Here’s a short video of Matthew after his bath. I can’t believe he is already 6 months old! This year is going by way too quickly.
Here’s a short video of Matthew after his bath. I can’t believe he is already 6 months old! This year is going by way too quickly.
I’m getting a lot of teasing from my friends up north about my enthusiasm over the snowfall we’ve had recently. For those of us in the south, when snow falls, we slow down and stare. We take it all in, we breathe deeply and we stand in awe. I’ve taken over 100 photos of the snow. Yes, I’m savoring these precious days that are a dime a dozen the further north you roam. You see, we don’t get to enjoy winter in full bloom too often.
These photos reminded me of a poem. One of my favorite poems, actually. The writer, Robert Frost, lived in New England where they see snow by the truck loads, or so I’m told. Yet, he appreciated its beauty. He took the time to write about it. He says what I feel. Here it is, in case you might have forgotten. 🙂
Excerpt from If by Amy Carmichael:
If I can easily discuss the shortcomings and the sins of any; if I can speak in a casual way even of a child’s misdoings, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another; if I can in any way slight another in conversation, or even in thought, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
How convicting! I shudder to think how many times over the years that I have spoken ill of someone, or laughed at the weaknesses of others, especially when I was a young person. Now, as an adult, I find myself not saying things as much as thinking them, which is still wrong.
Lord, please convict me when I think critical thoughts. Please catch me before I speak critical words. Help me to speak words of love. Help me to love as You love.
A few weeks ago, two of my kiddos decided to make a “bed” for Matthew. They were so happy when Matthew cooperated in their little game. 🙂 They came to me, pushing Matthew, chiming together “It’s baby Moses! It’s baby Moses!” and giggling. I snapped a couple of pictures, but they weren’t very good. Still, it was enough for me to remember; my children’s innocence, their sweet joy over simple pleasures, their re-enacting of the Bible…definitely precious memories. 🙂
Special thanks to my sweet cousin, Julie, who gave me two bags full of clothes for Matthew. He’s wearing one of the outfits in the pictures above. 🙂
I have been reading If by missionary Amy Carmichael. I cannot fully explain how convicting this book has been. Each paragraph, only one to two sentences each, has been packed with truth. After reading each one, I come to the conclusion that I really don’t know anything about Calvary love. I am full of self and selfish love, not sacrificial, unconditional love. I want to love only if I am loved back – I wasn’t doing this consciously, but upon further examination of my heart, I see that I was, in fact, doing the opposite of what I meant to do.
This brings to mind the statements that the Apostle Paul makes in Romans 7:15-17 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I often allow sin to rule my life, not love.
Today’s reading was this:
If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting “who mad thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou hast not received?” then I know nothing of Calvary love.
When I read about my Lord’s time on Earth, I see that He never belittled anyone. He spoke with authority, but He never criticized others to make Himself bigger. In fact, it seems rather flippant to even think that He would, yet, I think nothing of doing that myself! I want to be more like Christ, and I cannot do this by being critical of others.
Dear Lord, help me to guard my tongue. Rid me of the awful pride that seeps into my heart when I’m not looking and takes deep root. Help me to remember what I rotten sinner I am, and that you stooped down from Glory to save me. Help me to point others to You by showing them Your love.
Rom. 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
I am blessed with an amazing family. My parents faithfully served the Lord through thick and thin while I was growing up. My brother, Kevin, is a pastor, and has served the Lord in that capacity for about eighteen years now. My sister, Melanie, is a great example of loving the unlovable, of meekness, and of sacrificial service to others.
I am currently in the middle of a battle. It’s not flesh and blood fighting me, but the devil and my own flesh. There’s no need to get into the details of this situation, I’m hoping you understand. The bottom line is this: it’s unpleasant, and I’d like to take matters into my own hands and fix it. However, this is one of those times when it’s out of my hands. I cannot do anything to fix it. I can only leave it with my Father and do my best to obey His Word.
Recently, my brother called me to encourage me in this situation. He is very busy so I was thrilled to hear from him. He said something that I loved and I wanted to pass it along.
He was a basketball player in high school. He loved the game, and still does. We had a basketball court, complete with lights for night games, in our backyard when we lived in Hot Springs. He told me the other day, after I said how I’d like to fix this situation, that the ref doesn’t see the cheap shot, but he always sees the retaliation. I didn’t know what he meant, so he explained.
He said that often when he was playing ball in high school, an opponent would give him a “cheap shot” – a foul – that the referee didn’t see. The player who received the cheap shot, would decide to give one back, to retaliate or get even, since the ref didn’t catch it. But here’s the rub: the referee would usually see the retaliation, and call the foul on the player who was trying to get even. My brother said of his own experience on the court, “By retaliating, and getting a foul, the guy who gave the cheap shot would win. But, if I let the cheap shot go, and stayed focused on the game, I wouldn’t get a foul and risk getting benched.” He went on to say, “When you want to retaliate, just remember, you might get the foul.”
I love the mental picture that Kevin gave me. I have thought about it over and over. I don’t want the foul, I don’t want to be the one who looks bad. I want to stay focused on the “game” – my calling as a wife and mother – and keep going forward.
Do you want to get even? Don’t do it. Don’t get the foul.
On January 2, 1998, I married my best friend. I gave him my heart over 13 years ago, and he has cared for it meticulously ever since. He has sacrificed for me, protected me, listened to me, cared for me when I’ve been sick, cherished me and made me laugh. He has held me during my darkest hours, like when my Dad died, and during many other valleys that no one else even knows about. He has prayed many prayers with me. He has instructed me in God’s Word. He has provided for me, and our five children, better than we deserve. He has been a far better husband to me than I have been a wife to him, but I am constantly trying to be better.
For a Christmas/anniversary gift, I bought him the above wedding band. He lost his original wedding band after only 2 years of marriage on a fishing trip. I’d been meaning to replace it for years, but there always seemed to be some more important need. After all, one doesn’t have to have a wedding band to live. I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed us financially this year so that we could purchase this luxury item.
The greatest gift I have been given outside of my salvation, is my husband. He is my soul mate. To imagine a life without him grieves me in a way I cannot explain. I’m so grateful that he worked so hard to win me. I’m so glad that I was worth it to him. To read more about our story, click HERE.
Happy anniversary, Darling! I love you!
Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
During our revival last November, our preacher for the meeting, Bro. Tim Green, mentioned a book that caught my attention. It was simply titled If 
I have finally located the slim volume and have begun reading it. Ms. Carmichael says in the introduction, “It is clear, I think, that such a booklet as this is not meant for everyone, but only for those who are called to be undershepherds.” While I am not a pastor, I am a helpmeet to one, so I feel I qualify as an “undershepherd”, though only indirectly.
This book is short in number of pages, but long in powerful information. In just reading one page, I felt that I must stop and ruminate over it for a while before moving on. That’s when the idea hit me! Perhaps I could journal about the book here, briefly, for pastor’s wives, (or anyone interested) every day? Maybe you would like to get the book
Here is the first paragraph:
If I have not compassion on my fellow-servant, even as my Lord had pity on me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
Lord, I am guilty of not having compassion on my brethren in Your work. In fact, I am often judgmental of others! They say “love is blind”, Lord. Help me to be “blind” the faults of others. Forgive me, and help me to love others as You loved me.
valeriewritenow.com 