Noelle

I was trying to get Noelle to sleep last night. Sometimes it's so easy...other times it's a challenge. Last night was a challenge. As I was lying there trying to keep my eyes open, Noelle was lying down, then sitting back up, just when I thought she was drifting off to sleep. I began to think that she may very well be a personification of my relationship with God.

Noelle is a very sweet baby. I'm so blessed to have her in my life...we all are. She's getting quite a personality...cute and sassy...and, of course, spoiled. :) Now that she's more mobile, she plays for a good amount of time by herself. But she does like for someone to be fairly near her...just in case she decides she *needs* to be cuddled.

Alas, my little princess does have two irritating flaws...she does not like to sleep and she doesn't seem to have (or want) any kind of routine to her day. When we lay her down for a nap, she may sleep 15 minutes...or 2 hours...one never knows. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Needless to say, she may take as many as 4 naps in a day. And she'll be up for as little as an hour or as much as 4-5 hours in between naps. Her bedtime at night is nowhere near consistent either. Sometimes she'll just lie down next to me and drift off to sleep...and sometimes she would rather me walk her to sleep.

So how does this personify my relationship with God? Well, for starters, I want to *see* Him next to me all the time, just in case I need a hug or something. Yes, I know He's always present with me...but it's not enough to intellectually know...I want to FEEL Him with me.

The biggest similarity, though, is the sleep issue...which would translate to resting in Him. There is no rhyme or reason to when I will. I may rest in Him for 15 minutes...or it may be longer. There is no rhyme or reason to it. And no matter how tired I am, sometimes I just won't give in and rest.

Noelle's name means Beloved Birth Day. That's no accident. It would seem that there has been a heightened sense of awareness of God's reality since the week I was in labor with her. I have definitely made positive progress in my pursuit of God and His true character. And it seems I have seen things about myself much more clearly since her birth.

One Thousand Gifts

I've been blessed to read Ann Voskamp's Holy Experience blog. She writes so beautifully, and I am so encouraged by her words. She challenged her reader's to write a list of 1000 gifts God has blessed them with.

1. walking my baby to sleep while I pray over her
2. a change in perspective, brought on by the words of a friend at dinner last night
3. peaceful moments to read a book
4. seven beautiful, wonderful children
5. a loving and attentive husband
6. a roof over my head
7. food on my table
8. clothes on my back
9. dear friends that I can share with my heart with
10. watching my two girls snuggled together taking a nap on the living room floor
11. listening to my boys helping each other with homework
12. fresh revelation
13. freedom to express my emotions to God without fear of punishment
14. David passed his insurance test the first time
15. playing soccer with a cereal box with Corey
16. tickle fights with Joshie and Kyle
17. sweet baby kisses
18. Noelle's belly laugh
19. the opportunity to teach my children
20. sharing joy with my children when they get good grades
21. singing songs with the littles for Bible
22. learning songs with Kaelyn
23. virtual dream shopping with Kaelyn
24. watching the Olympics with my children
25. witnessing a much-needed object lesson
26. the birth of a calf
27. hearing God speak to me, sometimes when I least expect it
28. watching my babies sleep
29. playing baseball with my children in the yard
30. listening to Joshie sing our Bible songs throughout the day

Forgiveness

I was blessed to read Jodie's blog about forgiveness today. At first glance, I had to laugh at the thought of *me* being able to do *that*! I can't honestly say I WANTED to do some of those things...much less being ABLE. But Phil. 4:13 says I CAN do all things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me. So I've decided to eat the elephant in bite-sized pieces. I'm going through the list...one step at a time...and CHOOSING to do each thing forgiveness means towards the people God has brought to my attention.

***BIG WHINE*** Why is everything such a seemingly long, drawn-out process????

KISS 2

To go along with my post on my *main page*....here's the prophecy for today...

"You have repeatedly been urged to release the past, and I tell you truly that as soon as you let go, doors of opportunity will open wide for you to move forward in spiritual progression. Separate yourself from the emotional strain of the difficult circumstances that you have endured. Only then will you see the value of the past experiences apart from the stress, and you will know that you have gained great wisdom and insight that will serve you well in the days ahead, says the Lord. "

Thank you, Lord, for confirmation!

Tomato Staking and Ephesians 4

I love it when I can see God working so hard on me...when I can clearly see so many pieces being fit together!

Yesterday I decided to Tomato Stake Kyle and Joshua. Kyle has been horrible about tormenting Joshie...and Joshie has been horrible about responding with screaching and whining. So last night I informed them they would be Tomato Staked starting this morning. I'm tired of being frustrated and irritated with them.

Then, David and I discussed the oldest two and their attitudes. I have been thinking that David needed to *get in their faces* to correct them...but he's not *there* yet. And honestly, most of what I want him to handle are things that I tell him about that have happened during the day, rather than things he actually sees or experiences.

So I visited the Godly Tomatoes site this morning. (http://www.raisinggodlytomatoes.com/) And, of course, since this was something God was moving me towards, I got my toes crunched pretty well. :) However...the important thing is that *I* have a way of taking care of things without trying to get (read - manipulate) David into taking care of for me. (Not that he doesn't have a part in parenting...but *I* am home with them all day...and *I* have the opportunity to make the correction WHEN THE INFRACTIONS HAPPEN...which is really more effective anyway!)

Reading up on the littler ones was more of a review...something I needed to get myself focused and to refresh my memory of what I'm doing and why. Sadly, I just now am REALLY beginning to understand the *why* behind it.

But when I started reading about the older ones...it got daunting. How in the world do I reach my teens???

Umm....how about starting with me! OUCH!!!!!!!! Yep...*I* have to make some changes in my own attitude and outlook. The funny thing is, I was thinking of that last night...and that I really don't want to waste all of the revelation God has been pouring into me. But *I* don't see *me* changing...even with all of the incredible things He has been teaching me lately! So...now I have an answer...I'm Tomato Staking myself to God's Word...putting away anger, wrath, malice...etc. And, as I've been learning from Mere Christianity, (or should I say, hearing in a different way that helps me to make sense of it), I can do it because the Holy Spirit is in me, enabling me. Praise God!!!

So....how does Ephesians 4 fit into this? Here are verses 17 to 32...

17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

vs. 17 *futility of their thinking...the key word is *their*...that would be *me* trying to figure it out on my own!
vs. 18 *ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts*...I've been acting ignorantly because I've been choosing not to trust God...building walls. THAT is changing, praise God!
vs. 19 That's living in the five senses...what I can see, hear, taste, touch, and smell....rather than living in the spirit...which is what God intended!

These 3 verses are a great summation of how God-less people live! And sadly, it describes all too many Christians...who are living out of their heads, rather than their hearts....a way of life I'm choosing to change!

20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

vs. 20 I did not come to know Christ by what I knew in my head...I came to know Him...and continue to get to know Him...in my heart...in my spirit.

22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin"^[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

vs. 22-32 Here is where the Godly Tomatoes come into play. It jumped out at me....screamed at me...THIS is what I am supposed to be teaching my children to do! It's what *I* need to learn how to do myself!!!

These are behaviors I want to see in myself...and what I want to teach my children. THIS is what it means to be a healthy, viable Christian.

I'm so grateful that, like Paul, I believe, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Because in and of myself I will not be able to do this.

More stuff from BVOV

This is a compilation of thoughts from watching Believer's Voice of Victory...

When you plant a seed, you don't see the result right away. However, there is growth, as the roots are growing down into the soil. These roots are how the plant becomes anchored and how it gets its nourishment.

In Hebrews it says that the covenant was given to Abraham and his SEED (singular). The SEED is Jesus. So the covenant to Abraham was applicable to Jesus. And since I am *in Christ*, that makes the covenant applicable to me as well!

The Bible says that when two or more are in agreement, that thing shall be do. When I come into agreement with what God says about me...there are TWO in agreement...GOD and ME!

More Than Enough

I love the song by Jeremy Camp. It amazes me that any one can truly say that about God - and believe it! It's something I've wanted to feel and believe myself for a long time. But I haven't been able to wrap my mind around how God could possibly mean more to me than a roof over my head or food on the table.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to try my *choice theory* out on on this concept. I knew it would work, at least to some degree. I never imagined it would happen as quickly as it has! I can finally begin to understand how Paul could say he was content in every situation. Jesus is, more and more every day, becoming my all in all.