I’m Wanted

I have a stalker.  One who lurks around my home with her needy eyes and spots my every move.  If I move too far out of her vision, my stalker will take a new position so I am in view.  If a new position cannot be assumed, wailing ensues.  I’m describing the plight of my 9 month old.  She is obsessed with me.  I know, what’s not to love?!?  In any other context (i.e. not a cute baby) this obsession would be downright freaky.  She can’t get enough of me.  Her piercing blue eyes know three views in her short lived life; sparkling and happy in mommy’s presence, bug eyed and worried at the possibility of mommy being gone and drenched in tears with the realization that mommy is in fact gone. 

I wish I could say that this is just the normal separation anxiety phase of her young life, but this is no phase.  This is how Miss Kya has been from day 1.  This is one of the many reasons I am so grateful that I am able to stay home with this sweet baby and be with her all day.  She had to do daycare for a few months when I initially returned to work and it was torture for all of us.  She screamed the ENTIRE day!  I often had a few tears as well.  I know she won’t be like this forever.  It’s sweet to be someone’s entire world.  Even the days when I need a little breather, I still appreciate the fact that I am her mom and her intense love is based on that simple fact.  I’ll remind her of this in about 13 years when her eyes take to a new view of rolling in the back of her head because I am so embarrassing.   

James, Chapter 2

And so I continue my bible study from the book of James.  This book is so rich.  Go read it!  Here are a few verses that popped at me as I read this chapter.

James 2:  12-13 “Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of FREEDOM.  For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn’t shown mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment. “  (emphasis mine)

To me, these verses pretty much sum up what life should look like as a follower of Jesus.  The key word in these verses is freedom.  Once you truly grasp the love of the Father and the freedom over your life because of His mercy, you can’t help but extend mercy with your speech and actions towards others.  Not because you fear the stern judgment of God, but because you love His never ending mercy and want others to grasp this mind boggling freedom.  Christ’s freedom is so great that it’s not about fearing your inevitable sin.  It’s about HATING evil and loving mercy and righteousness.  God looks at us through the eyes of mercy.  If you view God as a disappointed dad waiting to punish your next mistake (i.e.  I’d better fear a lightning bolt because I didn’t go to church this week) then you’re living in a false kingdom reality.  You’ve conformed God to your own image and haven’t yet grasped His goodness.  Want to know how you change that?!?  Just ask Him to reveal His true character to you.  Seek and you will find…

Overheard

3 year old daughter:  “Dad, you be the prince.”

5 year old son:  “No!  Why do you always have to pretend that you’re getting married?  Yuck!  Dad is going to play Green Lantern with me.”

3 year old daughter:  “Can I be the Green Lantern princess?”

The Book of James

I recently read the book of James (Holman Christian Standard Bible) and was reminded of some very powerful truths in the Christian life.  This is such a great book in the New Testament.  So many verses just jumped off the page as I was reading.  It’s a very easy book to read and very practical.  I’m challenging myself to blog a bible study on each chapter in the book of James.  I’ll touch on some things that God highlighted to me as I was reading.  I hope this blesses you as it did me.

Many scholars believe that Jesus’ brother, James, is the author of this book although there are some who believe that James the apostle authored this book.  Regardless, this book doesn’t appear to be written to a specific early church but a group of Christians dispersed throughout the Greek world.  The underlying message is FAITH in ACTION!

James 1:  5-8 “Now if any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to ALL generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in FAITH without doubting.  For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.”  (emphasis is mine) 

It stings a little to be called unstable.  But don’t we often approach God with a lack of stability in our thoughts and expectations?!?  I have this “mountain” that I’m trying to deal with.  It sure would be nice to get some help.  I know, I’ll throw a prayer up and see if it will stick.  With any luck maybe God will answer this time (that is if He’s not too busy solving the more important problems like world hunger).   There is no faith in that!  Read these verses again!  Do you lack wisdom in how to handle something?  A decision you have to make?  Do you need victory over a sin issue?  If you ask in FAITH, He will give wisdom to ALL and will give it generously.  I’m not making this up.  It is right there in the bible.  This is a promise, not a nice phrase about a distant God that applies to the “in so tight with God” Christians.  So what does praying with faith look like?  To me, it’s expecting to hear from God.  I’m conversing with my father, my friend, my savior.  Of course He is going to answer my cry for wisdom.  The book of John tells us that He no longer calls us servants, but friends.  Friends know each other’s business.  God wants me to know His business, thus wants to impart His wisdom in me.  Amen?  Amen.

James 1:  13-15 “No one undergoing a trial should say, ‘I am being tempted by God.’  For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone.  But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.  Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.” 

We’ve all heard that phrase “God doesn’t give you anything that you can’t handle.”  I think sometimes we use this phrase to treat God as a scapegoat.  When life gets a bit sour, it’s easy to let our circumstances dictate our view of God.  That’s why we have to be grounded in God’s word (God is full of love, compassion, mercy…in Him there is no darkness).  When life gets full of funk, it can feel like God is leading us down a slippery slope to test us.  God does not dangle an oreo in front of us and then ask us if we have the will power to eat the carrot instead.  I just know this is the evil that is being referenced in this verse.  When we’re grounded in God’s word, we reject the lies that God is to blame for all of the crud around me.  We reject the mentality that if He doesn’t kill me, He’ll at least make me stronger.  So when we’re living in our death bed of sin, there is solution!  Repent, receive the forgiveness and let God transform your heart.  Ah, a renewed mind is so wonderful.  Thank you first chapter of James.  I’ll try to be back soon to discuss a few tid bits from the second chapter. 

Mmmmmmmm!

You know after a good meal when your sweet tooth kicks and you just MUST have dessert?!?  Usually these intense moments call for chocolate, ice cream, cheese cake or whatever is rich enough to satisfy the craving.  Luckily I live with a 5 year old who likes to invent desserts.  This was our dessert a few nights ago; gold fish smothered in chocolate sauce sprinkled with ice cubes.  Please let me know if you’d like me to send you the recipe (that is of course if you promise to keep it to yourself until the patent is fully developed).

I’m the Mom and you’re the Sweetie

Sienna likes to play “mom and sweetie” several times throughout the day.  What is this fun game you ask?  It is where she transforms into the mother of the household and I become her child (her child with a baby named Kya no less).   She transforms from a 3 year old to a grown woman and she calls me sweetie.  She scripts most of our conversations so I will say something that allows her to then correct me.  A typical conversation:

Sienna (as her normal 3 year old self):  “Mom, ask me if you can play a game on my phone.”

Me (as a young child):  “Mom, can I play a game on your phone?”

Sienna (as the mother):  “Sweetie, I told you not to ask me again.  Do you remember that?”

Sometimes her other dolls/stuffed animals get involved in the game as well.  Like the other day her stuffed frog was my brother.  He was not listening and was in time out.  This is where we pick up our conversation.

Me (as a young child):  “Brother, you need to listen to mommy.  She is trying to protect you.”

Sienna (as the mother) turns towards me with a very serious face:  “Sweetie, please just worry about yourself.” 

Such conversations go on and on until she tires of Mom and Sweetie and wants to play “Friends.”  This usually involves her turning into my “friend” and she calls herself either Kara or Sarah.  She then asks me my name and I am usually Sally.  She comes to my house and brings a Strawberry pie.  I have eaten A LOT of strawberry pie over the last 2 months J  She is so fun! 

Aren’t They Cute?

Of course I’m biased, but these are some pretty terrific kids.  Jadon – king of silliness, burping and learning how to read at a very impressive pace.  Sienna – queen of joy, singing the same princess songs over and over and an intense love for her baby sister.  Kya – queen of making thunder thighs look cute, crystal blue eyes and a smile that will literally melt you.