how to pinpoint anger that is sin. For me, I think I get angry when my expectations aren't met. I swallow the "you deserve a break today" line, and when my day is rough it makes me angry at the kids or others. The thing is, Jesus' ideas are so contradictory to the world's. In Matt. 20:16 he says the "last will be first, and the first will be last." I decided (with some other sisters) to do a Anger vs. Thanksgiving Experiment, in which we will journal our anger for a couple weeks (at least 1), and then journal our thanksgiving.
Week One--Journal of Anger
Jot down the things that push your buttons and trigger anger.
How are you dealing with that anger?
What does your anger cause you to do?
Where is God with your anger?
How do others respond to your anger? (notice their countenance)
How do you feel about yourself when you are angry?
What are you learning from your anger?
Is anger working for you?
Week Two--Journal of Thanksgiving
Jot down those things for which you're grateful for.
Notice the silver linings in dark situations and jot them down.
What does your thankfulness cause you to do?
Where is God with your thankfulness?
How do others respond to your thankfulness and gratitude? (notice their countenance)
How do you feel about yourself when you are thankful?
What are you learning from your thankfulness?
Is thankfulness working for you?
I had the opportunity to sit alone in the woods for about an hour and go over these thoughts prayerfully as well as examine Hebrews 11 for the obstacles that people of the past faced and who/what their faith was based on. The truth is that they all didn't look to the world for fulfillment, but "condemned the world", "lived as aliens", and "considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." That last one is Moses. I was able to meditate on these great Scriptures and lay it all before the Lord. What a blessing!
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