1 John

1 John 1:1-4 (NKJ) "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your[a] joy may be full."

I was sitting around today while my kids were doing school. Yes, you read that right, sitting around. Dishes were cleaned, dog walked, RV relatively tidy................so what was I to do? I decided to pull out my Bible and read while everyone else was quiet. Rare moment!!! I usually try and take care of that part of my day early, before I hear anyone else. But I didn't get to it this AM. So............off I go. And to be honest, I make a point to let my kids see me doing this as this is how I expect them to behave- as active Bible readers!!!

Usually I am involved in a study of some sort. It keeps me motivated to read my Bible and talk to God daily. But this afternoon I thought I would just read somewhere............so I picked 1John. I don't read this often. No reason really, I just don't. But as soon as I started to read I was struck by the very first paragraph. The one I have written to you at the top.

First I want to say how much I enjoyed this verse. Here John is writing to us to let us know that he/they have seen Christ. He was right there in front of them. He touched Christ. He is telling us this so that we can know that all that was promised to us, a life of eternity with Christ, is ours too! AND he is telling us this not only so we can declare it as well, but so that our joy may be complete! WOW! Thanks John!!

We don't have to worry about the fact that we did not see him. John and others have seen him. We too can be a part of this fellowship of believers. They are declaring this to us. Don't you think this also means that we too need to declare this to others? We are now part of that fellowship, and as members we need to let others know that there were witnesses to this miracle. This was not just another man claiming to be God, this WAS God. John wants us to rest in that.

I was really moved by these verses today. I am not sure why. Maybe it is because of what a special time of year it is. I have been thinking about Christ eating his last meal with his beloved friends. Thinking about him washing their feet as they looked on him in awe and wonder. Thinking about what he took on for us, for me, so that God would see me white as snow. Thinking of him rising again so that God would be glorified and we would all have a place with him forever.................so much to think about.

John is letting us know that all these things came to pass. He has been a witness to them. He is declaring them to all that will listen. He is reminding us that this is what was from the beginning. It was given to them and now to us so that we may be in glory with the Father.

My heart is full. Feeling the fullness of Christs love could only do one thing and that is bring us complete joy. What a gift. What a true blessing. What a treasure to rest upon, especially in these troubling times.

Mean Mommy

I just read a friend of mines blog- http://www.hurricane-camille.blogspot.com/
She writes a GREAT blog if you need another one to add to your list. She has a gift.

Anyway, she talked about the honor of being a mother and a bit on how Daddy always gets the big greeting when he walks through the door and all the other fun things!

It reminded me a lot of how I have been feeling lately. I have named myself the mean mommy. I am the one to do all the dirty work. Yes, my husband does his part in the disciplining of our children, but he is fun on the other side. Me, I am just, well, mean mom. I have things to do, places to clean, meals to cook, papers to grade and character building to accomplish. I am just no fun! HA! I can't seem to step out of the serious role and into the fun role like my husband can.

The incredible thing is that my husband is known as the funny one with the kids. They think he is a riot! I am like WHAT!???? LOOK AT ME! I AM THE SILLY ONE!!! They don't see it though. I guess if I was to look at our lives right now I wouldn't see it either. I am the mean mommy.

Ironically one of the reasons my husband and I were attracted to one another was because I made him laugh and he grounded me! Go figure!

Each summer my family goes to the Jersey Shore to have at least a week long visit with my parents, brothers and their families. So much fun. There are 16 of us in all, not to mention the dogs, and we have a great time.

One of our traditions is to go to the boardwalk in Seaside Heights NJ. It is a dump really, but we just have to go, it is tradition! I have been doing it since I was 12. We eat greasy pizza, watch the weird people walk down the boardwalk, and of course ride the rides.

here is one crazy ride that goes around in a circle while you sit sideways in a car. The circle is not flat, there are hills and valleys. They spin you faster and faster and then they send you backwards just as fast, all the while blaring 80's music.

I always go on this ride with my sister in law Julie. It is amazing how a little ride can transform you back to the age of 16. We get on that ride and we are silly teens again doing embarrassing stuff. We flap our arms, make a thumbs up hitching a ride, do a little dance, scream, sing,....whatever. I laugh so hard trying the whole time not to squish Julie with the centrifugal force of the ride.

Funny thing happened this past summer though. I got off the ride and went up to my girls who were smiling kinda funny like. I asked them what was so funny and my mom chimed in. She said, "They were looking at you all funny while you were on that ride and I told them that you used to act like that ALL THE TIME when you were their age."

Can I tell you a I breathed a sigh of relief! My girls actually saw it! They saw me having fun! They saw me acting goofy, silly, laughing with tears. They witnessed it. YES!

I have to remember that God wants us to love life. He gave us breath, life, we need to live it! So why am I always so serious when it comes to my children?

I am not sure I can answer that. I am still trying to figure it all out. I keep hearing myself saying, "Lighten up Francis!" I can't seem to do it though. One of those things God needs me to work on. So today, I am going to try and laugh with my children. You know the laugh. Good belly laughs that hurt.

XO

Lucky

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This was a big thing in my house growing up. My mothers grandfather was born in Ireland. It is fun to have such diversity and know your great, great grandparents were actually born in another country. But I am not happy for the genetic trait of pale, translucent skin :) HA!

My mom always made a fun day of this "holiday". She turned our milk green, so when we woke up to eat our morning cereal we were ecstatic with the green milk to celebrate the day. She would decorate the house with shamrocks and cook Irish soda bread, smoked butt and cabbage. So much fun..........ok, so the smoked butt and cabbage weren't that great, but the whole celebrating something in March was fun.

So now I am older and although I love to celebrate stuff, anything really, I am getting a little annoyed at this word Luck. In fact it annoys me so much that I have told my children that they are not allowed to say it in our house! HA!

Why you might ask? Well, I just don't believe in luck. There is no such thing.

Ecc.3:14,15 says: I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. That which is, has already been, and what is to be, has already been; and God requires an account of what is past.

As believers we know that God is in control of everything. He knew us before we were born. He has a plan for our lives already in place. We as Christians need to rest in this and know that things don't happen because of luck. They happen because God planned it that way. He usually has a lesson in it as well; which to many may be considered unlucky. But I think of it as a blessing. Paul counts it all as joy! Can you imagine that? What a blessing to have a heart that knows that all trials are counted as pure joy! WOW!! I wish I had that heart.

So, happy St. Patty's day. Enjoy the green and the food, but leave the luck to the non-believers. Or better yet, find a non-believer and let them know that luck is baloney. It is not of God, it is of this world and we are not to store up our treasures here in this world, but in heaven.

XO

Dear Daughters

I love my daughters. They are just so funny. Each one has her own personality. They couldn't be more opposite, yet the compliment each other - most days :)


I had such a fun day yesterday. I decided that I was going to teach them how to shave their legs.

I have one daughter that is fighting the growing up thing. She has been fighting it forever and is just not interested in all the things that come with being a young lady. She is quiet, shy, reserved and is not AT ALL interested in discussing hygiene with mom, or anyone else for that matter.


My other daughter on the other hand is quite fine with this new change in her life. She is curious about what will happen next and is interested in trying new things. She is a little louder, a little more hyper and not so reserved. She questions me about a lot of things going on with her and her body.


SO, when I woke up yesterday and said, "Today I am going to teach you how to shave your legs!" I wasn't surprised at the moans and yahoos! HA!


My quiet daughter said that she was NOT interested at all and wouldn't do it. Well, she is polite and didn't exactly say those words, but her face and eyes were something to behold! She was not going to budge. I talked to her off and on for a while, but she finally said, " Mom, it is vain."


hhhmmmmm, never thought of that and didn't have an argument, so I let her go-for now, but she had to watch the other one while I taught her, just in case she changed her mind :)

Now remember we are living in an RV with a stall shower and a bathroom that doesn't fit too many people. My "just observing" daughter sat on the toilet while my "yes, lets get to it" daughter (who is younger one by the way) stood with me by the sink.


I filled it with water, had her dunk her foot in there, soaped her up and we proceeded. My youngest thought it was great fun. She let me do it for a while to show her and around all the hard shin bones, but she easily got the hang of it and wanted to finish the rest. All the while I was trying to catch a glimpse of the older one maybe, just maybe being interested...............nothing. That same sour puss face never left her.


So, all in all, it was a fun afternoon. My youngest couldn't stop rubbing her legs. She even asked both her brothers to feel how smooth they were HAHA!! So cute! She is just excited to be doing something new.

When I was a young wife I remember hoping that I would have a house full of boys. I grew up with two brothers and was a total jock. I enjoyed the boys that I grew up with as we played soccer, baseball and anything else that involved running around.

But God didn't have that in mind for me. I am SOOO glad! I am blessed to have these two young women in my life. They are a treasure and life would be so different and I am sure not as wonderful without them.

Even in these moments of "warring" between them and me or between the two of them life is still sweet. God is so good

XO

Beautiful song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nQy-aP_Koo&feature=related

Watch this video. It is such a beautiful song by a singer I don't always enjoy - Brandon Heath. It is loosely based on 1 Cor. 13.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

XO

John 17

We are watching the book of John on DVD. Have you ever seen it? Wonderful dramatization. As we came to John 17 and I listened, I recalled that Jesus prayed to the father out loud so that the disciples could hear him. I don't know how this slipped my mind, but it did.

I was so moved as I heard the man who plays Jesus pray to the father. It was powerful! Again, I am without words as I remember this prayer. There is a song by Ben Glover that is titled "26 Letters" The theme of this song is that 26 letters in the alphabet just are not enough to tell the Lord how you feel about him. VERY GOOD POINT!!

Anyway, Jesus' prayer is so strong, passionate and loving. The way he loved his disciples is plain to see. The way he loved his father is plain to see. And the way he loves us is plain. So why is it that we find Him loving us so difficult some times? For me it has to do with the fact that I can't believe that a righteous God would ever love someone as sinful as me.............

But, He does! Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read John 17 below and let Jesus' prayer to his disciples, to you, fill you and warm every inch of your heart. You are loved.

XO


John 17 (New King James)

1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.
8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me that they may be one as We are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.
26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Seekers

I am reading this book, on the side, called Basic Christianity by John R.W. Stott. It was given to me by our friends Bonnie and Brian. Brain is going to Dallas Seminary and this is just one of 15 books he had to read in ONE semester for an apologetics class! ONE! Yikes!

For me it is a heavy read. It is not something you read in bed before you go to sleep. Since I am living in a 31ft RV and responsible for teaching my children during the day, I don't get a whole lot of quiet time.

I need quiet for this book. It isn't a "fluff" book. You know the ones I am talking about. The ones that you can read in the middle of a mall and get it because there is no thinking involved.

This is NOT one of those books. I need total peace in order to hear what the author is saying. I am not very far, but there is a great point that I have read so far and I wanted to share it with you.

Stott writes, "God has spoken. God has acted. The record and interpretation of these divine words and deeds is to be found in the Bible. And there for many people they remain. As far as they are concerned, what God has said and done belongs to past history; it has not yet come out of history into experience, out of the Bible into life. God has spoken; but have we listened to his word? God has acted; but have we benefited from what he has done?

.......................At this stage it is necessary to make only one point: we must seek. God has sought us. He is still seeking us. We must seek him. "

He goes on to say, " We must seek diligently. 'man is as lazy as he dares to be,' wrote Emerson. But the matter is so serious that we must overcome our natural laziness and apathy and give our minds to the quest. God has little patience with triflers; "he rewards those who seek him"." (Heb 11:16)

And again he says, "But God's promise is addressed only to the earnest seeker: "You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart."

I have been thinking about this for a while. I have been asking myself this question, "Are you a seeker of God?" I think it is a great question, an important one. I think Emerson is right. We are lazy. I am speaking generally of course, but I know for me I fit that bill!

I will pray later after I check the computer...................

I will have a chance to read my Bible before I go to bed, but my other book calls me so.............

I can pray about this situation tomorrow, right now it feels good to do it...................

There are all sorts of ways you can avoid God. Being a true Christian is tough work! We need to be active. We need to be seekers. We need to call on, be in the presence of, read the word of - GOD.

I try and put it on an earthly level at times. For example, if you have a friend, who lives far away, how is it that you can still know her if you don't seek her? You need to call, be in touch, pray for her.

How is it then we can know God if we don't seek Him? All relationships need to be nurtured, no matter what they are. They all need to be attended to and thought about.

Then there is the whole thing about the promises of God. How much we will miss out if we do not seek God. I can only imagine all the blessings that have been lost for me because I was off doing my own thing. God was in the background, not the forefront. How sad!

So, lets be seekers; beginning today! Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will help us to remember that we are to be seekers of the one and only true God. ACTIVE seekers! Not passive seekers. Let us MOVE!!!!!!!!!

Dear sweet Lord, help me to be a seeker of you. Give me the desire to be in your presence. Help me to desire your ways and not my own. Help me to overcome my laziness and be an active seeker of your word. I love you Lord. amen...........

XO