Funnies.

Twiggy left me this week for vacation with her Mimi and cousin, Bird.  My mom (Mimi) has been updating us via e-mail about the trip and the following is a conversation that took place between the girls while having dinner at Outback Steakhouse:


Contemplative Bird: “Why are there more boys in here than girls?”
Worldly-wise Twiggy: “It’s ‘cuz of the beer!”





This afternoon I was looking at pictures from Texas when we came across this one:

Frankie pointed to it and said, "Look, Mommy!  A ladybug!"

Little Dude...

...turns 7 months and as you can see, he loves the Pack already.

The Mind of Christ

I love that I serve the living God, who is actively working in my life to conform me to the image of His Son!

For no apparent reason, I woke up this morning with a heart that was heavy over the selfishness that oozes out of my life. I complain because I am selfish. I snap at my husband and my children because I am selfish. I am critical of those around me because I am selfish.

All these thoughts were running through my mind throughout the course of the morning, and little did I know that God was preparing me for what the He wanted me to hear this morning at church.

The missionary who spoke this morning read from Philippians chapter two:

So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry of conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves....Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus....

How priceless it would be to live a life with that mindset! What if I were to fully embrace the plans God has for my family knowing that He is in complete control and knows where He wants us (as opposed to complaining that they are not what I want)? What if I treated my family as I ought to treat them? Or what if I truly lived out this passage as it relates to those of whom I am now critical? Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves....

These are such simple truths, but today they had a profound impact on me. I truly want the Lord to transform me. I am confident that He will.

My Compassionate Little Fly Guy

With the weather getting colder a countless number of flies have sought refuge in the warmth of our home only to discover Rocky, our four-year-old, on a mission to "slay dragons" for his mommy. Or in this case, flies.

Rocky will swat flies anywhere, whether they land in his sister's breakfast bowl or on his brother's head, it makes no difference. If they are in our house, he will hunt them down.

While on this morning's hunt he found a few flies trapped between the screen and the pane of our living room window. After a few minutes of trying to reach them with his orange fly swatter, he sighed.

"Oh, the poor little fellas!" he exclaimed. "They'll die in there!"

Beware of Lion!

Promises

After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. So Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life..."

I love this passage because it so much echoes the cry of my heart right now. When I read passages like that in Matthew 24 where Christ tells us that we "will be hated by all nations for My Name's sake" I kind of feel claustrophobic as I think about how truly tangible this is, not just where we live as a family, but all over the world. I mean, really! Is following Christ really worth the promise of ridicule, hatred, even death? Life would be so much easier if I were to give up and be washed away in this world and all the pleasures it has for me! In all honesty, the thought has crossed my mind on more than one occasion lately.

But God draws me back (as He so faithfully does) to the Truth of this passage in John chapter six. Where would I go? What better offer is there? Oh, the world has a lot to offer me that looks so good, but what happens when it's gone? Wh at then? This world offers me neither salvation, nor does it offer me a savior. Not only does Christ have the words of eternal life, but He is eternal life! Christ makes this life worth the pain! Oh God, help me endure!