Tuesday's Tip: Preschool Books

Jackson's speech therapist that he had in Columbia, was so gracious in emailing me the books of the month for this school year for Preschool age children.

September: “I Love You”

October: “The Very Busy Spider”

November: “Clap Your Hands”

December: “If you Give a Mouse a Cookie”

She does not know any of the authors. Do you know who the author of "I Love You," is? I googled it, and there are many Preschool books entitled "I Love You."

If you have a Preschooler, these would be great books to get and work on each month (I usually get my books off amazon used).

Book of the Month: War of Words (Tripp)

We all know that we need to be constantly learning and growing, but especially if you are at home and have to listen to Barney a lot (Abigail's favorite).

I decided to find a book from Charlie's library this month, and this is one that I did not read in seminary for some reason.

Tripp states

"If your dream would crumble, if there were nothing left, would you rise in the midst of your tears and say, "I am full of joy because the Lord is my lord, the Lord is my life, the Lord is my strength, and gloriously, in the midst of all this loss and destruction, I have him"? You can pursue your dream, or you can pursue the Lord's dream for you, You can ask him to conform you to his image, so that more and more your life and your words would bring him praise. Or you can wish that Christ would conform to the scope and focus of your dream. Whose dream are you seeking"? (100).

and he goes on to say

"How does God produce long-term heart change in us? Or, as Paul says it, how does he "compel" us away from living for ourselves to living for him? Second Corinthians 5:11-21 clearly teaches that the thing that compels Paul---and us --- is the love of Christ. Ultimately, the thing that turns us is not just God's sovereignty, his holiness, his anger against sin, or his mighty power. It is the kindness of the Lord that leads people to repentance (114)."

Life-changing words here and I would highly recommend this book!

Prayer

"reminds you that life is not about you. Prayer reminds you that the center of your universe is a place reserved for God and God alone. Prayer reminds you that real peace, satisfaction, and contentment come when you live for a greater glory than your own. Prayer reminds you that the hope of marriage is not found in a husband and wife conspiring to build their own kingdom but in submitting together to the wisdom and rule of a better King. Prayer calls you away from the kingdom of self, which is so destructive to everything a marriage is intended to be, and welcomes you to the kingdom of God, where a God of love rules in love."

Tripp, "What Did You Expect?" (265).

Wednesday's Word: God is in absolute control of the details of our lives

In Paul Tripp's book, "What Did you Expect." he states:

"Acts 17:24-27 is one of the most helpful and encouraging discussions in the New Testament of God's rulership over our lives:

'The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of earth, having determined allotted periods and boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.'

"Having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place." What does Paul mean by these words? Well, let me paraphrase. God determines the precise place where each of us will live ("boundaries and dwelling places") and the exact length of our lives ("having determined allotted periods"). It is God who determines the precise details of location, situations, and relationship in which each of us lives. This means not only that God is in control of where you end up and who you finally live with, but also that, in order to do this, he has been in control of everything that brought you where you are. This means that God has been in control of all the experiential, cultural, and familial influences that shape how you desire, think, act, and respond. So, God is in control not only of the locations in which you live, but also of the influences that have shaped you as a person. He has not only written the story of you and your spouse and determined that your stories would intersect, but he has controlled all the things that have made you different from one another.

"As you struggle, you must not view your marriage as bad luck or poor planning, or a mess that you have made for yourself. No God is right smack-dab in the middle of your struggle. He is not surprised by what you are facing today. He is up to something."

"He is working to rescue you from you, to deliver you from sin, and to form the character of Jesus in you."

"He has designed marriage to be one of the most efficient tools of personal holiness. he has designed your marriage to change you."

Wednesday's Word: Jesus

"Jesus suffered so that you could face hurt and mistreatment with wisdom and grace. Jesus died so that you would resist the temptation to give in, give up, run away, or quit. Jesus shed his blood so that you would have the power to edit your words and say what is wholesome even when you have been spoken unkind. Jesus shed his blood so that in specific moments you would have the power to say no to irritation and impatience and respond in kindness and self-control. Jesus died so that in the face of the death of your dreams you would take up the better dream of what he has called you to. Jesus suffered so that you would have the wisdom you need to deal with things you did not expect and don't fully understand. Jesus shed his blood so that you would have the power to grow and change."

from Paul David Tripp's new book "What Did You Expect??" One of the best books I have read.

God in his grace has still given me the ability and time to read 15 pages a day 5 days a week this year...I am so blessed.

So a quick prayer for us tomorrow that we get all our NC plates since Charlie has a court date and deadline of Friday morning to get it all in or we pay a $180 fine (I am going to Gaffney tomorrow morning at 8:30 to try to get the title to the accord). Thank you! Preach Jesus, people get saved, hold on tight it is going to be a bumpy ride.

"Shopping for Time: How to So it All and Not Be Overwhlemed" Did I Really Just Buy a Book Talking about a 5 am Club?

I am pretty sure I picked this book out from the Westminster Bookstore because I love time management books.

The book starts off great with Bible verse Ephesians 5:15-16:

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."

Then they (Mahaney, Whitacre, Chesemore, and Bradshaw) give 5 Tips

1) Rise early.
2) Sit still.
3) Sit and plan
4) Consider people
5) Plan to depend

Then Chapter Two is about joing the 5 am club!

Ah! 5 am? Really?

I am really struggling with our schedule here and not letting Jackson take a nap anymore. Most nights he stays up till 11 pm sometimes even 12 am!

She goes on to say that there is biblical encouragement for rising early to seek the Savior.

I have always said what you do first is where you heart is.

John Piper states,

"Entering the day without a serious meeting with God over his Word and in prayer, is like entering the battle without tending to your weapons, The human heart does not replenish itself with sleep. The body does, but not the heart...We replenish our hearts not with sleep, but with the Word of God and prayer."

Martha Peace states:

"I have heard of women who pride themselves on being "night people." That means they have trouble getting up in the morning because they come alive at night. They may stay up till all hours reading, watching television, or pursuring some sort of interest. The next morning they are too tired to get up and care for their family...These women are not "night people." They are lazy and selfish. Who would not rather stay up late to do whatever they please and sleep late the next day?

Once a young wife begins getting up earlier than her children and husband, she will cease to be a "night person." She will be tired at night and go to bed at a reasonable hour so she will be there to serve her family the next morning."

Ouch!

Yes I know that early morning time is ofter more profitable than late-night hours, and I praying for the grace to start getting up before my family.

5 am tips

• Do not hit the snooze button
• Proceed directly to the coffee pot or caffeinated drink of choice
• Be prepared to feel absolutely miserable for the first 15 minutes, but then you will have gladness as you experience the delight of meeting with God

I am planning on starting to get up early to have 30-45 minutes in my Bible Reading and quiet time with the Lord. My family has a new terrible schedule and I do not have to be ready for my family till late so I am still praying about when this time will be.

What about you? Do you wake up before your family to read your Bible and prayer? How does this work for you?

Wednesday's Word: Being Committed to Joy

"Serving in love means being committed to joy. What is joy about? It means looking for reasons to be thankful. It means being better at counting your blessing than you are at calculating your complaints. It is about communicating appreciation. It us about letting [him] know how much the things he does for you mean to you. It is about letting him know how much things [he] does for you mean to you. It is about daily thanking God for your marriage, even though it is less than perfect. Joy means looking for the good in the other and encouraging it when you find it. Would your husband or wife characterize you as being thankful?"

What Did You Expect?? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage

Paul David Tripp (who I got to meet in seminary...he is an incredible writer, and I want to read everything he has ever written).

Pray Tomorrow!

Charlie is having his gallbladder taken out at Gaston Memorial Hospital at 10 am, but we have to be there at 8 am (I am very thankful for Lisa and my parents helping us out tomorrow!).

Pray that we have a peace that surpasses all understanding and that everything goes well.

Also pray for Jackson who got diagnosed with strep throat yesterday (I am on a z-pac now). Pray that Abigail does not get it!

Thank you so much for praying it means a lot to us!

It has been a crazy busy week. I started a new book this week by Paul Tripp (I met him in seminary so I love to read everything he writes), What did you Expect? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage. It is great so far. Next to God, your relationship with your husband is your most important relationship, and I think you should always be learning and growing.

Also Lost ended! I do not know why but it is bothering me that they did not answer when and why the island was under water. What happened to the island really does not matter, what matters is the people. Click here for some more answers to your unanswered questions.

Click here for an excellent "Christian" view on Lost. What did you think of the ending? I thought it was good, and I cried when they were reunited to each other. It was a beautiful show that we really enjoyed watching for the last six years.

Wednesday's Word: Heaven at Home

Establishing and Enjoying a Peaceful Home

by Ginger Plowman is my new book I am reading this month. I am still doing pretty good considering all what we have going on, reading 15 pages a day of a Christian book, Monday-Friday.

I really enjoyed Plowman's book, Don't Make Me Count To Three, and I wanted to read another book that she had written about parenting. However, this book is about being a beautiful bride of Christ, a great wife, and mom, which is great to read about as well!

I have only gotten through the first chapter, and but I cannot wait to read the rest!

She writes,

"You see, establishing and enjoying a peaceful home is for God's glory. A Christ-centered home does result in a more productive, more fulfilling life, but only because it is first focused on Christ. It is a way to fulfill the very purpose for which we were created---to worship God in all we do (15)."

How do we worship God in all that we do?

By speaking kindly to our husband and children.

How else can we as women, as wives, as mothers worship Him in all that we do? Love to hear your thoughts!

Wednesday's Word: Better Than Life

"Because Your lovingkindness is better than Life, My lips will praise You." Psalm 63:3


A challenge from the book I am now reading (15 pages a day M-Friday), Idols of the Heart, Fitzpatrick challenges us to live a life where His lovingkindness is better than anything in our life.

Is His Lovingkindness better than

• Our children being obedient?
• A new camera?
• A new computer?
  
• Having an easy day?
  

Is His lovingkindness better than life to us?

"The good news is that the Holy Spirit can illumine your heart and cause you to grow in your esteem of Christ and disdain for the charms of the world."

Pray to the Holy Spirit for help. He will help you! His power is made perfect in your weakness.

"Our heart consists of our mind (thoughts, judgments, etc), affections (longings, desires, feelings), and our will (chooses and determines actions)."

"We can't accomplish this heart change on our own. We need His power to teach incline, and direct our hearts to Him."

Click here to see what Charlie is talking about this Sunday!

Tuesday's Tip: Weight Watchers / No More Whining!

I do not have any money saving tips yet this week, but I am excited to get to go to SouthernSavers workshop Thursday night at the church. Hopefully I will have some tips after this workshop.

It was my first week back in Weight Watchers in over 2 years, and I lost 3.2 pounds the first week back! I was shocked because I went over 30 points for the week. I figured out that two nights a week, I was eating 1,000 calories at dinner...wow (at Moe's Tuesday nights when kids eat free, and one other night). I had Weight Watchers meals, fruits, slimfast, and just overall tried to eat very healthy. It was hard to find foods that were filling. Again, if you have any suggestions on low calorie filling food, please let me know what you enjoy!

I enjoy eating good foods, unfortunately I tend to overeat, and my goal this year is to glorify God with my eating. It is hard because loosing weight can easily consume my though life, and I just want to establish healthy eating patterns that glorify the Lord. The new book I am reading through right now is Love to Eat Hate to Eat by Elyse Fitzpatrick.

Second tip is a good little pamphlet by Ginger Plowman entitled "No More Whinning!" I got this along with the stop watch. Jackson now that he carries on conversations can really whine a lot.

She recommends:

1. Tell your child that God wants you to use self control with your voice, and you are whining.

2. Explain that love motivates you to train him, and tell him he may now wear the No Whine Watch, and when the buzzer goes off in three minutes, he may come back and ask for the juice in the correct way.

3. When buzzer goes off, have the child come back and ask for the juice in the appropriate way. For Jackson, I show him how he should ask for the juice.

I tried the watch last night, and it worked. He was a little excited about the watch and thought I had gotten him a watch to wear, but after everything was said and done he stopped whining. Praise the Lord!

I am also trying my best in public and at the house to get down on his level and look him in the eye when correcting him (Michelle does an excellent job at this and I had it modeled wonderfully by her). Especially in public, I almost whisper in his ear that what he is doing is not loving, and tell him what he should be doing instead. Speaking in a loud voice does get his attention, but it is yelling is not helping anything (although with boys it seems the only way to get their attention is to speak loudly), and is not pleasing to the Lord.

Do you have any tips on how to correct a child who is non stop whining?

What have I been doing this week? Reading!

I wish I had time to blog this week, but I am sticking to my new goal this year, and I am reading. I am reading the Bible through in a year and then I am reading a Christian book after that. Most of our church is reading the bible through in 90 days which I think is fantastic. Go here to see more details.

I actually finished Counsel from the Cross today. I think this is the first book I have finished since 2007...sad. I guess blogging has taken up more time than I had realized.

My prayer for my family and for my readers and friends is that we will soak up on how much God loves us, and mediate on His love. I want my husband and children to feel how much a love them, loving them through His Holy Spirit.

I main point I learned from this book was how important it is not to forget that God loves us so much! "We are to love God consistently and passionately, and we are to love our neighbors---whether our spouse, child, or enemy---the way we already love ourselves. Real love---not just as a warm impulse washing over our minds but as a solid determination to lay down our lives and serve other though it may cost blood, sweat, or our very lives---is the royal command to the children of God who is love."

With people:

"I am commanded to love them and live in close relationship with them. I have to be patient and forgiving. I have to serve others when they don't appreciate me. And, even more shockingly, I discovered that my love for the Lord can be measured by my love for others!

"By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil; whoever, does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:10).

I new goal for me is to show my husband and children how much I love them. As well, as loving them with God's love which cannot be measured.

I highly recommend reading this book Counsel from the Cross, and I also recommend us ladies reading 15 pages a day Monday through Friday. It will be life changing (we have time for what we want to have time for)!

Wednesday's Word: A New Year, A New Goal

I do usually like to make New Year's resolutions.

I heard today on the tv that the number one New Year's resolution was to lose weight. I always seem to be wanted to lose weight as well, I really enjoy good food. I have one simple goal this year with loosing weight. Eat healthy first! I am not going to let myself eat anything but healthy items when starting my day. I am drinking slimfast ready made shakes first (milk chocolate ones served in a cup with ice in it). I also might hide Charlie's candy/

Working out is really only like 30 percent of weight loss, eating is the rest (Weight Watcher is a great program as well, and I have done that many times. It is the only program I feel where you can actually keep the weight off when you stop going to meetings...aka you can still go out to eat!).

I digress, this is not my main new goal for the year.

My new goal for this year, drum role please (ha)....Read 15 pages a day of a book (not the Bible) Monday-Friday.

Why this goal? With two babies at home, I feel like I am loosing brain cells always thinking about what they need. I do a pretty good job of reading the Bible daily, but the rest of my free time I spend on the computer, and cutting coupons. There is so many great books I want to read that will help me grow in the knowledge of Him!

First, I am reading Counsel from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick (one of my role models). She is a key biblical Christian counselor and I had to read her books for my classes. Next on the list is "No More Whining" by Plowman.

This book has been phenomenal so far. She write,

"the gospel tells her (a counselee) about herself: God's love for her isn't based on her performance or on her children's performance. His love is based solely on the performance of his Son. She can rejoice that God doesn't operate on a quid pro quo basis, like a cosmic vending machine that spits out treats for those who perform flawlessly. By grace alone she has been given the complete righteousness of the Son. She is his beloved child because she is in the Beloved One. The gospel tells her that her Savior, who took on flesh like hers in order to redeem her, is ruling sovereignly from heaven, never forgetting about her for one moment, never neglecting to cause all things---even her sin---to work for good. He will sanctify and keep her, even though it feels like she has been set adrift on a dark and stormy sea."

I already feel spiritual growth by just reading a chapter a day in this book! I am also reading through the Bible in a different way (a plan Crosswell Baptist Church is doing this year). It starts off reading Romans, then Genesis, etc. Click here to see it. I am reading through the Bible by reading my Woman's Study Bible (Paterson) that I used in seminary.

What about you what is your one main goal for this new year?

Free chapter of Breaking the Worry Habit Forever by Elizabeth George

Go here to download a free chapter from Elizabeth George's new book, Breaking the Worry Habit... Forever. You can also download a free chapter from her book, Windows Into the Word of God.

Thanks, Saving Money Plan!

By MoneySaving Mom

Wednesday's Word: John Piper-One of the Greatest Preachers Ever

I challenge you ladies out there to listen to Jon Piper's sermons. Download them free and make a cd or listen to them on your ipod while you do laundry. His sermons are life-changing. He has been very influential in the direction of my life. In 2003, I attended One Day read his book , Don't Waste Your Life, and knew without a shadow of a doubt that God was calling me into full time ministry, just as my great grandmother said. It was a path that lead me where I am today: joyfully raising my babies as my heart as always desired, and being privileged to be in full time ministry. I think I might be selling pharmaceuticals somewhere maybe even single without affirmation from this conference. For a while, I listened to him every week. Many of his books were required reading in seminary. God has done a mighty work through him

Here is a link to the sermon he preached at One Day 2000 that helped him write his book Don't Waste Your Life

Enjoy!
Bosting Only in the Cross

Acts 20:24: "I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

One thing mattered: Finish my course, run my race.

Philippians 3:7-8: "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ."

Wednesday's Word: Depression During and After Pregnancy

I was different than most women I have talked with, I struggled with depression during pregnancy not at all after my baby was born. I struggled with it majorly while I was pregnant with Jackson. Some days I could not get out of the bed. I truly believe it is very complicated but huge change in hormones during and after pregnancy are a major factor. Most women struggle with an imbalance of hormones after they give birth, but my problem happened while I was pregnant. Major weight gain I feel was also a factor for me.

I talked with my Christian OBJYN and she said since I struggled with depression so severely while I was pregnant with Jackson that I needed to be on a pretty intense work out plan before I got pregnant again. So, I started back up with step and combat classes and worked out till I was 8 months pregnant with Abigail, and I was not depressed while I was pregnant with her. The second I give birth my "blues" go away. I was prepared for the battle with Abigail and I fought it with everything I had by exercises and eating better, and being attached to God's Word.

1. Post Partum Depression --- 10-20% of first time mom have some version Baby Blues 1 week after birth, massive hormone changes.

Here are my notes on Depression from my counselling class at SEBTS. I hope this is helpful and would love to hear your feedback.

Key Points on Depression:

1. Depression=self focused, hopeless, emotional pain; an introverted form of suffering that totally obscures hope.
2. “Causes” of depression are multiple and sometimes complex. Depression is a pneuma-bio-social phenomenon. Depression always has significant spiritual components. Spurgon, Rainer, and Carey all struggled with depression
3. Suffering invariably reveals that allegiance of our hearts. Depression is more than just a feeling. It is something we “do.” Depression speaks; it says something.
4. Key spiritual foci when counseling depression: excessive self-focus and hopelessness
5. Initial counseling strategies:

Lead with mercy and compassion (Jms. 2:13)

Provide biblical hope and encouragement (Rms. 8:28)

Understand and assess

Explicitly commit yourself to counsel/disciple them as long as necessary

6. Develop and elicit commitment to initial steps of trust and obedience: assign direct, simple, achievable homework/goals
7. Diagnose heart condition/spiritual/God-related issues.
1. Invite the counselee to examine their own heart
2. Identify hopelessness and self-focus
3. What is the depression saying?
8. Renew the mind (Rom 12:2; Eph. 4:23, Phil 4:8)
1. Take the soul to task; “you must preach to yourself (M. Lloyd Jones); the depressed person must talk to themselves rather than just letting their depression talk to and beguile them into staying in the pit (Ps. 42, 43)
2. “Watch how you muse and what you choose when you lose” (Jim Berg)
9. Deal with passivity and lack of motivation
1. increase pleasure activities
2. increase competency activities
3. increase altruism/love others
4. attack procrastination
10. Practice RX: put off/putt on – from/to
1. sleep
2. exercise
3. diet/nutrition
4. spiritual disciplines
5. relationships
   • Discipline of Grace, Jerry Bridges is a great book and has great examples. Many Christians just put it on cruise control
   • 2 Tim. 4 (The Race and The Fight) War is going on in her heart. Remind her over and over again who she is in Christ. Sin is not stronger than she is.
   • Must get that following God is not passive, there is no shortcuts in holiness. No book can do it for her, she needs to fight, fight, fight.
   • Many women describe depression as a pain that is crippling, a room, a black hole that they just cannot get out of. Ask them what they mean! It is a form of suffering (Prob. 18:17) and women are 2 times more likely to become depressed than men. It is not simply hormones, it is very complex.
   • Could be many biological factors even chronic stress, lack of sleep, overworking

   • What are your goals when counseling (Big Picture)

     1. For God to be glorified in her life and be sanctified
     2. to know Him and trust hum
     3. her faith to be purified
     4. grow in the fear of God
     5. mind of Christ
     6. love others
     7. her heart reveals who/what she is living for
   • Best book to read is Depression a Stubborn Darkness by Welch
11. How would you recommend a women fighting depression during and after pregnancy? I would also add that if you are still struggle with it months after giving birth, you probably want to go see an endocrinologist to make sure you do not have some sort of deficiency, such as a vitamin deficiency, that could be causing you to feel depressed...especially if you have never struggled with depression before.
    

Wednesday's Word: Biblically Handling Conflict

For some reason in the last month I have had random conflict from mainly strangers. My way to handle problems or conflict is probably not very common. I usually immediately try my best to speak the truth in love by saying, "the way you are speaking to me right now is hurtful." Now, because I immediately react, I am sure I am not completely thinking before I speak or speaking the truth lovingly. When we deal with the problem right then and there our goal needs to be redemption not destruction. We need to do our best to forgive that person right then by praying through it and then it is over. We need to really never think about it again, and it does not affect us in the long run at all. I think most people are too much in shock to react right then and so they say nothing and then it ends up doing a lot of damage to their lives. Is your goal redemption when you are in an argument with someone? Do you want to redeem them or are you really trying to destroy them?

I know that with many words sin is not absent (Proverbs 10:19). So, I think God keeps on allowing all this random (not that important) conflict to keep on happening so I learn how to handle it as biblical as possible. My goal in conflict is also not to make the other person pay for a wrong I believe they did to me. If you do not speak the truth in love, the other person might not even know that they are treating you unfairly. Communication, I believe is the key.

With all that said, I am currently trying to read The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Sande. If you live in this world you are going to have conflict and I think this is a great resource. We always need to be learning and growing in every facet of our lives. I hope to blog more about what I am learning through this book.

If someone will not be reconciled to you, I just believe you never give up hope on them, just as our Savior never gives up on us. You cannot make the other person be reconciled to you, but you can keep on trying to be reconciled to them in a not annoying way.

ADDED LATER:
I was thinking last night on why I do not shy away from conflict. The main reason why is that I am a huge problem solver. If there is a problem I really do my best to try to find the solution to that problem. So I think the key is that when you are in conflict do not just complain to the person you are in conflict with, find a solution. If I feel that someone is not is speaking to me harshly, I say, "I think you are speaking to me harshly, have I wronged you in any way?, is there anything I can pray for you right now?" Usually, it is not about me. If it is a woman, we usually end up praying right then and there, and it is usually something that is personally going on with their own life, and has absolutely nothing to do with me! So if I am in conflict, I really do try my best not to take it personally. If you are in a conflict, what is the perfect solution? Really spend time thinking about solutions, not how the other person has done you wrong.

A goal of redeeming the situation is realizing that there is a problem and working through the solution.

How do you Biblically handle conflict?

Also, I am really enjoying the song "Worthy is The Lamb" I downloaded Darlene Zschech's version from itunes

Thank you for the cross Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love Lord
Thank you for your nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

A Shelter in the Time of Storm

While I was at Southeastern, I had the privileged of meeting Paul Tripp. He along with his brother Tedd have written some of the best truly Biblical counseling books out there. The counseling classes at Southeastern were my favorite classes.

Paul Tripp has a new book just released entitled A Shelter in the Time of Storm based on Psalm 27. I was able to read a little bit of it online and it looks great. I would highly recommend it! Tripp writes,

"We really do live in a fallen world. We have not been given a ticket out of the brokenness of this world simply because we are children of God....The world we live in simply in not operating the way God intended.

There is a second thing we know for sure. There is a God of awesome grace who meets his children in moments of darkness and difficulty. He is worth running to. He is worth waiting for. He brings rest when it seems like there is not rest to be found.

But there is a third thing. You and I were not hardwired to make our way through this fallen world on our own. We were meant to exist with eyes filled with the beauty of his presence and hearts at rest in the lap of his goodness. This is what I love about the Psalms. They put difficulty and hope together in the tension of hardship and grace that is the life of everyone this side of eternity."

Amen and Amen.

Go here to order your copy: http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/6170

Also I saw on the email I received that Elyse Fitzpatrick has a new book out as well for ladies entitled Comforts from the Cross. Anything written by her is excellent. These counseling books are books you will not be able to put down.

Training Jackson in Righteousness

I do not know how many times a certain verse has rung in my head. Knowing that all Scripture is God-breathed it’s fascinating to read this:

“He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” Proverbs 13:24.

Wow. The Bible says that if you spare the rod you hate your own son. That is really strong language. It is hard to spank your children, but if you do not use the rod on your children, ultimately, you are not showing them that you love them. I tell Jackson that I love him too much not to spank him. When I spank him I try to make sure to never do it when I am upset or mad.

Additionally, using the rod is not really a choice for me. Jackson does not respond at all to “time outs” (which is an unbiblical method of discipline). If we put him in time out for lets say, 5 minutes - 5 minutes later he will go and do the exact some dangerous action he was doing. What would I tell the doctors and nurses at the Emergency Room…that I could not protect my child because it was too much trouble for me to use the rod on him (an action that God has called me to do in his Word)? If I spank him, he will not dare go back to it. For the rod I use a wooden spoon. He knows this spoon is the spanking spoon and he even tries his best to say “spanking spoon.” Here are some reasons why I think it is working for Jackson:

1. Consistency, Consistency, Consistency. I try not to start spanking him when I am frustrated. I say, “Jackson if you do that action again, you will get a spanking.” I give him a chance not to sin. I always warn him so he knows it is coming and it not out of the blue where he does not understand where it came from. He knows where the spanking spoon is located and nothing is unexpected. Guess what? Sometimes he chooses not to sin! However, most of the time he continues to do it, and I lean him over my lap and spank him with the rod three times. He usually tries to cover his hands over his bottom (my dad said that I used to do the same thing). Many times it is worth it for him to get spanked just to continue in that certain sin…I think it was “worth it” for me as well as a child. Recently, he is hardly even fussy when I spank him, and he does not continue the action.
2. If it is an action that could harm himself or others then he definitely gets a spanking.
3. If he throws a fit and falls on the floor, I say “if you continue this you will be spanked” and he gets a spanking and usually stops. He has to know that throwing a temper tantrum is not loving and does not bring God glory. Letting him just cry in his crib (for some sort of time out situation that God does not call for me to do in the Bible) and not spanking him is not loving for me as a parent. I will say I have given countless YMCA children time out and have seen it “work” in a public school-type setting, but I am Jackson’s parent and it is my responsibility to use the rod on him. Time-out is mere behavior modification and rarely changes the heart. Somehow the rod does.
4. Recently, he has been doing so much better since he is now able to communicate with us through signs. He does not get frustrated as much now…he hardly even throws a fit on the floor…and some days he does not even get a spanking (but most days he does)
5. I do not dare do it in public. My goal in using the rod is not humiliation but saving his soul from death. Charlie has had to go to the bathroom and spank him a few times while out to eat.
6. It is hard to be a parent. It takes work and I just cannot sit on the computer or on the phone and let him be defiant…although many days that seems like a very good idea.
7. It’s biblical. Whenever God commands us to do a certain thing, He does so because he knows that we are prone to do the opposite.

Proverbs 23:13-14 states, “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.”

We are called to discipline our children with the rod to save our children’s soul from death

I am reading the New Strong Will Child, by Dobson and am having a hard time getting through it. Many times, I feel (and know) that Dobson integrates psychology with the Bible and often times that approach just does not work. The Bible’s world view is to die to self and depend on God, and the world view of man (psychology) is to build up self and to depend on self not on God.

Still the best book I have read on parenting is “Don’t Make Me Count to Three” by Plowman…I want to read it again.

Do you have any books that you would recommend?

I had a Great Birthday!

I had a wonderful day today. I met my mom to go shopping at Harbison mall at 10 am. Much to my surprise my dad was with her. I was so excited. I have the best parents ever! He was a great help with Jackson while we went to Motherhood and shopped for like an hour. My parents got me a huge gift card to Motherhood and I really needed some Fall outfits since many of my maternity clothes got burned in the fire (I am also so thankful for the beautiful outdoor furniture that Charlie's parents got me for my birthday...I really racked up this year!). Then, we went to Chili's for lunch and it was so great; they even brought this beautiful cake from Publix for me.

Then tonight we went back out to Harbison and got Jackson and Charlie some much needed shoes and me my jeans that we forget to get. Then we had the best meal ever at the Olive Garden (Charlie got me a beautiful card and gift certificate to the new book store at the church). Jackson insisted on feeding me with my fork my salad...it was hilarious and we got some video of it.

Birthdays are a big deal in our family. I think birthdays need to be a huge celebration of the life that God has so graciously given us. I believe that birthdays need to be different than Christmas in terms of present-giving. Christmas is Jesus' Birthday - not ours (more about that at Christmas time). What special traditions do you have for birthdays with your family? I would love to hear! Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper is a great book for ideas on how to make traditions as biblical as possible.

Losing Miss Nancy Sue so suddenly when she was not even sick just makes me so thankful for the life God has given me and all the many blessings he has so richly bestowed. He has given me the most perfect husband for me, the sweetest boy as a son, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me with this little girl.

This day was chosen by God especially for me and I am just humbly thankful this year.

“In Him we live and move and have our being” Acts 17:18

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.” Romans 11:36