Monday Recap

Well, dear Kelly posts “goals for the day” on her blog…but I’ve learned it’s best to wait and post what I accomplished…because it rarely matches what I set out to do. {bg}

We got school done today! This is big! We are on week 31/32 in our Tapestry of Grace. We are almost done with our second year of this curriculum and we are on TRACK. That in itself speaks highly for the curriculum. :::snort::: The younger 2 and I are going to double up this week and probably the following two weeks and finish even earlier. The older three are also picking up the pace where they can. The younger two and I will spend the summer working on phonics, writing and spelling (because we like to keep making forward progress). The older two will work, work out etc. Jamin and Jared are both writing books so they will have more time to work on that. I may join a Bible Study or two for the summer. {G}

I made bread. It was rising beautifully. It looked wonderful. I took a phone call – which was very important to take. When I came back it was flat. BUT I made Brenda’s 7 grain bread and it TASTES very yummy. I plan to watch very carefully next time and not to answer the phone. :::snort:::

I dried another 6 trays of apples for Mike to take to work.

Adrienne had borrowed year 1 of our TOG to take an up close look at it. She reacted like I did when Dody finally got a copy into my hand “Ah….this is doing what I’ve been doing and it would save me hours of time”. She came over and asked all her questions and had me talk her through exactly how I plan a week etc. That was fun.

I made tortillas and we had burritos (with home made refried beans) and rice and salad for dinner. Kelly, I used your recipe this time. I substituted olive oil for shortening and it worked well. I finally threw the tortilla press out and rolled my own. I could get them much thinner that way…and the interesting shapes were fun.

We signed up with Netflix last week because we want OLD movies and can’t find them locally. I watched Martin and Lewis on the Colgate hour with the younger 3 children (I wasn’t up to reading a chapter of Narnia – Zander has had a DAY). The commercials were as funny as the skits.

I worked on Bible study and have my notes and hand outs ready to go.


Mike still isn’t home so I decided to update the blog, and add some pictures from our dinner hour. She went directly from dinner to bath time.

Stacia was squealing and I was SHOVELING Brown Cow Vanilla Yogurt in her mouth. She reached over and grabbed a spare spoon for the person next to her and began to make havoc with what I thought was the empty container. Then she threw down the spoon and went for the container. She loves her yogurt!

Mike just got home - you guys are great and all - but I think I'll leave you now. {smirk}

Elijah

Preparing for Bible Study on Tuesday night and I’ve been thinking about Elijah.

James 5:16-18 tells us that Elijah was “a man with a nature like ours”. This is a great encouragement. Look what the prayers of a righteous (right standing; just without prejudice or partiality) man can accomplish. He prayed earnestly that the rain would stop and it stopped for THREE years and six months. He prayed again and it rained.

We can learn a lot about Elijah from I Kings 17 – 19. He ate and drank. He was at times terrified. He held great pity parties. He had tunnel vision. He indeed did have a nature like ours.

But James tells us that he prayed “earnestly” – fervently and persistently. In I Kings 17 we see him telling King Ahab that there will not be any rain or dew unless he gives the word (I Kings 17:1). Where does such faith and boldness come from???? I would like to suggest that Elijah knew the Books of Moses – he knew the Word.

In Joshua 6:26, Joshua declared a curse on anyone who rebuilt Jericho. The curse was fulfilled when King Ahab rebuilt Jericho. I Kings 16:29-34 gives us a glimpse into life during King Ahab’s reign. He was more evil than all who came before him. He built temples for and worshipped Baal. God had covenanted with Israel that he would bless them with rain (and much else) if they would obey His commands. If they disobeyed his commandments there would be no rain and no dew. Ahab had broken the commands and covenant of God. Elijah believed that God’s Word was true. He knew that if Israel repented the rain and dew would be sent again.

Elijah had a bold faith because he KNEW his God; he knew what his God had SAID and he BELIEVED what his God had said. Elijah simply took God at His word and prayed in line with God’s character and revealed will. And God responded.

The key point I’ve been considering is not that Elijah had great faith but that Elijah was a man who KNEW the Word. He knew His God. Are we to lazy today to take the time to know our God?

If we would have effective prayers as Elijah, we must KNOW the God of the WORD – not the God of pop culture, the God of Sunday morning, the God of church tradition…but the God of the Word. In the Word we see how God acts, we observe His character, we read the consequences of our actions, we find what He expects if we would be in relationship with Him. We simply can’t expect to see great things in prayer if we haphazardly claim the promises without understanding the conditions. To be effective prayer warriors we need to know the Word, and therefore know our God, so that we are praying in accordance with His will….and then the enemy will quake, the heavens will rejoice and we will see “effective prayer” in the church once again.

"The strength of our prayers begin in knowing our father who is in heaven” p 32 Lord Teach us to Pray.

Monday Morning's Random Musings

7.2 miles today....my goal is 50 a week so I'll try to get a short 3 mile ride in this evening. I spent some time this a.m. preparing for Tuesday night's study so I don't feel to bad about the shorter ride. I guess Monday and Tuesday will be like that and I'll make it up at the end of the week.

I forced myself to do roller coaster hill again and even let loose with the scream today.....even stood UP once but then reminded myself of Jamin's demise and sat firmly down. {G} I made it all the way up the "hill" that I had to walk up last Friday. It wasn't pretty but I did it. And though I only made 7 miles today I noted that my mph was up to 10.2 from 8.2 so that's advancement too. I found another reason to be thankful for living in TX today. In Eagle River I we had huge hills to ride up and down - very few flat spots to ride a bike in. I would never be able to do 7 miles a day in Eagle River.....I had to bus my bike to flat trails to ride. {G}

Still pedaling and praying. Spent time this a.m. praying through all the changes in the Air Force that I see and that others are starting to call and email about. Interesting days ahead....but I believe God has called men and women to the Air Force in general, and the chaplaincy in particular, "for such a time as this." If ever there was a time for godly men and women with a heart for ministry to be in the chaplaincy - this is it.

I also thought about a paradox. As wives we so often begin to rag on our husbands about "preceived" imperfections in their perspective or actions. "You aren't home enough", "Your priorities are skewed", "the children need more time with you", "You never take me out", "you need to spend time mentoring our children like Mergatroid does his", "You worry to much", "You don't worry enough"....blah blah blah. Months ago when I was in a funk and praying for Mike in one area, God told me quite clearly to "SHUT UP so that Mike can hear MY voice on this issue." It became quite obvious that my constant comments were capable of drowing out God's still small voice in my husband's life. As I was pedalling and praying to be a better helper to Mike this a.m. those thoughts returned. I've done better; but it is so easy to begin to think, "Ok God, I've shut up for several weeks now, maybe just a small reminder from ME is in order." :::snort::: Men (like women) like to spend their times where they feel successful. If we are constantly reminding them of all the ways they could improve in their role as husband and father they are likely not to feel successful at home. It is only natural they would begin to avoid that role. If not careful we can find ourselves in the position of the unwise woman of Proverbs who is tearing down her home with her OWN hands. May it never be. May we partner with God to support and uphold our husbands. May we be wise women who build our homes on God's foundations.

I have no doubt that given another 3 miles I would have gotten very profound but my riding time was up and thus that's as far as my thoughts and prayers went.