OK--here's an obsession of mine.... i also posted this on the youth website:) YES>>>>Total obsesssion :) Ted Dekker has a new novel coming out.... This site gives a great preview of it in comic form

http://www.readted.com


i believe you need a code to get in....one of these 2 should work (and earn me points :)

568460 is my Forest Guard number
fg2j8u is a code that can be used to access the site

Here's what I am thinking about the past couple days.... A 'to do' list...Or lack of it :) As a mom, wife, homeschooler, church worker, I feel like there is always something 'to do'. Here's what happens.... Sometimes I am able 'to do' these things with a nice attitude, sometimes I ignore the things 'to do', and sometimes I get overwhelmed when I feel like they are stacking up on me. The third one seems to be my normal one, especially if I need to get out the door or go somewhere. So my contemplation is: How do I just rest and not get overwhelmed.... How do I 'do' what I need to 'do' without being overwhelmed??? How do I accomplish all these things with a Mary attitude, not a Martha attitude???? YOU see what I mean???? I don't know the answer, but I think it begins with a right heart towards God....Or even just thinking of God --or setting my mind on heavenly things (Colossians 3:1-3 ), having a mind that is set on him.....SOOOO, I need to first of all ask God to do that in me and secondly find all the ways that help me be 'there'..... Some ways that help me get 'there'

1. Reading a devotional/theology book + the Bible in the morning (or making time later)
2. Listening to music through the day
3. When the day goes very badly--I have a huge need to have God's help (He does this for me:)
4. Stopping and looking at all I have from God in a grateful spirit
5. Stopping and looking at nature and knowing that God created that for me to enjoy!!!!

Nothing to serious today....something fun....

I have been going thru Christian comics for the youth blog, that i also try to post to ....and this one has been my favorite so far :)

If you have any thoughts on this passage or insight I would love to read it-- IISam 24:10-25 or the alternate passage 1Chron 21:7-22:1

Here's where my mind is wandering today :).... I was contemplating the whole "Made for Joy " issue. OK, so I am made for Joy in God...That's what God made me for....To Glory in Him, be satisfied in Him. I see and understand that (at least somewhat)...And I want to be joyful.... I want to be Happy and Satisfied. That is the desire that I am constantly trying to fill. Now granted, I don't always fill it with God and His word. Often it is food, entertainment, friends, etc... BUT I am always trying to be happy or joyful or satisfied.

SOOOO, why am I ever not happy or why do I get angry??? Or stressed???? That isn't joy or satisfaction... And to a point I have the choice? Well, here's my hard truth.... My will has been crossed..... Or the desire that I was pursuing to be happy.... Well, someone/something just got in the way of that. Now I am angry, frustrated or stressed....BUT I am really going against myself here....cuz my real desire is happiness. So that means I am being very ignorant at this point, even of my own wants...I want to be happy, but I am choosing anger, stress, or frustration. How interesting that I choose something I don't even want!!!!

I don't know that I can 'get' to the point where I see this on a daily basis, but at least it is in my mind now ;) And I really desire to be pursuing God (not food, friends, etc--I know these are gifts from God, so in a sense i can be pursuing God here, or enjoying Him through these gifts) in the area of happiness, satisfaction....so all I am saying.... I have a long way to go....By God's grace, he will continue to drag me along ;)

Here's what we were doing this weekend... Playing :) -- Playing at Grandpa and Grandma's

Tim was working really hard at buiding a playhouse and the boys and I were playing :)

The weekend was really fun and we enjoyed ourselves....

This morning as I was contemplating getting ready for school.... I was reading Knowing God and Hosea. I was really enriched by the combination of both of these. Hosea, reminds me of my sin and Knowing God, was reminding me of the greatness of God. It seems that if I stop for a second (as I did during my devotions) I SEE HIM. There was a spider crawling and making a web just outside my window. And as we 'played' this weekend, it was very evident to me that God made and gave to me these boys. OOOOO that I would be faithful to train them as unto HIM.

Here are the 4 points that Knowing God was instructing me in :

1. Listening to God's Word and receiving it as the Holy Spirit interprets it to me
2. Noting God's nature and character-as His Word reveals it
3. Accepting His invitations and doing what He commands
4. Recognizing and rejoicing in the love that He has shown in thus approaching one and drawing one in to this divine fellowship.