days of small things

 

 

 

  Begin early, early enough, so they never remember a time when they did not work. Tap into their desire to be big like daddy and mommy. Praise their efforts. When they say, “I do it myself,” let them. Start with little jobs for little kids. Train them to take care of themselves. Time spent teaching them a task is quality time. Aim for gradual improvement, not immediate perfection. Don’t take over a job for them because they are too slow or too messy. Practice makes perfect. Mary Beeke, Teach them to work

  “In friendship...we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another...the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting--any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another." The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.”  C.S. Lewis,  The Four Loves I am so thankful for this friendship. 

  The battle's fierce but the victory's won  God shall provide all that you need Yes as your days your strength shall be 

    The days are long but the years short 

 Today the Lord showed me that I am not convinced that He is in control of all things. And that my hope and peace comes from our ability to pay for things (like unexpected car repair and maintenance issues) whereas it should be in the fact that He has all things in His hands! That He is our provider and protector. That His will will not be thwarted. That He uses all things according to the counsel of His will, whereby, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass!  I don’t know what the meaning of this afternoon was. Our van’s battery died. A dear brother from church had to come and give us a jump. Then he invited us to spend some time at his house while we waited for the evening service to start. We had planned on attending the evening prayer service on the southside, held at one of the elders homes to encourage his family and pray with them. But when we got ready to leave, the van wouldn’t start again. This turned into a few hours more at their home and the men running out ...

 I have been confronted with the fact that I am not compassionate. My initial response to tough situations seldom reflects my Saviour’s. I am in great need of help from the Spirit to continue molding and shaping me into the image of Christ and to grow me in this area.  This week the Lord showed me just how sinful this lack of compassion is!  1. A dear friend of ours is putting together a closet for us, free of charge, in his spare time! He is lending his talents and time to help us. He wasn’t able to complete it in the time frame that I had in mind. It’s his 35th anniversary and he has other commitments. That didn’t stop me from pouting and getting upset. I made all kinds of accusations in my mind and heart. Lord, help me! Help me to be grateful. Help me to pray for this man and his family!  2. A young woman at church, whom I initially began building a friendship with, began exhibiting behaviours that have made it clear to me that she is in fact, not my friend. Thoug...

                                        “But all the other girls who were invited are going. She’ll be the only one not there.“ “Think of how she will feel when they’re all talking about it on Sunday!” “I don’t want them to think of me and our family a certain way. They already think we’re weird because we don’t watch much tv, do sleepovers, criticize Disney, & aren't hip to the latest secular dance moves.” If I’m honest, these are the real reasons why I was upset about our family’s decision for Elizabeth not to attend a birthday party she was recently invited to.  The party is the weekend of her little brother’s birthday. The same sweet friend invited her last year and she wasn’t able to go for the same reason.  We encourage our children to be each other’s first and best friends. We don’t like to run around and Jam Pack our weekends (or weekdays for that...

  There are so many tough things going on in our congregation right now! And yet the LORD has given us reason to rejoice.  I am so thankful that we got the opportunity to celebrate Oli's birthday with our friends. This was such a sweet night.  Rejoice in the LORD always, and again I say, rejoice!