stirring up

If church is the small talk of conversation, then home-groups are the deep. A church community is so vital. I have missed this, but found it again recently. When I was young, I remember tons of this. The places where I longed to be with the adults listening in on their conversations about God and life. I came home joy-filled this Sunday, after a potluck and fellowship. With just two of my kids, I stayed late- past the bigger crowd, and enjoyed some deeper conversation. And, the best.... amidst the conversation was the Word of God. I am blessed. Four kids. A church community. A good husband. A Father and Lord who chose me first and is involved in the details of my life. Phew. Blessed. I often feel sad, and far, overwhelmed.... but these moments, they renew my soul.

Hebrews 10:19-25 (English Standard Version)

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The second part of that thought.

These Hollywood Noah type of trends are really bothering me. I get that God can use even the smallest part of something and use it for His good and glory, but that is His business. Our business is to strive for truth. We are not perfect. We cannot be perfect, except for in Him. We will continually not be perfect. We can however reason and choose.
I have heard many views regarding these kind of movies. I don't like them myself. I find that if they are altering the Word of God, then there is too much room for deception. Is that not the greatest evil- not an outright lie, but a truth twisted until we can't recognize where the truth ends and the lie begins. Remember.... why are we not remembering? Why do I even care? I care because we are family- you and I. We are Christian brothers and sisters- something my eldest son finds highly amusing and profound- that I would be his sister in Christ. But, it is true and so I admonish you.... and I hope you admonish me when need be. Can we please just sharpen each other? How can we grow, if not together? We were not meant to grow alone.
I have even heard the opinion that people would not be angered at a book-turned-movie having some differences. But this is our history being changed. Would people not be angered if a president of good standing, of virtue, was depicted as a tortured and violent soul? The bible does present the fact that the days of Noah were violent, but that Noah was a righteous man. And so, I was up late reading Genesis 6, 7, 8, and 9.
You can read it here for the real story: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+6%2C7%2C+8%2C+9&version=ESV

It's been awhile.

It seems that life is tumbling forward at a rapid pace. It has been awhile since I have written anything in this space. I have wanted to, but to get down here and typing is hard. There is no time. It is alright that there isn't any time, for what the day is filled with is important. I am mothering, teaching, and cleaning. It must be done. Writing can wait. Thoughts can swirl awhile before they can be written.
We have started a new study, of Gideon. It will be good. Studying God's word is always good. I think it may bring a refocus and new light on how my part of raising our family will look. So far, God is showing me that the way in which I carry out the mundane tasks in my day, such as cleaning, are ways of teaching deeper things. That being care, selflessness, kindness, love, etc.
My family is growing in many ways. My babe is now three and a half months. There have been some good things come to our lives this past while, and more to come....

Prayer works.

Prayer works. God answers. I am feeling pain and pressure as I come to the last bit of my pregnancy, but I am also feeling joy. I know that people have been praying for me and my family this week- I can feel it. My internal struggle at this point is always huge as I think about how it will all go down at the end, as well as the progression of more children, if any. It might be strange that I think about more children when the one that is coming hasn't even been born yet, but it is a struggle in my mind as I trust God but am feeling tortured in body daily. It is always worth it though. The prize at the end brings unending blessings.
We are in our second year of homeschooling and I love it. It is fulfilling to know what your kids are being taught and see how they are growing and developing. We got a head start in order to accommodate the baby coming and are all settled into a routine now.
We are also starting a new bible study with our new church this week. I am excited to see what learning and growing will come of this too. I am needing something to dig into myself. I am grateful for this church every week, even after driving into town to attend, as the bible is taught word for word, in order and in full.
Anyways, that is my life right now.... rib stretching babe, homeschooling morns, and truth seeking Sundays.

Random thoughts from a not so random thought trail.

Learning the bible is extremely important. And not just learning it, but studying it and knowing it in and out from cultural time, to translation, etc. I was a strong and mature christian since I was young. (I did experience a rather hard time for awhile too, not to leave that out.) But, up until the last few years, I have never seen bible study like I do now. I have never been taught just absorbing all that you can find from one passage. A Beth Moore study was the first time I saw this and I will never see any the same again. It is really a shame. I have seen more since then but this is my point, that I want this for myself. Before it was all inspiration and movements and opinions. I don't ever want to be in a place where I can't judge for myself if what is being said is what is coming straight from the word of God, or from men. Kari Jobe said it best one time, and I think I have that sermon along here somewhere, that we should want first fruit from God and not already-been-chewed. I love these kind of thoughts. It's me and God. I don't want to follow any fad or be stuck with the A-B-C. I want to know that I know and why, and then ask the question, "What am I going to do about it?" I am so glad to be at the stage where I can speak out if I disagree and can choose what I think is right according to God's word. Amen to that. Oh, and live in unity whether we disagree or not. I am not out to take sides here and there and battle it out to the death. Haha. There should though be conversations happening, not just eyes staring forward taking in everything like robots. Weighing is important.  Some of it isn't beneficial but is permissible, but some of it is downright wrong. Do I know enough to know the difference? Do you? Some weeks are like this one, where it is time to take an inventory.

 To study and explore:
http://www.blueletterbible.org/
 To find Beth Moore and more:
http://www.lifeway.com/