TIME TO THINK

 

THINKING ABOUT TIME TODAY...

Abigail's birthday today.  Lydia graduating high school next week.  Stephen taking the MCAT on Friday in preparation for his plans after college.  Jonah finishing up with his catheter of 9 months and hopefully staying healthy going forward.  Ben's 5 year anniversary of being in our family coming up this summer.

HOW FAST IT GOES...

As of today, I have been a stay at home mom for 23 years!  How can this be?  Did my investment of that time make a difference in my children's lives?  How many more years will I stay home with Ben and Jonah?  How long will they need me 24/7?  What is my role in my older kids' lives now as they make their own decisions and plans  

HOW MY SENSE OF TIMING IS SO VERY DIFFERENT FROM GOD'S...

What about my hopes and dreams for all five of our children?  

What are their own individual hopes and dreams?

SO VERY MUCH TO THINK ABOUT...

And now on a less serious note, 

here is one of my all-time favorite photos of our Abigail Joy.

Looks like she was busy thinking about things herself!

SHAPE UP!

 

Yesterday we attended Lydia's baccalaureate service for her upcoming graduation. 

 

The speakers all had great messages for the kids as well us parents.  

This is some of what was shared:

OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST IS SHAPED BY:

Click HERE for article explaining SHAPE

SOME VERY GOOD TEACHERS

I forgot to share a very insightful story from Jonah's ER visit on 4-23 for a kidney infection.

Jonah is usually a very sweet and polite little boy at doctor appointments.  Even at the ER a few weeks ago, when he wasn't feeling that good, he remembered to say please and thank you to the different staff that came in and out of our room to work on him.

However, he got uncharacteristically upset when 3 nurses came in to put the IV in his arm so he could receive fluids and his antibiotic.  A child life specialist even came into the room to help him settle down.  We got him to sit still so they could put in the needle, but he was still complaining.  Even after the needle was placed and it was just him and me in the room, he kept complaining about having the IV placed.  

Jonah is usually easily redirected so this surprised me that he wasn't getting over it.  I asked him what was the problem that he was so upset.  He signed eating a hamburger which is his way of asking for Culvers.

NOTE: Culvers is now pretty much a given after any medical appointment for this little guy.  

I figured he deserves it after all he's been through lately.

If I think of it, I will insert an actual photo of Jonah signing "hamburger" because Jonah is a little cuter than this guy, but for now, this is what I mean by signing "hamburger".

  Then after signing "hamburger ", he pointed to his IV and then he signed the "number one".  

The light bulb went on in my head.  I asked him, "Are you worried you won't be able to eat your hamburger with only one hand because of the IV being in the other hand?"

He had a very sad look on his face and cried out, "Yes."  

I quickly reassured him that the IV would be taken out before we left the hospital that day, and that he would have his 2 hands available so he could easily eat his burger.  

A look of great relief and peace came over his little face.  All was right in his world again as long as he knew he would be able to eat his Culver's hamburger.

I was amazed by Jonah!  Here I am worrying (and Andrew and the older kids from home) about Jonah's kidney and how this infection could potentially set us back for getting the catheter out, and Jonah is worried about a hamburger!  What a difference in perspective.  

Jonah doesn't let the big stuff get him down.  He has amazing trust that the grown ups in his life will take good care of him and keep him safe and healthy.  The biggest thing Jonah worries about is a hamburger.  

Life doesn't seem as hard and overwhelming when you leave the big things to the Lord, does it?

These boys continue to be amazing teachers to me about a better way to do life.  For the most part, they just focus on the things in their life that bring them joy.  They don't focus on the negative.  They live trusting others to help and care for them.  They focus on living life to the fullest, not being overwhelmed about life sometimes being the hardest.  

Today I am thankful for this incredible perspective I get to be around each and every day.

Thank you Lord for using a child to lead me to better trust and lean on you.  

And thank you Lord for the gifts of hamburgers and other little things that make us happy throughout the day.  Help me to always live with an attitude of gratitude!   

Repeat photo from another post, but this is Jonah after his hamburger emergency :)

 

FOUND IT!

At church today, we watched a video that really captured the joy and celebration we should have on Easter Sunday!  

Found it!

Click HERE for video

LOVE AND THE LAST SUPPER

 

Jesus knew…But Judas ate too

Think about this for a second. Jesus knew.

He goes into that room with His disciples. He knows He is going to be betrayed. He knows it is Judas who will turn against him. He knows that He has been sold out for a handful of silver. Stabbed in the back by one He has poured His life into.

Yet, in that room, hours before the death of Jesus, Judas ate too. Jesus fed Judas too. Jesus prayed for Judas too. Jesus washed Judas’ feet too. I struggle to fathom that kind of love. A love that would feed the mouth that deceived you. A love that would wash the treasonous feet of the traitor. A love that could forgive even the vilest of betrayals.

I honestly struggle to comprehend it. And then, suddenly, I realize that I’m Judas. And in that moment, I’m so thankful & altogether overwhelmed that Judas ate too.

written by Nic Burleson

PREPARING FOR EASTER

 As we have in other years, we are preparing for Easter as a family by using the Resurrection Eggs.  

If you don't have these for your family, I highly recommend them!  They are a very good way for children to learn the story of Easter.  

Amazon link to Resurrection-Eggs

For me personally preparing for Easter, I'm not doing a specific Lenten devotion.  But I have had some devotions lately that have really focused on God's love and mercy being shown to us because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

During Lent this year, I really want to focus on this amazing gift of love.  

I am a sinner SAVED BY GRACE, not by who I am or what I have done, but by WHO JESUS IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE!

I thought this song really captured that thought:

YouTube link to "Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me"

LYRICS:

Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me

CityAlight

What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer

There is no more for heaven now to give

He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom

My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus

For my life is wholly bound to His

Oh how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

The night is dark but I am not forsaken

For by my side, the Saviour He will stay

I labour on in weakness and rejoicing

For in my need, His power is displayed

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me

Through the deepest valley He will lead

Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven

The future sure, the price it has been paid

For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon

And He was raised to overthrow the grave

To this I hold, my sin has been defeated

Jesus now and ever is my plea

Oh the chains are released, I can sing: I am free

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

With every breath I long to follow Jesus

For He has said that He will bring me home

And day by day I know He will renew me

Until I stand with joy before the throne

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus

All the glory evermore to Him

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus

All the glory evermore to Him

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

REMEMBER

 

DIFFICULT QUESTIONS

As a parent of two children with special needs, one of my biggest concerns is about their salvation.  

We talk and teach the boys about God's plan of salvation and what it means to accept Jesus as their Savior.  But with their cognitive delays, I wonder if they will ever totally understand these concepts.

I think any Christian parent struggles with worrying about where their child is at with their faith and hoping and praying they will come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  As parents, we want to know our child is assured of spending eternity in heaven someday.

The added layer with being a parent to a child with cognitive delays is not knowing if that child will ever be able to make that decision with full understanding.

In my quest for answers, I have come across these resources that really being peace to my mind and soul about this issue.

1. Pgs. 149-151 from The Heaven Answer Book by Billy Graham

"Does God allow people into Heaven who are mentally handicapped and don’t fully understand He loves them and accepts them just as they are? God has the pulse of eternal life in His hand, and He knows the limitations of each of us. None of us are saved because we understand everything there is to know about the heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Salvation comes based on confessing sin and receiving God’s gift of grace. Babies, young children, and the mentally handicapped cannot comprehend their limitations or the truths of God’s plan of salvation—but God, in His grace, receives each of them just as they are and changes their hearts. A tender passage in Scripture is when the little children gathered around Jesus. They didn’t have any profound understanding of who He was or why He came, yet He welcomed them and told His disciples, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). God has much to teach us through infants and children with special needs. They are completely dependent on others; they must trust their caregivers for everything. There is a lesson for us when Jesus says that we must become as little children. He meant we must place our complete trust in Him, giving up our desires for His, and allow Him to direct our every step. Scripture sheds light on this difficult subject. Solomon says that a stillborn child is better off than one who disregards his own life (Ecclesiastes 6:3 nkjv), and Job cursed the day he was born and said, “Why did I not perish at birth? . . . For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest” (Job 3:11, 13). If you have babies and handicapped children who have been taken from you by death, receive comfort in the sovereignty of the God of love. Commit to teaching others, who do have the capacity to understand the gospel, that God stands ready to cover our sin with His mercy and grace. Do not weep for those in His care, but for those who have not yet found that place of safety in the Savior’s comforting love."

Click HERE to view/purchase this book

2. "How Should Christian Parents Respond to Having a Child with Down Syndrome?

The whole article is very good, but here is one excerpt that was particularly interesting to me:

"If God has entrusted Christian parents with a child who has any kind of disability, those parents can be assured that God has a purpose for them to bring glory to Him by their loving response—and God will provide the grace necessary to provide the proper response."

3. "Where Do I Find the Age of Accountability in the Bible?

Again the entire article is worth reading, but I liked this particular excerpt:

"It is our position that God applies Christ’s payment for sin to babies and those who are mentally handicapped, since they are not mentally capable of understanding their sinful state and their need for the Savior, but again we cannot be dogmatic. Of this we are certain: God is loving, holy, merciful, just, and gracious. Whatever God does is always right and good, and He loves children even more than we do."

Great resources and some comforting thoughts for this mother's heart.

However the bottom line is two-fold:

1. I still am responsible to speak and teach God's truth to my boys and pray for whatever level of understanding is possible for them.

2. I need to entrust my boys and their hearts and souls to the Lord.  He has watched over them in the womb and provided them with a family. He loves them and cares for them, and He wants what is best for them.  

THE DANGER OF SELF-DEPENDENCE

Some things to ponder today...

Click HERE for devotional about Self-Dependence vs. God-Dependence by A.W. Tozer

"We also have short memories and easily forget the benefits and gifts we’ve received from the hand of God. This is the mark of the apostate—he forgets the benefits of God. The saint remembers the gifts of God and doesn’t require a fresh one each hour to keep his faith intact.

Though God does heap grace upon grace, we should be able to rejoice in God’s benefits if we never receive another benefit from Him." 

R.C. Sproul

Above quote taken from HERE

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

The COVID-19 situation has caused a spectrum of suffering for many from the very deepest of loss of life and pain and suffering due the illness to loss of employment to just the anxiety COVID-19 causes because of the "what ifs".  

I don't want to sound trite or minimize anyone's difficulty during this time so I understand it may not be easy to see any blessing that is coming from our current situations as a result of COVID-19.

But one opportunity that I think is unique to our stay-at-home lifestyle right now is the opportunity for anyone remotely interested in church and the Lord to watch churches online from the comfort of their own home.  This is probably the most risk-free church experience you will ever have!

So my hope and prayer is that many will take time to investigate the church experience online.   In the midst of all the "badness" of COVID-19, this is opportunity for some good. 

Here are some churches we have enjoyed over the past few weeks, but the choices are endless!

Click HERE for Hope Community Church, Minneapolis

Click HERE for Emmaus Church in Northfield, MN

Click HERE for Online Church with Max Lucado

PLEASE READ!

Click HERE for FREE download or to purchase the book

This book is one of the BEST books I have ever read about the great question why God allows suffering.  It has so many scripture references and such clear explanations of those Scripture references.  

I think this book is a must read for Christians and non-Christians alike!  

I have included the link above to download a FREE copy of the book.  There is also a link to purchase the book on Amazon for $8.99.  

Video of author John Piper discussing his book

GOD'S GARDEN OF READING

God's Garden of Eden

God's Garden of Reading: so plentiful!

Our churches may be closed during this COVID 19 crisis, but I am absolutely AMAZED at the amount of faith resources that are available during this time:   Devotions, Bible studies, books, sermons, church services...

There is an abundance of material to help sustain and grow our faith as we are quarantined at home.  

And thank you Lord for the internet so we can access all this material from the comfort of own homes!

One suggestion:

Click HERE for comforting resources from Max Lucado

Here is another resource you might find interesting:

Click HERE to download John Piper's book "coronavirus-and-christ" 

Thank you Lord!

HAPPY EASTER!

Click HERE for devotional "You Cannot Lose in the End" by John Piper

Click HERE for poem "How the Virus Stole Easter"

A miracle of Easter 2020: the Gospel proclaimed for the world to hear!
Click HERE for Franklin Graham’s Easter message from Central Park NYC

SILENCE OF SATURDAY

Very good thoughts to consider as you prepare for Easter and life in general in our new "normal".

Click HERE for the devotional "the-silence-of-saturday" by Max Lucado

THE GOOD ABOUT FRIDAY

Click HERE for devotional "why-we-call-the-worst-friday-good" by John Piper

Click HERE for devotional "but-god-is-good" by Max Lucado

AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!

This was the verse for my quiet time this morning.

I confess, I had a hard time with this verse this morning.

Family friends are dealing with the sudden loss of a loved one with this week. 

COVID19 statistics and projections are constantly being presented every time you go online or turn on the TV or radio.  

Fear and anxiety over the safety and well-being of loved ones as it relates to this crisis.

Sadness and dismay hearing news reports of those suffering from this illness.

Sadness because of so many empty locked churches across our country and world.

Fear and anxiety about jobs and financial situations as a result of this crisis.  

How does one rejoice when all the above is swirling around us?

Go back to the basics.  

This is why we as Christians CAN REJOICE in spite of our circumstances.  

Click HERE for "does-God-love-me"

No matter what we face in this life, we can rejoice because the Lord offers the gift of eternity with Him in Heaven if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  

When we accept that gift, we have a reason to rejoice each and every day.  We are saved!  We are redeemed!  We are loved by Almighty God .  

Then as we strive to live a life that glorifies the Lord, we start to be grateful each and every day for the ways we seeing God work and move in our lives and the lives around us.  The every days acts of mercy and blessing we experience, the miracles we experience.  And in those times of great trouble and difficulty when things are not going as we would like, we can rejoice because we are not alone. Jesus is right beside us offering us comfort, love, and peace to endure our trials and tribulations.

I realized this morning that being joyful is not my immediate and automatic response during difficult times of life.  I pray the Lord will help me to be more diligent and deliberate to choose to rejoice.  

"...and again I say rejoice!"

PREPARING FOR EASTER

Click HERE for "what-is-the-meaning-of-the-cross"

Click HERE for "4-confirmations-that-we-serve-a-risen-lord"

HOLY WEEK FOR KIDS

Some great videos and other resources to use with kids for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Sunday.

For Maundy Thursday/Good Friday, 
we did the following activity:

Each of us wrote down 2 sins we struggle with on post-it notes.  Then, using building blocks, we built a cross on the floor.  Then we put our notes on the cross.  

We talked about Colossians 2:14:
"having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross."

We read the following devotional for the benefit of our older kids.  For the younger boys, we emphasized how much Jesus loved us to die on the cross for our sins.  And how much Jesus loves us because He forgives us for our sins, past-present-future.

Click HERE for devotional "nailed-to-the-cross"

Then for Saturday night to get ready 
for Easter morning:
we are going to make these Resurrection biscuits as an object lesson about the tomb being empty!  

Click HERE for recipe for Resurrection Biscuits

Click HERE for coloring page PDF "Jesus Loves You and So Do We"

Click HERE for coloring page PDF "He is Risen"

Click HERE for Easter Story Mini-book PDF

We also love using these Resurrection Eggs with the boys.  Well worth the money!

Click HERE for Amazon link to Resurrection Eggs