What do you want to be?

I want to be a good role model for my kids. I want them to know what love looks like and sounds like. I want to be a good help mate for my husband. I want to be a support and a confidant for him. I want to be a faithful friend who will tell you the truth even when it hurts.

All of these are good and I believe they are very important. But more than all of these I want to be on fire for Jesus. I want to be consumed by Him. I want to be His close friend. Ready to move and walk with Him wherever He leads. It's all about Him. This life is all about our relationship with the Creator of the universe. He loves us so much it is mind boggling! He gave His only Son for me. And for you. So we can be with Him in glory for eternity. Because He has done so much for me I want to give Him my life.

But, when I am not careful to guard my heart and I let my guard down there are moments in my life when I loose sight of Him. In that moment of complacency  I loose sight of what really matters. In that moment my eyes are not fixed on the author and finisher of my faith, but are focused on things that will not matter in eternity. Then I am tempted with thoughts of selfishness and not being satisfied.

In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus says, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."  

The lukewarm state feels really yucky. Believe me, I know. I come to the realization that I have idols in my life. I have allowed things or people or the latest update on facebook to become my focus and I drift for the moment from what I was made for.

I find that I am a messed up, pitiful, selfish person when I try to do life without Jesus. Life is soo much better and more satisfying when I do life with Him.

I was made for God and His purposes. I was made for love. I was made for more.

Thank you, God for saving me from selfishness and a lukewarm heart. You are always so faithful to forgive me. Thank you for your peace that surpasses all understanding. Nothing compares with your presence. Thank you that you are still working on me and you promise to never give up on me.

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

deeper still

The following is an excerpt from Reckless Devotion by Rolland and Heidi Baker that I started reading at the beginning of this year. Such a great book...

The angel of the Lord asked Ezekiel, in effect, "How deep do you want to get." (see Ezekiel 47). How deep into the heart of God are you willing to go? How deep into His presence do you want to be? God wants to saturate you in His presence--to literally drown you. Yes, God wants you dead. But then He will kiss you to life, as a new creation, to be the fragrance of Christ to a dying world.

At first Ezekiel only went into the water up to his ankles. Most of us like the thought of that. When we are ankle deep in God, it feels good, because we can still do our thing. We have something of God, but we can walk and talk and, more important, be in control.

The angel of the Lord said to Ezekiel, as God says to us today, "I want you to come in deeper than that." God wants us to lose ourselves in Him, to be out of our depth in His presence, carried away by the irresistible currents of His love. God is wooing us, persuading us to go deeper and deeper into Him, to pursue Him with reckless devotion. He is leading us into the glory-presence of the Most High, leading us into a place where we will no longer be in control, but rather out of control and fully yielded to His Spirit.

Perhaps God has spoken to you about what He sees for your life, yet you are still only knee deep in the water, at best. You will never come into the fullness of your destiny until you allow God to draw you in and drag you under. You have to die first. Then you will see God's purpose for your life come to pass. He will resurrect you. You need not be afraid; only surrender completely to Him.

How deep will you go into Him? Wade out into the waters of His presence, and whatever you do, don't stop until you are completely submerged in His love, mercy and grace.

Oceans - Katie Torwalt

summer fun

We had some fun people come visit us for Abigail's 4th birthday!

oatmeal chocolate chip bars

this recipe is from rachaelray.com 

By: emily wyckoff

*Caution* You must use self-control and refrain from eating the whole batch by yourself.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 12 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 cups quick oats
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Pre-heat the oven to 375°F.
Line an 8-inch metal pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
Mix together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the egg and milk. By hand or with the lowest speed of the mixer, stir in the flour mixture. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips.

Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Lift from the pan and slice into bars.

Makes about 16 bars.

Song by: Cody

Go A's!!!

It has been a lot of fun for me to watch Samuel play T-ball! And I think it has been great for Samuel to get to have this activity that he does with his daddy. Samuel is a great leader and example for his teammates. It is fun to watch him stay so focused during the games...well, for most of the game anyway. :) I haven't seen any daisy picking, but the kids don't have that option yet since they don't position the kids in the outfield in T-ball.

Forever

over-the-rainbow minestrone

Found this yummy crock pot recipe in the april/may taste of home magazine submitted by: Crystal from Northglenn, Co

makes: 10 servings

4 stalks swiss chard (about 1/2 lb.)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
6 cups vegetable broth
2 cans (14.5oz. each)
   fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 medium yellow summer squash or zucchini,
   halved and cut into 1/4-in. slices
1 medium sweet red or yellow pepper, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups uncooked spiral pasta
1/4 cup prepared pesto

1. Cut stems from chard; chop stems and leaves separately. Reserve leaves for adding later. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and chard stems; cook and stir 3-5 minutes or until tender; Transfer to a 6-qt. slow cooker.

2. Stir in broth, tomatoes, beans, squash or zucchini, pepper, carrot and garlic. Cook, covered on
low 6-8 hours or until vegetables are tender.

3. Stir in pasta and reserved chard leaves. Cook, covered on low 20-25 minutes longer or until pasta is tender. Top servings with pesto.

*I omitted the chard leaves and pesto, but maybe we will add them next time.

Winter

Our first Snow Day was in December

Abigail putting the angel on top of the tree

Samuel turned 6 in December!

Decorating the Gingerbread house at Grandma Anne's

No School on April 1st so we had fun in the snow! 

                                             

Too tired to take off the coat