Offerings

Last one quick, then we are off to the zoo. It is also the Monday of Holy Week today which means I probably won't do any more posts for a week or so (lots of family visits, traveling, cleaning, enjoying the spring weather and recovering from all of that) in the next week or so.
Yesterday after church Logon got a mini chocolate chip cookie. He is a slow and picky eater so he was still eating it in the car on the way home. At one point, he said 'here mommy'. I turned around to look at him, he looked very proud and that 'I love you' look on his face as he handed me a chocolate chip. Anyone who has seen my son eat a cookie will know how much of an honor it was to be handed a chocolate chip. The same way most kids will dig through their bowl of Lucky Charms to find all the marshmallows, then be done with breakfast once they are gone, Logon will eat the chocolate chips from a cookie then ask for another one or be done.
It made me think about our offerings to God. I had allowed Logon to have that cookie. (I would say I gave it to him, but he found the table with the cookies and picked it out himself). I could have had (maybe I did) a whole brownie if I wanted it. I didn't need the chocolate chip. But when he handed to me out of love, I appreciated that chocolate chip more than a whole brownie. Kinda like the widow's mites - small and meaningless to most people. But to know who the gift is coming from, and how much they are giving and out of love, it makes it so much more wonderful. God gives us all the cookies we need and then some - the least we can do is give him back a chocolate chip or two :-)

Good Works

Ok, I realize it is feast or famine with the posts. I am new to blogging, and horrible with time management (I will blame it on having 3 kids, but really I have always been bad at it).
So, before I tell you the next enlightening moment, let me give you a little background to that week. My husband is studying to be a pastor (I realize that Amy you already know this, and are probably the only one who will ever read this blog, but just in case, I will pretend that others will read it, and write as if the blog will become wildly popular :-))
Anyways, he was writing a paper on Ephesians 2:8-10 which says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
His paper disected the original language, and looked at a lot of books and papers written by scholars...I can understand why they disect this verse. There is a lot of good stuff in there. Justification by grace alone is the biggest. But, without jumping on his soap box, to go back to the lessons kids teach me... read on...
I was at the zoo with the kids when it hit me. Our good works are like pushing the button. If you have ever taken a toddler to the zoo, or watched little kids at the zoo, you will know what I am talking about. They love to push the button that opens the door. Toddlers love to help. And, honestly, I love that with the push of a button a door opens so I can get the three kids and myself through the door in one shot. But, it would be so much more efficient for me to push the button. The kids love it, and it is a way for them to feel proud and like they helped. So I line the stroller up just right, and wait until they push the button just right to open the door. God doesn't really need us to do His work. He lets us. He puts us in positions where we can do his work to show our love for him. We don't have to do it. We have a free will and can choose not to push the button. And if we aren't faithful (don't push the button), God will still get done what needs to get done (He can open the door without us pushing the button). But he puts us in those positions so we can show our love by "helping". And I imagine that like a parent, he is happy and proud of us when we do push the button for him :-)

Children are a blessing

So these last few weeks have been crazy and busy. We had a nasty cold and flu virus work through our family complete with a double ear infection in the oldest, and an ear infection in the youngest. I admit there were a few times when I longed to be able to just go to sleep, to go out without having to dress and tote three little people... But then they smile or do or say something sweet and I would just melt and be good (for a little while at least).
Being a parent has also been a blessing in that it has made me see my (our) relationship with God in a whole new light. That is what the next few posts will be about...
I will start with the one that got me thinking about this in the first place. I was reading my Bible. (Ya know, for the read through my Bible in a year...that kinda got put on hold, but before it got put on hold, I got as far as Noah and the flood). After the flood Noah built an altar and thanked God. Then "the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart:"Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from chiledhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done."" I know it is not a perfect analogy, but it got me thinking. I get so mad at the kids sometimes, then Logon will say 'sorry mommy', or Xaris will give me a big hug. I melt, appreciate the show of affection or apology, and vow to myself to be more patient with the kids.
Even though a simple sorry or hug can not take away the frustration that I have to scrub the crayon off the walls, fish the toy out of the toilet, or whatever the case may be. And, I know they will be naughty again. But I really appreciate the apology or hug or whatever it is. God is the same way- except a lot better on his part than I am on my part with the kids. He will always forgive us because of our Savior. When he looks at us he sees the perfect life, death and resurrection of Christ. We are perfect in his eyes. We should continue to try out of love to not sin, to apologize and repent when we do. But also to be so thankful that he has and will forgive us and love us like a father loves his children.

A little introduction

I was gonna do a blog with daily readings and make it through my Bible in a year. That kinda fell off track. I did however link to one like that which is starting up soon. Please join me in following that blog.
I will start the first post and tell you a little about myself. I am bored easily. I like to save money - not because it is the responsible or good thing to do, but so that I can spend more. I figure if I save $5 on diapers, that is $5 I can spend on shoes, on a date, or at the spa. Yes, I have been converted and now love the spa. I used to wonder why people would go get a facial. I mean seriously? I can wash my face for $5 in ten minutes tops- why should I pay someone more than five times that to wash my face for an hour?! Oh, let me tell you it is more than just some Clearasil and water. If Clearasil is chocolate cake, then consider a facial the chocolate cake you get at Claim Jumpers (seven layers of decadent rich chocolate cake separated by even richer chocolate genache type frosting). I (and my already too big wasteline) am glad I don't live close to a Claim Jumpers :-).
I never liked journals, blogs, or any of that. Journals probably cuz they take too long and I am impatient. But now that the three people I talk to the most are under the age of three and only catch a few words out of my talking, I figure why not start a blog. I welcome comments and discussions. Whether it be about books (devotional, kids' books, or a good novel), parenting, tv shows, pretty much anything is game.
Ok, now speaking of that short attention span. I am gonna end this post here. Maybe with an open ended question/conversation starter... if I was gonna read a book in my leisure time what book would you suggest? (devotional, self help, fiction or non-fiction - as long as it doesn't have cardboard pages I am open to it...)