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Monday, February 28, 2011

Multitude Monday


324. Eczema, to practice learning the arts of diligence and patience.
325. Spring colors popping up all around me...at least in the stores
326. Kleenex
327. Popcorn
328. Exercise, the process of working and testing our bodies, persevering through pain, sweat, tiredness, and then reaping the many benefits
329. The way that winter lingers and spring teases, again to teach us patience, to exercise our hope and faith, to learn contentment and self-control
330. baby milestones...the joy that being able to sit up unassisted brings to a little one...a new world opened up to them
331. Watching our children learn new things, understand mysterious things like, "what is a sister-in-law"?
332. Jesus saves!
Hear the heart of heaven beating, "Jesus Saves. Jesus saves."
And the hush of mercy breathing, "Jesus Saves. Jesus saves."
Hear the host of angels sing, "Glory to the Newborn King."
And the sounding joy repeating, "Jesus saves."

See the humblest hearts adore Him. "Jesus saves. Jesus saves."
And the wisest bow before Him. "Jesus saves. Jesus saves."
See the sky alive with praise, melting darkness in its place
There is life forevermore, "Jesus saves. Jesus saves."

He will live our sorrow sharing, "Jesus saves. Jesus saves."
He will die our burden bearing, "Jesus saves. Jesus saves."
"It is done!" will shout the cross, Christ has paid redemption's cost!
While the empty tomb's declaring, "Jesus saves."

Freedom's calling, chains are falling, hope is dawning bright and true.
Day is breaking, night is quaking, God is making all things new.
"Jesus saves."

Oh to grace, how great a debtor! "Jesus saves. Jesus saves."
All the saints who shout together. "I know that Jesus saves."
Rising us so vast and strong lifting up salvation's song,
The redeemed will sing forever, the redeemed will sing forever, the redeemed will sing forever, "Jesus saves."
"Jesus saves." 



(It's the first song in this video)



Sunday, February 27, 2011

Scrapbook Sunday

I'll start with Lucy's picture first this week because I'm so proud of it! She decided that she wanted to give this to our favorite chiropractor, Dr. Bill. :) It is a downy woodpecker.

And here is another bird for you. :)

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?   Matthew 6:25-26

Friday, February 25, 2011

Foto Friday

It's Foto Friday again! This week's challenge was hands. As you are probably beginning to expect with me, I couldn't decide which picture to post, so I put my favorites. :)

I love these hands! Especially when they're firmly holding onto the truths in the Bible.

The next best treat for hands to hold: Baby feet.  :)


Next week's challenge is: edible. Hmmm...

Foto Friday Challenge

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Sharing a blessing...

I thought this post from Large Family Mothering was so encouraging especially with all that is going on in the world today. It blessed me today and I just wanted to share.

Did you know?


Ok, so before I begin, I want to make sure that you understand that this post is just to offer a bit of information. I am in no way trying to be critical. I am not offering my opinion on what I think you should do. If you read an opinion in the text below, it is not my opinion, it is the opinion of some professors from Trinity Theological Seminary (at least that is where I think they are from). I am just informing you of this bit of news because we ran into some confusion with it in our Life Group. This, is nothing new under the sun. It is nothing out of God's control. It is nothing that God can't use and work through. I just want to inform you so that you can avoid the confusion if you feel it is necessary. :)

So, here is the deal. The publishing company is coming out with a new version of the NIV Bible. What they are doing is combining the old TNIV (which many believed to be very faulty) and combining it with the NIV, and changing some things to make them "more accurate" based on current research. However, they are not giving it a new name; it will continue to be called NIV. Basically, within the next year or so, if you go to buy a NIV Bible from the store, it will not read the same as your 1984 version. This new version, or new NIV is not released yet, however, it is being used on Bible Gateway as the default NIV option. If you want, you can select it to specifically use the 1984 NIV. We had some confusion during our Life Group one night when Tyson was reading some verses from NIV on Bible Gateway (which we didn't realize was the new version coming out soon in print) many, many verses were worded differently. Tyson spoke with some friends and coworkers who looked into this matter by consulting some old professors. At the end, I'll post what they had to say in case you are interested in looking into this more yourself because it doesn't seem that the publisher will inform, promote, or advertise in any way that this new version, c. 2010 NIV, is actually different from the NIV that most people have (c.1984).  

Ok, enough said. I just wanted to let you know in case that will cause any issues. If you want, www.biblos.com is a good online site to use that currently still defaults to the 1984 NIV. As for me, I'm fond of ESV, but most of the verses I already have memorized are a conglomeration of KJV and NIV.  I love them all! I love God's Word!!! Hope you have a chance to bathe yourself in His Words today!

The promised added info, which is stated more clearly than what I said:
I talked to a couple of my profs at Trinity and gathered more info along with some articles they recommended.  
In short, the New Niv is going to replace the NIV and TNIV which are both slated to be phased out by 2011.  They have made some corrections to the gender neutral language but have not totally alleviated the issues.
Here are two comments that come from CBMW that summarize things well.
“there are some significant problematic passages in the new NIV(2011) that have been retained from the TNIV, not the least of which is the deliberately ambiguous rendering of authentein in 1 Timothy 2:12 <http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Timothy%202.12>  as “assume authority.” The CBT says that this leaves the interpretation of the passage open, but it actually intentionally introduces a crucial ambiguity that is not found in the original NIV (which accurately translated authentein “have authority”). The new NIV(2011)’s translation ofauthentein designedly lends itself to a common current egalitarian misinterpretation of this passage (i.e., that Paul is only addressing the case of women illegitimately “assuming” authority, rather than prohibiting women from having/exercising authority as teacher/shepherds of the church).”
And
“So, though we are genuinely thankful for the many positive changes in the new NIV(2011), and though we are deeply appreciative of the very different process by which our friends at the CBT and Zondervan pursued and unveiled this new version, we still cannot commend the new NIV(2011) for most of the same reasons we could not commend the TNIV.  Our initial analysis shows that the new NIV(2011) retains many of the problems that were present in the TNIV, on which it is based, especially with regard to the over 3,600 gender-related problems we previously identified.  In spite of the many good changes made, our initial analysis reveals that a large percentage of our initial concerns still remain.  CBMW will be releasing an exact percentage after we complete our full detailed analysis.  We are also still concerned about the frequent omission of the words, “man,” “brother,” “father,” “son,” and “he.” 
 
This is the full article and is probably the best and most current info:  http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/CBMW-Responds-to-New-NIV2011
 
These are also helpful and were released in 2009 when the plans where announced.  Al Mohler has some good comments in the first one listed:
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/evangelicals.welcome.niv.revision.with.cautious.optimism/24117.htm
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2009/09/breaking_transl.html
 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Little flowers all in bloom...

So, have you heard that Andrew Peterson is coming to Baraboo? That's right! Saturday, April 16th at 7:00pm...I just need to find a babysitter. :) I don't want to ask anyone because I want everyone to go to the concert! You can buy your tickets here. So, while we're talking about Andrew Peterson, let me share a little bit about why I enjoy his music so much. GREAT LYRICS!!! I really appreciate the way his songs bring my focus and attention to the Lord, encourage me in the Lord, and help me align my thoughts with truths from the Bible. I also really appreciate how he writes songs about his wife and kids!! I love that actually! I love it when it is just so evident that people love their spouses and children! What a blessing that he even shares his love for his family with the world through his music because we can relate to those songs with our families. So, want to know some of my favorite lyrics of his? Well, I'm going to share...here they are:
From the song "Don't Give Up on Me" from the album Resurrection Letters, vol. II
Now I wake up in a golden dream: angel voices in the rooms where the children run, all covered in light.

From the song "World Traveler" from the album Counting Stars
Tonight I saw the children in their rooms
Little flowers all in bloom
Burning suns and silver moon
And somehow in that starry sky
The image of the Maker lies
Right here beneath my roof tonight

Don't you just love that? I love keeping these lyrics in mind...it's easy when the kids are acting lovely...it's extremely helpful when they're acting not-so-lovely. It helps me remember what a gift, a blessing they really are. They are so precious. They bear the image of their Maker.

Changing subjects a bit...Recently some friends gave Jude a good size toy fire truck because they had two. He was so excited about it. It wasn't long after that he came to us and said that he wants to be a Fireman when he grows up. :)  Tonight he came and told me, "Mom, you know what I really want to do when I grow up? That God wants me to do? Be a Fireman! I prayed about it and asked God that I wanted to be that, and I heard His voice speak to me and He said yes!"  So cute!! I'm a little nervous about the reality of that right now, but if it does in fact happen, I know I can trust in God's abundant grace to get me through. Anyway, so cute. Had to share. He is having a "cute day" today. This morning (and all day) he wanted to wear his shoes in the house because that's what Daddy does. (They don't understand that we have too because our feet ache if we don't. :)   Then at lunch he said that he never wants "to shoot a Mommy or Daddy deer with his bow and arrow only things that are built." :) He doesn't want to hurt the deer. We'll see if that changes as he grows because you all know that I wouldn't mind the extra meat in the house. :) But if not, that's just fine. 

Well, I better stop. It certainly is nice to enjoy a sweet boy day though...especially after a week of grumpy sick kids (and mama). But, yeah...buy tickets to the concert and I'll see you there!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Multitude Monday

298. Pajama Snuggles
299. Freshly Fallen Snow, all things new
300. Comforting Soup
301. Parades around the living room by children with flags
302. Quiet Saturdays
303. Fevers, aches, pains to remind me how good it feels to be alive and then healthy when health returns
304. Watery bubbles in a silver pot

305. Stamps and pretty papers
 306. Mad baby faces :)  ( I couldn't resist)
 307. Leggos-with-Daddy-time
308. The way Daddy loves to play with leggos
309. Good smelling oils to heal and nurture
310. Good friends, sisters in Christ
311. Popcorn and apples, simple meals
312. News of new life created and formed by God's loving hands
313. Encouragement in the mail
314. Hope in the Word
315. The masterly way he loads the dishwasher or builds a space ship, or holds my hand
316. Strep Throat, and the way the Lord makes us to lie down in green pastures; the way He woos us and bids us to come and rest in Him, wait for Him, live in Him, move in Him, have our being in Him
317. Peanut butter M&Ms
318. The sigh I can breathe when the children are all tucked safe and snug in their beds at night...another blessed day lived...another blessed day to rest and wake for.
319. Medicinal Teas
320. Grace and Mercy
321. Memorized scripture that comes to mind as I pray for others
322. Reflections of His love everywhere we look
323. Thankful that my thankfulness isn't limited to the few spare moments that I find to write posts like this...that thankfulness can continue anytime, anyplace

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Learning lessons from little ones...


Isn't it amazing how much we can learn from children? Or from children's stories that we've heard a hundred times before? Do you know the story of the three little pigs? Remember, where they each go off on their own and build houses? If not, here is a little reminder:


Well, last week, Tyson was reading the kids this story and tucking them into bed, while I stayed downstairs trying to get Selah to sleep. I was listening to him read to them....we have a baby monitor set up so that we can hear the kids upstairs at night, in case anyone has a problem or bad dream or something...back to my story...so because I wasn't actually reading the book to the children, I had a chance to think about and reflect on the story again. I know the main point is about working hard and doing your best even if you don't really feel like it at the time because in the end it will pay off. The Holy Spirit was speaking to my quieted heart at that time though and I began to see this story in a different way. It reminded me of the parable of the wise man who built his house on the rock from Matthew 7:24-27. Perhaps you've thought the same thing before too, but I'll just keep going since this is my blog. ;)

When we build our lives, or rather hide our lives, in Christ, we need not fear the storms or the big bad wolf (Matthew 7:15)The Bible says that the Lord is like a strong tower and the righteous run to Him and are saved. Many, however, have their own ideas about how to build their homes (lives) they trust in the world or in their own vain and futile ideas. They end up with houses of straw or stick, which won't stand at all when the storms of life come or when the big bad wolf threatens.

We can all have that strong tower as our fortress? Which home are you running to? Which little pig are you? The big bad wolf may be out there trying to blow our house down, but we do not need to be afraid, the Lord can be our sure and strong foundation.

Scrapbook Sunday???

We had a busy day last week and I missed sharing...so here are a couple shots for this week:

Friday, February 18, 2011

Foto Friday

Will you be my Valentine? Well, this little girl ADORES her Daddy...so do I! I'm not going to write and tell everyone how he spent all of Valentine's Day taking care of his sick wife and four children, or how he took three of the kids and did all the grocery shopping, or how he did the laundry, made me a delicious bowl of Ramen noodles (the only kind of chicken noodle soup that he knows how to make), drove me to the doctor, got my medicine, fed and cared for us the whole day and following days until I was well, took the day off work just to help and take care of me...I'm not going to tell everyone that because I might embarrass him. He gives up so much for us and in my opinion he puts many to shame by the way he gives up his life for his bride, except for the Lord Jesus who is our greatest example.
 Thank you Tyson! I love you so much!

Next week's challenge is hands...hmm...I might have a good one for that!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Foto Friday





Warming...this certainly was a challenge for me. I had a few ideas and here are my best attempts. I have to admit that the first photo, while I set everything up and made sure the angle and everything looked good, I had to have Lucy push the button for me. :) The second was all on my own. So...when I thought of warming, I mostly thought of books, blankets and knitting. The top photo is of my first ever attempt at knitting socks which when finished will keep my feet very warm. :) I've only just cast on the toes and knitted a few rows. I'm excited to keep working on them. The second photo captures my favorite rocking chair, a blanket that I crocheted (in college) and some books I'm looking forward to reading...and the lovely bright winter sunlight shining through the many windows in our warm and cozy home.

Next week's challenge: Valentine. Hmm...I'll have to be thinking about that one.


Foto Friday Challenge

Monday, February 7, 2011

Multitude Monday


my growing gratitude list:


The weight of sleepy bodies both large and small

teeny tiny knitting needles and the hope of knitting socks

homemade bread

toboggans, filled with family fun 

Grandpas to climb on and photos snapped by children

little girl dreams of preparing to a be a flower girl, bridal dresses and pretty shoes, preparing for a wedding, a doorway to walk through to begin a new chapter of  life, the rest of your new life together


childhood memories reborn and created anew

new stages

 pink sunglasses

 sweet faces

silly faces
children who miss each other when they're apart
quiet moments to snuggle and read together
growing hunger for God's Word
fresh snow
icicles
warm winter boots
abounding grace
lavished grace
undeserved mercy
smiles
noisy children
the unending song of God's Love for me
[271-297]



Sunday, February 6, 2011

Scrapbook Sunday???


Well, I told Catie that I would try to join her on her Scrapbook Sunday posts. I have one problem. I don't do any scrap booking anymore. :(  I'll spare you the long explanation. Anyway, I do LOVE to make cards, so I thought I could post a picture of a card I've made.
This is a bad picture...a bit blurry...and it was difficult to really capture the colors of this card, but nonetheless, I was very pleased with how this card turned out.
Well, since scrapbooking is usually about your kids, I felt bad joining this and only showing off my handiwork...so here is a painting of Lucy's...an apple :)

Friday, February 4, 2011

Foto Friday

This week's Foto Friday challenge was "Rainbow". I tried several "rainbow" shots, but wasn't happy with any of them. Finally, I remembered that Selah had this shirt that had many rainbow colors. I guess it could have qualified for last week's stripes challenge too, but I didn't think of it then. This shirt is one that all of our girls have gotten to wear. That's pretty neat I think when the clothes make it that far and still look so cute. :) This was a fun little photo shoot to do with Selah. She is such a sweetie! She did get tired of her picture being taken by the end...especially because she couldn't get a hold of the camera I was dangling in front of her. :) I tried to get a good picture of a mad face, but that
 didn't work either. :) Someday I'll get one so that I have proof for others that she does cry.






Foto Friday Challenge