tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44332079454274891532024-02-19T07:35:41.494-08:00Before a Word is on My TongueLydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-37568956675204543002020-04-15T11:38:00.002-07:002020-04-15T11:38:41.743-07:00Pleasure Reading<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="70q06" data-offset-key="cdmf6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">"Shout it </span><br />
Go on and scream it from the mountains <br />
Go on and tell it to the masses <br />
That He is God!"</div>
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I wasn't planning to share this, because it isn't finished yet, my goal isn't yet accomplished. But someone needs this, too, right now. Maybe several of you do. So here is what I am doing:</div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Easter morning we sang "The Wondrous Cross." And this line jumped out at me: "All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood." And unbidden my heart said, "Stories. Stories charm you most." You all know that I love and value stories, and my life and worldview, rooted first in the truth of Jesus, are what you might call "story-formed." Stories are WONDERFUL. But I have struggled my whole life with this, too: that I get lost in a good book over responsibilities, and certainly over scripture. A good story is ever more "charming" to me than the Bible. True confession.</span></div>
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And the hypothetical question, "If you were on a desert island and could only bring one book, what would it be?" And of course the answer is the Bible, because that's the "right" answer for a Christian but really because I truly believe it is the only book, ever, from which we can continually learn and grow and discover new and wonderful things. It never gets old. The more I carve it on my heart, the better. BUT, do I ever treat the Bible that way in normal life? No. I try to read something out of it every day, but I don't study, dwell, meditate on it, or memorize it regularly at all.</div>
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And so this is what I'm doing: for the 40 days of church-calendar Easter, up until Pentecost Sunday, I am reading nothing but scripture. I am not being legalistic about it; I am reading my kids' stories to them, I am reading Facebook, I am reading articles. And I am reading a commentary to help me understand the historical and cultural context of Isaiah, which I'm tackling to begin with. <b><i>But my "pleasure reading" during this season is solely scripture.</i></b></div>
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And I am so excited for the growth, the peace, and the unexpected results that will come from this time I invest.</div>
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You all have a different kind of time right now than you did before COVID-19. It might not actually be more time, but it is different time. And we'll probably never have a season quite like this again. Maybe you need to invest your time differently than you have been. Listen to the Holy Spirit in you, because what He is speaking to me is for me, and what He speaks to you is for you. But the Holy Spirit always, always endorses time in scripture.</div>
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(Lyric at the top taken from "All The Poor And Powerless" by All Sons and Daughters)</div>
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Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-43127259400241880922019-08-11T09:29:00.000-07:002019-08-11T09:29:44.999-07:00Maintenance Required<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back Story:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were tent camping with friends. It rained. Turns out our old tent isn't waterproof. We decided to drive home for sleeping, and early this morning Andy and the boys headed back to the campsite to finish packing and get in another few hours of play with our friends while I stayed home with the baby. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's Sunday, and technically I was now free to go to church. I decided to treasure my quiet morning at home, though, and sat with my baby in the swing on my back porch to worship Jesus right here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We swung in this quiet, slow, perfect-weather morning and soaked in Jesus. I sang along to Pandora. I listened to the words. I listened to the morning around me. I wrote down lyrics:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"You have called me higher,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You have called me deeper, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And I will go where You will lead me, Lord..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"This is my Father's world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">O, let me never forget</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That though the wrong seems oft' so strong, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God is the Ruler yet!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is my Father's world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The battle is not done:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus Who died will be satisfied,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And earth and heaven be one!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"And when before the Throne</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I stand in Him complete</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Jesus died my soul to save'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My lips shall still repeat."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I swang, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I sang, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I looked at this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is not fancy. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It is not beautiful. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Usually I look at this and see a reminder of </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">what I don't have--the money to fix everything at once; or that thing I (think I) want, maintenance-free beauty, cleanliness, and simplicity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just now I looked at this and understood a Truth: Jesus impressed on me how much I would miss, how shallow my life would be, if my physical life was "picture-perfect."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b><u>The physical always, always has a spiritual and sacred counterpart. </u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The physical maintenance required to manage my space, and the necessity of prioritizing repairs and improvements, of doing one thing at a time--these things have spiritual significance. These things are not only necessary, but GOOD. They are not signs of any sort of lack, but of the wonderful truth that for as long as I live, I am given this privilege:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to keep growing </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to keep changing </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to keep trusting that God </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Who makes all things new</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">is faithful and just to complete His good work</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">in me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">through me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain." Philippians 2:12-16</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"And when before the Throne</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I stand <b>in Him complete</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Jesus died my soul to save'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My lips shall still repeat."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In Him, it will be picture-perfect when I finish this physical race and stand before His sacred throne.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Joy!</span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-55447075307916618832019-05-09T12:48:00.000-07:002019-05-09T12:48:45.905-07:00The Struggle Is Real<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This post isn't going to say anything you haven't heard before. I know that. But I feel the need to get it off my chest a little. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They say to enjoy every minute of the little years, because they're gone in the blink of an eye. They say the days are long, but the years are short. They say I'll miss this when it's gone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And they're right. And they're wrong. There is a lot about the little years that I do enjoy, I do love, I will miss when it's gone. Heck, I'm already missing the pre-school adventures I used to have with my two older boys, and recognizing that there will be less, and less, and less time to be with them exploring our world. I got to really enjoy Lem's babyhood, partly because I fully believed it was my last chance for it, and so I savored him. Turns out I get to savor it all over again, and this time in a brand-new way with my daughter (what a gift she is!). I really am thankful for the gifts in these little years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But on the "regular" days, the ho-hum, chores-at-home kind of days (which there are more of than adventure days)...it is hard. I think to myself, ok--all you need to get done today is clearing off that desk surface, and some laundry. And days and days--and days--later, it is still not accomplished. It's positively maddening. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And so, despite not even working outside the home, despite a husband who does more than his fair share of housework and kidwork along with his paycheckwork, despite my savoring and enjoying the little years as much as I can--there are things that I wish were different. Usually, they are surfaces! (Ha.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then there's this kid, who is almost ALWAYS at the edge (or way beyond) whatever boundary he's given. So there's that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The struggle of the little years is indeed real. But hey! The laundry will still be there tomorrow. They are 100% right about that.</span></div>
Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-35176474914540624322019-01-24T13:17:00.001-08:002019-01-24T13:17:51.641-08:00Love Them Both<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I often lie awake in the wee hours of the night, desperately wishing for sleep but maddeningly full of thoughts. Last night, while my own due-any-day daughter thumped with a strange regularity in my belly ("She has hiccups!" I realized), those thoughts centered on the Reproductive Health Act that New York passed this week. I was a long time falling back to sleep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It seems that the awful implications of this law for babies are obvious, so who is it meant to benefit? Women, right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We all know that life begins at conception. We may not like it, we may deny it, but we can't actually refute it. For almost every woman, there are signs to indicate the life growing inside before her belly begins to look baby-full, and long before baby's own movements are felt. It is hard to deny that something substantial is changing inside, but easier to convince ourselves that our decisions affect our own bodies, our own futures, and no one else's. But by about half-way, not only are we aware of a distinct person inside ourselves, separate, but we become more and more aware of the actual <i>personality </i>growing inside. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At that point, to choose to end the life is obvious not just to ourselves, but to others. "She was pregnant; now she is not."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For almost every woman considering abortion, the decision is not easy, peaceful, or considered good. It is a lesser of evils, perhaps the only perceived option, arrived at out of desperation. It is a haunting decision. We may not like that idea, we may deny that idea, but I have never heard of a woman who was not haunted by the consequences of that decision. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>From this perspective, how does legalizing late-term abortion benefit women? </b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This new law authorizes non-doctors to perform abortions. According to the <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2223.html" target="_blank">CIA World Factbook </a>of 2015 information, there are <span style="background-color: orange;">FORTY-FOUR NATIONS with lower maternal mortality rates than the United States. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #707070; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 1px;">The maternal mortality rate (MMR) is the annual number of female deaths per 100,000 live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy </span><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #707070; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 1px;">or its management </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #707070; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 1px;">(excluding accidental or incidental causes). The MMR includes deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, </span><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #707070; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 1px;">or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #707070; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 1px;">, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, for a specified year.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>How does the removal of medical safeguards and standards from an already against-nature procedure benefit women? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This new law removes substantial layers of criminal prosecution from anyone who would act violently against a woman with the intent of causing her to miscarry her baby. This means that the choice was made BY SOMEONE ELSE, not the woman, to attempt to terminate her pregnancy by actually violent means, no medical safeguards considered. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>How does this change in legislation benefit women? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are only three thoughts to think on. They seem to me to be sufficient evidence that this law is not meant, in fact, to benefit women. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Separate, but closely related, are pro-life and pro-family issues, such as: </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why are adoption options being actively made less available?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why are maternity and paternity leaves painfully short, often unpaid, sometimes non-existent? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why are pregnancy prevention or termination medications, devices, and procedures so much more widely covered by insurances than medications, devices, and procedures to enhance the chances of conception for couples facing infertility?</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I could go on. But these seem like sufficient food for thought. My state is in the news this week, but our culture at large is less and less pro-choice, more and more pro-death. My heart is so sad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For those of us who are pro-life, AND for those of us who are actually pro-choice--as in, make all the viable options really, really obvious and available--let's work together. Let's actually work to make abortion rare, even unnecessary. Let's love babies AND their mothers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleTeaParty/videos/2206365126349432/" target="_blank">March For Life 2019, Fast-forward</a></span></div>
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Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-432625867133191122018-09-01T04:57:00.002-07:002018-09-01T04:58:13.381-07:00Time Out of Mind<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am thinking about time this morning. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In my quiet time with Jesus each morning, I tend to journal on how I spent yesterday, and what I expect for today. But this morning (partly because my children are still sleeping, and it is quiet enough for me to think more deeply) I began thinking beyond the physical details of the days more...to the point of them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I realize I feel perpetually guilty about how I am NOT spending my time, and that is a pervasive feeling. Even when I am perfectly glad to be doing whatever it is I am busy about. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Surely I am not alone. There are forever an endless supply of choices for how to spend our time, and it is a puzzle of life to "redeem the time" in the right ways. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wouldn't it be grand to live in such a way that I feel <i>peace</i> about my choices in using the time that I have, the time that God has given me? Not the usual results of appeasing someone, or doing what is needed, or scrambling to stave off the panic of being completely overwhelmed by all the many, many things that are needed--or even the result of pleasure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>What if I lived in a way, day to day, that resulted in a pervasive, deep PEACE about how I have spent, how I am spending, how I plan to spend MY TIME? </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What a gift that would be. What true satisfaction that would be. What a way to think about an intentional life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love...Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord...'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." From Ephesians 5</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1 "Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving after wind." Ecc 4:6 "If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, BUT HIS SOUL IS NOT SATISFIED with life's good things...I say that a stillborn child is better off than he." Ecc 6:3 "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." Ecc 12:13-14</span></blockquote>
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Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-8859811667086915742018-06-17T17:38:00.000-07:002018-06-17T17:38:12.982-07:00Daddy's Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are the daddies I celebrate. I am so very rich. </span></div>
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<br />Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-20912200020646691082018-04-05T03:30:00.001-07:002018-04-05T03:30:29.076-07:00Spring Is Such A Maiden<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Old Man Winter is not letting go without a fight this year. Yesterday afternoon I was rejoicing to see that, except for the remains of the few largest, plowed-up heaps, the front yard snow was gone. A couple of hours later, it was already covered in fresh white, with howling winds driving snow on what looked just like a raging winter storm. Oh well, Spring can't be too far away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maiden Spring. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People often think of "maidens" as delicate, timid, fragile. But I have known maidens who are full of energy, tenacious, strong, full of joy and unquenchable optimism, vitality. Full of strength and gentleness. Maidens who are forces to be reckoned with. I was such a maiden. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spring is such a maiden. </span><br />
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Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-61450175786185211262018-03-09T10:00:00.001-08:002018-03-09T10:00:33.532-08:00Loud<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="a87uf" data-offset-key="91gca-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<span data-offset-key="91gca-0-0"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Revolutionary-feeling thought today: Christian culture so often dwells on the things <b>we can't do freely</b> in our society. We <b>lament</b> there's no prayer allowed in schools, <b>bewail</b> the unconscionable separation between church and state, or <b>rail</b> about people being too easily offended by Christianity. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1eof1-0-0"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1eof1-0-0"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">we stopped lamenting and bewailing and railing? </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1eof1-0-0"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1eof1-0-0"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">we led by example, boldly starting and leading the prayer instead of waiting to be led? </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1eof1-0-0"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1eof1-0-0"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">we participated in government as our consciences dictated, but went ahead and asked for Holy Spirit power to live out our faith with consistency across the divides? </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1eof1-0-0"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1eof1-0-0"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">instead of railing about pansy feelings, we purposed ourselves to become <b>unoffendable</b> people? </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2677n-0-0"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our kids have full freedom to pray in school or wherever they might want to. But <b>we have to teach them</b> <b>and show them</b> that in order for that to happen, they must initiate the praying. They can't wait for someone to tell them to do it--they must become the praying people. Our government doesn't have a beautiful track record for acting on its founding Biblical principles; if anything, those principles have been misapplied and used for evil. <b>We have to live out</b> the upside-down Kingdom, declaring through our integrity that His ways solve problems at their roots. We are just as easily offended by cultural issues as a wiccan witnessing kids praying around a flagpole. Except, get this: as Christians we're called to LOVE those who hate us, to PRAY FOR those who persecute us! And so our offense is uglier. Our offense has farther-reaching consequences. As ambassadors of the King of kings, we have way, way more authority than we realize--and when we use our authority wrongly, the consequences are much, much more weighty. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="d7aaf-0-0"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Test your faith. Apply it. Strengthen it. Exercise it. Live it out loud, like your faith matters. </span></span></div>
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Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-9203944241143138142018-02-26T18:50:00.000-08:002018-03-03T11:43:56.901-08:00Just Write<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It is 6:05. In the evening. Prime time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I am holed up in the guest room--Oh, look at my guest room! In the <a href="http://beforeaword.blogspot.com/2017/11/i-am-having-internal-rant-day.html" target="_blank">last-published post </a>it was the "office-guest-craft-stash it room". We have turned a new leaf, and now I come in here sometimes just to stand in a quiet, pretty place:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Progress in the right direction. My brain has been in a different place in the past couple of months, but I haven't really told you anything about it because, although I have had time, I haven't spent any of it on finishing and sharing my polished thoughts with you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So I'm holed up in the guest room, because tonight my husband came home from his day of teaching with a plan for me to write this evening, and to also write regularly. It basically involves setting aside an evening a week to write while he takes on 3-kid duty. To just write. To write.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, let me back up and tell you the earlier part of the story, because to dive right in to today's thoughts without their context is to miss the process, miss the richness. For me it is rich. It's okay if it isn't anything much to you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Through the autumn up until Christmas, I was accelerating along from about 72 to 120 miles per hour. At one point Lincoln told me, "Mama, you're in charge of too many things." You present a good case, kid. His comment sank in deep, and I realized that it isn't simply a case of my not liking the pace; it is a true statement, and the pace is unsustainable and damaging to myself and the people I hold most dear. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Andy and I called up a babysitter and walked down the road for a Reevaluation Date at our local diner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We came up with some changes, some redirection, and I began to sense light at the end of the tunnel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At New Year's, my sister-in-law gave me words for a concept, the ideas of which had already been brewing in my heart. You've probably already heard of it: discovering your One Word. It's enough of a concept now to generate <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=one+word" target="_blank">books</a> on a variety of contexts: your one word for the year, for life, for your business, for your lasting legacy, etc. (I haven't read any of the books; I can't tell you whether they're any good.) But I knew my word right away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I painted it, because that's what I do. I have begun applying it to all sorts of things: what I read, how many bottles of shampoo are in my shower, the ingredients in my food and how I cook it, how the laundry is sorted, how I think about social issues, how I'm pursuing Jesus, etc. I don't think I am especially good at simplicity, but I am getting better, and that is the important thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Life weaves together in wonderful ways, don't you think? A year and a half ago, before I was thinking particularly about simplifying life, I sang a song for my Grandaddy's memorial service:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Tis a gift to be simple. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So 'tis. </span><br />
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Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-76641384675946226322017-11-29T05:44:00.000-08:002017-12-01T09:06:59.336-08:00Ranting<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40q70-NijFFkkxIm4r-Jk2dG8TQFS_YziWxTDC7Ha90AmXRshuxbAtYSZCYOr710Yy2FizbpjjbsLUE613R4RPnEhSA0TPQgziz5Rwqy5vVfS2Yvz2bPkJ4dYLFxSgpZ3TQDNbzjvov-9/s1600/mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="640" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40q70-NijFFkkxIm4r-Jk2dG8TQFS_YziWxTDC7Ha90AmXRshuxbAtYSZCYOr710Yy2FizbpjjbsLUE613R4RPnEhSA0TPQgziz5Rwqy5vVfS2Yvz2bPkJ4dYLFxSgpZ3TQDNbzjvov-9/s640/mess.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my office-guest-craft-stash it room. This is normal. This also is an accurate picture of my brain at times like these. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am having an internal rant day. Maybe by the end of this post I'll get over it; I don't always know where these posts will take me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I went to bed--as in, I was asleep by--8:30 last night. Eight-plus hours of sleep. Still woke up grumpy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can't even write out all the stuff that just gets under my skin, especially early in the mornings. It's a cumulation of little, insignificant things that don't matter much, but they add up and on top of the big things I'm carrying around in my brain and equal just too much. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> little big <span style="font-size: large;">just</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> stupid + complicated = <span style="font-size: large;">too</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> insignificant important <span style="font-size: large;">much</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> bothers responsibilities </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It occurred to me in the midst of my grumpiness that a lot of my frustration stems from </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">trying to be a working mother</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">without childcare</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and without pay </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I want time and resources to be increased so I can do things like</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">enjoy my toddler while he's here with me * invest and engage more in the lives of my children: spiritually, educationally, in their fun quotient, family traditions, quality time... * homeschool them in the Scandinavian outdoor-exploration-problem-solving fashion * have time to make Christmas gifts for the people I care about * family Secret Santa projects, going out of our ways to bless other people in this season * go outside more * invest in spiritual retreat and formation time * build relationships * be a present, intentional neighbor * do my long list of house projects * etc etc etc</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have, like, the twisted-stomach-knotted-pit feeling of stress and frustration just writing these things. It's not even all the things. It's NONE of the "working mom" things that are taking up almost all of my brain space. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't want it this way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is a normal struggle for lots and lots of women. It increased with the advent of feminism, when it began to be culturally encouraged that women get out there and "have it all." And you know what? My dreams are big enough to want it all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But not this way. This way does not increase love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, or self-control. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And yet, there isn't a good way to balance these things out. There is just too much stuff, and it is also stuff (responsibilities) that I can't just "get rid of." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I hardly have time to talk with my husband, and when we do talk we are still talking about management things. Not even enough time, though, to properly manage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ridiculous. It's the surviving-but-not thriving thing I'm doing. That so many of us are doing. It's bad. There's not a good solution. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I'm going to leave it at that for now. I am generally good at highlighting the good things going on, the many, many graces and mercies God is pouring out all the time. Sometimes I just need to rant, because keeping the ranting inside my head, like I usually do, gets exhausting. I guess it's still exhausting to write it, but it's a "bear one another's burdens" kind of helpful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today I don't have the energy or the time to process all the way through this, either. I just need to somehow tackle the responsibilities. So you can deal with my less-than-ideal, full-of-hyphenation, (mostly) stream-of-consciousness writing. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-60929709813239294862017-11-08T05:58:00.000-08:002017-11-08T05:58:34.394-08:00Good Words: Prophetic Prayers Over Our Lives<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"(Lydia, who we read about in Acts 16, was a woman from) the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who worshipped God, who WORSHIPPED God. The Lord opened her heart, OPENED HER HEART, to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized she begged us, saying, 'If you judge me to be faithful to the Lord come to my house and stay.' And so she persuaded us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You know, when you study her you find out Lydia was a worshipper, but more importantly you find out that Lydia was one that listened and that she was a woman of detail, and a woman who opened up her heart and head. She had an open heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What's your husband's name? (Andrew) Andrew. I just see your home as a happy place, and where people want to come and gather and you opened your home. And for some reason I just feel that you're just a healthy eater, I just see organics and, I just feel sorry for your husband--he probably has to sneak out to get something sweet. But know this, says the Lord, that I am coming with a fresh visitation to your home. Yea, even throughout the rest of this year and into next year says the Lord, for I am bringing the right ingredients for you. Know this, says the Lord your God, that you and your husband will run side by side, says the Lord, for I have equally yoked you, says the Lord your God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And know this, oh man of God, and get ready, says the Lord, for you are going to be known as a great teacher says the Lord. And know this, that I have uniquely put you together O man of God, and I have linked your heart and your mind together. And know this, that the technology that rests deep inside of your spirit, that I have planted it, says the Lord. You will bring it forth to many others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Know this, husband and wife, know this, that as a couple there will be many children around you. And I see you both being teachers of the Word, says the Lord your God, that you will bring the Word forth no matter where you go. But O man of God know this, that I see you walking down a dark hall, and it's like you hear the footsteps of a hollow hall. But know this says the Lord, you carry My Spirit O man of God, and know this, that you're going to touch many young hearts, says the Lord your God. The two of you need to get ready, says the Lord. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Know this, O woman of God, that I have given you a clean canvas, and you're going to start to paint with the oils of My Spirit, says the Lord. And you will paint the canvasses of the hearts of empty women, says the Lord, where they have given up hope, they have given up the desire to even move forward. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And know this, says the Lord, that I will cause the two of you to be firestarters in young couples' hearts, says the Lord. And I have put the two of you together says the Lord. There is a shepherding (given?) to you, says the Lord your God, and you will shepherd. You will shepherd many couples, says the Lord, that have had hope deferred, that have given up on their lives. Get ready, for your house will be a sanctuary, your house will be like a Ponderosa [buffet] for My Spirit, says the Lord your God. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Get ready, for the two of you are about to run a new race, and you will be successful in the races that you run, says the Lord. For I have put medals around your neck, not to show you as a prideful spirit, but I have put medals around your neck to show others that they can do it. So get ready, says the Lord, for the rain is about to fall upon your life like you have never seen before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And get ready, says the Lord, for you're going to see many come to know Me through your love and though your care and through your perseverance to others, says the Lord. Your home will be a place where people get radically saved, they will get healed, they will get brought back together. I see marriages that are splitting coming back together even before they step foot in the church, says the Lord your God. For I smell, I smell the pastures of a farm, says the Lord, I smell the smell of sheep, says the Lord your God. And you will be the ones who will pamper and take care of the sheep and you will nourish them back to a health and you will turn their hearts back to Me, says the Lord. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Amen."</span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-48809888175508323492017-10-11T19:38:00.004-07:002017-10-11T19:38:57.579-07:00Things I've Never Done Before<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are toward the tail end of 2017, and I am realizing there are in this year some significant things that I've never done before now. I haven't written much--on Blogger or Facebook or in my journal--nor taken pictures of some of these things, and yet they are accomplishments. Here are a few:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been serving this year as a member of my village's first-ever Zoning Commission, whose job it is to draw up a thoughtful draft of a zoning law to propose to our community and village board. This has been a collaboration of several volunteers who live in this village and members of County and regional institutions walking us through this process. We are nearly finished, and I am glad. Zoning is often dry. But what stands out to me of this experience is an excitement, a deep hope, a vision for my community that good things are happening here and better things are on the way. There are so many avenues being traveled to usher in the amazing things going on in this area. It is hard, but it is awesome. Good people, a good place, a God who is faithful to His good promises. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We accomplished a kitchen renovation! With a lot of patience, and then a lot of planning and elbow grease and help from amazing friends, after ten years we finally got our dishwasher. And a beautiful, more functional kitchen in every other way, too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My husband and I took our first-ever kid-free destination vacation to celebrate our tenth anniversary. You can read about that in the blog post just before this one. It was better than our honeymoon! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the first time ever, I planned this year's Vacation Bible School program using a curriculum that didn't need any modifying to be suitable for our timeframe. And it was WONDERFUL. Still a high-stress season for me--there are innumerable details to consider when planning those events. But to use a curriculum that is just flat-out excellent, and that fit perfectly with our 3-day plan, and to have an excellent team to work with in making the big pieces happen--that was different, and I found myself having FUN all three nights, even while "running the show." Thank you, Group Publishing, for creating quality weekend-length VBS curricula. Thank you, Lord, for putting it on the radar for us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In September, Andy and I did this food thing called "Whole30." It's an elimination diet that completely cuts out the food groups that tend to cause gut and inflammation issues for people, allows your body to reset, then reintroduces things so that you can discover what food your body truly functions best with. I first heard about it three-ish years ago and thought, 'That is an awesome thing that I could NEVER do.' Guess what? I did it. And my body feels great. I can legitimately call this the biggest physical accomplishment my body has ever done, because it was a 30-day-long accomplishment that has paved the way for permanent health and lifestyle changes. Childbirth and backpacking through Costa Rican jungles did not take as much endurance (and those things both took some endurance!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And I have been coaching soccer. What?! I don't think I'm the one in my family who would be pegged as The Coach. Truthfully, I am not being *much* of a coach: I am co-coaching U6 AYSO soccer for my son's team. Introducing soccer to four- and five-year-olds does not take a great deal of soccer skill, and it also includes a great deal of just loving on these little kids and having fun with them and obliging them when they want you to come see the dead worm they found. But it is coaching nonetheless, and I am really, really enjoying it. U6 is a good level of (co)coaching for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's still time. I wonder what other things I've never done before will be done by the time we get to December 31?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-80812098656504455562017-07-05T09:10:00.000-07:002017-07-05T09:10:06.938-07:00Ten Years Strong: Choose Well<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKfZllAUAxSw7Sg0lkbtUTrdsCEND5ni9rcXFADvaBfB_cXwnKzS0lHJxs4S-NajQh2JWTI8ANiQGxJC9KbBhx6hOmXWCvKBsB7ygOY55x_1MpDueBdIIq57dhdX67HgB6_Uc67H9EOjI/s1600/Year10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKfZllAUAxSw7Sg0lkbtUTrdsCEND5ni9rcXFADvaBfB_cXwnKzS0lHJxs4S-NajQh2JWTI8ANiQGxJC9KbBhx6hOmXWCvKBsB7ygOY55x_1MpDueBdIIq57dhdX67HgB6_Uc67H9EOjI/s400/Year10.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 10: from the shores of the junction between the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, Kingston. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I write from the Canadian Thousand Islands today, from a beautiful little cottage on Landons Bay near Gananoque. My husband and I traveled here, just the two of us, to celebrate a beautiful little milestone--ten years of marriage--and like a decade of marriage, we've never done anything quite like this before. My parents have our boys (thank you!), we don't have much to be responsible for this week, and we haven't felt this serene in...probably ever. Even on our honeymoon, we were learning how to be actually together for the first time ever, so "serene" only described bits and pieces of our three-week road trip. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have had a good ten years, but you know what's interesting? It is only in this past year that I feel like I'm beginning to understand how this thing--this life of marriage and parenting and loving Jesus by loving people--I'm only just beginning to understand how this thing works. And in a lot of ways, prayer for example, I'm still taking baby steps. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I think of it this way, fifty or seventy-five years of life and learning alongside this man doesn't seem improbable or boring. I'm beginning to understand that with Jesus and the good man He gave me, fifty or seventy-five years of life and learning really is a thrill, really is an adventure worth committing to, really is <i>very </i>beautiful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And do you know how it happened? The gist of it is that I CHOSE WELL. There is a long version to the story, one that involves a couple of decades of the Lord setting me up well. But through those decades there were plenty of opportunities for me to choose poorly. Sometimes I did, and the Holy Spirit allowed me to experience the consequences but was faithful to work all things together for my good, because I love God and have been called according to His purpose (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8&version=ESV" target="_blank">Romans 8:28</a>). But despite temptations of various kinds, when it came down to it, I chose the important things well. I chose to give Christ charge over my life, and later I chose to say <i>yes</i> to an important question asked by a very, very good young man. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This does not mean I am always "happy" about my circumstances. There are plenty of opportunities for me to realize what a selfish old grump I am, and the Holy Spirit allows me to experience the consequences. But as I continue toward Him, continue choosing the important things well, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy+2:13&version=ESV" target="_blank">He is <i>always</i> faithful</a> to work all things together for my good. He is worth everything, and so is my husband, and so is my family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txg5nOIZYO8" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;">"Through it all, through it all</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white;">My eyes are on You</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white;">And it is well with me."</span></a></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txg5nOIZYO8" target="_blank"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></a></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XiCHXF9guDLlPs8ANJYcUq1Yvrk89fCcXfRvWlsu7bS4hzTy-PdHXPmBIAw86DAhfTlhvjvhKr_sXObROvV_7FGvQvYUiLiMErx52_wCRhE-1aRvoicNszLirkvp9pOHWvVnUSkJD2nB/s1600/Wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="401" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XiCHXF9guDLlPs8ANJYcUq1Yvrk89fCcXfRvWlsu7bS4hzTy-PdHXPmBIAw86DAhfTlhvjvhKr_sXObROvV_7FGvQvYUiLiMErx52_wCRhE-1aRvoicNszLirkvp9pOHWvVnUSkJD2nB/s320/Wedding.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wedding day: July 4, 2007.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvK9MWTXJQTBIjU2r1JlfJML9uPGI-Z1nwUAf4b3kZPU3sZHxt37HmTu5HtH8OIbrFoBaJ0TK31u2-c6wmOuRt2GRdS0pF9FKvxBdvqrmQlbB4CXxj4_z2bwVcLGcU4Y1xveBU_tJ4ByW/s1600/Year1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvK9MWTXJQTBIjU2r1JlfJML9uPGI-Z1nwUAf4b3kZPU3sZHxt37HmTu5HtH8OIbrFoBaJ0TK31u2-c6wmOuRt2GRdS0pF9FKvxBdvqrmQlbB4CXxj4_z2bwVcLGcU4Y1xveBU_tJ4ByW/s320/Year1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 1: We reenacted our first date, hiking up Giant Mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-psnCRybckrmsmyhog1E5rqvMqHZzR-oV4aa24vsRSz63il7HptB6kkMFqb1WKU1iBTwNJwBLDxJcADQbgiuWUQULZai6Yd4VHJuk-FgNBdjmcOat70eBn6W1FfODGC68aY5pwPHMytJ/s1600/Year2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="604" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-psnCRybckrmsmyhog1E5rqvMqHZzR-oV4aa24vsRSz63il7HptB6kkMFqb1WKU1iBTwNJwBLDxJcADQbgiuWUQULZai6Yd4VHJuk-FgNBdjmcOat70eBn6W1FfODGC68aY5pwPHMytJ/s320/Year2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 2: A windy, rainy boat cruise on Raquette Lake.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWmPJK-QTkBKE0GbTNVJupvIk2GvWKYXeptmmQf9nsuccC72bg-04SiyAvQBGEUBllNVp4tt-Sc5-k80dpLaqk6wvv0CGPcmM90W6vI2tmSeg2-AnQHgDK31axL8qgJQqJeNyudTNscGC/s1600/Year3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="604" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWmPJK-QTkBKE0GbTNVJupvIk2GvWKYXeptmmQf9nsuccC72bg-04SiyAvQBGEUBllNVp4tt-Sc5-k80dpLaqk6wvv0CGPcmM90W6vI2tmSeg2-AnQHgDK31axL8qgJQqJeNyudTNscGC/s320/Year3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 3: We welcomed our first son two weeks beforehand, and our pictures didn't usually focus on the two of us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtFGgBW6gvNKVV7NSpZBE5ZVWo1Rtn4G0urpsSv_H2Xi1aWamHT48lg2d4O5Pi2f8jceisKmqovNJy2vn1jSQxLKLh8fVnF2EdIEyJP9h9g3ijfqncaZj9CGBiLT2kLPOgKz1aSa_uAl_/s1600/Year4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="453" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtFGgBW6gvNKVV7NSpZBE5ZVWo1Rtn4G0urpsSv_H2Xi1aWamHT48lg2d4O5Pi2f8jceisKmqovNJy2vn1jSQxLKLh8fVnF2EdIEyJP9h9g3ijfqncaZj9CGBiLT2kLPOgKz1aSa_uAl_/s320/Year4.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 4: I was office manager at Beaver Camp, and finally got a picture of our family near the end of the summer during teen camp Coffee House.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJxviWcPmHCeuhrscBaaHlWRG3sy7gSIwXyYdhrT5EFJaRLcamNRAq5HHu3W9QzslZ2DyuHYnRGePbksQ0xuBDa5lyqweuYI10bLs0387nwbCyofnqzXIUz2PW4QDzGYAad_C_kJFQvTj/s1600/Year5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJxviWcPmHCeuhrscBaaHlWRG3sy7gSIwXyYdhrT5EFJaRLcamNRAq5HHu3W9QzslZ2DyuHYnRGePbksQ0xuBDa5lyqweuYI10bLs0387nwbCyofnqzXIUz2PW4QDzGYAad_C_kJFQvTj/s320/Year5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 5: Office manager again, teen camp Coffee House again. Two babies this time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLMk7RIv9Z0ey6z3z4NTOeJNKhN9rxYlO0rm-Wy4k_Mb2y9HSju70nTLL8BfW9h3uJFCxIqYQnseETO5DaUDZ5oB-8bE_wv5QXk5Nd8uWx18Tv8dUaq8ie4xBn4dPSAVqWswbllF2DVqv/s1600/Year6b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLMk7RIv9Z0ey6z3z4NTOeJNKhN9rxYlO0rm-Wy4k_Mb2y9HSju70nTLL8BfW9h3uJFCxIqYQnseETO5DaUDZ5oB-8bE_wv5QXk5Nd8uWx18Tv8dUaq8ie4xBn4dPSAVqWswbllF2DVqv/s320/Year6b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 6: 4th of July celebration with friends.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJy8edeTET4r8eM4YUGa7FRmBTzXsgScqnM2XWlPzK6wJsWFnoXZcm6u33UiQfvOJG1gLhUithBLZSDr-q540zeFMe4EFckVX7Jwcgg3Gz9DM_26GAa91ZjcZ388XEaBn_wWdHHKwE54B3/s1600/Year7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJy8edeTET4r8eM4YUGa7FRmBTzXsgScqnM2XWlPzK6wJsWFnoXZcm6u33UiQfvOJG1gLhUithBLZSDr-q540zeFMe4EFckVX7Jwcgg3Gz9DM_26GAa91ZjcZ388XEaBn_wWdHHKwE54B3/s320/Year7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 7: A quick anniversary picture in the field while visiting my parents.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIMIg0RmKD2GApoWGdJ_7-HltOwoJXJQrVp3jTYOfoPF1nYVi9ByGSe12YjBr4OxDwQtfnwq34iXTBK6tZ9_ty40ubpyhgCUDILSndQgdODjktHTo8xONG_vD8OeTVk6pinu0US1QoPSf/s1600/Year8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIMIg0RmKD2GApoWGdJ_7-HltOwoJXJQrVp3jTYOfoPF1nYVi9ByGSe12YjBr4OxDwQtfnwq34iXTBK6tZ9_ty40ubpyhgCUDILSndQgdODjktHTo8xONG_vD8OeTVk6pinu0US1QoPSf/s320/Year8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 8: Joining in the 4th of July Boat Parade on Pleasant Lake, visiting Andy's dad. Pregnant with baby #3.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNAh_38ubVpWy3cCxier1ru1yegwyt4dDp5KXZ5og37wmx8QxU63Zn5fS8E5lQFQMpMuA-ggkXrAA0D3KRZ10vJp5y5e8zonnWJpCerrAFxOhSu54-CLASUrYJ2sE82p4UCqS4rRiiPlT/s1600/Year9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNAh_38ubVpWy3cCxier1ru1yegwyt4dDp5KXZ5og37wmx8QxU63Zn5fS8E5lQFQMpMuA-ggkXrAA0D3KRZ10vJp5y5e8zonnWJpCerrAFxOhSu54-CLASUrYJ2sE82p4UCqS4rRiiPlT/s320/Year9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 9: We periodically shouted things like "Hey, that guy over there is awesome!" while hosting our California cousins. We were in the thick of "doing life."<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-36500476863061863342017-03-16T07:02:00.000-07:002017-03-16T07:02:14.712-07:00It's Not You, It's Me<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I so often have a hard time enjoying my children. "Often" as in, pretty much daily. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love my children, and literally for as long as I can remember I have looked forward to being a mama. I practiced on my little brother from the time I was five. Then I was everybody's favorite and most reliable babysitter (if I do say so myself...). Then I had "favorite little kids" that I would invest myself in as a young adult. I've always loved children. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So it is with a bewildered heart that I find myself, over and over again, feeling put out and put upon, annoyed, overwhelmed, distracted, frustrated, like my plans are being held up because of my children. I have my own agenda, and over and over again, because of them, I feel foiled again! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are real feelings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Regularly, I see Facebook posts from friends who seem to just adore everything about being mamas, getting Warm Fuzzies all the time as they look at and interact with their children. These girls all just seem to embody "mother" in all the best ways. To lay their lives down for the sakes of their children is one of their greatest joys. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And I'm over here like, "What is this? Why don't my kids get it that they're supposed to be perfect already? I want to love being their mama, but they're messing it up for me!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Remember, I love my children. But these are ugly, real feelings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Talk about <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A+14-25&version=ESV" target="_blank">my own worst enemy</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am so, so selfish. And I wrestle with my own selfishness all the time, because when I go ahead and get around to acknowledging it's there and a Big Problem, I still just want things my way. I'm having an argument in my head between the proverbial angel and demon, all the while knowing <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A17&version=ESV" target="_blank">the right thing to do</a>, and just stubbornly sticking with the demon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I remember almost eight years ago, a pastor praying prophetically over Andy and me, assuring us both that these (yet unborn) kids of ours would follow the Lord all the days of their lives--but that it would NOT be easy--we could not just sit back and say "we got a word from the Lord (about this)"--it would be HARD WORK training our children in the paths of righteousness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It IS hard work. But I have always thought of it as hard physical work, directed toward shaping my children. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It didn't occur to me that the hardest work might be primarily spiritual, and primarily within myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bornofthespirit.today/sanctification/" target="_blank">Sanctification</a> is Hard Work. But if I don't deal with myself more than anybody else, I'm not only a hypocrite who doesn't actually grasp unconditional love and grace--but my kids know it. They are perceptive little buggers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you." James 4:8b-10</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me, and know my thoughts! See if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" Psalm 139:23-24</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:25-26</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh, and there's a happy paradox: it is through all the (genuine, heart-wrenching) wretchedness that Undivided Joy is born. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am (very, very slowly) learning. Jesus, bring me from head knowledge to a heart of flesh. </span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-21886467385793352072016-10-27T04:04:00.000-07:002016-10-27T04:04:05.130-07:00Morning Promises<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You make beautiful things</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You make beautiful things</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Out of the dust...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Out of us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Father, when things happen like Andy's preaching last Sunday, when he gushed about how wonderful I am and that he still has so much to learn even after ten years of knowing me and that he's excited about that--when that sort of thing happens</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">it is a good feeling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">of assurance</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">but it also makes me feel so undeserving of that praise. I know how cruddy I can be. I know how</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">grumpy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">lazy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">disillusioned and disappointed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">bitter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can be on the inside, and I know a lot of it leaks out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I get frustrated and overwhelmed, impatient and irritated, sad, full of pity for myself, fed up with serving ungrateful people, selfish. I am tired. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And yet that is me without You.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The You in me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">is different.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The You in me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">can look at the bigger picture </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and appreciate the story</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">at least trust that </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You always write good stories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The You in me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">sees the poetry in life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Through You I am </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">more than a conqueror</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Through You I can</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">scale a wall</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Through You I am </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a new creation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Through You I can </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">do all things</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Through You I have</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a heart of flesh, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">not a heart of stone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Through You I carry </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the light of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And it's a beautiful thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You always make beautiful things</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beauty out of ashes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You rejoice over me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">with singing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And because I have breath</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(because You gave me breath)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will praise the Lord!</span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-14655458099836703522016-09-19T09:19:00.001-07:002018-03-03T11:46:41.050-08:00Paradox<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On March 31, I realized that I had written twice in January, thrice in February, four times in March...and I thought, "Wow! Wouldn't it be awesome if I continued that pattern all the way through December, so that by then I'd be writing basically every other day?!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then I never wrote again. C'est la vie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have been mentally struggling with a lot of paradoxes lately. Things like:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am an adult, but I feel like a child.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am young, but I feel the aging happening.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I love quiet, but am surrounded by noise.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I want to live slowly, but I have to live hurriedly. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I want to pare down our possessions, but we're always acquiring.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can't help but dive into projects, but am overwhelmed by what's on my plate.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I need to be more healthy, but what's another day of bad food choices?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I desire to be content and joyful, but usually I am wanting and grumpy. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is an awful lot of "I" statements. We can get into a lot of trouble with "I" statements. There is nothing inherently wrong with my feeling all these things and more. But what I choose to dwell on shapes me, and then shapes the people around me. So yes, Lydia, go ahead and look in, take stock, process. Then look out at the people around me (especially the little ones that are daily affected by me). And look up. All paradoxes have their answer in Him that is equally engaged with the stars and our cells.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6 </span><br />
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Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-53954808506785445672016-03-31T18:17:00.000-07:002016-03-31T18:17:17.864-07:00Heard You That Time!<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">God spoke two little, wonderful things to me earlier this week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One evening I browsed through last season's Joyce Meyer magazine and did a double-take. There in plain print was a typo, the wrong reference assigned to a verse: "Romans 8:35-37 says, 'The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).'" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thought, "No it doesn't. That's the part of Romans that says, 'For I am convinced that neither height, nor depth, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things in heaven, nor on earth, nor below the earth--nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God...This verse about the thief and abundant life, that's John 10:10. How'd they mix those up?" (I do realize that what I almost-quoted is actually Romans 8:38-39, but you get the gist.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then I thought--"WOW! Seriously?! I just recognized a SCRIPTURE REFERENCE TYPO, and not only knew the correct reference, but also the verse of the incorrect reference! ME?! WOW!" And it was just so edifying. Scripture references are not my forte, nor indeed is scripture memorization. And my internal dialogue regarding scripture includes this attitude too often. But guess what: it's in me more than I realize, written on my heart. There is LOTS of room for improvement, but I am not a hopeless case, doomed to a lifetime of "I know how I underlined it, and where it is on the page...some page...probably Old Testament...about such-and-such a topic..." Spend time in scripture. It's worth it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The second God-talking-to-me thought came the next morning. I had slept in a little, wasn't feeling great, dove right into the day, and I decided to sneak into my bedroom after putting the baby down for First Nap to have my own quiet time with Jesus. Commence the thoughts, "You're being lazy. You should be processing laundry, or playing with Lewis, or at least making this bed." And I recognized those lies and decided I'd better start praying. Out loud, so I wouldn't get distracted immediately. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You know what that prayer turned into? "Martha, Martha, you are distracted my many things. But Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus said that. Martha was annoyed that her sister curled up to listen to Jesus while she was left to get dinner on the table all by herself. But the <b>ONE THING</b> that is more important than anything else, even dinner for company? Listening to Him, loving Him. (See Luke 10 for the full story.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And that prayer also reminded me that my spending time with Him, my prioritizing quiet time--in that <b>God commands a blessing</b>. Deuteronomy 28 is a chapter full of blessings or curses that will be born out among the Israelites, and the long list of really, really good blessings hinges on "</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.…" (Dt 28:9b). </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anybody remember the greatest commandment? "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." Heart (time spent with Him) comes before strength (good stewardship of your household). Both are important, but one is more important. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px;">Cheers to spiritual ears and the gift of hearing the heart of the Father. May I ever improve!</span></span></div>
Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-75163306094857286132016-03-16T06:22:00.000-07:002016-03-16T06:22:11.927-07:0010 Plagues Puppets for Jesus Storybook Bible<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Based on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007BPXI6U/?ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fbiblecrafts4kids.com%2Fwordpress%2Fthe-plague-of-frogs%2F&camp=14573&creative=327641&adid=0PVJFNZ1RJRD614HMKM1&ref=as_li_tf_til" target="_blank">these puppets</a> from Amazon. But I made a few changes (plague of tigers?), and utilized my store of paper bags and construction paper instead of paying $12. Here they are all together, and then individually. I wanted to be able to zoom in on the puppets in the Amazon picture, and just couldn't. So I solved my problem for you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First plague: water turned to blood</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Second plague: frogs. Everywhere.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Third plague: gnats out of the dust</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fourth plague: swarms of flies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fifth plague: Egyptian livestock die</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sixth plague: boils</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Seventh plague: hail</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eighth plague: locusts (big ol' HUNGRY grasshoppers)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ninth plague: utter darkness</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tenth plague: death of the firstborn</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-27151402989187690912016-03-06T13:15:00.001-08:002016-03-06T13:15:03.126-08:00Run in Early March<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Studying the clouds, imagining the ships and transformers and running sheep, the blindfolded man smelling a pot of steamy stew.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People mucking about in the mud, itching for Spring to hurry: an old man with a ball glove, a boy and his bike trying to conquer a plywood ramp up an old snowbank, a young man with his skateboard, a group of teenagers laughing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shelves and kettles and micro-crevasses in the heaped-up snow, all the scars of old winter telling tales of the critters gone by. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Honks! Somewhere, geese are flying! I twist my head all around, swerving over the pavement, until I see the pair overhead, circling back, looking for a free-flowing landing pad on the river. Geese!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And moments later, I smile to recognize the "Cheer! Cheer!" of a cardinal, and then hear him calling to a mate. I smile for the waking-up world, but also because the song of a cardinal? I've never known it before--but I read in a book that "Cheer! Cheer!" was its call, and to hear it in real life--it's unmistakeable. Beautiful. </span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-90468025983798077872016-03-02T06:22:00.001-08:002018-02-19T08:47:55.032-08:00Pinterest--"Life Group Kids: the Jesus Storybook Bible"<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>(In process, and I'll update it in the coming weeks as we continue Life Group! Contains links to borrowed activities, as well as my own.)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We're using activities that coincide with the stories in The Jesus Storybook Bible <b>for the kids that come to our Life Group.</b> There are two main benefits of this: faith lessons and thoughts are poured into our kids, not just our grown-ups--and, of course, it helps the grown-ups to focus when the kids are engaged and it isn't complete chaos! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We start with <b>showing the story clip off the Jesus Storybook Bible DVD </b>(or reading it out of the book if technology isn't cooperating). Then we move on to our activities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Week 1: "The Story and the Song,"</b> an introduction story that sets up the premise of this story Bible: that every story whispers His name, a history-long love and adventure story that points to Jesus as the coming Rescuer. Activity: a puzzle, putting pictures from multiple Bible stories together in the shape of a cross. Here's the link to the original <a href="http://www.mymundaneandmiraculouslife.com/activity-jesus-storybook-bible-story-song-introduction/" target="_blank">Printable Puzzle from My Mundane and Miraculous Life</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Week 2--"The Beginning: a Perfect Home." </b> The activity included in the "44 Activities for the JSB" post didn't suit our needs well (not up to serving a multi-course "lunch" to the kiddos in the middle of Life Group). So I made up an activity--or based it on something else I found, I can't honestly remember. Prepped by outlining the numbers 1-7 on a big white paper for the days of creation, and the kids filled in each number with something to represent what God created on the corresponding day. Jessica was with the kiddos this week, and it may possibly have been a handful! This week has had the most kids so far, all sweet. But, you know, it's past bedtime, and there's candy upstairs, and so many buddies to play with, and craft supplies! Thank you for being a trooper, Jessica! Here's my craft example, and the actual product of what my boys came home with:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Week 4</b> (because week 3 we skipped Life Group to meet together at church for prayer and worship music)--<b>"A Giant Staircase to Heaven: the Tower of Babel."</b> Used the <a href="http://www.barefeetonthedashboard.com/2015/02/preschool-read-play-reading-giant-staircase-heaven-tower-babel-jesus-storybook-bible-building-blocks/" target="_blank">Building Activity by Bare Feet on the Dashboard</a>, though our building blocks are the giant bin of Mega Blocks (like huge legos). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then I did a second story with the kiddos, <b>"Son of Laughter: Isaac and the Promise."</b> Again, the sensory bin activity in the original "44" post isn't practical, with a bunch of kids in my pastor's very, very tidy house. I looked around awhile, saw a similar little project with dark blue cellophane, and did the same thing with foil over flashlights. Wrap the foil around the flashlight, poke some star holes with a toothpick, then find the darkest room and have all the kids together shine their starry lights up on the ceiling. Just a fun, rather beautiful object lesson to go with God's lavish promise! Here's my test run: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Week 5--"The Forgiving Prince: Joseph and His Brothers." </b>I used the craft found on the <a href="http://www.blessingsoverflowing.com/sunday-school-crafts-joseph-and-the-coat-of-many-colors/">Blessings Overflowing</a> blog, a simple paper-bag puppet of Joseph in his technicolor dream coat. Wait...is that how the Bible describes it? :0) I prepped the strips of construction paper, put sticky dots on the backs of googly eyes, and sent along scissors and glue sticks. My hubby was with the kids this week, while I enjoyed the grown-up conversation upstairs. And he even took pictures for me! Thanks, Buddy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Week 6--"God to the Rescue!" and "God Makes a Way": </b>This week I hunted around for crafts related to the 10 plagues (because again, we're steering clear of the definite-messes that the activities included with the original post create among a small bunch of kids in a tidy house). I found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007BPXI6U/?ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fbiblecrafts4kids.com%2Fwordpress%2Fthe-plague-of-frogs%2F&camp=14573&creative=327641&adid=0PVJFNZ1RJRD614HMKM1&ref=as_li_tf_til" target="_blank">these puppets</a>, but of course would never pay $12 for something I can make out of construction paper :0) So here's my version. Note: I changed them a little, especially the, ahm...tiger? I couldn't find a plague of tigers in Exodus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-52621796495016428172016-02-16T03:59:00.001-08:002016-02-16T03:59:36.458-08:00Jesus Loves Me, This I'm Learning<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A friend of mine shared this on Facebook a couple of months ago, and I shared it so I could find it again for myself. There are one or two people in particular who I want to share this with this morning, but I realized, hey, there are a lot of us who need to hear these promises and assurances. It takes time, but is worth it to look up, write down, record yourself reading all the scripture that is referenced. Get this "God loves me" thing rooted deep!</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><i><br /></i></u></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><i>A Letter from Daddy-God</i></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My Child, </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>You may not know me, but I know everything about you. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Psalm 139:1 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I know when you sit down and when you rise up. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Psalm 139:2 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I am familiar with all your ways. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Psalm 139:3 </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Matthew 10:29-31 </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For you were made in my image. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Genesis 1:27 </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>In me you live and move and have your being. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Acts 17:28 </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For you are my offspring. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Acts 17:28 </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I knew you even before you were conceived. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeremiah 1:4-5 </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I chose you when I planned creation. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Ephesians 1:11-12 </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Psalm 139:15-16 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Acts 17:26 </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>You are fearfully and wonderfully made. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Psalm 139:14 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I knit you together in your mother's womb. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Psalm 139:13 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And brought you forth on the day you were born. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Psalm 71:6 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>John 8:41-44 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1 John 4:16 </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1 John 3:1 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1 John 3:1 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Matthew 7:11 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For I am the perfect father. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Matthew 5:48 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>James 1:17 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Matthew 6:31-33 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeremiah 29:11 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Because I love you with an everlasting love. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeremiah 31:3 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Psalms 139:17-18 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And I rejoice over you with singing. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Zephaniah 3:17 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I will never stop doing good to you. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeremiah 32:40 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For you are my treasured possession. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Exodus 19:5 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeremiah 32:41 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And I want to show you great and marvelous things. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeremiah 33:3 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Deuteronomy 4:29 </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Psalm 37:4 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For it is I who gave you those desires. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Philippians 2:13 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Ephesians 3:20 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For I am your greatest encourager. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>2 Corinthians 1:3-4</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. </i></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Psalm 34:18 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Isaiah 40:11 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Revelation 21:3-4 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Revelation 21:3-4 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>John 17:23 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>John 17:26 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>He is the exact representation of my being. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Hebrews 1:3 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Romans 8:31 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>2 Corinthians 5:18-19 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>2 Corinthians 5:18-19 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1 John 4:10 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Romans 8:31-32 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1 John 2:23 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Romans 8:38-39 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Luke 15:7 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I have always been Father, and will always be Father. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Ephesians 3:14-15 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My question is…Will you be my child? </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>John 1:12-13 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I am waiting for you. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Luke 15:11-32 </i></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="s2"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Love, Your Dad </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Almighty God</i></span></span></div>
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Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-55869178037886287832016-02-09T12:56:00.002-08:002016-02-09T12:56:11.409-08:00It's All In How You See Things<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few days ago I pulled into my driveway and noticed a teeny, tiny little rainbow. A magical little rainbow, in a teeny stream of water. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, that teeny stream of water came through my broken gutter, the snow-melt off a slightly rusty roof. And though you can't see it in this photo, it held a beautiful, glowing-bright rainbow down the length of its stream. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But it turned out that the rainbow was only visible within a very narrow view, that if I leaned forward or backward a foot, or was higher or lower in my seat, I couldn't see it. What a little blessing to pull in to just the right spot to get that rainbow! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And of course my thoughts extended farther, to the metaphorical. And I need to preach it to myself over and over again, and usually still don't choose to look for the rainbows. But sometimes it just slaps me (sweetly) in the face, and I have to remember it: the situation can look pretty ugly, and still, STILL, if you look at it just rightly, there's a rainbow in there somewhere. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rainbows are a reminder of a promise straight from God, of his Father-heart toward us. You can find the original story in Genesis. And you can extend His promise there to signal His faithfulness to all His promises, because even <a href="http://biblehub.com/2_timothy/2-13.htm" target="_blank">if we are faithless, He is still faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What a promise!</span></div>
Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-64812361541852935772016-02-09T12:39:00.002-08:002016-02-09T12:39:32.595-08:00Because You Prayed<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I'm realizing that I haven't given you an "official" report on my baby's health, or all those other things I asked you to pray with me about. So here it is--and for those several of you who have specifically asked how things have shaped up since Sunday, thank you! It is somehow still surprising to realize that, when I ask for prayer or help, you guys really care, and really pray, and really would like to know how a situation changes as a result. Still learning. Thank you for the lessons. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Honestly, THANK YOU!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, Lem isn't 100% yet, but he's back down to a mild head cold, requiring some snot-sucking, saline, and extra snuggles. During the day Sunday, he retained a bad-sounding cough, but not all-out croupy. By Sunday night, he slept peacefully again. We have continued the humidifier in his bedroom. The Scary Croup was only Saturday night, meaning it stopped when we all joined together to pray. He's a happy kid again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was not able to nap at all Sunday, but got to experience the Grace that also covered the first month following Lem's birth: the God-given anomaly that I could function normally and even enjoy my awake time despite terrible sleep. In my life, this is an actual miracle, and not coffee's fault. We prayed together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Andy was alert until he was about two miles from home at the end of a long day. He and our bigger boys made it home just fine, and then Andy got to take a nap for awhile. And he made a wise decision to watch football from home instead of traveling an additional hour in the late evening to watch football with friends. Bummer, but wise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And his preaching? He's gotten good feedback from those who heard it, and he and the boys got to experience some God things with that church family that they haven't seen before--especially the boys--and Andy got to share some special conversation with our boys describing what it was all about. Important God lessons for our boys to receive from their daddy. Unexpected was able to be beautiful because we prayed together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And Lincoln and Lewis? Well, they did great, of course. They experienced/participated in 2 1/2 hours of prayer-worship-communion. And then Lincoln went off to kids' church during daddy's sermon and did great. Lewis was not interested in going to a strange nursery, and instead was very quiet during all of daddy's sermon. The first few quiet minutes were spent in his seat. And the rest of those sermon minutes were spent by Lewis standing by daddy, spreading out his blanket and lying on the floor by daddy, or running circles around daddy--all quietly, and all welcomed by that church family (Andy checked ;) ). There may have been a short Tickle Break between father and son. And the word of God was shared by my husband. Because we prayed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you for praying with me. Your prayers matter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-16742192331832973472016-01-26T10:02:00.004-08:002016-01-26T10:02:43.028-08:00Kid in the Kitchen<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's a wintry-mix sort of day out there, and another good day for baking. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In general, my relationship with the kitchen is this: I cook to serve my family. It isn't a love affair for me, or a particularly creative outlet. I just want my family to have good food, and I was blessed to grow up with a mom (and grandmother, and great-grandmother, a long Southern legacy) who pretty much always put good meals on the table. As a kid, I didn't learn how to make good meals. But I did learn what good meals looked like, so when the time came that meals were suddenly up to me, at least I had a worthy goal!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now, part of that goal is to teach my boys (sometimes along with me) how to cook, and how to enjoy cooking. There are a few prerequisites for enjoying the company of your kids in the kitchen, but they're worth it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kids are gross. Always, always, always remember to wash hands. And plan to train them to cover their coughs and sneezes. And not to stick their hands back in the bowl after licking them. And that food that lands on the floor doesn't go back in the bowl (unless it's washed off first). And then, despite all that, just learn to be ok with some germs, because they're inevitable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As my grandmother taught me, before you start anything, read the WHOLE recipe. And when you add kids, it really is helpful to only make recipes you're already comfortable with yourself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lately, I've been using recipes as reading practice with Lewis. He's learning to read cooking ingredient words, as well as fractions and other measurement words. It's so cool to watch him sound things out! However, make sure you DON'T need to cook within a timeframe. Just plan that things will be SLOW, and everybody will be happier. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you're willing, your kids can help you with a surprising amount of the process. And when you take the time to teach them some techniques--like how to level the scoop, how to tap the ingredients out on the edge of the bowl, how to use tools properly--it works well to have them more and more involved, with less and less mess. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today, Lewis helps by unwrapping the butter...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">...and "chopping" the white chocolate wafers into chunks. Actually, this is really hard work, even for me, but why not give him a shot at it, right? There's some good pounding action happening here :0)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And then, of course, enjoy a little white chocolate snack!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lewis is in charge of turning the mixer on and off. He practices speeding it up by just the right number of clicks. We start slow, and add speed as the ingredients get better mixed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He's learning the names of different tools, like the scraper spatula--and how to do things like "scraping down the sides." Again, mommy still takes a turn after him, but he's able to make some progress with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Measure... ...add... ...mix.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Combine the dry with the wet ingredients, more mixing, more scraping down, and finally fold in the chips and craisins. And then, the reward: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It takes a lot of concentration to wrap that tongue around a batter-y mixing paddle <3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And cleanup. There will always be more cleanup with your kiddos than without. But by now, Lewis can clean himself up (mostly). And look at that: I did sweep up the white chocolate dust that got spilled between the chopper and the bowl. But honestly, those few oats? I make that much on my own! Lewis is getting pretty good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, this Sweetness jolly-jumped himself right to sleep. Up to bed with him. And in 12 minutes, we'll enjoy some cookies! Woohoo!</span></div>
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Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433207945427489153.post-33346735626188336332016-01-03T17:57:00.002-08:002016-01-03T17:58:02.168-08:00Hail the New, Ye Lads and Lasses<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fast away the old year passes, truly! And it is good to stop, even for a few minutes, to reflect on what has passed, and what may come. Because without that reflection, we so easily fall into the category that goes something like, "You do the ________, and I'll do all the rushin' around." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a vague but growing concept of how much "rushin' around" I'm doing, without much intention. And I want that to change. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I want to be strong and healthy and trim again. And I've been invited to run in this summer's Boilermaker. But that (for me) is an enormous commitment; I'm not sure it will happen. I did remove the coffee table from the middle of my living room, to encourage myself to actually use the new exercise DVD. I haven't downloaded its accompanying workout calendar yet. So I have good intentions, but the proof is in the pudding, not the recipe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I want to feed my family healthy fare, increasing our fruits and veggies, decreasing our sugars and snacks. Unfortunately, I have this apparent inability to moderate myself. If there's something sweet at hand, I will eat it. And a lot of it. And I'm not willing to totally give up sweets, like a pre-Passover leaven sweep of my sugary pantry. So the vicious cycle continues. I want that to change. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I want to pay more attention to my children while I have them. A big part of my rushin' around is checking Facebook compulsively, and way too much time gets wasted. Yes, you matter to me, but checking in with your digital lives should never be more important than my child desiring my attention, my company, my intentional time--and my behavior would indicate that digital life reigns. That has to change. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That inability to moderate myself affects my whole personality, not just what I eat. It affects how I use Facebook. And so, starting tomorrow morning, I'm taking a one-week Facebook fast. One week doesn't seem like much. But really, to be honest, I expect it's going to be kind of a big deal to me. It's going to be hard. But if I keep being honest, and don't try to cheat or fill up all that time with some other stupid pursuit, but actually use that time for relationship (with my God, with my children, with my stack of New Years letters to send to friends), a Facebook fast has the potential to be revolutionary for this one week. I would like to say that my new normal will be Facebook only on Sunday afternoons, and suddenly I will be much more present with my real life. But, you know, the proof is in the pudding. I'll see how this week goes, and accomplish a small hard thing before declaring I'm going to conquer a big hard thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This next line doesn't quite flow well with the rest of my post. But it is the heart and soul of the matter, and the more I invest myself in pursuing the face of God, the better all my other good intentions will automatically be! So here, this, this is the heart of the matter:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't really want a "new year, new me" resolution for 2016. What I need, and what I want, is a </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?qs_version=ESV&quicksearch=increase&begin=50&end=50" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">"less me, more You"</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><strike style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">resolution</strike><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> revolution. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cheers to that!</span>Lydia Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493681553442446140noreply@blogger.com1