Blakeyblog

Since my last post I feel like things have taken a turn and Christmas time is almost here. We’ve been having rain and barely making it higher than 64 degrees the last several days (this is cold weather to Californians!) And early this morning, we turned the heater on. I’m pretty hard-nosed and wanting to save money decided that we wouldn’t turn the heater on till December 1st or until it dropped under 65 degrees in the house. Then at 6:30 this morning Bobby got up because Tyler was crying and prodded me to get the heater going. I checked the thermostat and it read 63. Not so nice for the little guy, so I turned it on.

On Friday Bobby and I got out our Christmas music. Ty gave me Sarah McLaughlin’s new “Wintersong” CD for my birthday, so I’ve had that playing. Also the Bing Crosby Christmas and the a CD my brother-in-law made in college, the Hotchkiss Starlett Christmas two big favorites.

The other day Tyler and I were at Wal-Mart and he was fascinated when I walked down the seasonal isle. He loved all the ornaments and garland and especially those little animated reindeer dolls that sing carols as they rock in a little rocking chair!

Something I often think about when it’s fall and winter is how commercialized holidays have become. Everyone thinks that more is what makes you happy. But year after year, it doesn’t. At women’s Bible study this morning, Stephanie taught us from James 1:22-25 about being doers of the word and not hearers only. I was struck with this statement that she made–”Consistently doing God’s Word is happiness.” She explained that only giving up doing things my way and putting myself under Christ’s command is happiness found.

Another quote that really resonated with me was–”Freedom is entrusting ourselves fully to our faithful Creator.” Sometimes I think that if we had more money or time that we would feel more free. But this is error because only God knows what I truly need and He is faithful, and provides all that we need.

“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,
and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard,
but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.”
James 1:25

It has been a week of celebrations here! My birthday was last Sunday and my younger sister, Monica came down to visit for a couple of days. Bobby and I had been given some gift cards a few weeks ago for our house warming and she helped me pick out some nice things for our place and also made Muddy Buddies, which is one of our favorites.

For my birthday Bobby wanted to give me a gift card to our mall, but we don’t have any extra money so he wasn’t sure what he would give me. One day a couple of weeks ago, we were there making a return and he noticed an advertisement for $100 gift card giveaways you could win for the holidays and he told me later that he wished he could win one for me. The very next week one of our high school students met with Bobby in his office and told him that his parents wanted to give him something “just because.” It was one of those gift cards to the mall! So, Bobby gave it to me for my birthday after all. One of the things I bought with it was this really fun board game called “Settlers of Catan.”

The week continued with celebration because then Thursday was Thanksgiving! Bobby, Tyler and I spent the day with my two older sisters and their families up at my sister Alicia’s home. They had planned a beautiful lunch with tons of delicious food. Some of my favorite things we had were the stuffed mushrooms, sausage stuffing and peach spritzers to drink. I haven’t really had a traditional Thanksgiving meal that I am used to in a few years. The last couple of years we have spent the holiday with Bobby’s family at a country club, so there is a different spread there than just turkey and mashed potatoes. But I liked having turkey and some of the favorite old dishes jazzed up a little. It brought back a lot of memories of growing up together. My oldest sister, Gretchen (far left in the picture) lives in Northern California and I don’t see her very often so we enjoyed spending time visiting with them and watching our little ones play together.

Friday was our good friend Brad’s birthday, Saturday was my mom’s birthday and then today–well, Sunday always seems like a celebration to me! I really appreciated what Pastor Mike challenged us about the privilege and responsibility of responding to God in thankfulness.

“And God’s grace is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

He said, “There is nothing you have that you have not received.” Ultimately, God receives all the credit for everything that we have in our lives. He is our sufficiency in everything. Even if we work hard for something, God is the Giver of all that we have. Sometimes I need to be reminded that God is not “Santa.” I think I can fall into the trap of asking God for things to just be easier or to change things in my life instead being truly thankful for the abundance of His grace that has already been bestowed on me.

We love the Giver not the gifts
In You alone is true goodness
You’ve turned our mourning into joy
You give us gladness

Godsong’s “The Giver” to hear a sneak-peak of this song, listen to their podcast!

“Children are not the obstacles that keep us from enjoying the good life…”

I read this quote on Amy’s Humble Musings this week where she mused about good things in her life and pondered her children. I am encouraged by her desire to be a godly mom by setting an example of godliness for her children to see and follow. At the end of this post she wrote–”As I think through the things that fill our lives, I aim to purge the clutter and embrace the things that matter, especially the eternal souls in my care.” What an inspiring and sobering perspective! That a child is an eternal soul in his parent’s care.

Tyler is 9 months old today and I am in awe as I see how he has grown and changed so much and will do so even more in the months to come. Above are pictures of Bobby and I at 9 months as well. Many people might think that being a mom is so dramatic–this little person depends on you 24 hours a day for nurture and care, late nights, spit-ups, teething, diaper changes–these things are all elements of being a parent, but I don’t know if people really realize the gravitas of what parenting entails. Being a mom or dad means having an eternal soul in one’s care. Yikes. Diapers, baths, no sleep for months–no problem. Being entrusted with an eternal soul…this is serious business.

Right now I’m reading Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp. Chapter 3 is called “Your Child’s Development: Godward Orientation.” He explains that a “Godward Orientation” is what Romans 1:18-19 describes, that God has clearly revealed Himself to us and that people respond in only one of two ways. They either worship Him or worship idols. One of the headers in this chapter jumped off the page at me, it said “The Heart is Not Neutral.”

This thought really contradicts a commonly held perception in parenting. I hear many people talk about parenting and children as if parents model and teach their “innocent” kids the truth of God’s Word and then one day when they are old enough to understand, their kids will make a decision about what they will believe and live. Tripp is right, because what he says is in the Bible, the heart is never neutral, not even a child’s heart.

The passage I mentioned, Romans 1:18-19 says—

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven,
since what may be known about God is plain to them,
because God has made it plain to them.”

A child is either responding to God by faith or suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. I realize that this perspective seems blunt, but it’s not mine or Tripp’s. Bobby’s lesson from Sunday came to mind when I read this chapter because he taught from 1 John 2:28-3:10 and said in conclusion to the passage–”There are two types of children and they are headed in completely opposite directions. Some are like their Father God. Some are like their father Satan. And most importantly you need to know which one you are.” There is no middle ground. There is no neutral.

I think that most people reject this kind of black and white thinking especially when it comes to children. Even Christians think that kids are somehow innocent, free from the guilt of sin. I cannot find any passages in Scripture that could conclude innocence of sin of any human (other than Jesus Christ). Romans 5 is pretty conclusively saying the exact opposite, yet we so often act like our children are neutral in spiritual things until some point when they will decide whether to embrace the truth or not.

Tedd writes—

Since there is no such thing as a place of childhood neutrality , your children either worship God or idols. These idols are not small wooden or stone sanctuary. They are the subtle idols of the heart. The Bible describes such idols using terminology such as fear of man, evil desires, lusts, and pride…What we have in view are any manner of motives, desires, wants, goals, hopes, and expectations that rule the heart of a child…these things do not have to be articulated to be present.

Either they [our children] respond to life as children of faith who know, love, and serve Jehovah, or they respond as children of foolishness, and unbelief, who neither know him nor serve him. They are not simply the sum total of what you and I put into them; They interact with life either out of a true covenant faith or out of an idolatrous covenant of unbelief. (p.21)

Wow. Parenting is not just providing care, love and good influence. It is engaging a child, who has an eternal soul, to live to worship his Creator rather than the created. This reality of parenting is a heavy one because it carries innumerable implications for me as a mom. I cannot afford to be weak in my example or wavering in my worship. It is critical that I live consistently, intentionally and clearly for the Lord.

Reading this book has reminded me that being this kind of mom does not start at some point later; when I think Tyler is intelligently watching and listening to me. This kind of mom is made a reality in being a day-in-day-out disciple of Christ Jesus my Lord.

I woke up this morning to rain! That might not sound like a big deal especially because by the time I left the house I was wearing flip-flops. Nonetheless, I was very excited because Orange County California is just so mild. We really have to appreciate it when we get any kind of “weather” that isn’t a somewhat sunny day with highs in 70s and lows in the 50s. When it’s barely 60 degrees here everyone is bundled up. It’s so funny to read blogs of friends who live in other states who are writing about their first snow and the 30 degree weather or posting beautiful pictures of colorful autumn trees. We just don’t experience the four seasons like other states do. But I enjoy California and I’m glad that we had rain for a change…it sure makes it feel more like fall!

Many bloggers are posting about things they are thankful for in the month of November. At one blog I enjoy–Rebecca Writes–she has dedicated the whole month of November to write once a day about something she is thankful for. I was really encouraged by reading her and others daily thanksgiving for significant and simple things in their lives. I wanted to post something that I am thankful for and that is prayer.

Prayer is such a privilege! As I read Scripture God speaks His Words into my life and when I pray the God of all heaven and earth is listening. That is amazing! I was convicted today by the fact that I don’t always treat prayer as it is, speaking to God. Maybe because I can’t see Him physically I can treat prayer as just a spiritual discipline or something on my “to-do” list. I have sometimes been rude to God when I’m praying. I have been in mid-thought to the Lord and my mind wanders to something I need to remember to do that day and it was hours later that I realized I had been distracted. Several times I’ve been praying and fallen asleep. What if I did that to a dear friend that I could see physically, that would not be considerate of them at all!

“Pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Today I was looking up some verses on prayer and I was surprised at how many passages, like this one, mention prayer along with thanksgiving. I wondered if this was because we so often can come to God in prayer just hoping to “get.” We are having a trial, bad day, have a test or deadline and we need God’s help. We need to bring everything before Him, but we should be as equally thankful to Him as we are in our eagerness to make requests. Being thankful in our prayers keeps our conversation with God more focused on Him than on ourselves and our needs.

We don’t pray to a god who can’t save
We pray to the God who will hear

So I will call upon You
And watch for what You will do
You’re the help of Your people

You reach down from on high
And put joy in my life
So I praise You as faithful

–“Call” by Godsong Music

The last couple of weeks all I hear people talking about is being busy. I ask high school students about coming to Bible study but they say, “Can’t, I’m busy.” I send an e-mail to an old friend asking her if she’d have time to catch up but she can’t for a couple of weeks because–”Christa, you have no idea how busy I am!” I call my sister but she can’t answer the phone because it’s one of her busy days. It’s such a horrible feeling when people are too busy for you. But then last week I told someone I was busy too.

Last week a high school girl called me and wanted to get together for coffee to “just talk.” I glanced at my calendar and “to do” list and had to say, “I’m pretty busy this weekend, maybe next week?” My husband is a high school youth pastor and I serve right along with him in the ministry. Now, I know that I can’t do everything, but in this instance I had let some things get in the way of my biggest ministry outside of my home which is to our high school students. She seemed to understand but I could tell she was disappointed. It made me sad that I had missed out on that opportunity to encourage her by just having time for her to sit and listen and discuss life with her.

Since then I have been feeling convicted about how I didn’t plan my week better. I keep thinking of that Veggie Tales song on the video about the good Samaritan–”I’m busy, busy, dreadfully busy…Much much too busy for you!” I know that there are many legitimate things that we have on schedules that take up our time, but it has been heavy on my heart–the need for us to make God and His people more of a priority.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”
Matthew 6:33

Today I was thinking about things people seek after in a normal day–for younger people its school, friendships, fun, experiences, approval, good grades, and some kind of sport or other activity. For older people its work, getting a raise, earning respect of peers, relationships, money, comfort, health, prestige, pleasure, meaning or fulfillment. What would it look like for someone to seek after God and righteousness?

I know how we can think we are busy for God doing things in our churches–serving in some ministry, doing nursery, teaching a class, being an Awana leader, having a small group in their home. This is all done on top of a demanding full-time job or keeping the home in order and children in line. I am afraid that we get too busy doing things for God that we aren’t really seeking Him. We can get so busy in programs that we miss the personal relationship that we have with our Lord.

Right now I am prayerfully considering my schedule and all the different things I am involved in. There are a couple of things that just seem to have a blinking little red light next to them. I know that they push everything over the top. They make things seem hectic and stressful and I know I need to simplify my schedule by taking myself from some things so that I can give myself fully to the Lord and the simple things He has put before me to do.

Being busy isn’t all bad. I looked up what the word “busy” means and the first two definitions were: “engaged in action” and “being in use.” These can be very good things if we are working heartily unto the Lord! If we are being faithful to work heartily as to the Lord in the day-to-day positions we are in–student, employee, homemaker/mother–we will be seeking Him and righteousness first in these roles. For the Christian there should not be starting and stopping points. We do not start our day with time in the Word and then go about our day apart from Him. If we are seeking God first we will seek Him first in all that we do all day by doing it as to Him.

I remember a little object lesson from a Sunday school teacher in high school. She was teaching us about making God a priority and had a big jar on her table. She showed us a bag of rice and said, “Let’s say the rice is all the things you need to get done, your schedule.” Then she pulled some whole walnuts out of a bag and said, “Let’s say these represent specific ways that you need to seek God.” She began to pour the rice into the jar showing how we usually approach our days by putting self first. Then she tried to cram the walnuts in–only two or three fit. She emptied the jar and started over by putting the walnuts in first and pouring the rice in over them. The visual might seem cheesy but her point is a good one–we need to make sure we have the first things first. When we live this way all the other things we have to do in life seem so trivial in comparison. I am convinced that the only thing worth being busy about is seeking the Lord and righteousness.