Happy Mother's Day!!!

When I think of perfection in Mothering, my precious momma comes to mind!! I am so blessed by her love, compassion, generosity, patience and true meekness!! She's a true giver, not just to her family, but to everyone! She never meets a stranger.

If I were to sum up her lifestyle, it would be in this one sentence:

She shows the love of God in a practical way every day of her life!

I love you, Momma!!!

~Darla

P.S. The boys are doing just what it looks like! Nursing Anna's cabbage patch twins!!! (I had just recently weaned them....lol) This picture was taken about a year ago :)

A Note of Encouragement to our Bible Quiz Family!

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day.....

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth....

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..."

Ephesians 6:10-13, 14, 17

A Roman soldier's girdle was a strong belt which wrapped around his loins, binding the armour tight to his body, and preventing it from interfering with the freedom of his action.

The girdle braced him up, gave him a sense of firmness and a consciousness of compact and concentrated force.

See the application: Take the TRUTH, and wrap it round about your life. Wear it like a belt, to give you strength. Let it gather up the whole of your life, and bind it into compactness. Don't allow your life to be loose, indefinite, limp and inconclusive. Let it be firm, assured and decisive.

The Apostle Paul wore this belt and nothing could intimidate him. This belt gave him a sense of power as he cried out, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me!"

Are we wearing the belt today? Are we trying to live the Christian life without daily revelations, without the sustaining power of the mighty truths which Christ made known?

Revealed truth is the dynamic of the spiritual life.

~devotional by Rev. J. H. Jowett

Now, you dear Bible Quiz Family! Each day of your labor in the Word is sharpening you and your child's weapon for spiritual warfare. The Word is Truth! In today's society there is doctrinal confusion on every side. That is why it is so important to tighten the belt of truth around us while we carry this precious Sword.

Remember that Bible Quizzing is only a tool to tighten it! It's repetitiveness will seal His Word deep in the root system of our minds and hearts!

Be encouraged today!! You are saturating your Home with the wonderful Word of God!!

It will be WORTH IT!!!

Blessings!
Darla

The Day That Gave Us Freedom

Today we are remembering....

The broken body of our Lord. His pain and suffering. His tears and blood flowing from a heart of love.

This day, over 2,000 years ago, was the day we began our liberation as Gentiles. He died for our freedom! Every time I see an American flag flying high and so proudly, I choke back tears of thankfulness for the men who paid the price for our freedom. Singing the patriotic songs always brings a soberness to me. I'm not a political fanatic (as my dad is :), but I understand that I am living the American Dream because somebody sacrificed their life for it.

That freedom is simply not compared to this one, though. You can be in the darkest prison, the loneliest of situations...you can be locked behind bars...even as a prisoner of war...but no one can really bind your spirit! I've seen cancer with it's ugliest face overcome a child of God and I knew they were not truly bound. The freedom of hope in their eyes proclaimed the Liberty that was given them because of this day! There have been others that have faced fiery trials and seemingly hopeless situations with great faith.

Christmas is awesome with all it's celebrations and the joy of Jesus' birth. But this weekend was the real reason He came. Shouldn't it be celebrated with as much enthusiasm?

Tonight we will carefully read the beautiful story of His suffering. I know my kids won't understand my tears, but one day they will. As Daddy gently holds the Word and explains why He died, I pray that revelation light will come to my children's young minds. And a new, fresh love for the ways of the Lord will illuminate our hearts. It is our hope. Those tough-looking Roman soldiers just thought they had Him bound! :)

Early Sunday morning, as our family tradition goes, we will gather on the front porch and watch the sun rise as we complete the Story of His Resurrection and Power!! Hot biscuits will be steaming from a basket and blankets wrapped around little arms as Daddy leads us in the BEST STORY EVER TOLD!!

What about the Easter bunny? We like the candy, but my 3 year-old twins are scared to death of him! ;)

Blessings to your family on this beautiful weekend of remembrances!

Darla

BQ Winners and Losers

Awwww!! The tournament is over and winning feels SO good! Bringing home a trophy and the glory that follows winning brings a pep in your step and a contagious smile :) We've known that feeling so much over the past few Bible Quiz seasons that the opposite has been quite difficult to welcome. Yesterday we were confident! Practice, practice and more practice! Quoting and quizzing had literally worn me out and the boys :) The April tournament was here and we felt so ready. Our first game was barely won by the last question! Whew!! Thankful to pull through that one. Nerves were in shreds, but a gleam of excitement were in their eyes. Next game...easy win....or so we thought. First time season for our opposing team. Our boys...a little too over confident. Time after time, too many early interruptions and, before we knew it, we had lost. Could it be? Our Championship boys of the March Tournament being defeated by this team? I watched the disappointment in their eyes and my heart felt for them both. As we were leaving the auditorium, another coach-friend of mine was passing by us. "Can you tell me how to eat humble pie?" I asked. She looked at me with sympathy (theirs was the team we had defeated during the first round) This precious coach has always been an encouragement to me! She smiled gently and explained that only a few minutes before had she overheard the team we had just lost to excitedly telling that this was their first win and they were just about to give up and quite Bible Quizzing. I had tears in my eyes now. What this meant to me was that now this team will continue to meditate, memorize and quote God's Word for the next month, anticipating the May Tournament! I shared the wonderful news with our boys and they, too, were thankful that God had turned this crazy loss into a real win! I've said it before and I'll say it again, you can't lose in Bible Quizzing!! There really isn't any BQ losers! :)

The Sheath

"Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" John 18:11

Powerful words.

The God/man Jesus, who was perfect in every aspect of the word, knew that His life on earth was simply about this one thing: To complete and accomplish the will of God on earth.

The setting of this scripture is Peter trying to rightfully take control of the situation in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to Jesus being taken by the soldiers and high priests.

Isn't that the way our flesh responses to crisis? Take control. Stop it from happening. Get angry. Pull out that sword and fight. Stress. Fear. Anxiety.

I am amazed at the calm in Jesus.

The storm...He was sleeping.

The garden....He was willingly led away.

He knew His purpose. He had already committed His future.

So, here's where I'm at: What does the "sheath" represent to me? Put up thy sword into the sheath. What do I need to do with anger/needing control/anxieties/fears? This may sound crazy, but the sheath is a place where the sword lays dormant....unused....uneeded. It's a place that I decide to stop fighting His plan and purpose for me.

How often am I using the sheath is up to me.

I know that without His guidance I tend to use the sword of self too often.

Lord, let me remain in Your calm and peace! So that there is no need to control....

"Jesus, take the wheel."

The air is cool and crisp this morning and I am filled with this beautiful peace that only His presence brings :) I know that today will be filled with laughter, school, meals, cleaning, spills, boo-boos, diapers that need to be changed and probably many interventions to sibling disagreements ;) But, I am Thankful! It's getting time for the kids to wake up so I'll hurry!

In prayer I was pondering how truly different we are from the attitude of the "world". So, I made two columns and listed the attitude of this world, and the attitude God designed for us to have. Here they are:

World's Way:
Pride
Self-will/Self-sufficiency
Comparing ourselves, our children or others/partiality/prejudice
fear/worry/anxiety/lust
self-pleasure/indepence
disobedience (I'm understanding that it's just as important for me to obey as it is for my children to obey me!)
moodiness/self-pity
unthankfulness
overeating/gluttony
lust of our flesh/eyes/etc.
cares of this world (remember...they "choke" out the Word?)
outward adornments (Paul gave us this admonishment: "In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array." 1 Timothy 2:9)

God's ways:
Obedience (the very first step!)
Servant's heart/lowliness/meekness...prefering our brother above ourselves
JOY (Jesus/Others/You...in that order)
Total dependence on the Lord (even if we are financially blessed...it's a simple understanding: It ALL belongs to Him!)
Finding pleasure in His presence!
Faith & Trust
Inward adornments which is the Fruit of the Spirit
Thankfulness
holiness (taking on His mind set and desiring to be like Jesus!)

How to conquer the world's attitudes:
First of all, Prayer!!

Then the Word:
1 Thessalonians 5:15-22, Ephesians 6:10-18, Psalms 1, Proverbs 3:1-12

I plan on posting this list on the bulletin board of my heart to keep out those things that try to creep in ;)

Critical Care Compassion

What a unique situation we were put in yesterday! Some of our best friends have been camping out in the Critical Care Waiting Room for well into 3 weeks with hopes that the patient, her father, will recover and come home soon. Early yesterday morning, my father-in-law was also placed in Critical Care and we, too, are now making a "nest" in the graciously prepared room for families of Critical Care patients.

What opportunities I saw!! So much compassion and love were displayed to each of us!! A very special man comes daily to pray with each one of the families and comfort them. He feels this is what God would have him to do. Yes, he works a job and has a family. But immediately after work he makes his way to that special waiting room and ministers hope.

Bonding time and weariness seem to go hand-in-hand here and a sense of the unknown looms over every one's head. But, as we experienced, the presence of our awesome God shatters fear and gives peace.

We don't know how long our visits to this hospital will continue, but we do know that with every day...every step...He is guiding and directing our way!