Blueberry Pickin'

We went blueberry pickin' at Nesbit Blueberry Farm! It was so fun to get outside and do this as a family, and it was pretty educational! I will say, I sometimes have to force myself to eat store-bought blueberries and wondered if I could even really like them at all, BUT these are the BEST blueberry's we have ever had!  If we are here next May, we will definitely be doing this again...maybe several times. Unfortunately, this year we waited til the end of the blueberry season, but for now, we are still enjoying our fresh blueberries and even have a whole bag frozen for later:)

The bushes were a bit picked over. But we soon discovered some that were in a good shady spot that were hiding luscious berries under their leaves...it made it all worth it!

 All set with our ropes and buckets!

 My two guys. Even Sawyer got to have fun pickin'!

 My sweet Maddie girl. This is my true blueberry lover! She might like them more than candy!

 Handsome hubby!

 Gettin' a little love from my sweet baby (yes, he is still my baby!) He likes me to wear his glasses. Love this guy!

 Sweet sissy's! Love my girls!

 Some more snuggles!

 Yay, group shot! This almost never happens!

Me and my sweet babies:)

Its like Donuts...

Its been quite a while since I last wrote and I was going to try to go back through all the "happenings" in our life over the past couple of months, but thats completely overwhelming so I am just starting back with today...


* For those of you who need a little re-cap-Last August, we felt the Lord stirring us and leading us to do something completely crazy (by normal standards that is). Through His Word, Isaiah 55 mostly, we felt the Lord was asking us to begin to live by faith...to live a life completely dependent on Him. For e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g...We had some friends that had a ministry in the Pickwick area, and the doors began to open to move there, away from the hustle and bustle. We didn't move there to run or escape anything. Obviously the Lord desire's heart change, not just location! But, we really felt His leading to sell our home, and move there to be discipled, learn to live by faith, and really let Him work in our hearts as only He can. Coming away from the job Daniel had always had, and from the life that we had lived completely for ourselves was good. Learning to hear the Lord's voice was good. Learning to know the difference between flesh and Spirit was good. Letting go of the things that we were in bondage to was good. So many inward "spiritual deaths" were brought about for us and we were changed, drastically. At the end of April, we began to feel the Lord stirring us again. This time, towards the mission field (I will go into that more on another day). Long story short, we moved back in town, moved in with my ridiculously sweet in-law's, and are waiting on the Lord to give us our next step.*


Being back has been good but also hard. We are driving the same ole' streets, going to the same stores, seeing the same people...life looks the same...BUT we are NOT the same! Its like we were in the twilight zone and now we have re-entered real life, but not the life we left! Its been a struggle to figure out where we fit in, or how the Lord wants us to live while we are here. What does He want us to do in this waiting period? There are so many questions waiting to be answered, and I know that in the mean time, He wants us to look to Him. He wants to continue to be our life, in the midst of "life" going on around us. Of course, practically speaking, that has been hard. One of the hard things for me is looking around (I realize this is never a good thing to do!) Seeing what everyone else has or is doing and what we don't have or what people will think of us.  Those were huge issues for me for the better part of my life. I lived my life measuring myself against others and what they thought of me. (I think I have gone into that on another post so I won't give it all to you again) Point is, the last few weeks have been an ongoing battle for me. I am all of the sudden back in "civilization" (no offense to those of you that live in Pickwick!), and those struggles are starting rear their ugly heads again! Outward appearance, what people think, etc... are consuming my thoughts and its so annoying!

So, this morning, I found myself just crying out to the Lord. Again. He reminded me of the verse in 1 Samuel that says "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (16:7) None of the things I have been struggling with matter at all to the One my heart truly wants to please (I mean, He cares that I'm struggling but He does not care about appearance and does not want us to struggle with things like that!). This battle rages in my mind and soul b/c I know I want to choose Him and I want His peace and joy that yielding to His ways always brings. I want more of Him. But, my stinky flesh is so strong! As I thought and prayed about these things, my sweet Father in Law brought in a bunch of donuts "for the kids." Now, I don't know about you, but donuts are one of my favorite sweet treats! I love them, and it takes quite a  bit of discipline for me to abstain and having just one is almost unthinkable. But, inevitably, I always feel guilty after I gorge myself on them. While they are super pleasing to the taste buds, they are crazy high in fat, sugar and calories (and probably lots of other things you smart healthy eaters probably know about) and in 15 minutes I am starving and have to eat something else to fill the void that they left!

This got me thinking. The worldly pleasures that so tempt me and that I find myself lusting after and thinking about are just like donuts. They look so good and they taste so good once you have them. To not indulge is nearly impossible! But, they are empty! Everything about them leaves you feeling less than satisfied. I mean, we think "if I could only have this new pair of shoes, or this new car, or a nicer house, or better job or super awesome boyfriend or husband or fill in the blank.....then I would be happy. Life would be better!" And then we get that new pair of shoes or better job or whatever, and we feel empty again. We start looking for something else to set our gaze on to bring more satisfaction and to fill that void again. If donuts leave us hungry and put a little extra somethin' on the waste line, what are we supposed to eat? Any nutritionist would tell you to eat the good stuff! Proteins, fibers, fruits, veggies...the stuff that really will satisfy our tummy's and won't leave us feeling guilty! We must also learn what to do when the worldly "cravings" hit! Where do I go when my thoughts are focused on worldly things and I am coveting what someone else has or I feel inadequate as a mom and wife and start looking for ways to look better or feel better?

I think Jesus makes it clear in John 6. He is telling the crowds (who had just witnessed the miracle of the loaves and fish and who had their bellies filled with food) in vs 27, "Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you."  He later says (after bantering back and forth with them, which is also quite convicting to read) in vs 35 "I AM the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." So, He is our Bread! He is the only One that can satisfy our hungry and thirsty souls. He won't leave us wanting more. He has to be better than any of those "worldly donuts" that we lust after, but I am still so accustomed to filling a void with momentary pleasures rather than going to Him and letting Him fill me. We must discipline ourselves to pursue what satisfies and remember the depressing effects of what doesn't.

I'll end this with Isaiah 55:1-3. Its saying the same things and its SUCH a good reminder to me!...

"Come, everyone who thirsts,
 Come to the waters,
 And he who has no money, come
 buy and eat!
 Come buy wine and milk
 without money and without price.
 Why do spend your money for that which is not bread,
 and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
 Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
 and delight yourselves in rich food.
 Incline your ear and come to me;
 hear that your soul may live...."

*Disclaimer: I am not saying in anyway that one should never consume a donut again. That would be sad. Its simply an analogy:)

IDOLS

I came across this little video by Leslie Ludy tonight. I have seen/heard it before but  the message was so good to hear again., especially as God opens my eyes more and more to what true idolatry in our time really is. I pray that you will listen with an open heart, and that God will make plain to you what your idols are-even things that seem "normal" to everyone around you. Try not to compare yourself to anyone you know, just let Him search your heart and open your eyes to the things He wants to rid you of, so that He can take that place in your life! Its so hard to pry our cold fingers off the things we have clung to for so long, but I am convinced, as we follow His leading and rid ourselves of them, we can experience a freedom and joy that we didn't know existed...In Him. I pray that the Lord will shatter the illusion that is this world, with all its enticements and comforts, and that He will show you and me, that He is the only real Treasure and the only true Comfort, that will always satisfy our soul.

"Lord, Cut Me Open" by KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

I came across this little exerpt from a book by KP Yohannan, founder of Gospel for Asia. I have posted a link so you can read it on the GFA website and maybe spend some time looking around and reading about this ministry. Daniel and I have been so impacted by GFA, and we love KP Yohannan's writings (especially Revolutions in World Missions and No Longer a Slumdog). This article is so good and straight to the point. It challenges me to remember that the Lord wants our LIFE, He wants it all. He wants us to be transparent and real about who we really are. He wants us to give Him complete control and in turn, to experience true Life in Him as well as His joy and peace. I hope this challenges you as well!

Link:

KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

"Lord, Cut Me Open"

Why haven't we yet fulfilled the Great Commission? Why are we so ineffective in building God's kingdom?

Is it because we lack money or literature or because the Bible is not translated into all the world's languages? No, I don't think so.

The deepest reason is this: We who form the Church—that's you and me—are not real in our walk with the Lord and in our obedience to God's Word. Unless our hearts change and we become genuine, transparent, open and humble in our faith (and through that, in all areas of our lives), we will never make an impact on the lost world!

Many of God's people have felt a deficiency in their Christian lives, especially when they read God's expectations for them in the Bible. In order to fix this problem, they have gone from one seminar, book, conference or convention to the next, always looking for a formula or recipe to become a powerful, effective Christian overnight.

Churches have also recognized that something vital seems to be missing. In hopes of reviving their people, they constantly come up with new plans and activities. They invite the best music groups they can find, the most eloquent speakers and even prophets to breathe new life into their congregations. But after all the excitement is over and everyday life sets in once again, nothing much has changed. So they search for new plans and new speakers, hoping for better results next time.

David had a deep longing to be close to God and to be used of the Lord. He too felt he wasn't all God intended for him to be. However, his approach to meet this spiritual need was entirely different from most of us.

David was a man who didn't go to one of the prophets—Samuel, Nathan or Gad—to ask for a formula. He didn't invite them to hold a seminar at his palace with the hope that some of their anointing would fall on him.

David simply went into the presence of his God with a prayer that shows he knew exactly where his root problem was.

He cried, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24, KJV).

David wanted to be real, not only with his outward actions, but beginning with his innermost thoughts. He recognized that his words and actions were only a reflection of his thoughts, and his thoughts were simply the evidence of what he was really like in his heart.

Therefore, David prayed and asked the Lord to try him and to cure those wrong tendencies of his heart that showed up in his thought life.

Many years later, Jesus said, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts . . ." (Mark 7:21). In other words, we reflect the true reality of who we are by what we think. Everything first happens in our thought life before it is translated into words and actions. What we speak or do is only what has been going on inside of us for a long time.

Our problem is not that we lack Bible information, speakers, or opportunities. Rather, our problem is that we don't want to face the truth of who we really are. We don't want others to know it either, and we even try to fool God. We never ask Him to search our heart and reveal our secrets. Instead, we pretend with a spiritual life we don't live, a peace we don't experience and a holiness and commitment we don't possess.

We will never make any progress in becoming more like Jesus unless we permit God to cut us open, search our hearts, try us, know our thoughts and then change us from the inside. Only then can we become real according to the Word of God.

That reality will make us powerful witnesses for Jesus, even if we don't say a word. We will be so transparent and so genuine that if the world around us tries us with fire, we will come out as glittering gold.

If you truly desire this reality, stop looking to plans and activities as your solution. Begin today to call out to the Lord as David did. Say, "Lord Jesus, cut me open. Please search my heart, try me, know my thoughts, reveal to me who I am, and change me, at any cost, to become what Your Word says I ought to be." Believe me, there is no prayer the Lord delights to answer for His people more than this one!

Reflecting His Image, Chapter 4 © 1998 by Dr. K.P. Yohannan

Celebration Day

One year ago, TODAY, Feb 4th, our life as we had known it was completely torn apart. Whoo Hoo!!! Cause for celebration, right?

I think so...

You see, our life WAS torn apart.  BUT, this wasn't a surprise to God. I believe it was allowed by Him. He intervened at a point that seemed good to Him. He chose at that moment in our life, to strip us down to nothing. To take us from the "broad way that leads to destruction" and put us on the "narrow road that leads to life." He took tragic circumstances and sin, and showed us who we REALLY were. We lived for ourselves. We had all that we could want, and thought He had blessed us. We had money, status, nice job, nice house, nice cars, nice clothes.... Because we were involved in our church, listened to Christian music and had lots and lots of head knowledge, we thought we were ok. We could have both the world and God, and that made us feel secure. American Christianity at its best! Galatians 5:19-21 spells out what our lives were really defined by- "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." I'm sure most of you would say you don't practice those things, but WE did! There are maybe a couple things on that list that didn't define us.(We just knew how to play the game). How could we ever have thought that we had LIFE? That we knew the Lord personally and intimately? We were SO deceived.

 So, on February 4, 2011, God in His sovereignty and grace, said ENOUGH! We didn't deserve it and we weren't seeking it. But, little by little, He brought us out.  First the surrender came b/c we couldn't face the circumstances without Him, and then it came b/c we realized we couldn't live a moment with out Him. He began to show us what true LIFE in Christ was all about (and it was nothing like the life we had been living). He called us to really read the Scriptures and live by what we read. To take Jesus' words literally instead of skimming over the hard stuff. Luke 9:23-26 says "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."

He called us and still is calling us to live by faith, to trust Him with every moment, every dollar, every need and every desire. He is showing us that every moment we have a choice to be yielded to the Spirit of God in our lives. He showed us further in Galatians, what the fruits of the Spirit are-"Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" and we are witnessing those fruits being born in our lives! He is continuing to strip us of all the things that have defined us for so long and bring new life <in Him> out of it. He is teaching us to live eternally, for His Glory, and not our own. That this life is passing quickly and we have already wasted so much of it on ourselves.

I write all of this for many reasons. One, b/c as I woke up this morning, I was tempted to self-pity. It felt justified and real. But I wanted God to turn my head back to all He has done. To all the beauty that came from ashes. Second, I wanted to remember that the call to die is still the same today as it was a year ago. Jesus said in John 12:24 "Truly Truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also." I know He was foreshadowing His own death here, but He was also saying we must follow him in that death. We must die to ourselves and our plans and live yielded to Him every moment until eternity. And Third, to be a witness to those of you who knew us then and know us now. We are living proof that Jesus truly does make all things new. There truly is power in the Blood of the Lamb. He is the Good Shepherd and longs for us to give our lives completely to Him, that we might experience His life in us. Its the "exchanged life" and its a GOOD life! Its REAL life. Even as I write this, I am praying that these words would not just be words to me. I want to believe these words in the very depths of my heart, to remember them every moment of every day. To live by them, to walk by them, and to die by them.

SO.....Today shouldn't be a day to be sad (although Satan loves to tempt me with the idea) but a day to look back and see the salvation of the Lord!

As many of my other posts, I think I'll leave you with the words of a song (really just words taken from Hosea 6:1-3)that are ringing in my head as I write :

HOSEA (by Shane and Shane)

Come let us return

He has torn us into pieces

He has injured us

Come let us return to the Lord

He will heal us

He will bandage our wounds

In just a short time He'll restore us

In just a short time He'll restore His church

So we might live

We might live in His presence

In His presence

Oh that we might know the Lord

Oh that we might know the Lord

Oh that we might know the Lord

Let us press on to know Him

Let us press hard into Him

Then as surely as the coming of the dawn

He will respond

Picture Update~Thanksgiving into the begininning of December...

My 3 sweeties

Advent-A new Christmas Tradition for us!

With all the changes God has made in our lives, it only seems right for Him to change the way we have always done Christmas. After all, we ARE celebrating Jesus' birth! As we have prayed for Him to show us how to celebrate in a very Christ-centered way, He has led us to this thought of Advent. I have always seen these calendars with all the doors that you open (some with candy), but have never really paid much attention to them. Sadly, for us, Christmas has been about decorating, buying presents, getting presents, Christmas movies, music, parties, food, etc... and really NOT about Jesus at all. Of course, I am sure we said He was the "reason for the season" but when I am really honest with myself, I know He never was. So, this year we are changing the way we do everything! Not to be legalistic or pious. But b/c we truly want to celebrate Jesus! We want to focus on Him, not ourselves.  

I have been reading a great book by Noel Piper called "Treasuring God in our Traditions" if you don't have it, GET IT! http://noelpiper.com/She really points everything back to the Lord and shows you how traditions should and can be centered around Him. The chapter on Christmas has so encouraged me in centering everything we do this Christmas around Jesus.  Advent in Latin means "coming". So I love the thought of looking back to the events leading up to Jesus' birth and then looking forward to Jesus' second coming!

So, all that said...God has given me (through a friend) what I think is going to be an awesome way to celebrate Advent and Christmas. We are going to make a Jesse Tree! For those of you that are confused about what this is, don't feel bad, I was too... 

Basically, the concept of the Jesse Tree is based on Isaiah 11:1, and the prophecy that the Savior would come from "the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit." Each day we will place an ornament on our Jesse Tree to represent the events or people we learned about each day through the month of December. The tree becomes a great visual and daily reminder of what we're really celebrating during Advent season. This 25 day celebration is a vehicle to tell the Story of God in the Old Testament, and to connect the Advent Season with the faithfulness of God across 4,000 years of history. 

The story of Christmas actually begins in Genesis so that is where we will begin! We will cover significant events throughout the Old Testament — each story pointing to the coming Messiah. It’s like an overview of the whole span of His Story — leading right up to the climax of the coming Christ! Our desire is to not only highlight an important scene from God’s epic in time, but to always unwrap more of Jesus, the gift hidden in every story. 

A few friends and I  went ahead and made the ornaments ahead of time so we could be ready on December 1st. It was alot of fun getting together and making them! One of my friends put together a blog to take us through each day of December http://www.jesusistherealgift.blogspot.com/, so we are READY! All we need is our tree which we are getting this week. I am so excited about doing this with our children.  I want them to grow up seeing us worship our Savior and center what has become a worldly, materialistic holiday, around the real reason for Christmas-JESUS!

I am posting pictures of our ornaments for you to see and get a "feel" for what this will look like...feel free to copy these and make your own!