Sweet Jackson

I tried to think of something creative to say about these pictures, but it just isn't possible. He is so sweet, I could just stare all day long.

My Crafty Phase

Since moving into a house I have had quite the crafty homemaking bug.  Im sure this is just a phase I am going through, but I am okay with that.

My first project was to get a dresser. I found an old dresser that looked like it was probably from the 60s. I sanded that junk, put a fresh coat of paint on it, and some new knobs. Of course no   dresser is complete without a picture of John Calvin.

My new obsession is making apple butter. Its super easy and you can make the cans so cute!

I love trips to the farmers market for the sole purpose of looking at flowers. I bought some this time. I think it is totally acceptable to buy flowers for yourself.

Now on to what I have been reading.

"But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Micah 7:7

I have been going back to this verse over and over this week. It has been a great comfort and encouragement. Sometimes I think "What is going on in my life?!?!"  And then I remember that the Lord already knows what is going to happen. I just have to wait on Him.  He hears me, He loves me, and He is working it out for my good and His glory.  He will be my great comfort. 

As a famous man once said "He's got this thing rigged!"

My sweet friday.

I absolutely love being a nanny. I feel like I am learning so much right now (especially patience).  I am also learning to use every moment I have to point them to Christ.  The 2 year old has already learned two bible verses! I am so thankful for the job the Lord has provided for me.

I absolutely love days like this. I get to hangout with super cool kids, read bonhoeffer, drink some hot chocolate, and listen to the avett brothers. These little moments are definitely gifts from the Lord.

 I walked in to see if he was napping and this is what he looked like.

Sunday's Reflections.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? Hebrews 12:7 NIV

The Father does not discipline simply for punishment or to pay us back for what we have done.  The penalty has already been paid. Instead, the Father disciplines us to draw us to himself.  It is a great act of love.  We endure hardships, and many times this is a form of discipline.  During this time we must remember that he does not withhold good (Ps 84:11). It is good for us to endure hardships, and it is good for us to be disciplined.

A God Who Comes.

One of my favorite books that I have read since being in Louisville is The Message of the Old Testament by Mark Dever.  I seriously have a hard time putting it down every time I read it.  I am always encouraged and spurred on.  Tonight I was reading and I felt as though he was speaking directly to what I have experienced in the past and what even the people around me have experienced.  On the Chapter concerning Ezekiel he writes

     "Maybe there was a time when you felt especially close to God... But now you are troubled, uncertain, afraid you have lost the ability to be near Him because the circumstances have changed. Well just as God showed Ezekiel and his Old Testament people, he shows that he is not limited by circumstances... He is the God of this Universe."

I have experienced these very feelings.  Sometimes it even changes from week to week.  there are some days were I feel so close to God and there are others where I have no desire to pray, read, or even worship.  I know that during those times satan will take that and create doubts within me.  This spiritual battle even effects me physically.  When I go through these dry seasons I become slothful and am filled with a negative outlook on all things.  My attitude even suffers.  But I have a great hope because of the very next thing that Dever says.

In the next paragraph Dever reminds us that "This God takes the initiative. He comes to us."  Yes!  God's love is not dependent upon me.  When I did not desire him he came after me, and that is true even for today.  The seasons of life when I do not desire God he still pursues me.  What a great promise to remember.

Also, I must remember the words of my pastor Kevin Jamison from Sojourn.  A few weeks ago he talked about a similar season and he encouraged us not to sit in our despair, but to stand up and fight.  when I do not desire God I must not turn on the TV and hope that one day I will feel better.  I must fight through these seasons.

Today I am going to meditate upon Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Making Do.

Sometimes when you don't have wrapping paper you have to make do.  It isn't perfect but it will work. I think it has a lot of Character.

Idols.

       Recently I have been reading back through the psalms. I always forget what an encouragement and comfort these 150 chapters are to me. Though they can speak to all parts of my life, during this read through I have been pointed to the idolatry that is apart of my life. I often forget how many idols are all around me and how even good blessings from the Lord can quickly play the idol. David says “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless”( ps. 101:3). Later on in Ps. 115:8 we are told that we become like our idols. We become what we worship. There is a fear here and a great hope. My fear is that I quickly fall into the worship of idols around me, but my great hope is that in the worship of Jesus I become more like him. 
       Another great comfort that comes from my recent study is that “He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things” (Ps, 107:9). We are hungry and many times we look to the things of this world to fill us and satisfy us, but the fact is those things do not give life. Only Jesus can give us a satisfaction that is lasting and filling. No worldly thing can do that for us.

       We all need to take the time to examine our lives and see if there is anything that we are becoming like. Is it TV, music, media in general, relationships (good or bad),hobbies or even ministry? There are thousands more, but those are the few that I have been thinking through.