Thursday, March 13, 2014

The Girl Gherkins Rock

It's a girls day on the blog! 

This girl, Arielle, had her first 2 hour, one-on-one driving instruction today! Her driver's permit has been validated. She now will drive 50 hours in the next 6 months and have 4 more hours of one-on-one instruction. Her FEMALE instructor seemed very nice, indeed. 

Our big decision now is: "Should Arielle learn to drive on our 15 passenger van or the manual Honda?" The verdict is out. I suspect the Honda. The older 3 learned on a 15 pass van. I think Jamin learned on a Honda. Jared bought a Jeep and learned to drive it when he came back from Japan. 

It was a blessing to spend a couple of hours chatting with my mentor today via Skype. I'm always encouraged and challenged after our visits. I'm now considering the difference between telling and showing....I know what this looks like in some settings; not so much in others. We're also continuing to contemplate the Kingdom of Heaven and the Beatitudes with Dallas Willard. Good stuff.

It's o.k. to  be 812 lbs if you have cute hair!
Stacia helped me sort more skittles...curse you Pinterest! ::snort::  I am hoping to be done with the sorting by tomorrow.....

Stacia provides much adventure and fun around here. She solemnly informed me she needs to pick up her workout intensity. She's *8*! We've had trouble with body image due to some mean comments from peers and unthinking comments from women. I was concerned and ready to launch into my spiel when she said,


"MOOOOOOM, I weigh 812 lbs!"

"You do not weigh 812 lbs!"

"Yes, I weighed myself on your scale!"

"Stacia, the little dot is a decimal! MATH MATTERS!"

I went into my math spiel instead - which was timely as this family keeps "losing" their math texts. Despite my assurances, she stepped up her workout intensity. ::snort::  I told her to do some work out for me.

Krista shared the letter her school sent the district when they nominated her for "Classified of the Year!" Wow - great affirmation of qualities which  we've long noted grace her life. Evidently, she has followed in her father's footsteps and can walk on water. (For non-military folks....Officer Performance Reports are often  over the top and our family joke has been ...."Yes, and he walks on water too.")

Hmmm....I realize I have nothing awesome to share about the new Mrs. D - though I'm sure she's amazingly awesome. I need to touch base. I do KNOW she won the annual race Michael has with the kids to find the first "current year" penny!

I made a  library discovery last week, "Amma: The Life and Words of Amy Carmichael," by Elizabeth R Skoglund. This is a great book. It was incredibly difficult for me to read about the young girls given to be temple prostitutes, but it's a beneficial read.  This quote captured me this morning, "If I fear to hold another to the highest goal because it is so much easier to avoid doing so, then I know nothing of Calvary love." If - Amy Carmichael. Her section on "awakening the giant" of India through prayer was so, so good.....I think I shall copy it and continue to ponder it in terms of Japan.

One last note - in tonight's family circle we finished the "I Am" sayings of Jesus. Good stuff. We'll focus on Lent and be praying about our next focus. Maybe I John as our family vision for the year is "Love Courageously."  

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lord, Lord

Why do you call me, "Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say? ....But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great. Luke 6:46, 49 (see also Matthew 7)

Hearing and obeying the words of Jesus builds a strong foundation in my life. Building on anything, or anyone, else will result in disaster. Too many haven't been trained to listen to Jesus. We listen to the voices of others and call it "Bible Study" or "devotions."  Listening to others can be good - but is not a substitute to listening to Jesus. For a strong foundation we need to know and obey the words of Jesus.

Why WOULD I call Him Lord and not obey? It seems silly. I've done it. Why?

  • Pride - I want to do things my way! 
  • Lack of discipleship - I don't KNOW what Jesus asks me to do. 
  • Hypocrisy - I LIKE my way, but I want it to look like I'm obeying Jesus. 
  • Fear - I'm not sure following Jesus is worth the price it may cost me. 
  • It will be difficult to obey if I have a false view of Jesus.
  • I don't know HOW to follow. 
  • I can't recognize Jesus' actions in my every day life. 
  • I've spent more time listening to the voices of others than I've spent listening to Jesus' words. 
"Why DO you call me Lord and do not do what I say?" It's a good question to contemplate. Am I calling Jesus Lord while refusing to obey? Why am I doing this? Why have I done this in the past? Why are those around  me doing this? Do I have any responsibility to help others know the answers to some of these questions? 


Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...