Yuuki Packed Her Bags

Bags were packed, snacks put together and then we walked into the living room and saw this. I think she was trying to camouflage herself with the bags. She was determined not to be left. 

Could you say no to this face? 

Michael started to move for the door and she intercepted....

She DID run outside and plant herself UNDER the car as they loaded bags.  Poor thing had quite a quandry when she realized four of us were staying home. 

We're trying to figure out why the house seems so quiet. Nolan really doesn't make much noise. Arielle and I have decided it's because Michael is a large presence in our home....he sort of fills it....

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

Remembering Tohoku's Triple Tragedy

It was nearly three years ago that Jared was the oldest home when the Tohoku 9. earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear meltdown occurred. Today, he spoke at an event at ASU commemorating the 3rd anniversary of the catastrophe.  

We were talking as a family (and I'm sure that will be happening much more as the 11th approaches) and I wondered if that was the hardest day of Jared's life to date. Michael said he thought the days of recovery and clean up were harder when the reality of what we'd lived through hit with devastating clarity.

In any event I'm proud of Jared for speaking up and calling folks to remember. It's tough to speak about the hard days. Larissa speaks my love language. I got home from a busy day and found PICTURES of the event. Michael commented, "You are going to blog these aren't you?" ::grin::

I wish we could have been there. I'm thrilled Jamin and Larissa were there to share the day with Jared. It's enough to know what's going on and have such fun photos!

Jamin, Jared, Larissa

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

Jesus Retreats

Jesus, himself, would often slip away to the wilderness to pray. Luke 5:16

Jesus - fully man and fully God - the example of how to be human - had a need for solitude

Often - this was a practice, a habit

Slip Away - this tells me he kept his eyes open for opportunities, this time alone was not always a big planned weekend away or extended....but he watched for opportunities and took them...he slipped away..he retreated from people, from schedules, from activity

Wilderness - (Strongs 2048) - desolate, deserted, lonely place - Yep - he got ALONE to pray...not a small group, not as a corporate program - Jesus made getting alone with the Father a priority

To Pray - try this and you'll find it's not so easy to pray when you get alone....noise - everywhere. I've had to learn how to turn off the noise...so that I can listen, not only to the Divine Whisper but to the inner parts of my soul as it begins to voice desires in the presence of a Holy God. 

It's been life-changing for me to slip away to be alone with Jesus. In the middle of the my days, early in the morning...but also for extended times of solitude. Solitude is not natural for me - it's a discipline - but it's good.  In prayer God changes my perspective. He aligns my will with His. I learn to listen and recognize His voice as He speaks to me in prayer. This is important in our noise filled 21st century. 

It's taken effort to build this spiritual discipline into my life. A yearly "Ladies Retreat" will not accomplish this type of slipping away in my life.

I can hear young moms now saying, "I can't even go to the bathroom - how do you think I can slip away?" Here are a few ways I found to slip away when I had young children:

• The bathroom - shut the door; lock it and ignore the fingers - after years of this practice it is now the norm for me to slide into the Throne Room  every time my bum hits the throne
• The shower - I can't step into a shower without starting to sing worship songs
• Park Days - I found kids are happy to play and I could snatch a few minutes of solitude
• Quiet Game - give it a try - kids love it
• Susanna Wesley put her apron over her head - and she had a HOUSEFUL

I'd love to hear your ideas.

I can hear Moms of teens and working Moms and Dad saying, "My schedule is too full to schedule an hour, afternoon, day alone."

• Do it! My schedule's full too. 
• I would lovingly suggest  activity has become an idol to many of us. If you can't find an afternoon every 3- 6 months to sit alone with Jesus, you are too busy. 
• If you are intrigued by the idea, ask God if He is leading you to silence the noise and ask Him to show you how to clear your schedule. 
• What you model for your children will become their natural bent....do you want them to be as over-committed as you are? They need to learn the value of solitude, slipping away to be with Jesus...and you need to model it. 

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

Sights Around Here

 A wonderfully, lazy day of schooling and "chillin." Just never sure what I'll see. 

Sweet memories - I had a sling that looked just like this which Stacia rode in for months. This one was made for Arielle and her dolls when Stacia was a baby. It was fun to see Stacia with it today. 

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

Discipleship Observed

...If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. Mk8:34

Peter (said) "Behold, we have left everything and followed You." Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age...but many who are first will be last, and the last, first." Mk 10:28-31

Matthew portrays Jesus as the King. Have I bowed my knee to this King in every area of my life?

Mark portrays Jesus as a servant leader. He also gives a clear picture of discipleship by sharing a couple of incidences and illustrating clearly what it means to follow Jesus.

Requirements to be a disciple:

• deny self - subjugate the works, interests and  enjoyment of self
• take up your cross - this can be defined as an "affliction endured as a trial of faith to conform us to the example of our crucified master." Dr. Zodhiates in the Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. 
• follow Jesus 
• lose life for Jesus and the gospel 
• leave everything
• there are rewards for following - both now and later - and they don't always look like rewards
• first will be last; last will be first - willing to live in the upside down kingdom

Follow (Strongs #190 - akoloutheo) abiding fellowship, to go with another....cleave to Jesus in believing trust and obedience, act according to His example, following denotes fellowship of faith and of life, outward fellowship can't continue without inward moral and spiritual fellowship, outwardly my life will resemble His and others will see a self-denying sharing of His cross.

I keep coming back to this word - follow. This concept of discipleship. I'm slowly learning as I listen to the Teacher.

• Discipleship is first inward before any outward attempts are authentic
• Discipleship is following 100% of the time - in the good times and the hard times
• Discipleship has both terrific costs and fantastic rewards
• Discipleship REQUIRES action - follow immediately, deny self, take up cross, leave....

Am I truly following Jesus? Or am I following a set of rules? A Bible study plan? A church program? 

Am I subjugating my self-interest, desires and pleasures for His interests? I will often find obedience enjoyable, but obeying is not contingent on my understanding or pleasure. 

Am I denying self or Jesus in my daily life? Am I denying self or Jesus as I walk out His work and boundaries in my life? 

My heart is to surrender 100%, to follow completely - it is. I AM discovering this leaving everything is a growing revelation and can be quite difficult to walk out Monday - Saturday. 

This is  a song which I first discovered when preparing a workshop on Biblical Hospitality. I think it illustrates a vision of the importance of caring for the needs of strangers.....it's a song I keep singing lately as I read through the gospels.  Follow You by Leeland and Brandon Heath

Choosing Joy!

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

Momentous Evening

Yes, it was a momentous evening! I went out with two ladies for fun....not a chapel event....though those CAN be loads of fun...but an invite to just go BE with grown up ladies! 

We've had families over and been invited over to visit other families. We've had staff over. I've met moms at parks...but this is the first time since moving to CA that I was invited out, without kids,  to  be with other women....and it was fun.

I picked up Rachel and we sat in the parking lot of Mi Pueblito and waited for April.  I can never get enough time to chat with Rachel, or  my "other grand kids," as Michael calls her children.

April met us and we drove to  Kingdom Builder Books in Roseville.  This is a store which sells home school curriculum and offers various classes to the home school community. I'm sure the youngers are going to be thrilled to see my loot. We needed a bit more seat work as they mentioned they need work to take to PWOC. This is as good as it gets for three home school Moms on a night out.  {Ed. note: Yep, Stacia just said, "GOOD something to do at PWOC." } 

We had our priorities...shopping first; but then we were hungry. We landed at Olive Gardens. I want my waiter sons to know I DID find vegan food and our waiter was gracious. I enjoyed a salad with the NEW Caprese toppings that are amazing (I simply asked them to keep the mozzarella bites) and instead of the famous Olive Garden dressing (which has Parmesan cheese in it) I sprinkled with balsamic vinegar. It was a yummy dinner, I stayed on my  plan AND I didn't have a migraine when I left. SCORE.

The conversation was fun and lively while we ate and on our way home....a very nice evening....and now that I write about it... ::blush:: I don't know that I WAS invited...April mentioned she was going to Kingdom Builder Books and I think I invited myself to go with her. ::snort::  Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I'm going to count it as my first friend out night anyway.

These were so pretty to come home too. Because I have a husband and children I love dearly. And Michael just likes to make me smile.

I love tulips!

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

Following Naked

A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body, and they seized him. But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked. Mark 14:51

These are the types of passages which capture my imagination. Obviously, I do not plan to base my entire theology on this verse.  I do ask questions: 

• WHY is he in the garden dressed like this? Didn't his  mother ever warn him to put on a clean toga in case of Roman capture?
• WHO is this? 
• HOW did he here that the action was in the garden? 
• WHY is this shared in the Word?

Mark's gospel is the only one to record this story. This has led to speculation that the young man following Jesus and stripped naked was Mark himself. 

We do know this was a young man determined to follow Jesus. Nothing stopped him from his quest of abiding fellowship with Jesus. I can learn from this nameless, naked, young man. 

This reminds me of a more dignified challenge in Hebrews 12:1b - 2a  "....lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus...." 

I believe this young man's eyes were fixed on following Jesus. Nothing stopped him from following.

Following Jesus may lead to strange actions from me (how long would it have taken to throw on a toga?).

Nothing can be allowed to distract me from following Jesus. 

Following Jesus will often leave me feeling stripped naked - and that's good. 

Choosing Joy!

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