Beyond My Imagination

Yesterday in the car, Lee and I were talking about Heaven. I wondered if I would miss Sunsets in Heaven, since Revelation says, "There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light." And that led to other thoughts, like will I miss rainy days, sleeping in, etc...

I think what it boils down to is that I cannot imagine a place where I will be 100% happy. Content. Not lacking or wanting. Not looking ahead or longing for the past. Perfect.

There is nothing that remotely comes close to any lasting satisfaction now. How can I begin to conceive something that I cannot even fathom?

Even though I don't think my thoughts can even begin to grasp the enormity and beauty of what is to come, I can still wait with eager anticipation and continue to reach ahead... with arms stretched out in front of me, waiting to lay ahold of what He has in store.

Oh The Places You'll Go

I read "Oh The Places You'll Go" tonight to the kids. They don't have a clue as to what its about. They think there's this guy on an adventure and have no idea there's a bigger meaning. But the rhymes are cute, and I have most of it memorized by now. (Really, just ask me some time...)

Everytime I read it I'm struck by how brilliant it is! It really does cover what happens in life.

"Except when they don't (cheer you on), because sometimes they won't. I'm sorry to say, but sadly its true, that bang ups and hang ups can happen to you.... you'll end up in The Waiting Place... No! That's not for you! Somehow you'll escape all that waiting and staying. You go to bright places where boom bands are playing!... So will you succeed? Yes you will indeed! 98 3/4% Guaranteed! Kid, you'll move mountains!"

Ahhh... great stuff. And the best part about Dr Seuss is if he doesn't know of a word that rhymes with something, he makes it up. Its cheating, but somehow, for him, it works.

So be inspired! Go move mountains! :)

Nothing...

Maybe I should set my expectations to try and post once/week, rather than once/day - because obviously that isn't working! LOL!

As it is, I'm typing now while the children eat lunch, and I need to head back in there... just wanted to pop on for my own consistency. :) I have more ideas of things I want to write about..... just need to make the time for it eventually, I guess.

Oh! We re-filled our ant farm w/ ants we found outside. These ants seem faster and are just as entertaining to watch.

Anyway, this was rather pointless, but it's what I'm posting, none-the-less.

And then there was one...

I'm a little sad this morning. We've had an ant farm for the last month or so. When the ants arrived, only 6 survived the trip through the mail. Since they're adult ants, they only last a month or two.

I've really enjoyed watching them and reading more on ants. They don't work all the time, which I assumed. They gather into groups to have parties and talk. They play soccer with crumbs. And when one needs help, all the others gather around to add their strength. Ants even make a "Dump" in their home where all the trash, debris, and extra dirts goes.

They've all been slowly dying off. They'd been down to two for a few days now. This morning, I watched as the last ant slowly carried his buddy all the way across the farm to the dump. It was really very sad and tragic. He worked so hard, and it took a long time, but finally laid his friend to rest.

They are so small. I'm sure there's some deep meaning behind it all that I could come to, but I don't have the brain power for it now. However, I agree with Solomon when he encouraged us to "consider the ants." I think I'll be doing that for a long time to come.

Proverbs 6

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Proverbs 30

24 "Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer;

Just some thoughts

Well, I'm not blogging as regularly as I'd like. There's so much going on now. It's hard to decide what to say! We went through my favorite verses in church this morning:

Hebrews 12:1-3
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I love that! So be encouraged today!

The hard part of marriage

I had a neat conversation recently with a friend getting married. She said many people say marriage is so hard, etc... and asked me what was most difficult for me. I explained that I don't think marriage itself was my biggest struggle. It was more that being with someone else all the time showed me my own problems - and dealing with those were the hard part!

And then I thought about it - life itself is hard, no matter what stage of life you're in. Being married to someone who's on your side and FOR you is a bonus, not a burden.

And then I thought more about how whether we're single or married or what... God is FOR us, and ready to talk and help and guide and overall be on our side. The biggest super-power, all knowing, hero is FOR me. Wow. Now that's something to be thankful for!

Psalm 118:6 "The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?"

Teach me!

I just read through Psalm 119 in one sitting, and I was blown away. I might pick this apart more later, which means you'll probably be hearing about it, but what struck me first was how many times the writer asks God to teach him His Word. And these don't include the other times the Word is mentioned that I didn't include because he's not specifically asking to be taught.

• Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statues!
• Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
• Teach me Your statutes.
• Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.
• Do not hide Your commandments from me.
• Revive me according to Your word.
• Teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the ways of your precepts, so I will meditate on Your wonders.
• Strengthen me according to Your word. Remove the false way from me, and graciously grant me Your law.
• I shall run the way of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.
• Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statues, and I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law and keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You. Turn away my reproach which I dread, for Your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me through Your righteousness.
• And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I wait for Your ordinances.
• Remember the word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope.
• Teach me Your statutes.
• Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.
• You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes.
• Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
• O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, according to Your word to Your servant. May Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight.
• Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
• Revive me, oh Lord, according to Your word.... and teach me Your ordinances.
• Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
• Deal with Your servant according to Your lovinkindness and teach me Your statutes. I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.
• Establish my footsteps in Your word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.
• Your testimonies are righteous forever, give me understanding that I may live.
• Revive me, O Lord, according to Your ordinances.
• Give me understanding according to Your word.Let my soul live that it may praise You, and let Your ordinances help me.

My first question to myself - am I asking that much/often for God to teach me from His word? Or am I instead spending more time asking for answers & help & giving God a plan for Him to follow that I've thought up?

My second question - am I teaching my children what matters most? (My unfortunate answer to this - no, not enough... Lord willing, that's going to change!) :)