"Seat's Takin'"

This post is dedicated to my husband who (most of the time) graciously endures dining next to my 2-year-old son. I say this because yesterday at "Chick-a-bay" I got a taste of this unforgettable experience.

How do I put this into words? Imagine sitting next to a very active monkey. I mean no disrespect, but it literally could be described in such a way. I don't think it is humanly possible for him to actually sit through a meal, even a short meal. Over forty-three times I had to say, "Knees or bottom!" (No, I didn't actually count; If I had it probably would have been a higher number.)

Now add ketchup and sticky-sweet sauce to the mix. What in the world was I thinking?! I looked like a spastic mom as I dodged his wet, red, flying fingers. There just weren't enough wipes. How could I possibly enjoy my lunch? And no, I didn't make it out without "battle scars"; my suede coat will have to visit the dry cleaners.

I say all of this to just give mad props to my husband who continually shares the bench with our precious second born. Just don't wear a clean shirt, babe.

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Tattle Tail

My daughter can be so compassionate. She has a tender heart to the hurts of others; except, many times, when it comes to her 2-year-old brother. She constantly keeps me posted on his many, many acts of disobedience. In some cases this is good because I know there is another pair of eyes on his ever-moving body. But, ultimately I just want her to be a little girl who encourages others to make good choices rather than exposing their sin and mistakes.

Isn't it funny though how God can speak to us through our kids? I mean, I can be the same exact way, whining to God (and hopefully not others) about the sins of my "brother", all he is doing wrong, and ways he should be punished. But, that is not love. Sometimes the words will come out of my mouth, "Have you tried encouraging him to make a better choice?" and the stake will just pound in my own heart. Have I?

I was just reading this morning for the E100 passages (see 1/14 post) about Noah. And even though he was given grace by God, obeyed God, loved God, he still sinned. In Genesis 9:20-29 it reveals one specific example of his sin. It said that once the waters from the flood receded and Noah and his family were getting "back to normal" (these are all my words) that Noah became a farmer, planted a vineyard, and then got drunk and passed out. Then one of his sons saw his nakedness and told his brothers about it. It was his two brothers that discreetly carried a garment and without looking on their dad's sin covered his nakedness. It turned out that the first brother was cursed and the other two blessed.

I realized that that is what the proverb means when it says that "love covers a multitude of sins." That is what God wants me to do towards those in my life. Not expose their sins and gossip about their sins, rather encourage them to make good choices, pray for them, bless them. I hope I teach my daughter this truth. I hope I am faithful to practice this truth.

It's funny, I just joined facebook. If you are on this addictive site you quickly learn that your past is at the tips of your fingers. In many ways this is great because I have already "found" 3 or 4 people who were dear, dear friends to me in my past. But in some ways this can be somewhat unsettling. I mean, many of these friends saw me at my absolute worst...passed out and hopefully not naked. But I guess it reminds me of how much God has done in my life, given me peace and joy where depression, anxiety, and addictions once reigned. He is amazing. He is good.

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Would I build an ark?

So it is a new year and we are back to the grind of daily living. Our church has started something for 2009 which I think is pretty cool and exciting. Their "mantra" (if you will) is "simple obedience." Just that we as people who love God would just be obedient, just do what He says to do.

Do you ever say this to your kids? "Just obey me, that is all you have to do. That is your job." Yet they continually disobey. I guess we can be like that with God. He says, "Just forgive. Just love your enemy. Just let me be the judge." Yet we whine and disobey. Oh that we would simply obey.

Anyway, in line with simple obedience we are doing church-wide weekly Bible readings for the next 20 weeks. So today we are to read Genesis 6-7:24 which tells the story of Noah and the ark. And yes, I must admit one of my first mental images was of Steve Carell in Evan Almighty (which I haven't actually seen; I just think Steve can be hysterical. And yes, we are on a first name basis.)

So I am reading this morning the story that I have read with my kids 100 times. But this time was different. For one I wasn't looking at caricatures of stubby animals or Noah with a big nose petting an elephant. It was just me and God's Word. Two things hit me.

1. It is possible to walk faithful to God when the world around you is disobedient and corrupt. If we set our eyes on Him, then we can walk in peace and joy, despite our circumstance. And God has definitely proved this truth in my life for 2008. Through the darkest season of my life He has strengthened me to walk with an unexplainable joy. He is real. He is good.
2. I want to be one of the ones that God would find faithful, even to build an ark if He asked. Would I? Would I do something that appears to others to be absolutely ridiculous and completely absurd simply because God asked me to do it? Wow, I hope so. I guess the first thing is to make sure I would hear Him if He asked, which means knowing what He asks, which means being in His Word. I must admit that I do love His Word; it has changed my life.

Well, I guess that is enough preaching for one morning.

On a completely different note, does anyone know how to get a chapstick stain out of fabric? My 2 year old enjoyed my 4 year old daughter's chapstick so much that he had to share it with her bedspread. Now there is a constant reminder of how big his hand was at the time of said event. He is still working on simple obedience.

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