Tuesday Tips: Take One Mile At a Time

My children and I took an unexpected day off yesterday from homeshooling to tear down a retaining wall in our yard for some construction and pick up dead leaves that our 3 HUGE oaks dump onto our yard. I find that doing labour like that always turns into a wonderful time to talk with and be with my children. My 2 older boys are such hard workers. Even the 4 little ones jumped in a did a few things. By the days end, we were all tired and filthy.
As a homeschool mom I can get into a routine that sometimes can be a hinderance. I have to be flexible... but I also must have a schedule or things do not get done. Every day brings its new challenges and opportunities. I find when I start my early morning in the Lord of course my day goes WAY better!!! And the days I fail to give to Him... ugh.
Yesterday was hard work, fun, exhausting... and I'm sore. Now it's today and I have alot on the calendar, including dentist appointments this afternoon. Tomorrow has its stuff... actually this whole month is quite busy. But like the guys who got in a plane wreck on a snowy mountain who were asked how they trekked 500 miles injured from the crash in a snow storm... one responded, "We didn't go 500 miles... we went one mile 500 times."

By the way, it is thought that the average American will walk approximately 70,000 miles in a lifetime, which is almost three times around the earth at the equator.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8

Tuesday Tips: Learn from our mistakes

This is an example of when not to take a family picture. But then, when you have so many children, when IS the right time???

Even though it appeared to not be a terribly bright day, we seemed to be facing the sun as we fought to keep our eyes open to take a family picture right outside our church this past Sunday AFTER worship service, on a rainy day... when the kids were all tired and hungry... and I was apparently distracted. My boots were sinking in the mud. Learn from our mistakes, 'kay? This is supposed to be our family picture that we send to people for Christmas. I know it is difficult to tell, but we actually are a happy family. I don't know... maybe it's me, but my husband looks a little confused. I think he's just hungry or maybe that is the facial expression he made when I said, "I'm sinking!" Oh... and the pattern on my husband's shirt is not that psychodelic. It just looks that way because I had to make the pic a lower quality to publish on my site. And I am not pregnant, though I look like it in this pic. My shirt poofed out for some reason.

Well... it's been fun to share this family pic with you all. You should see what we look like in the morning when we just get up. *shudder*

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Tuesday Tips: Take a big bite of this sandwich

The Sacred Sandwich is one of the most hilarious websites I have ever read through. It is described as a "periodical for small town Christians in a big bad world" with a new motto: "While the World Zigs, We Zag." Their photo gallery is a real hoot as the Pilgrim's Digress cartoons may have you falling off your chair. Don't Miss the Barbie Dream church in the advertisement section. (ugh) The R.I.C.K. Warren plan for humility is a real kicker.

The guy who runs this site really does have a heart to especially defend Sola Scriptura and the true Gospel of Christ. In the building of this sacred sandwich, he states that he will not substitute ingredients.

His "Disclaimer" includes, Do not be misled, however, in thinking that the satirical framework of this project implies a lack of real biblical truth. The editorial content of our site is not a joke. All the articles, as well as many of the parodies, are dead serious in their purpose of proclaiming sola Scriptura to the postmodern church in a biblical and factual way. Despite the tongue-in-cheek style, The Sacred Sandwich's main objective is to herald the sufficiency of Scripture as one of the surest means in which the visible Church might humble herself to God's will and enjoy true spiritual revival. Indeed, our satire might have an edge, but it is that edge which often cuts more quickly to the marrow of the truth. We invite you, therefore, to join us in this creative experiment by taking our noble cause seriously in the midst of our whimsy.

Also, do not fail to sing the Reformation Polka sung to the tune, "Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious" over at oldlutheran.com that I found over at Dan Phillips' blog... and have a HAPPY REFORMATION DAY!!!

Tuesday Tips: Be Amazed by the Grace of God

Grace without truth deceives people, and ceases to be grace. Truth without grace crushes people, and ceases to be truth. (Publisher's description of a book that I linked to in this post.)

How can YOU truly be amazed by the grace of God? ...

... By understanding the seriousness of your sinfulness and by knowing that though God's grace is free... it did not come cheap.

(By the way... go check out THIS BLOG. It's a good one. The blog's writer wrote a post awhile back quoting Randy Alcorn on grace... which is what inspired me to write this "tip". There is a book review of Randy Alcorn's book The Grace and Truth Paradox at Challies' Discerning Reader website. )

Also know that God IS big enough to be trusted for everything in our lives - including our parenting inadequacies. HE IS big enough to be trusted with the lives of our children and their future. -- (Crystal at Biblical Womanhood)

Tuesday Tips: Be Fully Satisfied

The nearness of God is our good...
not things that perish and gather dust.
It is the Lord holding our hand when we fall.
Carrying us when we cannot get up.
Securing us with His abiding presence.

He is our refuge and in Him we should boast.
Why should we go in our strength when we can go in His strength?
Crucify our flesh, Lord.
Cause our eyes to stay fixed upon the eternal.
Let us be fully satisfied in Christ no matter the affliction...
no matter the trial... no matter the comfort.

Let us continually strive to discover the richness and vastness of the person of Jesus. Though at times we may feel sifted like wheat and pressed on every side... this is all, in light of eternity and in light of the suffering of our Lord and Saviour, but a blip, a temporary light affliction.

Here is the requested update on how the MS injections are going:

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Tuesday Tips: Depressed?

Read this hymn:

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

by William Cowper

Tuesday Tips: Take a Non-scientific, Non-fat, Non-sense Quiz

I took a quiz called "Are you Normal?" just for fun and found out that I am not normal. I bet my family and friends are all shocked. Here is what it said:

Your Normalcy Quotient is: 36 out of 100.

Your quiz results make you a Marvelous Maverick

Giddy-up partner. You're a maverick and don't know what the definition of normal is. That's a-okay because you're now part of a fascinating group of desperadoes. Wherever you ride, it's sure to be off the beaten path because it's way more fun to find the path least traveled.

Here's the quiz if you want to try it: Are you normal?

Tuesday Tips: Don't buy this book...

... or at least, PLEASE tell me THIS is a joke.

Tuesday Tips: "...ha-a-a-arsh, and judgme-e-e-ental..."

The only tip I can offer today is to GO READ THIS. It is excellent.

Tuesday Tips: Keep in mind the right perspective

Consider reading A Spectacle Unto God: The Life and Death of Christopher Love by Don Kistler.

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