From the Mouths of Babes
19 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in From the Mouths of Babes.. Tags: children, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Katy-Grace, kingdom come, Lord's Prayer
After Malachi was born, the three older kiddos received the GREAT treat of getting to go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom with my older brother, his wife, and my niece. They were spoiled by Uncle Ken and Aunt Susan, and had such a great time with their cousin and continue to talk about it. Katy-Grace, especially was impressed by all the animals she got to see and is always saying, “When I went to Animal Kingdom Come….” At first I didn’t understand why she always added the “come” part and then it hit….when she hears the word “kingdom” it is almost always as we pray the Lord’s prayer, “Thy Kingdom Come”, so of course, its “Animal Kingdom Come” because kingdoms, they come. Just as God’s is coming on earth as it is in heaven. And in the meantime, we’ll welcome anyone coming to the area for Disney’s kingdom.
A few shots of their Animal Kingdom adventure with Uncle Ken, Aunt Susan and Savannah Kate.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The List
06 May 2012 2 Comments
in Ponderings, The Kids Tags: Carol Iverson, children, God's promises, grandchildren, iverson family, motherhood
It was #14 on that list penned by a motherless teenage girl. The list could have included “long walks on the beach” and being “romantic” but rather, this list consisted of qualities desired in a man of God fit to be a lifelong partner in the Gospel. It was the list of a teenage girl who wished to bypass the drama of pointless boyfriends, in order to hold out for the mate God had foreordained for her. And the list included #14. “He has mother who I get along with well.” Because that was important to me, in the absence of my own.
It was a feeble request to a God who promises to do “exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20) I had NO idea how pathetic my request was compared to the woman God would bring into my life through my husband. A woman who has now nurtured me, mentored me, gracefully shared the wisdom she has attained through years of adventure, struggle, and walking with God in the midst of missionary life and raising NINE children.
This answer to prayer, this woman who nurtured my husband for so many years, and who now nurtures me and my children, has flown across continents and oceans FIVE times over, in order to be present for the arrival of each of our babies, and to nurse me back to health in the wake of labor and delivery. And she comes with so much more than willing hands to fold laundry, cook meals, organize closets, and occupy grandchildren. She comes with her servant hearted example, a deep humility, eyes set on Christ, and profound wisdom for that motherless girl now on the front-end of the mothering adventure.
Carol Iverson and her first grand baby, Daniel Josiah
Her first visit, she was a guide post at the beginning of so many adventures to come. New to full time ministry in the inner city, new to sharing my home with needy individuals, new to housemate who we were trying to help get back on their feet, and very new to the adventures of motherhood. She came to a scared young woman who didn’t know what on earth to do with a newborn life solely dependent upon her care and attention. She taught me all the foundational “stuff” for caring for little ones. Books just don’t cut it, when the baby is screaming in the middle of the night and you don’t know what to do. You need an older mamma’s voice to coach you in your care.
“Ba Ba” and Trinity (with Aunt Betsy in the background)
Her second visit was truly a stream in the desert. The desert of Newark, where all around was parched ground that her son and daughter-in-law were seeking to satisfy with the Living Water. For two years we had been pouring into the parched ground of teenage boys living with us, constant knocking on the door by drug addicts, the homeless, neighborhood girls who wanted a safe place to hang out. Since my husband is the leader of men, fatherless teenage boys flocked to our home, to our dinner table, to our family life. I was absolutely surrounded by men. In the midst of a busy ministry, who had time to cultivate relationships with female friends? But what a sweet refreshment it was to have an experienced mother, wife, hostess, and missionary to talk to in order to glean wisdom and advice from.
“Mom” with Katy-Grace
Her third visit, I thought surely wouldn’t happen. I had already been spoiled for two baby arrivals and surely I couldn’t expect her to fly from Japan AGAIN to be with us. But God worked things out so she could come, and what a blessing, in the midst of a painful recovery while a three and one year old scampered around the house and needed constant attention and care. She graced us with delicious meals, a cleaned house, “Grandma time” for the kids, and the added “protection” from constant neighborhood visitors (when you are 10 years old and bored, what’s more fun than visiting Miss Kimberly and the new baby?!?)
Mom cuddling Benjamin
Her fourth visit came in a new location, Orlando, just a month after we had moved into our new home. The now-a-bit-more-experienced mother needed counsel as she entered into a new season of supporting her husband, not in ministry but in seminary in a vastly different setting than what she had grown to know and love. She helped smooth the transition and poured out her wisdom as the homeschooling adventure was beginning, and life with four children four and under proceeded.
At it again, the magic touch with Malachi as well
And then this visit. When life with small children with big needs seems so constant and overwhelming. When at times you feel as though you are drowning in spills, and laundry, and shrieking, and bickering, and energy, and…did the one-year-old just escape out the front door? And she’s provided a sweet little respite to cherish the newest bundle, to cuddle him and nurse him quietly, and to take an afternoon nap with him upon my chest because neither of us slept the night before. And her service and hard work has allowed the entrance of this newest life to our family be a joy instead of a daunting “task”. Her counsel concerning child-rearing reassures me and gives me fresh vision in the journey. She has a big “grandma-ing” job, because, for my children she’s the only one they’ve got. Her presence and love now nurture not only her own son and his mate, but the next generation of Iversons.
I’m so thankful for that list written so many years ago. It stands as a visible, tangible testimony of the ways God answers prayers beyond what we could even dream of. When that list was written two women were praying for the same man. A mama’s heart praying for her son’s future helpmate, and a young woman praying for her partner for the journey. And Source of All has woven a beautiful story drawing glory to Himself.
For God, too, has written a “list” of sorts…his great and precious promises.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (I Cor. 1:20)
So, in awe of His goodness and faithfulness, I say
“Amen”
to that list scribed by my sixteen-year-old hands.
BECAUSE I can also say
“Amen”
to the promise spoken by Him and worked out by HIS hands.
Ba Ba and (our) five of her 14 grandbabies
Moments with Malachi
26 Apr 2012 3 Comments
in Ponderings, The Kids Tags: christianity, faith, Isaiah 29, iverson family, Jesus, Malachi Iverson, mothering, religion, spirituality, trust
Real life hasn’t hit yet. Daddy (and my mother-in-law) are carrying the brunt of day to day life in our household. People around us have lavished love upon us and provided meals, watched kids, and paved the way so that mommy can rest and recover, and most importantly, spend
moments with Malachi
I’ve gotten to cradle this tiny being, listened to his soft hum as he contently nurses, feel is short little breaths against my chest as he slumbers there, and I pray and I praise and I stand in wonder at the gift of LIFE. I daydream of who and what he will be as his little personality blossoms, just as I have watched the four personalities before him blossom.
Last summer we wrestled with doing the “wise” thing verses trusting God with an act that only He can do, the act of creating a new little soul. And it makes me weep to think of having prevented little Zao Malachi from entering my womb, entering our marriage, entering my world, entering the lives of his four siblings. I stand in fear and trembling before the Creator who knit and formed this little one perfectly, all without my help, except the help of being available, surrendering my body, my womb (or should I say His womb) to do whatever bidding He sees fit.
Malachi is what He saw. When I was scared. When I was listing all the reasons why having another child is not practical. When I was complaining that it would be too hard.
I am still scared, for real life hasn’t hit yet. I am actually terrified at times. I am Peter, who has seen my Lord across the way, and called to say “Is it you??”. I have gotten out of the safe boat, and started to walk, miraculously, on the substance of things unseen. But I see the wind, waves and the furry of the storm of caring for, discipling, disciplining, and raising all the little ones with all these needs. And then I start to sink. sink. sink.
“How am I going to do this?!?” “Are we crazy?!?” “This is going to be too hard!!”
I am asking the wrong questions.
“How are YOU going to do this, Lord?” “How am I to surrender, moment by moment, when Malachi needs to nurse, Benjamin is screaming, and the kids have enough energy to bring the house down?” ”How are you going to show up to provide for what You have provided (all these kids)?” “How are you going to show your faithfulness in my weakness?” “How are you going to prove that your promises are true?” ”What ways are you going to show your mighty power?”
And then Jesus grabs hold of me, and lifts me from sinking into waves overwhelming. The waves of fear and doubt and nearsightedness are replaced with His strong grip. His righteous right hand, upholding his weak vessel. This is all I can ever hope in. His righteous right hand upholding utter neediness.
This week as I spent moments with Malachi, nursing him with pure milk to feed his tiny, growing body, God was feeding me the milk of His Word, to feed my tiny, growing faith.
“…Jacob shall no more be ashamed,
no more shall his face grow pale.
For when he sees his children,
the work of my hands, in his midst,
they will sanctify my name;
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.”
Isaiah 29:22b-23
This ambition of raising all these kids could put me to shame and cause me to grow pale at the enormity of the task , but I have promises otherwise. These children’s bodies are the work of the hands of God, as he formed them in my womb. I can do nothing but trust that their minds, souls, and spirit’s shapings will be the work of His hands as well. And the cry of my heart is that they, and I, and all those around us would sanctify, glorify, and stand in awe of the name of Jesus because of their presence here in this world.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Pre-Malachi….
21 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in The Kids Tags: Civil War Reenactment, Easter egg hunt, Iverson Family life, Resurrection Eggs, sharing the gospel, Walk for Life
I actually started writing this the night I went into labor with Malachi. Needless to say, its a bit late getting posted, but I still wanted to document the last few weeks before his entrance into the world.
Having waited, endured, anticipated throughout the long 9 month stretch of pregnancy, the last few weeks can seem torturously long. So, in an attempt to have something other than labor and delivery to anticipate, we filled these last three weeks with some fun adventures. Walk for Life, to benefit local pregnancy centers saving unborn babies lives, one last homeschool field trip before DJ started school, Holy Week and Trinity’s Christian Parade, and an Easter Brunch and Egg Hunt that enabled us to share the Gospel with local international students. Below is a pictorial recap:
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
**To see Daniel Josiah’s Christian parade post from one year ago, go here.
“From Father to Son,” Zao Malachi – Explaining the meaning of your name
12 Apr 2012 5 Comments
in Danny's Posts, The Kids Tags: iverson family, New Iverson baby, Zao Malachi
Danny wrote a special letter to our new son… It explains the meaning of his name and reminds us of the glorious life we have in Christ!
Dear son,
I write this to you with great joy in my heart at your birth on 4/12/12. You have come into a fallen world as a covenant child of the most high God, brought to us by God’s grace, a gift for this world and our family. Words can’t describe the way I feel right now as your father… So proud, so amazed at you and you haven’t even done anything but breathe, cry and sleep (and pee on your mother). As I sit here in the quietness of the room as your beautiful and courageous momma slumbers across from me I reflect on the meaning of your name we have given you: Zao Malachi Iverson.
Zao (“z-ay-oh” as we are pronouncing it) is greek. It means “I live.” This past weekend we celebrated Easter and rejoiced in the life Christ has given us (and you) through his resurrection. As you come into a cruel and sinful world, where death still stings, you have a deep hope, my son, in the promises the resurrection brings. That those who are in union with Christ live! Not just now, but forever, in eternity. Let me explain… This body encasing your soul is not your final form, and I hate to tell you this but the parasite of your parents’ sin is attached to you at your conception, and no matter how hard you try you won’t be able to get rid of it… I could’t either, can’t and won’t. I ache as I write this, knowing the reality of sin and the pain it causes… the way it has infected me your father, the way it affects your mother… Your earthly parents love you, but we too find within ourselves the struggle every human faces against the enemy within, the sinful nature that you too have inherited… I wish I could tell you as you lie there, so cute and pink, so fresh with innocence, that you will not have to face the reality of the sinful nature all humans born into this world bear within them… but you will. You must realize the reality of it in yourself, that as long as you live in this body the parasite of sin will be there, demanding to be fed by its host, demanding that you indulge its desires… You will see it immediately in your siblings as you meet them. They are a wonderful bunch, fun, full of joy, anointed with the Spirit… but they too have that parasite, so don’t be too surprised when your big brother Benjamin jealously hurts you because you are getting mommy’s attention instead of him. Don’t be surprised when Katy-Grace does’t share with you, or Trinity makes fun of you, or DJ steals your food… Don’t be surprised when your parents fail you… when we lose our tempers, or fail to love you the way you need us to. So that is the bad news my son-the reality of this world under the curse of sin… But your name, my son, doesn’t moan of death and sorrow, but sings of life and hope. It sings of resurrection, for that is what our loving God has promised for his covenant people and sings over us through his precious Son Jesus who came to bear the curse of death, wrath and sorrow for us and put death to death forever on the cross. You see, he didn’t and doesn’t have the parasite of sin, since he is the Holy One, the Word made flesh, “God with skin on” as your great grandfather Bill says… He is the second and better Adam who didn’t fail and give into temptation like we do… He was tempted just like you will be, but the parasite couldn’t attach to him, and he never sinned. But the news gets better son, Jesus lived the life we could never live and showed us what it means to be truly human, to love and be in communion with our Creator with everything we are and love our fellow humans as we love ourselves. He showed us that great love by going to the cross and becoming the curse that our sin deserves, taking the justice that should have been placed on us, “becoming our sin” as the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:21. Next week I get to preach on Isaiah 53 that tells us that the punishment that brought us life was placed on him… That by his wounds we are healed. That means we are free, no longer under condemnation for our failures, or guilty before our Creator, no longer under the eternal death sentence, no longer in slavery to evil… but free… to live. When Jesus died, all those united to him and belonging to him died too. Galatians 2:20 says “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This is the verse that inspired your name… That you would live the life you have been given by faith in Jesus who loves you and gave himself for you. That you would know that through Christ who loves you, the parasite of sin dies forever when this temporary body formed in your mother’s womb becomes old and stops working. In Christ, death loses its sting, and there is no fear but joy. Pure joy as you travel from the womb of this fallen world and are born again into the world to come, the Kingdom of God. In Christ we are promised resurrection life in a perfect new body without sin, purified for eternity by your pure Savior Jesus and His Spirit who fills His people… This is the hope your first name sings, the hope of resurrection life and the hope of a new world… a place where you will never have to cry again the way you are crying now… This is the name I give you, my son.
Malachi is Hebrew. It is the name given to the prophet of God, the one who announces His Word. It means “my messenger” or “God’s messenger” in the context of the Bible. That is our prayer for your life my son. That you will announce the great hope of resurrection found in Jesus…. That as you live, and struggle in this world like your parents and grandparents before you, you will believe, hold fast, and proclaim the promises of your Savior God to this dying world in desperate need of good news. We pray that the words of your mouth would sing life to others…. that the work of your hands would sow love and peace amidst this world that is harvesting war and hate. We pray that His message will be in you and your life well-lived will be His message, the good message that God saves sinners and recreates the old and broken into something new and beautiful. Your mother and I pray that everything you are would resound with the love of Jesus and that you would boldly proclaim the new creation promised in Him. Your Savior saves for a purpose son, that His people might live for something so much greater than themselves and the selfish temporary things of this world. In union with Him you become empowered with His Spirit to live out the righteousness given to you in Christ by an obedient and holy life that brings Glory to your Father in heaven and joy to all peoples… We pray that you will believe this message and live this message…
You are an Iverson my son, descended from the vikings of Norway. Viking runs in your blood as it did in your forefathers. Many of them pillaged and conquered for evil kings of old, but somewhere in our ancestry a new King came to rule our clan, the King of the universe named Jesus. Now we fight for him, not with battle axes dripping the blood of our enemies but with courageous words of truth for all peoples. Now we voyage around the world for our King, not to oppress foreign lands with cruel hate and war, but as courageous and peaceful messengers of hope that long to set all nations free with the love of Christ that we bear within us.
May you bear these names well my son. We love you and consider it a joy to call you our child.
I love you bigger…
11 Apr 2012 3 Comments
in Kingdom Comings, Ponderings Tags: home, idols, love, motherhood, mothering, young children
I love you bigger….than mudprints you just left all over my newly mopped floor.
I love you bigger….than the noise level you bring to our home.
I love you bigger….than the temper tantrum you just had in the middle of the grocery check-out line.
I love you bigger…than being on-time to all the places I need to get to.
I love you bigger….than ever being “caught up” with housework.
I love you bigger…than having the sense of accomplishing something that stays accomplished.
I love you bigger…than the feeling of being recognized for my hard work and sacrifice.
I love you bigger…than an immediate, tangible, visible “contribution to the Kingdom” which I could gaze upon.
I love you bigger than all these inconveniences and frustrations, for you are are little souls, little creative minds, little bundles of energy that bring so much LIFE and fullness to my days.
I love you bigger, for Someone has loved me bigger. Because, lets face it kiddos, apart from a Spirit-work, this Mt. Rushmore of SELF in your mama, with all its carved images just doesn’t move easily. And those images of cleanliness and organization, of free time, of my pride out in public, of my convenience, of being in control, of feeling significant….they don’t move too easily. But the Everlasting Father has loved me bigger than my temper tantrums, my obstinate self-reliance, my godlessness and He’s intervened His Son into this messy whirlwind of my sin. And He’s destined me to glory. So, as the breath of His Spirit moves through me, that Mt. Rushmore starts to crumble, ever so slowly.
And guess what anvil He is using to chip away those images carved into stone?
He’s using YOU.
And all those things you do to force me to make a choice over what I will love bigger,
they are the means by which He is doing it.
Thank you, sweet ones.
From the Mouths of Babes…all their mouths
27 Mar 2012 1 Comment
in From the Mouths of Babes.., The Kids Tags: Benjamin, children, Daniel Josiah, funny sayings, homeschooling, Katy-Grace, Trinity, young children
Oldest Mouth-
Danny took Daniel Josiah camping a few weeks ago and the boys were to return Saturday afternoon some time. I was busily making a late lunch, (which, at that time, I was actually hungry for), when I heard the door swing open. “Hey Guys!!” I sang out. But the minute I turned around a huge skull was being clamped up and down in my face.
“Look, Mom!! I found a dinosaur skull!!!”
my reply, “Thats fantastic, honey!….but get that thing out of my house!” I no longer wanted lunch.
Daniel Josiah, sporting his prize
(*note* I WAS a little more encouraging concerning the skull once it was safely OUTdoors and the thought of eating was no longer on the horizon. AND, under very careful investigation, we discovered that it was not actually a dinosaur skull, but rather a deer skull, which was slightly less exciting but still very fun nonetheless)
Also , in homeschool we had been studying World War II and had just finished a book about the atomic bomb. The other night Danny was explaining during family devotions that Adam who sinned in the garden(thus ruining mankind) was the first Adam and Jesus was the second Adam who came to redeem mankind. Daniel Josiah said, “Then Jesus was the second “Atom” bomb who blew up Satan”. Yeah, son, something like that. (This was vast improvement on a comment he had made a week prior about a suggested use of the atomic bomb to defend all the persecuted Christians we’ve been reading about. THAT comment resulted in a long and serious talk about the severity of the atomic bomb)
Second oldest mouth-
For Lent, the kids and I are doing “Forty Days of Praise” in which, at every meal we write down little gifts that the Lord has given us throughout the day (we narrowed it down to gifts during THAT day because I got tired of writing
and rewriting every member of the family down for each child at each meal).
We then put them in our “praise bucket”. 
Upon Trinity’s turn, she takes a deep breath and says “I’m thank-you for ……” and always has a long list of things she is “thank-you” for. And despite the fact that I’ve tried to explain the difference between being “thankFUL” for something and saying “thank-you”, she not only persists in beginning every praise report with “I’m thank-you for…” but all of her siblings now do the same thing. Sigh.
On second thought, in a way, they are more correct than this English-major-wants-her-kids-to-speak-correctly Mom, because, where being “thankful” can be a broad, vague concept, saying actual “thank you” is always directed at a Person. And thats the point of this practice anyways.
Trinity busily working on decorations for her "praise bucket"
Katy-Grace and her JiJi AND Grandpa
Mouth with a huge head of curls atop-
Grandpa (the kids call him Ji Ji, which is the Japanese nickname for “grandpa”) came to visit, all the way from Japan!! Well, he actually came to speak at a bunch of different mission conferences, which were conveniently located in Florida, and therefore we got to see him. Regardless…
Katy-Grace was eagerly anticipating his arrival, and which we had been talking about (and explaining that Ji Ji was their grandpa on Daddy’s side), so when he got to our house, she RUNS out the door and runs into his arms and says, “Grandpa! My Ji Ji is coming today!” (Evidently we were still a little confused on the grandpa/Ji Ji lesson…but you’ve gotta cut her some slack, she hadn’t seen him since last year…these things get confusing to a 3 year old’s brain.)
The mouth not quite making words:
Benjamin, after he fled the scene of shooting me at the kitchen sink. He even got the holster creatively attached to himself!?
Benjamin’s not a big talker yet but he’s sure good at making car and gun noises. He likes to come up behind me while I’m doing dishes and “pshhh! psshhh!” me with DJ’s plastic pistol. It makes for an entertaining show. He’s a born warrior (with some encouragement from his brother’s arsenal of play weapons)
He also loves the “Happy Birthday” song and sings his own version while presenting to an imaginary crowd whatever he has recently made into a cake (shoes, cell phones, girl’s kitchen items, etc.)
Exchanging My Agenda, for His….
20 Mar 2012 4 Comments
in Adventures of Kimberly Iverson and family Tags: Daniel Josiah, education, educational philosophies, Following Jesus, homeschooling, homeschooling and public school, homeschooling moms, spirituality, surrender
I should have known this would happen.
Every time I have my life strategically planned out, the Lord changes things drastically (always for the better, I might add)
It happened when I was suppose to go to East Asia to labor for Him, and He rerouted us to Kazakstan.
And as a result Nina is now my sister in Christ, dear friend, and fellow laborer for the Kingdom.
It happened when I was planning on being a single missionary my whole life.
Then I met Danny, my life’s greatest love and partnership in the Lord.
It happened when I swore I’d never live in the suburbs again, but God brought us to Orlando.
And we are learning here and being prepared in incredible ways for the future work God has for us.
And now, it is happening with the education of our children.
I’ve wanted to homeschool since before Daniel Josiah was even conceived. I fell in love with the idea of it in college. I’ve read many a books, blogs, and articles about it. I’ve drilled other homeschooling moms with questions. I’ve planned and strategized and scheduled and mapped out educational philosophies. I’ve set my heart upon this path and this has always been “the plan”.
And maybe thats one of the reasons it needs to be relinquished for a season.
We will be putting Daniel Josiah in the public school across from our house soon, a decision that has been a wrestling ground as my agenda comes to a screeching halt.
After seeing his wife being taxed to the utmost caring for the constant needs of small children, educating the oldest, keeping up with meals and housework, AND growing a child within her, Danny has felt strongly that we should put Daniel Josiah in school. We have a precious, almost-3- year- old who screams for attention in many ways, a one and a half year old who’s about to be blindsided by a replacement “baby”, and a newborn about to enter the world who will need feeding, attention and care at (literally) all hours of the day (and night).
I have fought this decision…I’ve asked for “more time” to see if things don’t get better/easier, if I can’t figure out strategies to balance all the needs of this little “flock” I’ve been entrusted. And, then, I’ve sought the Lord, and I’ve asked Him, that if this really be His will, that my heart would be in alignment and that things would maybe get so hard that I have no other option.
Third trimester fatigue has set in full force.
I’ve come face to face with the reality of the physical needs of this season verses my physical limitations. And I don’t really like it.
“But what about all those moms with 10 children that homeschool them all? Why can’t I do that, too?? What’s wrong with me? THEY figured out a way to balance it all.”
But my wise husband, and wise counselors, and THE wise Counselor have brought up some issues.
Am I willing to relinquish control enough to trust God FULLY with my baby-boy-turned-young-lad?
Am I willing to allow God to write a DIFFERENT story for our family…different than what I had planned on for all these years? different than those phenomenal blogging moms-of-ten out there?
Am I willing to bank all my hope on God’s covenantal promises to care for His children’s children…EVEN in the public school system?
Am I truly willing to let the Lord of Host be my son’s Educator? Using various means for differing seasons?
Can the God who navigated Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel through the Babylonian educational system without them denying His Lordship, do the same for my Daniel? for this season?
And finally, and most importantly, is the Holy Spirit working through the man God has placed as leader of our home and family to make a “big picture” decision that takes in to consideration the MANY members of our growing family?
And am I willing to trust and submit to him?
So here, my dreams, my plans, my agenda come to a place of death. But I know, from past experience, that when the seed of my plans and agenda fall to the ground and die, a much more beautiful growth begins to take root.
So, as we move forward with this decision, I will wait in expectation. Expectation for the things the Lord will do as we take this step of obedience. As we trust Him more fully with our kids. As we trust not in a “formula” (aka homeschooling) to produce children with hearts tender towards our Savior and His Lordship, but trust in the Savior Himself to do that work.
His agenda has always been far bigger and more magnificent than the ones I dream up,
so here
I exchange my agenda, for His.
God Hears, God speaks
16 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Kingdom Comings Tags: Chic-fil-a, faith, God speaking, God works, meals, miracles, pregnancy
God’s been hearing the cries for help from a desperately exhausted 8-month-pregnant mamma of four little ones. Last week, too tired to move by the time dinner hour came along, my family’s nutritional intake was painfully lacking.
Dinner Menu:
Monday:free kids meals from Chic-fil-a (boy, did they lose money on THAT family night)
Tuesday: bowls of cereal all around
Wednesday: mooched off leftovers from my sister-in-law
Thurs: leftover pizza from the past Saturday’s too-tired-to-cook meal
Lord, you’ve led us to have all these children, and I desperately need the strength to keep caring for them!
God hears, and God speaks.
And instead of filling me with Samson-strength, God did some talking to His hands and feet this past weekend. He wanted me to stay weak, so He could show Himself strong.
The Miracle Menu:
Monday: Daddy didn’t have to work (Yay!), so he took the kids to another free-kids-meal family night at Chic-fil-a, while I lay comatose on the couch.
Tuesday: One set of hands and feet made us not one, but TWO meals (a working mother of 3 kids, mind-you!)
Wednesday: Another set of hands had texted me just minutes after finishing the previous night’s miracle meal and said she wanted to bring dinner to us this night. Huge portions were delivered, enough for another meal.
Thursday: my friend from college had several frozen meals from Schwann’s delivered to our doorstep (ordered all the way from Virginia).
Ok, did my sister-in-law put them up to this??? Is someone circulating some email or something?
Nope.
Each one of them “just felt led” to send us meals.
God hears, and God speaks.
And I’m so thankful that He has hands and feet here on earth that respond to His voice and send acts of compassion our way, when we are most needy.
So that I can know so very clearly that
God hears, and God speaks.
It makes me want to listen more,
so that I can be part of the next miracle
of showing someone else that
God hears, and God speaks.
From the mouths of babes…momentous day
14 Mar 2012 6 Comments
in From the Mouths of Babes.., The Kids Tags: Daniel Josiah, Dr. Seuss, homeschooling, literature, reading, religion, The Bible
Today was a momentous day.
Daniel Josiah read all of Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham by himself. (Granted, it took nearly 45 minutes between frequent breaks, back scratches to keep him going, some reminding of phonics rules by his mother, and some frustration towards Trinity who would mindlessly blurt out the next word because she’d memorized it, all while he was tediously sounding it out)
I know, I know, you’re kid probably started reading Dr. Seuss when they were four, but for my boy and me, it was a momentous day. And it wasn’t just momentous because Daniel Josiah read a “real” book by himself, it was the door that was cracked open in his mind as to what a world reading can hold.
He paused about 15 pages in (there’s 62 total, he would have you know) and gazed off into the distance…
“Now that I can read REAL books, I can read Katy-Grace and Trinity their books to them. I can read Hansel and Gretel and Hedgie’s Surprise (their current favorites) to them, and you can take a nap. And then during quiet time, I can read all of the books on the girl’s bookshelf. And then I can read all of the books on my bookshelf. And then I can read all of the World War II books (what we are currently studying in homeschool) all by myself.”
THIS is the reason I’ve spent countless hours reading to them for…
so he could realize the vast world of history, imagination, exploration, humor, and adventure that the world of books hold.
and so he could realize the spiritual world that THE Book holds. So that he could read THE Book that has all those things, but for the purpose of knowing a world that will not end. a world that is no longer tainted by sin. a world in which the Creator gets the honor He is due because He loved sacrificially. THE Book that tells the story of THE Word sent into our brokenness that we might read the most magnificent love-story-adventure-defeat-turned-to-triumph-story which all the books in the world can only dimly mirror. He’s on the road to reading, real reading, and the Holy Spirit will help him along the way.
Today was a momentous day.
