Oh My I love you girls!

Girls,
For Christmas your dad and I got you knock-off mp3 players. I added some music to them and you two have been so fun to watch. You both keep listening to the Mama Mia soundtrack and dancing and singing all over the house. There is a good chance that you will both be on stage some day. Drew you are continually looking at your reflection in the windows of our house pretending to sing like Hanna Montana. Lucy, you pulled a muscle in your side from shaking your shoulders and booty so hard.
I think that your dad and I are in big trouble.
Lord,
Please use the girls love for music for Your glory. Please keep their minds and hearts pure. Please help them to have a deep love for you and each other. Please help me to guide them and teach them to honor you in all that they do. Thank you for letting me be their mom. So fun!
In His Name, Amen

Checking my plumb line?

Well girls, I have to admit, my plumb line is slanted. I want to make sure and check myself....and I am slanted down.
Lord, forgive my doubting heart.
Please forgive my hopelessness.
Please forgive my lack of discipline.

Please give me Your strength to see me as You see me. Give me Your peace. Please fill up my cup of hope.

In Jesus Name, Amen

My daughters

Drew and Lucy,
This break has been so much fun with the two of you. Christmas Eve was so full of surprises. Drew, you opened an American girl doll from grandma and poppy, and daddy was quick on the draw to get the picture of surprise on your face. Priceless visions of joy. I love that we convinced you that you had to be eight to get one. You kept saying that it was a Christmas miracle, and you asked your grandma and I if you were dreaming. Lucy, you opened your Fancy Nancy doll with excitement as well, but the biggest surprise for you this Christmas was the dress-up Fancy Nancy clothes and shoes that Bobby and g's got you. We can't get you to take off the ballet slippers.
The best surprise of Christmas this year was the card that daddy put in my stocking. I thought that daddy had to go to the fire station to work, but he traded with a guy, and got to stay with us. I cried "happy tears" and it made our Christmas perfect. I thought several times of families that have lost loved ones or have love ones far away and had to thank God for the blessings of family close to home.
We are all continuing to pray for your Aunt Kristi and her family. We keep praying that she will recognize and admit the truth in what she has done and is doing. We pray that Seth will endure. We pray that Bella and Aislyn will be protected and strengthened by our Lord who loves them more than we do.
Lord, thank you for your blessings. Your grace is hard to fully comprehend. Give me wisdom and joy that only You can. I ask that my girls will follow hard after you with humble hearts. I pray that Chris and I will walk closer to You and to each other. Help Chris and I be an example of Your glory in all that we do. Thank you for your Son.

Deep Freeze-Arctic Blast

The drama of the news is fascinating......to news reporters. I am actually surprised that I didn't go into the news business, exaggerating is one of my special gifts from the Lord. So, during my "Deep freeze, Arctic blast" We sled and sled and sled down the Ivester Sr.'s neighborhood hill. It has been tons of fun. The hill is approx. 70 yards, (I am trying not to exaggerate). It is also very steep. I am extremely proud of my in-laws for getting their old butts all of the way up the hill to sled down and join in the fun. Dan and I actually doubled-up on a sled to see how far and fast we could go. We may have gone farther if Dan wasn't dragging an oxygen tank behind us, still catching his breath from the climb. My favorite part of the "D.F.A.B." has been the missing pressure of last minute shopping and general bustling. We have been stuck, not in a mole-in-a-clamp-trap kind of way, more like stranded-in-an-elevator-with-Lenny-Kravitz kind of way...you know, you are exactly where you want to be with someone you exactly want to be with. WOO! What a Christmas break!

December THE MONTH

It seems that each year at Christmas time I am trying to decide what the Lord is teaching me. I am usually wanting to make sure that I am not getting lost in the hoopla that I LOVE. Some times it is a stretch to find the lesson, this year it is not that way.
My little sister left her husband and kids this year. The lessons are abundant.
I am a total punk loser.
I am very reactive.
I limit my God's glory through my life.
I am ungrateful for His Mercy and Grace.
I am self-righteous.
I am a sinner.
I need my God.
I have hope. My hope is HIM.
My sister is trying to make her own.
I am in love with my husband. My love is from HIM.
My sister does not know how to be in love with her husband.
I am keeping my promise. My faithfulness is from HIM.
My sister does not even realize that she is breaking a promise.
He saved me, and my life would be a mess without Him. I have a front row seat to what my life would look like without Him.....and it is painful, sad, hopeless, lonely, maddening, and lost. I am learning all of this, everyday, in every heartache. I am so thankful I know that I need HIM.

Loving the sinner, hating the sin?

I read something interesting today, about this phrase. It has made me pause.

The reading said, "In the same way God loved us so He gave His son for us, He also hated sin enough that He had His son die to abolish it."

How do we hate sin and love the sinner? I do not know how this looks practically. Especially when it comes to family.

October 30, 2008

Hazel Crane taught on the "plumb line" at Women's Bible Study this week. I can't stop thinking about it. Where is my plumb line is the title of this blog, because quite honestly, I forget to even look for the plumb line, let alone, measure the wall of my life against it. My God is so good. He expects my best, and only with Him can I even come close. I pray that this blog will keep me checking to see where my wall is, to see if it is crooked or straight.