Nice guy

This is how dear Joseph keeps the seat next to him empty on a flight. 

Spring Break 2013

The Jacobson family enjoys Spring break every year by segregating.  The boys...no matter what age and the girls...no matter what age break apart from each other and go their separate ways.  This year, the boys which includes Kip (husband), Mario (son in law), Joseph (son), Nate (son), Mikey (7 yr. old grandson), and Gabe (5 yr. old grandson) took off for Sun City, AZ at 2:15 AM today.  Joseph flew in from California last night.  He was picked up in Austin, driven to Blanco...and transferred his backpack full of clothes to the van.  They drove out of here with 3 sleepy little boys, and 3 sleepy big boys.

Before they got the little ones loaded up though, we had an impromptu party in the kitchen. I was glad I had muffins, chocolate chip bars, grapes, and cheese ready for the taking.   We decided being up at 2:00 AM makes a person very hungry.  Joseph and Charity, our starved college students ransacked the refrigerator first thing.  Joseph walked out to the van with his arms full of food.

Now for the girls. :)  There's Lisa (mom), Mary Beth (married daughter), Charity (daughter), Elsa (3 yr. old grandaughter), and Nora (1 yr. old grandaughter).  There's talking, coffee, tea, cookies, walks, flowers, books, talking, shopping, and maybe a home project if we are so inclined.  Today, it's just Charity and me.  So far: tea at 2:30 AM, coffee at 10:00, talking, brainstorming a new project for our den.  We're happy.  We love our men and boys, but we love re-grouping just the girls once a year as well.

Asking Too Much?

Thou art coming to a King, 

Large petitions with thee bring.

For his grace and power are such, 

None can ever ask too much."

John Newton

The Fruit of the Spirit: JOY

Taking Delight in God's love for me.

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

(Psalm 16:11 ESV)

Joseph at 4 yrs. old being quite a joyful angel...something you wouldn't see today!

Shepherd's Conference

I have the amazing privilege this week to work at the Shepherd's Conference.  I am so excited about this opportunity.  There are close to 3500 men coming to attend.  Please pray for these men as we seek to encourage them in their ministries during the next few days.  

My favorite sign that I hung up today :)

The Fruit of the Spirit: LOVE

To care for the good of another person, even if there is no good in it for me.

"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecoming; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Nate, age 9 at Nora's birth

Even in the wee hours of the morning

After an extensive research this morning, I have found it to be Biblically true that marriage is a picture of Christ and the church.  Men and women are to submit to each other in love, the husband is to be the head, the leader, the one in charge, as a picture of Christ; and the wife is to support and be under the husband as a picture of the church.  If you're going to go with what the Bible says, there's really no way around it . . . and really, it's pretty simple to understand.

Some good verses to see this in are Ephesians 5:21-33 and Colossians 3:18-19

This Momentary Marriage by John Piper is an excellent book showing the beautiful picture marriage was created by God to be.  

He Used to be JoeJoe

Our Joseph has always made me smile.  When he was a baby, a little girl named Alex tagged him JoeJoe.  Then later, he was often called Joey.  I hear now, he's often referred to as Joe.  His speech was hard to understand when he was a toddler, but he had a lot to say.  Charity was his interpreter.  When Joseph spoke, everyone would turn to her and she would patiently explain what Joseph was trying to say.  It was quite an occupation for Charity, following him around and keeping everyone happy.  Joseph was from the beginning an engineer.  He would often disappear into his bedroom, quietly close the door (so no one would detect him), and work on K-Nex or Legos for hours.  He would then proudly ask me to come look at what he had made.  I am still amazed at what he can make!  But that's just like a mom.  I have always been amazed at him.  It all started the moment I found out I had another baby on the way.  The amazement has never stopped.  When Joseph was born, the doctor in attendance saw the cord tied in a perfect little knot, but not stopping the flow of blood.  I was amazed.  A few days later, I escaped (still don't know how) a surely fatal car accident with my precious Joseph in the car weighing all of 7 lbs.  I shake my head in amazement.  For Kindergarten, Charity sat at a little table her Grandpa had made and learned her letters and numbers.  Joseph being 18 months younger sat on the floor and played with Legos.  The next year it was Joseph's turn for Kindergarten.  I quickly found myself out of that job.  He already knew his letters and numbers from osmosis sitting on the floor with his Legos.  Amazed again.

Joseph isn't really amazing, but I do love him.  No, our God is amazing!  His ways are perfect!  Thankyou heavenly father for boys.  Wouldn't we girls be unbalanced without them?

Happy Birthday Buddy!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Becci!!!!

Luther Grows Fond of Katie

"I would not exchange Katie for France or for Venice, because God has given her to me and other women have worse faults."  Martin Luther grew in his resolve to take Katie as his wife.  His friends were shocked by his proposal, with comments such as, "For heaven's sake, not this one."  It was predicted that "the world and the Devil would laugh and Luther's work would be undone."

Spalatin was Luther's mentor/father in Christ.  He surely had a non ending challenge and source of concern trying to keep Martin Luther calm, far away from those who would kill him.  At this juncture, Spalatin asked Martin what he thought of long engagements.  Luther replied, "Don't put off till tomorrow!  By delay Hannibal lost Rome.  by delay Esau forfeited his birthright.  Christ said, 'Ye shall seek me, and ye shall not find.'  This Scripture, experience, and all creation testify that the gifts of God must be taken on the wing."

Three days later, Luther made a public announcement of his betrothal to Katie.  At this point it seems that Luther began to get a bit more excited about his upcoming wedding.  He sent out letters of invitation, telling Spalatin, "You must come to my wedding.  I have made the angels laugh and the devils weep."  To a gentleman who helped arrange the escape of the nuns, "I am going to get married.  God likes to work miracles and to make a fool of the world.  You must come to the wedding."

On June 27th, 1525 at 10:00 AM Luther escorted his beaming wife to be, Katherine Von Bora, to the parish church in Wittenberg.  The bells rang out the good news through the streets.  The religious ceremony was performed.  Afterward a banquet in the Augustinian cloister followed by a dance at the town hall.  That evening another banquet occured.  All took their leave at 11:00 PM.  Isn't that a fun wedding day?

So, an ex -priest married an ex- nun.  Luther was socially past marrying age, Katie on the furthest edge (late 20's).  They weren't particularly 'in love' as we would say.  They both however felt called to the marriage, took joy in the marriage, and had what appears to be a very good time.

Katherine Von Bora

Two years after Luther helped the twelve nuns escape the cloister, all were safely tucked away in marriages or positions except one.  Her name was Katherine Von Bora.  A match had been made for Katherine, but her partner went and married someone else.  Poor Katherine!  Then, Luther made another selection for her.  His name was Dr. Glatz.  Katherine defied Luther's choice, and said she would marry Luther instead!  It was meant as a good humored rebuff because Luther was past marrying age at forty two.

Luther did not respond seriously to Katy's suggestion until he went home to visit his parents.  His father it seems, loved the idea!  Luther began to think that perhaps it would be good to marry.  He could give Katherine the status as a married woman she needed and give a testimony to his faith.  Luther wrote,
"...  I believe in marriage, and I intend to get married before I die, even though it should be only a betrothal like Joseph's".

Well, Ok Luther.  It was a good thing to do... to take care of Katy.  It makes the more romantically inclined  wonder at his frankness.  But, the story gets better.

My endless source of entertainment . . .

Delivered in a Herring Barrel

Luther had no thought of marriage whatsoever.  His was a life of controversy  which would very likely end in certain death by the hands of the papacy.  During the reformation however, monks began to marry.  "Good heavens! They won't give me a wife," he boldly proclaimed.

In a short time a situation arose which would challenge his stand.  Monks and nuns were leaving the cloisters.  Some sisters nearby asked Luther what they should do now that they didn't agree with the church and their chosen profession.  He arranged for their escape.  On the eve of the Resurrection 1523, twelve bundled nuns were taken from the cloister in empty herring barrels packed in the back of a wagon. Three of the nuns returned to their homes.  The other nine came to see Luther!  

Luther took it on himself to find homes, husbands, or positions for all nine women.  He stated that he would not marry one because he expected daily the death of a heretic.

Luther At Home

Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther has a chapter on the building of Luther's character.  It is an inside look at Luther's home life. I found this humorous because I would tend to think that our Martin Luther's character was constantly being put to a test with the controversy surrounding him because of his arguing against the papist abuses and heretical teaching.   The author Roland H. Bainton  points out that after Luther's wedding he begin to feel that marriage was a school for character.  It displaced the monastery which up until then was thought of as the training ground of virtue and a sure ticket to heaven.

Luther's children were the same as yours and mine.  Darling to him, but full of mischief.  It seems that the babies cries were particularly hard on Luther. In the middle of one child's crying experience Luther said, "Child, what have you done that I should love you so?  You have disturbed the whole household with your bawling."  Another time when a baby cried for an hour, he remarked, "This is the sort of thing that has caused the Church fathers to vilify marriage.  But God before the last day has brought back marriage and the magistracy to their proper esteem."

My favorite quote about babies was declared after being the brunt of his neighbors' amusement when hanging out the diapers to dry.  "Let them laugh.  God and the angels smile in heaven."  LOVE THAT!!!