Since becoming a mommy, I've had to be a little more creative in the way I spend time in the Word and learning from God. I've started listening to sermons on the computer, because I'm able to do that while feeding, changing, cleaning, etc. Recently I have found great blessing in Francis Chan's teaching, so I thought I'd post the link to his podcast just in case anyone would also like to listen....
So, Here's where to find them...
I hope you find blessing in them too!
December 16, 2008
December 5, 2008
Projectile Parenting
I have been thrown up on seven times in the last 48 hours. It is gross, it smells really bad, and Mena and I are both running out of laundry due to the 8 changes of clothes we've both been through in the last two days.
What's wrong with her? I'm not sure. Well...I take that back. On Tuesday she had a fever of 104 degrees, and started puking - doctor says it's a virus, wait it out.......thanks. But, she woke up on Wednesday without a fever and apparently feeling just fine. She's thrown up twice since then, but it doesn't seem related to the prior virus. She's completely fine outside of the time she's actually upchucking all over me, and she only throws up when she's taking a bottle. She has a cough, and we're thinking maybe that's the culprit - making her gag. Or maybe she's developed an allergy or something.
All this to say....
Oh, the joys of Parenting.
What's wrong with her? I'm not sure. Well...I take that back. On Tuesday she had a fever of 104 degrees, and started puking - doctor says it's a virus, wait it out.......thanks. But, she woke up on Wednesday without a fever and apparently feeling just fine. She's thrown up twice since then, but it doesn't seem related to the prior virus. She's completely fine outside of the time she's actually upchucking all over me, and she only throws up when she's taking a bottle. She has a cough, and we're thinking maybe that's the culprit - making her gag. Or maybe she's developed an allergy or something.
All this to say....
Oh, the joys of Parenting.
December 2, 2008
True Compassion
"We are called to play the Good Samaritan on life's roadside....but one day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that a system that produces beggars needs to be repaved. We are called to be the Good Samaritan, but after you lift so many people out of the ditch you start to ask, maybe the whole road to Jericho needs to be repaved."
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a sermon at Riverside Church entitled "A Time to Break the Silence"
We need to do more. And by we I mean the church. And by the church I mean you and I. We have come to a place where we fling coins to beggars, but do not venture to sit on the side of the road with them to ask what it is they really need. Why will we not go further? Why won't we do more? Are we afraid? Do we not trust Jesus? Are we too concerned with saving money for our retirement that people right now have to suffer? When do we come to a point that flinging coins is not enough? When are we going to love people like they are our brothers and sisters instead of loving them like we just want one more person to hear our 5 steps to salvation?
In his book "The Irresistible Revolution," Shane Claiborne discusses Matthew 25: 31-45:
When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to dringk? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? WHen did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the king will answer them, 'I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me'
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a strager and you did not recieve me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?' Then he will answer them, 'I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.' And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Jesus sounds pretty serious about this whole serving the poor and disadvantaged thing. But it seems like the first thing that we toss out. Because it makes us uncomfortable? I don't know. But it doesn't sound much like God calls us to a life of comfort.
Rich Mullins delivered a sermon at Wheaton College and said, "Your guys are all into that born again thing, which is great. We do need to be born again, since Jesus said that to a guy named Nicodemus. But if you tell me I have to be born again to enter the kingdom of God, I can tell you that you have to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, becasue Jesus said that to one guy too.....But I guess that's why God invented highlighters, so we can gighlight the parts we like, and ignore the rest."
This is so convicting for me. I don't want an easy Christianity - Jesus didn't serve an easy term on this earth.
Let's think bigger than making a donation. What can we do to TRULY serve our savior and his brothers and sisters? Any ideas?
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a sermon at Riverside Church entitled "A Time to Break the Silence"
We need to do more. And by we I mean the church. And by the church I mean you and I. We have come to a place where we fling coins to beggars, but do not venture to sit on the side of the road with them to ask what it is they really need. Why will we not go further? Why won't we do more? Are we afraid? Do we not trust Jesus? Are we too concerned with saving money for our retirement that people right now have to suffer? When do we come to a point that flinging coins is not enough? When are we going to love people like they are our brothers and sisters instead of loving them like we just want one more person to hear our 5 steps to salvation?
In his book "The Irresistible Revolution," Shane Claiborne discusses Matthew 25: 31-45:
When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to dringk? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? WHen did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the king will answer them, 'I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me'
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a strager and you did not recieve me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?' Then he will answer them, 'I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.' And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Jesus sounds pretty serious about this whole serving the poor and disadvantaged thing. But it seems like the first thing that we toss out. Because it makes us uncomfortable? I don't know. But it doesn't sound much like God calls us to a life of comfort.
Rich Mullins delivered a sermon at Wheaton College and said, "Your guys are all into that born again thing, which is great. We do need to be born again, since Jesus said that to a guy named Nicodemus. But if you tell me I have to be born again to enter the kingdom of God, I can tell you that you have to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, becasue Jesus said that to one guy too.....But I guess that's why God invented highlighters, so we can gighlight the parts we like, and ignore the rest."
This is so convicting for me. I don't want an easy Christianity - Jesus didn't serve an easy term on this earth.
Let's think bigger than making a donation. What can we do to TRULY serve our savior and his brothers and sisters? Any ideas?
November 22, 2008
Growing and Changing
Mena is doing so many new things. It seems like she is growing an learning by the second. She's learned how to go up and down the stairs. She's now walking her push toy all over the house. She distinctly calls me MaMaMaMaMa. Eating new table foods is very exciting for her now. Yesterday morning she told Brian "NoNoNo!" when he was trying to wipe off her face. She even has a few new dance moves.
It is such a joy to see her learning and growing. To be honest, at first this felt a little like babysitting. But seeing her changing so much while she is with us makes it so much more.
When Cassandra first came to live with us, she was barely reading at all - having to sound out words like "at" or "it". Now she can read through an entire early reader book, only having to sound out the difficult words. It's amazing.
While this is challenging, it also brings so much joy. It is difficult to constantly block out the worlds mantra - "Look at all you're missing out on." "You're so young, you should be out having fun!" "What are you getting yourself into?" But once I get past these things, knowing that I am being guided by the hands of my creator, there is just so much joy.
It is such a joy to see her learning and growing. To be honest, at first this felt a little like babysitting. But seeing her changing so much while she is with us makes it so much more.
When Cassandra first came to live with us, she was barely reading at all - having to sound out words like "at" or "it". Now she can read through an entire early reader book, only having to sound out the difficult words. It's amazing.
While this is challenging, it also brings so much joy. It is difficult to constantly block out the worlds mantra - "Look at all you're missing out on." "You're so young, you should be out having fun!" "What are you getting yourself into?" But once I get past these things, knowing that I am being guided by the hands of my creator, there is just so much joy.
November 13, 2008
Just Thoughts.
Things I'm thinking about today:
1. I had to yell at myself "LOOSEN UP!" because I was being a lame mom. No one needs a lame mom. After I did this, we screamed David Crowder songs all the way to school. It was much better that way.
2. Our cat Brit really likes to snuggle me by laying on my neck. Unfortunately, when he stops
snuggling me, my neck smells like cat, and Brian won't kiss me. But I really like snuggling
Brit.... It's a toss up.
3. Honey Nut Spins for breakfast may just be the best breakfast ever.
4. I love spending time with God. I wish it was slightly less interrupted than it is these days. But then I remember, this is what God has for me, he understands the interruptions.
5. I took Cassandra to the dentist this morning to get two cavities out, and she's incredible. I'm a much bigger wuss than she is.
6. Mena is incredibly adorable when she shakes her booty to the music. She has rhythm.
1. I had to yell at myself "LOOSEN UP!" because I was being a lame mom. No one needs a lame mom. After I did this, we screamed David Crowder songs all the way to school. It was much better that way.
2. Our cat Brit really likes to snuggle me by laying on my neck. Unfortunately, when he stops
snuggling me, my neck smells like cat, and Brian won't kiss me. But I really like snuggling
Brit.... It's a toss up.
3. Honey Nut Spins for breakfast may just be the best breakfast ever.
4. I love spending time with God. I wish it was slightly less interrupted than it is these days. But then I remember, this is what God has for me, he understands the interruptions.
5. I took Cassandra to the dentist this morning to get two cavities out, and she's incredible. I'm a much bigger wuss than she is.
6. Mena is incredibly adorable when she shakes her booty to the music. She has rhythm.
November 11, 2008
As Big as The Moon
Cassandra often wonders how big things are. Like God, or how fun our day will be, or how long something will be...you get the idea. She'll ask something like, "Is it big like a tree? Or is it big like the house? Or is it big like the sky?" Until she's satisfied that you have defined exactly how big the current something is. Last night, as we were putting her to bed she whispered to me,
"Maggie, guess what?"
"What?"
She got very close and whispered in my ear, "I love you as big as the planet!"
I answered, "Well I love you as big as the universe!"
"Well I love you as big as all the planets squished into one BIG planet!" was her reply.
She's so sweet. I love her as big as the universe.
We recently found out that the girls will most likely be leaving us sometime in early January, just after the holidays. Please pray for the time that we have left with them. That we can love them like Jesus, and that they don't forget what they have learned about Him in their time here. Also, if you could begin praying for their transition now, and that they continue to learn about Christ after they go.
Here are some sweet pictures of the girls playing in the leaves on Halloween...
"Maggie, guess what?"
"What?"
She got very close and whispered in my ear, "I love you as big as the planet!"
I answered, "Well I love you as big as the universe!"
"Well I love you as big as all the planets squished into one BIG planet!" was her reply.
She's so sweet. I love her as big as the universe.
We recently found out that the girls will most likely be leaving us sometime in early January, just after the holidays. Please pray for the time that we have left with them. That we can love them like Jesus, and that they don't forget what they have learned about Him in their time here. Also, if you could begin praying for their transition now, and that they continue to learn about Christ after they go.
Here are some sweet pictures of the girls playing in the leaves on Halloween...
November 2, 2008
So Sweet.
Life is, that is.
There isn't a whole lot that is more fun than partying it up with a seven year old. Having a giggle fest over something that probably wouldn't be funny if your counter part weren't 1/3 your age is just great. My very favorite thing is probably our Latino dance parties when we get to shake our booties and try our best to keep a beat (she's seven and I have no rhythm.). Becoming a parent overnight causes all kinds of changes ... but it's also just so sweet. What a blessing.
Another favorite is getting to see them learn and grow and change is so many ways. Recently I had a pretty great conversation with Cassandra:
Cassandra:
Maggie, does God live in a cloud?
Me:
Well, yes, God is in the clouds.
...Cassandra, what do you think it would be like to live in a cloud?
Cassandra:
White.
Me:
Yeah, I guess it might be pretty white, huh?
Cassandra:
Did there must be a lot of love in those clouds, huh? (She's still working on being able to ask questions without the spanish influence.)
Me:
A lot of love? (thrown off from the comment about it being white)
Cassandra:
Yeah, if God lives there in those clouds, there must be a lot of love there, yeah?
Me:
Yeah, they must be pretty full of love. (Tearing up over her understanding of God's love)
Cassandra:
Maggie, does God have a mustache?
Me:
Well, I'm just not sure Cassandra ... I love you.
I think God is thrilled with her.
There isn't a whole lot that is more fun than partying it up with a seven year old. Having a giggle fest over something that probably wouldn't be funny if your counter part weren't 1/3 your age is just great. My very favorite thing is probably our Latino dance parties when we get to shake our booties and try our best to keep a beat (she's seven and I have no rhythm.). Becoming a parent overnight causes all kinds of changes ... but it's also just so sweet. What a blessing.
Another favorite is getting to see them learn and grow and change is so many ways. Recently I had a pretty great conversation with Cassandra:
Cassandra:
Maggie, does God live in a cloud?
Me:
Well, yes, God is in the clouds.
...Cassandra, what do you think it would be like to live in a cloud?
Cassandra:
White.
Me:
Yeah, I guess it might be pretty white, huh?
Cassandra:
Did there must be a lot of love in those clouds, huh? (She's still working on being able to ask questions without the spanish influence.)
Me:
A lot of love? (thrown off from the comment about it being white)
Cassandra:
Yeah, if God lives there in those clouds, there must be a lot of love there, yeah?
Me:
Yeah, they must be pretty full of love. (Tearing up over her understanding of God's love)
Cassandra:
Maggie, does God have a mustache?
Me:
Well, I'm just not sure Cassandra ... I love you.
I think God is thrilled with her.
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