He is enough

I have been pondering the word contentment for years…

more than pondering

… actually wrestling with

… dwelling on and desiring to know what true contentment looks and feels like.


The dictionary describes contentment as: 

con·tent·ment
  

1. the state of being contented; satisfaction; ease of mind.
    peace of mind; mental or emotional satisfaction    

2. to be possessed of unfailing strength
    a) to be strong, to suffice, to be enough, to be satisfied, to be contented

Tucked away in the midst of these definitions is:
              ... to be enough

But sometimes, I admit that I am not satisfied, my life does not posses unfailing strength, I am not strong, where I am at - does not suffice, it is not enough...

… and then…

I go to the foot of the cross and I see my savior with His arms stretched out and I ponder his words...

He said " it is finished"
it is completed
... it is enough

I treasure these words...

because of what He did…
because of Him… it is enough…

He is enough … For I have learned that His unfailing strength, suffices, satisfies all my needs, all my concerns, all my longings, and all my desires…

…He is Enough

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

#35 not being good enough
#36 spending time with my oldest
#37 cuddles with my Angel
#38 provision... bills paid
#39 time away with middle son, to hear his heart to see how he has grown
#40 realizing I am not enough for them... but He is
#41 husband that runs our errands
#42 daughter back safe on US soil
#43 physical therapy for my shoulder
#44 hug and relief on special son's face to see me
#45 studing God's word together with a group of friends
#46 friends that pray, study worship and care for one another
#47 waking up to Larry Boy singing "worthy is the Lord God Almighty"
#48 joy worship music brings my special son
#49 listening to and singing worship music all morning with my girls
#50 having long talk with my missionary daughter...

A Patchwork...

Jesus got them all to sit down in groups of fifty or a hundred—they looked like a patchwork quilt of wildflowers spread out on the green grass!

  
     Mark 6:39 - The Message

The definition of patchwork is:

something made up of an incongruous variety of pieces or parts; hodgepodge:

But what does incongruous mean: 

incongruous - out of keeping or place; not harmonious in character; lacking harmony of parts.

Sounds like the Body of Christ

We are this patchwork of people that come from different backgrounds - different places with different talents and abilities - that when thrown together in a group would seem out of place, inconsistent or not in harmony...

BUT, when JESUS is the center of that group of hodgepodge people...

We look like a…

Patchwork quilt of wildflowers spread out on the green grass...

Visualize that for a moment...                    

Instead of being a mis-matched group of people

we become a work of beauty...

    a labor of LOVE.

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.                                Ephesians 4:16

#21 my boys having opportunity to spend weekend with their youth group
#22 hearing young men's hearts about their time with the Lord
#23 spending time with my oldest
#24 listening to my oldest desire to serve the Lord
#25 more important - hearing his heart
#26 children that are open to sharing their hopes, dreams and concerns.
#27 provision to take perspectives
#28 opportunity to see you moving in this world
#29 privilege to see you moving in our children
#30 quiet weekend with girls
#31 seeing special son's personality come out more
#32 grace - as we take special son of medication
#33 eclectic group of people we call family
#34 family that loves and accepts

... a teacher like you.

My daughter Brittaney wrote me these words via e-mail from Fiji...

I wore my locket in the village and all the kids wanted to see (and show their friends) my mom, dad, and baby sister... one little girl was asking me about you and dad and asked me what you guys did. I told her that you taught us and later I told her that, before coming to fiji, I was a teacher. "Oh, you're a teacher like your mother." she said. I thought about it and realized how true it was... I'm a teacher like you.

I miss you mom and just wanted to thank you for all that you have imparted in me. It really has come in handy and am so thankful I have been blessed with you as a mom.

Words, that touch a mama's heart in the deep places, words that make it all worth the effort to homeschool these precious blessings, words that encourage and spur me on as I feel weary and tired. 

I have been pondering and treasuring these words...

Years back, when this daughter was little, and I was having babies every two years (I tell people we were on the two year plan), I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in awhile, a sweet friend who was an inspiration to me as a mom and a teacher.  She said to me, "God must think you are a great Mom, because He keeps giving you more children."  My reply to her was, "God keeps giving me more children because He knows I have allot to learn, and they are the best teachers."  That statement has rung true for me through all these years of parenting. 

In the dictionary the definition of teacher is:

a person who teaches or instructs, especially as a profession; instructor.

I read this definition and I ponder... this is just part of it - the mechanics of it.  So, I search the words of the greatest teacher of all... Jesus.  You can find his words in red in His love letters to us.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach, they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ...

... The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 21:1-12



Jesus - who was the greatest among us came to serve, He wore the title teacher... He taught us to serve...
                to teach through example, by doing.

So, I ponder and treasure these words...  "You're a teacher, like your mother." 

... and I pray that I will be a better servant, and desire more to serve, than to be served.  I pray that I will give my life surrendered to Jesus, so many may know him.  I pray that I will humbly serve him ... as I serve my family and others. 

... and I realize, she is a teacher... right now, right where she is at, right at this very moment, time and place.  

 she is ... a teacher like me... but more important we are trying to be teachers...  just like our savior.

                                 

Jesus said... "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

#12 strong young men to help move furniture

#13 sons that humor me and work with me
#14 celebrating a faithful husband’s birthday
#15 a living room – rearranged and organized
#16 the privilege to teach precious hearts
#17 little hands praying over a sore mama’s neck
#18 pressing through and doing what needs to be done
#19 a clean organized school area
#20 homemade biscuits and gravy – stick to your bones food

I will walk before the LORD In the land of the living.    Psalm 116:9

Happy Birthday to my Faithful Love

 

Today you celebrate 52 years of life... 

                                           my faithful husband and father to our children.

To celebrate the kids and I came up with a list of 52 reasons why we love you...

1. you are a faithful husband
2. you are a loving father
3. your sense of humor
4. your compassion
5. your sense of Justice
6. your obsessive need to talk history & politics
7. you spoil us - in creative ways
8. you are a good example of meekness
9. you are a good conversationalist
10. because you are hardworking
11. you're our version of Wikipedia - Daveipedia
12. taking the time to drive me back and forth to Chico
13. long talks about random "Dad" stuff
14. encouraging me to follow my dreams
15. for setting an example in work ethics
16. because you have crazy conspiratist theories
17. you gave us a love for old classic movies
18. you connect with us in our interests
19. your 70's fashion references                    
20. you gave us a love for music
21. you impart into us the things you love
22. you are loyal
23. introducing us to Man vs Food
24. you love to laugh
25. you are patient in teaching us new things
26. your dedication to people you love
27. because you are really funny 
28. your mathematical mind
29. your outside of the box way of thinking
30. tickling me til I laugh
31.your love for motorcycles and taking me for rides
32. you always seem to find $1.00 in change to take me to am/pm for a drink
33. you will watch endless episodes of Hogan's Hero's with me
34.  for always taking me grocery shopping with you
35. you are the best dad to price compare at the grocery store
36. for teaching us to play chess
37. for not letting me win a checkers so I became a good player and can beat you now
38. you would put your arm in a fire...  up to here for us
39. finding crazy TV series for us to watch
40. introducing us to some of the greatest songwriters
41. you are the greatest dad in the whole wide world
42. you are really kind
43. when I am sad you try to cheer me up
44. when I was little I did not have to use my allowance - you would pay for my things
45. you are  really, really, really, really, really smart
46. because I love you...
47. because you take me to the $ store
48. because  you buy me things
49. because you let me still crawl into bed with you and mommy
50. you let me watch stuff on your nook with you
51. you are a wonderful Dad

 52. You give your life each day for us...

Beginning the Year with Thanks

Every year the Lord gives me a word... 

this past year (2011) was probably the 10th year for me to receive a word to study, ponder and meditate on all year. 

As the years have come and gone, these words have woven in and around each other. When a new word is given, at some point it touches one of the other words and He speaks a new truth or gives me a deeper understanding of that word. 

Last year, for the first time, I received a phrase...  enter the land of the living.

He has spoken many things to me on this phrase, and continues to.  But one thing has been very clear...

He has called me to Fully Live...

To Fully embrace Life, with all its hopes, dreams, fears, hurts and pains... 

to Fully feel the gamete of emotions that come with living. 

So, as I enter the land of the living I am taking the dare to Fully Live:
Counting His endless gifts, to One Thousand Gifts… and beyond.

#1 excitement in daughter’s voice so many miles away

#2 spending time with sweet friends

#3 God meeting a family in need of His touch and grace

#4 child’s pure joy over holding a stray dog

#5 watching joyful girls play all afternoon with stray dog

#6 seeing hope for son’s fear of animals

#7 holding the sweetest dog

#8 finding dog’s owner…

#9 seeing need for a better home for him

#10 a daddy’s heart and openness…

#11 prayers and trusting Your hand in this…

I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living."                                                            Psalm 142:5