Look what I got in the mail today! Yes…2010 is my year of organization. It IS going to happen;). Step 1. The pantry…(I even went to Kroger in the snow to buy…NO not milk or bottled water…but AAA batteries so my label maker would work;)
It’s the Brother PT-90 version and might I add I am VERY happy with it! It was one of the cheapest and it’s just the perfect thing for labeling when organizing…
Then after the inspiration of my friend Addie’s pantry…and a couple of years of making fun of her…I joined her…
And YES…I have a shelf for my hot cocoa:). An entire shelf…hot cocoa, cocoa “condiments”…you name it, it’s in my pantry if it has to do with hot cocoa:).
Now, someone get my label maker before I start labeling my children…it is so easy and even fun to use…I kind of went crazy labeling everything!
Before I get rollin’ on today’s reading–I want to say just ONE thing about yesterday’s that I did not. One of my favorite marriage verses in the entire Bible was in the last reading. Gen.24:67 “Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she become his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”
I could go on and on WHY I love this verse. Some of it’s principle and some of it’s personal. The principle is great. First Rebekah became his wife. And THEN he loved her. Why don’t we get this? He trusted the Lord that this was the women for him. He trusted the Lord over feelings, logic and unknowns. There wasn’t any “I just don’t feel the sparks yet” or “I’m not sure if she really KNOWS me”…”Um…we connect some, but I just want to wait and see how I feel”. He married her because He felt the Lord’s hand…And then he loved her. I’m not sure if there is anyone reading who is not married—but this is a great principle to remember. Our feelings are fleeting. Always. They come and go. You can’t start a relationship on feelings–because it will likely end on feelings. Did you heart that? Let me repeat–you can’t start a relationshiop on feelings–because it will likely end on feelings. We should start relationships based through the love of the Lord and asking the Lord to help us see a person how He sees them. The only thing that ever stands is the word of the Lord. It is the word of the Lord that will hold you together. It is the Lord that will help you through the hardest times. And it is the Lord and the Lord in your spouse’s heart that will make you fall in love with him (over and over again) and have a solid marriage. I could write a book about my thoughts on truth over feelings—but I just love the basic principle here that are feelings can’t be trusted—but the LORD can. I personally think too many people in relationships, families, marriages, friendships trust and make decisions based on their feelings…and it’s just not a Biblical principle. I am thankful I married someone who agrees that our personal feelings cannot be trusted. God and His Word should be a director of our relationships. He is the only one that can be trusted.
Richard and I trusted the Lord with our courtship. I’m so thankful for that. He persued me and loved me as Christ loves His church. I remember when our premarital counselor asked why I wanted to marry Richard. My answer? “Because I love the way he treats me, honors me and makes me feel loved.” (Isn’t that ultimately a picture of our draw to the Lord…because He first loved us?) I felt that—and knew Richard was persuing me because the Lord laid his persuement of me on his heart. (I can be a headstrong, difficult bird—so for anyone to put up with me…trust me, the Lord would have to lay it on his heart;). And he, like the Lord, was constant in his persuement. We sought the Lord during our entire engagement and even through doubts—we felt the Lord saying “this is the one I have created for you—trust Me”. For many reasons it didn’t make sense. Mainly because it didn’t line up with MY plan and feelings. I was sure God had called me to be a full time missionary. But I was also sure God was saying, “Trust me—leave your plan for your life and take mine.” But my plan was “good”…it was full of “God stuff”…and I REALLY WANTED IT but it was not God’s plan. The pastor who counselled us told me, “When you walk the aisle, you lay China at the cross and trust God to lead Richard for your future.” At first I was scared, but it felt so right. We loved each other more as brothers and sisters in Christ–and we challenged one another and we were both sure of God’s plan for us to marry—but it wasn’t until I got married that we both fell deeply in love with one another. With a burning desire for the mission field, we began to persue how God could use us among the nations…here. Richard was sure that the Lord wanted him to work here, and just 3 years into our marriage we had 2 children…very little time for me to even think about the mission field. BUT four sweet years into our marriage we had the joy of helping start a ministry in Zambia (www.wiphan.org), and I realize now that the Lord is using us in more ways being here than there…for now;). I’m so thankful we waited on the Lord during our courtship and trusted Him with our future!!! Glory be to God!
Those verses have always been so sweet to me:). And I just couldn’t go on without sharing that one!
JANUARY 8 READING – Genesis 25:1-4, 1 Chr 1:32-33, Genesis 25:5-6, 12-18, 1 Chr 1:28-31 & 34, Genesis 25:19-26, 25:7-11
Today’s reading is prepping us for what is ahead. And it’s actually very short—just a lot of jumping around to keep us on the chronological read through. Tomorrow is going to be another CRAZY day. Not in crazy a lot to read–more like crazy in more drama. It killed me to stop reading today! So today–we need to just get our seatbelts on. Here are a few things in today’s reading that I thought were noteworthy:
Ch.25 1-11 Abraham was very wise to take care of the distribution of his estate while he was still living. He was not only seeing his children were taken care of–but he was helping maintain peace after he was gone. We, too, should carefully plan for our children…no matter how old we are. Three years ago, Richard and I sat down to begin preparing our will for our children. With regular trips to Africa with Wiphan, it just seems smart. But–none of us are promised tomorrow even being here…and a trip to the store could be just as fatal. It is wise to have a plan for our children so for their sake they are without question and peace is maintained.
Verse 9 – This is the highlight verse for me in this chapter. Isaac AND Ismael bury Abraham. They were able to do this because of the way Abraham planned and continued to love them both deeply. The two that were destined to dispise–come together at their father’s death and mourn together. They were able to bury him in peace—no fighting over who gets what…who Abraham would want to do what with…Abraham had wisely distributed his estate and although it was probably hard to do while alive as it was another thing for him to add to his “to do” list—and probably a bit uncomfortable…it made for peace and appropriate closure for these two in the end.
Verse 25 – A hairy garment? Not what I imagine cuddling with after I give birth. He was named Esau “reared already” because he looked like a grown man full of hair.
Verse 26 – Jacob holding his heel signifies his pursuit of the birthright (the drama that’s comin’ tomorrow…hang tight!)
Thanks for bearing with me another day. If you are just joining in…it’s never too late! You can download the schedule we are following at http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com Just jump right in and…you can either double up days to catch up or just start right where we are! I have been so encouraged to hear how many are following along together this year…just 8 days into our reading…let us not give up meeting together (even if it is online…it’s 2010 people!) and encourageing one another in the Lord’s word!
XOXO,
Andrea
P.S. I have had a few ask me if we have an adoption number update yet. The answer is NO…followed by WAAA! Followed by, truthfully—this reading is getting me so excited that I’m not fretting knowing that the Lord is in control and I have an idea of where our numbers are so I’m cool;). I’ll share them the minute we hear—but we did get word that things are about to really get moving…so that is REALLY, REALLY exciting! Bear with me friends as we read this year…when you signed up to read the Word this year with me you signed up to ride this roller coaster too;).
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