Texas cowboys

After all the goofy looks and doubtful stares I've gotten for the past three months, I was afraid maybe I was just making it up . . . Guess not.   What I saw immediately after getting off the plane in Austin, Texas. 

Why my pastor doesn't use twitter:

"I don't tweet, I thunder!" -Pastor John

Devotions

All I Want for Christmas . . .

“We ought to be Martha and Mary in one: we should do much service, and have much communion at the same time. For this we need great grace. It is easier to serve than to commune." CSpurgeon

He is good? Yes. He is good.

I guess maybe I'm really bad at blogging.  Whenever I think that I should write something down, it comes in the form of a song I know.  Oh well, my blog, my rules right?  I'd rather have written this myself, but the simplicity of this song hits the nail on the head.  I've been learning, this semester, to trust God.  I thought I did trust God but there's nothing like God teaching me a lesson to show me all my failures in this area.  I can go to scripture and dive deep into theology and learn all about God's sovereignty, omnipotence, omnipresence . . . and still not trust Him.  At least for me, I must grasp this: God is good.  Like Lewis says about Aslan "Tame?!  No! He's not tame! But, he is good."  Tame?  My God tame?  No, He's not tame, but He is good.  I am glad He's not tame.  It made me mad when I first realized it; but really, how lame would that be?  Talk about putting God in a box.  But, God is good.  As I said, I could dive into theology and explain why it is that we know that God is good, but that doesn't seem to help me personally very much.  It is important to know and I have studied it, but when it comes down to it, it is just a bunch of scholastic details that don't affect my heart deep down.  Maybe it's because in my heart of hearts, I am no scholar but a simple girl who wants to simply love God and live for Him.  I love simplicity.  Everything is so much clearer that way.  Ok, all this to lead up to this song that I sing as a prayer to my Father to remind me of His goodness.

"Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."

Always

You are good always 

And in all ways

You are working all things 

Together for our good

You are good always 

In big and small ways 

I know I can trust You

In everything You do

With the hard winds of life

Blowing out of control

It can feel like I'm all on my own

But You've given me Your word

And I know You'll never leave

And I've never faced a single storm alone

I can't say it's always 

Been a smooth open road

Or turned out the way I'd prefer

But one thing I'm sure of 

You've been faithful to me

And I live to give You all that You deserve

Written by Jon Mohr and brian Johnson

© 2007 Blue Saguaro Music / Brian Johnson Music (BMI)

Children's Hunger Fund Toy Wrapping

I spent the afternoon at the local Children's Hunger Fund warehouse helping people wrap toys for children around California and northern Mexico.  Included with each ty beanie baby bear was a gospel track.  These presents will be given to the local churches who then go out and distribute the gifts to needy kids.  Here's the group I worked with today. We were table leaders which pretty much meant we got to boss.  Fit me to a tee :)  I love my Bible Study!  The pic below is those of us who volunteered for today and then the founder of the Children's Hunger Fund, David Phillips, in the blue t-shirt. Afterwards 5 of us went to In 'n' Out where I enjoyed a vanilla milk shake.  Those things are the best.  Good day, good fellowship, tired feet, time for sleep . . . 

You can check out more about Children's Hunger Fund here www.chfus.org 

A Good Wife and A Good Beard

Thankful

Before Thanksgiving weekend is over and Christmas floods upon us, I am posting Mikey (7) and Gabe's(5) thankyou list.  Yesterday at dinner with the family gathered around the table on the back porch, they both read their lists.  It was precious.
You might have to noodle on the word to figure them out! Mikey:
tihes I am tafkle for
1.sky I am thafnd4.
2.Gabe and
3. Elsa and
4. Nora and
5. Papa I am thaful for
6. Mama and
7. Blue strip I am thankful for (that's Gabe's fish)
8. Kelly's babaeys (that's Elsa's fishs babies)
9. Thunder and
10. Zeba and
11. Geese and
12. ducks and
13. home I am thafule for
14. My frog and
15. My bed and
16. my room and
17. food and
18. books I am thankle
19. city and
20. state
ttose are what I am takfule for!

Gabe:
Mamey
Ar books
Papae
Elsa
Ar room
Mikey
Nora
Ar Bed
God
Ar yard
food
Ar house
tos
tresrbox
sonic
tv
kawch

Pumpkins

                 

I had fun with these pumpkins.  Quite easy really.  It could be done with real pumpkins or craft ones.  I used a state decal sticker to give me the state designs, acrylic craft paint, makeup sponges for painting, and star stickers to mark the cities.  Quite "Martha like" I would say!  The bottom one was for my mother in law in Minnesota.  She displayed them on her fireplace.  The 584 is her address.  The 1st was for our home here in Blanco, TX...the star represents the hill country where we live.  

Thankfulness

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God.”

Thanksgiving should be underlined in this verse.  It is so easy to read it, recite it, hear it as “but in everything by prayer and supplication, let your request be made known to God.”  By prayer and supplication, I’m good at making my requests known to God.  However, how can the following verse be claimed when that one important word in this verse is left out?  Verse 7 says “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  When the peace of God does not overcome my life in a supernatural non-understandable way, I must be missing something. 

Thanksgiving is the act of praising God for His works.  From the big to the little, God can be thanked.  Not only am I justified by Jesus, sanctified through Him and will be glorified in Him, but He bestows His other unique blessings on His children every day.  I have nothing left to desire simply knowing His great gift, but He doesn't stop there.  Throughout every day there are so many other graces that He gives.  The leaves on the tree, the squirrels chasing each other, the coffee I drink, the warm blankets I cover myself with, the friends I have, the conversations I am in, the people who pray for me, the people I pray for, the cool air, the trials I have, the songs in my mind . . .

“Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! . . . forget not all His benefits . . .” Psalm 103:1-2

Tradition! I like it.

Tradition is, when anything big, small, wonderful, sad, exciting, depressing, or any other out of the norm thing happens, then first, we must have coffee.  I've had a lot of coffee the last couple of weeks.  Although it wouldn't stop me from continuing the tradition, I have come to realize how important the "we" in "first we have coffee" really is.  The coffee in and of itself is terribly comforting, but I think perhaps only because of my past experiences with "we" having coffee.  It's a reminder of fine conversations, a little bit of crying, and a lot of laughing.  Feeling a bit homesick right now.  Oh well though, I can't have everything all at once.  Must go drink my coffee alone and study for a theology test.

My Lovely Girls

I have more lovely girls, but this is two of them. Charity and Nora having a sweet aunty moment in Johnson City, TX.

Picture by Mary Beth Bueno (another lovely girl)

My Prayer Today

This song popped into my head yesterday while I was out walking around the hills and it was in my mind all night and when I woke up this morning and then today in chapel they sang it.
*update* and then again in Bible study Friday night, at a formalish dinner Saturday night, and in service Sunday night . . . Ok, I think perhaps I needed to be encouraged with the awesome truth of my relationship with my Master :)

O Great God

O great God of highest heaven

Occupy my lowly heart 

Own it all and reign supreme 

Conquer every rebel power

Let no vice or sin remain 

That resists Your holy war

You have loved and purchased me 

Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin 

Had no ears to hear your voice

Did not know Your love within 

Had no taste for heaven's joys

Then Your Spirit gave me life 

Opened up Your Word to me

Through the gospel of Your Son

Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life 

That's dependent on Your grace

Keep my heart and guard my soul

From the evils that I face

You are worthy to be praised

With my every thought and deed

O great God of highest heaven

Glorify Your Name through me 

Friday Funny

Ok, Ok....girltalk we are not. But, I thought we should have a Friday funny. Last week, Mary Beth...who is the mother of four beautiful children age 8 months to 7 was driving to a baby shower in the mid morning. Mikey (age 7) suddenly realized he had absolutely no idea where they were going. "Where are we going Mommy?" "To a baby shower," replied his mother. Sitting quietly in thought as only Mikey can he considered what his mom had said. Then suddenly he had a very exciting thought! "Is is yours?" "No, Mikey...not this time."